Area History: Warner-Beers' History of Franklin County, PA, 1887--Part I: Chapters XI-XIV

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               HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA

                             ILLUSTRATED

                               CHICAGO:
                      WARNER, BEERS & CO., 1887


                               Chicago:
                    JOHN MORRIS COMPANY, PRINTERS
                      118 and 120 Monroe Street.
            __________________________________________________


PART I -- HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA

CHAPTER XI.  John Penn, 1763-71--James Hamilton, 1771--
             Richard Penn, 1771-73--John Penn, 1773-76
                                                                        
     A difference having arisen between the Governor and Assembly on the
vexed question of levying money, the Assembly passed a series of resolu-
tions advocating that the "powers of government ought to be separated 
from the power attending the immense proprietary property, and lodged in
the hands of the king."  After an interval of fifty days--that time for 
reflection and discussion might be given--the Assembly again convened, 
and adopted a petition praying the King to assume the direct government 
of the province, though this policy was strongly opposed by some of the 
ablest members, as ISAAC NORRIS and JOHN DICKINSON.  The Quaker element
was generally in favor of the change.

     Indian barbarities still continuing along the frontier, GOVERNOR 
PENN declared war against the Shawanese and Delawares in July, 1765, and 
sent COLONEL BOUQUET with a body of Pennsylvania troops against them.  
By the 3d of October, he had come up to the Muskingum, in the heart of 
the most thickly peopled Indian territory.  So rapid had been the move-
ment of BOUQUET that the savages had no intelligence of his advance un-
til he was upon them with no preparations for defense.  They sued for 
peace, and a treaty was entered into by which the savages agreed to 
abstain from further hostilities until a general treaty could be con-
cluded with SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON, the general agent for Indian affairs 
for all the colonies, and to deliver up all English captives who had 
been carried away during the years of trouble.  Two hundred and eight 
were quickly gathered up and brought in, and many others were to follow,
who were now widely scattered.  The relatives of many of these captives
had proceeded with the train of BOUQUET, intent on reclaiming those who
had been dear to them.  Some were joyfully received, while others who 
had been borne off in youth had become attached to their captors, and 
force was necessary to bring them away.  "On the return of the army, 
some of the Indians obtained leave to accompany their former captives to
Fort Pitt, and employed themselves in hunting and carrying provisions 
for them on the road."

     The great struggle for the independence of the colonies of the 
British crown was now close at hand, and the first sounds of the contro-
versy were beginning to be heard.  SIR WILLIAM KEITH, that enterprising
Governor whose head seemed to have been full of new projects, as early 
as 11739 had proposed to lay a uniform tax on stamped paper in all the
colonies, to realize funds for the common defense.  Acting upon this 
hint, GRENVILLE, the British Minister, notified the colonists in 1763 of
his purpose to impose such a tax.  Against this they remonstrated.  In-
stead of this, a tax on imports, to be paid in coin, was adopted.  This
was even more distasteful.  The Assembly of Rhode Island, in October,
1765, submitted a paper to all the colonial assemblies, with a view of
uniting in a common petition to the King against parliamentary taxation.
This was favorably acted on by the Assembly of Pennsylvania, and FRANKLIN
was appointed agent to represent their cause before the British Parlia-
ment.  The Stamp Act had been passed on the 22d of March, 1765.  Its
passage excited bitter opposition, and a resolution, asserting that the
Colonial Assemblies had the exclusive right to levy taxes, was passed by
the Virginia Assembly, and concurred in by all the others.  The Massachu-
setts Assembly proposed a meeting of delegates in New York on the second
Tuesday of October, 1765, to confer upon the subject.  The Pennsylvania
Assembly adopted the suggestion, and appointed MESSRS. FOX, MORTON, 
BRYAN, and DICKENSON as delegates.  This Congress met according to the
call and adopted a respectful petition to the King, and a memorial to
Parliament, which were signed by all the members and forwarded for pre-
sentation by the Colonial Agents in England.  The Stamp Act was to go 
into effect on the 1st of November.  On the last day of October, the 
newspapers were dressed in mourning, and suspended publication.  The
publishers agreed not to use the stamped paper.  The people, as with one
mind, determined to dress in homespun, resolved not to use imported goods,
and, to stimulate the production of wool the colonists covenanted not to
eat lamb for the space of one year.  The result of this policy was soon
felt by British manufacturers who became clamorous for repeal of the
obnoxious measures, and it was accordingly repealed on the 18th of March,
1766.

     Determined in some form to draw a revenue from the colonies, an act
was passed in 1767, to lay a duty on tea, paper, printers' colors, and
glass.  The Assembly of Pennsylvania passed a resolution on the 20th of
February, 1768, instructing its agent in London to urge its repeal, and
at the session in May received and entered upon its minutes a circular
letter from the Massachusetts Assembly, setting forth the grounds on 
which objection to the act should be urged.  This circular occasioned
hostile feeling among the ministry, and the Secretary for foreign affairs
wrote to GOVERNOR PENN to urge the Assembly to take no notice of it; but
if they approved its sentiments, to prorogue their sittings.  This let-
ter was transmitted to the Assembly, and soon after one from the Virginia
Assembly was presented, urging union of all the colonies in opposing the
several schemes of taxation.  This recommendation was adopted, and com-
mittees appointed to draw a petition to the King and to each of the Houses
of Parliament.  To lead public sentiment and have it well grounded in the
arguements used against taxation, JOHN DICKINSON, one of the ablest of 
the Pennsylvania legislators at this time, published a number of articles
purporting to come from a plain farmer, under the title of the Farmer's
Letters, which became popular, the idea that they were the work of one in
humble life, helping to swell the tide of popularity.  They were repub-
lished in all the colonies, and exerted a commanding influence.  Alarmed
at the unanimity of feeling against the proposed schemes, and supposing
that it was the amount of the tax that gave offense, Parliament reduced
the rate in 1769 to one sixth of the original sum, and in 1770 abolished
it altogether, except three pence a pound on tea.  But it was the princi-
ple, and not the amount that was objected to, and at the next session of
the Assembly in Pennsylvania, their agent in London was directed to urge
its repeal altogether.

     It would seem incredible that the colony of Connecticut should lay
claim to any part of the territory of Pennsylvania, but so it was.  The
New England charters gave limitless extent westward even to the shores of
the Pacific Ocean, and south to the northern limits of the tract ceded
to LORD BALTIMORE--the territory between the 40th and 46th degrees of 
north latitude, and from ocean to ocean.  To encroach upon New York with
its teaming population was not calculated to tempt the enterprise of the
settler; but the rich virgin soil, and agreeable climate of the wide
Wyoming Valley, as yet unappropriated, was likely to attract the eye of
the explorer.  Accordingly, at the general conference with the Indians
held at Albany in 1754, the Connecticut delegates made a purchase of a
large tract in this valley; a company, known as the Susquehanna Company,
was formed in Connecticut to promote the settlement of these lands, and
a considerable immigration commenced.  The proprietors of Pennsylvania
had also made purchase of the Indians of these identical lands, and the
royal charters of CHARLES and JAMES covered this ground.  But the Plymouth
Charter antedated PENN's.  Remonstrances were made to the Governor of
Connecticut against encroachments upon the territory of Pennsylvania.  
The answer returned was understood to disclaim any control over the com-
pany by the Connecticut authorities; but it subsequently appeared that
the Government was determined to defend the settlers in the possession
of their lands.  In 1768, the proprietors of Pennsylvania entered into
treaty stipulations with the Indians for all this tract covered by the
claim of the Susquehanna Company.  Pennsylvania settlers, attracted by
the beauty of the place, gradually acquired lands under Pennsylvania 
patents, and the two parties began to infringe on each other's claims.
Forts and block-houses were erected for the protection of either party,
and a petty warfare was kept up, which resulted in some loss of life.
BUTLER, the leader of the Connecticut party, proposed to settle their
differences by personal combat of thirty picked men on each side.  In 
order to assert more direct legal control over the settlers, a new county
was formed which was called Northumberland, that embraced all the dis-
puted lands.  But the Sheriff, even with the aid of the militia, which
he called to his assistance, was unable to execute his processes, and 
exercise legal control, the New Englanders, proving a resolute set, 
determined to hold the splendid farms which they had marked out for 
themselves, and were bringing rapidly under cultivation.  To the 
remonstrances of GOVERNOR PENN, GOVERNOR TRUMBULL responded that the
Susquehanna Company was proceeding in good faith under provisions secured
by the charter of the Plymouth Colony, and proposed that the question be
submitted to a competent tribunal for arbitrament.  An ex parte statement
was submitted to Council in London by the Connecticut party, and an 
opinion was rendered favorable to its claims.  In September, 1775, the 
matter was submitted to the Continental Congress, and a committee of 
that body, to whom it was referred, reported in favor of the Connecticut
claim, apportioning a tract out of the very bowels of Pennsylvania near-
ly as large as the whole state of Connecticut.  This action was promptly
rejected by the Assembly of Pennsylvania, and a final decision was not
reached until 1802, when Congress decided in favor of the integrity of 
the chartered rights of PENN.

     RICHARD PENN, son of the founder, died in 1771, whereupon GOVERNOR
JOHN PENN returned to England, leaving the President of the Council, 
JAMES HAMILTON at the head of the Government.  JOHN PENN, eldest son of
RICHARD, succeeded to the proprietary interests of his father, which he 
held in conjunction with his uncle, THOMAS, and in October of the same
year, RICHARD, the second son, was commissioned Governor.  He held the
office but about two years, and in that time won the confidence and 
esteem of the people, and so much attached was he to the popular cause,
that upon his return to England, in 1775, he was intrusted by Congress
with the last petition of the colonies ever presented to the King.  In
August 1773, JOHN PENN returned with the commission of Governor, super-
seding his brother RICHARD.  Soon after his arrival, the Governor of
Virginia, LORD DUNMORE, issued a proclamation, laying claim to a vast
territory in the Monongalia Valley, including the site of the present 
city of Pittsburgh, and upon the withdrawal of the British garrison, one
CONNOLLY had taken possession of it in the name of Virginia.  GOVERNOR
PENN issued a counter-proclamation, calling on all good citizens within
the borders of Pennsylvania, to preserve their allegiance to his Govern-
ment, seized and imprisoned CONNOLLY, and sent Commissioners to Virginia
to effect an amicable settlement.  These, DUNMORE refused to hear, and 
was preparing to assert his authority by force; but his Council refused 
to vote him money for this purpose.  

     To encourage the sale of tea in the colonies, and establish the 
principle of taxation, the export duty was removed.  The colonies took
the alarm.  At a public meeting called in Philadelphia to consider the
subject, on the 18th of October, 1773, resolutions were adopted in which
it was declared:  "That the disposal of their own property is the in-
herent right of freemen; that there can be no property in that which
another can, of right, take from us without our consent; that the claim
by Parliament to tax America, is, in other words, a claim of right to
levy contributions on us at pleasure."  The East India Company now made
preparations for sending large importations of tea into the colonies.
The ships destined for Philadelphia and New York, on approaching port, 
and being advised of the exasperated state of public feeling, returned 
to England with their cargoes.  Those sent to Boston came into the har-
bor; but at night a party disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded the vessels,
and breaking open the packages, emptied 300 chests into the sea.  The
ministry, on being apprised of this act, closed the port of Boston, and
subverted the colonial charter.  Early in the year, committees of corres-
pondence had been established in all the colonies, by means of which the
temper and feeling in each was well understood by the others, and con-
cert of action was secured.  The hard conditions imposed on the town of
Boston and the colony of Massachusetts Bay, aroused the sympathy of all;
for they argued, we know not how soon the heavy hand of oppression may 
be felt by any of us.  Philadelphia declared at a public meeting that 
the people of Pennsylvania would continue firmly to adhere to the cause
of American liberty, and urged the calling of a Congress of delegates to
consider the general interests.

     At a meeting held in Philadelphia on the 18th of June, 1774, at 
which nearly 8,000 people were convened, it was decided that a Continen-
tal Congress ought to be held, and appointed a committee of correspon-
dence to communicate with similar committees in the several counties of
Pennsylvania and in the several colonies.  On the 15th of July, 1774, 
delegates from all the counties, summoned by this committee, assembled
in Philadelphia, and declared that there existed an absolute necessity
for a Colonial Congress.  They accordingly recommended that the Assembly 
appoint delegates to such a Congress to represent Pennsylvania, and
JOSEPH GALLOWAY, SAMUEL RHOADS, GEORGE ROSS, EDWARD BIDDLE, JOHN
DICKINSON, CHARLES HUMPHRIES and THOMAS MIFFIN were appointed.

     On the 4th of September, 1774, the first Continental Congress 
assembled in Philadelphia.  PEYTON RANDOLPH, of Virginia, was called to
preside, and CHARLES THOMSON, of Pennsylvania, was appointed Secretary.
It was resolved that no more goods be imported from England, and that
unless a pacification was effected previously, no more Colonial produce
of the soil be exported thither after September 10, 1775.  A declaration
of rights was adopted, and addresses to the King, the people of Great
Britain, and of British America were agreed to, after which the Congress
adjourned to meet again on the 10th of May, 1775.

     In January, 1775, another meeting of the county delegates was held
in Philadelphia, at which the action of the Colonial Congress was approv-
ed, and while a restoration of harmony with the mother country was 
desired, yet if the arbitrary facts of Parliament were persisted in, 
they would at every hazard defend the "rights and liberties of America."
The delegates appointed to represent the colony in the Second Congress
were MIFFIN, HUMPHRIES, BIDDLE, DICKINSON, MORTON, FRANKLIN, WILSON,
and WILLING.

     The government of Great Britain had determined with a strong hand 
to compel obedience to its behests.  On the 19th of April, 1775, was 
fought the battle of Lexington, and the crimson fountain was opened.  
That blow was felt alike through all the colonies.  The cause of one was
the cause of all.  A public meeting was held in Philadelphia, at which
it was resolved to organize military companies in all the counties.  The
Assembly heartily seconded these views, and engaged to provide for the
pay of the militia while in service.  The Second Congress, which met in
May, provided for organizing a continental army, fixing the quota for
Pennsylvania at 4,300 men.  The Assembly adopted the recommendation of
Congress, provided for arming, disciplining and paying the militia, 
recommended the organizing minutemen for service in an emergency, made
appropriations for the defense of the city, and offered a premium on the
production of salt peter.  Complications hourly thickened.  Ticonderoga
was captured on the 10th of May, and the battle of Bunker Hill was 
fought on the 17th of June.  On the 15th of June, GEORGE WASHINGTON was
appointed Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, supported by four
Major Generals and eight Brigadiers.

     The royal Governors were now an incumbrance greatly in the way of 
the popular movement, as were also the Assemblies where they refused to
represent the popular will.  Accordingly, Congress recommended that the
several colonies should adopt such government as should "best conduce to
the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular and America
in general."  This meant that each colony should set up a government for
itself independent of the Crown.  Accordingly, a public meeting was held
in Philadelphia, at which it was resolved that the present Assembly is
"not competent to the present exigencies of affairs," and that a new
form of government ought to be adopted as recommended by Congress.  The
city committee of correspondence called on the county committees to 
secure the election of delegates to a colonial meeting for the purpose
of considering this subject.  On the 18th of June, the meeting was held
in Philadelphia, and was organized by electing THOMAS MCKEAN President.
It resolved to call a convention to frame a new constitution, provided
the legal forms to be observed, and issued an address to the people.

     Having thus by frequent argumentation grown familiar with the 
declaration of the inherent rights of every citizen, and with flatly 
declaring to the government of Great Britain that it had no right to
pursue this policy or that, and the several States having been recom-
mended to absolve themselves from allegience to the royal governments,
and set up independent colonial governments of their own, it was a 
natural inference, and but a step further, to declare the colonies 
entirely independent of the British Government, and to organize for them-
selves a general continental government to hold the place of King and
Parliament.  The idea of independence had been seriously proposed, and
several Colonial Assemblies had passed resolutions strongly recommending
it.  And yet there were those of age and experience who had supported
independent principles in the stages of argumentation, before action was
demanded, when they approached the brink of the fatal chasm, and had to
decide whether to take the leap, hesitated.  There were those in the
Assembly of Pennsylvania who were reluctant to advise independence; but
the majority voted to recommend its delegates to unite with the other
colonies for the common good.  The convention which had provided for 
holding a meeting of delegates to frame a new constitution, voted in 
favor of independence, and authorized the raising of 6,000 militia.

     On the 7th of June, 1776, RICHARD HENRY LEE, of Virginia, introduc-
ed in Congress the proposition that, "the United Colonies are, and of 
right ought to be, free and independent States, and that all political
connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to
be, totally dissolved."  It was impossible to mistake or misinterpret 
the meaning of this language.  The issue was fairly made up.  It was
warmly discussed.  JOHN DICKINSON, one of the Pennsylvania delegates, 
and one who had been foremost in speaking and writing on the popular
side, was not ready to cut off all hopes of reconciliation, and depicted
the disorganized condition in which the colonies would be left if the
power and protection of Britain were thus suddenly removed.  The vote
upon the resolution was taken on the 2d of July, and resulted in the
affirmative vote of all the States except Pennsylvania and Delaware,
the delegates from these States being divided.  A committee consisting
of ADAMS, FRANKLIN, JEFFERSON, LIVINGSTON, and SHERMAN had been, some
time previous, appointed to draw a formal statement of the Declaration,
and for reasons "out of a decent respect to the opinions of mankind,"
which led to so important an act.  The work was intrusted to a sub-
committee consisting of ADAMS and JEFFERSON, and its composition was the
work of Mr. JEFFERSON, though many of the ideas, and even the forms of
expression, had been used again and again in the previous resolutions
and pronunciamentoes of the Colonial Assemblies and public meetings.  It
had been reported on the 28th of June, and was sharply considered in all
its parts, many verbal alterations having been made in the committee of
five; but after the passage of the preliminary resolution, the result 
was a foregone conclusion, and on the 4th of July it was finally adopted
and proclaimed to the world.  Of the Pennsylvania delegation, FRANKLIN,
WILSON and MORTON voted for it, and WILLING and HUMPHREY against,
DICKINSON being absent.  The colonial convention of Pennsylvania, being
in session at the time, on receiving intelligence that a majority of its
delegates in Congress had voted against the preliminary resolution, 
named a new delegation, omitting the names of DICKINSON, WILLING and
HUMPHREY, and adding others which made it thus constituted--FRANKLIN,
WILSON, MORTON, MORRIS, CLYMER, SMITH, TAYLOR and ROSS.  An engrossed
copy of the Declaration was made, which was signed by all the members
on the 2d of August following, on which are found the names from 
Pennsylvania above recited.

     The convention  for framing a new constitution for the colony met
on the 15th of July, and was organized by electing FRANKLIN President, 
and on the 28th of September completed its labors, having framed a new
organic law and made all necessary provisions for putting it into opera-
tion.  In the meantime the old proprietary Assembly adjourned on the 
14th of June to the 26th of August.  But a quorum failed to appear, and
an adjournment was had to the 23d of September, when some routine busi-
ness was attended to, chiefly providing for the payment of salaries and
necessary bills, and on the 28th of September, after a stormy existence
of nearly a century, this Assembly, the creature of PENN, adjourned 
never to meet again.  With the ending of the Assembly ended the power of
GOVERNOR PENN.  It is a singular circumstance, much noted by the 
believers in signs, that on the day of his arrival in America, which was
Sunday, the earth in that locality was rocked by an earthquake, which 
was interpreted as an evil omen to his administration.  He married the 
daughter of WILLIAM ALLEN, Chief Justice of the colony, and, though at
times falling under suspicion of favoring the royal cause, yet, as was
believed, not with reason, he remained a quiet spectator of the great
struggle, living at his country seat in Bucks County, where he died in 
February, 1795.

     The titles of the proprietors to landed estates were suspended by
the action of the convention, and on the 27th of November, 1779, the
Legislature passed an act vesting these estates in the commonwealth, but
paying the proprietors a gratuity of 130,000 pounds, "in rememberance 
of the enterprising spirit of the Founder."  This act did not touch the
private estates of the proprietors, nor the tenths of manors.  The 
British Government, in 1790, in consideration of the fact that it had
been unable to vindicate its authority over the colony, and afford
protection to the proprietors in the enjoyment of their chartered rights,
voted an annuity of 4,000 pounds to the heirs and descendants of PENN.  
This annuity has been regularly paid to the present time, 1884.

CHAPTER XII.  Thomas Wharton, Jr., 1777-78.  George Bryan,
              1778.  Joseph Reed, 1778-81.  William Moore,
              1781-82.  John Dickinson, 1782-85.  Benjamin
              Franklin, 1785-88.

     The convention which framed the constitution appointed a Committee 
of Safety, consisting of twenty-five members, to whom was intrusted the
government of the colony until the proposed constitution should be fram-
ed and put into operation.  THOMAS RITTENHOUSE was chosen President of
this body, who was consequently in effect Governor.  The new constitu-
tion which was unanimously adopted on the 28th of September, was to take 
effect from its passage.  It provided for an Assembly to be elected
annually; a Supreme Executive Council of twelve members to be elected for
a term of three years; Assemblymen to be eligible but four years out of
seven, and Councilmen but one term in seven years.  Members of Congress
were chosen by the Assembly.  The constitution could not be changed for
seven years.  It provided for the election of censors every seven years
who were to decide whether there was a demand for its revision.  If so,
they were to call a convention for the purpose.  On the 6th of August,
1776, THOMAS WHARTON, JR., was chosen President of the Council of Safety.

     The struggle with the parent country was now fully inaugurated. The
British Parliament had declared the colonists rebels, had voted a force
of 55,000 men, and in addition had hired 17,000 Hessian soldiers, to sub-
due them.  The Congress on its part had declared the objects for which 
arms had been taken up, and had issued bills of credit to the amount of
$6,000,000.  Parliament had resolved upon a vigorous campaign, to strike
heavy and rapid blows, and quickly end the war.  The first campaign had
been conducted in Massachusetts, and by the efficient conduct of WASHING-
TON, GENERAL HOWE, the leader of the British, was compelled to capitulate
and withdraw to Halifax in March, 1776.  On the 28th of June, SIR HENRY 
CLINTON, with a strong detachment, in conjunction with SIR PETER PARKER
of the Navy, made a combined land and naval attack upon the defenses of
Charleston Harbor, where he was met by GENERAL WILLIAM MOULTRIE, with the
Carolina Militia, and after a severe battle, in which the British fleet
was roughly handled, CLINTON withdrew and returned to New York, whither
the main body of the British Army, under GENERAL HOWE, had come, and where
ADMIRAL LORD HOWE, with a large fleet directly from England, joined them.
To this formidable power led by the best talent in the British Army,
WASHINGTON could muster no adequate force to oppose, and he was obliged
to withdraw from Long Island, from New York, from Harlem, from White 
Plains, to cross into New Jersey, and abandon position after position
until he had reached the right bank of the Delaware on Pennsylvania soil.
A heavy detachment under CORNWALLIS followed, and would have crossed the
Delaware in pursuit, but advised to a cautious policy by HOWE, he waited
for ice to form on the water of the Delaware before passing over.  The
fall of Philadelphia now seemed imminent.  WASHINGTON had not sufficient
force to face the whole power of the British Army. On the 2d of December,
the Supreme Council ordered all places of business in the city to be
closed, the schools to be dismissed, and advised preparation for removing
the women and children and valuables.  On the 12th, the Congress which 
was in session here adjourned to meet in Baltimore, taking with them all
papers and public records, and leaving a committee, of which ROBERT 
MORRIS was Chairman, to act in conjunction with WASHINGTON for the safe-
ty of the place.  GENERAL PUTNUM was dispatched on the same day with a 
detachment of soldiers to take command in the city.

     In this emergency the Council issued a stirring address:  "If you
wish to live in freedom, an are determined to maintain that best boon of
heaven, you have no time to deliberate.  A manly resistance will secure
every blessing, inactivity and sloth will bring horror and destruction.
* * *  May heaven, which has bestowed the blessings of liberty upon you,
awaken you to a proper sense of your danger and arouse that manly spirit 
of virtuous resolution which has ever bidden defiance to the efforts of
tyranny.  May you ever have the glorious prize of liberty in view, and 
bear with a becoming fortitude the fatigues and severities of a winter
campaign.  That, and that only, will entitle you to the superlative dis-
tinction of being deemed, under God, the deliverers of your country."
Such were the arguments which our fathers made use of in conducting the
struggle against the British Empire.

     WASHINGTON, who had, from the opening of the campaign before New
York, been obliged for the most part to act upon the defensive, formed
the plan to suddenly turn upon his pursuers and offer battle.  According-
ly, on the night of the 25th of December, taking a picked body of men,
he moved up several miles to Taylorsville, where he crossed the river,
though at flood tide and filled with floating ice, and moved down to 
Trenton, where a detachment of the British Army was posted, made a bold 
and vigorous attack.  Taken by surprise, though now after sunrise, the 
battle was soon decided in favor of the Americans.  Some fifty of the 
enemy were slain and over a thousand taken prisoners, with quantities 
of arms, ammunition and stores captured.  A triumphal entry was made at 
Philadelphia, when the prisoners and the spoils of war moved through the
streets under guard of the victorious troops, and were marched away to 
the prison camp at Lancaster.  WASHINGTON, who was smarting under a 
forced inactivity, by reason of paucity of numbers and lack of arms and 
material, and who had been forced constantly to retire before a defiant 
foe, now took courage.  His name was upon every tongue, and foreign 
Governments were disposed to give the States a fair chance in their 
struggle for nationality.  The lukewarm were encouraged to enlist under 
the banner of freedom.  It had great strategic value.  The British had 
intended to push forward and occupy Philadelphia at once, which, being 
now virtually the capital of the new nation, had it been captured at this 
juncture, would have given them the occasion for claiming a triumphal 
ending of the war.  But this advantage, though gained by a detachment 
small in numbers yet great in courage, caused the commander of a power-
ful and well appointed army to give up all intention of attempting to  
capture the Pennsylvania metropolis in this campaign, and retiring into 
winter cantonments upon the Raritan to await the settled weather of the 
spring for an entirely new cast of operations.  WASHINGTON emboldened by 
his success, led all his forces into New Jersey, and pushing past Tren-
ton, where CORNWALLIS, the royal leader, had brought his main body by a 
forced march, under cover of darkness, attacked the British reserves at 
Princeton.  But now the enemy had become wary and vigilant, and summoned 
by the booming of cannon, CORNWALLIS hastened back to the relief of his 
hard pressed columns.  WASHINGTON, finding that the enemy's whole army 
was within easy call and knowing that he had no hope of success with his
weak army, withdrew.  WASHINGTON now went into winter quarters at Morris-
town, and by constant vigilance was able to gather marauding parties of 
the British who ventured far away from their works.

     PUTNAM commenced fortifications at a point below Philadelphia upon
the Delaware, and at commanding positions upon the outskirts, and on being
summoned to the army was succeeded by GENERAL IRVINE, and he by GENERAL
GATES.  On the 4th of March, 1777, the two Houses of the Legislature,
elected under the new constitution, assembled, and in joint convention
chose THOMAS WHARTON, JR., President, and GEORGE BRYAN Vice President.
PENN had expressed the idea that power was preserved the better by due
formality and ceremony, and accordingly, this event was celebrated with
much pomp, the result being declared in a loud voice from the court 
house, amid the shouts of the gathered throngs and the booming of the
captured cannon brought from the field of Trenton.  The title bestowed 
upon the new chief officer of the State was fitted by its length and high-
sounding epithets to inspire the multitude with awe and reverence:  "His
Excellency, THOMAS WHARTON, JUNIOR, ESQUIRE, President of the Supreme
Executive Council of Pennsylvania, Captain General, and Commander-in-
chief in and over the same." 

     While the enemy was disposed to be cautious after the New Jersey 
campaign so humiliating to the native pride of the Britain, yet he was
determined to bring all available forces into the field for the campaign
of 1777, and to strike a decisive blow.  Early in April, great activity
was observed among the shipping in New York Harbor, and WASHINGTON com-
municated to Congress his opinion that Philadelphia was the object against
which the blow would be aimed.  This announcement of probable peril in-
duced the Council to issue a proclamation urging enlistments, and 
Congress ordered the opening of a camp for drilling recruits in Pennsyl-
vania, and BENEDICT ARNOLD, who was at this time a trusted General, was 
ordered to the command of it.  So many new vessels and transports of all 
classes had been discovered to have come into New York Harbor, probably 
forwarded from England, that WASHINGTON sent GENERAL MIFFLIN, on the 
10th of June, to Congress, bearing a letter in which he expressed the 
settled conviction that the enemy meditated an immediate descent upon 
some part of Pennsylvania.  GENERAL MIFFLIN proceeded to examine the 
defensive works of the city which had been begun on the previous advance 
of the British, and recommended such changes and new works as seemed 
best adapted for its protection.  The preparations for defense were 
vigorously prosecuted. The militia were called out and placed in two 
camps, one at Chester and the other at Downington.  Fire ships were held 
in readiness to be used against vessels attempting the ascent of the 
river.

     LORD HOWE, being determined not to move until ample preparations
were completed, allowed the greater part of the summer to wear away before]
he advanced.  Finally, having embarked a force of 19,500 men on a fleet
of 300 transports, he sailed southward.  WASHINGTON promptly made a cor-
responding march overland, passing through Philadelphia on the 24th of
August.  HOWE, suspecting that preparations would be made for impeding 
the passage of the Delaware, sailed past its mouth, and moving up the
Chesapeake instead, debarked fifty-four miles from Philadelphia and com-
menced the march northward.  Great activity was now manifested in the
city.  The water-spouts were melted to furnish bullets, fair hands were
busied in rolling cartridges, powerful chevaux-de-frise were planted to
impede the navigation of the river, and the last division of the militia 
of the city, which had been divided into three classes, was called out.
WASHINGTON, who had crossed the Brandywine, soon confronted the advance
of HOWE, and brisk skirmishing at once opened. Seeing that he was likely
to have the right of his position at Red Clay Creek, where he had intend-
ed to give battle, turned by the largely superior force of the enemy, 
under cover of darkness on the night of the 8th of September, he with-
drew across the Brandywine at Chad's Ford, and posting ARMSTRONG with 
the militia upon the left, at Pyle's Ford, where the banks were rugged 
and precipitous, and SULLIVAN, who was second in command, upon the right 
at Brinton's Ford under cover of forest, he himself took post with three 
divisions, STERLING's, STEPHENS', and his own, in front of the main 
avenue of approach at Chad's.  HOWE, discovering that WASHINGTON was 
well posted, determined to flank him.  Accordingly, on the 11th, sending 
KNYPHAUSEN with a division of Hessians to make vigorous demonstrations 
upon WASHINGTON's front at Chad's, he, with the corps of CORNWALLIS, in 
light marching order, moved up the Brandywine, far past the right flank 
of WASHINGTON, crossed the Brandywine at the fords of Trumbull and 
Jeffrey unopposed, and, moving down came upon WASHINGTON's right, held 
by SULLIVAN, all unsuspecting and unprepared to receive him.  Though 
HOWE was favored by a dense fog which on that morning hung on all the 
valley, yet it had hardly been commenced before WASHINGTON discovered 
the move and divined its purpose.  His resolution was instantly taken.  
He ordered SULLIVAN to cross the stream at Brinton's and resolutely turn 
the left flank of KNYPHAUSEN, when he himself with the main body would 
move over and crush the British Army in detail.  Is was a brilliant con-
ception, was feasible, and promised the most complete success.  But what 
chagrin and mortification, to receive, at the moment when he expected to 
hear the music of SULLIVAN's guns doubling up the left of the enemy, and 
giving notice to him to commence the passage, a message from that officer 
advising him that he had disobeyed his orders to cross, having received 
intelligence that the enemy were not moving northward, and that he was 
still in position at the ford.  Thus balked, WASHINGTON had no alterna-
tive but to remain in position, and it was not long before the guns of  
HOWE were heard moving in upon all his unguarded right flank.  The best 
dispositions were made which time would permit.  His main body with the 
force of SULLIVAN took position along the brow of the hill on which 
stands the Birmingham meeting house, and the battle opened and was push-
ed with vigor the whole day.  Overborne by numbers, and weakened by 
losses, WASHINGTON was obliged to retire, leaving the enemy in posses-
sion of the field.  The young French nobleman, LAFAYETTE, was wounded 
while gallantly serving in this fight. The wounded were carried into the 
Birmingham meeting house where the blood stains are visible to this day, 
enterprising relic hunters for many generations having been busy in 
loosening small slivers with the points of their knives.

     The British now moved cautiously toward Philadelphia.  On the 16th of
September, at a point some twenty miles west of Philadelphia, WASHINGTON
again made a stand, and a battle opened with brisk skirmishing, but a
heavy rain storm coming on the powder of the patriot soldiers was com-
pletely ruined on account of their defective cartridge boxes.  On the
night of the 20th, GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE, who had been hanging on the 
rear of the enemy with his detachment, was surprised by GENERAL GRAY 
with a heavy column, who fell suddenly upon the Americans in bivouac and 
put them to the sword, giving no quarter.  This disgraceful slaughter 
which brought a stigma and an indelible stain upon the British arms is 
known as the Paoli Massacre.  Fifty-three of the victims of the black 
flag were buried in one grave.  A neat monument of white marble was 
erected forty years afterward over their moldering remains by the 
Republican Artillerists of Chester County, which vandal hands have not 
spared in their mania for relics. 

     Congress remained in Philadelphia while these military operations
were going on at its very doors; but on the 18th of September adjourned
to meet at Lancaster, though subsequently, on the 30th, removed across
the Susquehanna to York, where it remained in session till after the
evacuation in the following summer.  The Council remained until two days
before the fall of the city, when having dispatched the records of the
loan office and the more valuable papers to Easton, it adjourned to Lan-
caster.  On the 26th, the British Army entered the city.  DEBORAH LOGAN
in her memoir says: "The army marched in and took possession in the city
in the morning.  We were up-stairs and the contrast between them and our
own poor, bare-footed, ragged troops was very great and caused a feeling
of despair.  * * * * Early in the afternoon, LORD CORNWALLIS' suite 
arrived and took possession of my mother's house.  But though now hold-
ing undisputed possession of American capital, HOWE found his position
an uncomfortable one, for his fleet was in the Chesapeake, and the Dela-
ware and all its defenses were in possession of the Americans, and
WASHINGTON had manned the forts with some of his most resolute troops.
VARNUM's brigade, led by COLONELS ANGELL and GREENE, Rhode Island troops,
were at Fort Mercer, at Red Bank, and this the enemy determined to 
attack.  On the 21st day of October, with a force of 2,500 men, led by
COUNT DONOP, the attack was made.  In two columns they moved as to an
easy victory.  But the steady fire of the defenders when come in easy
range, swept them down with deadly effect, and, retiring with a loss of
over 400 and their leader mortally wounded, they did not renew the fight.
Its reduction was of prime importance, and powerful works were built and
equipped to bear upon the devoted fort on all sides, and the heavy guns
of the fleet were brought up to aid in overpowering it.  For six long 
days the greatest weight of metal was poured upon it from the land and
the naval force, but without effect, the sides of the fort successfully
withstanding the plunging of their powerful missiles.  As a last resort,
the great vessels were run suddenly in close under the walls, and mann-
ing the yard-arms with sharp-shooters, so effectually silenced and drove
away the gunners that the fort fell easily into the British hands and 
the river was opened to navigation.  The army of WASHINGTON, after being
recruited and put in light marching order, was led to Germantown where,
on the morning of the 3d of October the enemy was met.  A heavy fog that
morning had obscured friend and foe alike, occasioning confusion in the
ranks, and though the opening promised well, and some progress was made,
yet the enemy was too strong to be moved, and the American leader was
forced to retire to his camp at White Marsh.  Though the river had now
been opened and the city was thoroughly fortified for resisting attack,
yet HOWE felt not quite easy in having the American Army quartered in so 
close striking distance, and accordingly, on the 4th of December, with
nearly his entire army, moved out, intending to take WASHINGTON at White
Marsh, sixteen miles away, by surprise, and by rapidity of action gain 
an easy victory.  But by the heroism and fidelity of LYDIA DARRAH, who,
as she had often done before passed the guards to go to the mill for 
flour, the news of the coming of HOWE was communicated to WASHINGTON, 
who was prepared to receive him.  Finding that he could effect nothing,
HOWE returned to the city, having had the wearisome march at this 
wintry season without effect.

     WASHINGTON now crossed the Schuylkill and went into winter quarters
at Valley Forge.  The cold of that winter was intense; the troops, half
clad and indifferently fed, suffered severely, the prints of their naked
feet in frost and snow being often tinted with patriot blood.  Grown im-
patient of the small results from the immensely expensive campaigns
carried on across the ocean, the Ministry relieved LORD HOWE, and 
appointed SIR HENRY CLINTON to the chief command.

     The Commissioners whom Congress had sent to France early in the 
fall of 1776--FRANKLIN,. DEAN, and LEE had been busy in making interest
for the united colonies at the French Court, and so successful were they
that arms and ammunition and loans of money were procured from time to
time.  Indeed, so persuasive had they become that it was a saying cur-
rent at court that, "It was fortunate for the King that FRANKLIN did
not take it into his head to ask to have the palace at Versailles stripp-
ed of its furniture to send to his dear Americans, for his majesty would
have been unable to deny him."  Finally, a convention was concluded, by
which France agreed to use the royal army and navy as faithful allies of
the Americans against the English. Accordingly, a fleet of four powerful
frigates, and twelve ships were dispatched under command of the COUNT
D'ESTAING to shut up the British fleet in the Delaware.  The plan was
ingenious, particularly worthy of the long head of FRANKLIN.  But by 
some means, intelligence of the sailing of the French fleet reached the
English cabinet, who immediately ordered the evacuation of the Delaware,
whereupon the Admiral weighed anchor and sailed away with his entire
fleet to New York, and D'ESTAING, upon his arrival at the mouth of the
Delaware, found that the bird had flown.

     CLINTON evacuated Philadelphia and moved across New Jersey in the
direction of New York.  WASHINGTON closely followed and came up with the
enemy on the plains of Monmouth, on the 28th of June, 1778, where a 
sanguinary battle was fought which lasted the whole day, resulting in 
the triumph of the American arms, and Pennsylvania was rid of British
troops.

     The enemy was no sooner well away from the city than Congress re-
turned from York and resumed its sittings in its former quarters, June
24, 1778, and on the following day, the Colonial Legislature returned
from Lancaster.  GENERAL ARNOLD, who was disabled by a wound received at
Saratoga, from field duty, was given command in the city and marched in
with a regiment on the day following the evacuation.  On the 23d of May,
1778, PRESIDENT WHARTON died suddenly of quinsy, while in attendance 
upon the Council at Lancaster, when GEORGE BRYAN, the Vice President,
became the Acting President.  BRYAN was a philanthropist in deed as well
as word.  Up to this time, African slavery had been tolerated in the
colony.  In his message of the 9th of November, he said: "This or some
better scheme, would tend to abrogate slavery--the approbrium of America
--from among us.  * * *  In divesting the State of slaves, you will 
equally serve the cause of humanity and policy, and offer to God one of
the most proper and best returns of gratitude for His great deliverance
of us and our posterity from thraldom; you will also set your character
for justice and benevolence in the true point of view to Europe, who are
astonished to see a people eager for liberty holding negroes in bondage."
He perfected a bill for the extinguishment of claims to slaves which was
passed by the Assembly, March 1, 1780, by a vote of thirty-four to 
eighteen, providing that no child of slave parents born after that date
should be a slave, but a servant till the age of twenty-eight years, 
when all claim for service should end.  Thus by a simple enactment reso-
lutely pressed by BRYAN, was slavery forever rooted out of Pennsylvania.

     In the summer of 1778, a force of savages and sour-faced tories to
the number of some 1,200, under the leadership of one COLONEL JOHN BUTLER,
a cruel and inhuman wretch, descending from the north, broke into the
Wyoming Valley on the 2d of July.  The strong men were in the army of
WASHINGTON, and the only defenders were old men, beardless boys and 
resolute women.  These, to the number of about 400, under ZEBULON BUTLER,
a brave soldier who had won distinction in the old French war, and who
happened to be present, moved resolutely out to meet the invaders.  Over-
borne by numbers, the inhabitants were beaten and put to the sword, the
few who escaped retreating to Forty Fort, whither the helpless, up and
down the valley, had sought safety.  Here humane terms of surrender were
agreed to, and the families returned to their homes, supposing all 
danger to be past.  But the savages had tasted blood, and perhaps con-
fiscated liquor, and were little mindful of capitulations.  The night of
the 5th was given to indiscriminate massacre.  The cries of the helpless
rang out upon the night air, and the heavens along all the valley were 
lighted up with the flames of burning cottages; "and when the moon arose,
the terrified inhabitants were fleeing to the Wilkesbarre Mountains, and
the dark morasses of the Pocono Mountain beyond.  Most of these were
emigrants from Connecticut, and they made their way homeward as fast as
their feet would carry them, many of them crossing the Hudson at
Poughkeepsie, where they told their tales of woe.

     In February, 1778, Parliament, grown tired of this long and wasting
war, abolished taxes of which the Americans had complained, and a commit-
tee, composed of EARL CARLISLE, GEORGE JOHNSTONE and WILLIAM EDEN, were
sent empowered to forgive past offenses, and to conclude peace with the
colonies, upon submission to the British crown.  Congress would not lis-
ten to their proposals, maintaining that the people of America had done
nothing that needed forgiveness, and that no conference could be accorded
so long as the English Armies remained on American soil.  Finding that
negotiations could not be entered upon with the government, they sought
to worm their way by base bribes.  JOHNSTONE proposed to GENERAL REED
that if he would lend his aid to bring about terms of pacification, 
10,000 guineas and the best office in the country should be his.  The
answer of the stern General was a type of the feeling which swayed every
patriot:  "My influence is but small, but were it as great as GOVENOR
JOHNSTONE would insinuate, the King of Great Britain has nothing in his
gift that would tempt me."

     At the election held for President, the choice fell upon JOSEPH 
REED, with GEORGE BRYAN Vice President, subsequently MATTHEW SMITH, and
finally WILLIAM MOORE.  REED was an erudite lawyer, and had held the
positions of Private Secretary to WASHINGTON, and subsequently Adjutant
General of the army.  He was inaugurated on the 1st of December, 1778.  
Upon the return of the patriots to Philadelphia after the departure of
British, a bitter feeling existed between them and the tories who had
remained at their homes, and had largely profited by the British occu-
pancy.  The soldiers became demonstrative, especially against those law-
yers who had defended the tories in court.  Some of those most obnoxious
took refuge in the house of JAMES WILSON, a signer of the Declaration.
Private soldiers, in passing, fired upon it, and shots were returned
whereby one was killed and several wounded.  The President on being in-
formed of these proceedings, rode at the head of the city troop, and
dispersed the assailants, capturing the leaders. The Academy and College
of Philadelphia required by its charter an oath of allegiance to the
former charter, and vesting its property in a new board. An endowment
of the institution was changed to the "University of the State of
Pennsylvania."

     France was now aiding the American cause with money and large land
and naval forces. While some of the patriots remained steadfast and were
disposed to sacrifice and endure all for the success of the struggle, 
many, who should have been in the ranks rallying around WASHINGTON, had
grown lukewarm.  The General was mortified that the French should come
across the ocean and make great sacrifices to help us, and should find
so much indifference prevailing among the citizens of many of the States, 
and so few coming forward to fill up the decimated ranks.  At the re-
quest of WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT REED was invested with extraordinary
powers, in 1780, which were used prudently but effectively.  During the
winter of this year, some of the veteran soldiers of the Pennsylvania
line mutinied and commenced the march on Philadelphia with arms in their
hands.  Some of them had just cause.  They had enlisted for "three years
or the war," meaning for three years unless the war closed sooner.  But
the authorities had interpreted it to mean, three years, or as much 
longer as the war should last.  PRESIDENT REED immediately rode out to 
meet the mutineers, heard their cause, and pledged if all would return
to camp, to have those who had honorably served out the full term of 
three years discharged, which was agreed to.  Before the arrival of the
President, two emissaries from the enemy who had heard of the disaffec-
tion came into camp, offering strong inducements for them to continue
the revolt.  But the mutineers spurned the offer, and delivered them 
over to the officers, by whom they were tried and executed as spies. The
soldiers who had so patriotically arrested and handed over these messen-
gers were offered a reward of fifty guineas; but they refused it on the 
plea that they were acting under authority of the Board of Sergeants,
under whose order the mutiny was being conducted.  Accordingly, a hundred
guineas were offered to this board for their fidelity.  Their answer
showed how conscientious even mutineers can be:  "It was not for the
sake, or through any expectation of reward; but for the love of our
country, that we sent the spies immediately to GENERAL WAYNE: we there-
fore do not consider ourselves entitled to any other reward but the love
of our country, and do jointly agree to accept of no other."

     WILLIAM MOORE was elected to succeed JOSEPH REED, from November 14,
1781, but held the office less than one year, the term of three years 
for which he had been a Councilman having expired, which was the limit 
of service.  JAMES POTTER was chosen Vice President.  On account of the
hostile attitude of the Ohio Indians, it was decided to call out a body
of volunteers, numbering some 400 from the counties of Washington and
Westmoreland, where the outrages upon the settlers had been most sorely
felt, who chose for their commander COLONEL WILLIAM CRAWFORD, of West-
moreland.  The expedition met a most unfortunate fate.  It was defeated
and cut to pieces, and the leader taken captive and burned at the stake.
Crawford County, which was settled very soon afterward, was named in 
honor of this unfortunate soldier.  In the month of November, intelli-
gence was communicated to the Legislature that Pennsylvania soldiers,
confined as prisoners of war on board of the Jersey, an old hulk lying 
in the New York Harbor, were in a starving condition, receiving at the
hands of the enemy the most barbarous and inhuman treatment.  Fifty 
barrels of flour and 300 bushels of potatoes were immediately sent to
them.

     In the State election of 1782, contested with great violence, JOHN
DICKINSON was chosen President, and JAMES EWING Vice President.  On the
12th of March, 1783, intelligence was first received of the signing of 
the preliminary treaty in which independence was acknowledged, and on
the 11th of April Congress sent forth the joyful proclamation ordering
a cessation of hostilities.  The soldiers of Burgoyne, who had been con-
fined in the prison camp at Lancaster, were put upon the march for New
York, passing through Philadelphia on the way.  Everywhere was joy un-
speakable.  The obstructions were removed from the Delaware, and the
white wings of commerce again came fluttering on every breeze.  In June,
Pennsylvania soldiers, exasperated by delay in receiving their pay and
their discharge, and impatient to return to their homes, to a consider-
able number marched from their camp at Lancaster, and arriving at 
Philadelphia sent a committee with arms in their hands to the State House
door with a remonstrance asking permission to elect officers to command
them for the redress of their grievances, their own having left them,
and employing threats in case of refusal.  These demands the Council 
rejected.  The President of Congress, hearing of these proceedings, 
called a special session, which resolved to demand that the militia of
the State should be called out to quell the insurgents.  The Council re-
fused to resort to this extreme measure, when Congress, watchful of its
dignity and of its supposed supreme authority, left Philadelphia and
established itself in Princeton, N.J., and though invited to return at
its next session, it refused, and met at Annapolis.

     In October, 1784, the last treaty was concluded with the Indians at
Fort Stanwix.  The Commissioners at this conference purchased from the
natives all the land to the north of the Ohio River, and the line of 
Pine Creek, which completed the entire limits of the State with the
exception of the triangle at Erie, which was acquired from the United
States in 1792.  This purchase was confirmed by the Wyandots and Dela-
wares at Fort McIntosh January 21, 1785, and the grant was made secure.

     In September 1785, after a long absence in the service of his 
country abroad, perfecting treaties and otherwise establishing just re-
lations with other nations, the veneerable BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, the nearly
eighty years old, feeling the infirmities of age coming upon him, asked
to be relieved of the duties of Minister at the Court of France, and
returned to Philadelphia.  Soon after his arrival, he was elected 
President of the Council.  CHARLES BIDDLE was elected Vice President.  
It was at this period that a citizen of Pennsylvania, JOHN FITCH, 
secured a patent on his invention for propelling boats by steam.  In May
1787, the convention to frame a constitution for the United States met
in Philadelphia.  The delegation from Pennsylvania was BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,
ROBERT MORRIS, THOMAS MIFFLIN, GEORGE CLYMER, THOMAS FITZSIMONS, JARED
INGERSOLL, JAMES WILSON, and GOUVERNEUR MORRIS.  Upon the completion of
their work, the instrument was submitted to the several States for 
adoption.  A convention was called in Pennsylvania, which met on the 
21st of November, and though encountering resolute opposition, it was
finally adopted on the 12th of December.  On the following day, the 
convention, the Supreme Council and officers of the State and city govern-
ment, moved in procession to the old court house, where the adoption of 
the constitution was formerly proclaimed amidst the booming of cannon and
the ringing of bells.

     On the 5th of November, 1788, THOMAS MIFFLIN was elected President,
and GEORGE ROSS Vice President.  The constitution of the State, framed 
in and adapted to the exigencies of an emergency, was ill suited to the
needs of State in its relations to the new nation.  Accordingly, a con-
vention assembled for the purpose of preparing a new constitution in 
November, 1789, which was finally adopted on September 2, 1790.  By the
provisions of this instrument, the Executive Council was abolished, and
the executive duties were vested in the hands of a Governor.  Legisla-
tion was intrusted to an assembly and a Senate.  The judicial system was
continued, the terms of the Judges extending through good behavior.

CHAPTER XIII.  Thomas Mifflin, 1788-99.  Thomas
               McKean, 1799-1808.  Simon Snyder, 
               1808-17.  William Findlay, 1817-20.
               Joseph Heister, 1820-23.  John A.
               Shulze, 1823-29.  George Wolfe, 1829-35.
               Joseph Ritner, 1835-39.

     The first election under the new Constitution resulted in the 
choice of THOMAS MIFFLIN, who was re-elected for three successive terms,
giving him the distinction of having been longer in the executive chair
than any other person, a period of eleven years.  A system of internal
improvements was now commenced, by which vast water communications were
undertaken, and a mountain of debt was accumulated, a portion of which
hangs over the State to this day.  In 1793, the Bank of Pennsylvania
was chartered, one-third of the capital stock of which was subscribed
for by the State.  Branches were established at Lancaster, Harrisburg,
Reading, Easton and Pittsburgh.  The branches were discontinued in 1810;
in 1843, the stock held by the State was sold, and in 1857, it ceased
to exist.  In 1793, the yellow fever visited Philadelphia.  It was 
deadly in its effects and produced a panic unparalleled.  GOVERNOR MIFF-
LIN, and ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Secretary of the United States Treasury,
were attacked.  "Men of affluent fortunes, who gave daily employment
and subsistence to hundreds, were abandoned to the care of a negro after
their wives, children, friends, clerks and servants had fled away and
left them to their fate.  In some cases, at the commencement of the 
disorder, no money could procure proper attendance.  Many of the poor
perished without a human being to hand them a drink of water, to admin-
ister medicines, or to perform any charitable office for them.  Nearly
5,000 perished by this wasting pestilence."

     The whisky insurrection in some of the western counties of the 
State, which occurred in 1794, excited, by its lawlessness and wide 
extent, general interest.  An act of Congress, of March 3, 1791, laid 
a tax on distilled spirits of four pence per gallon.  The then counties 
of Washington, Westmoreland, Allegheny and Fayette, comprising the 
southwestern quarter of the State, were almost exclusively engaged in
the production of grain.  Being far removed from any market, the pro-
duct of their farms brought them scarcely any returns.  The consequence
was that a large proportion of the surplus grain was turned into dis-
tilled spirits, and nearly every other farmer was a distiller.  This 
tax was seen to bear heavily upon them, from which a non-producer of
spirits was relieved.  A rash determination was formed to resist its 
collection, and a belief entertained, if all were united in resisting,
it would be taken off.  Frequent altercations occurred between the 
persons appointed United States Collectors and these resisting citizens.
As an example, on the 5th of September, 1791, a party in disguise set 
upon ROBERT JOHNSON, a Collector for Allegheny and Washington, tarred
and feathered him, cut off his hair, took away his horse, and left him
in this plight to proceed.  Writs for the arrest of the perpetrators
were issued, but none dared to venture into the territory to serve them.
On May 8, 1792, the law was modified, and the tax reduced.  In Septem-
ber, 1792, PRESIDENT WASHINGTON issued his proclamation commanding all
persons to submit to the law, and to forbear from further opposition.
But these measures had no effect, and the insurgents began to organize
for forcible resistance.  One MAJOR MACFARLANE, who on command of a 
party of insurrectionists, was killed in an encounter with United States
soldiers at the house of GENERAL NEVILLE.  The feeling now ran very 
high, and it was hardly safe for any person to breathe a whisper 
against the insurgents throughout all this district.  "A breath, says
BRACKENRIDGE, "in favor of the law, was sufficient to ruin any man.  A
clergyman was not thought orthodox in the pulpit unless against the law.
A physician was not capable of administering medicine, unless his prin-
ciples were right in this respect.  A lawyer could get no practice, nor
a merchant at a country store get custom if for the law.  On the con-
trary, to talk against the law was the way to office and emolument.  To
go to the Legislature or to Congress you must make a noise against it.
It was the Shibboleth of safety and the ladder of ambition."  One
BRADFORD had of his own notion, issued a circular letter to the Colonels
of regiments to assemble with their commands at Braddock's field on the
1st of August, where they appointed officers and moved on to Pittsburgh.
After having burned a barn, and made some noisy demonstrations, they 
were induced by some cool heads to return.  These turbulent proceedings
coming to the ears of the State and National authorities at Philadelphia,
measures were concerted to promptly and effectually check them.  
GOVERNOR MIFFLIN appointed CHIEF JUSTICE MCKEAN, and GENERAL WILLIAM
IRVINE to proceed to the disaffected district, ascertain the facts, and
try to bring the leaders to justice.  PRESIDENT WASHINGTON issued a 
proclamation commanding all persons in arms to disperse to their homes 
on or before the 1st of September, proximo, and called out the militia
of four States -- Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia -- to
the number of 13,0000 men, to enforce his commands.  The quota of Penn-
sylvania was 4,500 infantry, 500 cavalry, 200 artillery, and GOVERNOR
MIFFLIN took command in person.  GOVERNOR RICHARD HOWELL, of New Jersey,
GOVERNOR THOMAS S. LEE, of Maryland, and GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN of Vir-
ginia, commanded the forces from their States, and GOVERNOR HENRY LEE,
of Virginia, was placed in chief command.  PRESIDENT WASHINGTON, 
accompanied by GENERAL KNOX, Secretary of War, ALEXANDER HAMILTON,
Secretary of the Treasury, and RICHARD PETERS, of the United States
District Court, set out on the 1st of October, for the seat of the dis-
turbance.  On Friday, the President reached Harrisburg, and on Saturday
Carlisle, whither the army had preceded him.  In the meantime a com-
mittee, consisting of JAMES ROSS, JASPER YEATES and WILLIAM BRADFORD
was appointed by PRESIDENT WASHINGTON to proceed to the disaffected
district, and endeavor to persuade misguided citizens to return to their
allegiance. 

     A meeting of 260 delegates from the four counties was held at Park-
inson's Ferry on the 14th of August, at which the state of their cause
was considered, resolutions adopted, and a committee of sixty, one from
each county, was appointed, and a sub-committee of twelve was named to
confer with the United States Commissioners, MCKEAN and IRVINE.  These
conferences with the State and National Committees were successful in
arranging preliminary conditions of settlement.  On the 2d of October,
the Committee of Safety of the insurgents met at Parkinson's Ferry, and
having now learned that a well-organized army, with WASHINGTON at its
head, was marching westward for enforcing obedience to the laws, 
appointed a committee of two, WILLIAM FINDLEY and DAVID REDDICK to meet
the President, and assure him that the disaffected were disposed to
return to their duty.  They met WASHINGTON at Carlisle, and several con-
ferences were held, and assurances given of implicit obedience; but the
President said that as the troops had been called out, the orders for 
the march would not be countermanded.  The President proceeded forward
on the 11th of October to Chambersburg, reached Williamsport on the 13th
and Fort Cumberland on the 14th, where he reviewed the Virginia and Mary-
land forces, and arrived at Bedford on the 19th.  Remaining a few days,
and being satisfied that the sentiment of the people had changed, he
returned to Philadelphia, arriving on the 28th, leaving GENERAL LEE to
meet the Commissioners and make such conditions of pacification as should
seem just.  Another meeting of the Committee of Safety was held at
Parkinson's Ferry on the 24th, at which assurances of abandonment of
opposition to the laws were received, and the same committee, with the
addition of THOMAS MORTON and EPHRIAM DOUGLASS, was directed to return
to headquarters and give assurances of this disposition.  They did not
reach Bedford until after the departure of Washington.  But at Uniontown
they met GENERAL LEE, with whom it was agreed that the citizens of these
four counties should subscribe to an oath to support the Constitution 
and obey the laws.  Justices of the Peace issued notices that books were
opened for subscribing to the oath, and GENERAL LEE issued a judicious 
address urging ready obedience.  Seeing that all requirements were being
faithfully carried out, an order was issued on the 17th of November for
the return of the army and its disbandment.  A number of arrests were 
made and trials and convictions were had, but all were ultimately
pardoned.

     With the exception of a slight ebulition at the prospect of a war
with France in 1797, and a resistance to the operation of the "Homestead
Tax" in Lehigh, Berks and Northampton Counties, when the militia was
called out, the remainder of the term of GOVERNOR MIFFLIN passed in
comparative quiet.  By an act of the Legislature on the 3d of April,
1799, the capital of the State was removed to Lancaster, and soon after
the capital of the United States to Washington, the house on Ninth street
which had been built for the residence of the President of the United
States, passing to the use of the University of Pennsylvania.

     During the administrations of THOMAS MCKEAN, who was elected Gover-
nor in 1799, and SIMON SNYDER in 1808, little beyond heated political
contests marked the even tenor of the government, until the breaking-out
of the troubles which eventuated in the war of 1812.  The blockade of 
the coast of France in 1806, and the retaliatory measures of Napoleon
in his Berlin decree, swept American commerce, which hitherto preserved
a neutral attitude and profited by European wars, from the seas.  The
haughty conduct of Great Britain in boarding American vessels for sus-
pected deserters from the British Navy, under cover of which the grossest
outrages were committed, American seaman being dragged from the decks of
their vessels and impressed into the English service, induced PRESIDENT
JEFFERSON, in July, 1807, to issue his proclamation ordering all British
armed vessels to leave the waters of the United States, and forbidding
any to enter, until satisfaction for the past and security for the future 
should be provided for.  Upon the meeting of Congress in December, an
embargo was laid, detaining all vessels, American and foreign, then in
American waters, and ordering home all vessels abroad.  Negotiations 
were conducted between the two countries, but no definite results were
reached, and in the meantime causes of irritation multiplied until 1812,
when PRESIDENT MADISON declared war against Great Britain, known as the
war of 1812.  Pennsylvania promptly seconded the National Government, 
the message of GOVERNOR SNYDER on the occasion ringing like a silver
clarion.  The national call for 100,000 men required 14,000 from this
state, but so great was the enthusiasm, that several times this number
tendered their services.  The State force was organized in two divisions,
to the command of the first of which MAJOR GENERAL ISAAC MORRELL was
appointed, and to the second MAJOR GENERAL ADAMSON TANNEHILL.  Gunboats
and privateers were built in the harbor of Erie and on the Delaware, and
the defenses upon the latter were put in order and suitable armaments
provided.  At Tippecanoe, at Detroit, at Queenstown Heights, at the
River Raisin, at Fort Stephenson, and at the River Thames, the war was
waged with varying success.  Upon the water, COMMODORES DECATUR, HULL,
JONES, PERRY, LAWRENCE, PORTER and MCDONOUGH made a bright chapter in 
American history, as was to be wished, inasmuch as the war had been un-
dertaken to vindicate the honor and integrity of that branch of the 
service.  NAPOLEON, having met with disaster, and his power having been
broken, 14,000 of WELLINGTON'S veterans were sent to Canada, and the
campaign of the next year was opened with vigor.  But at the battles of
Oswega, Chippewa, Lundy's Lane, Fort Erie and Plattsburg, the tide was
turned against the enemy, and the country saved from invasion.  The act
which created most alarm to Pennsylvania was one of vandalism scarcely
matched in the annals of warfare.  In August, 1814, GENERAL ROSS, with
6,000 men in a flotilla of sixty sails, moved up Chesapeake Bay, fired
the capitol, President's house and the various offices of cabinet minis-
ters, and these costly and substantial buildings, the national library
and all the records of the Government from its foundation were utterly
destroyed.  Shortly afterward, ROSS appeared before BALTIMORE with the
design of multiplying his barbarisms, but he was met by a force hastily
collected under GENERAL SAMUEL SMITH, a Pennsylvania veteran of the
Revolution, and in the brief engagement which ensued ROSS was killed.  
In the severe battle with the corps of GENERAL STRICKER, the British 
lost some 300 men.  The fleet in the meantime opened a fierce bombard-
ment of Fort McHenry, and during the day and ensuing night 1,500 bomb-
shells were thrown, but all to no purpose, the gallant defense of MAJOR
ARMISTEAD proving successful.  It was during this awful night that MAJOR
KEY, who was a prisoner on board the fleet, wrote the song of the Star
Spangled Banner, which became the national lyric.  It was in the admin-
istration of GOVERNOR SNYDER in February, 1810, that an act was passed
making Harrisburg the seat of government, and a commission raised for
erecting public buildings, the sessions of the Legislature being held in
the court house at Harrisburg from 1812 to 1821.

     The administrations of WILLIAM FINDLEY, elected in 1817, JOSEPH
HEISTER in 1820, and JOHN ANDREW SCHULZ in 1823, followed without marked
events.  Parties became very warm in their discussions and in their
management of political campaigns.  The charters for the forty banks 
which had been passed in a fit of frenzy over the veto of GOVERNOR 
SNYDER set a flood of paper money afloat.  The public improvements,  
principally in opening lines of canal, were prosecuted, and vast debts
incurred.  These lines of conveyances were vitally needful to move the
immense products and vast resources of the State.

     Previous to the year 1820, little use was made of stone coal. JUDGE
OBEDIAH GORE, a blacksmith, used it upon his forge as early as 1769, and
found the heat stronger and more enduring than that produced by charcoal.
In 1791, PHILLIP GINTER, of Carbon County, a hunter by profession, hav-
ing on one occasion been out all day without discovering any game, was
returning at night discouraged and worn out, across the Mauch Chunk
Mountain, when, in the gathering shades he stumbled upon something which
seemed to have a glistening appearance, that he was induced to pick up 
and carry home.  This specimen was taken to Philadelphia, where an 
analysis showed it to be a good quality of anthracite coal.  But though
coal was known to exist, no one knew how to use it.  In 1812, COLONEL 
GEORGE SHOEMAKER, of Schuylkill County, took nine wagon loads to Phila-
delphia.  But he was looked upon as an imposter for attempting to sell
worthless stone for coal.  He finally sold two loads for the cost of
transportation, the remaining seven proving a complete loss.  In 1812, 
WHITE & HAZARD, manufacturers of wire at the Falls of Schuylkill, induc-
ed an application to be made to the Legislature to incorporate a company
for the improvement of the Schuylkill, urging as an inducement the im-
portance it would have for transporting coal; whereupon, the Senator
from that district, in his place, with an air of knowledge, asserted
"that there was no coal there, that there was a kind of black stone 
which was called coal, but that it would not burn."

     WHITE & HAZARD procured a cart load of Lehigh coal that cost them
$1 a bushel, which was all wasted in a vain attempt to make it ignite.
Another cart load was obtained, and a whole night spent in endeavoring
to make a fire in the furnace, when the hands shut the furnace door and
left the mill in despair.  "Fortunately one of them left his jacket in
the mill, and returning for it in about half an hour, noticed that the 
door was red  hot, and upon opening it, was surprised at finding the
whole furnace at a glowing white heat.  The other hands were summoned,
and four separate parcels of iron were heated and rolled by the same
fire before it required renewing.  The furnace was replenished, and as
letting it alone had succeeded so well, it was concluded to try it again,
and the experiment was repeated with the same result.  The Lehigh
Navigation Company and the Lehigh Coal Company were incorporated in 1818,
which companies became the basis of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation 
Company, incorporated in 1822.  In 1820, coal was sent to Philadelphia
by artificial navigation, but 365 tons glutted the market."  In 1825,
there were brought by the Schuylkill 5,378 tons.  In 1826, by the
Schuylkill, 16,265 tons, and by the Lehigh 31,280 tons.  The stage of
water being insufficient, dams and sluices were constructed near Mauch
Chuck, in 1819, by which the navigation was improved.  The coal boats
used were great square arks, 16 to 18 feet wide, and 20 to 25 feet long.
At first, two of these were joined together by hinges, to allow them to
yield up and down in passing over the dams.  Finally, as the boatmen
became skilled in the navigation, several were joined, attaining a length
of 180 feet.  Machinery was used for jointing the planks, and so expert 
had the men become that five would build an ark and launch it in forty- 
five minutes.  After reaching Philadelphia, these boats were taken to
pieces, the planks sold, and the hinges sent back for constructing 
others.  Such were the crude methods adopted in the early days for 
bringing coal to a market.  In 1827, a railroad was commenced, which was
completed in three months, nine miles in length.  This, with the excep-
tion of one at Qunicy, Mass, of four miles, built in 1826, was the first
constructed in the United States.  The descent was 100 feet per mile, 
and the coal descended by gravity in a half hour, and the cars were 
drawn back by mules, which rode down with the coal.  "The mules cut a 
most grotesque figure, standing three or four together, in their cars,
with their feeding troughs before them, apparently surveying with delight
the scenery of the mountain; and though they preserve the most profound
gravity, it is utterly impossible for the spectator to maintain his.  It
is said that the mules, having once experienced the comfort of riding 
down, regard it as a right, and neither mild nor severe measures will 
induce them to descend in any other way."  Bituminous coal was discov-
ered and its qualities utilized not much earlier than the anthracite.
A tract of coal land was taken up in Clearfield County in 1785, by MR.
S. BOYD,, and in 1804 he sent an ark down the Susquehanna to Columbia,
which caused much surprise to the inhabitants that "an article with 
which they were wholly unacquainted should be brought to their own 
doors."

     During the administrations of GEORGE WOLF, elected in 1829, and
JOSEPH RITNER, elected in 1835, a measure of great beneficence to the
State was passed and brought into a good degree of successful operation 
-- nothing less than a broad system of public education.  Schools had
been early established in Philadelphia, and parochial schools in the
more populous portions of the State from the time of early settlement.  
In 1749, through the influence of DR. FRANKLIN, a charter was obtained
for a "college, academy, and charity school of Pennsylvania," and from
this time to the beginning of the present century, the friends of educa-
tion were earnest in establishing colleges, the Colonial Government, and
afterward the Legislature, making liberal grants from the revenues 
accruing from the sale of lands for their support, the university of
Pennsylvania being chartered in 1752,Dickinson College in 1783, Franklin
and Marshall College in 1787, and Jefferson College in 1802.  Commencing
near the beginning of this century, and continuing for over a period of
thirty years, vigorous exertions were put forth to establish county
academies.  Charters were granted for these institutions at the county
seats of forty-one counties, and appropriations were made of money, 
varying from $2,000 to $6,000 and in several instances of quite exten-
sive land grants.  In 1809, an act was passed for the education of the
"poor, gratis."  Thew Assessors in their annual rounds were to make a
record of all such as were indigent, and pay for their education in the
most convenient schools.  But few were found among the spirited inhabi-
tants of the commonwealth willing to admit that they were so poor as to 
be objects of charity.

     By the act of April 1, 1834, a general system of education by com-
mon schools was established.  Unfortunately it was complex and unwieldy.
At the next session an attempt was made to repeal it, and substitute 
the old law of 1809 for educating the "poor, gratis," the repeal having
been carried in the Senate.  But through the appeals of THADDEUS STEVENS,
a man always in the van in every movement for the elevation of mankind,
this was defeated.  At the next session, 1836, an entirely new bill, 
discarding the objectionable features of the old one, was prepared by
DR. GEORGE SMITH, of Delaware County, and adopted, and from this time
forward has been in efficient operation.  It may seem strange that so
long a time should have elapsed before a general system of education 
should have been secured.  But the diversity of origin and language, the
antagonism of religious seats, the very great sparseness of population
in many parts, made it impossible at an earlier day to establish schools.
In 1854, the system was improved by engrafting upon it the feature of 
the County Superintendency, and in 1859 by providing for the establish-
ment of twelve Normal Schools, in as many districts into which the State
was divided, for the professional training of teachers. 



CHAPTER XIV.

              David R. Porter, 1839-45.  Francis R. Shunk, 
              1845-48.  William F. Johnstone, 1848-52.  
              William Bigler, 1852-55. James Pollock, 1855-58.  
              William F. Packer, 1858-61.  Andrew G. Curtin,
              1861-67.  John W. Geary, 1867-73.  John F. 
              Hartranft, 1873-78.  Henry F. Hoyt, 1878-82.
              Robert E. Pattison, 1882.

     In 1837, a convention assembled in Harrisburg, and subsequently in
Philadelphia, for revising the constitution, which revision was adopted
by a vote of the people.  One of the chief objects of the change was the
breaking up of what was known as "omnibus legislation," each bill being 
required to have but one distinct subject, to be definitely stated in
the title.  Much of the patronage of the Governor was taken from him, 
and he was allowed but two terms of three years in any nine years.  The
Senator's term was fixed at three years.  The terms of Supreme Court
Judges were limited to fifteen years, Common Pleas Judges to ten, and
Associate Judges to five. A step backward was taken in limiting suffrage
to white male citizens twenty-one years old, it having previously been
extended to citizens irrespective of color.  Amendments could be pro-
posed once in five years, and if adopted by two successive Legislatures,
and approved by a vote of the people, they became a part of the organic
law.

     At the opening of the gubernatorial term of DAVID R. PORTER, who 
was chosen in October, 1838, a civil commotion occurred known as the
Buckshot War, which at one time threatened a sanguinary result.  By the
returns, PORTER had some 5,000 majority over RITNER, but the latter, who
was the incumbent, alleged frauds, and proposed an investigation and 
revision of the returns.  THOMAS H. BURROWS was Secretary of State, and
Chairman of the State Committee of the Anti-Masonic party, and in an 
elaborate address to the people setting forth the grievance, he closed
with the expression "let us treat the election as if we had not been
defeated."  This expression gave great offense to the opposing party,
the Democratic, and public feeling ran high before the meeting of the
Legislature. Whether an investigation could be had would depend upon the
political complexion of that body.  The Senate was clearly Anti-Masonic,
and the House would depend upon the Representatives of a certain dis-
trict in Philadelphia, which embraced the Northern Liberties.  The
returning board of this district had a majority of Democrats, who pro-
ceeded to throw out the entire vote of Northern Liberties, for some 
alleged irregularities, and gave the certificate to Democrats.  Where-
upon, the minority of the board assembled, and counted the votes of the
Northern Liberties, which gave the election to the Anti-Masonic candi-
dates, and sent certificates accordingly.  By right and justice, there
is no doubt that the Anti-Masons were fairly elected.  But the majority
of a returning board alone have authority to make returns, and the Demo-
crats had the certificates which bore prima facie evidence of being
correct, and should have been received and transmitted to the House, 
where alone rested the authority to go behind the returns and investi-
gate their correctness.  But upon the meeting of the House the Secretary
of the Commonwealth sent in the certificates of the minority of the 
returning board of the Northern Liberties district, which gave the major-
ity to the Anti-Masons.  But the Democrats were not disposed to submit,
and the consequence was that two delegations from the disputed district
appeared, demanding seats, and upon the organization, two Speakers were
elected and took the platform -- THOMAS S. CUNNINGHAM for the Anti-
Masons, and WILLIAM HOPKINS for the Democrats. At this stage of the game,
an infuriated lobby, collected from Philadelphia and surrounding cities, 
broke into the two Houses, and, interrupting all business, threatened 
the lives of members, and compelled them to seek safety in flight, when
they took uncontrolled possession of the chambers and indulged in noisy
and impassioned harangues.  From the capitol, the mob proceeded to the
court house, where a "committee of safety" was appointed.  For several
days the members dared not enter either House, and when one of the 
parties of the House attempted to assemble, the person who had been 
appointed to act as Speaker was forcibly ejected.  All business was at 
an end, and the Executive and State Departments were closed.  At this
juncture, GOVERNOR RITNER ordered out the militia, and at the same time
called on the United States authorities for help.  The militia, under
GENERALS PATTISON and ALEXANDER, came promptly to the rescue, but the
President refused to furnish the National troops, though the United 
States storekeeper at the Frankford Arsenal turned over a liberal supply
of ball and buckshot cartridges.  The arrival of the militia only served
to fire the spirit of the lobby, and they immediately commenced drilling
and organizing, supplying themselves with arms and fixed ammunition.
The militia authorities were, however, able to clear the capitol, when 
the two Houses assembled, and the Senate signified the willingness to
recognize that branch of the House presided over by MR. HOPKINS.  This
ended the difficulty, and GOVERNOR PORTER was duly inaugurated.

     FRANCIS R. SHUNK was chosen Governor in 1845, and during his term 
of office the war with Mexico occurred.  Two volunteer regiments, one
under command of COLONEL WYNKOOP, and the other under COLONEL ROBERTS,
subsequently COLONEL JOHN W. GEARY, were sent to the field, while the
services of a much larger number were offered, but could not be received.
Toward the close of his first term, having been reduced by sickness, and
feeling his end approaching, GOVERNOR SHUNK resigned, and was succeeded 
by the Speaker of the Senate, WILLIAM F. JOHNSTON, who was duly chosen
at the next annual election.  During the administrations of WILLIAM 
BIGLER, elected in 1851, JAMES POLLOCK in 1854, and WILLIAM F. PACKER
in 1857, little beyond the ordinary course of events marked the history
of the State.  The lines of public works undertaken at the expense of 
the State were completed.  Their cost had been enormous, and a debt was
piled up against it of over $40,000,000.  These works, vastly expensive,
were still to operate and keep in repair, and the revenues therefrom 
failing to meet expectations, it was determined in the administration of
GOVERNOR POLLOCK to sell them to the highest bidder, the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company purchased them for the sum of $7,500,000.

     In the administration of GOVERNOR PACKER, petroleum was first dis-
covered in quantities in this country by boring into the bowels of the
earth.  From the earliest settlement of the country it was known to 
exist.  As early as July 18, 1627, a French Missionary, JOSEPH DELAROCHE
DAILLON, of the Recollets, described it in a letter published in 1632,
in Segard's L'Histoire du Canada, and this description is confirmed by 
the journal of Charlevois, 1721.  FATHERS DOLLIER and GALINEE, mission-
aries of the order of St. Supice , made a map of this section of country, 
which they sent to JEAN TALON, Intendent of Canada, on the 10th of Nov-
ember, 1670, on which was marked at about the point where is now the 
town of Cuba, N.Y., "Fontaine de Bitume."  The EARL OF BELMONT, Governor
of New York, instructed his chief engineer, WOLFGANG W. ROMER, on
September 4, 1700, in his visit to the Six Nations, "To go and view a 
well or spring which is eight miles beyond the Seneks' farthest castle,
which they have told me blazes up in flame, when a lighted coale or fire-
brand is put into it; you will do well to taste the said water, and give
me your opinion thereof, and bring with you some of it."  THOMAS CHABERT
DE JONCAIRE, who died in September, 1740, is mentioned in the journal of
CHARLEVOIX of 1721 as authority for the existence of oil at the place
mentioned above, and at points further south, probably on Oil Creek. The
following account of an event occurring during the occupancy of this part
of the State by the French is given as an example of the religious uses
made of oil by the Indians, as these fire dances are understood to have
been annually celebrated:  "While descending the Allegheny, fifteen 
leagues below the mouth of the Connewango (Warren) and three above Fort
Venango (Oil City), we were invited by the chief of the Senecas to 
attend a religious ceremony of his tribe.  We landed and drew up our
canoes on a point where a small stream entered the river.  The tribe
appeared unusually solem.  We marched up the stream about a half a 
league, where the company, a large band it appeared, had arrived some
days before us.  Gigantic hills begrit us on every side. The scene was 
really sublime.  The great chief then recited the conquests and heroisms
of their ancestors.  The surface of the stream was covered with a thick
scum, which burst into a complete conflagration.  The oil had been 
gathered and lighted with a torch.  At sight of the flames, the Indians
gave forth a triumphant shout, and made the hills and valley re-echo
again."

     In nearly all geographies and notes of travel published during the
early period of settlement, this oil is referred to, and on several maps
the word petroleum appears opposite the mouth of Oil Creek.  GENERAL 
WASHINGTON, in his will, in speaking of his lands on the Great Kanawha,
says: "The tract of which the 125 acres is a moiety, was taken up by 
GENERAL ANDREW LEWIS and myself, for and on account of a bituminous 
spring which it contains of so inflammable a nature as to burn as freely
as spirits, and is as nearly difficult to extinguish."  MR. JEFFERSON,
in his Notes on Virginia also gives an account of a burning spring on
the lower grounds of the Great Kanawha.  This oil not only seems to have
been known, but to have been systematically gathered in very early times.
Upon the flats a mile or so below the city of Titusville are many acres
of cradle holes dug out and lined with split logs, evidently constructed
for the purpose of gathering it.  The fact that the earliest inhabitants
could never discover any stumps from which these logs were cut, and the
further fact that trees are growing of a giant size in the midst of these
cradles, are evidences that they must have been operated long ago.  It
could not have been the work of any of the nomadic Indian tribes found 
here at the coming of the white man, for they were never known to under-
take any enterprise involving so much labor, and what could they do with
the oil when obtained.

     The French could hardly have done the work, for we have no account
of the oil having been obtained in quantities, or of its being transport-
ed to France.  May this not have been the work of the Mound-Builders, or 
of colonies from Central America?  When the writer first visited these
pits, in 1855, he found a spring some distance from Titusville, on Oil
Creek, where the water was conducted into a trough, from which, daily, 
the oil, floating on its surface, was taken off by throwing a woolen 
blanket upon it, and then wringing it into a tub, the clean wool absorb-
ing the oil and rejecting the water, and in this way, a considerable
quantity was obtained.

     In 1859, Mr. E. L. Drake, at first representing a company in New
York, commenced drilling near the spot where this tub was located, and
when the company would give him no more money, straining his own re-
sources, and his credit with his friends almost to the breaking point, 
and when about to give up in despair, finally struck a powerful current
of pure oil.  From this time forward, the territory down the valley of 
Oil Creek and up all its tributaries was rapidly acquired and developed
for oil land.  In some places, the oil was sent up with immense force,
at the rate of thousands of barrels each day, and great trouble was
experienced in bringing it under control and storing it.  In some cases,
the force of the gas was so powerful on being accidentally fired, as to 
defy all approach for many days, and lighted up the forests at night
with billows of light.

     The oil has been found in paying quantities in McKean, Warren, 
Forest, Crawford, Venango, Clarion, Butler and Armstrong Counties, chief-
ly along the upper waters of the Allegheny River and its tributary, the
Oil Creek.  It was first transported in barrels, and teams were kept 
busy from the first dawn until far into the night.  As soon as practic-
able, lines were extended from the wells to the seaboard, and to the
Great Lakes, through which the fluid is forced by steam to its distant
destinations.  Its principal uses are for illumination and lubricating,
though many of its products are employed in the mechanic arts, notably
for dyeing, mixing of paints, and in the practice of medicine.  Its
production has grown to be enormous, and seems as yet to show no sign of
diminution.  We give an exhibit of the annual production since its dis-
covery, compiled for this work by WILLIAM H. SIVITER, Editor of the Oil
City Derrick, which is the acknowledged authority on oil matters:

     PRODUCTION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA OIL FIELDS COMPILED FROM THE
     DERRICK'S HANDBOOK, DECEMBER, 1883

1859        82,000 Barrels                    1872     6,505,774 Barrels
1860       500,000 Barrels                    1873     9,849,508 Barrels
1861     2,113,000 Barrels                    1874    11,102,114 Barrels
1862     3,056,606 Barrels                    1875     8,948,749 Barrels
1863     2,611,399 Barrels                    1876     9,142,940 Barrels
1864     2,116,182 Barrels                    1877    13,052,713 Barrels
1865     3,497,712 Barrels                    1878    15,011,425 Barrels
1866     3,597,512 Barrels                    1879    20,085,716 Barrels
1867     3,347,306 Barrels                    1880    24,788,950 Barrels
1868     3,715,741 Barrels                    1881    29,674,458 Barrels
1869     4,186,475 Barrels                    1882    31,789.190 Barrels
1870     5,308,046 Barrels                    1883    24,385,966 Barrels

                                  A Grand Total of   243.749.558 Barrels

     In the fall of 1860, ANDREW G. CURTIN was elected Governor of 
Pennsylvania, and ABRAHAM LINCOLN President of the United States.  An 
organized rebellion, under the specious name of secession, was thereupon
undertaken, embracing parts of fifteen States, commonly designated the  
Slave States, and a government established under the name of the Con-
federate States of America, with an Executive and Congress, which com-
menced the raising of troops for defense.

     On the 12th of April, an attack was made upon a small garrison of
United States troops shut up in Fort Sumter.  This was rightly interpret-
ed as the first act in a great drama.  On the 15th, the President 
summoned 75,000 volunteers to vindicate the national authority, calling
for sixteen regiments from Pennsylvania, and urging that two be sent
forward immediately, as the capital was without defenders. 

     The people of the State, having no idea that war could be possible,
had no preparation for the event.  There chanced at the time to be five
companies in a tolerable state of organization.  These were the Ringold
Light Artillery, CAPTAIN MCKNIGHT, of Reading; the Logan Guards, CAPTAIN
SELHEIMER, of Lewistown; the Washington Artillery, CAPTAIN WREN, and the
National Light Infantry, CAPTAIN MCDONALD, of Pottsville; and the Allen
Rifles, CAPTAIN YEAGER, of Allentown.

     On the 18th, in conjunction with a company of fifty regulars, on
their way from the West to Fort McHenry, under command of CAPTAIN PEM-
BERTON, afterward LIEUTENANT GENERAL PEMBERTON, of the rebel army, these
troops moved by rail for Washington.  At Baltimore, they were obliged to
march two miles through a jeering and insulting crowd.  At the center of
the city, the regulars filed off toward Fort McHenry, leaving the volun-
teers to pursue their way alone, when the crowd of maddened people were
excited to redoubled insults.  In the whole battalion there was not a 
charge of powder, but a member of the Logan Guards, who chanced to have
a box of percussion caps in his pocket, had distributed them to his com-
rades, who carried their pieces capped and half cocked, creating the 
impression that they were loaded and ready for service.  This ruse un-
doubtedly saved the batallion from the murderous assault made upon the
Massachusetts Sixth on the following day.  Before leaving, they were 
pelted with stones and billets of wood while boarding their cars; but,
fortunately, none were seriously injured, and the train finally moved
away and reached Washington in safety, the first troops to come to the
unguarded and imperiled capital.

     Instead of sixteen, twenty-five regiments were organized for the 
three months' service from Pennsylvania.  Judging from the threatening
attitude assumed by the rebels across the Potomac that the southern
frontier would be constantly menaced, GOVERNOR CURTIN sought permission
to organize a select corps, to consist of thirteen regiments of infantry,
one of cavalry, and one of artillery, and to be known as the Pennsyl-
vania Reserve Corps, which the Legislature, in special session, granted.
This corps of 15,000 men was speedily raised, and the intention of the
State authorities was to keep this body permanently within the limits of
the Commonwealth for defense.  But at the time of the First Bull Run
disaster in July, 1861, the National Government found itself without
troops to even defend the capital, the time of the three months' men be-
ing now about to expire, and at its urgent call this fine body was sent
forward and never again returned for the execution of the duty for which
it was formed, having borne the brunt of the fighting on many a hard-
fought field during the three years of service.

     In addition to the volunteer troops furnished in response to the
several calls of the President, upon the occasion of the rebel invasion 
of Maryland in September, 1862, GOVERNOR CURTIN called 50,000 men for 
the emergency, and though the time was very brief, 25,000 came, were 
organized under command of GENERAL JOHN F. REYNOLDS, and marched to the
border.  But the battle of Antietam, fought on the 17th of September,
caused the enemy to beat a hasty retreat, and the border was relieved 
when the emergency troops were disbanded, and returned to their homes.
On the 19th of October, GENERAL J. E. B. STEWART, of the rebel army, 
with 1,800 horsemen under command of HAMPTON, LEE and JONES, crossed the
Potomac and made directly for Chambersburg, arriving after dark.  Not
waiting for morning to attack, he sent in a flag of truce demanding the
surrender of the town.  There were 275 Union soldiers in hospital, whom
he paroled.  During the night, the troopers were busy picking up horses
-- swapping horses perhaps it should be called -- and the morning saw 
them on the move.  The rear guard gave notice before leaving to remove
all families from the neighborhood of the public buildings, as they in-
tended to fire them.  There was a large amount of fixed ammunition in
them, which had been captured from LONGSTREET's train, besides Govern-
ment stores of shoes, clothing and muskets.  At 11 o'clock the station
house, round house, railroad machine shops and warehouses were fired and
consigned to destruction.  The fire department was promptly out; but it
was dangerous to approach the burning buildings on account of the ammu-
nition, and all perished.

     The year 1862 was one of intense excitement and activity.  From 
about the 1st of May, 1861, to the end of 1862, there were recruited in
the State of Pennsylvania, one hundred and eleven regiments, including
eleven of cavalry and three of artillery, for three years' service; 
twenty-five called out for the emergency, an aggregate of one hundred and
ninety-three regiments -- a grand total of over 200,000 men -- a great
army in itself.

     In June, 1863, GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE, with his entire army of North-
ern Virginia, invaded Pennsylvania.  The Army of the Potomac, under
GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER, followed.  The latter was superseded on the 28th
of June by GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE.  The vanguards of the army met a 
mile or so out of Gettysburg on the Chambersburg pike on the morning of
the 1st of July.  HILL's corps of the rebel army was held in check by
the sturdy fighting of a small division of cavalry under GENERAL BUFORD
until 10 o'clock, when GENERAL REYNOLDS came to his relief with the First
Corps.  While bringing his forces into action, REYNOLDS was killed, and
the command devolved on GENERAL ABNER DOUBLEDAY, and the fighting became
terrible, the Union forces being greatly outnumbered.  At 2 o'clock in
the afternoon, the Eleventh Corps, GENERAL O. O. HOWARD, came to the
support of the First.  But now the corps of EWELL had joined hands with
HILL, and a full two-thirds of the entire rebel army was on the field,
opposed by only the two weak Union corps, in an inferior position.  A
sturdy fight was however maintained until 5 o'clock, when the Union
forces withdrew through the town, and took position upon rising ground 
covering the Baltimore pike.  During the night the entire Union army 
came up, with the exception of the Sixth Corps, and took position, and
at 2 o'clock in the morning, GENERAL MEADE and staff came on the field.
During the morning hours, and until 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the two
armies were getting into position for the desperate struggle.  The Third
Corps, GENERAL SICKLES, occupied the extreme left, his corps abutting on
the Little Round Top at the Devil's Den, and reaching, en echelon, 
through the rugged ground to the Peach Orchard, and thence along the
Emmettsburg pike, where it joined the Second Corps, GENERAL HANCOCK, 
reaching over Cemetery Hill, the Eleventh Corps, GENERAL HOWARD, the 
First, GENERAL DOUBLEDAY, and the Twelfth, GENERAL SLOCUM, reaching 
across Culp's Hill -- the whole crescent shape.  To this formation the
rebel army conformed, LONGSTREET opposite the Union left, HILL opposite
the center, and EWELL opposite the Union right.  At 4 P.M. the battle
was opened by LONGSTREET, on the extreme left of SICKLES, and the fight-
ing became terrific, the rebels making strenuous efforts to gain Little
Round Top. But at the opportune moment a part of the Fifth Corps, GENERAL
SYKES, was brought upon that key position, and it was saved to the Union
side.  The slaughter in front of Round Top at the wheat-field and the
Peach Orchard was fearful.  The Third Corps was driven back from its
advanced position, and its commander, GENERAL SICKLES, was wounded, losing
a leg.  In a more contracted position, the Union line was made secure,
where it rested for the night.  Just at dusk, the Louisiana Tigers, some
1,800 men, made a desperate charge on Cemetery Hill, emerging suddenly
from a hillock just back of the town.  The struggle was desperate, but
the Tigers being weakened by the fire of the artillery, and by the in-
fantry crouching behind the stone wall; the onset was checked, and 
CARROLL's brigade, of the Second Corps, coming to the rescue, they were
finally beaten back, terribly decimated.  At about the same time, a 
portion of EWELL's corps made an advance on the extreme Union right, at
a point where the troops had been withdrawn to send to the support of
SICKLES, and unopposed, gained the extremity of Culp's Hill, pushing 
through nearly to the Baltimore pike, in dangerous proximity to the re-
serve artillery and trains, and even the headquarters of the Union com-
mander.  But in their attempt to roll up the Union right they were met by
GREEN's brigade of the Twelfth Corps, and by desperate fighting their
further progress was stayed.  Thus ended the battle of the second day.
The Union left and right had been sorely jammed and pushed back.

     At 4 o'clock on the morning of the 3d of July, GENERAL GEARY, who
had been ordered away to the support of SICKLES, having returned during
the night and taken position on the right of GREEN, opened the battle for
the recovery of his lost breastworks on the right of Culp's Hill.  Until
10 o'clock, the battle raged with unabated fury.  The heat was intoler-
able, and the sulphurous vapor hung like a pall over the combatants,
shutting out the light of day.  The fighting was in the midst of the
forest, and the echoes resounded with fearful distinctness.  The Twelfth
Corps was supported by portions of the Sixth, which had now come up.  At
length, the enemy, weakened and finding themselves overborne on all sides,
gave way, and the Union breastworks were reoccupied and the Union right 
made entirely secure.  Comparative quiet now reigned on either side un-
til 2 o'clock in the afternoon, in the meantime both sides bringing up
fresh troops and repairing damages.  The rebel leader having brought his
best available artillery in upon his right center, suddenly opened with
150 pieces a concentric fire upon the devoted Union left center, where
stood the troops of HANCOCK and DOUBLEDAY and SICKLES.  The shock was
terrible.  Rarely had such a cannonade been known on any field.  For 
nearly two hours it was continued. Thinking that the Union line had been   
broken and demoralized by this fire, LONGSTREET brought out a fresh corps
of some 18,000 men, under PICKETT, and charged full upon the point which
had been the mark for the cannonade.  As soon as this charging column
came into view, the Union artillery opened upon it from right and left
and center, and rent it with fearful effect.  When come within musket
range, the Union troops, who had been crouching behind slight pits and a
low stone wall, poured into a most murderous fire.  Still the rebels
pushed forward with a bold face, and actually crossed the Union lines
and had their hands on the Union guns. But the slaughter was too terrible
to withstand.  The killed and wounded lay scattered over all the plain.
Many were gathered in as prisoners.  Finally, the remnant staggered back,
and the battle of Gettysburg was at an end.

     Gathering all in upon his fortified line, the rebel chieftain fell
to strengthening it, which he held with a firm hand.  At night-fall, he
put his trains with the wounded upon the retreat.  During the 4th, great 
activity in building works was manifest, and a heavy skirmish line was
kept well out, which resolutely met any advance of Union forces.  The
entire fighting force of the rebel army remained in position behind their
breastworks on Oak Ridge, until nightfall of the 4th, when, under cover
of darkness, it was withdrawn, and before morning was well on its way to
Williamsport.  The losses n the Union side were 2,834 killed, 13,709 
wounded, and 6,643 missing, an aggregate of 23,186.  Of the losses of 
the enemy, no adequate returns were made.  MEADE reports 13,621 prisoners 
taken, and the losses by killed and wounded must have been greater than
on the Union side.  On the rebel side, MAJOR GENERALS HOOD, PENDER, 
TRIMBLE and HEATH were wounded, PENDER mortally.  BRIGADIER GENERALS 
BARKDALE and GARNETT were killed, and SEMMS mortally wounded.  BRIGADIER
GENERALS KEMPER, ARMISTEAD, SCALES, G.T. ANDERSON, HAMPTON, J.M. JONES,
and JENKINS were wounded; ARCHER was taken prisoner and PETTIGREW was
wounded and subsequently killed at Falling Waters.  In the Union army 
MAJOR GENERAL REYNOLDS and BRIGADIER GENERALS VINCENT, WEED, WILLARD, and
ZOOK were killed.  MAJOR GENERALS SICKLES, HANCOCK, DOUBLEDAY, GIBBON,
BARLOW, WARREN and BUTTERFIELD, and BRIGADIER GENERALS GRAHAM, PAUL, 
STONE, BARNES and BROOKE were wounded.  A National Cemetery was secured
on the center of the field, where, as soon as the weather would permit,
the dead were gathered and carefully interred.  Of the entire number in-
terred, 3,512, Maine had 104; New Hampshire, 49; Vermont, 61; Massachu-
setts, 159; Rhode Island, 12; Connecticut 22; New York, 867; New Jersey,
78; Pennsylvania 534; Delaware, 15; Maryland 22; West Virginia 11; Ohio,
131; Indiana 80; Illinois 6; Michigan, 171; Wisconsin, 73; Minnesota, 52;
United States Regulars, 138; unknown, 979.  In the center of the field,
a noble monument has been erected and on the 19th of November, 1864, the
ground was formally dedicated, when the eminent orator, EDWARD EVERETT,
delivered an oration, and PRESIDENT LINCOLN delivered the following
dedicatory address:

     "Fourscore and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this
continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the propo-
sition that all men are created equal.  Now we are engaged in a great
civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so
dedicated, can long endure.  We are met on a great battle field of that
war.  We are met to dedicate a portion of it as the final resting place
of those who here gave their lives that this nation might live.  It is
altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.  But in a larger
sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this
ground.  The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consec-
rated it far above our power to add or detract.  The world will little
note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what 
they did here.  It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to
the unfinished work that they have thus far so nobly carried on.  It is
rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us
-- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to the cause
for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we 
here highly resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain; that the
nation shall, under God, have a new birth of freedom, and that the 
government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not 
perish from the earth."

     So soon as indications pointed to a possible invasion of the North
by the rebel army under GENERAL LEE, and the State of Pennsylvania was
organized in two military departments, that of the Susquehanna, to the
command of which DARINS N. COUCH was assigned, with headquarters at 
Harrisburg, and that of the Monongahela, under W.T.H. BROOKS, with head-
quarters at Pittsburgh.  Urgent calls for the militia were made, and 
large numbers in regiments, in companies, in squadrons came promptly at
the call to the number of over 36,000 men, who were organized for a 
period of ninety days.  Fortifications were thrown up to cover Harrisburg
and Pittsburgh, and the troops were moved to threatened points.  But be-
fore they could be brought into action, the great decisive conflict had
been fought, and the enemy driven from northern soil.  Four regiments un-
der GENERAL BROOKS were moved into Ohio to aid in arresting a raid under-
taken by JOHN MORGAN, who, with 2,000 horse and four guns, had crossed
the Ohio River for a diversion in favor of LEE.

     In the beginning of July, 1864, GENERAL EARLY invaded Maryland, and
made his way to the threshold of Washington.  Fearing another invasion 
of the State, GOVERNOR CURTIN called for volunteers to serve for 100 days.
GENERAL COUCH was still at the head of the department of the Susquehanna,
and six regiments and six companies were organized, but as fast as 
organized they were called to the front, the last regiment leaving the
State on the 29th of July.  On the evening of this day, GENERALS 
MCCAUSLAND, BRADLEY JOHNSON and HARRY GILMORE with 3,000 mounted men and
six guns, crossed the Potomac and made their way to Chambersburg. Another
column of 3,000 under VAUGHN and JACKSON advanced to Hagerstown, and a
third to Leitersburg.  AVERELL, with a small force, was at Hagerstown,
but finding himself over-matched withdrew through Greencastle to Mount
Hope.  LIEUTENANT MCLEAN, with fifty men in front of MCCAUSLAND gallantly
kept his face to the foe, and checked the advance at every favorable 
point.  On being apprised of their coming, the public stores at Chambers-
burg were moved northward.  At six A.M., MCCAUSLAND opened his batteries
upon the town, but finding it unprotected, took possession.  Ringing the
court house bell to call the people together, CAPTAIN FITZHUGH read an
order to the assembly, signed by GENERAL JUBAL EARLY, directing the 
command to proceed to Chambersburg and demand $100,000 in gold, or
$500,000 in greenbacks, and, if not paid, to burn the town.  While this
parlay was in progress, hats, caps, boots, watches, clothing and valu-
ables were unceremoniously appropriated, and purses demanded at the point
of a bayonet.  As money was not in hand to meet so unexpected a draft, 
the torch was lighted.  In less than a quarter of an hour from the time
the first match was applied, the whole business part of the town was in
flames.  No notice was given for removing the women and children and 
sick.  Burning parties were sent into each quarter of the town, which 
made thorough work.  With the exception of a few houses upon the out-
skirts, the whole was laid in ruins.  Retiring rapidly, the entire rebel
command recrossed the Potomac before any adequate force could be gathered
to check its progress.

     The whole number of soldiers recruited under the various calls for
troops from the State of Pennsylvania was 366,000.  By authority of the
commonwealth, in 1866, the commencement was made of the publication of a
history of these volunteer organizations, embracing a brief historical
account of the part taken by each regiment and independent body in every
battle in which it was engaged, with the name, rank, date of muster, 
period for which he enlisted, casualties, and fate of every officer and
private.  This work was completed in 1872, in five imperical octavo 
volumes of over 1,400 pages each.

     In May, 1861, the Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania, an
organization of the officers of the Revolutionary war and their descen-
dants, donated $500 toward arming and equipping troops.  By order of the
Legislature, this sum was devoted to procuring flags for the regiments,
and each organization that went forth, was provided with one emblazoned
with the arms of the commonwealth.  These flags, seamed and battle stain-
ed, were returned at the close of the war, and are now preserved in a 
room devoted to the purpose in the State capitol -- precious emblems of 
the daring and suffering of that great army that went forth to uphold and
maintain the integrity of the nation.

     When the war was over, the State undertook the charge of providing
for all soldiers' orphans in schools located in different parts of its
territory, furnishing food, clothing, instruction and care, until they
should be grown to manhood and womanhood.  The number thus gathered and 
cared for has been some 7,500 annually, for a period of nineteen years,
at an average annual expense of some $600,000.

     At the election in 1866, JOHN W. GEARY, a veteran General of the
late war, was chosen Governor.  During his administration, settlements
were made with the General Government, extraordinary debts incurred dur-
ing the war were paid, and a large reduction of the old debt of 
$40,000,000 inherited from the construction of the canals was made.  A
convention for the revision of the constitution was ordered by act of
April 11, 1872.  This convention assembled in Harrisburg November 13, and
adjourned to meet in Philadelphia, where it convened on the 7th of Jan-
uary, 1873, and the instrument framed was adopted on the 18th of
December, 1873.  By its provision, the number of Senators was increased
from thirty-three to fifty, and Representatives from 100 to 201, subject
to further increase in proportion to increase of population; biennial, 
in place of fifteen years; remanding a large class of legislation to the
action of the courts; making the term of Governor four years in place of
three, and prohibiting special legislation, were some of the changes
provided for.

     In January, 1873, JOHN F. HARTRANFT became Governor, and at the
election in 1878, HENRY F. HOYT was chosen Governor, both soldiers of the
late war.  In the summer of 1877, by concert of action of the employes
on the several lines of railway in the State, trains were stopped and
travel and traffic were interrupted for several days together.  At Pitts-
burgh, conflicts occurred between the railroad men and the militia, and
a vast amount of property was destroyed.  The opposition to the local 
military was too powerful to be controlled, and the National Government
was appealed to for aid.  A force of regulars was promptly ordered out,
and the rioters finally quelled.  Unfortunately, GOVERNOR HARTRANFT was
absent from the State at the time of the troubles.

     At the election in 1882, ROBERT E. PATTISON was chosen governor.
The Legislature, which met at the opening of 1883, having adjourned 
after a session of 156 days, without passing a Congressional apportion-
ment bill, as was required, was immediately reconvened in extra session
by the governor, and remained in session until near the close of the 
year, from June 1 to December 5, without coming to an agreement upon a
bill, and finally adjourned without having passed one.  This protracted
sitting is in marked contrast to the session of that early Assembly in
which an entire constitution and laws of the province were framed and
adopted in the space of three days.

     November 2, 1886, JAMES A. BEAVER was elected governor.


END