At this early period, there were no bloody or general wars. Conspiracies indeed were often formed, but, being timely and remarkably discovered, massacres were prevented. But although little blood flowed, still a spirit of hostility was indulged in secret, ready to break out into open acts, when the hope of success should offer. CHAPTER IV. Constitution adopted. Rev. Mr. Connecticut settled. THE English colony, greatly increased in courage and wealth, and still more in numbers, now began to think of more distant settlements. As early as 1634, Connecticut had begun to be settled. In 1635, the Rev. Mr. Hooker, inferior to none of the clergy, except the Rev. Mr. Cotton of Boston, with a part of his congregation, 100 in number, removed from Newton near Boston, and settled in Hartford, on Connecticut river. Mrs. Hooker was carried in a litter. They drove with them 160 head of cattle, which mostly perished for want of fodder during the next winter. They were 14 days on the journey through the wilderness, a distance of nearly 100 miles, which is now passed by the stage in a day. The river they found frozen over by the 15th of November. In addition to the loss of cattle to the amount of 8000 dollars in value, during the first winter, the people themselves suffered greatly by famine. Not long after, the Rev. Mr. Davenport settled at New-Haven. The first public worship attended was on the 18th of April, 1638, beneath a large oak, when Mr. Davenport preached on "the temptations of the wilderness.” One of the Indian tribes, of which Wahquimicut was grand sachem, had invited the English to go there, influenced by the expectation that they would afford him aid in defending himself against the neighboring tribes, with whom he had not the best understanding. In addition to this, the English had made a purchase as well of the Indians, as of the proprietors in England. The Dutch at Manhadoes, the ancient name of New-York, had claimed the lands as far as to Connecticut river, but chose to relinquish their supposed rights rather than to defend them by force, as the Dutch, inferior in numbers, were not equal to a war with the English. The Rev. Mr. Hooker and his little colony had no sooner arrived at Hartford than they proceeded to form a civil compact, although they still considered themselves under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. This constitution, in its most essential points, still continues to be that of Connecticut. Though founded on principles of perfect natural equality, and is highly democratic, it still remains the pride and boast of that section of the country, which has so often been styled, "the land of steady habits." Other states have amended or entirely changed their original constitutions; but that state seems to have acted on the principle, that whatever is best administered is best." That has adhered to its old form of government through ages remarkable alike for making and breaking constitutions. Of Connecticut had been settled by several of the most warlike and numerous tribes ever known in New-England. these the Pequoits, the Mohegans and the Podunks were the most active and powerful. New-London, whose ancient name was Pequot, was the seat of dominion, and gave name to the tribe, of which Sassacus was grand sachem. This monarch had extended his conquests from a part of Narraganset as far as to Connecticut river, including the sovereignty of all Long Island. On the arrival of the English, he made a treaty which he never regarded, and ceded lands which he soon claimed again as his own. The Mohegan possessed all Windham county and a part of the two contiguous, the sachem of which was Uncus, distinguished by his fidelity and friendship for the English. The Podunks had their seat of residence at East Hartford, whose chieftain was Tatanimoo. The smaller tribes were scattered through the whole territory of that state. The English increased with great rapidity. Accessions to them were made from the eastern colonies and still more from adventurers from Europe. Invited by the beauty of the country, the general prevalence of health and the richness of the soil, very many of the best towns in Connecticut were already settled by the white people. The Indians beheld their progress with a jealous eye. They saw their power, and were sensible of their superior skill. They perceived no means, which could fix effectual mounds to the overwhelming torrent. Every day increased the numbers of the new settlers, whose strength was already to be feared. Should things long proceed in this train, they plainly perceived there would be no room for them. Nor could they retire back into the wilderness, without trespassing on the lands of other tribes. The idea too of leaving the lands where the bones of their ancestors rested, and which they themselves had so long planted, was to them utterly insupportable. The Pequoits saw their dangers; and long habituated to conquests, they possessed courage to make resistance to encroachments, of which they saw no end. But knowing they had a new foe, more powerful than any former one, with whom they had now to contend, they were desirous to strengthen their cause by a confederacy with other tribes. They applied to the Narragansets, offering a treaty of alliance with them. They used arguments to show, that their common dangers ought now to make them common friends; that, although heretofore they had contended with each other for extent of territory and power, now they had to contend for existence; that their united efforts would soon drive the enemy from their invaded territories; that those who should be the last to fight would only, instead of escaping, be the last to be destroyed; and that constant encroachments left them no possible safety but in their courage and in their arms. This policy, however good, was not easily to succeed, The Narraganset tribe, instead of yielding to the force of these arguments, even went so far as to inform the white people of the plot. Their former hostilities with their red brethren had created such an incurable dislike as was never to be erased from their revengeful breasts as long as traces of them were left in their memories. Unable to procure aid from those, whom they had formerly treated as enemies, they were resolved to take counsel from courage only. Their hearts were undaunted, their minds active, their sentiments full of independence, alike unused to fear and defeat. To war they were prompt; and the execution of their plans always followed the decisions of their councils. They had few arms to get in readiness; and the moment of determination was that of preparation for war. Their arms and mode of fighting did not qualify them to meet Europeans in any kind of regular pitched battle. was a much deeper policy in them to take off their enemies It in detail, to destroy their cattle, to terrify every class of people, and by fear, force and devastation to drive them from their neighborhood, while they were few and fertile. They wished to destroy Hercules in his cradle, before he attained the age and the strength of a giant. From a bark sailing down the river, they killed one man and took another, whom, after having cut off his feet and his hands, they tortured to death. Near Weathersfield, they killed 6 men, killed 8 women, and took 2 maids captive, besides killing a horse and 20 COWS. Year after year, numbers were destroyed in forms shocking to humanity. At length, the massacre of Captains Stone and Norton with 6 men, induced the English seriously to demand satisfaction. This being refused, 90 men were sent to chastise the offenders under the command of Captains Endicott, Underhill and Turner. They no sooner approached them than 40 Indians discharged their arrows and fled with precipitation. Little more was done than killing a few Indians, burning several wigwams, destroying several hundred acres of corn, and breaking into pieces their canoes. The depredation and massacres continued with unabated cruelty, the Pequots grew daily more insolent and outrageous. They began to consider the English as destitute of spirit, since they could suffer so long the indignities and the injuries offered them. Things had now become such, that no choice was left but that of war. Three little armies were raised for this purpose. The Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies sent 200 men, with the Rev. Mr. Wilson as chaplain, "to sound the silver trumpet of the gospel before them.' Rhode Island, not being deemed sufficiently orthodox on tenets much agitated in those days, was not unusually invited to join the holy bands in the wars against the savages. Connecticut raised her quota of 190 men, placed under the conduct of Capt. Mason. About 60 Mohegans and 200 Narragansets were permitted without any religious scruples to join on the way in these holy crusades. The troops from Massachusetts did not arrive in season for the main action, having been detained by disputes and decisions concerning the covenant of grace and of works, a controversy introduced by the celebrated Mrs. Anne Hutchinson, a zealous antinomian of Boston, who was banished for her opinions by the meek and benevolent christians and clergy of that colony, and sent near New Haven among the Indians, who soon murdered both her and her numerous family. Few as the Connecti C2 |