hazards. They had an absolute conviction that, so long as they followed their sense of right, and only so long, an Almighty Protector was at their side. Alarm of war with the Nyantics. 1653. Sept. 12. sion." There had been, within the same time, important transactions with the Indians besides those incident to their supposed conspiracy with the Dutch. The leading spirit among them, after the death of Miantonomo, was his ally, Ninigret, sachem of the Nyantics. Pessacus was a person of unenterprising character, and the energy with which he had been treated had a permanent effect.1 Hearing that an assault had been made upon some Long-Island Indians, said to be friendly to the English, the Commissioners sent a message to the Narragansett and Nyantic chiefs, requiring them to appear at Boston in person or by envoys, and "clear themselves, or render a reason of their hostile invaThe bearers of the message returned with a report of "rude and hostile affronts offered by Ninigret's men," and of "proud, peremptory, and offensive answers from himself. He had also told them that "his heart was not willing to come to the Bay." Upon these grounds, and in consideration of the other causes of suspicion and displeasure which the savage had given through a course of years, the Commissioners voted, that they "conceived themselves called by God to make a present war against Ninigret, the Nyantic sachem, and such as, by cleaving to him, should maintain his late hostile and bloody proceedings." For this service they resolved to raise a force of two hundred and fifty men; one hundred and sixty-six to be furnished by Massachusetts, thirty-three by Connecticut, thirty by Plymouth, and twenty-one by New Haven. Neither of the Commissioners from Massachusetts signed these votes. Bradstreet formally registered his dissent. "There being no agreement," said he, "produced or proved, whereby the Sept. 20. 1 See above, p. 231. * Records, &c., in Hazard, II. 283 – 285. Colonies are obliged to protect the Long-Island Indians against Ninigret or others, and so no reason to engage them in their quarrels, the grounds whereof they cannot well understand, I therefore see not sufficient light to assent to this vote." 1 New dissen Sept. 24. The resentment of the western Colonies, now directed specially against the Nyantic chief, was again overruled by the calmer judgment of Massachusetts. On receiving information of the action of the Com- sion in the missioners, the Magistrates of that Colony re- Confederacy. solved that they "did not see sufficient grounds, either from any obligation of the English towards the Long-Islanders, or from the usage the messengers received from the Indians, or from any other motive presented unto their consideration, or from all of them; and therefore dared not to exercise their authority to levy force within their jurisdiction to undertake a present war against Ninigret." The flame, that had scarcely been kept under, now broke out afresh. The Commissioners of the three smaller Colonies united, not only in confirming their recent action against the Nyantics, but in renewing their vote for war against the Dutch; and they passed a Resolve, that "the Massachusetts had actually broken their covenant." Bradstreet recorded his protest against this Resolve," solemnly professing" that it was not "the mind" of his government "to oppose the determination of the Commissioners further than they conceived the same to oppose the mind of God." The Commissioners admitted "that any determination of theirs manifestly unjust was not binding;" but they insisted, that, their present determination not being of that character, the plea of Massachusetts was not to the present purpose.2 The General Court of Massachusetts now addressed themselves directly to the governments of the other Col 1 Records, &c., in Hazard, II. 288-293. 2 Ibid., 295-298. Nov. 1. onies with a proposal for "a committee, to be chosen by each jurisdiction, to treat and agree upon such Sept. 13. explanation or reconciliation of the Articles of Confederation as should be consistent with their true meaning." After six weeks, Connecticut and New Haven made a joint reply.2 "We grant," they said," as the Commissioners themselves have done, that, if any of their determinations prove manifestly unjust, which they have not yet heard of, they ought to be laid aside. It is better to obey God than man; to obey God than General Courts or Commissioners." But they thought the instrument of confederation sufficiently clear; they saw "no cause to choose or send a committee, either for explication or alteration of any of the Articles;" and they renewed the charge of "breach of league and covenant." Plymouth took four months 1654. March 7. longer for consideration, and then sent an answer of the same import. Massachusetts made June 6. separate replies, and a joint answer was preJuly 15. pared by New Haven for the three dissatisfied Colonies.5 The arrival from England of the expedition destined against the Dutch had now taken place; and probably the prospect, thus opened, of attaining the desired end in a way different from what had been insisted on, had a tendency to compose the quarrel. Connecticut had chosen her Federal Commissioners at the usual time;6 and, after some debate on the question whether the Confederacy should be still sustained, New Haven' and Plymouth, at a later hour, followed the example, at the same time instructing their repre May 18. July 5. 1 Records, &c., in Hazard, II. 304. 2 N. H. Rec., II. 37-43; comp. Conn. Rec., I. 248, 249. 3 305. Plym. Rec., III. 43; Hazard, II. * Mass. Rec., IV. (i.) 196; N. H. Rec., II. 113, 114. N. H. Rec., II. 115–117. sentatives to endeavor to obtain satisfaction for the injury which was imputed. When, at the opening of the next annual meeting of the Commissioners, held at Hartford, they "fell upon a debate of the late differences betwixt Massachusetts and the other Colonies," the Commissioners of Massachusetts, in behalf of their government, retracted the distinction which had been made as to the function of the Commissioners in respect to offensive and to defensive wars, and acknowledged the authority of the Federal Council, as it had been maintained on the other side, only insisting on the reservation that it could not oblige to any act or proceeding of a criminal character. "We do hereby," they said, "profess it to be our judgments, and do believe it to be Explanation the judgment of our General Court, that the Betts. Commissioners, or six of them, have power, according to the Articles, to determine the justice of all wars, &c.; that our General Court hath and doth recall that interpretation of the Articles which they sent to the Commissioners at Boston,. . . and do acknowledge of Massachu Sept. 7. themselves bound to execute the determinations of the Commissioners, according to the literal sense and true meaning of the Articles of Confederation, so far as the said determinations are in themselves just and according to God." The Commissioners for the other Colonies unanimously accepted the explanation, "provided the General Court of the Massachusetts, at their next meeting, should certify to the other three General Courts their consent thereunto, and profess to act accordingly."1 The General Court of Massachusetts did so certify; and the long quarrel seemed at an end. Oct. 19. The probability of an immediate conflict with New Netherland was now passed. Time had disclosed no more proof of the alleged conspiracy; the border was tranquil; and the parent countries had made peace. 1 Records, &c., in Hazard, II. 307. ? Mass. Rec., IV. (i.) 202. Sept. 12. During the year, however, the proceedings of Ninigret, who was probably emboldened by intelligence of the dissension among the Colonies, had been more alarming. Some of his followers were even so rash as to make depredations upon the land of Mr. Winthrop at New London. The Commissioners, proceeding to business, unanimously resolved to send a messenger to require him to make up the arrears of tribute due for some Pequots who had been placed under his government, and to give security for its punctual payment in future, and" for his peaceable carriage" and "faithful observance of his covenants." He was at the same time to be invited to make known the causes of complaint which he was understood to have against Uncas, that the Commissioners might take order for his effectual protection against that chief. His personal presence was not required; but, if he preferred to visit the Commissioners, he was "not to bring with him above twenty or thirty men," to which retinue Uncas was required to allow unmolested passage through his country.1 Expedition Ninigret refused either to come or send to Hartford, or to give any satisfaction; and, though in Massachusetts his conduct was regarded as indicating rather ill-temper and vexation than any dangerous design, yet, as such designs might easily follow, and the example of defiance against the was dangerous, the Massachusetts CommissionNyantics. ers could no longer take the responsibility of obstructing active measures. They united with the rest in a vote to send twenty horsemen and forty foot-soldiers into his country, with a demand tantamount to that which he had recently rejected. If he should comply with it, no further measures were to be taken. Should he refuse, he was forthwith to be brought to terms by an invading force consisting of forty horsemen and a hundred and forty-three foot-soldiers from Massachusetts, forty-five 1 Records, &c., in Hazard, II. 308-310; comp. 131. |