tween the Colonies and the mother country should be settled, and in the mean time the inhabitants of the Colony of Wyoming should protect and govern themselves in the manner they might think most advisable. In pursuance of these views the inhabitants of Wyoming, commonly called the "Settlers," proceeded to establish a Government for themselves. They laid out Townships, formed settlements, erected fortifications, levied and collected taxes, passed laws for the direction of civil suits, and for the punishment of crimes and misdemeanors, established a militia, and provided for the common defence and general welfare of the Colony. Neither the Grecian nor the Roman States in their proudest days of republicanism could boast of a Government more purely Democratic than was now established at Wyoming. The supreme power vested (where nature has placed it in all Governments,) in the whole body of the people, and it was exercised, not by representation, but by a majority of votes in a full meeting of all the citizens who chose to attend for that purpose.This meeting was called "The Meeting of the Proprietors," and it formed the grand Council of the Colony to which an appeal was in all cases reserved. "The Meeting of the Proprietors" chose a President for each sitting, called a "Moderator," and their proceedings were recorded in a book, by a clerk chosen also for one meeting only. This record formed the "Statute Book," and was kept by the clerk of the last meeting. The meeting of the Proprietaries held no stated or periodical sess

ion, but assembled only whenever business made it necessary. The Executive power was vested in a Committee, consisting of one person from each Township in which settlements were commenced. They were called the "Committee of Settlers," and were authorized to decide upon all matters of minor importance both civil and criminal, and to call The Meeting of the Proprietors" whenever they thought proper.

The Judicial power was placed in three Courts, all having civil and criminal jurisdiction. The highest or Supreme Court, was "The Meeting of the Proprietors," to whom an appeal lay in all cases, and where the merits of each case were subject to revision, and all judgments, to correction. The second, or Executive Court, was the "Committee of Settlers," who corrected and entered judgments, and issued writs of execution. The common, or Ordinary Court, consisted of Three Freeholders, who were, in the first instance, to decide all controversies arising between any two or more individuals in their respective townships, and make a return of their award to the "Committee of Settlers," who issued execution to the proper Constable. A Constable for each Township was chosen at The Meeting of the Proprietors."* Such was the system of Government established at Wyoming; imperfect like every other system in its origin. After a trial of two years it was found necessary to make certain alterations, and to in

*Westmoreland Records.

troduce some new provisions which should render "The Meetings of the Proprietors" less frequent on appeals. Accordingly at a full meeting of the Proprietors and Settlers, held at Wilkesbarre on the 8th. day of July 1773, various alterations were adopted in their system, and the whole drawn into a regular form, "For the well ordering and gov❝erning the Proprietors and Settlers on the Sus"quehanna Purchase."

The most important alteration, was the appointment of a "Board of Directors," in the place of the Committee of Settlers," and a Sheriff and other officers provided for. All the Proprietors and Settlers were required to subscribe their names to these articles of agreement which were to form their Original Compact and to be received as their Constitution of Government. Those who refused to do so were deprived of their lands, and compelled to remove from the country.* Several of the laws passed at this time bear the appearance of great severity, but may have been justified by the circumstances of the times. One in particular passed at Wilkesbarre on the 28th day of December, 1772, which provided "That no person or per"sons, settlers or foreigners, coming into this "place, shall at any time hereafter sell or give to "any Indian or Indians any spirituous liquors, "on the forfeiture of all such liquors and the "whole of their goods and chattels, rights and ef

*Westmoreland Records.

this occurred.

Some instances of

"fects that they shall have on this purchase, and "also be voted out of this Company unless upon. "some extraordinary occasion, such as sickness, "&c. without leave first had and obtained from "the Committee."

The whole body of citizens capable of bearing arms, was formed into a militia, of which a list of those in each township constituted a section, who did garrison duty in the forts, and took their tour upon guard in regular succession.

The Proprietors were the owners of the whole purchase which extended one hundred and ten miles west of the Susquehanna River, and was about one hundred miles in width North and South.. This territory, or a great portion of it, was laid off into townships, generally five miles square, and except in the vicinity of the Susquehanna river, these townships formed regular ranges, extending East and West through the whole purchase; they were surveyed into lots of different sizes, of which a certain quantity was called a right or share, and a less quantity, an half-share. They were sold under various terms and conditions, and the proceeds of the sales went into the treasury of the Company. A town was laid out immediately adjoining the Wyoming Fort, by Col. Durkee, who gave it the united names of Wilkes and Barre, two distinguished members of the British Parliament, conspicuous for their devotion to the rights of the American Colonies.

While these peaceful measures were progressing the General Assembly of Connecticut passed res

olutions declaring their intention to support their claim to the lands within the limits of their Charter West of the Province of New York, and appointing Commissioners to negociate a settlement of all disputes with the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania, and an Act giving full powers to the Commissioners to make a final settlement of all boundaries and claims in dispute.

The Commissioners, having received their full powers, proceeded to Philadelphia in December 1773, and having produced their credentials, presented to Gov. Penn a letter from Gov. Trumbull of Connecticut, dated at Lebanon the 22d. of November 1773, in which, among other things, he says:

"The case hath been stated and council of the first eminence in Great Britain consulted on the right and title of the Governor and Company of the Colony of Connecticut to the lands within the limits and bounds of their Patent lying westward of the Province of New York. Notwithstanding the several settlements of the boundaries between the Colony on the East and the Province on the West, made, as well by agreement between the parties, as under the royal authority, and notwithstanding the subsequent Charter to Sir William Penn, their opinion is in favor of the Governor and Company of such lands. The General Assembly of this Colony, holden at New Haven in October last, resolved to make their claim to those lands, and in a legal manner support the same. Thereupon Col. Dyer, Doct. Johnson and Mr. Strong are duly appointed and commissioned to