New-York daily tribune., 1843-02-27
aealltleaL Distorp. No XII.
Prepared for the Tribune BY EDWIN WILLIAMS

COLONIAL POLITICS OF Observation-Disclosures" (" ''
rESa HIS TRANSACTIONS. <,
In March. 1880. the King OF England, (ehatieS
odN granted 10 Wm Penn patent Tor an eAten-
o;va ,err;,ory ives, Of the Delaware river, whicn,
;, bo,o, Of his father, Admiral Penn. was called
prsrsy1As14 About three thousand inhabitants
had already formed plantations on the Delaware
md schuv!kill rivers, previous to the arrival OF
William Penn with additional emigrants from Eng
land, principally Quakers, in 1882 The original
settlers were Dutch, Swedes ana English, some OF
whom had been established several years before
Penn took possession OF his colony They had
been subject to the jurisdiction OF the Governors OF
New York, acting under the charter of 1864 to
the Duke of York. Chalmers however, in his
colonial annals, says that this colony was then
governed by usurpers, because their titles were
detective
The charter or patent, from the King, constitut-
ed William Pean the true and absolute proprietor
of the territory described, Preserving to the crown
the sovereignty Of the country and the allegiance OF
rhe proprietary and the inhabitants,) and erected
j, into province and seignory by the name Ct
PenRsylvania. It authorized the proprietary and
his heirs, and successors, to make all laws for
raising money and ether purposes, with the assent
of the freeusn Of The county their deputies, eS-
sembled for the purpose. The laws, however,
were to be made cenformable to English statutes,
and TO be sent TO England wtan FIVE years after
the making of them, and if dsapProved of by the
crown within six months, to become null and void
Proud. The charter also authorized the pro-
prietary TO appoint colonial officers, to establish
courts Of justice, with right Of appeal to the
crown; cities and other corporations, and
to erect ports and manors. 1t was further siipuat
ed that the crown should levy no tax, custom or
imposition upon the inhabitants or their goods
unless by the coasent of the proprietary assem-
bly,, or b. act of Parliament in England. This
charter was deemed one of the drawn Of the
colonial charters, and underwent the revision of
the law officers of the crown. (Story.)
Being thus invested with ample powers, vii
lian, Penn, with the advice and assent of the emf
grants, before he left Eng land in 1852, draw up
aframe of government, as he called it, with set
of fundamental laws for his new province The
system partook of the spirit of its author, and in
many respects differed from the colonial govern
fnents The introanciion gives sketch of the
origin, and objects of government. and a review of
the different forms that had been established and
lays down the proposition that any government
is FREQ to the people under it, whatever be the
frame, where the laws rule, and the people are
party to those laws; and more than this is tyran-
ny, oligarchy, or confusion" 1t is also declared
that the end of government is 9" to support power
ia reverence with the people, and to secure the
people from the abuse Of power"
The frams of government, after providing for an
organization under governor, named by the pro-
prie,ary, and council, and general assembly
elected by the people, declared that all persons
knowledgeing one Almighty God and living peace
ably, should be in nc weys molesied fox their relig
tain any religious worship, place or ministry
The right of trial by jury secured, and the
right to dispose of property by will; lands in GER
tain cases were made liable for debts, William
Penn, on all occasions, showed tender regard and
socilude fol the rights of the 1ndans and the du.
ties of the settlers towards them, as appears by
various public documents and his conduct. This,
Gays Judge Story, lis truly honorable to his me
merry
Penn's system of government, formed in Eng
land, like many others drawn up in the closet,
soon found defective in practice. 1t was there
fore laid aside and in 1858, second Constitution
was agreed upon by the Governor and freemen.-
Among other alterations the number of the Council
was reduced to eighteen and the Assembly thirty
six members.
King James II. had granted many fayors to
William Penn and his Quaker associates. On ac-
count OF the attachment which Penn very naturally
felt for the King he was suspected of being So
oretly Roman Catholic, and on the accession Of
William and Mary to the throne. he fell under
their displeasure end was deprived of the govern
mon, of Pennsylvania in 1892, when Benjexlsn
{, Fletcher, then Governor of New-York, was ap-
pointed also Governor Of Pennsylvania. During
kle,chsr's administration, as he paid but little al
tention TO the rights and privileges of the people,
secured BY Penn's Charter. serious difficulties
between the Governor end Assembly,
(Piiaia.
The administration of Fletcher was of short
duration. Being convinced of the innocence of
Penn, William I'LL, in August. 1894, restored to
him the Government of hi. province. he did
not, however, return to Pennsylvania un;il 1899,
ban appointed William Mackham his deputy, be-
tween whora and the Assembly difficulties arose,
and some alterations were made in the frame of
Government After the return OF the proprietor.
the people insisted ON more ample security of ,hsir
rights and privileges.
In~May, l7Oo, therefore, the former system was
surrendered, and charter of privileges was