The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-10
THE NATIONAL ERA.
For the National Era.
A TALE OF THE COLONY TINES.
"ln the good old Colony times,
When we lived under the kingn
BY MARTHA RUSSELL.

far greater wrongs than those illegal taxes that
struck he key note to the Revolution.
This was especially true of New Hampshire,
under the first royal Governors. Mason, the
grandson Of the famous Captain John, of Peqnod
memory, had, in asserting his claims TO his grand
fathers grant, succeeded in separating the Colony
from Massachusetts,, under whose jurisdiction the
hrst settlement had been made. In this he was
aided by his relative, Edward Randolph, tina,
"blasted wretch" as one of our old historians
terms him, who crossed the Atlantic no less than
eight times in nine years, in his ndefatigable zeal
to procure the downfall of our charter Govern
meni, in which mischievious errand he but toe
wen succeeded
A President and Council were appointed by
his Majesty Charles H. for the government of the
province; and, as the separation had been in di-
rect opposition TO the wishes Of the people, h
shrewdly nominated several Of the most dstin.
guished genrlmen in the Colony to the first Coun-
Gil. They were men who had held high offices, both
civil and military, under the Colonial Govern
ment, and nothing but the unavoidable necessity
Of submitting to this change, and the fear that in
case of their refusal others less true to the inter
ests of the people, would be substituted induced
them to accept the nomination. Their acceptance
was a sore disappointment to Mason and his coad-
tutors After striving for some months to intimi-
date or csjole them into furthering their selfish
and ambitious ends, Mason returned to England
where he so completely gained the ear of the vo-
luptuous monarch, that the form Of government
was once more changed and Edward Cranfeld
appointed royal Governor.
His commission which bears the date of May
9Th, l6sf; give nm almost absolute power, and be
! was man little calculated either by nature or
education, to neglect any of the prerogatives of
his Office. staneh royalist, devoted adherent
to the forms of the established church, he had
little sympathy with the thoughts, ends, and aims
of that singular people whom he came to govern
and his strong prejudioes and arrogant manners
were i'll calculated TO win either their love or re-
spect.
He was empowered to appoint all general Off
GERS, and to suspend such members of the Coun-
Gil gave him just cause of offence, they being,
at the same time, declared not eligible to the
General Assembly, the only body elected by the
people. 1t was not long, therefore, before he saw
himself supported by a Council wholly subservi-
ent to his will.
But the members OF the Assembly were sternly
true to their trust and convoking them twice,
and finding them as resolute and firm in main
tanning their rights as had been their sires and
brothers in the reign of Charles ], like that un-
happy monarch, at whose court his early youth
had boop whn hp IN fax 70 IN
his model, he suddenly dismissed them, and with
his Council, assumed the whole of the legislative
power, taxing the people without their consent
and fning and imprisoning such as dared to COM
plain of injustice.
This tyrannioal conduct bore heavily upon the
inhabitants of Portsmouth and its vicinity. Fifty
years had elapsed since the so-cslled company of
Laconia" headed by Mason and Georges, had
raised the first rude hut near the mouth Of the
pleasant Piscataqua, yet the inhabitants had lost
none Of the peculiar traits that distinguished the
Puritan character. Their patient perseverance,
their quaint garb and godly modes of speech, and
their mistaken confidence in an over-ruing
Providence and his blessing on their cause, were
worthy even of the May Flower
Indeed, there were still living in their midst
gray-headed old men, who remembered well the
falling of the fret tree and the site of the first
hut men who could tell fearful tales Of the wan
behring's of the company through the painless for
est in search of the cleaning river, and who re-
membered, ALSO that discreet and godly man,
Francis Williams, the first colonial Governor,
and did not fail to contrast in no silken phrases,
the arbitrary proceedings of the royal Governor
with bis wise and just measures.
But ardent as was their love of liberty, and
keenly as they felt every new aggression upon
their rights, they kept the law ever upon their
side. In spite of imprisonment, they demonstrated
firmly and respectfully with their rulers; but
there was no open onbreak-no popular riot ;
for Puritanism had little sympathy with mohs
But their prayers were marked with greater ear
nestness and, perhaps, duration, and there was
general tendency 10 wait and see what the Lord
would do for them in the matter.
But, when the Governor began to attack and
suppress their religious liberties, one deep, indig
nant throb passed through the heart of the whole
people But the rulers needed it not, and soon
came an order requiring them, on pain of his
Majesty's displeasure, to abstain from all manual
labor on the approaching Christmas, and to OBJ
serve the fasts of the established church Silent,
but strong resistless as the mighty under-current
of the ocean, swelled the spirit of opposition in
every heart and many an old veteran of the Com
monwealth and the Indian wars glanced grimly at
his brightly polished musket, with the thought
that he was not yet too old to strike blow for
freedom.
Such was the state Of affairs, and such the
feeling with which the Colonists greeted the
Christmas Of 1854. For several weeks the snow
had lain deep on the earth, and the well-trodden
mathis had grown hard and smooth as marble. Ii
had been a prosperous and busy season with the
people both en- The land and sea, and, had thare
no. been princip PIE at stake they coala well have
afforded to rest one day at the call of their Chief
magistrate. But to them it seemed concession
to Anti Christi crossing Of hands with the
woman clothed in scarlet-and more than one
face wrs turned anxiously toward the heavens on
Christmas eve, not to seek for the star in the east,
but to watch the progress of storm OF sleet and
rain which had set in, and which they felt might,
IL it continued, compel them to yield, in appear
ance at least, to the Governors mandate. But
AS il in answer TO their prayers, the morning
broke clear, serene, and cod Long before the
low, continuous dropping from the ice-bound trees
and shrubs attested the power of the sun, their
farm yards were full of the shows of life and la
Dor The measured beat Of the fail and the fax
brake, the ringing stroke Of the axe at the wood
pile keeping time with those in the woods, echoed
far and wide through the clear air. while the long
...... ~ YEN attached To the clumsy sleds that