The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-08-15
Miscellaneous.
THE GOVERNORS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
SHORT MEMOIR OF THOSE WHO SERVED
UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF 1890.
GOVERNOR MIFFLIN


Until the breaking out of the American
Revolution, Pennsylvania had been govern
ed by Proprietary Governors. When the
Provincial Constitution met in l776,a Com.
mlttee OF Safety, composed of twenty five
members, was appointed to supercede the
Executive department of State. On the 9Th
of August, l776 this Committee of Safety
organized by electing Thomas Wharton, Jr.,
as President. The new Constitution, which
went into effect September 2Sth, provided
tor Supreme Executive Council of twelve
This Council lasted until 1890, and had as it's
Presidents, Thomas Wharton, Jr., Geo. Bry =.
an, Joseph Reed, William Moore John
Dickinson, Benz. Franklin, Thomas Miffiin,
and as its Vice Presidents, Geo. Bryan, Mat
thew Smith, VIM. Moore, James Potter Jas,
Ewing, james Irvine, Charles Biddle, Peter
Muhlenberg, David Redick, and George
Ross.
Thomas Miflin, who had been the last
President of the Supreme Executive Coun-
Gil, was elected as the first Governor under
the Constitution of 1890, over Arthur St.
Clair, Federal, by a vote of 26.725 to 2,SO2.
Governor Mifflin, who had from an early
age taken an active part in the American
Independence, was born in Philadelphia, in
1744, OF Quaker ancestry, who were among
the earliest settlers of Pennsylvania. He
passed through Collegiate course but his
education was more especially directed to a
mercantile pursuit, which, however, he fol-
lowed for only short time. In his eager
desire to become thoroughly acquainted
with his business he spent some time in
Europe, making the tour of England and
France. Shortly after his return, at the age
of twenty-eight, he was elected as one of the
two members of the Legislature from Phil
adephia' and was reelected the succeeding
year as colleague of Benjamin Franklin.
Gov. Mitflin's course from this date was
''onward and upward" We next find MIN
member of the first Continental Congress,
alongside of Henry, Jay, and Adams. At
ter the battle of Lexington, Mifflin mounted
the rostrum and urged the people of Phila-
delphia to action with his much admired
fervor and sloquence, and upon Washington
assuming command at Boston, we find Col.
Mifilin acting as his first Aid-de-Camp.
Washington afterwards appointed himQuar-
ter Master General, and on the 18th OF May,
l776, he was commissioned by Congress as
Brigadier General. After the reverses of the
American army in 1776, Gen. Washington
dispatched General Mifiin to Congress for
help. At the request of Congress, General
Miffln made stirring address, urging upon
them decisive action. Congress had such
great confidence in him that they created
Board of War; consisting of Gen. Mifflin,
Gen. Gates, Col. Joseph Trimble, Timothy
Pickering, and Richard Peters, and notified
heCommander-ln.C Chief ofits action. Some-
time after this a shadow fell upon Gen. Mif.
fin, and Congress requested Gen. Washing
ton to make inquiry into his conduct in re-
lation to his acts as Quarter Master General,
Gen. Mifiin demanded an examination i'm
medately, but being unable to obtain one,
| returned his commission to Congress, which
they refused to accept He was also after
wards charged in connection with General
Gates and Others with intrigue, with view
to displace Gen. Washington and set up
Gen. Gates in his place but this Gen. Milf
| fin denied in a letter to Col. Delany, which
reinststed him in the confidence of Gen.
Washington, as we'll as Congress and the
people. Gen. Miftln was elected a member
of Congress in 1888, and was President of
that body when General W asbington rendered
his resignation. In 1885 Gen. Mitilin was a
member of the Assembly, and was elected
| its Speaker. In 1887, he was member of
the Convention which framed the Constitu
ton of the United States, and to that instru-
ment you will find his signature. In 1888,
he was President of the Supreme Executive
Council, and in 1889 was President of the
Convention which promulgated the new
Constitution, and, as we stated before, was
elected the first Governor under 1t. He was
reelected in 1898 over T. A. Muhlenberg by
vote of 1880 to l0,706. He was again
reelected in 1896 over Muhlenberg by a
vote of 10000 to l,0ll. 1t was during Gov.
Mullins administration that the Whisky
Insunection took place in the western part
of Pennsylvania, and he marched at the
head of the Pennsylvania Militia, and unit
ing his forces with Gov Lee of Virginia,
the insurgents dispersed upon their ap-
prosch. At the expiration of his term as
Governor, he was elected member of the
Legislature, and died, during session OF
the House, on the 2lst of January, 1900
Governor Mifiiu exercised his power as
Chief Executive of this Commonwealth fol
a longer period than any other, having been
i p.aaidant nf tha Qouncil for two xAara and