Part 8 (1/2)

12. What was the intent of the Navigation Act? Of the Fundamental Const.i.tutions?

CHAPTER XIII.

EARLY GOVERNORS AND THEIR TROUBLES.

A. D. 1674 TO 1680.

1674. Samuel Stephens, upon his death in 1674, was succeeded by George Carteret as Governor of Albemarle. The oldest member of the council was ent.i.tled by law to the place, but the members of the House of a.s.sembly succeeded in obtaining the position for their speaker. Governor Carteret found many difficulties in the office he had a.s.sumed; and becoming disgusted with the continued opposition of the people to the Fundamental Const.i.tutions and the navigation laws of 1670, he went over to London and resigned his place as Governor.

1676.

2. When he reached England he found Eastchurch, who, as Speaker, of the House of a.s.sembly, had been sent over to remonstrate with the Proprietors against the innovations they were proposing. His friend Miller, who was accused of indulging in rebellious language, had been carried out of the province for trial at Williamsburg, in Virginia, and was also in London at this time seeking redress for his alleged grievances.

3. Eastchurch was in London as the agent for Albemarle. The people were paying him to procure the a.s.sent of the Proprietors to some remission in the hard measure of the navigation laws; also for the abrogation of the Fundamental Const.i.tutions. He and Miller betrayed their trusts, and became the willing tools of Lord Shaftesbury and the Board of Trade.

4. As the price of their subservience, Eastchurch was appointed Governor of Albemarle and Miller was made Secretary of State.

The authorities in London were fully resolved that the New England vessels should be excluded from Carolina waters and that the Fundamental Const.i.tutions should be accepted as the system of government.

5. This betrayal of a high trust was to bring its own punishment on the heads of both Eastchurch and Miller. On their way to America they stopped at the Island of Nevis, where the new Governor of Albemarle met a Creole lady. His conduct in London had been weak enough, but complete insanity seemed to have fallen upon him at Nevis. For two years he was oblivious to all the disorders and distresses of the people committed to his government; and he surrendered everything else to his lovemaking.

1677.

6. Miller went on to Albemarle, and in July, 1677, a.s.sumed control of public affairs. There were then in the colony two thousand taxpayers. Besides Indian corn, which was the staple production, eight hundred thousand pounds of tobacco were made that year. The whole colony was enjoying such prosperity as a fertile soil and good climate always give.

7. The new Governor conducted matters in an outrageous manner.

He imposed taxes upon all goods sent to other colonies, and in this way soon realized five thousand dollars on the tobacco which was sent to Virginia and Boston.

8. He was particularly emphatic in his orders forbidding trade with New England vessels. George Durant, with a large majority of the people, was determined to thwart him in this matter.

Governor Miller, on the other hand, was so determined in enforcing his orders that he in person boarded a Boston vessel and arrested the skipper.

1678.

9. Thereupon John Culpepper, with his followers, seized Miller, and having put him in prison, a.s.sumed the government himself. He imprisoned all the deputies of the Lords Proprietors. The king's revenue, also, amounting to fifteen thousand dollars, was appropriated by him; Culpepper, like Gillam, the skipper who had caused the outbreak, was from New England.

1680.

10. At last, after two years delay upon his journey, Eastchurch made his appearance in Albemarle. He had won his bride, but lost everything else. Culpepper scouted his claims to the government.

He went to Williamsburg, in Virginia, to beg the Governor of that province to aid him in regaining the place he had lost by his folly; but so slow and ceremonious was his lords.h.i.+p, that Eastchurch died of vexation before anything substantial had been accomplished in his behalf.

11. Miller escaped from the confinement to which he had been subjected by Culpepper, and again went to England to utter his complaints. Culpepper followed him there, and though indicted and tried for treason, was acquitted by aid of Lord Shaftesbury.

12. Thus it was, in the earliest days of our history as a people, that the men of North Carolina found means to resist the execution of laws enacted abroad for their oppression, and commenced a struggle which was to continue for a century.

QUESTIONS.

1. Who succeeded Samuel Stephens as Governor? How did he obtain the place? Why did Governor Carteret go to England?