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Give Me Liberty

Chapter 5 A BACON! A BACON!

Word Count: 7885    |    Released on: 06/12/2017

atitude of the people by his respect for their rights, his refusal to use the courts to further his own interests, his efforts to bring prosperity, was followed by their bitter curses when

ty of Friends. The next day Richard Bennett asked Edmundson whether the Governor had c

Culpeper, the widow of Captain Samuel Stephens, who brought him a large estate. Though there was nothing wrong in this, it was whispered through the colony that it was the marrying of a young wife which was responsib

ublican institutions. They had been tried and the experiment had ended in disastrous failure. True, he had been a witness of the success of self-government in Virginia, but this did not change his views. Monarchy was t

ing to a sole and absolute power over us ... greatly neglecting the Council ... did take upon him the sole naming and appointing of other persons in their room and place such as himself best liked and thought fittest for his purposes."[2] The men who sat around the Counc

ent of all officers, military as well as civil. Offices were created merely "to increase the number of his party ... all which offices he bestowed on such persons, how unfit or unskilful soever, he conce

y a commission in the militia. If the Burgesses of 1666 wore their uniforms when they took their seats, the session must have assum

erpart of the Long Parliament of England. For sixteen years he refused to hold a general election, and he probably congratulated himself that in the colony there was but a mockery of self-government. The Burgesses might betray the interests of the people with impunity; they could not be made to answer at the

is appointees. The well-paid sheriffs' office, which he made the stepping stone to the House of Burgesses, was his to fill.

tice to individual men. "All the power and sway is got into the hands of the rich, who by extortious advantages ... have curbed and oppressed them in all manner of ways," Bacon wrote in a fiery manifesto.[5] The constant breach of laws, unjust prosecutions, excuses, and evasions,

e have taken up 30,000," it was said. Unable to cultivate such vast tracts, they merely built little shacks, or perhaps "hog houses" on them so as not to forfeit the deed. When the soil of the little farms of t

knew that a goodly share went to Governor Berkeley, some to the Councillors, some to pay the salaries of the Burgesses, but much was not accounted for. When the members of the county courts retired in

whose tottering fortunes have been repaired and supported."[8] And the small farmer cursed as Lady Berkeley drove by in her coach, or when they viewed the Governor's wide acres, his

ncing to places of judicature scandalous and ignorant favorites." Colonel Henry Norwood wrote Secretary Williamson in 1667 that great injury had been done in the courts "by the insinuation of some that make advant

erests. Thomas Mathew states that he cheated Thomas Lawrence out of "a considerable estate on behalf of a corrupt favorite," and we know that Lawrence never forgave him. Willi

on the trade of Virginia under the Commonwealth, and now he was greatly concerned when his adored Charles II gave his assent to even more stringent acts. All goods sent to the colonie

were reduced to poverty and rags. Secretary Ludwell reported that when the small planter had paid his taxes, very little remained for him for the support of his family. "So much too little that I can attr

tion Acts repealed. But he had no success. The fault is your own, he was told. Stop planting so much tobacco and produce the more usef

sked him what impediments there existed to trade, he blurted out: "Mighty and destructive by that severe act of Parliament which excludes us from having any commerce with any nation in Eu

crew of the English frigate Elizabeth, not suspecting danger, had careened her to clean her bottom. So they had to stand by helpless as the enemy moved up and captured her. The Dutch then turned on the tob

e.... But on the 27th of August followed the most dreadful hurricane that ever the colony groaned under.... The night of it was the most dismal time that ever I knew or heard of, for the wind and rain raised so confused a noise, mixed with the continual cracks of falling houses.... But when the morning came and the sun risen it would have comforted us after such a night, had it not lighted us to the ruins of our pla

them. Then the trade with the Dutch had brought prosperity; now the Navigation Acts had made their tobacco almost worthless and reduced them to rags. Then men were advanced to p

s II so far responded to the plea of the Virginians for relief as to recall the patent and issue another in its place containing promises to protect their rights and property. But when they noted that the new patent required them to duplicate the quit rents of the

men and apparently purchased it for a large sum to be raised in the colony. Several years later Berkeley wrote that the two great

nd Lord Culpeper to all Virginia, with such rights and powers as to make them practically masters of the colony. To them were to go all escheats,

f the people," complained the Assembly. The common people were so wrought up "by being left to the oppression of their fellow subjects" that they might mutiny or des

rown. They sought a promise, also, that they should be taxed only by the Assembly. Had it not been for the outbreak of Bacon's Rebellion the charter might have gone thro

upting the Burgesses, with their economic interests ignored to build up English commerce and shipping, they reflected bitterly that they had been betrayed. It was Berkeley himself who thought that if they saw an opportunity, the poor planters might go over to the Dutch in

ople rushed to arms, determined to resist. Berkeley at once issued a proclamation, requiring them to disperse. But had they had a leader, some "person of quality," they would probably have anticipated Bacon's Rebellion by flying in the face of the gov

st John Ray and his companion in his celebrated tour of the continent, he seemed as much out of place in the forests of Virginia as Berkeley had been when he arrived three decades earlier. Bacon had been in Virginia

forty miles above Jamestown. He bought also, a "quarter," or farm to be managed by an overseer, on the frontier

d that he, without consulting Berkeley, had retaliated. When Sir William reproved him, he lost his temper and was guilty of "unbecoming deport

sembly or the General Court was in session, her house was crowded. To her clients Lawrence, in so subtle a manner as not to cause suspicion, suggested the possibility of curbing "the forwardness, avarice, and French despotic methods of the Governor."[28] That he poured out

ank of the Potomac near the site of Fort Washington. Here they began a series of raids on the plantations on both sides of the river in search of food. When a band of Indians of another tribe crossed over to Virginia, killed several people, and es

attacking it the white commanders summoned the Indian "great men" to a parley. But when they came out, Major Trueman, of the Maryland forces, charging them with the recent murders, had them knocked on the head. In

ves to secluded spots in the forest, they staged scenes of horror that would have staggered the imagination of a Dante. Some they roasted alive and cut off pieces of their flesh, which they

e Indians, and gave the command to Sir Henry Chicheley. Then, to everyone's amazement, he changed his mind and disbanded the soldiers.[32] This he seems to have done for fear Chicheley might not

ed them to "live remote in the woods," and caused them to harbor a deep sense of injustice. But even after Berkeley finally c

d through legislation for a defensive war. It called for the erection of forts on t

g more piled on for works which give us no protection. What is needed is a large mobile force to seek out the enemy and destroy them. When petition after petition reached Berkeley, asking him to send a leader, it merely aro

ty that large bodies of Indians were on the upper James ready to descend on them, hundreds of angry men assembled in arms to resist them. Bacon, whose outer plantation had been plundered by the Indian

," the "laws and taxes unjust and oppressive," and dwelling on "the absolute necessity of redress."[35] Amid the shouts of approval he made them sign a large paper, "writing their names circular-wise that the ringleaders might not be found out." He then sent out "emissaries" to all parts of

county "ripe for rebellion" to attack the Pamunkeys, whom he had reason to believe had participated in some of the murderous raids. But when they fled, he turned south in pursuit of a band of Susquehannocks. When he arrived at the Roanoke River, the Occaneechees, a friendly tribe living on an island in the rive

, he asked the Council what the people wanted. They replied that they were crying out against his refusal to hold an election for so many years, and the denial to many of the right to vote. Since Berkeley's whole struc

le statehouse in Jamestown, all but eight were of "Bacon's faction." Bacon, himself was elected as one of the representatives of Henrico County. Had he been permi

night Bacon slipped into town and held a long conference with Lawrence and Drummond.[37] We can only surmise what passed between these two embittered men and the daring young leader. But it is safe to say that they discussed, not only Berkeley's

op he was discovered and captured

rebel that ever was in Vi

ked: "Mr. Bacon, have you

t please y

l take you

and Burgesses were assembled in the

ne sinner that repenteth, there is joy now, for we ha

nd handed in his written sub

e you! I fo

with him?" asked on

rt I will promise to restore you again to your place there," resumed the Governor, pointing to

any harm done to their leader. But Berkeley had an additional motive. Bacon in the Council was far less dangerous than Bacon in the House of Burgesses

esent, tells us that "some gentlemen took this opportunity to endeavor the redressing several grievances the country then labored und

embly in matters of laws and also in orders upon appeals, being commonly appointed chairman in all committees,"[39] had been a long-standing grievance. So now one member rose and pointed out that if they had bad customs the

to our expectation," for which they should be censured, he said later. When a motion was presented to request

ed around him. When they heard that he had suffered humiliation, that he had been denied a commission, and that their grievances had not been redressed, they "set

or realized that resistance would be useless, he ordered the guns to be dismantled, and returned to the statehouse. So the motley army streamed into the village-weatherbeaten frontiersmen,

n had asked them to grant him his commission, and now he called up to them, "You Burgesses, I expect your speedy result." Whereupon his men cocked thei

mand that he write the King a letter testifying to Bacon's loyalty and the legality of all he had done, he could no longer contain himself. Rushing out he threw back

and "pressed hard, nigh an hour's harangue," not only on preserving the colony from the Indians, but on "inspecting the revenues, the exorbitant taxes,

s in their hands. "We have all the reason in the world to suspect that their designs are ruinous," said Philip Ludwell. So the pro-Bacon majority in the Assembly took advantage of the general alarm to rush through a remarkable series of reform laws that struck at the very basis o

grievances. Thomas Blayton was later accused of being "Bacon's great engine" in the Assembly, and James Minge, the clerk, of being "another Bacon's great friends in forming the laws." Virginia histo

estrymen and by barring Councillors from sitting on the county courts; they fixed fees for sheriffs and other officials; they struck at the Governor's appointive power by making it illegal for sheriffs to serve more than one year at a time, or for anyone to hold more than one of the offices of sheri

peace had Berkeley remained quiet, contenting himself with placing the whole matter before

as everywhere hailed as the people's friend and savior. On the other hand, none but a handful remained l

ation, the site of Williamsburg. Here he was joined by Lawrence and Drummond, who seem to have helped him in drawing up a manifesto

Goode which shows that he had thoughts of extending his rebell

and I do believe it may be true," said Bacon. "Tell me your opinion, may not 500 Virgin

ats may either subject or ru

lay ambushes, and take to trees and put them by the use of their

... by ... landing where there shall be no opposition,

hat he knew how

ll the principal men in the c

ugh you designed a total defection

inces lost their domin

think themselves engaged against the Ki

d and Carolina also to cast off their Governors, ... and if we cannot prevail by arms to make our co

id from the Dutch, and anticipated the American Revolution by a century, must remain in the realm of speculation.

l forces to penetrate into the heart of the country, while they proved a barrier to the movement of troops by land. So when several merchant vessels, whic

ut. The place seemed impregnable, since the only approach was over a narrow isthmus, protected by barricades and guarded by the cannon of the ships in the river.

north. After a consultation, the leaders decided to burn the town. Lawrence applied the torch to his own house. Drummond to his, Bacon to the little church, others to Berkeley's five houses,

was a strong guard around the house. We do not know whether his wife was there to comfort him in his last hours, but it is probable that she was far away at Curles Neck. He died October 26, 1676. Knowing that Berkeley would w

to gain their rights? One of his followers wrote in touching verse that death had ended "our hopes of safety, libe

e of the county courts were closed, crops were rotting in the fields, servants and slaves left their masters to join the rebel forces, there was ind

as a soldier, but as a rebel. As he stood on the scaffold he addressed the assembled crowd, declaring that he died a loyal subject and lover of his country.[53] When Major Cheeseman was brought before the Governor, his wife rushed in to pl

sed the Governor's hand, and were pardoned. But there was no pardon for Bacon's two chief advisers. "I so much hate Drummond and Lawr

d hiding in Chickahominy Swamp and brought before the Governor. He was greeted with a mocking bow. "Mr. Drummond, you are very welcome. I am more glad to see you than any man

ed in disastrous failure, Bacon's Rebellion had a lasting influence on American history. It served as a warning that Americans would not submit to misgovern

uprising because of a dispute between individuals. As Professor Charles M. Andrews has pointed out, revolutions "are the detonations of explosive materials, long accumulating and often dormant. They are the resultant of a vast complex

TNO

dmundson, Jou

nia Magaz

bid.,

a Magazine

-1371,

"Virginia's Dep

bid.

ers, "Bacon'

ey to Right Honor

rwood to Willia

er, The old c

CO1

CO1

O1-26,

-21, pp.

-30, pp.

CO1

-30, pp.

The Assembly to the

d., July

O1-30,

O1-30,

O1-36,

O1-36,

Berkeley to Baco

d., July

] I

Mathew, Baco

er, Virginia under t

p. 78. 605-

papers. Ma

1371, pp.

1371, pp.

O1-40,

bid. p

, "The Council t

5-1371,

hew, Bacon's re

orwood to Sec. Willi

Mathew, Baco

1371, pp.

O1-37,

5-1371,

he British Publ

Statutes at large

O1-37,

1371, pp.

bid.,

papers 1

355; CO5-1

istorical Regis

r, Torchbearer of the

m's procee

Ibid.

h papers

al Register 3: 135; In

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