FIRST PERSON NARRATIVES

Remonstrance of Distressed Frontier Inhabitants (1764)

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Source: Minutes of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania, vol. 9. Philadelphia: J. Severns and Co., 1852.

Commentary

Though disagreements with the king of England dominated much of American politics on the eve of the Revolution, many colonies were also troubled by internal disputes which pitted Americans against one another. Here, too, many issues arose from settlement of the western frontier. When colonial governments attempted to regulate the pace of settlement, they discovered that the western pioneers resented interference from fellow Americans just as much as they resented the interference of the king himself.

Such disputes had recurred throughout colonial history, but the end of the Seven Years War (1756–1763) caused them to break out with renewed force in many colonies, including Pennsylvania. Concerned by the worsening of relations between the king and the colonies, political leaders in eastern Pennsylvania were eager to demonstrate that they themselves could effectively regulate the western frontier, and hence put to rest one of the issues which preoccupied the king's ministers. In addition, Philadelphia Quakers who dominated the Pennsylvania Assembly were sympathetic to the rights of Native American tribes and were troubled by reports of violence by settlers against peaceful Indians which reached them from the western frontier. In response, the assembly took several actions to try to restrain the western settlers and enforce good relations with the tribes.

To settlers living on the frontier, these actions represented a betrayal. This letter, more like a petition, illustrates both the reasons for and the depth of the westerners' anger. The petitioners remonstrated, or protested, against their under representation in the assembly. They raged against the Indians and served notice that they viewed all Indians as implacable foes—even those "peaceful Indians" who enjoyed the protection of the Pennsylvania government. They begged for help in fighting the tribes, and demanded that the government post bounties for Indian scalps. So frustrated were the frontiersmen that they sound as though they are ready to take up arms against their own colonial government. In the end, such threats came to nothing. Nevertheless, the establishment of self-government after the Revolution did not end disputes between western settlers and eastern governments that seemed oppressive and unresponsive to their concerns.

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To the Honourable John Penn, Esquire, Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, & of the Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, and to the Representatives of the Freemen of the said Province, in General Assembly met:

We Matthew Smith and James Gibson, in behalf of ourselves and His Majesty's faithful and loyal Subjects, the Inhabitants of the Frontier Counties of Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks, and Northampton, humbly beg leave to remonstrate and to lay before you the following Grievances, which we submit to your Wisdom for Redress.

First. We apprehend that as Freemen and English Subjects, we have an indisputable Title to the same Privileges & immunities with His Majesty's other Subjects who reside in the interior Counties of Philadelphia, Chester, and Bucks, and therefore ought not to be excluded from an equal share with them in the very important Privilege of Legislation; nevertheless, contrary to the Proprietor's Charter and the acknowledged principles of common Justice & Equity, our five counties are restrained from electing more than ten Representatives, viz: four …