The Massachusetts Spy

Extract of a letter from a person in Carolina to his friend in Pennsylvania, dated May 17.

I am sorry I have to inform you that our country and the Governor have come to an open war. The justice of the cause on the side of the country, during a contest for a year or two past, has gained them such a majority of the inhabitants all over this province, that it was in vain the Governor and Officers tried to raise the militia before the last sitting of our assembly, when a law passed under the title of a Riot act, whereby they say the Governor is invested with as arbitrary power as the King of France. However that may be, it is fact, he has collected out of the meaner sort, an army of 1500 or 2000 men, by way of enlisting for bounty money, high wages, and promises of an equal share of plunder. With which army he is going through the country, destroying houses, fields of wheat, corn and orchards, and taking from the inhabitants all manner of provisions.
This usage (unheard of in America before) suddenly raised the country, who first surrounded a party of about 400 or 500, commanded by Col. Waddel and prevailed on him to retreat, convincing him and his Officers, that there was no occasion for such hostile proceedings. And a few days after met the Governor, hoping to prevail with him in the same manner. But he soon fired on them in a treacherous manner with cannon and small arms, in less than 15 minutes after they had his promise of an hour to consider of his terms. The country who had not the least order or discipline, for every man had run together, as it were, to quench devouring flames, the most part without arms or ammunition, who fled at the first fire. About 300 stood and returned the fire for three quarters of an hour, in which time, the Governor struck his colours twice, hoisted a white flag, and beat a parley; but the country, being quite ignorant of any signals or terms of war, kept a constant firing, as long as their ammunition lasted, and then left the ground. There was seven killed on the spot, and two fell after running some distance: Eight more are since dead of their wounds, and two or three not yet out of danger. The number slain on the Governor's side is uncertain, as he keeps it, as much as possible, a secret; but by the best accounts, it amounted to 57 on the spot, with a proportionable number of wounded. The Governor took 20 or 30 prisoners, one of whom he hanged the next day. The slain on the side of the country lay unburied, except two, who were stolen away by their families. The Governor makes all the advantages he can of this affair, and it is supposed, aims to have all their lands forfeited. The consequence of this affair is yet unknown; numbers have come in and submitted to certain terms, &c. Others are standing out and collecting in bodies; and it is thought, that most of the inhabitants will leave this province, before they will live under the intolerable oppression and slavery, that naturally must attend a conquest made by men of such principles.
"There never was any people abused by authority more than this country has been, which would be too tedious to relate in a letter, but in a very short way. The main substance of the difference was in the sheriffs* in most of the counties not having settled their accounts for 8 or 10 years past; nor the Treasurers having settled accounts with the Public for upwards of 20 years past. So that by computation, they were on the whole 80 or 100,000 pounds behind. The honest party in the administration appeared to the country to be too weak to bring these over-grown members to an account; therefore to strengthen their hands, great part of the country spared payment of any taxes. What would be agreeable to law, and this sequence could not be known, until the public accounts were settled. Rest of this. the Officers had extorted unlawful fees in an unreasonable manner; and when the county prosecuted them, could get no redress or any kind of fair trial; but certainly, the prosecutors were like to be ruined by suits commenced against them by Officers for damages, scandal, &c. and by the means of packed juries, composed of the officers themselves, who were indicted. and liable to indictments, so that a general Court writ against ever so innocent a man, became as dangerous and dreadful as a pistol clapped to his breast by a robber; for nothing would satisfy but the surrender of all you possessed; this caused riots, tumults, &c. In the assembly it was proposed to send a committee of enquiry into the counties where these tumults happened. but it was strenuously opposed by the court party, and put aside: But in a private conference amongst the members. Mr. Knox and Mr. Lewis were appointed, and they rode up to the next General Court to be held in Rowan county for the district of Salisbury, when the whole body of Officers of that district, (conscious of their guilt) and convinced of the upright and good intentions of the country,came to an amicable and firm agreement, under hand and seal, to refund all they had extorted and taken contrary to law, which was to be divided by arbitrators, unanimously chosen by either side; both officers and people were heartily sincere in this agreement; but the Governor and Officers. in the five other districts of the province, resented it in the highest degree, and immediately entered into an association to prevent its taking place, by rushing up into the settlements of the insurgents, as they call them. with an armed force, and restoring peace (n constitutional principles, as the Governor termed it in a letter to Col. Tryon, wherein he told him, he should answer for entering into that agreement at the tribunal of his country. It is matter of fact, that the Officers of this district inclined to comply, and make the country restitution, above a year before this, but were deterred by the officers of the other five districts; no doubt but from a fear they must come to do the same justice.
"Husbands, who was a principal man in prosecuting every lawful method for justice and redress, has been accused as principal in acts of riots, &c. he has been made a prisoner,and stood trials three times on that account and cleared each time by proclamation. The court party, despairing of finding him guilty in the ordinary course of proceedings, and according to the English laws, makes a particular law for that purpose, to continue one year; by which law, without any precept or his knowledge and unheard, finds a bill against him for a riot, assault, &c. on which they came with the aforesaid army, and destroyed his house, plantation and goods; from which, I suppose, it is to be granted now that he is guilty in the eye of that particular law, though he is really clear, and quite innocent of the charge. Many others, as well as he, have shared the same fate;some were 40 miles distant from the place at the time the crimes laid to their charge were committed."
* Sheriffs in North-Carolina collect the provincial and county taxes, and other public dues.