Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/137

 most serious and fundamental innovations, but who died before any of them could be carried into effect.

A temporary government was established by the appointment of Joseph Dudley, son of the former governor. Soon after, however, in 1686, James II. placed Sir Edmund Andros over the colonies. He came out fully prepared to forward the arbitrary and tyrannical designs of the last of the Stuarts, and brought with him, in the royal frigate in which he came, two companies of troops to enforce his authority, if need be. He was empowered to remove and appoint the members of the council at his pleasure, and, with the consent of a body thus under his control, to levy taxes, make laws, and call out the militia. His subordinates were entirely devoted to him. Dudley was made chief justice, and Randolph, that old antagonist of the theocracy, who had spent years of persevering hostility, and had done every thing he could to humble the pride of his enemies, was appointed as colonial secretary. The press, previously placed under his control, had already been thoroughly gagged; it was now entirely suppressed.

Connecticut and Rhode Island suffered from the same spirit of arbitrary exercise of power. A writ of quo warranto had been issued, and Andros repaired to Hartford and demanded the charter of the Assembly then in session. That body, says Trumbull, was "extremely reluctant and slow with respect to any resolve to surrender the charter, or with respect to any motion to bring it forth. The tradition is, that Governor Treat strongly represented the great expense and hardships of the colonists in planting the country; the blood and treasure which they had expended in defending it, both against the savages and foreigners; to what hardships and dangers he himself had been exposed for that purpose; and that it was like giving up his life, now to surrender the patent and privileges so dearly bought, and so long enjoyed. The important affair was debated and kept in suspense until the evening, when the charter was brought and laid upon the table where the Assembly were sitting. By this time, great numbers of people were assembled, and men sufficiently bold to enterprise whatever might be necessary or expedient. The lights were instantly extinguished, and Captain Wadsworth, of Hartford, in the most silent and secret manner, carried off the charter, and secreted it in a large hollow tree, fronting the house of the Honorable Samuel Wyllys, then one of the magistrates of the colony. The people appeared all peaceable and orderly. The candles were officiously relighted, but the patent was gone, and no discovery could be made of it, or of the person who had conveyed it away." Andros, however, declared the charter forfeited, and at the end of the records inscribed the expressive word—.

The arbitrary proceedings of Andros were not permitted to continue for any great length of time. The infatuated James II. was rapidly bringing on that crisis in England which resulted in his