94 THE GREEN RISING 



Allegheny Mountains. By the proclamation of 1767 

 English colonists were forbidden to form settlements 

 beyond the sources of streams flowing into the At- 

 lantic Ocean. Fear of the effects of encroachments 

 upon the Indians and the belief that if the settlers 

 became too far removed from English contacts they 

 might seek independence, were the principal causes 

 of this proclamation. Subsequent history reveals 

 that the latter fear was not unfounded. The 

 Declaration of American Independence left the 

 settlers free to move westward. 



It is significant that the English charter gave the 

 future settlers no share in governing themselves; 

 but they were promised "the liberties, franchises and 

 immunities" accorded to Englishmen. This clause 

 is found in the first colonial charter, which was 

 granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1578 to Sir Hum- 

 phrey Gilbert. These words were repeated in nearly 

 all subsequent charters. But they were not in- 

 terpreted to mean that the settlers were privileged to 

 vote or hold office, for not all Englishmen enjoyed 

 these privileges at home during this period. The 

 clause referred to the right of trial by jury, the 

 privilege of habeas corpus and free speech, which 

 were the heritage of the Magna Charta and the 

 English Bill of Rights. But the charter rights were 

 destined to result in conflicts between proprietors 

 and settlers, and finally to bring about important 

 changes in agrarian practices and political policies. 

 "This recognition of political rights for the settlers/' 



