the moravians in georgia(莫罗维恩在乔治亚)-第26章
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Moravians； even in case the Count's male line should become extinct。
Reference to military service is conspicuous by its absence； and at the
very time that these resolutions were being framed； assurance on that one
point was being desperately needed in Savannah。
Rumors of War。
In February； 1737； that which Spangenberg had feared came upon the
Moravians； military service was peremptorily demanded of them； the
occasion being a fresh alarm of Spanish incursions。
The feud between the colonists of Spain and England was of long
standing； dating back to rival claims to the New World by right of
discovery。 The English asserted that through the Cabots they had a right to
the greater part of North America； and a grant to the Lords Proprietors of
Carolina； in 1663； named the 31 degree of latitude as the southern
boundary。 Another patent two years later set the line at the 29 degree； but
that availed nothing as it included the northern part of Florida； where the
Spanish were already settled in considerable numbers。
No other nation questioned the English claim to the sea…board as far as
the 31 degree； which was well south of the Altamaha； but the Spanish
greatly resented the settlements in Carolina； as encroaching on their
territory； though successive treaties between the two Governments had
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virtually acknowledged the English rights。 With the two nations nominally
at peace； the Spanish incited the Indians to deeds of violence； encouraged
insurrection among the negro slaves； welcomed those who ran away； and
enlisted them in their army。 Now and then the Governor of Carolina would
send a force； which would subdue them for a time； but the constant
uncertainty made Carolina welcome the Georgia colony as a protection to
her borders。
The settlement of Georgia gave further offense to Spain； and her
subjects in Florida burned to exterminate the intruders； as they considered
them； though nothing was done so long as operations were confined to the
Savannah River。But when towns and forts were planned and begun on the
Altamaha their opposition became more outspoken。 Oglethorpe did all he
could to preserve peace without retreating from his position； and in Oct。
1736； he concluded a treaty with the Governor of St。 Augustine。
Only too soon it became apparent that this treaty would not be
respected； for the Captain…General of Cuba disapproved； and Oglethorpe
sailed for England； in November； to urge the immediate and sufficient
fortification of the frontier。The Trustees and the Government approved of
the course he had pursued； but Spain recalled and executed the Governor
of St。 Augustine； for presuming to make such a treaty； and so plainly
showed her intention to make war on Georgia that the English
Government authorized Oglethorpe to raise a regiment for service there；
and in July； 1738； he sailed for America； commissioned to take command
of all the military forces of Carolina and Georgia； and protect the colonies。
During the nineteen months of his absence； the Georgia colonists were
in a continual state of uneasiness； which now and then became sheer panic
at some especially plausible report of imminent danger。
On February 17th； 1737； Mr。 Causton received a letter from
Charlestown； in which the Governor informed him that he had news of the
approach of the Spaniards； and Savannah at once became excited； and
prepared for defence。On the 20th； officers went through the town； taking
the names of all who could bear arms； freeholders and servants alike。
Three of them came to the Moravian house and requested names from
Toeltschig。 He answered 〃there was no one among them who could bear
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arms； and he would get no names from them。〃They said； 〃it was
remarkable that in a house full of strong men none could bear arms； he
should hurry and give them the names； they could not wait。〃 Toeltschig
answered； 〃if they wanted to go no one would stop them； there would be
no names given。〃They threatened to tell Mr。 Causton； Toeltschig approved；
and said he would do the same； and they angrily left the house。
Ingham accompanied Toeltschig to Mr。 Causton； who at once began to
argue the matter； and a spirited debate ensued； of which the following is a
resume。
Causton。〃Everybody must go to the war and fight for his own safety；
and if you will not join the army the townspeople will burn down your
house； and will kill you all。〃
Toeltschig。〃That may happen； but we can not help it； it is against our
conscience to fight。〃
Causton。〃If you do not mean to fight you had better go and hide in the
woods； out of sight of the people； or it will be the worse for you； and you
had better go before the enemy comes； for then it will be too late to escape；
the townspeople will certainly kill you。〃
Toeltschig。〃You forget that Gen。 Oglethorpe promised us exemption
from military service； and we claim the liberty he pledged。〃
Causton。〃If the Count； and the Trustees and the King himself had
agreed on that in London it would count for nothing here； if war comes it
will be FIGHT OR DIE。If I were an officer on a march and met people
who would not join me； I would shoot them with my own hand； and you
can expect no other treatment from the officers here。〃
Toeltschig。〃We are all servants； and can not legally be impressed。〃
Causton。〃If the Count himself were here he would have to take his gun
on his shoulder； and all his servants with him。 If he were living on his
estate at Old Fort it would make no difference； for the order of the
Magistrates must be obeyed。If the English； to whom the country belongs
must fight； shall others go free？〃
Toeltschig finally yielded so far as to tell him the number of men in
their company； 〃it could do no harm for we could be counted any day；〃 but
their names were resolutely withheld； and service firmly refused。
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Then the townspeople took up the cry。Should they fight for these
strangers who would not do their share toward defending the land？ They
would mob and kill them first！They only injured the colony at any rate； for
they worked so cheaply that they lowered the scale of wages； and besides
they received money from many people； for their services； but spent none
because they made everything they needed for themselves！
Still the Moravians stood firm in their position； indeed they could do
nothing else without stultifying themselves。The instructions from
Zinzendorf and the leaders of the Church at Herrnhut； with the approval of
the lot； were definite； they should take no part in military affairs； but
might pay any fines incurred by refusal。 To Oglethorpe and to the Trustees
they had explained their scruples； making freedom of conscience an
essential consideration of their settling in Georgia； and from them they had
received assurances that only freeholders were liable to military duty。
Therefore they had claimed no land as individuals； but had been content to
live； and labor； and be called 〃servants〃； paying each week for men to
serve in the night watch； in place of the absent owners of the two town
lots。In Savannah their views were well known； and to yield to orders from
a Magistrate； who openly declared that promises made by the Trustees；
who had put him in office； were not worth regarding； and who threatened
them with mob violence； would have been to brand themselves as cowards；
unworthy members of a Church which had outlived such dire persecution
as that which overthrew the ancient Unitas Fratrum； and recreant to their
own early faith； which had led them to abandon homes and kindred in
Moravia； and seek liberty of conscience in another kingdom。That Georgia
needed armed men to protect her from the Spaniards was true； but equally
so she needed quiet courage； steady industry； strict honesty； and pious
lives to develop her resources； keep peace with her Indian neighbors； and
win the respect of the world； but these traits were hardly recognized as
coin current by the frightened； jealous men who clamored against the
Moravians。
On the 28th； it was demanded that the Moravians help haul wood to
the fort which was being built。They replied that their wagon and oxen
were at the officers' service without hire； and that they would feed the
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animals； but personally they could take no share in the work。 This angered
the people again； and several of the members began to wonder whether
they might perhaps comply so far as to assist； as a matter of friendship； in
hewing logs for the fort； refusing the wages paid to others。The lot was
tried； and absolutely forbade it； which was well； for it developed that the
people were watching for their answer； having agreed that if they helped
on the fort it would be a proof that they COULD do what they chose； and
were simply hiding behind an excuse in refusing to fight。
But the tension was not relaxed； and on the 2nd of March； the
Moravians met to decide on their further course。 Should they keep quiet；
and wait for times to change； or should they go away？ It was referred to
the lot； and the paper drawn read 〃GO OUT FROM AMONG THEM。〃
This meant not merely from the city； but from the province； for Mr。
Causton had told them that they would be subject to the same
requiremen
