Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

their Country and crush their Enemies when I am satisfied it was in their Power to do it.2.

250. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO THE MARYLAND CONVENTION.1

[December 20(?), 1776.]

No material news. The application to those Counties was made as the most Expeditious way of obtains. it I shall address your Council of Safety by ord' of Congress assigning the Reasons why the application was not directly made to them 2

[Endorsed :]

Decr. 9, 1776.

Not received till Jany. 4, 1777.

2 See no. 244, note 2, ante. Cf. nos. 263, 298, post.

"Upon the motion for leaving Philadelphia, Samuel Adams (who seldom spoke in Congress) delivered a short but very animating speech. His feelings raised him frequently upon his toes at the close of his sentences. There was nothing very oratorical in his manner, but what he said infused a sudden vigor into the minds of every member of the house." Benjamin Rush, Memorial, p. 93.

[250]1 Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, VI. 55.

2 This note is appended to a copy of the resolve of Dec. 9, relative to the militia of Cecil, Baltimore, Harford, and Frederick counties, Maryland. The note was probably written in consequence of a resolve of Dec. 20, which was afterward rescinded. That is, this note to the convention may have been despatched between the passage of the order for explaining the proceeding to the council and its rescinding. The resolve appears in the Journals erased, with the marginal notation, Counter-ordered". On Dec. 15 the council wrote to the delegates of Maryland:

66

[ocr errors]

Gentn. In consequence of a verbal message from the President of Congress delivered to us by Colo. Ewing, we instantly gave the necessary orders to the Commanding officers of Frederick Baltimore and Harford and Caecil Counties to call together the Militia of those Counties to be in readiness to march to the assistance of Philadelphia expecting that we should every moment receive orders from Congress, but no such order have yet come to hand." Further on in the same letter the council remon

strates:

"We cannot help observing to you that applying to individuals who necessarily must apply to the Council of Safety from whom their power must be deputed before they can act is losing of time to say nothing of the want of respect to a Body of men with whom the Executive Powers of the State are entrusted." Arch. of Md., XII. 530. In a letter to Brigadier-General Chamberlaine, Dec. 14 (Arch. of Md., XII. 529), the council says: "Col. Ewing tells us that a requisition has passed Congress for the militia of Baltimore Harford, Frederick and Cecil, Counties to march, and that he was desired by the President of that honorable Body to give us notice thereof, we wish not to loose a moment's Time. As soon as we hear further Intelligence, we will write you by express." See Chase to Nicholson, Dec. 11, no. 241, ante; also a letter from Thomas Johnson to the council of safety, Dec. 19, Arch. of Md., XII. 540, and Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1289; a letter from the Frederick committee to Hancock, Dec. 19, together with the committee's resolution, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1288; Hancock's reply, ibid., IV. 1330; the Journals, Dec. 21; and the Baltimore committee to the President, Dec. 24, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1396.

251. CHARLES CARROLL TO THE MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.1 MOUNT CLARE Dec 21st 1776.

Dear Sirs,

By direction of the Congress, I send you the inclosed resolves...

[P. S.] I have not as yet seen here any of your Delegates, Questions of the greatest magnitude every day agitated and resolves enter'd into and this State without a representation or voice.

252. THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE TO THE
COMMISSIONERS AT PARIS.1

Honourable Gentlemen

BALTIMORE IN MARYLAND Decr 21 1776

After expressing our hopes that this will find you all three safely fixed at Paris we proceed with pleasure to acknowledge the Receipt of Mr. Deane's Letter of the first of October. When we reflect on the Character and views of the Court of London it ceases to be a Wonder that the british Ambassador and all other british agents should employ every means that tended to prevent European Powers but France more especially from giving America aid in this War. Prospects of accommodation it is well known would effectually prevent foreign Interference and therefore without one serious Design of accommodating on any Principles but the absolute Submission of America the delusive Idea of Conciliation hath been industriously suggested on both sides the Water that under cover of this dividing and aid with holding Prospect the vast british Force sent to America might have the fairest chance of succeeding. And this Policy hath in fact done considerable Injury to the united states as we shall presently shew by a just Detail of this campaign for it is not yet ended. . .

All views of Accommodation with great Britain but on Principles of Peace as independent states and in a Manner perfectly consistent with the Treaties our Commissioners may make with foreign states being totally at an End since the Declaration of Independence and the Embassy to the Court of France Congress have directed the raising of 94 Battalions of Infantry with some Cavalry. Thirteen Frigates from 24 to 36 Guns are already launched and fitting and two Ships of the Line with five more Frigates are ordered to be put on the Stocks. We hear the Levies are

[251]1 Arch. of Md., XII. 547; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser.,

2 Several resolves, Dec. 21, relate to Maryland.
3 Cf. no. 237, ante.

III. 1329.

[252]1 N. Y. Pub. Lib., Emmet Coll., no. 1584; Haverford College, Roberts Coll.; Am. Phil. Soc., Lee Papers, I.; Univ. of Va. Lib., Lee Papers; Brit. Mus., Add. MSS., Auckland MSS., American Papers; Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 226; Sparks, Dipl. Corr. Rev., I. 165; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1325; Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 231. There are numerous variations in the different texts. The signature of Robert Morris is not found in other texts.

going on well in the different states. Until the New Army is collected the Militia must curb the Enemies Progress. The very considerable Force that great Britain has already in N. America the Possibility of recruiting it here within their own Quarters by force and fraud together added to the Reinforcements that may be sent from Europe and the Difficulty of finding Funds in the present depressed state of American Commerce all conspire to prove incontestibly that if France desires to preclude the Possibility of North America being ever reunited with great Britain now is the favourable moment for establishing the Glory Strength and commercial Greatness of the former Kingdom by the Ruin of her ancient Rival. A decided part now taken by the Court of Versailles and a vigorous Engagement in the War in Union with North America would with Ease sacrifice the fleet and Army of great Britain at this time cheifly collected about New York. The inevitable consequence would be the quick Reduction of the british Islands in the west Indies already bared of Defence by the Removal of their Troops to this Continent. For Reasons herein assigned Gentlemen you will readily discern how all-important it is to the Security of American Independence that France should enter the War as soon as may be and how necessary it is if it be possible to procure from her the Line of Battle Ships you were desired in your Instructions to obtain for us the speedy arrival of which here in the present State of things might decide the Contest at one Stroke.

As all affairs relative to the Conduct of Commerce and Remittance pass through another Department we beg leave to refer you to the Secret Committee and Mr Thomas Morris their agent in France for every Information on these Subjects.

The Neighbourhood of Philadelphia having by the Enemies movements become the Seat of War it was judged proper that Congress should adjourn to this Town where the public Business may be attended to with the undisturbed Deliberation that its Importance demands. The Congress was accordingly opened here on the 20th Inst.

As it is more than probable that the Conference with Lord Howe on Staten Island may be misrepresented to the Injury of these States we do ourselves the pleasure to inclose you an authentickated Account of that whole Business which the Possibility of Doctor Franklins not arriving renders proper This Step was taken to unmask his Lordship and evince to the World that he did not possess powers which for the purposes of Delusion and division it had been suggested he did.

Mr Deanes Proposition of Loan is accepted by congress and they have desired two Millions Sterling to be obtained if possible. The Necessity of keeping up the Credit of our Paper Currency and the Variety of important uses that may be made of this Money have induced congress to go so far as 6 per cent but the Interest is heavy and it is hoped you may be able to do the Business on much easier Terms. The Resolves of congress on this Subject are inclosed and your earliest Attention to them is desired that we may know as soon as possible the Event of this Application.

Another Resolve of congress inclosed will shew you that Congress approve of armed Vessels being fitted out by you on continental Account pro

vided the Court of France dislike not the Measure and blank Commissions for this Purpose will be sent you by the next Opportunity. Private Ships of War or Privateers can not be admitted where you are because the securities necessary in such cases to prevent irregular Practices cannot be given by the Owners and Commanders of such Privateers. Another Resolve of Congress which we have the honour to inclose you directs the Conduct to be pursued with Regard to Portugal.2

We have the honour to be Gentlemen with great Respect and Esteem Your most obedient and very humble Servants

[blocks in formation]

I am now the only member of Congress in this city, unless Mr Walton, of Georgia, and Mr Clymer, my colleague, still remain, which I am not sure of.2.

3

In this perplexing situation of things, the Congress were informed, this day week, that an advanced party of Hessians and Highlanders had taken possession of Burlington, that they were pushing for Cooper's Ferry, opposite the city, and it was thought had the means of crossing the river. There were no troops to oppose them; our whole force, both by land and water, was above; it was therefore deemed unsafe for Congress to remain here, and absolutely necessary that they should be in a place of safety, where they could deliberate coolly and freely without interruption,

2 See nos. 211, note 9, 223, ante. The resolutions referred to are of Dec. 23. This shows that the letter was not completed prior to that date.

8 Benjamin Harrison wrote to Robert Morris, Dec. 25: "Inclosed you have a Letter from the Committee of Secret Corres [pondenc]e to the Commissioners in France which you'l please to Sign and send with the other Papers to those Gentn by the first opp'y with proper orders for their being Destroy'd rather than the Enemy should get them. I need not suggest to you the Prejudice it would be to us if they should fall into their Hands. Mr. Deane's Letter is also enclosed that you may answer the Mercantile parts of it, this would have been done sooner but you will see there were many Parts of it on which the advice of Congress was necessary, this occasioned the Delay. . . For God's Sake send us some News we have none here but what a Purviance or a Rush Deal out to us, if you wish to please your Friends come soon to us, but if you desire to keep out of the Damdest Hole in the World come not here. My Complemts to my Friends, I wish you and them a Happy Xmas a Merry one you cannot have Divided so far and on such an occasion from those you Love." Copied from the original, then in possession of Mr. Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia.

[253] Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 231; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1332; Sparks, Dipl. Corr. Rev., I. 233. In the Stevens Facsimiles are two copies (with omissions), addressed to Silas Deane, dated Dec. 20 and with additions Jan. 8-29, 1777. 2 See Morris's letters to the President of Congress, Dec. 13, 14, 16, 17, 21, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1198, 1213, 1239, 1254, 1331; also nos. 246, 252, ante, 255, post. See the portions of the letter omitted here.

and last Saturday they adjourned to Baltimore, where they are now sitting.*

I will not enter into any detail of our conduct in Congress, but you may depend on this, that so long as that respectable body persist in the attempt to execute, as well as to deliberate on their business, it never will be done as it ought, and this has been urged many and many a time, by myself and others, but some of them do not like to part with power, or to pay others for doing what they cannot do themselves."

I have Mr. Deane's favor of the 30th of September," to myself, now before me; the letter, by the same conveyance from Martinico, under cover of Mr. Bingham's, I sent down to the committee at Baltimore, and wrote them my mind on the justice of your complaints for want of intelligence. I had often told it to them before; you know well I was not put in that committee to carry on the correspondence, but to find out the conveyances; however, I have been obliged to write all the letters that have been written for some time past; but as Colonel Lee, Mr. Hooper, and the Rev. Dr. Witherspoon are now added to the committee, I shall excuse myself from that task, although I have thought it proper to give you a just state of our affairs at this time, because I do not suppose the committee will be got fairly together in Baltimore yet, and when they do, it is probable they may not be fond of laying things before you so fully as I have done. Some of us are of very sanguine complexious, and are too apt to flatter ourselves that things are not so bad as they appear to be, or that they will soon mend, etc. Now my notion is, that you, gentlemen Commissioners, should be fairly and fully informed of the true state of affairs, that you may make a proper use of that knowledge, keeping secret what ought to be so, and promulgating what should be known.

My own affairs necessarily detained me here after the departure of Congress; and it is well I staid, as I am obliged to set many things right that would otherwise be in the greatest confusion. Indeed, I find my presence so very necessary, that I shall remain here until the enemy drive me away.

Sir,

254. The President of CongrESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO
GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

BALTIMORE Decer. 23d. 1776.

I do myself the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your several Favours of the 12th. 13th. and 15th. inst. in the Order of their respective Dates, and to inform you that they were duly laid before Congress.2

4 See no. 244, note 2, ante. Cf. no. 302, post.

5 Cf. no. 246, ante, and no. 258, post.

6 Deane's letter to Morris, Sept. 30, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 601, and Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 150. See also his letter of Sept. 17, ibid., II. 148. [254]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XC. 48; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1368.

2 Washington's letters are in Writings (ed. Ford), V. 82, 89, 100, and Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1182, 1201, 1231. They were read in Congress Dec. 20.

« AnteriorContinuar »