States have a right to meet upon matters wholly indifferent, but they have no right to touch upon Continental Subjects-that the committee from the 4 New Engd States have touched upon continental Subjects, therefore the Meeting stands in need of the Approbation of the Congress. Dr Rush. The desire of independance is natural not only to individuals but to communities. There was a time (near 200 years) when it was wrong to say a word agst. the dependance of the colonies upon Great Britain. A time came when it was equally criminal to enforce that dependance. The time may come and probably will come when it will be the interest of the united States to be independant of each other, but I can conceive of no temporal punishment to be severe eno' for that man who attempts to dissolve, or weaken the Union for a century or two to come. I admire the proceedings of the committee assembled at Providence. They are full of political virtue and wisdom, and I think the other States will act wisely and virtuously in proportion as they resemble them. But I think the Meeting is full of great and interesting consequences, and should be regarded with a serious and jealous eye. Their business was chiefly continental, and therefore they usurped the powers of congress as much as four counties would usurp the powers of legislation in a state shd. they attempt to tax themselves. The committee have in one instance in regulating the price of goods counterved [contravened?] an express resolution of congress, and lastly tho' the meeting was necessary and no injustice intended or done by it to any state, yet it becomes us to remember that arbitrary power has often originated in justice and necessity. This question was decided by a majority in the Committee of the Whole house in the affirmative, but in the negative a few days afterwards. It was reconsidered Feby 13rd.2 Sir: 337. THOMAS BURKE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA (RICHARD CAswell).1 BALTIMORE Feb'y 4th 1777. I intend hereafter to trouble you with a letter every post, and shall give my sentiments of the different political principles which I shall perceive to actuate the several States, the measures intended to be pursued, the intelligence we receive and the important decisions in Congress. I find a considerable jealously is entertained of the Northern States, I know not how justly. at present I must refer you to Mr. Hooper who is much better qualified to give you satisfaction on all these matters than I am. Our situation here is unsettled, uncomfortable, and incredibly expensive. These circumstances will I doubt not occasion another adjournment of Congress. . . Feb'y 5th-This day it was resolved in Congress that Col. Nash should be appointed a Brigadier General, that he should proceed to the 2 See no. 355, post; also the references in no. 323, note 2, ante. [337]1 N. C. State Recs., XI. 373. 2 This letter, found ibid., p. 374, is evidently only an addition to the letter of Feb. 4. See no. 359, post. Western part of the State, and expedite as much as possible the recruiting service, and that the several Battalions of Continental Troops in North and South Carolina should join General Washington as soon as may be after the fifteenth of March. It was proposed to request your assistance in forwarding the recruiting business, but we observed that you were already sensible of the necessity of such an exertion of your interest and influence, and being so well inclined to serve to your utmost power the cause of America, there is no need to remind you of it.3 . 338. SAMUEL CHASE TO THE MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.1 BALTIMORE TOWN Febry. 6. 1777 Thursday Noon Gentlemen. Congress are very anxious that some immediate Steps should be taken by our State, not only as to the person of Captain Patterson, but as to the Payment of the Engagement entered into by the Continental and your Agent. Capt. Patterson is viewed as a pirate and after examination, if the facts should appear to you to be well founded, it may be well to consider, if it would not be proper to send him to Martinico for trial there, by the law of nations. If our State shall pay the value of the vessel and goods seised by Patterson, would it not be proper to inform the Governor of Martinique that the whole would have been returned, but for the Risque. If no remittance can be made but by produce, it will be an equal risque to send back the vessel. Could not Mr. Morris pay the money for our State? An opportunity of writing will present itself in a few days. Would it not be proper for our State to write a letter, disavowing the conduct of Capt. Patterson, and engaging payment as soon as possible and mentioning the men of war in our Bay, which may delay the remittance.❜ I must again repeat the necessity of a Representation. Sir, 339. THE PRESIDENT of ConGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO BALTIMORE Feby. 6th 1777. This will be delivered to you by Mr. Burke 2 from the Island of Jamaica a Gentleman of Spirit, and well affected to the American Cause, who had applied to Congress to be taken into the Service of these States. They have directed that his Application be referred to you, that you may do therein as you shall think proper. The Congress have received very 3 Cf. the Journals. [338]1 Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, IV. 87; Arch. of Md., XVI. 122. 2 See nos. 322, 333, ante. 3 See no. 327, ante. [339] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XC. 86. 2 Bartholomew Burke. See the Journals, Jan. 22, 30, Feb. 4, Apr. 7. The draft, dated Mar. 4, of Washington's authority and instructions to Captain Burke to raise a company is in the Washington MSS., as is also a letter of introduction from Robert Morris, dated Feb. 14. favourable Accounts of the great Attachment Mr. Burke has to the Cause of America, and of his Zeal to do every Thing in his Power to support her Liberties. 340. JOHN ADAMS TO MRS. ADAMS.1 BALTIMORE, 7 February, 1777. I am at last, after a great deal of difficulty, settled in comfortable quarters, but at an infinite expense. The price I pay for my board is more moderate than any other gentlemen give, excepting my colleagues, who are all in the same quarters and at the same rates, except Mr. Hancock, who keeps a house by himself. The prices of things here are much more intolerable than at Boston. The attempt of New England to regulate prices is extremely popular in Congress, who will recommend an imitation of it to the other States. For my own part I expect only a partial and a temporary relief from it, and I fear that, after a time, the evils will break out with greater violence. The water will flow with greater rapidity for having been dammed up for a time. The only radical cure will be to stop the emission of more paper, and to draw in some that is already out, and devise means effectually to support the credit of the rest. To this end we must begin forthwith to tax the people as largely as the distressed circumstances of the country will bear. We must raise the interest from four to six per cent. We must, if possible, borrow silver and gold from abroad. We must, above all things, endeavor, this winter, to gain further advantages of the enemy, that our power may be in somewhat higher reputation than it is, or rather, than it has been. 341. SAMUEL CHASE TO THE MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.1 BALTIMORE TOWN Febry. 7th. 1777. Gentlemen The marine Committee are very desirous, that the Tender of the Defence should be well manned, and under a bold active prudent officer, sent down with the Troops destined for Somt. and Worcester County. [340]1 Familiar Letters, p. 239. 2 In his diary he writes: "February 6. Thursday. Lodged last night, for the first time, in my new quarters, at Mrs. Ross's, in Market Street, Baltimore, a few doors below the Fountain Inn.. The Congress sits in the last house at the west end of Market Street, on the south side of the street; a long chamber, with two fire-places, two large closets, and two doors. The house belongs to a Quaker, who built it for a tavern." Works, II. 433. Adams arrived in Baltimore Feb. 1 (see his leter to Mrs. Adams, Feb. 2, Familiar Letters, p. 237), and took his seat in Congress Feb. 4 (see the Journals, Feb. 4, and no. 336, ante); cf. Warren-Adams Letters, I. 288. Concerning conditions at Baltimore, cf. Adams's letter of Feb. 2, mentioned above, and nos. 260, 262, 282, 295, ante. See also no. 344, note 2, post. In regard to the house in which Congress sat, see Scharf, Chronicles of Baltimore, pp. 141, 153, and Scharf, Baltimore City and County, p. 74. In the latter volume is a picture of Congress Hall". 3 See no. 323, note 2, ante. See nos. 326, note 8, ante, 344-346, 349, 352, 357, 375, 382, 384, 385, post. [341]1 Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, IV. 86; Arch. of Md., XVI. 124. Congress will afford every Assistance in their power to prevent any Communication between the Insurgents and the Men of war, and any plunder of our Islands or Coasts. it is earnestly wished and expected that our State will order every Vessel they have and can obtain on the same Duty. I shall speak to Captain Cook about his tender." No Letters from General Washington The Post is not yet arrived. With Respect your Obedt. Servt. S. CHASE 342. WILLIAM WHIPPLE TO JOSIAH BARTLETT.1 BALTIMORE, Feby. 7, 1777. There is more unanimity in Congress than ever. the little Southern jealousies have almost subsided and the Dickinsonian politics are Banished. J. Adams and Lovell are arrived from Massacts and exceeding good representatives from Virginia, and a new member from N. Carolina, (one Mr. Burke), who I think is the Best man I have seen from that country. . . . . 343. THOMAS BURKE, ABSTRACT OF DEBATES.1 February 7, 1777. Motion in Congress that the President write to every State excepting Virginia and Masechusett's Bay recommending a fuller representation. proposed to leave out the Exceptions. passed in the Negative Amendment proposed, that when ever any State was unrepresented the President should write requesting a full representation agreed by a Majority. motion to be reconsidered. Amendment proposed that when ever any State was represented by less than three President should write etc. rejected. Question upon the whole as amended, Nos 5 Ayes 4 1 Divided. In this Debate the States fully represented insisted on the Exceptions that, it might appear they had no need of a Memento. Several other States insisted that no state ought to be permitted to Commit a Vote in the General Council of the States to less than three. That less nor even that Number would supply Committees it was Answered to the first that every State had made her representation as best Suited her Circumstances, 2 Cf. no. 335, ante, nos. 347, 443, 463, post. [342]1 Mag. of Hist., VIII. 371; Henkels, Catalogue, no. 969, item 144. 2 Cf. John Adams to James Warren, Feb. 17, Warren-Adams Letters, I. 293. [343] N. Č. Hist. Soc., Chapel Hill. Burke evidently made two partially distinct sets of abstracts. Besides the fragment, Feb. 7 and 8, in possession of the North Carolina Historical Society, and the abstracts, Feb. 8-26, printed in the North Carolina State Records, vol. XI., there is in the Emmet Collection in the New York Public Library a fragment covering the debates of Feb. 20-27 (see no. 367, note I, post), with some account of debates about Mar. 14 and Apr. 8. For some dates the texts show only minor variations; for others they are quite distinct. The Emmet copy apears to have been drafted subsequently to that used in the N. C. State Recs., and some of the abstracts are more extended. It is probable that the Emmet fragment and that at Chapel Hill are parts of the same manuscript. The original from which the text of the N. C. State Recs. was derived has probably been lost, as that text was printed from an executive letter-book copy. that many were unable to spare or support one more Numerous, that each was best Judge how many of her citizens She would Trust, and to what length she would Trust them, that there was no need of publicly calling on them for a representation more full because they had already wished the same thing but found it Inconvenient to be Effected that therefore those who had any representation at all [had] done what their circumstances permit [ed] an [?] for greater Exertions, to the second that the represent [atives of] the States who had few refused nor [ ] That the weight and Trust were certainly too great for any one person but it was an evil that could not at present be remedied, and therefore it must be born, that requiring three to form a Quorum would Embarass several states and leave such states often without any representation at all, because if any Accident prevented the attendance of one, the Vote was Necessarily lost, and any state would prefer a Vote by one of her Del[eg]ates rather than No Vote at all. North Carolina having only one Delegate present urged that the arguments [aimed at?] the Insufficiency of One Delegate for so Important a Trust were sensibly felt by the Delegate who already tho' but a very few days in Congress found his Experience and abilities far Inferior to his Duty, but this was not the fault of his Country, who could not prevail on her abler men to undertake a Business so arduous and Inconvenient. that She had Indeed appointed three but never Expected that they should be always in Service at Once, because the absence was too long from their private Families and Affairs, and She had not Funds to support a greater Number, that One who Expected to have been here was prevented by Illness. the other had Just departed and after a long attendance was permitted to return home that the Single Representation of that State was the Misfortune of the Delegate on whom, all Incompetent as he is, the burthen of so high a Trust had fallen and also the misfortune of his Country who in the absence of his more able Colleagues could not be so well served, that Considering it as a matter which each state had an Exclusive right to Judge of, the Delegate could not agree that Congress should at all Interfere with it, that having Just informed the Congress that one of the [delegates had been] permitted by his Country to return, and that the [consequence is] that only two would be in service the Delegate considered the Ammendment relative to three is [as] implying a Censure on his Country and he must therefore protest against it. The Intention to Censure was disclaimed.2 Dear Sir 344. BENJAMIN RUSH TO ROBERT MORRIS.1 BALTIMORE Feby. 8th 1777 I have the pleasure of informing you that your letter to Congress of the 4th instant produced a Motion this day for adjourning to Philadelphia. 2 See no. 351, post. Cf. nos. 311, 326, ante. [344] Copied from the original then in the possession of Mr. Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia; Henkels, Catalogue, no. 1183, item 92. |