It is now Monday Morning the 8th. . . I will trouble you a little further on the Subject which I droped the 6th.**** [sic] It was said, "many people held Congress Money to purchase Lands and other bargains or would even lend it at a low Interest to private persons in preference to putting it into the Loan Office." answer, admit these to be facts, what is proved but that there is a circulation for Money either by purchases or by Loans, and that there are some people who have so good an opinion of Congress Money as to Exchange Land for it, and some who have opportunities of improving it in different ways otherwise they would not borrow; and the loans to them being at a low Interest prove these to be men of Substance. Again, "Many people will not take Congress Money who will by some means or other find Money to purchase Bills and fill your Loan Office." granted; but who are these people? Surely our friends do not refuse to take Congress Money? and shall we Involve the States in a debt which may involve their ruin in order to accomodate our Enemies? but is it certain that Tories who will not Credit us here at home, where there is a Stamina, will take our paper Money Payable in a Country where we have no foundation? "But it has been the practice of all Nations to borrow "; true when necessity obliged them, and so far and no further. I consent now to borrow, but so extremely cautious wise nations have been of borrowing from other powers, so jealous even of a Balance of Trade against them has Great Britain been, that they broke off connexion with France and submitted to drink muddy port instead of Sparkling Champaign and brilliant Claret. "But Great Britain owes now about 40 Million to the States of Holland for Money borrowed." this lies on you to prove, but I believe I may safely deny it. the Dutch Subjects I will grant have money in the British Loans. I dont know to what amount perhaps six or eight Millions, so have the subjects of other States as Individuals. But if Nations have been accustomed to borrow of other Nations have they not given Security? did not Holland put some of her Port Towns into the hands of the Queen of England! did not Prussia Mortgage Selissia for the Credit established in London? which of the United States will you put into the hands of France as guarantee for the Sums intended to be borrowed. but why will you borrow when by a reassumption of that Virtue which we boasted of and dropped in the Same Year, you may go on and Succeed without borrowing? "But France asks us no Guarantee, she offers to lend without any Security and when we are in her debt it will be her Interest to Support us." true she has as yet Courted us to take trifling Sums and magnified "the K―s generosity" in demanding no Security. She has also told us it is impossible to let us have the trifling Sum of two Millions Sterling. how long shall we remain free from a demand for guarantee? can any 8 8" King's." one answer? If it will be consistent with the interest of France to Support us when we are in her debt, it will be equally consistent with her Interest and her practise too to send a few Men of War, Troops and Officers into one or more of our ports to protect us from insults from our old Enemies and at the Same time to collect the Revennues due for the Loans. we have a recent proof of the Value France has put upon our Lands in our present Circumstances. "Livre or 10d. Sterling per Acre." what folly what madness it will be to involve our selves in debt to that power. we should at least refrain until we have Resolved upon the Port for the reception of the French Men of War. I compare our present attempt to the folly of a Young Man borrowing Money from a designing Sharper upon the Credit of an expected Heirship. We are unwary and love ease and pleasure, we will borrow because it will save trouble. France pleads poverty in order to enhance the favor, will lend as much as she can (if you will enable her) and asks no Security. this magnifies the Royal and National Generosity. to whom are these manifique Offers proposed? to free and independent States? No-to puppets whom she keeps behind the Curtain, to Squeak her purposes, for tis her plan "to do no Act which shall seem to acknowledge our Indepency." [sic] [sic] She will not openly receive our Agents. her minister tells them "it will be well taken if they communicate with no other persons about the Court but himself, that he will at all convenient seasons be ready to confer with them." they treat our Agents "with all Civility but are cautious of giving Umbrage to England.' "they (the french ministry) take every step to gratify England publickly-attend to their Remonstrances, forbid Ships with Military Stores for America to depart, recal leave of absence to their Officers going out to America and in presence of the British Minister give Strict Orders that American Prizes should not be sold in France. at the same time all these things are nevertheless done and they assure us (American Agents) of their good Will." Can there be stronger proof adduced of French dissimulation and American Puppetism? Would wise men, would the Guardians of thirteen Orphan States incautiously trust their Wards in the power of such a Court? if you profusely borrow from her you will, you must be in her power. I tremble at the prospect. I would almost rather return to subjection to England, but I would surely rather recall our Agents than submit any longer to such Insults. France will not for her own Interest let you go back to England. be Virtuous, she will also for her own Interest seek you, she will continue to supply you with everything needful and to keep her ports open to your ships. in a little time such virtuous Resolutions will render you Independent of both France and England. I must have tired you good Sir and yet I have not minuted here one half that I thought my self obliged to say and repeat upon this important business in the Course of 5 or 6 days debate and adjournment. many good men see into the danger of con • See Franklin and Deane to the committee of secret correspondence, Mar. 12, cited in note 4, above. 10 tracting a debt with France but they dont see clearly. they say "what shall we do the Treasury is Empty." this shews our Error in having neglected so long, a business which is one of the main pillars of our Independence. it shews our folly too in the wanton terms proposed for Treaty last year. there the Court of Versailles has again made puppets of us and treated us with the Contempt we deserved. God Grant Mr. Washington, that brave and virtuous that disinterested Patriot, Hero, success in a conflict which is probably now in agitation and we shall have further time to retrospect our proceedings and to mend what shall appear to have been amiss. if he fails, a New Scene will open. Nothing but Virtue then can save us. we never shall call in her aid until we feel severe distress. tis time to attend Congress. may be when I return I may tell you more of the Quaker affair and trouble you with another sheet, but before I go let me suggest a danger which we seem to be drawn into. a whole week is passed and nothing is said or done further for replenishing our Treasury, if the proper means are neglected until that is nearly or more nearly exhausted, we may be frighted into a measure big with ruin, that of drawing for five or ten Million Dollars for doing which we have neither permission nor encouragement. if this shall happen remember I have foretold it and to you and others of my Constituents who are concerned in the event. I am happy in having Mr. Middleton exactly coincide in sentiments with me altho he has not spoke to the point. Mr. H." differs but I would not have it taken notice of for whatever his opinions may be, he is a man of Candor and Integrity, and I wish not to name any Body. 9th Septemr.-I did not return from business yesterday till the Sun had Set, eat a Scanty dinner and was obliged to go out again upon business when I came home I felt a much stronger propensity for the Bed than the writing Table. it was mortifying to sit from II OClock to past 6 without respite, Spend four hours of that time wrangling a point which I think had employed us five days before, receive and pocket a well timed and spirited reprimand from the Council and end the business relative to the Quakers and other self disaffected, where it might have been ended and in the manner in which it ought to have been ended in five minutes from the very outset, by recommending to confine at an appointed place, Stanton in Virginia, all the mischeivous and active ones, who shall refuse to take the Oath or affirmation of Allegience to the State. I will not say the business is quite ended, for as the Council feel or rather express themselves as if they were chaffed by our conduct, it may be, they will have nothing further to do in it.12 These are weighty Considerations, very weak, very impolitic Steps in Congress tends to lower it in the Esteem of the World, to sink its power and influence and to Strengthen the hands and hopes of our Enemies abroad and at home. many such Steps are taken which the World do not 10 The proposed treaty with France is found in the Journals under Sept. 17, 1776, and the instructions to the commissioners relative thereto are ibid., Sept. 24. 11 Thomas Heyward. 12 See the Journals, Sept. 8. The "spirited reprimand" from the council of Pennsylvania, dated Sept. 6, is in Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 593. For other references see no. 619, note 3, ante. Cf. nos. 567, 586, ante. know of these which are the Subject of public canvassing make a rapid progress to our detriment. observe among other reasons given in the House of Commons by Ld. Geo Germaine for continuing the War in America he gives particularly this one-" that he had further formed his opinion from the circumstance of the Congress having given up the Government confessing them selves unequal to it and creating Mr. Washington dictator of America.13 13a I am persuaded you will make the best use you can of these intimations. you may depend upon it I have neither by word or energy misrepresented any fact. I have Spoken pretty freely to His Excellency the President." Mr. Middleton I believe has delivered his Sentiments and will deliver them very fully when he returns, but I speak more to your Self in the Character of one of my Representative Constituents I wish what I have said may be useful. I hold it dangerous that the public should know our ["]Infirmity "—as it was yesterday properly termed in debate by my Colleague last mentioned. . We have Submitted to General Washington the propriety of ordering three Thousand Men from Peeks Kill for the protection of Jersey or for forming a Corps de reserve for enabling him in case of need to give second battle to General Howe's Troops." it is said from Camp that General Howe has with the sick and Wounded embarked his Baggage and Tents. his Army retired a little way and Camped in Bowers on or near Iron Hill if this be true the fleet will soon reappear in Delaware. I must now go again to Congress when I return or early to morrow Morning will close this very long Epistle. we are more than three days older yet nothing extraordinary is brought forth so vain are all our conjectures. Just returned from Congress 4 oClock. I cannot sit to dinner before I disburthen my mind by giving you a further Idea of our Confused proceedings. I have been Witness to a Report made by a Committee of the whole, which had been entered upon the Journal, superceded by a new Resolution even without reference to the Report. A Resolution carried almost Nem Con-entered, and half an hour after reconsidered and expunged.15 when I add that such irregularity is the work of almost every day, you will not wonder that I wish to be any where but in Congress. the great question upon borrowing Money and paying in Bills upon France for the Annual Interest at 6 Per Cent was this Morning confirmed 18 The remarks of Germain were made in the debate on the budget, May 15, 1777. See Hansard, Parliamentary History, XIX. 269; Almon, Parliamentary Register, vol. VII., House of Commons, p. 214. 13a That is, the president of South Carolina. See nos. 586, 591, ante, 636, post. 14 A resolution of this precise content is not found in the Journals. The order of Sept. 8, to General Putnam, who was at Peekskill, to hold fifteen hundred men in readiness to cross the North River, is probably what Laurens had in mind. Cf. the Journals, Sept. 12, and no. 635, post. 15 These remarks of Laurens seem to apply to the proceedings of Sept. 9, but the Journals of that day do not show that any part of the record had been expunged. That much reconsidering and expunging had taken place of late is evident from an inspection of the Journals for Aug. 22, 23, 25-28, and Sept. 2. which if our Bills are accepted is meant to involve us further at least Two hundred and Seventy thousand pounds Sterling per Annum in a debt to France-21 Yeas against 5 Nay. the nays Colo. Harrison, Mr. John Adams, Mr. Duane, Mr. Middleton Mr. Laurens.18 a very thin house for deciding the fate of America. time will shew who are in the right. £270000 Sterling, per Annum, I should have added besides the disadvantage of Remittances and besides vast other debt, but we have now temporary access to Money we Shall continue to Squander until we receive some very severe Check. this may possibly be within 48 hours. for we this moment learn by express that Genl Howe has stolen a march upon our great General. he must be stopped this Night or tomorrow Morning he will be on our Skirts. we are all now talking of adjourning to the Country, the question is, where? 17 Sir 17 628. COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1 PHILADELPHIA 6th Sepr 1777 The Representation made to your Excellency by a Board of General Officers touching the Inconveniences arising from the Mode in which regimental officers have drawn their Rations, having been committed to us by Congress, We propose to report the inclosed Resolve, upon which We previously wish to have your Sentiments." We are not to consider the proposal for drawing more provisions than are allowed by the Establishment, which appears to be attended with many Difficulties, and have therefore confined our Views to the Removal of the Inconveniences complained of, being with much Esteem Sir your very hume Servts. RICHARD HENRY LEE His Excellency General Washington Sir, 629. THE PRESIDENT of CongRESS TO GEORGE Washington.1 PHILADA. 6th. Septr. 1777. You will perceive from the enclosed Resolves, that Congress, desirous of reinforcing the Army at this critical Period, have recommended to 16 See the yeas and nays in the Journals, Sept. 9 (p. 725); cf. ibid., Sept. 10. 17 The express was probably Col. Samuel Forman. Cf. no. 631, post. Congress decided, Sept. 14, upon Lancaster, Pa., as the place to which to adjourn if necessary. Cf. the Journals, Sept. 17. The adjournment took place Sept. 18, and Congress met in Lancaster Sept. 27. See nos. 631, 637, 642, 643, 646, 649-653, 656-659, 661, 698, post. [628]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XVIII. 48. 2 The representation of the board of officers in regard to the question of rations was conveyed to Congress in Washington's letter of Aug. 9, Writings (ed. Ford), VI. 16 (ed. Sparks), V. 24 (see the Journals, Aug. 11). The committee was appointed, Sept. 4. A report of the board of war, brought in the same day, contained a resolution on the subject, but it was ordered "to lie" (see the Journals, p. 711). The resolve, together with the preamble proposed by the committee, was adopted Sept. 11. [629] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XC. 311; Letters to Washington, (ed. Sparks), I. 432. |