675. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO the 1 MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL.1 Honble gentlemen, CONGRESS CHAMBERS YORK TOWN IN PENNSYLVA Before this reaches you, the particular Circumstances and Reasons of the Departure of Congress from the City of Philadelphia must have come to your Knowledge. I shall therefore wave the Subject, and only say that the Congress is tolerably well accommodated in this place, and are now Conducting the Publick Business here. . . . P. S. I have it in Charge from Congress to Request, that you will be pleas'd to Enlarge Lieut. Colonel Campbell on giving the same Parole that you have other officers under it.2 Honl Council of Massachus Bay and Assembly Dear Sir 676. ELIPHALET DYER TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1 1 YORK TOWN, Octobr 8th 1777 I find to my surprise that the Commisrs for setling accounts are ordered from Hertford to this Country. it is moved to be taken up again as the Inconveniencies you mention beside the danger in removing Your papers at so great a distance is readily seen by every one.2. 677. JAMES DUANE TO PHILIP SCHUYLER.1 My dear General YORK TOWN 9th. Octobr. 1777 Your Letter, my dear Sir, is referred to a Committee. They will be in no hurry to make out your Charge: and I think the Line you have drawn for your Attendance is Justifiable and proper. I shall however press to bring your Affair to a Hearing when Circumstances will admit. General Washington most certainly has no Leisure at present. This last Affair has rais'd his Reputation very much indeed; and I think very deservedly. . . [675]1 Mass. Arch., CXCVIII. 212; Library of Congress, Force Trans., Mass. Recs., Letters, 1777. 2 See the Journals, Aug. 19; cf. ibid., Jan. 6, Feb. 20, Mar. 14, June 2, 6, July 22, Aug. 7. Lieut.-Col. Archibald Campbell, with two transports of Highlanders, sailed into Boston Harbor June 17, 1776, and was taken prisoner. A letter from him to General Howe, giving an account of the affair, is in Force, Am. Arch., fourth ser., VI. 981. See the Journals, July 2, 1776. A biographical sketch of Campbell is in Dict. Nat. Biog., III. 794. [676] Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers. 2 Cf. no. 664, ante. [677]1 N. Y. Pub. Lib., Schuyler Papers, no. 547. 2 See the Journals, Oct. 8, 9. In the entry of Oct. 9, the date of Schuyler's letter is given as 27th February instead of 27th September. See no. 669, ante. 3 The battle of Germantown. See the Journals, Oct. 8. Dear Sir 678. HENRY LAURENS TO JOHN LEWIS GERVAIS.1 YORK 9th. October 1777 this will probably be delivered to you by the Baron Kalb a Gentleman who has been long attending Congress with tenders of his Service in the Army, and who was a few days before we left Philadelphia actually voted a Major General to be Commissioned one day antecedent to the Marquis delafayette. this shows you the high estimation which Congress had made of the abilities and merits of the Baron, nevertheless from certain delicacies respecting rank on his part and other circumstances which are unnecessary to recapitulate the business which Congress had so much at heart became stagnant, and the Baron I believe is determined to return. to France by way of Charles Town.2. . . 679. SAMUEL CHASE TO THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND My Dear Sir YORK TOWN, October 10th. 1777 I wrote to you this Morning the best Accounts I could obtain of the Battle of the 4th. Inst. I sent My Letter by Major Tarling Deputy Quarter Master of Georgia. this afternoon I was honoured with your favor of the 8th Ulto. inclosing the Petition of Brothers and Doffler, and inclosed is the Determination of Congress. my motion being granted a similar one was prayed by Dr. Wetherspoone for some Damage Done by Colonel Stones Regiment. this produced an universal Complaint against our Troops. it is referred to the Board of War to consider of some general Regulation.. The Confederacy will be, I believe, finished before Monday Week. I will attend my Duty in the House of Delegates. Mr. Rumsey came here a few Days ago, on Business, and promised to relieve Me when the Assembly should sit. I wish notice could be given to him of the Day of the Meeting of the Assembly. [678]1 S. C. Hist. Soc., Laurens Letter-Book, 1776-1778, p. 17. 2 See the Journals, Mar. 19, Aug. 13, Sept. 8, 15, Oct. 3, 4. The statement that Kalb was to be commissioned one day antecedent to Lafayette is an error. Such a resolution was passed Sept. 15, but was reversed by a resolution of Oct. 4 that the two commissions bear the same date. Concerning Kalb, see Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., I. 393-396, 416-421, and Kapp, Life of Kalb. [679]1 Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, IV. 90; Arch. of Md., XVI. 395. 2 The battle of Germantown. Some further details of the battle are given in an omitted passage of this letter. The reference is to the resolution, Oct. 10, relative to irregularities of the Fourth Georgia battalion during its march through Maryland. See also the Journals, Oct. 8. 4 See nos. 659, 671, ante, nos. 680, 681, 683, 687, 701, 704, 712, 722, 723, 725, 731, 733, 735, 738-740, 746, 749, 753, 754, 760, 765, 766, post. 680. CORNELIUS HARNETT TO THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA (RICHARD CASWELL).1 Sir: YORK TOWN PENNSYLVANIA Oct. 10th, 1777.2 Congress have once more begun to think of confederation. I could wish to know the sentiments of our General Assembly upon some Capital points. The method of voting by States was yesterday determined, viz, that each State should have one vote, no colony against it but Virginia. The grand point of settling the Quota of Taxes each State is to pay, comes on this afternoon. Three proposals have been made, one to tax by the Poll, another to assess the value of the Lands, and the other to assess property in general. The latter at present I think most equitable. should the Confederation be agreed upon Mr. Penn and myself will embrace the earliest opportunity of transmitting it to your Excellency, to be laid before the General Assembly. The Delegates of the several States are exceedingly anxious to finish this business, many assert that the very Salvation of these States depend upon it; and that none of the European powers will publicly acknowledge them free and independent, until they are confederated. The time of Congress ever since my arrival has been chiefly taken up with army matters. We have as yet no printing press, or Post Office established here, this will be done in a few days. I shall then have it more in my power to communicate to your Excellency every piece of interesting intelligence which comes to hand, at present I can hardly find time to write a letter, Congress sits from morning 'till night, and Committees 'till 10 and 11 o'clock. In fact I am almost tired of my troublesome office, and heartily wish to be with my family. I have not time to enlarge, but have the honor to be with respect your Excellency's most obdt and very huml Servant, CORN'L HARNETT. I beg your Excellency will remember me most respectfully to your Council. My Dear Son, . 681. HENRY LAURENS TO JOHN LAURENS.1 YORK TOWN 10th. October 1777. we yesterday received a long Chatechistical Letter from Gen Sullivan the sequel of which is a desire to withdraw himself from the " [680]1 N. C. State Recs., XI. 647; Harvard Univ. Lib., Sparks MSS., XXXVI. 475. 2 See no. 679, note 4, ante. Some statements in this letter indicate that the date should probably be Oct. 8. Harnett says: The method of voting by States was yesterday determined." That point was decided Oct. 7. He further says: "The grand point of settling the Quota of Taxes each State is to pay, comes on this afternoon." This suggests that the discussion of Oct. 9 had not yet taken place. The resolution of the afternoon of Oct. 8 may, however, be the first determination of a date for the discussion of article IX., and not a postponement. It may be remarked, further, that in the opening of the letter Harnett mentions that he had received Caswell's letter of Sept. 2 two days ago. John Penn, in a letter to Caswell, Oct. 5, says that he had just received Caswell's letter of Sept. 2, to him. These letters from Caswell must have arrived at the same time. Cf. nos. 681, 683, 701, 712, 723, 733, 747, 749, post. 3 See the Journals, Oct. 17. [681]1 L. I. Hist. Soc., Laurens Papers. Army, which gave me an opportunity of turning to a Gentleman, “did not I tell you this would be the effect of stigmatizing an Officer upon the vague opinion and report of a Member of Congress. what do you think ' though a very sensible Man was his answer, Why did they then use my friend Schuyler so? the Cases are by no means parrallel but admit they are, would you complete the ruin of the 13 United States because a Man in a party opposite to yours has done them an injury.2. . . We are now upon the Confederation have surmounted one vast pointthe Votes are to be by States and not by Voices. the present question is the mode of Taxation two days have been amused in conning it, some sensible things have been said, and as much nonsense as ever I heard in so short a space. I have not contributed to either I mean to expose my inabilities this Morning in a very few words because I think very few are necessary and very few would be made if we were about to Tax one State in which all were equally Interested. Candour and genuine honesty ought then to be our guides. . 2 Sullivan's letter, dated Sept. 27, was read in Congress Oct. 10. See nos. 645, 647, ante, and nos. 684, 686, 702, post. See the Journals, Oct. 7, and no. 680, ante, no. 683, post. The incident mentioned in the following correspondence between John Adams and Henry Marchant, of Rhode Island, in 1789, probably relates to the proceedings of Oct. 7, upon the method of voting under the Confederation. In a letter to Marchant, Aug. 18, 1789, Adams says: "The solemn declaration, which you call prophetic, and say has come to pass, made on the floor of Congress, respecting the late confederation, just as we had closed it, I do not distinctly recollect. I should be much obliged to you if you would write me as particular an account of it as you can recollect." (Works, IX. 559.) Marchant responded: "When my friend has all his feelings wound up upon an important subject, and vent must be given, he has a manner of expression so peculiar to himself, and so striking to his hearers, that the impression, as from a stroke of lightening, is left behind, while the flash and sound, the mode of expression, is lost or forgotten. His words I will not engage to recollect with exactness. "The articles of confederation being completed, the members by rotation were called to place their signatures to them. This being concluded, a pause and perfect calm succeeded. He sat and appeared full of thought. He rose. 'Mr. President.' His cane slipped through his thumb and forefinger, with a quick tap upon the floor; his eyes rolled upwards; his brows were raised to their full arch. "This business, sir, that has taken up so much of our time seems to be finished. But, sir, I now, upon this floor, venture to predict that, before ten years this confederation, like a rope of sand, will be found inadequate to the purpose, and its dissolution will take place. Heaven grant that wisdom and experience may then avert what we have most to fear!' "I never knew a greater solemnity upon the minds of the members. It was near the usual time of adjournment. Congress was adjourned.” Adams replied: "Your account of the prophecy is humorous enough, but you must be mistaken in the point of time. I left Congress on the 11th of November, 1777, that year which the Tories said, had three gallowses in it, meaning the three sevens, just as Congress had gone through the confederation, but before it was signed. My name is not to that confederation; so that the prediction must have been uttered either at Yorktown, a day or two before I left it, or before, at Philadelphia. "I recollect some expressions of that sort, on the floor of Congress, in Philadelphia, immediately after the determination that the votes should be by States, and not by numbers, a point which Wilson and I labored with great zeal. After that determination and some others, I own I gave up that confederation in despair of its efficacy or long utility." (Works, III. 70, note.) If Adams is correct in assigning this incident to the occasion of the determination of the method of voting, he is of course in error in stating that it took place in Philadelphia. 682. DANIEL ROBERDEAU TO THE PRESIDENT OF PENNSYLVANIA (THOMAS WHARTON, JR.).1 Dear Sir, YORK TOWN, Octr 10th, 1777 I am honored with your favor of this date, and with concern I find the alarm taken by the State at the hint thrown out respecting the calling of the Convention in a few hasty lines, the production of a very few minutes while the Express waited. As my time is too much engross'd to take Copies of my Letters I cannot recur to what I wrote, but I meant only to convey this Idea that some real Friends of our State Members of Congress were of Opinion that the salvation of the State depended on calling of a Convention, which was construed by Council and Assembly, as appears from a Letter I am honored with from the Speaker, confirmed the Attorney General, into a serious Intention in Congress of interfering in the internal Police of our State, so far at least as to influence into the measures in Question, whereas it arose in a tete a-tete betwixt some, as I have already said, real Friends and myself, nor will you be surprised with the sentiment when you are acquainted with the motives. It was publickly and confidently said in and out of Congress, that a Quorum of the Legislature could not be got together. And as the necessity of the times required the most vigorous measures, and the season for taking the sense of the people for or against a Convention was at hand, their voice in Convention to lay down a system to be executed by Committees of that Body, dispers'd thro' the State, was thought the best succedaneum for the want of an established Legislature, and such Laws competent to the emergency of the times, which were not provided. That these Exertions were necessary to the Salvation of the State, and its safety and liberty would be provided for better than by the interference of Congress, until such Convention had appointed a Legislative Body. This was thought the best Expedient for these Reasons, and might prove a healing measure to our unhappy Divisions. A mistake of the day of Election and that the Constitution had appointed the first Tuesday of this present month, which I could not contradict (as in the hurry of removing my Copy containing the Constitution, was mislaid) influenced to the hint offered you as above, for in this place there was not the least appearance of an Election, from whence it was judged that the people were in such a maze that the day of Election had throughout the State elapsed irrevocably (nor could I satisfy Enquirers on this head), or at best, that a partial election would obtain, and our Country continue to suffer through want of exertion. Thus was I distracted until Dr. Ewing informed me that the Assembly and Council were preparing the most salutary laws, of which I am more fully convinced by the specimen of one put into my hands by Mr. Sergeant, which rejoiced my heart, and is a full proof that under my apprehensions, there was no other way of supplying the very powers given but by a Convention. I heartily congratulate you on the concurring pro |