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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Dear Sir, or believe I may say Friend,Philadelphia Jany. [10?](1) 1783.
I wish I could write to you as free as I think, but I cannot, it is not prudent; God in his goodness has brot us to the beginning of a New Year. What Events this will bring forth God only knows. If His goodness was not and did not Extend far beyond our National deservings we should have no good to hope for or Expect. When we had sometime agoe the fairest prospects of Peace, how soon was our expectations blasted by a small incident even the death of one poor Mortal (the Marquis of Rockingham); a Strong Prospect again revived, Antecedent to the Providential Defeat at Gibralter. What Effect that will have is not yet known, but why do we wish for Peace? will that put an end to the Calamities of an unreformed People or may not even that we so Ardently wish for be Attended with greater Internal Calamities. Tho I long for Peace, Yet I most earnestly Deprecate what may follow, but let us hope for the Best as the goodness of God is not Limited to our Deserts. I wish my self at home, but the severe season forbids, but I again ask my self why do I wish for that, shall I find the world better there than here? I know not. Here, you are in the midst of Dissipation, unbounded Avarice, a City of Gambles; in Congress I dare not say, but Divided Councils, Exhausted Finances, no plan, System or practical method that promises relief. How Divided? Why to be plain, 2 or 3 States govern the whole & that Influence used much against N England and they, NE, have Cement, Unconnected, & Divided Among themselves, tho I wish I could say that Connecticut was not the Butt the Mark. I fear too much so, tho Rhodisland is the hated Object. An Established fund at least, and solely to be applied to the payment of Interest on our funded Debts, seemed the only practical relief of our Credit, but when I came to find that the Resolve of Congress did not appropriate it to the Intrest but to that or other Debts as they pleased, I will own I was not very sorry that Rhodisland (tho I believe rather with selfish Views) defeated the Plan, & Virginia have rescinded their Vote, so we are all aground, what shall be done no one knows. We have now Genll McDougal with 2 Colls as a Comtee from the Army full of Complaints, but principally for want of pay, & no money to pay them, our Credit nearly at an end, New England have not paid an 8th part of last years tax, the Jerseys & Pensylvania about in proportion, farther southward (except a little from Maryland) not a farthing, tho South Carolina Claim the Credit of supplying the Army that way. Charlestown is now totally Evacuated by the Enemy; and South Carolina & Georgia wholly relieved. I know but little what has been doing for about 2 months past in Congress, I suppose Mr. Wolcott and Mr. Ellsworth have wrote as they have been here for sometime, tho unknown to me till my return from Trenton I
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Portrait of
Eliphalet Dyer
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JANUARY 10, 1783
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found them here. York had again revived the affair of Vermont before I left Congress but could not prevail While I remained. Congress I percieve are Indeavouring to play the same game with them as Great Britain with America and believe after solemn plighted faith being Violated as they will call it right or wrong they are to expect no more Success. By a late Resolve threatning them with Authority & force if they do not Imediately restore the Persons & Estates of some dissaffected persons who had Undertaken to Undermine their Government and had taken offices under New York State to Execute their Laws on Vermont I believe will Nestle them. The last Declaration I made in Congress before I went to Trenton was to forewarn them against such measures as Vain, fruitless, ineffectual & which would only rebound with Contempt on their own heads; I did not think the measure would prevail, urged that the Motion from York might lye by till my return & for the New England States to be more fully represented, but as soon as gone York Influence carried every thing, & Congress will suffer the Contempt they have, against faithfull Warning brot on themselves. A principle matter which Governs against Acknowledging Vermont an Independent State (after a most solemn Engagement) is the Strength, weight & Influence it may in future give the New England States in Congress, Yet it seems no policy will influence New England; which brings me to the Unhappy Issue of our Late Tryal with Pensylvania, (2) Chargrind and dissapointed, I know you will say why did not we get the Cause postponed. We Indeavoured to the utmost of our power in Congress but in vain; we were there forced to proceed, we then had to agree upon our Judges. As I could not trust Congress in any one step thot it best to agree, & when we had agreed & as I thot a good Choice they found means to Induce one on whom we had great dependence Viz the late Govr Rutledge a Gentn of skill, ability & Integrity to refuse. That frustrated my plan much, but for reasons I can give you Verbatim, it was forced, and as we had finally agreed on 3 from Virginia, 2 from New England, Houston from the Jerseys, I will own I thot we were safe, but so Providence ordered the 2 from Virginia, one of which a learned Judge Jones, failed of attending, by means of which I believe Eventually we lost our Cause;(3) a Cause of Magnitude indeed, & which on every legal ground & principle, as well as policy to the United States in General, the New England in particular ought to have been given in favor of Connecticut but Unhapily New England Judges I believe were most against us. They have merely given their opinion in short vs. Connecticut without reason or principle Assignd, & in one thing I will own they were wise, that is they agreed they would not ever give to the parties or any other person the reason or principle on which they founded their Judgement, for if they did I am sure every sensible Impartial man must Condemn them, but if we may Conjecture there is no doubt with me that they left every Legal solid
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ground and took up the long Silence of Connecticut, the contest in Connecticut against the Claim, Govr Fitches letter calling of it a wild scheem in our people, & the cautious manner in which our assembly first treated the affair, and such kind of extraneous matter, with a little pleasure in dissapointing Connecticut in some, Winged away the cause against us; the Cause by Doctr Johnson & Coll Root was placed in every advantageous point of Light, they were Intent upon it for more than 40 days, they never exerted themselves better nor to more advantage. I cast in my mite, we were in no measure out done in Council or in the management of the Cause, by the Voice of the Judges or by slanders, but our cause is lost & I fear no remedy, tho the setlers by Confederation have still a right of Tryal & not (by the opinion of the Judges) to be affected by this as they would not Continue or delay the Cause to have them Cited and for that reason I am extreemly Anxious for them & Pity them with all my heart & wish their relief. I am promised a Copy of the Trial & Sentence &c this Evening which I mean to send to the Govr by Brown who sets off tomorrow morning. By the Way Congress have not accepted the Cession of Connecticut made of their Western Lands & tho they accepted New York, yet they would not Connecticut for fear it might have some influence in our favor on the Trial. Fail not to have that Cession revoked for yet beyond Pensylvania on the borders of Lake Erie &c we have the best tract of Country in America. At least leave a large tract of Country there for the benefit of the State, & only Cede that beyond as New York have done to what they have no Title. Use this letter with Caution, it is wrote in hast, I wish some was left out. Remember me to my friends & particular Acquaintance & believe me most Sincerely Yours,
Elipht Dyer
[P.S.] The reason I have not wrote to the Assembly is because Doctr Johnson & Coll Root two of their Agents have returnd home & will make any report of the Cause Needful. You are Certainly in Debt to me a letter or two and I sincerely request payment.
I forgot to mention a specimen of Partiality in a certain body with respect to the late Commisy Genll Trumbulls allowance. They are attempting every way to recede from their Grant or explain it away. I got the matter suspended till my return from Trenton; am attempting to bring the matter about if possible to have Justice done in some measure as to others & when prepared shall bring the matter on in Congress in a few days. Of this please to advise your brother Trumbull & that I shall imediately acquaint him when any thing is effected.(4) Mrs Trumbulls kind regards to you & Mrs. Williams all well. When the roads settle & the blossoms begin to open, God Willing, shall make the best of my way home, but pray Importune for me with the Govr & Councill or of Safety for money to be sent me by Brown when Next comes. I cannot do without, my expenses are high, I am very moder-
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ate but my Cloathing to take through a whole year of Various Sorts will nearly absorbe my Wages. I have sold my horses for little as they got lame and trust have to buy again before my return. I have done.
E D
Pensylvania Gentn some talk of being Very generous to the setlers. Their assembly are soon to meet when we shall know further [. . . .]
RC (CtHi: Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., Papers).
1 The content of this letter suggests that it was written early in January, and Dyer indicates that he will be sending it "by Brown who sets off tomorrow morning." Jesse Brown was a Connecticut messenger used regularly by Robert Morris, whose diary indicates that Brown was dispatched from Philadelphia on January 11. See Morris, Papers (Ferguson), 7:292.
2 The proceedings and decree of the court on the Wyoming Valley dispute between Connecticut and Pennsylvania were laid before Congress on January 3. JCC, 24:6-32.
3 The judges who heard this case were Welcome Arnold of Rhode Island, David Brearly of New Jersey, Cyrus Griffin of Virginia, William C. Houston of New Jersey, and William Whipple of New Hampshire.
4 See Dyer's January 24 letter to Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., William's brother-in-law.
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