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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1780
A letter, of 21, from Mordecai Sheftal was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XX, folio 621.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [John] Hanson, Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, Mr. [Samuel] Adams.
Congress proceeded to the election of a paymaster general, and the ballots being taken,
Mr. William Geddes was elected.
Congress proceeded to the re-consideration of the resolution, of the 25 of October, on the letter of 29 September from Colonel Pickering:
Resolved, That it be re-committed.
On application of Mr. [George] Plater, delegate for the State of Maryland:
Ordered, That a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Pensylvania, for forty thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.
On motion of Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, seconded by Mr. [George] Plater,
Ordered, That the following warrants issue in favour of Ephraim Blaine, commissary general of purchases, for the use of his department; and for which he is to be accountable, to wit:
One on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Pensylvania for one hundred thousand dollars; and
One on the managers of the United States lottery for one hundred thousand dollars.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Committee of Estimates and Ways and Means, which was agreed to.
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Ordered, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare instructions to accompany the letter agreed to.
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [James] Madison, Mr. [William Churchill] Houston.
Mr. [John] Henry was nominated by Mr. [Jared] Ingersol for the office of secretary to the minister plenipotentiary of the United States Embassy at the Court of Versailles.
On the report of a committee, Congress agreed to the following letter and representation to his Most Christian Majesty.
The United States of America in Congress assembled, to their Great, Faithful and Beloved Friend and Ally, Lewis the sixteenth, King of France and Navarre.
Great, faithful and beloved friend and ally,
Persuaded of your Majesty's friendship, and of your earnest desire to prosecute the war with glory and advantage to the alliance, we ought not to conceal from your Majesty the embarrassments which have attended our national councils affairs, and rendered the last campaign unsuccessful.
A naval superiority in the American seas having enabled the enemy, in the midst of last winter, to divide their army, and further extend the war to in the southern states, Charles Town was subdued before a sufficient force could be assembled for its relief.
With unabated ardour, and at a vast expense, we prepared for the succeeding campaign; a campaign from which, in a dependence on the co-operation of the squadron and troops generously destined by your majesty for our assistance, we had formed the highest expectations. Again the naval Superiority of enemy frustrated our measures. Your majesty's succours were confined within the harbour of Newport, while the main body of the British army took refuge in their fortresses, and
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under protection of their marine, afraid declining to hazard a battle in the open field; and, regardless of their rank among civilized nations, they descended to wage a predatory war. Britons and savages united in sudden irruptions on our northern and western frontiers, and marked their progress with blood and desolation.
The acquisition of Charles Town, with the advantages gained in Georgia, and the defeat of a small army composed chiefly of militia, which had been hastily collected to check their operations, encouraged the British commander in that quarter to penetrate through South Carolina into the interiour parts of North Carolina. And the ordinary calamities of war were imbittered by implacable vengeance. They did not, however, long enjoy their triumph. Instead of being depressed, impending danger served only to rouse our citizens to correspondent exertions; and by a series of gallant and successful enterprises they compelled the enemy to retreat with precipitation and disgrace.
They seem however resolved, by all possible efforts, not only to retain their posts in Georgia and South Carolina, but to renew their attempts on North Carolina. To divert the reinforcements destined for those states, they are now executing an enterprise against the seacoast of Virginia; and from their preparations at New York, and intelligence from Europe, it is manifest that the four southern states will now become a principal object of their hostilities.
It is the voice of the people, and the resolution of Congress, to open the next campaign prosecute the war with redoubled vigour, and to draw into the field a powerful permanent and well appointed army of thirty-five thousand regular troops on a first establishment. By this decisive effort, we trust that we shall be able,
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under the divine blessing, so effectually to co-operate with your Majesty's marine and land forces, as to expel the common enemy from our country, and render the great object of the alliance secure and permanent perpetual. But to accomplish an enterprise of such magnitude, and so interesting to both nations, whatever may be our spirit and our exertions, we know that our internal resources must prove incompetent. The sincerity of this declaration will be manifest from a short review of our circumstances.
Unpractised in military arts, and unprepared with every accommodation the means of defence, we were suddenly invaded by a formidable and vindictive nation. We supported the unequal conflict for years with very little foreign aid but what was derived from your Majesty's disinterested generous friendship And exertions uncommon, even among the richest most wealthy and best established governments, necessarily exhausted our finances, plunged us into debt, and anticipated our taxes; while the depredations of a vigilant an active enemy by sea and land made deep impression on our commerce and our productions. Thus encompassed with difficulties, in our representation to your Majesty of June 15, 1779, we disclosed our wants, and requested your majesty to furnish us with clothing, arms and ammunition for the last campaign, on the credit of the United States. We entertain a lively sense of your Majesty's friendly disposition in enabling our minister to secure a part of those supplies, but while we return our thanks for this proof of your distinguished regard, your majesty ought not to be unapprized that a very small proportion hath hitherto arrived of which, through unfortunate events, a very small proportion hath arrived. The sufferings of our army, from this
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misfortune disappointment, have been so severe that we must rely on your Majesty's attention to our welfare for effectual assistance. The articles of the estimate now presented transmitted to our minister are essential to the existence of our army; and we flatter ourselves that, through your Majesty's interposition, they will be procured and sent over with safety and dispatch supplied.
At a time when we feel ourselves strongly impressed by the weight of past obligations, it is with the utmost reluctance that we yield to the emergency of our affairs in requesting additional favours. An unreserved confidence m your majesty's friendship, experience of the friend of mankind, Majesty and a well grounded assurance that we ask no more than is necessary to enable us effectually to co-operate with your Majesty in terminating the war with glory and success, must be our justification.
It is well known that when the king of Great Britain found himself unable to subdue the populous states of North America by force, or to seduce them by art to retract relinquish the alliance with your Majesty, he resolved to protract the war, in expectation that the loss of our commerce, and the derangement of our finances, must eventually compel us to submit to his domination. Apprised of the necessity of foreign aids of money to support us in a contest with a nation so rich and powerful, we have long since authorized our minister to borrow a sufficient sum in your majesty's dominions, and in Spain, and in Holland, on the credit of these United States.
We now view the prospect of a disappointment with the deeper concern, as the late misfortunes in
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the southern states, and the ravages of the northern and western frontiers have, in a very considerable degree, impaired our internal resources. From a full investigation of our circumstances it is manifest, that in aid of our utmost exertions a foreign loan of specie, at least to the amount of twenty-five millions of livres, will be indispensably necessary for a vigorous prosecution of the war. On an occasion in which our happiness the independence of these United States and your Majesty's glory are so intimately connected, may we permitted we are constrained to request your majesty effectually to support the applications of our ministers for that loan. So essential is it to the common cause, that we shall without it be pressed with wants and distresses, which will may render a campaign of all our efforts languid, precarious, and indecisive. Whether it shall please your Majesty to stipulate for this necessary aid as our security, or to advance it from your royal coffers, we do hereby solemnly pledge the faith of these United States to indemnify, or reimburse your Majesty, according to the nature of the case, both for principal and interest, the last to be paid in such manner as shall be agreed upon with our minister at your Majesty's court.
We beseech the Supreme Disposer of events to keep your Majesty in his holy protection, and long to continue to France the blessings arising from the administration of a prince who nobly asserts the rights of mankind.
Done at Philadelphia, the 22d day of November, in the year of our Lord, 1780, by the Congress
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of the United States of North America, and in the fifth year of our independence.
Your faithful friends and allies.
Signed, Sam'l. Huntington, President.
Attest.
Charles Thomson, Secretary.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. It is in the writing of James Duane, and is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 375. A copy of it was made by Thomson, and is on folio 359.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.2
[Note 2: 2 From this point the entries are by George Bond.]
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