USA > Delaware > History of Delaware : 1609-1888 > Part 55
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On the occasion of the parade of Colonel Has- let's Continental battalion at Dover, on May 15th, Rev. Mr. Magaw delivered a lofty, patriotic and inspiring address.
When Congress met on May 10, 1775, the three counties on the Delaware were represented as were ten other colonies. All had been chosen before the clash of arms occurred at Lexington, and were not ready for independence. With the beginning of 1776 a great change had begun to work and it was with great difficulty, after the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, that John Dickinson and John Jay had procured the consent of Congress to the second petition to the king. On the day it was presented to him, he issued a proclamation declar- ing the colonies in rebellion, and invoking all the
forces of the empire to suppress the rebellion. Howe was sent to super-ede Gage in Boston ; Dartmouth himself wa- supplanted by Lord George Germaine, and the bargain was consummated for sending the soldiers of Hanover, Darmstadt, and He-se across the ocean to help conquer the Americans. The news of these things began to be received in America about November 1, 1775. At the same time the king's arms seemed to be checked in their progress everywhere; the colonies were a unit; their levies and musters prospered, and Congress assumed a bolder tone, while the moderates became proportion- ately discouraged. The press and the people si- multaneously took up the ery of independence ; the only question wa- as to the expedieney of particular times and methods. The correspondence of the day between the patriots teems with the one idea of permanent separation and independent government. The patriots of Delaware headed by MeKean and Rodney urged independence and confederation from day to day, and the camps took up the idea so absolutely that prayers for the king became dis- tasteful.
The feeling spread rapidly in Congress. On Fri- day, June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, of the Vir- ginia delegation, offered the following resolution : " Resolved, That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States ; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great-Britain is, and ought to be, totally disolved."
This resolution was debated from day to day. As Jefferson said, "the colonies of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina were not matured for falling from the parent stem, but that they were fast advancing to that state, it was thought most prudent to wait awhile for them."
The vote on the resolution for independence was postponed to Monday, July 1, and a resolve was adopted for the appointment of a committee, "to prepare and digest the form of a confederation to be entered into between these colonies." This con- mittee, appointed June 12, contained among others Thomas MeKean of Delaware.
The committee appointed to prepare the decla- ration brought in a draft of a form on June 28. It was read and laid upon the table. In accordance with the resolution of postponement, on July 1, Congress went into committee of the whole House to consider the resolution of independence offered by R. II. Lee. After due deliberation, at the re- quest of South Carolina, the resolution was not actel upon until the next day. The trial vote on July 1st was indecisive: New York had been ex- eused from voting; the votes of South Carolina and Pennsylvania were given in the negative, and the two delegates front Delaware tied. Nine colonies
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voted yea. By agreement the final vote was post- poned until next day, in the vain hope of securing unanimity. During the night MeKran sent ex- press to Chesar Rodney, his colleague in Delaware, to help him outvote George Read. On July 21 MeKean and Rodney cast the vote of Delaware, and Rutledge brought the South Carolina delegates to vote yea, while Pennsylvania's pro forma affir- mative was seenred by the absence of two members. The resolution having been adopted, the Decla- ration was taken up in Committee of the whole. It was again discussed on July 3rd. On Thursday, July 4th, Mr. Harrison of Virginia, from the com- mittee reported the Declaration of Independence. It was adopted, and cupies were ordered to be sent out to the several Assemblies, Conventions, Com- mittees or Councils of Safety, etc., throughout the country, and to the commanders of the Continental troops, so as to have it everywhere proclaimed.
July 2, the day of the adoption of Richard Hen- ry Lee's resolution, is the real independence day. John Adams wrote to his wife next day : " The 2d of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America." But the 4th was the day of the formal adoption of the formal public declaration of reason for the act, and Con- gress resolved to celebrate the day as the official Birthday of American independence. This was seenred by a resolution adopted July 19, to the effect that " the Declaration passed on the 4th be fairly engrossed on parchment, with the title and style of 'The unanimous Declaration of the thir- teen United States of America,' and that the same, when engrossed. be signed by every member of Congress." The journal further says, August 2, that "the Declaration being engrossed and com- pared at the table, was signed by the members." The signers, however, are not in 'many instances identical with the members who voted on July 24 and 4th. George Read of Delaware did not vote for independence on the 1st, 24, or 4th of July, yet his name appears on August 20 as a signer. His objection to the Declaration at the time of its passage was that it was premature. His opposition to independence, however, did not cost him the confidence of his constituents, who re-elected him to Congress and honored him with many high ap- pointments.1
1 The Del weare Register, Vol. I., pp. 27-23, save: " Not long before the vote was taken on the Declaration, Mr. Beiney had oltamed leave of aby nee from Congress and returned to Delaware to use his personal influence among the people in favor of the measure. During bis ab- sence, however, the important question of independence came up; and huis colleague, Mr. Mckean, will be emanated with his view-, and all \- ions that the derloation should be carried by a unanimous vote of the states, linked for his return with great anxiety ; as the day appointed, however, approached, Mr. Rodney, who was nuacquainted ex utly with it, did not make his appearstice, and Mr Mckean sent a special messen- ger to convey the intelligence to hun The messenger na sauber to hold him, than, laying asilo all other engagements, he hetried to Plat + + 1- phia, where he arrived just in time to give his vote int -come the unanimity of the firmy measure He transenatel an in wont of it to Dover on the bune day ; and his friend, Colonet Haler, in acknowledge- ing his letter on the 6th of July, thus refers to it : " I congratulate you,
Early in June Congress passed the resolves to call the militia into the general service. President Han- rock's letter, informing the Delaware Assembly of this decision, wa- dated June 4th. In it he spoke of the increased peril to the Revolutionary cause on account of the purchase of the German mercenaries to uphold the British arms in Anterica, and the prospect that the Canadians and Indians would join the King's standard.
" In the situation." he wrote. " what steps are we to pursue? Our Continental troops alone are unable to stem the torrent ; nor 19 10 pass Ide at this day to raise and soupline mon ready to take the field by the time they will be wanted. Frin the sperrey with which the Ministry carry on their machinations we brith r know their views or how neat our enemies may be In this difficult and trying situation of our affare, the Congress have come to the enclosed resolves. . . You will there find the Congress have judged it necessary to call upon the mulitis at this alarming crisis . . The mailitis of the united colonies are a body of troops that may be depended upon To their virtue their delegates in Congress now make the must solemn appeal. They are called upon to sty whether they will live slavey or die freemen. They are requested to step forth in defence of their wives, their children, their liberty and everything they hold dear . . Your colony. I am pristaded. will not be behindhand. Exert. there fore, every nerve to distinguish yımrselves. Quicken your preparations and stimulate the good penpie of your government, and there is no danger, notwithstanding the mighty armament with which we are threatened, but you will be able to lead them to vietoty, to liberty and to happiness."
Two companies of Colonel Ilaslet's battalion were on June 18th ordered to Cape May to take the place of the companies previously stationed there, which had been ordered to join their regi- nient for the expedition to Canada.
On July 5th the A-emibly received from Presi- dent Hancock the following dated on the preceding day :
"GENTLEMEN .- The Congress have this day received intelligence which renders it absolutely necessary that the greatest exertions should b . made to save mir country from being desolted by the hand of tyranny. General Home heving taken possession of Staten Island. and the Jerseys bring chained of their militia for the defence of New York, I am directed by Congress to request you will proceed namediately to imbody your mit.tia for the esta'deshment of the flying camp, and maich them with all possible expediti n. vi her by battalions, by detachments of battahons or by companies, to the city of Pluiladelphia. The present campaign I have no doubt if we rett otistives properly. will sechte the enjoyment of our liberties forever.
"All accounts agree that Gi at Britain will make her greatest effort this summer Should at, therefore, be able to keep our ground, we shall afterwards have little to apprehend from her. I do, ther-tore. Dieet aidentis bergsgel and request you, in the name and by the authority of Congress. as you regard your own freedom, and as Both stand engaged by the most - i mu tex at honor to support the common cause, to strain every nerve to s til forward your mihtis This is a step of such infinite monteut that, in all human probability, your speedy
sir, on the important day which restores to every American his birth- right : a day which every freemin will record with gratitude, and the millions of posterity read with rapture. Ensign Wilson arrived here last night ; a time title feast at Dovet anticipated and announced the declaration of Congress : even the barrister laimself laul asne his ants of reserve, mighty happy. At the tune Mr. Rodung'sletter reached Dover. the election of officers of a new battalion was going on : the Committee of Sitety, bowever, immediately mat, and after receiving the mtell- vener, pr ceeded in a body to the contt-house, where ithe election being stopped) the President read the Declaration of Congress, and the reso'n. tion of the house of Assmbis for the appointment of a convention ; og li of which received the highest syg duction of the people, in three hurmax. The comunitee then went in a lady back to their com, where they went for a picture of the king of theat Button, and made the drummer ut the infantry Wear it het re the Piespient; they thon matts hed two and two, followed by the light infantry in slow time, with must, rund the squad; then formag amine le about a tire prepared in the middle of the square for that pary se, the prosil at, promotethe the Edlowing words, committed it to the Hand . 'Compelled by stron necessity, thus we destiny even the sholow of that king who te- trond to roughover a fire people.' 'Three land buzzy were given by the but rowling crowd, and the friends of liberty gained new cottage to support the cause to which they had emibathed."
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DELAWARE DURING THE REVOLUTION.
compliance will prove the salvation of your country. It is impo wilde wecan have any higher motive to modner na to net. We should reflet. tos, that the lesof this campaign will auvitally protiut th war. til that in order to gan it we have andy to exist ents Kom and to make up of the means which till and nature for given us tod find ourselves I must, therefore, asun report to you that the congress nawet ansonly expect and request that you will to t have a moment in carrying white etteet this regmation with all the real. sj nit and despitch which tre "o indispensabile required by the er tical situation of our stars"
Under the resolve of Congress to form a flying camp of ten thousand men to serve until December 1st, six hundred were apportioned to Delaware, 3400 to Maryland and 6000 to Pennsylvania. The detail of the militia to the flying camp gave the Tories freedom to attempt further mischief. In July they became exceedingly active, particularly in Sussex County. Colonel David Hall kept as close an inspection as possible of their movements, and wrote President Hancock from Lewes, on July 5th, the information that he had gained :
"Sin :- I have the honor to enclose sundry depositions containing. as we think, a true state of the general diaffec ion that ptevais Atting the people in the county of sweex. Sandry toutlemen from the neigh- borhood of Broad Creek and Wieumro have been qualified to the truth of it. on where attachment to the cinse of America we very much depend. The Council of Safety has ordered down pa t of an indeprudent company now under their chirection. A company of the Delaware Batt.tlion is also preparing to march. The most alarining circumstance in the danger of Lord Dunmore's recruiting with sauce se any ag the disaffected, who repair to him without reserve and supply ium with the produce of the country. Weearnestly entre at that Congress may take the matter into their serions consideration, and order what may be thought necessary to fix the minds of the wavering and secure the common safety."
The communication enclosed by Mr. Hall, chair- man of the Sussex Council of Safety, was signed and sworn to by Jonathan Bell, John Polk, John Creighton, Joseph Forman, John Mitchell, Laae Horsey, Levin Connaway and Robert Houston: . patriotic residents of the Broad Creek district. They said:
" The situation of the part of the country in which we live having of late appeared to us rather critical, and a unmber of 'armied vessels lately appearing in our rivers. occasions ne to think ourselves haund in duty, both to our country aod our families, to lay our case hefer . you, both for advice and assistance. We need not inform you that a large majority of the people in the lower part of this county appear ilis- affected, which, being lately fully demonstrated by these hostile appear- ances, occasions troupe to be sent from at se to splet them, and we are sorry to say that it is our opinion they (viz. : the enemies of the eanse) are not better affected than they were before thes . troops came iwe mean in the party near u-1, although we are fully of the opinion that the gentlemen appuntoil and sent down as heads of thit bit-ine-s thought proper to have a few hundred rifle men sent amongst ns at that time. who took up some of the most isolent and put them in confige- ment. disarmed the offenders of Iss note, and left a few troupes as a protection to the well disposed. Things at this time should have worn a face much more in favour of the country than it uaw does."
The memorialist- recited their discovery of the British war-ship Fowey and several tenders in the Nanticoke River. Maryland, where they were being furnished with cattle and provisions by the people, and added -:
"This much yon miy depend upon, that vast nunberg of the inhibit- ants of Somerset and Dorchester minties in Maryland and Sa-ex County in Delaware have men on board these meth-of-war and tendere, either trading, culisting taking the math of allegiance, or something we are really not informed of. but we have it from such authority that we do really believe that they purchased some sorts of goods from the tenders very low, and also that the captain of the tenderate ister the name of every person who gore un bound of them. We are also fully convinced that numbers of the juhsistants have actually voluntarily entered into the service under Dunmore, some of whom, We have touse to believe, now bear command on board the> tenders, and we look upon
them as a more dangerous premis than the I uropeans. They know our country und are able to carry the vessels they command to the head4 of our rivers; and it is reported ( and we believe it to be time ) that these traitors have sent word, los their neighbors who have been how many to and trading, to their politiet + who live in the heart of the country that it s very short time they, with their attori vis44s, will pay them a visit. It would be impossible for us to relate to yon on paper every thteat that has been thrown out by the disatheted amongst onr-elves. 44 well as the people on board the touders and shir-of-war, an i, there. for shall only and that from the disaffected afbought wallsselves which we concuive to be so great that there is at least six disaffected to one firm man for Ameri a. Wesas from that melancholy appearance and from the arrival of these armed vessels we think it our duty to make application to you for the resistance of men, and make no doubt Int that if it is in your power you will etant it to na, If it is not in your power. we must be cindoi enough to inform you that prlt- preservation will oblige us other to have our livings or fall in and run with the current, either of which will be hateful to ns. But we believe it cannot be required of us to offer wars-Ives sacrifices for our country without there being some prospect of benefit arteing tin re- frun.
" If, grutlemen, upon refection, yon judge it practirable and exper- dient to grant ue ment, we beg that they may continue stattrial among us until we shall appear able to protect vorselves, and for that purpose we pray you will in our behalf make application to Coperoy that we may not be liatde to have then, called away and again be lett destitute, for if we should hive them only a short time and then taken frem us our case would be worse than now, s revenge might prompt our enemies to time de-petite actions. Although we represent our case to be distressing. we do not mean to represent it as just hope for we are of opinion. if you favour as with only three or four good company with prudent officer-, we shall unt only be able to defend ourselves, but a'so that it will be a means of to reel nm a considerable unmber ot the disaffected and bring them to their duty, as it will enable our othrers to pursue such stopy as is necessary to accomplish this purpose so manch wished for."
To this petition was affixed the affidavit of Enoch Seudder, who te-titied that on July 3d, travelling down from Philadelphia, he met four men near Cedar Creek, who questioned him regarding the landing of Lord Dunmore, and informed him that 1500 men could be collected in that vicinity to join the British commander.
Caesar Rodney did not think it advisable at this time to send troops into Sussex County to suppress the Tories. Regarding such measures he wrote from Philadelphia, July 10, to his brother Thomas:
" I am of opinion that any good effect that might Allow from them minst be local-1 mean that it would be confined principally to the inhabit- ants of that county ; and on the other hand-at a time of such mning- neat danger, when powertul armies are actually knocking at out gates and the setionits attention of every friend of American liberty is employed in giving that manly ugursition to those vile invaders of their just right-, privileges and property-whether it would be prudent to hold out to the world! such numbers of internal enemies. especially as by the manly and determined spirit prevailing in Congress, their wings must and will be chipped. The declaration bas land the founda- tion and will be followed by laws fixing the degree of ottener at punishment suitable. Some people have done things which, if done in the future. nothing less than life will Im snthewent to atone for. These enennes to our righteous cause will. I apprehend. be less on their guard if they are not held up in that pull k way than if they are, and will undoubtedly inet their due reward, provided you pursue steadily your line of patriotism and at the same time koop a watchful eye toward their conduct in the politicks of your country."
On June 14th the resolution passed by Congress on May 15th, relative to the formation of a gov- ernment in each of the Colonies, was unanimously approved by the Assembly, which on the next day passed the following :
" Whereas, it has lacome absolutely necessary for the safety, protec- bot and happiness of the good people of this colony forthwith to estab- lish s. me authority ndoquite to the exigencies of their affairs until a Low government can be formed :
"fad Hilmers, the representatives of the people, in this Assembly met. aline can, and onght, at this time to es ablish buch temporary anthonity :
" Perofeed, unamumously, that all persons holding any office, civil of military, in this colony on the 13th day of June, nist., may and shall
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continne to execute the saine in the name of the government of the counties of New Castle, Kent and Su- x, upon Delaware, as they need] legally to exercise it in the name of the King, until a new government shall be for cel agreeable to the resolution of times of the 15th of May last."
In pursuance of this resolution on July 27th, the House of Assembly resolvedl to recommend to the people of the counties to elect deputies to a con- vention " to order and declare the future form of government for this state." In making this call the Assembly announced that its members did not consider themselves authorized by their constituents to execute the important work of setting up a new state, but they declared their opinion that the con- vention should consist of ten members from each county, to be elected by the freemen on August 19th, under the laws regulating elections for members of the Assembly, except that the Inspectors should be chosen on the morning of election day in each of the Hundreds. If one or more of the judges of election required it, any elector offering his vote was to be placed upon oath to support and maintain the independence of this government as declared by the honorable Continental Congress." The State Convention was ordered to meet at New Castle, August :7th. The policy of the Whigs was out- lined in Cæsar Rodney's letter from Philadelphia, August 3d, to his brother Thomas, of which the following is an extract :
"With respect to the choice of a convention I would have it to you and your friends whether, when you have fixed on such ticket as merts your approbation, it would not be better to pursue, and endeavour to impress the utility of such choice being made by the people de-perially at a time when the establishing their rights and privileges as trermen depends on such choice) upon your former plan, I mean of true Wine- ist, true patriotism. Thus jdam, if pursued with dihgouce and such cool argument and reasoning as the case will point out and ju-tity, I think must carry with it persuasion and conviction. It certainly will with all such as are not governed by a party spirit. If aby person of persons be proposed in opposition to your ticket who have heretofore been unfriendly to the canse, point out to the people their former conduct and submit to them the imiprojety of tinsting to anch men at such an important crisis. Your scheme ought to hold out more of the patriot than party man. I will again subunt whether the inquiry and examination proposed to be had before the commmitter will not tend so to irritate as to occasion many people. by taking sules in the matter, to lose sight of the canse-their tinte interest ; for if they are lei to believe that you and your friends are governed more by a party spirit than by the true interests of America, they will hold you in the hebt of all other party men, and deal with yon accordingly. You say the committeeare about to make this inquiry, Mie there a suthy leut number of patriots in that committee to answer your rxjun tation Are there a considerable majority of them that wish the inquiry should be bad? Will they, if matters turn out as you expect, publish their options to the country, so that the friends of hberty may benefit by it . It is an inquiry that ought to have been made, but it is an inquiry that ought to be made by men of understanding only. Do such makr a mapaity of the committee ?- the good men. By what authority de they take it up? Are not many of the members principals in the matter of inquiry ? All these things I submit to the prudence and good seuse of you and your friends, though you seem to be determined on the measnie, by your Jetter, befoir my opinion was a-ked. In short, it is ditheult to give an opinion in this case, as I am a stranger to the present comple Ment of the committee. However, as this convention is und mittedly the mist int- portant Assembly that ever was chosen m that government. I would advise the avonling every kind of violence, ant, on the other hand, the utmost diligence and persuasion to procure as many friends to Jetty on the return as possible. By this means men who have heretofore been unfriendly, if properly pointed out, cannot prevml."
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