USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial Records of Pennsylvania Volume 13 > Part 53
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What canals can be advantageously made, and how far the Dela- were, Schuylkill, and Susquehanna may be rendered more navig ble. are matters worthy of much consideration.
The fortifications and banks on Mud Island, and. the hospital and wharves on State Island, want many repairs.
An act of Assembly is immediately required to ascertain the et- tent of the port of Philadelphia, and to prevent insults and distar- bances therein, as also to define the powers of the Sheriff as Water Bailiff.
The western boundary of the State should be precisely deter- mined.
Arrangments should be made for giving the utmost force and speediest effect to the exertions of the militia.
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nanity, and a regard for the precepts of religion, dictate a that the Legislature of Pennsylvania may every year uppoint ling committee to visit all prisons, and to report minutely ing the treatment given the unhappy persons confined in
ower is vested in us to sell the lot of the old prison ; but we a power to rent it would be more advantageous, unless it may ught fit to appropriate it for an exchange, which, considering iation and other circumstances, would perhaps be the most and honorable purpose to which it could be applied.
a memorial that will be herewith, it appears that no proper on is made for the measuring of grain and salt.
te your recess, we have diligently endeavoured to forward the ion of publick taxes, of which we hope your Honourable will be convinced by the inclosed papers. The deficiencies tral parts of the State are still considerable.
have pursued the measures that appeared to us most prudent rying into execution the law intitled " An Act for the sale ain lands therein mentioned, for the purpose of rodeeming ying off the certificates of depreciation given to the officers Idiers of the Pennsylvania line, or their representation, and ›ropriating certain other lands therein mentioned, for the use said officers and soldiers, to be divided off to them severally end of the war," so far as relates to the surveying and lay- t in lots the tract therein first described. The peculiarly ain state of public affairs for some time after the last sessions, i us to proceed with caution ; and we took every previous e could think of to facilitate the business and secure success. structions, and several letters relative to that subject, will be ted by the Secretary. Captain Robinson's and Captain rder's companies are stationed at Wyoming. Wo inclose a from the latter, containing intelligence of importance. The companies of Rangers, which were very incomplete, we have it it most advisable to discharge.
siderable difficulties have occurred upon the laws of trade, ning the payment of the duties of whole cargoes, where the ers were desirous after their arrival here of exporting part ; so upon the late law for the payment of interest on certain ates by the Continental Loan officer The papers now trans- will afford the necessary information in these cases.
Marbois, as Consul General of France, has made repeated itions to us, representing, as you will perceive by his memo- he injuries done to the commerce of that kingdom, by the osition of the civil authority in disputes between masters of i and their seamen. From respect for his Most Christian iy, we should be glad that a remedy might be provided for articular grievance, even before a convention for regulating ar offices is agreed upon, as we believe the desired effect be given without any inconvenience.
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Many of the points which we now offer to the consideration of your honorable House are of such a nature that they could not be treated more fully in this message, without extending it to too great a length ; but while such a harmony as the present subsista be- tween the Legislative and Executive powers, any further commt- nications that may be thought necessary can readily be made.
Gentlemen, as it is a duty in rulers to inculcate and establish principles and habits of the most favourable influence upon society and government, we do not doubt but part of your attention, NY relieved from the distresses of war, will be particularly engaged in such salutary cares and endeavours. It being the unanimoussem of the best and wisest men, that no regulations can bare rock : direct tendency to produce these happy effects, as those that pre mote the good education of youth, we are persuaded that semi riem of learning will find in your honorable body the patronagess encouragement that always reflect a lustre upon Legislators, by b+ ing in a distinguished manner beneficial to a State.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, Philadelphia, August 18th, 1783. ·
JOHN DICKINSON.
A message from the President and the Supreme Executive Cound to the General Assembly :
GENTLEMEN :- We think it our duty to lay before you an count of the late disturbances among the soldiery in this State.
On the nineteenth day of June we received the inclosed lettes from Colonel Richard Butler and William Henry, Esquire, of Le caster, and immediately transmitted them by our delegates to gress.
In the conference with the committee appointed on these letter, some of them proposed the stopping the soldiery from Laneusta, by a detachment of the militia to be instantly called out. informed the committee that Lieutenant Butler, who brought the late dispatches, had represented to us that the soldiers had behand very regularly upon their march ; that they said they were coming to have their accounts settled ; that they must then be beer town, and that it was very improbable a sufficient force could # collected in time to intercept them.
The case appeared so delicate and difficult, that the commith themselves seemed to doubt the propriety of opposing the collien by force and compelling them to return, and one of them said the " in all cases in which he could not determine precisely what tod. it was a maxim with him that the better way was to do nothing'
On the same day orders were issued from the War office, tis these soldiers should be received into the Barracks and coppbird with rations.
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On Saturday the twenty. first day of June, a party of thirty armed soldiers marched from the quarters in the Barracks, and parading before the State House, where we were then met in Conn- cil, seut up to us by the Secretary the following message in writ- ing :
May it please your Excellency :
We the non-commissioned officers and soldiers now in this city, demand of you and the Honorable Council, authority to appoint commissioned officers to command us, and redress our grievances, which officers to have full power to adopt such measures as they may judge most likely to procure us justice. You will immedi- ately issue such authority and deliver it to us, or otherwise we shall instantly let in those injured soldiers upon you and abide by. the consequence. You have only twenty minutes to deliberate on this important matter. The officers in general have forsaken us and refuse to take any further command. This I presume you all know. We are, in behalf of ourselves and the men,
Yours, &ca., &ca.
The immediate object of this message, the terms in which it was expressed, and the further design of the insurgents to procure a sanction for their future proceedings by an authority to be derived from us, determined us unanimously to resolve that the demands contained in it should be rejected.
In the meantime a larger number of soldiers in arms advanced, and soon joined their companions, making in the whole a body of about three hundred men of the Pennsylvania line, under the direc- tion of Serjeants. They paraded also before the State House ; a party of fifteen or twenty men took post in the yard opposite to the south windows of the Council Chamber, and Centinels were fixed >at the doors of the State House, but people still kept continually going out and coming in without being stopped by them.
We remained in the Council Chamber for more than an hour after the receipt of the message before mentioned, and then sent the Secretary to inquire if that message to the Council was approv- ed by the soldiers in general. He reported to us that be was answered insolently by some of the leaders-"it was approved by them, and that we should hear more from them."
While these things past, most of the members of Congress as- sembled, but not in sufficient number to form a Congress. That Honorable body stood adjourned from Friday till the following Monday, Saturday being a day of usual recess, but upon the alarm the members were specially summoned by their President, and at the place to which the soldiers were moving.
For what purpose they were so summoned, we have not been informed.
The President of this Board went to these gentlemen and com- municated the message of the soldiery and the resolution of Coun-
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cil. He then returned to the Cou sure was decided upon till Genera his hopes that the soldiers mig peaceably to their quarters, if C ference with a committee of ei officers, to be appointed by them, President of this Board again asked the President of Congress !! members, if it was agreeable to ti conference proposed through Gene by the President, that "they mo holding such a conference ; for th gress, had impowered General St. the soldiers, in such manner as be
We assented to the proposal A Congress left the State House. dent was stopped for a few mom soldiers, but that one of the lead gized for what had happened, repr away.
We continued in Council 'till were on their return to the Barra ilton and Mr. Elsworth, of a Con the President, and read to him a passed by that Honorable body. would summon a Council to take fer with the Committee the next 1 accordingly at the President's hou second, and the following resolut mittee :
By the United States in Con 1783 :
Resolved, That the President a Pennsylvania be informed that th having this day been grossly insu cing appearance of a body of arı which Congress were assembled, endangered by the mutinous disp the Barracks, it is the opinion of measures be immediately taken thority.
"Several members of Congress say to the Congress room, and as well as t by the President in these words : " S bers of Congress here present to go sures as you shall judge most proper.'
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'rsolved, That the Committee on a letter from Colonel Butler, irected to confer, without loss of time, with the Supreme Execu- Council of Pennsylvania, on the practicability of carrying the eeding resolution into effect.
he Committee then gave us the explanation, as they termed it, ne foregoing resolution. By effectual measures, Congress mean the militia of the State be immediately called forth in suffi- ; force to reduce the soldiers to obedience, disarm, and put them Le power of Congress.
'e observed that this was indeed a matter of great moment, and Stain the desired effect, without producing unhappy consequen- must be conducted with much prudence ; that to call the militia service without an assurance of a sufficient force being imme- :ly collected, would be au act of irritation that might provoke soldiery to excesses which they otherwise might decline; that could take immediate steps to consulting the Colonels of the ments of militia for discovering the disposition of the militia, the state of preparation in which they were, in order to ascer- the practicability of adopting the effectual measures recom- led by Congress, in such a manner as would give a reasonable ctation of success; that the State Magazine was in the hands Je soldiery, and the Commissary of Military Stores had but a inconsiderable quantity of fixed ammunition in his possession ; difficulties might arise from the militia law itself; that in the ent situation of affairs, delay was of the greatest advantage to Is the soldiers were ready to act; that they had put themselves train of negotiation, which, if properly improved by us, might a us opportunity to prepare everything for reducing them, and Fail ourselves of every circumstance that might occur for ma- · proper impressions on their minds; that this was not so much e considered as an insurrection of citizens of Pennsylvania as atiny of Continental troops; that if the rest of the army, or a sient part of thein, could be relied on, it appeared to us ad- Lble that intelligence of this disturbance should be immediately atched to the Commander-in-Chief, and a body of men put in on towards this city; that this measure might, in a few days a very favorable effect upon the soldiers, or if they should any resolution from despair, on receiving notice of it, we Id then be in a better condition to resist their outrages ; that rould immediately make every effort in our power to answer Fishes of Congress.
be committee replied that there was great weight in these ob- ·tions ; that prudence required that means should be used for Gaining the temper of the citizens, and what degree of assu- might be placed in their exertions ; that this should be done . profound secrecy, to prevent the soldiery from discovering was in agitation; that if, upon making all the, inoniry which & be consistent with che seoresy : wich VOL. XIII .- , 42 .. 1 '1guo"
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should be conducted, Council should not think it practicable to draw forth an adequate force immediately, it would be more adviseably, & intirely the sense of Congress, that none should be drawn forth; for Congress were determined to proceed by coercion, and expected Boon to have a force that could be depended on ; that the army might be relied on, and that proper representations had been made to the Commander-in-Chief; that as to the want of ammunition, we might be assured that we could be supplied with any quantity d musquet and cannon cartridge in fifteen minutes, one of the com- mittee having pointed his inquiries to that subject. and his informa- tion being derived from a person whose business it was to know. We then desired that the ammunition mentioned by the committee might be secured, least it might be discovered and seized by the soldien.
The committee agreed to confer with us again next morning, und then withdrew.
. The committee of Congress, in their report, bave fallen into several mistakes by confgending facts and sentiments, and representing them M happening, or expresse:i, at times when they had not happened, or were set expressed. These mistakes were owing, no doubt, to the quick successios of circumstances, and the ideas that, without noticing dates, in consequence took possession of the mind. The obvious construction of the first report is, that the committee informed Council " of the letter to Congress from the Board of Serjeants," tho' not a single member of Council, nor the Seen- tary, bas any remembrance of its being mentioned by them, nor does may member now know what that message was. The argument annexed to it in the report is no more recollected.
The committee say that Council informed them, " the exertions of the militia were not to be expected from the repetition of the insult which bad happened," tho' the Council only said "they could not be sure that such us- other insult would produce those exertions."
In short, to shew the extreme inaccuracy with which these reports, to be . entered upon the minutes of Congress, and preserved among the archives of the Empire, have been composed, it is necessary only to attend to that part where the committee say that "represented to Council, that Congres would probably continue to pursue the object of having the soldiers in their power, unless it should be superceded by unequivocal demonstrations of submission on the part of the mutineers ; that they had bitherto givea satisfactory evidence of this disposition, having lately presented the offerit they bad chosen to represent their grievances, with a formal commission in writing, enjoining them to use compulsory means for redress, and ment- cing them with death in case of their failing to execute their views."
The conference in which the committee say they made this represents tion, was held, sccording to their own report, on the twenty-third day Jane. It began at ten o'clock in the morning. The commission from the mutineers to the officers bears date, and was presented to the officer that day, about eight o'clock in the morning. It is highly improbable thet the committee should have discovered its contents in the two hours that is- torrened between is being presented and their meeting the Council; al the improbability is increased by this circumstance, that not a man who was in Council knew anything of the commission, nor remembers to law heard a single syllable respecting it mentioned by the committee during whole conference.
The first knowledge Council had of the commission was on the well. fourth, when they received the letter from Captain Christie, and that sent day they sent a copy of it to Congress by their Secretary.
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the committee had withdrawn, we resolved, that every of Council use the utmost diligence to inform himself as acticability of collecting a sufficient force immediately to resolution of Congress into execution ; and that the com- officers of regiments, and Captain Morris, of the Light o consulted on the subject.
ext morning, Monday, June the twenty-third, we met in icil Chamber, and the President laid before Council the . [ letter :
PHILADELPHIA, June 23rd, 1783.
-We have the honor to inclose for your Excellency and icil, a copy of the resolutions communicated in our confer- terday. Having then fully entered into all the explana- lich were necessary on the subject, we shall not trouble bellency with a recapitulation. But as the subject is of a and important nature, we think it our duty to request the ation of the Council in writing. We have the honor to be, fect respect,
Your Excellency's most obedient servant, A. HAMILTON.
considering this letter, and agreeing to a resolution upon ommittee came in. We began the conference by saying. bad used all the industry we could the preceding day and ning, to inform ourselves as to the practicability of collect- ficient force immediately to carry the resolution of Con- o execution in the best manner; and that all the com-
officers of regiments, except one, had been consulted by it subject ; that the result of our inquiries was, that the were impressed with an opinion of the pacific disposition of ery in the Barracks, and that they would be satisfied with 3 just and reasonable; that the officers also declared the 'ere not prepared for service; and that it would be very at to call them into immediate action under these impres- d in such a situation.
esired the committee would be pleased to consider the diff- nder which we laboured in collecting and equipping a suffi- ly of men upon such an occasion, and that time might be for communicating the proper information, and urging the lotives to bring the minds of our fellow-citizens into a cor- nce with the views of Congress, and for preparing them to t to make an attempt too hastily for the purpose of execu- r resolutions, or to give assurances that it should be exe- thout a reasonable persuasion that we should not be mis- ould, instead of evidencing our reverence for Congress, be
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to betray them ; that therefore, we should confide in the candor of the committee, and in the magnanimity of Congress, to put a just construction upon our conduct ; that the soldiers had behaved very peaceably since Saturday, had appointed their committee to confer with us, and seemed to rely upon the negotiation which they had been induced to commence, with the concurrence of the President and the members of Congress themselves, who had sent General St. Clair to treat with them, and which we had agreed to proceed in, with the approbation and advice of the President of Congress, and the members who had been spoken to on the occasion; that in this . state of affairs, any movement to collect the militia might be re- garded by the soldiery as an act of treachery, and unless it should be rapid and efficient, would at once expose Congress, Council, and our fellow-citizens, and endanger the city.
That as to the letter of the committee requesting the determin tion of the Council in writing, it appeared to us an unusual mode of proceeding in conferences between committees of Congress and the Council of this State; that this mode did not seem to be in- tended by Congress; that if they had made the request, we should cheerfully have granted it ; if they should now make it, we should not hesitate to comply ; that we had received from the committee a verbal and most important explanation of the resolution delivered by them, fully confiding iu the honor of those by whom it was given ; and that if the committee were apprehensive of any mis- take, we wished them to reduce our answer to writing immediately, and we would repeat the several parts of it, to prevent any error.
The committee said they were sensible of the difficulties that occurred ; that they did not mean that the conference intended be- tween Council and the committee of the soldiery should be pre- vented ; that collecting an adequate force in readiness to act, would not be inconsistent with this procedure; that as to the conse- quences of such an attempt being made and not immediately suc cecding, it was suggested that even small bodies of militia might seize certain points where resistance could be made untill the rest of the citizens should come to their aid; that as to our answer, they acknowledged we had thro' this whole business, acted with great candor towards them, but they conceived themselves clearly justifiable in requesting our determination in writing, and instanced the case of inferior and accountable officers, who often ask and sel- dom are denied such an answer; and that the reason was much stronger that it should be given to a committee of Congress.
We having before expressed our sentiments on the other points. only observed as to the last, that in our opinion the case mentioned did not apply ; that it might be very proper for responsible officers to ask for answers in writing to justify themselves to their superiors, and a generous condescension in the persons from whom they went
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solicited, would induce them to comply ; but the committee were a part of the body representing the sovereignty of the United States, and we had the honor of representing the sovereignty of this State. That conferences, especially between persons vested with such ou. thorities, were intended to obtain a free and full communication of sentiments without the intervention of writing, and that no incon- venience could be apprehended from proceeding in this usual method, as each party could rely upon the integrity of the other. The com- mittee withdrew, and the Council rose.
In this unhappy affair we found ourselves extremely distressed. On one side we wore urged by the representatives of the United States to draw forth, and employ the citizens in immediate hostili- ties against the soldiers, while on the other hand, the citizens con- sidered them as objects of compassion rather than of terror or resentment. They could not bear to avenge the dignity of Con- gress, accidently and undesignedly offended, by shedding the blood of men whom they considered as having fought and suffered for . the American cause, and perhaps the world may be disposed to ballance the charge of impolicy in this conduct, by giving credit for the humanity of such a behaviour.
We met again in the evening at the President's house, and in order to make particular communications, we directed the Lieu- tenants of the city and county, all the field officers of the militia in the city and neighborhood, and Captain Morris of the Light Horse, to be convened to meet us at the State House the next morn- ing at ten o'clock.
Accordingly, on Tuesday the twenty-fourth, we met in the As- sembly room : Colonels Shce, Eyre, Knox, Marsh, Rend, Will, Dean, Henry, Coates ; Majors Rees, Brown, Cumdrop, Mccullough, Boyd and Fanqueke ; and Captain Morris ; only one field officer being absent.
We laid before these gentlemen the message wo had received on Saturday from the soldiery, and our own resolution thereon, with the resolution of Congress passed that day. We informed them that the committee of Congress had, in a conference, explained the said resolution, by saying, that by the effectual measures therein mentioned, Congress meant a call of militia into actual service, and their exertions in consequence of such a call; that there was reason to believe Congress would immediately remove from this State, un- less they should receive assurances from us that they might rely upon the effectual measures intended by the said resolution being immediately taken for supporting the public authority; that as to the want of ammunition that had been mentioned, the objection was happily removed, we having been assured by one of the com- mittee of Congress that we could be supplied with any quantity of musquet and cannon cartridge in fifteen minutes. We therefore de- sired the oficers to give us their sentiments on the practicability of
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