Assembly will present them on their removal thereto, and during their continuance therein, with the Palace, the Capitol and all the public buildings and three hundred acres of land adjoining the said City together with a sum of money not exceeding one hundred thousand pounds this States currency, to be paid at five annual installments and to be expended in erecting thirteen Hotels for the use of the Delegates in Congress. This Assembly will also cede to Congress during their residence therein, a district of territory contiguous to the said City, not exceeding five miles square, with such exempt jurisdiction within the said limits as the Inhabitants res'ding therein shall consent to yield to Congress to obtain which the Governor with advice of Council is directed to make application to the said Citizens and when obtained to notify to the Delegates of this State in Congress such assent. Resolved, Unanimously, That if the Honorable the Congress should think it more convenient to hold their sessions at any place on the River Potowmack within this Commonwealth, this Assembly will on the above terms cede the like district of territory at the place Congress shall so choose, and will also appropriate a sum not exceeding one hundred thousand pounds to be paid in five annual installments for the purpose of erecting the said hotels and will moreover purchase one hundred acres of land for the purpose of erecting such public Buildings as Congress may direct thereon. Resolved Unanimously, That if the Legislature of Maryland are willing to join in a cession of territory for the above purpose with this State (the said territory to be on the River Potowmack) that the Assembly will cede to the Honorable the Congress the like district of territory opposite to that ceded by the State of Maryland, freely leaving it with Congress to fix their residence on either side of the said river as they may see proper: but that if Congress shall reside on the North side of the said river that then this Assembly will contribute forty thousand pounds for the aforesaid purposes, in full confidence that the State of Maryland will supply the deficiency, Provided that should Congress thereafter remove from the city of Williamsburg or from the lands beforementioned, that in such case the lands so ceded with the buildings shall revert to the Commonwealth. Teste John Beckley, C. H. D. Will: Drew, C. S. 1783 June 28th Agreed to by the Senate Former Lieutenant Governor Colden Seeks Governor Clinton's Intercession for the Loyalists. New York, July 26, 1783. Sir, However materially you and I may have differ'd for some years past, in our Political Sentiments, yet there are other Sentiments more esential to Society, and the happyness of man with man, that I trust we do not differ in. Our long and intimate acquaintance, (even from your Childhood) has been sufficient to satisfy me in this respect, and I am happy to find the opinion I ever entertained of you, rather confirmed in these trying times, than otherwise. Times that has given opertunity to men to shew themselves in their true colors, and to those who had a Cloven foot to Put it, forward, and it is no small satisfaction to me to learn from many Gentlemen who come to this Citty, that upon all Occasions you make honourable mention of me-from all which I Conclude that you are convinced that in the part (or rather no part) I took in this most unhappy Contest, I was influenced by principle, and Concience, and that the love of my Country had no little weight with me. I now can truly say, as I often said to my Neighbours before I was banish'd from among them, (as Barber and Park may testify), "That if by the Contest my Country should secure to its'self happyness, Prosperity and felicity, I should much rather in that Case have it told me, and even bare the Apelation of having been an Enemy to my Country (as they then call'd me) than that I should have it in my Power to say to any one, upon the Ruin & distriction of my Country, Ah! I told you or forewarn'd you of this but you would not be lieve me," which would be but a poor Consolation to me or my family and, therefore, now that the Independence of America of the Crown of Great Britain, (an event that in my Opinion was then as little to be expected as it was to be wished for) is obtained & fixed, I do from my heart & soul pray that the happyness of the Country resulting therefrom, may exceed the Expectations of the most sanguine Whig. And which I should have began to entertain some hopes of, were it not for an Evill unforegiveing, and unrelenting spirit, that seems to prevail throughout the Continent, which must prove as pernitious to good Policy & the hap pyness of the Country, as it is Contrary to the Laws of Humanity and Christianity-Was a different Spirit to prevail & to be enculcated both from press and Pulpitt, some Heavenly blessing might be expected to Ensure-But while you are driveing every Man from among you who differ'd from you in Principle and for Concience Sake, you must drive many an honest man who might and would become (do aver it) better and more faithfull subjects to the States, than Thousands you now have among you. The Loyalists who have remained faithfull subjects to the King from Principle, will ever be so, to Whatever government they live under; besides, were they cordially Rec'd. by you, they would have but little inclination or Wish to return to a government that has taken so little care of their interest and so illy requited them for their Loyalty. It really hurts me, for my Country's Sake, to see and hear of such Numbers of Usefull honest Men drove out of it, throo fear of a Mob or Rable, for many of them can have nothing to fear from the Laws, unless it be that the Laws would not have energy sufficient to protect them. In my humble opinion, the future happyness or misery of this Country, depends upon the part the different legislatures may take on this occasion. And, therefore, I hope you will excuse my takeing the Liberty of Writeing on this subject to you, as I still Expect to pertake of Whatever may be the fate of my country. This brings me to what was more particularly my Motive for troubleing of you at this time. In my opinion, (and that of many others) the Preliminary articles when included in the Treaty of Peace & Confirmed by both partys, will endemnify me from the further effects of the law by which I was banished. Therefore, should the Treaty be concluded, and the British Troops leave this before the Legislature of the State, have Opertunity to Repeal that Law, I shall think myself safe in returning to my own home, as I shall do, unless my friends, advise me to the contrary. I have been often told that, That Banishing Act was disaproved of by most men of Sence in the Country, and that it did not meet with your hearty aprobation. It certainly was a very rigorous & unjustifyable Law, and the reason I gave in writeing (which I suppose you saw) for my not complying, I think must excuse me in the breast of every upright man. That Law would have been more excusable had it contained a Clause impowering the governors (for the time being) to Permitt such Persons to return to their Estates, after the War was over, as he thought proper and I was in hopes that some such subsequent Law might have taken place. Should anything happen to prevent the Troops Evacuating this Citty, this Season, I wish something of that kind may yet be done, for I am Weary of spending my life in this Manner, and not knowing what may be my fate when the Troops go; it is a disagreeable Circumstance to think that I may be obliged to go with them to Europe or some other part of the British dominions for it seems to be the prevailing Sperrit not to give (what they call) Refugees or Tories protection in any of the Neighbooring States. I Cannot expect a line from your Excellency in answer on this subject-But if you would be pleased to Confere thereon with my son, you Would infinitely oblige one who has the honour to be your Excellency's Most Humble & Most Obeyd't Servant Cadwallader Colden. His Excellency Governor Clinton. [No. 5144.] TWO LETTERS FROM ROBERT MORRIS. In the First He Dwells Upon the Necessity of Taxes and Resents Office of Finance, 28th July, 1783. Sir, Having already transmitted the Public Accounts, from the Commencement of my Administration to the first Day of this Month, I shall not trouble your Excellency with a Repetition of them. Perhaps this Letter may contain too much of Egotism, but your Candor will excuse me when the Motive is known. If I have rendered any Services to the United States, they have been derived from the generous Confidence of my Countrymen. This Confidence must not be abused, and if it be lost my utility. is at an End. The Accounts will shew, to any informed and reflecting Mind, that the Public Monies were Oeconomically applied; and if farther Proof were necessary, I could appeal to the Honorable Delegates in Congress, who have every Opportunity of Investigation. I might also appeal to the Clamors against me for opposing Claims I could not properly comply with. Long have I been the object of Enmities derived from that Origin. I have, therefore, the Right to consider such Clamors and such Enmities, as the Confession and the Evidence of my Care and Attention. But, Sir, from the same Accounts it will appear, that, on the thirtieth Day of June last, my Payments had exceeded the Amount of my Receipts by more than a Million of Dollars. How indeed could it be otherwise, when all the Taxes brought into the Treasury since 1781 did not Amount to seven hundred and fifty |