MINNESOTA 2008 CIVIC FEST President Who? Forgotten Founders Exhibit -
Stanley L. Klos
MINNESOTA
2008 CIVIC FEST EXHIBIT
PREVIEW
The Rise of the
U.S. Presidency
1774 - 1778
HISTORIAN STANLEY L. KLOS FEATURED AT THE GOP
NATIONAL CONVENTION
The Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 GOP
Convention Host Committee along with twin city mayors, Chris Coleman and R.T.
Ryback, has invited the local, national and international media to its launch
of Civic Fest on Monday, April 14th, 2008 11:00 a.m. at the Minneapolis
Convention Center.
Minnesota has planned a vibrant civic
non-partisan celebration of American history, democracy, and the U.S.
Presidency at the Minneapolis Convention Center during the Republican National
Convention. The featured exhibit on the U.S. Presidency will be Palm Harbor
resident, Stanley L. Klos’ President Who? Forgotten Founders Exhibit.
The anthology of rare documents focuses on the rise of the U.S. Presidency.
Author
and exhibitor, Stanly L. Klos adeptly maps out the birth and evolution of the
U.S. Presidency in his book explaining that:
“The origin of the U.S. Presidency can
be traced back to the convening of the American Colonial Congress on September
5, 1774 when the Delegates elected Peyton Randolph of Virginia as their
President. Originally just called Congress, the word Continental was added to
the name in 1775 to distinguish this Congress from the many Congresses being
held throughout the Colonies. The Continental Congress would convene, as an
Alliance, under an agreement known as the Articles of Association until 1777.
The delegates of the Continental Congress passed the first federal
constitution of the United States in 1777. The constitution was not ratified
until 1781. It was under the first Federal Constitution of 1777 that the U.S.
Presidency was born.
The exhibit features twenty-five 18th
Century manuscripts, documents, letters, newspapers and broadsides all from
the 1774 – 1788 presidencies. Klos concedes that the 1774 Articles of
Association were merely an alliance between the Colonies, later States, and
not a Constitution. He maintains, however, that:
“There aretwo 13 State ratified Federal Constitutions of the United States of
America. One, the Articles of Confederation, was passed by the Delegates of
the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777.[i]
The Second Federal Constitution was approved by the Delegates of United States
in Congress Assembled on September 28, 1787.[ii]
The later was formulated by a Constitutional Convention held from May to
September in 1787, chaired by George Washington, while the former was formed
by the Delegates in Continental Congress, chaired by John Hancock and Henry
Laurens in 1777.”
In his exhibit he produces primary
source after primary source, 18th Century Journals and newspapers
demonstrating beyond a shadow of a doubt that
“Ten men served as
Presidents of the United States of America under the Constitution of 1777.
These Presidents utilized their office to exercise much influence on United
States public affairs and legislation. The Presidents
each had one vote in the unicameral government while presiding over the
judicial, legislative and executive business of the United States of
America. The Presidents had the power to call for the unicameral government’s
assembly and adjournment. They signed military commissions, issued military
orders, signed laws, treaties, and resolutions. They received, read,
answered, and at their own discretion held or disseminated the official state
and foreign correspondence to the United States. When U.S. or foreign
dignitaries arrived at the Capitol they represented the United States of
America as its Head of State receiving the guests and extending the nation’s
official hospitality.”
[iii]
Failure, more so then triumph, is
mankind’s supreme educator,
Klos writes.. The first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Jay, said of
the Federal Constitution of 1777 and its unicameral government:
“the direction of general and national
affairs is submitted to a single body of men, viz. the congress. They may make
war; but are not empowered to raise men or money to carry it on. They may make
peace; but without power to see the terms of it observed. They may form
alliances, but without ability to comply with the stipulations on their part.
They may enter into treaties of commerce; but without power to enforce them at
home or abroad. They may borrow money; but without having the means of
re-payment. They may partly regulate commerce; but without authority to
execute their ordinances. They may appoint ministers and other officers of
trust; but without power to try or punish them for misdemeanours. They may
resolve; but cannot execute either with despatch or with secresy. In short,
they may consul and deliberate and recommend and make requisitions; and they
who please, may read them. From this new and wonderful system of government,
it has come to pass, that almost every national object of every kind is, at
this day, unprovided for; and other nations, taking the advantage of its
imbecility, are daily multiplying commercial restraints upon us."
[iv]
Just because the first federal
constitution of the United States failed the lives and deeds of its Presidents
should not be forgotten. There is much to learn from the Presidents’ mistakes
and triumphs. Klos, remarks:
“I was fortunate enough to be born in
the United States of America whose founders' deeds and laws circle above like
majestic eagles. President Who? Forgotten Founders is merely a product of
taking the time to look-up and point. History is the Crystal Ball to the
Future; all you have to do is examine it!”
It is appropriate that theMinnesota 2008 Civic Fest hosts this exhibit as the
origin of the U.S. Presidency is virtually unknown, even to those who are
empowered to nominate John McCain as a likely successor to President George W.
Bush. Additionally, the fourteen years of lessons learned from the failed
Federal Constitution of 1777 are pertinent to many current events such as the
five year old Iraq political struggled to form an effective democratic
Republic.
Stanley L. Klos resides in Pam Harbor, Florida with his eight children. For
more information on this exhibit contact the Minnesota Civic Fest at
651-677-2008 or the Klos Foundation at 727-771-1776 or visit
www.uspresidency.com.
[i]
Journals of the Continental Congress, Articles of Confederation,
November 15, 1777
[ii]
Journals Of the United States in Congress Assembled, Resolves to Submit
Constitution to the States, September 28, 1787
[iii]
The Cout de Moustier to John Jay, February 19, 1788, Diplomatic
Correspondence of the U.S., 348-349.
[iv]
Hardie, James, The Description of the City of New York, A Brief Account
and Most Remarkable Events, Which Have Occurred in It's History, S.
Marks Publisher, New York: 1827, page 113
Presidents of the
Continental Congress of the United Colonies
Peyton Randolph 1st President
of the Continental Congress United Colonies of
America
September 5, 1774 to October 22, 1774
May 20 to May 24, 1775
Peyton Randolph:
March 4, 1773, Five Pound Colonial Virginia Currency, 5” x 6 ½”, dated and
signed Peyton Randolph
and John Blair
on the front. It is also signed on the reverse by Virginia Treasurer Robert Carter Nicholas.
Displayed along with
April 29, 1775
Pennsylvania Evening Post: “The Honorable Peyton Randolph was unanimously
elected President of this Convention”
Presidents of the Continental
Congress of the United States
Declaration of Independence July 8, 1776 –
Pennsylvania Packet Stanley L. Klos
Collection
Once the Declaration of
Independence was passed by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 the
mission of the Delegates was to transmit the document to all the Colonists.
John Dunlap was given the task to print broadside copies of the Declaration
and chose to publish the entire resolution on the front page of his paper,
The Pennsylvania Packet. Through the newspaper and the broadsides the
Declaration of Independence was heralded to the world.
John Hancock
1st President of the Continental Congress
of the United States of America
Signer of the Declaration of Independence
The Wet Ink Transfer of the
Declaration
It is
important we digress here to explain the history and process that virtually
eradicated most of the ink on the one and only engrossed signed Declaration of
Independence that has become our national icon with John Hancock's signature
as President.
By 1820 the
condition of the only signed Declaration of Independence was rapidly
deteriorating. In that year John Quincy Adams, then Secretary of State,
commissioned William J. Stone of Washington to create exact copies of the
Declaration using a "new" Wet-Ink Transfer process. Unfortunately this
Wet-Ink Transfer greatly contributed to the degradation of the only engrossed
and signed Declaration of Independence ever produced.
On April 24,
1903 the National Academy of Sciences reported its findings, summarizing the
physical history of the Declaration:
"The instrument has suffered very seriously from the very harsh treatment
to which it was exposed in the early years of the Republic. Folding and
rolling have creased the parchment. The wet press-copying operation to which
it was exposed about 1820, for the purpose of producing a facsimile copy,
removed a large portion of the ink. Subsequent exposure to the action of light
for more than thirty years, while the instrument was placed on exhibition,
has resulted in the fading of the ink, particularly in the signatures. The
present method of caring for the instrument seems to be the best that can be
suggested."
The Wet-Ink
Transfer Process called for the surface of the Declaration to be moistened
transferring some of the original ink to the surface of a clean copper plate.
Three and one-half years later under the date of June 4, 1823, the National
Intelligencer reported that:
"the City
Gazette informs us that Mr. Wm. J. Stone, a respectable and enterprising (sic)
engraver of this City has, after a labor of three years, completed a facsimile
of the Original of the Declaration of Independence, now in the archives of the
government, that it is executed with the greatest exactness and fidelity; and
that the Department of State has become the purchaser of the plate. The
facility of multiplying copies of it, now possessed by the Department of State
will render furthur (sic) exposure of the original unnecessary."
On May 26,
1824, a resolution by the Senate and House of Representatives provided:
"That two hundred copies of the Declaration, now in the Department of
State, be distributed in the manner following: two copies to each of the
surviving Signers of the Declaration of Independence (John Adams, Thomas
Jefferson, Charles Carroll of Carrollton); two copies to the President of the
United States (Monroe); two copies to the Vice-President of the United States
(Tompkins); two copies to the late President, Mr. Madison; two copies to the
Marquis de Lafayette, twenty copies for the two houses of Congress; twelve
copies for the different departments of the Government (State, Treasury,
Justice, Navy, War and Postmaster); two copies for the President's House; two
copies for the Supreme Court room, one copy to each of the Governors of the
States; and one to each of the Governors of the Territories of the United
States; and one copy to the Council of each Territory; and the remaining
copies to the different Universities and Colleges of the United States, as the
President of the United States may direct."
The 201
official parchment copies struck from the Stone plate carry the identification
"Engraved by W. J. Stone for the Department of State, by order" in the
upper left corner followed by "of J. Q. Adams, Sec. of State July 4th
1824." in the upper right corner. "Unofficial" copies that were
struck later do not have the identification at the top of the document or are
the printed on vellum. Instead the engraver identified his work by engraving
"W. J. Stone SC. Washn." near the lower left corner and burnishing out
the earlier identification. Today 33 of the 201 Stone facsimiles printed in
1823 are known to exist. Additionally, two 1823 strikes on paper, are known to
exist..
Author's Copy of the Wet Ink Transfer - Declaration
of Independence
The original
plate, which was altered after the printing in 1823. It is unknown if the
plate was or was not used until 1848. In that year Congress commissioned Peter
Force to prepare a series of books entitled The American Archives. The purpose
of this book was to compile the 1774 through 1777 American Archives which also
included reproduction of key founding documents of the United States. For that
occasion the "Wet Ink" copper plate was removed from storage and
altered once again to reflect the 1848 printing. Then, by virtue of an Act of
Congress, Peter Force was permitted to print copies on rice paper from the
actual "Wet Ink" copper Plate. These documents were then folded and
inserted into Volume 1 of The American Archives collection. Of the rice paper
printings of 1848-9, it is believed that Force printed between 900 and 1200
copies as the Archival cost limited the number of clients. It is not known
precisely how many "rice wet ink transfers" survive. During the writing
of this book I decided Peter Force’s The American Archives that contained
the Rice Paper Transfer are a great American treasure that should be
scanned, edited and published on the world wide web. With the release of this
book I am proud to report that the 9,000 pages of Archives can be found at
www.StanKlos.net.
William StoneCopper Plateand 1976 Printing
Photo
Courtesy of the National Archives Click to Enlarge
As valuable as
these broadsides and Wet Ink Transfers are one has to realize there was a
handwritten Declaration of Independence, which was signed on July 4th, and
bore only John Hancock and Charles Thomson's names as the President and
Secretary of the Continental Congress. This invaluable document is the
“Holy Grail” of American historical manuscripts so please keep a watchful
eye.
PRESIDENT JOHN HANCOCK
ORDERS ST. CLAIR TO TAKE CHARGE AT TICONDEROGA IN LIGHT OF "THE APPROACH OF
THE ENEMY"
With British General John
Burgoyne and a powerful army on the march south from Canada, Hancock directs
St. Clair to defend this critical American fortress on Lake Champlain:
"The Congress having
received Intelligence of the approach of the Enemy towards Ticonderoga, have
thought proper to direct you to repair thither without delay. I have it
therefore in Charge to transmit the enclosed Resolve [not included], and
direct that you immediately set out on the receipt hereof."
The Americans had held the
fort since May 1775 when Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold carried out their
daring and famous raid. The victory--one of the few enjoyed by the
Continentals in the early stages of the war--had as much psychological as
strategic importance. To possibly lose it to the British just two years later
was an unappetizing prospect. St. Clair's prospects did not look bright. He
took command of the garrison's 2,500 ragged troops on 12 June. Burgoyne's much
stronger and well-disciplined force of over 7,000 British and Hessian troops
attacked from the west via Mount Hope and from the east across Lake Champlain.
Sensing he was about to be surrounded, St. Clair made the difficult decision
to abandon the fort on 5 July and retreat southward. Not even a month into his
command, St. Clair was forced to surrender America's most prized fortress.
"Although St. Clair was not of Maj. Gen. caliber, he used sound military
judgment in not risking his command in the defense of this untenable position
and showed rare moral courage in ordering the withdrawal...Not even a good
major general could have done more" (Boatner, 956, 1107).
St. Clair fled through the woods,
leaving a part of his force at Hubbardto. These troops were attacked and
defeated by General Fraser on July 7th, 1777, after a well-contested battle.
On July12th St. Clair reached Fort Edward with the remnant of his men. St.
Clair reported:
"I know I
could have saved my reputation by sacrificing the army; but were I to do so, I
should forfeit that which the world could not restore, and which it cannot
take away, the approbation of my own conscience".
The loss of
the fort turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to the
Americans. News of its easy capitulation convinced General William Howe that
Burgoyne's force could manage without his assistance, and Howe turned his
attention to Philadelphia instead of moving up the Hudson to link up with
Burgoyne and St. Leger. Even George III got carried away when he learned of
St. Clair's retreat, shouting "I have beat them! I have beat all the
Americans!" (Boatner, 1107)
St. Clair's
action forced General Burgoyne to divide his forces between pursuit of St.
Clair and garrisoning Fort Ticonderoga. Burgoyne, after a long and arduous
trek through the New York frontier, made an unsuccessful attempt to break
through American Forces and Capture Saratoga. Burgoyne retreated and ordered
his troops to entrench in the vicinity of the Freeman Farm. Here he decided to
await support from Clinton, who was supposedly preparing to move north toward
Albany from New York City. He waited for three weeks but Clinton never came.
With his supply line cut and a growing Continental Army he decided to attack
on October 7th ordering a recon-naissance-in-force to test the American left
flank. This attack was unsuccessful and Burgoyne loss General Fraser primarily
due to Benedict Arnold's direct counter-attack against the British Center.
That evening the British
retreated but kept their campfires burning brightly to mask their withdrawal.
Burgoyne's troops took refuge in a fortified camp on the heights of Saratoga.
Clinton never arrived, the Continental Forces swelled to over 20,000. Faced
with overwhelming numbers, Burgoyne surrendered on October 17, 1777 to General
Horatio Gates who was hailed the "Hero of Saratoga". This was one of
the great American victories of the war and made the British retention of Fort
Ticonderoga untenable. This surrender shocked the European Nations and direly
needed foreign aid poured into US coffers from France and the Netherlands.
Henry Laurens
2nd President of the
Continental Congress
of the United States of America
Served November 1, 1777 to December 9, 1778
Continental Congress
Establishes the American Army and “A General Embargo On Grain and Flour
Exports”
Laurens, as President of the Continental Congress of the
United States of America, transmits five important Acts of Congress, including
the formation of the American Army and an embargo prohibiting the export of
grain and flour in an effort to redirect domestic supply of foodstuffs to the
Continental Army. Autograph Letter Signed, as President of the Continental
Congress, to George Bryan, Vice President of Pennsylvania; Yorktown
[Pennsylvania], June 9, 1778.
8 ¼ x 13 ¼ in.
“
Yorktown 9th June 1778, To: The Honorable Vice President Bryan,
Pennsylvania, Honourble Sir. You will receive within the present Inclosure
(sic) five Acts of Congress as undermentioned, 1.......27th May for an
Establishment of the American , 2......4 June for appointing Commissioners
for holding a treaty with the Delaware , Shawnese [sic] & other Indians at
Fort Pitt the 23d July next., 3......6 June for extending to the Militia
subsistence in lieu of extra rations., 4......8 June for raising a Company of
foot in the county of Northumberland &c, 5......ibid, for laying a general
Embargo on certain articles of provisions... , I have the honour to be with
very great Respect Honourable Sir, Your obedient & most humble Sevt, Henry
Laurens, President of Congress –
Establishment of the American Army
I.
Infantry -- Resolved, That each battalion of infantry shall
consist of nine companies, one of which shall be of light infantry; the light
infantry to be kept complete by drafts from the battalion, and organized
during the campaign into corps of light infantry.
That the battalion of infantry consist of Commissioned. ... Pay per month.
1 Colonel and captain, ... 75
dollars.
1 Lieutenant colonel and
captain ... 60
1 Major and captain, ... 50
6 Captains, ∥each,∥ ... 40
1 Captain lieutenant, ...
262/3
8 Lieutenants, ∥each,∥ ...
262/3
9 Ensigns, ∥each,∥ ... 20
1 Surgeon, ... 60 dollars.
1 Surgeon's mate, ... 40
1 Sergeant major, ... 10
1 Quarter master sergeant,
... 10
27 Sergeants, ∥each∥ ... 10
1 Drum major, ... 9
1 Fife major, ... 9
18 Drums and fifes, ∥each∥
... 71/3
27 Corporals, ∥each∥ ... 71/3
477 Privates, ∥each∥ ... 62/3
Each of the field officers to
command a company.
The lieutenant of the
colonel's company, to have the rank of Captain lieutenant.
II.
Artillery --That a battalion of artillery consist of
Commissioned. ... Pay per month.
1 Colonel, ... 100 dollars.
1 Lieutenant colonel, ... 75
1 Major ... 622/3
12 Captains, ∥each∥ ... 50
12 Captain lieutenants,
∥each∥ ... 331/3
12 First lieutenants, ∥each∥
... 331/3
36 Second lieutenants, ∥each∥
... 331/3
1 Surgeon, ... 75 dollars.
1 Surgeon's mate, ... 50
1 Sergeant major, ... 11
23/90
1 Quarter master sergeant,
... 11 23/90
1 Fife major, ... 10 38/90
1 Drum major, ... 10 38/90
72 Sergeants, ∥each∥ ... 10
72 Bombardiers, ∥each∥ ... 9
72 Corporals, ∥each ... 9
72 Gunners, each ... 82/3
24 Drums and fifes, each ...
82/3
336 Matrosses, each ... 81/3
III.
Cavalry - That a battalion of cavalry consist of Commissioned. ...
Pay per month.
1 Colonel, ... 93¾ dollars.
1 Lieutenant colonel, ... 75
1 Major, ... 60
6 Captains, each ... 50
12 Lieutenants each ... 331/3
6 Cornets, each ... 262/3
1 Riding master ... 331/3
1 Surgeon, ... 60 dollars.
1 Surgeon's mate, ... 40
1 Saddler, ... 10
1 Trumpet major, ... 11
6 Farriers, each ... 10
6 Quarter master sergeants,
∥each∥ ... 15
6 Trumpeters, each ... 10
12 Sergeants, each ... 15
30 Corporals, ... 10
324 Dragoons, ... 81/3
IV.
Provost - Resolved, That a provost be established, to consist
of... Pay per month.
1 Captain of provosts, ... 50
dollars.
4 Lieutenants, each ... 331/3
1 Clerk, ... 331/3
1 Quarter master sergeant,
... 15
2 Trumpeters, each ... 10
2 Sergeants, each... 15
5 Corporals, each ... 10
43 Provosts or privates, each
... 8 1/3
4 Executioners, each ... 10
This corps to be mounted on
horseback, and armed and accounted as light dragoons.
Resolved, That in the
engineering department three companies be established, each to consist of...
Pay per month.
1 Captain, ... 50 dollars.
3 Lieutenants, each ... 331/3
4 Serjeants, each ... 10
4 Corporals, each... 9
60 Privates, each ... 81/3
These companies to be
instructed in the fabrication of field works, as far as relates to the manual
and mechanical part. Their business shall be to instruct the fatigue parties to
do their duty with celerity and exactness: to repair injuries done to works by
the enemy's fire, and to prosecute works in the face of it. The commissioned
officers to be skilled in the necessary branches of mathematics; the
non-commissioned officers to write a good hand.
Resolved, That aids de camp,
brigade majors, and brigade quarter masters, heretofore appointed from the line,
shall hold their present ranks, and be admissible into the line again in the
same rank they held when taken from the line; provided that no aid, brigade
major, or quarter master, shall have the command of any officers who commanded
him while in the line.
Resolved, That no more colonels
be appointed in the infantry; but where any such commission is or shall become
vacant, the battalion shall be commanded by a lieutenant colonel, who shall be
allowed the same pay as is now granted to a colonel of infantry, and shall rise
in promotion from that to the rank of brigadier; and such battalion shall have
only two field officers, viz: a lieutenant colonel and major, but it shall have
an additional captain.
Militia subsistence in lieu
of extra rations June 6, 1778 - The Congressional embargo prohibited the
export of grain and flour in an effort to redirect domestic supply of foodstuffs
to the Continental Army. The measure had its intended effect and by 1779 exports
had been reduced to a trickle and overseas trade from the port of Philadelphia
fell to between one-fifth and two-fifths of its prewar size. The volume of
Philadelphia exports, largely breadstuffs, dropped from over sixty thousand tons
in 1773 to less than four thousand tons in 1779. Although a few merchants
continued to risk running blockades and fighting privateers to reach overseas
markets, most had given up. With limited access to export trade, supplying the
army became the only real market left open to the grain community.
President of the United States of America in Congress Assembled
Articles of
Confederation
Exceptionally rare and
pivotal account of the ratification of the Perpetual Union of the United States
of America and the first three Presidencies under the Federal Constitution of
1777
United States in Congress
Assembled, JOURNALS OF CONGRESS, AND OF THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED,
1781. Continental Congress: JOURNALS OF CONGRESS, AND OF THE UNITED STATES IN
CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, FOR THE YEARS 1781-1782. PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF CONGRESS,
VOLUME VII. NEW YORK: Printed by John Patterson. 1787.
"An edition of five hundred copies was printed by order
of Congress, 13 September, 1786.”
The 1781 Subjects treated are
developments in the War; western land cessions; Connecticut-Pennsylvania land
dispute; ratification of the Articles of Confederation; First use of President
of the United States in Congress Assembled; a tribute to John Paul Jones;
privateering; prisoners of war; Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown; financing
the War; resolving whether to establish a national bank; establishing a postal
service; expressions of thanks to General Washington; Washington's appearance at
Congress and his Address of November 28, 1781.
The Journal also includes the
whole Journal of the year 1782, Delivered the official Thanks of Congress to
George Washington for his victory at Yorktown , Commended Gen. Lafayette and
thanked France for his services Pressed states to keep up their commitments to
sending delegates to Congress, which was often short of a quorum, Passed
legislation for the Bank of North America, the first central bank, Appointed a
Secretary of the United States to assist in correspondence and record-keeping,
Granted Gen. Washington broad powers to negotiate prisoner exchanges with
Britain; Washington immediately worked out a trade of Gen. Cornwallis for Henry
Laurens, the first president of the Continental Congress, Established the United
States Mint, Established the predecessor agency of the State Department,
Proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving holiday, Created the position of
Chairman of Congress, a predecessor of the vice-presidency , Negotiated a peace
treaty with Britain Settled a dispute between Connecticut and Pennsylvania, with
President Hanson acting as an equivalent of Chief Justice called for the first
national census.
Samuel Huntington 1st President of the United States of America in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to July 6, 1781
Signer of the Declaration of Independence
Engraved
document signed ("Sam. Huntington"), as PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED , Philadelphia, (March- ? – July, 26, 1781 countersigned
by Secretary of Board of War Benjamin Stoddert.
1 page,
oblong (6½ x 10½ in.)
ON PARCHMENT, accomplished in clerical hand, with embossed paper seal of the
United States in upper left corner.
Samuel
Huntington appoints Glenn Spencer a Colonel in the Army of the United States,
Signing as President of the United States of America in Congress Assembled.
Elias Boudinot 4th President of the United
States of America in Congress Assembled
November 4, 1782 to November 3, 1783
BOUDINOT, Elias. Autograph letter signed ("Elias Boudinot,"
with large flourish), AS PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, to Arthur St. Clair in
Philadelphia, Princeton [N.J.], 9 July 1783. 1 full page, folio, integral
address leaf, small mends to tears from seal, a few minor dampstains.
CONGRESS HELD HOSTAGE. A letter regarding a little-known crisis very late in the
war. On 21 June, Continental troops--grown desperate to receive long overdue
back pay--mutinied in their barracks at Philadelphia. Some 300 to 400, under
arms, marched on Independence Hall, surrounded it, and kept Congress virtual
prisoners. Ramsay writes in 1789 of the mutiny and Congressional hostage
situation:
The whole
amounting to upwards of 300 men, marched with fixed bayonets and drums, to the
statehouse, in which Congress and the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania
held their sessions. They placed guards at every door, and sent in a written
message to the President and Council of the state, and threatened to let loose
an enraged soldiery upon them, if they were not gratified as to their demand
within 20 minutes. The situation of Congress, though they were not the
particular object of the soldiers' resentment, was far from being agreeable.
The mutineers
demands were made in very dictatorial tones, that
…unless their demand were com-plied with in twenty minutes, they would let in
upon them the injured soldiery, the consequences of which they were to abide.
Boudinot sought the help of the
Pennsylvania Assembly , also in session, to calling in the Pennsylvania militia
but that body refused believing they would only join the mutineers escalating
the hostage crisis. Word was immediately sent to Major General Arthur St. Clair
requesting his presence. St. Clair rushed to the rescue and confronted the
mutineers carefully noting their demands. The General then went into
Independence Hall and reported his findings to the Confederation Congress. After
lengthy debate Congress directed General St. Clair and Alexander Hamilton:
...
to endeavor to march the mutineers to their barracks, and to announce to them
that Congress would enter into no deliberation with them; that they must return
to Lancaster, and that there, and only there, they would be paid.”
St. Clair and Hamilton
negotiated the safe passage of Congress when they adjourned at 3:00pm and the
soldiers, though in some instances offering a mock obstruction,
permitting the members to pass through their ranks. President then quickly acted to move Congress to
Princeton surrounding the town and Nassau Hall with 1700 New Jersey Militia
men.
General Robert Howe was ordered
to move with the troops against the mutineers. This order greatly affronted
General St. Clair, who regarded it as an attempt to supersede his command. He
responded with a scathing letter addressed to Congress, which Boudinot wisely
chose not to lay before the delegates, as he explains here.
"I
duly recd your favor of yesterday but conceiving that you had mistaken the
Resolution of Congress, I showed it to Mr. Fitzsimmons and we have agreed not to
present it to Congress, till we hear again from you. Congress were so careful to
interfere one way or the other in the military etiquette, that we recommitted
the Resolution to have every thing struck out that should look towards any
determination as to the Command, and it was left so that the Commanding officer
be him who it might, was to carry the Resolution into Execution; and it can bear
no other Construction. If on the second reading you choose your Letter should be
read in Congress, it shall be done without delay"
President Boudinot adds a
reassuring postscript:
"You may depend on Congress having been perfectly satisfied with your conduct."
In
the end, St. Clair saw that the mutiny ringleaders were arrested, tried and
sentenced to death. They were pardoned in September by President Boudinot
through a resolution of Congress. The Confederation government
