CHAPTER VIII. 1782 TO MAY, 1783. JOHN COLLINS, Ezekiel Cornell, Jonathan Arnold, and David Howell elected Delegates at the General Election in May-Attendance-Instructions-Correspondence between Delegates and the Executive-Deficiencies of the Government in relation to Revenue-Views of General Varnum and Judge Howell-Correspondence continued-Rhode Island refuses to vest Congress, agreeably to the Recommendation of that body, with power to impose an Impost Duty of five per cent.-Letter from the Speaker of the House to Congress-Action of Congress thereon-Reports of Committees Proceedings in relation to Judge Howell-Action of the General Assembly-State Rights-Correspondence continued-Sessions of Congress-Review of the Labors and Influence of the Delegates from Rhode Island. Ar the General Election, 1782, John Collins, Ezekiel Cornell, Jonathan Arnold, and David Howell were elected delegates to Congress for the year commencing on the first Wednesday in May. The Assembly, having taken no order as to the attendance of the delegates, the Governor of the State, it seems, with the advice of other officers, requested Mr. Howell to proceed to Philadelphia and represent the State in Congress, in the place of Mr. Ellery, whose term of office expired on the first Wednesday in May. At the June session, the following resolutions were adopted : IT IS VOTED AND RESOLVED, That his Excellency the Governor be requested to write to the delegates of this State now in Congress, to use their utmost influence in Congress to have some effectual measures adopted, for the speedy discharge of the certificates, which have been issued in behalf of the United States, by their quartermasters and commissaries, for services performed and articles supplied for the army of the United States. And also to provide effectually for the speedy calling in and sinking the bills of the old Continental emissions, which are yet outstanding. IT IS VOTED AND RESOLVED, That his Excellency the Governor be and he is hereby requested to write to the State's delegates an answer to their letter, relative to the exclusive claims of some states to the vacant lands in the limits of the United States, and to inform them that this State conceives itself to be invested with a perfect and indisputable right, in common with her sister states, to the said lands. AND IT IS FURTHER VOTED AND RESOLVED, That this State's delegates be and they hereby are instructed to use their influence in Congress for a proportionate division of the said lands accordingly. That the Governor wrote as requested, though no copy can be found, may be inferred from the following letter from Messrs. Cornell and Howell: MESSRS. CORNELL AND HOWELL TO GOV. GREENE. PHILADELPHIA, July 19th, 1782. SIR: --We have been honored with your Excellency's letter of the ult., and the enclosed resolutions of the honorable the General Assembly. You may be assured that proper attention will always be paid on our part, to any instructions, which that honorable body may think proper to honor us with, and particularly to those now received. We have a proper sense of the principle and justice on which they are founded, and are fully impressed with the importance of the objects that the State wish to obtain. Yet such is our embarrassed situation, that we dare not at present flatter you that we shall soon be able to obtain that justice, which is due to the State on account of the old money or back lands. The same time we take the liberty to assure you that we will endeavor to obtain those desirable objects by embracing every favorable moment. It is now believed that the United Provinces of the Low Countries have acknowledged the independence of the United States, and received Mr. Adams in his official character of Ambassador. This intelligence depends altogether on the authenticity of the public newspapers. No official letters have been received from Europe of a later date than about the last of March or first of April. We have little doubt but that this glorious news is true, and if so, is an event that cannot but be favorable to the United States, notwithstanding we are informed from good authority that a Minister at the Hague, from a respectable northern power, used every means in his power with their high mightinesses, to prevent its taking place. We therefore, cannot undertake to say, what effect it may have in the different courts of Europe. We are altogether at a loss to say what measures the court of Great Britain intend to pursue, having received no intelligence from Europe that is to be relied on since the ministry entered upon their administration, neither have we any reason to suppose that Sir Guy Carlton has received any instructions from them. It appears probable that this summer will be spent by them in fixing their plans. Whether they will be for war or peace is at present altogether uncertain. But in our opinion, let them adopt which they will, they will prosecute the one they do adopt, in earnest. Congress has been employed for a long time in the common business that daily presents itself, without doing any thing that particularly deserves your notice. There are several committees that have business of consequence under consideration, on which it is probable they will soon report. ment. His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief has been a week in this city. His journey to this place was in consequence of a previous appointment to meet the Count de Rochambeau. Their meeting was according to the appointSeveral committees of Congress have had conferences with the General since he has been in this place on business of importance. And we have the pleasure to assure you that we have every reason to suppose that the most perfect harmony subsists between him and Congress at this time. His stay from the army will be short. We beg you will excuse us on account of the barenness of this letter as well as for our fault of not acknowledging the receipt of yours at an earlier period. We waited in hopes of being able to communicate something worthy your notice. We have the honor to be your Excellency's Most obedient humble servants, EZEKIEL CORNELL, It appears from the following resolution, passed by the Assembly at the June session, 1782, that some inquiry had been made in Congress relative to the boundaries of this State. It is in vain to conjecture what was the design of the inquiry. The reply was definite, in the terms of the following resolution: IT IS VOTED AND RESOLVED, That his Excellency the Governor be requested to inform the delegates of this State, that this General Assembly have duly considered the letter of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs for the United States, respecting this State's boundaries, and inform them that the claims of this State with respect to boundaries are confined to those which are particularly specified and described in its original charter, and that the delegates be requested to acquaint the Secretary of Foreign Affairs with this resolution, and furnish him with a copy of the charter referred to. At a session of the General Assembly held in August, it was resolved that Mr. Collins be requested to proceed to Philadelphia on the 3d of December next, and take his seat and supply the place of Mr. Howell, and that Mr. Arnold be requested to relieve Mr. Cornell, who was desirous of visiting his family as soon as he conveniently could. At the same session they fixed the pay of the delegates for the future, at the rate of four Spanish milled dollars per day for each and every day employed in said service; the said allowance to be in full, including all expenses, "and that the allowance stipulated as aforesaid, commence on the 20th of June last." The following instructions, prepared by a committee, were given to the delegates at the October session of the General Assembly, and directed to be transmitted to them without delay: That the delegates of this State be, and they are hereby instructed, to preserve and cultivate a good understanding with each other. To pay a strict regard to the instructions, which, from time to time, may be given them from this General Assembly. To contend earnestly for this State's proportion of vacant or back lands. To press the redemption of the outstanding Continental bills of credit. To adhere closely to the Articles of Confederation. To exert themselves against half pay to retiring officers, or to officers who shall continue in service during the war. To obtain a regulation of the weight and value of gold and silver coins, and to fix the standard of weights and measures throughout the United States. Not to accept of any post or place of profit under Congress, or any servant of Congress, nor receive any emolument from any such office held by another until six months after they shall have resigned their office as delegate, and the same shall have been accepted by the General Assembly of this State, or they shall have been, for that time, discharged therefrom by their constituents; and that they use their influence to get a resolution passed, that none of their members shall have a like office until six months after they cease to be members. To vindicate and support, with a becoming firmness, on all occasions, such of the acts of the General Assembly of this State as respect the United States at large, and to use their utmost exertions to prevent any infringement being made on the sovereignty and independence thereof. The instructions were drawn up by John Brown, representative from Providence, William Ellery, from Newport, and John Dexter, from Cumberland. What gave rise to them is left to conjecture. The last clause brings forcibly to mind the instructions given to the delegates in May, 1776, on the same subject. EZEKIEL CORNELL TO Gov. GREENE. PHILADELPHIA, July 31, 1782. SIR-I need not mention to your Excellency, the length of time I have been absent from my family, neither do I conceive it necessary to use any arguments to urge the honorable the General Assembly to give directions that I be speedily relieved. The frequent indulgences that I have received from them make it unnecessary. I therefore, wait, in full confidence that that honorable body will cheerfully give me the indulgence asked for, by ordering me relieved as soon as justice and policy will permit. Patiently looking for your answer, I have the honor to be your Excellency's Most obedient humble servant, EZEKIEL CORNELL. It had become evident before the Articles of Confederation had been adopted by all the states, that when adopted they would not vest in Congress sufficient powers to carry on the government successfully. Gen. Varnum in a letter to Gov. Greene, under date of April 2, 1781, seemed fully impressed |