ページの画像
PDF
ePub

position favorable for trying new changes. In such more than we import, a general bankruptcy must a state, to be attacked by a formidable enemy, be the inevitable consequence.

without soldiers or military stores, and without au thority to compel even our own citizens to obey the laws, we must fall a prey to any foreign power, who may think it worth the cost to subjugate us.

Many people call for large emissions of paper money. For what?-To shift the burdens, which they have incurred by their avarice and folly, from themselves to their better, and more deserving, I have heard, gentlemen of the grand jury, creditors, whose property they choose to hold fast. great complaints against the illiberal and monopo Can any thing be more fraudulent or astonishing? lizing spirit of the British government, on the sub- No, gentlemen: paper medium and sheriffs' sale ject of commerce with America-her numerous bills, are only temporary expedients, a repetition duties on American produce-and her refusal to of which, in a very short time, would be insupenter into treaties for mutual benefits in trade. portable. They were intended, at a singular criIt must surely be highly ridiculous to abuse one sis, to open a retreat even to the foolish and exnation for profiting by the follies of another, Do travagant, as well as the unfortunate debtor, by afwe expect that Great Britain, as a trading nation, fording an opportunity to retrieve, but not to give will not exert every nerve to hold fast the com.impunity to the one, or a release to the other. The mercial advantages, which our avidity for her ne honest and industrious man will seize the opportugroes and manufactures hath given her? Is it not nity to lay up against the day of account and pay. the steady policy of every nation in Europe, to ment, while nothing will correct or reclaim the promote and extend their own commerce by every indolent and fraudulent knave. But, as I said, the possible means, let it be at the expense of whom-period is at hand, when the punctual payment of soever it will? Yes, gentlemen: and let us act taxes and debts must take place voluntarily; or the. with such caution and punctuality, as to make uninterrupted recovery of them, in the courts of it her interest to solicit, and we shall soon find justice, be enforced. Palliatives are exhausted. her courting, with douceurs, those commercial We must either relinquish government, resign our compacts, which she now so contemptuously de- independence, and embrace a military master-clines. At the close of the war, indeed, she stood or execute our laws by force of arms, if no alternatrembling with apprehension, lest our two allies, tive is left us. But, before we are compelled to reFrance and Holland, should monopolize our trade. sort to this disgraceful and painful ultimatum, let us A treaty, pressed at that moment, and properly all exert ourselves, and support each other, as free urged-the sine qua non of all future amity and in- citizens, acknowledging no master but the laws, tercourse, would, in all probability, have produced which we ourselves have made for our common an inlet of American built vessels into her islands, good-obeying those laws, and enforcing them, and an exemption from many other injurious re. when and where we can. Let no man say, this or straints. But the favorable moment slipt through that is not my business. Whatever materially af our hands unimproved, and (I fear) never to re-fects the honor and interest of the state, is every turn. The only possible way left us to recover it, man's business; because he must, in common with is, to live within our income; to secure a balance all others, share the good or evil brought upon his of trade in our favor; and to urge the federal government to such general regulations, as shall secure us from the infamous vassalage into which we are hurrying. If three or four thousand pounds of lawful authority, is the parricide of his country, sterling worth of merchandise, (annually) which as well as the voluntary assassin of his own insum will include a great many luxuries, be suffi.terest; since it is impossible he can be tranquil or cient for all our rational wants, when our exports happy, or enjoy his property in peace and security, greatly exceed that sum, and are annually increas. while his country is convulsed and distracted. ing-is it not obvious to the meanest capacity, that As grand jurors, gentlemen, the laws have sea large balance must yearly return to us in gold lected you, as their principal auxiliary and most and silver? which, in spite of all the paper-money responsible guardians. On you, then, it is pecu casuists in the world, is the only wholesome politi-liarly incumbent to interest yourselves in the concal blood that can give union, health, and vigor duct of all around you. You have the greatest property to lose: and your example, therefore,

to the body politic.

country. The man who refuses or evades the payment of taxes imposed by his immediete represen'tative, or excites or co-operates in the resistance

If we do not curtail our expenses, and export must be of the greatest weight. Investigate the

police of your district: and, wherever any person thence clothed with the noblest of titles, with has accepted a public trust, and neglects or abuses that which effaces all others; charged, in the name it, drag him forth, let his office, fortune, or cha- of the father of his country, and the beneficent racter be what it may. If keepers of ferries, high-protector of his subjects, to offer a support to those ways, or bridges, do not discharge their duty--if who were born to enjoy the blessings of his govern the officers of justice violate the trust reposed in mentin them-you are bound, in duty to your country, To all his countrymen in North America. to yourselves and to your children, as well as by You were born French; you never could cease to the solemn oath you have just taken, to name them be French. The late war, which was not declared in your presentments, together with the names of but by the captivity of nearly all our seamen, and such witnesses as can prove the charge. Even in the principal advantages of which our common eneyour private capacity, as citizens, to inform against mies entirely owed to the courage, the talents, and prosecute all such offenders, is highly me- and the numbers of the brave Americans, who are ritorious. The malevolence which may, for a now fighting against them, has wrested from you time, be directed against an honest, spirited, and that which is most dear to all men, even the name patriotic citizen, is like the harmless hissing of of your country. To compel you to bear the arms serpents, that cannot bite. He will soon triumph of parricides against it, must be the completion over their impotent clamour, and obtain the es-of misfortunes: With this you are now threaten. teem and support of all good men. ed: A new war may justly make you dread being

I have been actuated in the plain and pointed ob- obliged to submit to this most intolerable law of servations you have just heard, by an ardent zeal slavery. It has commenced like the last, by defor the honor and prosperity of my country. This predations upon the most valuable part of our is not a time to lessen or extenuate the terror, trade. Too long already have a great number of which the present dangerous crisis must inspire. unfortunate Frenchmen been confined in Americaa To know our danger, to face it like men, and to prisons. You hear their groans. The present war triumph over it by constancy and courage, is a cha-was declared by a message in March last from the racter this country once justly acquired. Is it to king of Great Britain to both houses of parliament; be sacrificed in the hour of peace, with every in. a most authentic act of the British sovereignty, centive to preserve it? I repeat again, that, with-announcing to all orders of the state, that to trade out a change of conduct, and an union of all the (with America) though without excluding others good men in the state, we are an undone people; from the same right, was to offend; that frankly to the government will soon tumble about our heads, avow such intention, was to defy this sovereignty; and become a prey to the first bold ruffian, who that she would revenge it, and deferred this only shall associate a few desperate adventurers, and to a more advantageous opportunity, when she seize upon it. might do it with more appearance of legality than in the last war: For she declared that she had the right, the will, and the ability to revenge, and accordingly she demanded of parliament the sup plies.

I confesss the subject very deeply affects me. 1 shall, therefore pursue it no farther. I do not, however, despair of the republic. There are honest and independent men among us, to retrieve The calamities of war thus proclaimed, have every thing, whatever may be opposed by the vicious and unprincipled, if they will but step forth, been restrained and retarded as much as was possi and act with union and vigor. If they will not, ble, by a monarch whose pacific and disinterested the miseries resulting to their country from the views now reclaim the marks of your former attachutter destruction of all public and private credit, ment, only for your own happiness. Constrained a bankrupt treasury, and the triumph of all man- to repel force by force, and multiplied hostilities ner of fraud, rapine, and licentiousness, together by reprisals which he has at last authorised, if with the scorn and derision of our enemies, if we should have any left, be on their heads!

BOSTON, December 3, 1778.
A declaration, addressed, in the name of the king of
France, to all the ancient French in North Ame
rica. (Translated from the French.)

necessity should carry his arms, or those of his allies, into a country always dear to him, you have not to fear either burnings or devastations: And if gratitude, if the view of a flag always revered by those who have followed it, should recall to the banners of France, or of the United States, the Indians who loved us, and have been loaded with

The undersigned, authorised by his majesty, and presents by him, whom they also call their Fathers

never, no never shall they employ against you, body would be more considered, or have more

their too cruel methods of war. These they must renounce, or they will cease to be our friends.

It is not by menaces that we shall endeavor to avoid combating with our countrymen; nor shall we weaken this declaration by invectives against a great and a brave nation, which we know how, to respect, and hope to vanquish.

power to do good than that of the priests, taking a part in the government; since their respectable conduct has merited the confidence of the people.

I shall not represent to that people, nor to all my countrymen in general, that a vast monarchy, baving the same religion, the same manners, the same language, where they find kinsmen, old friends and brethren, must be an inexhaustable source of commerce and wealth, more easily acquired, and better secured, by their union, with powerful neighbors, than with strangers of another hemisphere, among whom every thing is different, and who, jealous and despotic sovereigns, would sooner or later treat them as a conquered people, and doubtless much worse than their late country

As a French gentleman, I need not mention to those among you who were born such as well as myself, that there is but one august house in the universe, under which the French can be happy, and serve with pleasure; since its head, and those who are most nearly allied to him by blood, have been at all times, thro' a long line of monarchs, and are at this day more than ever delighted with bearing that very title which Henry IV. regarded men, the Americans, who made them victorious.

as the first of his own. I shall not excite your regrets for those qualifications, those marks of distinction, those decorations, which, in our manner of thinking, are precious treasures, but from which, by our common misfortunes, the American French, who have known so well how to deserve them, are now precluded. These, I am bold to hope, and to promise, their zeal will very soon procure to be diffused among them. They will merit them when they are to become the friends of our allies.

I shall not ask the military companions of the Marquis of Levi; those who shared his glory, who admired his talents and genius for war, who loved his cordiality and frankness, the principal characteristics of our nobility, whether there be other names in other nations among which they would be better pleased to place their own.

Can the Canadians, who saw the brave Montcalm fall in their defence, can they become the enemies of his nephews? Can they fight against their former leaders, and arm themselves against their kinsmen? At the bare mention of their names, the weapons would fall out of their hands.

I shall not urge to a whole people, that to JOIN with the United States, is to secure their own happiness; since a whole people, when they acquire the right of thinking and acting for themselves, must know their own interest: But I will declare, and I now formally declare in the name of his majesty, who has authorised and commanded me to do it, that all his former subjects in North America, who shall no more acknowledge the supremacy of Great Britain, may depend upon his protection and support.

Done on board his majesty's ship the Languedoc, in the harbor of Boston, the 28th day of October, in the year 1778.

ESTAING.

FIOREL DE GRANDCLOS, secretary, appointed by the
king to the squadron commanded by the COUNT
D'ESTAING.

Printed on board the Languedoc, by F. P. DEMAUGE,
Printer to the king and the Squadron.

TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AME-
RICA.

Friends and countrymen-The present situation of public affairs demands your most serious attention, and particularly the great and increasing depreciation of your currency requires the imme. diate, strenuous, and united efforts of all true friends to their country, for preventing an extension of the mischiefs that have already flowed from that source.

I shall not observe to the ministers of the altars, that their evangelic efforts will require the special protection of Providence, to prevent faith being diminished by example, by worldly interest, and by sovereigns whom force has imposed upon them, and whose political indulgence will be lessened America, without arms, ammunition, discipline, proportionably as those sovereigns shall have less revenue, government, or ally, almost totally stript to fear. I shall not observe, that it is necessary of commerce, and in the weakness of youth, as it for religion that those who preach it should form were, with a "stuff and a sling," only dared, "in the a body in the state; and that in Canada no other name of the Lord of Hosts," to engage a gigantic

adversary, prepared at all points, boasting of his strength, and of whom even mighty warriors "were greatly afraid."

For defraying the expenses of this uncommon war, your representatives in congress were obliged to emit paper money; an expedient that you knew to have been before generally and successfully practised on this continent.

As to inferior officers employed in the public service, we ANXIOUSLY desire to call your most vigilant attention to their conduct with respect to every species of misbehavior, whether proceeding from ignorance, negligence or fraud, and to the making of laws for inflicting exemplary punishments on all offenders of this kind.

We are sorry to hear that some persons are so slightly informed of their own interests, as to supThey were very sensible of the inconveniences pose that it is advantageous to them to sell the with which too frequent emissions would be attend-produce of their farms at enormous prices, when a ed, and endeavored to avoid them. For this pur-little reflection might convince them that it is pose they established loan-offices so early as in injurious to those interests and the general welOctober 1776, and have, from that time to this, fare. If they expect thereby to purchase imported repeatedly and earnestly solicited you to lend goods cheaper, they will be egregiously disappointthem money on the faith of United States. The ed; for the merchants, who know they cannot obtain sums received on loan have nevertheless proved returns in gold, silver, or bills of exchange, but inadequate to the public exigencies. Our enemies that their vessels, if loaded here at all, must be prosecuting the war by sea and land with implaca-loaded with produce, will raise the price of what ble fury and with some success, taxation at home they have to sell, in proportion to the price of and borrowing abroad, in the midst of difficulties what they have to buy, and consequently the landand dangers, were alike impracticable. Hence the holder can purchase no more foreign goods, for continued necessity of new emissions. the same quantity of his produce, than he could before.

But to this cause alone we do not impute the evil before mentioned. We have too much reason The evil, however, does not stop at this point. to believe it has been in part owing to the artifices The landholder, by acting on this mistaken calculaof men who have hastened to enrich themselves tion, is only laboring to accumulate an immense by monopolizing the necessaries of life, and to the debt, by increasing the public expenses, for the misconduct of inferior officers employed in the pub payment of which his estate is engaged, and to lic service. embarrass every measure adopted for vindicating his liberty, and securing his prosperity.

The variety and importance of the business entrusted to your delegates, and their constant attendance in congress, necessarily disables them from investigating disorders of this kind. Justly apprehensive of them, they, by their several resolu.

As the harvests of this year, which, by the Divine Goodness, promise to be plentiful, will soon be gathered, and some new measures relating to your foreign concerns, with some arrangements relating

to

your domestic, are now under consideration, from which beneficial effects are expected, we entertain hopes that your affairs will acquire a much greater degree of regularity and energy than they have

hitherto bad.

tions of the 22d of November, and 20th of December, 1777, and of the 3d and 9th of February, 1778, recommended to the legislative and executive powers of these states a due attention to these interesting affairs. How far those recommenda tions have been complied with we will not undertake to determine, but we hold ourselves bound in duty to you to declare, that we are not con- wholly upon our own proceedings. These must be vinced there has been as much diligence used in detecting and reforming abuses as there has been in committing or complaining of them.

With regard to monopolizers, it is our opinion, that taxes, judiciously laid on such articles as become the objects of engrossers, and those frequently collected, would operate against the pernicious tendency of such practices.

But we should be highly criminal if we did not plainly tell you, that those hopes are not founded

supported by your virtue, your wisdom, and your diligence. From the advantage of those seats in the national council with which you have honored us, we have a pleasing prospect of many blessings approaching this our native land. It is your patriotism must introduce and fix them here.

In vain will it be for your delegates to form plans of economy; to strive to stop a continuation

of emissions by taxation or loan, if you do not To our constituents we submit the propriety zealously co-operate with them in promoting their and purity of our intentions, well knowing they designs, and use your utmost industry to prevent will not forget, that we lay no burthens upon them, the waste of money in the expenditure, which your but those in which we participate with them-a respective situations, in the several places where happy sympathy, that pervades societies formed it is expended, may enable you to do. A discharge on the basis of equal liberty. Many cares, many of this duty, a compliance with recommendations labors, and may we not add, reproaches-are for supplying money, might enable congress to peculiar to us. These are the emoluments of our give speedy assurances to the public that no more unsolicited stations; and with these we are content, emissions shall take place, and thereby close that if you approve our conduct. If you do not, we source of depreciation. shail return to our private condition, with no other regret than that which will arise from our not having served you as acceptably and essentially as we wished and strove to do, though as, cheerfully and faithfully as we could.

Your governments being now established, and your ability to contend with your invaders ascertained, we have, on the most mature deliberation, judged it indispensably necessary to call upon you for forty-five millions of dollars, in addition Think not we despair of the commonwealth, or to the fifteen millions required by a resolution of endeavor to shrink from opposing difficulties. No. congress, of the 2d of January last, to be paid into your cause is too good, your objects too sacred, the continental treasury before the 1st day of Janu- to be relinquished. We tell you truths, because ary next, in the same proportion, as to the quotas you are freemen who can bear to hear them, and of the several states, with that for the said fifteen may profit by them; and when they reach your millions. enemies, we fear not the consequences, because It appeared proper to us to fix the first day of we are not ignorant of their resources or our own. next January for the payment of the whole; but, Let your good sense decide upon the comparison. as it is probable that some states, if not all, will Let even their prejudiced understandings decide raise part of the sums by instalments, or otherwise, apɔn it, and you need not be apprehensive of the before that time, we recommend in the strongest determination. manner the paying as much as can be collected as soon as possible into the continental treasury.

Whatever supposed advantages from plans of rapine, projects of blood, or dreams of domination, may heretofore have amused their inflamed fancies,

Though it is manifest that moderate taxation, in times of peace, will recover the credit of your the conduct of one monarch, the friend and procurrency, yet the encouragement which your ene-tector of the rights of mankind, has turned the mies derive from its depreciation, and the present exigencies, demand great and speedy exertions.

scale so much against them, that their visionary schemes vanish, as the unwholesome vapours of the night before the healthful influence of the sun.

An alliance has been formed between his most

We are persuaded you will use all possible care to make the promotion of the general welfare interfere as little as may be with the ease and Christian majesty and these states, on the basis of comfort of individuals; but though the raising the most perfect equality, for the direct end of these sums should press heavily on some of your maintaining effectually their liberty, sovereignty constituents, yet the obligations we feel to your and independence, absolute and unlimited, as well venerable clergy, the truly helpless widows and in matters of government as of commerce. orphans, your most gallant, generous, meritorious conduct of our good and great ally towards us, in officers and soldiers, the public faith and the com-this instance and others, has so fully inanifested mon weal, so irresistibly urge us to attempt the his sincerity and kindness, as to excite on our part appreciation of your currency, that we cannot with correspondent sentiments of confidence and affec hold obedience to those authoritative sensations. tion.

The

On this subject we will only add, that, as the Observing the interests of his kingdom, to which rules of justice are most pleasing to our infinitely duty and inclination prompted his attention, to be good and gracious Creator, and an adherence to them most likely to obtain his favor, so they will ever be found to be the best and safest maxims of human policy.

connected with those of America, and the combination of both clearly to coincide with the beneficent designs of the Author of Nature, who, unquestionably, intended men to partake of certain rights and

« 前へ次へ »