Semiquincentennial of the American Revolution

Tidewater

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I love this thread, thank you.
What strikes me is how beautifully these men wrote.
The last appeal to the people of Britain was drafted by Robert Livingston and edited by Richard Henry Lee.
The Declaration on taking up arms by Jefferson and revised by John Dickinson. So it was not just one writer.
The way they crafted the English language is amazing.
 

TIDE-HSV

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What strikes me is how beautifully these men wrote.
The last appeal to the people of Britain was drafted by Robert Livingston and edited by Richard Henry Lee.
The Declaration on taking up arms by Jefferson and revised by John Dickinson. So it was not just one writer.
The way they crafted the English language is amazing.
I'm sure they'd find our writing crude and blunt...
 
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Tidewater

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250 years ago today, Congress hears from a man acquainted with public sentiment in Quebec,
Then Congress decided to commission three to five agents per Department to ensure the friendliness of the Indians: a Northern Department to treat with the Six Nations, a Southern Department to treat with the Cherokees and Indians to the south of them, and a Middle Department for all the Indians in between. They are to look out for agents from the Crown trying to stir up the Indians and arrest any such agent. They also establish a school for Indian youth on the Connecticut River under Rev. Wheelock.

As of 1775, the colonies intend to not offend the Indians to the west, but this truce will not last.
 

81usaf92

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What strikes me is how beautifully these men wrote.
The last appeal to the people of Britain was drafted by Robert Livingston and edited by Richard Henry Lee.
The Declaration on taking up arms by Jefferson and revised by John Dickinson. So it was not just one writer.
The way they crafted the English language is amazing.
Dickinson is probably my favorite fore father that is almost lost in the story of the American Revolution. Granted the American mythology only works with larger than life heroes and doesn’t work with probably more measured people who truly wanted to exhaust every opportunity to prevent bloodshed.

Ironically he is one of only two members of the continental Congress to fight in the American Revolution. Truly a complex and interesting figure of the American Revolution.
 

Tidewater

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250 years ago todaya, Congress adopts a speech to the Six Nations:

BROTHERS, SACHEMS, AND WARRIORS,

We, the Delegates from the Twelve United Provinces, viz. New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, now sitting in general Congress at Philadelphia, send this talk to you our brothers. We are sixty-five in number, chosen and appointed by the people throughout all these provinces and colonies, to meet and sit together in one great council, to consult together for the common good of the land, and speak and act for them.

Brothers, in our consultation we have judged it proper and necessary to send. you this talk, as we are upon the same island, that you may be informed of the reasons of this great council, the situation of our civil constitution, and our disposition towards you our Indian brothers of the Six Nations and their allies.

(Three Strings, or a small Belt.)


Paternalistic, perhaps, but not hostile.

Also, note how they described the colony of Delaware: "the three lower counties."
 
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Tidewater

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250 years ago today, Congress adopts the following reslution:

"Whereas, the government of Great Britain hath prohibited the exportation of arms and ammunition to any of the plantations, and endeavoured to prevent other nations from supplying us:

Resolved, That for the better furnishing these colonies with the necessary means of defending their rights, every vessel importing Gun powder, Salt petre, Sulphur, provided they bring with the sulphur four times as much salt petre, brass field-pieces, or good muskets fitted with Bayonets, within nine Months from the date of this resolution, shall be permitted to load and export the produce of these colonies, to the value of such powder and stores aforesaid, the non-exportation agreement notwithstanding; and it is recommended to the committees of the several provinces to inspect the military stores so imported, and to estimate a generous price for the same, according to their goodness, and permit the importer of such powder and other military stores aforesaid, to export the value thereof and no more, in produce of any kind."


Remember that there was a non-exportation resolution in effect. Bringing in guns, muskets, or powder would grant the importer a limited exception to it.
Note that, for the colonists, "arms and ammunition" are "the necessary means of defending their rights" threatened by their government.
 
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Tidewater

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On this day the Continental Congress adopted the following recommendations to the colonies in regards to the militia of the colonies:

Resolved, That it be recommended to the inhabitants of all the united English Colonies in North America, that all able-bodied effective men (note that is does not differentiate by race), between sixteen (!) and fifty years of age in each colony, immediately form themselves into regular companies of Militia, to consist of one Captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, four serjeants (sic), four corporals, one clerk, one drummer, one fifer, and about 68 privates.

That the officers of each company be chosen by the respective companies.

That each soldier be furnished with a good musket, that will carry an ounce ball, with a bayonet, steel ramrod, worm, priming wire and brush fitted thereto, a cutting sword or tomahawk (I wish the army had issued me a tomahawk), a cartridge-box, that will contain 23 rounds of cartridges, twelve flints and a knapsack.

That the Companies be formed into Regiments or Battalions, officered with a Colonel, lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, an Adjutant, and Quarter Master.

That all officers above the Rank of a captain, be appointed by their respective provincial assemblies or conventions, or in their recess, by the committees of safety appointed by said assemblies or conventions.

That all officers be commissioned by the provincial Assemblies or conventions, or in their recess by the committees of safety appointed by said Assemblies or conventions. That all the Militia take proper care to acquire military skill, and be well prepared for defence by being each man provided with one pound of good gun powder, and four pounds of ball, fitted to his gun.

That one fourth part of the Militia in every Colony, be selected for minute men, of such persons as are willing to enter into this necessary service, formed into companies and Battalions, and their officers chosen and commissioned as aforesaid, to be ready on the shortest notice, to march to any place where their assistance may be required, for the defence of their own or a neighbouring colony; And as these minute men may eventually be called to action before the whole body of the militia are sufficiently trained, it is recommended that a more particular and diligent attention be paid to their instruction in military discipline.

That such of the minute men, as desire it, be relieved by new draughts as aforesaid, from the whole body of the Militia, once in four months.

As there are some people, who, from religious principles, cannot bear arms in any case, this Congress intend no violence to their consciences, but earnestly recommend it to them, to contribute liberally in this time of universal calamity, to the relief of their distressed breth ren in the several colonies, and to do all other services to their oppressed Country, which they can consistently with their religious principles.

That it be recommended to the assemblies or Conven tions in the respective colonies to provide, as soon as possible, sufficient stores of ammunition for their colonies; Also that they devise proper means for furnishing with Arms, such effective men as are poor and unable to furnish themselves.

That it be recommended to each Colony to appoint a committee of safety, to superintend and direct all matters necessary for the security and defence of their respective colonies, in the recess of their assemblies and conventions.

That each colony, at their own expence, make such provision by armed vessels or otherwise, as their respective assemblies, conventions, or committees of safety shall judge expedient and suitable to their circumstances and situations, for the protection of their harbours and navigation on their sea coasts, against all unlawful invasions, attacks, and depredations, from cutters and ships of war.

That it be recommended to the makers of arms for the use of the Militia, that they make good substantial muskets, with barrels three feet and half in length, that will carry an ounce ball, and fitted with a good bayonet and steel ram-rod, and that the making such arms be encouraged in these United Colonies.

Where in any colony a militia is already formed under regulations approved of by the convention of such colony, or by such assemblies as are annually elective, we refer to the discretion of such convention or assembly, either to adopt the foregoing regulations in the whole or in part, or to continue their former, as they, on consideration of all circumstances, shall think best.



I am not sure whether the failure to mention race was an intentional inclusion of black men or the members simply sidestepped the race issue. I do know that black men did serve in some units in the army, mostly from New England. I also know that, in the midst of the Stono Rebellion (a slave uprising in coastal South Carolina in 1739), Low Country gentry went to the Church of England on Sunday morning armed, then, before going inside, handed their guns to their slaves so they weren't packing inside church. One outside observers noted the irony of a church full of unarmed slave owners guarded outside by armed black men in the middle of a slave uprising.
 
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