Papers of John Adams, volume 5

To James Warren, 17 February 1777 JA Warren, James To James Warren, 17 February 1777 Adams, John Warren, James
To James Warren
My dear Sir Baltimore Feb. 17. 1777

I have the melancholly Prospect before me, of a Congress continually changing, untill very few Faces remain, that I saw in the first Congress. Not one from South Carolina—not one from North Carolina only one from Virginia. Only two from Maryland, not one from Pensylvania. Not one from New Jersey. Not one from New York—only one from Connecticutt not one from Rhode Island—not one from New Hampshire. Only one, at present from the Massachusetts. Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Sherman, and Coll Richard Henry Lee Mr. Chase and Mr. Paca are all that remain. The rest are dead, resigned, deserted, or cutt up into Governors &c. at home.

I have the Pleasure however to See every day, that the Governments of the States are acquiring fresh Vigour, and that every Department is working itself clear of Toryism, Timidity, Duplicity and Moderation. New Jersey was never so well represented as it is now.1 Pensilvania, whose Assembly, will maintain its Ground have the last Week appointed a New Delegation, every Man of whom is as firm as a Rock.2 Maryland, also, the last Week, compleated their new Government chose Mr. Johnson Governor, chose a new privy Council to the Governor, every Man of whom is an honest Whigg and also chose a new Delegation in Congress, every Man of whom is equally Stanch,3 leaving out all who have been Suspected of Trimming, or of hankering after the Leeks of Egypt.4

This Evening too, We have an express with an Account of the new Delegation who are Said to be Sound.

Thus We see that our new Government root, and Spreading their Branches ing Changes have We Seen? dare?

I write you no News from the Army as to hear from it, oftener than however that gains Credit of Sennight, the Enemy leaving 327 dead on the Field.

Congress, have this day voted to return to Philadelphia, to-88morrow Week. The new Army, my dear sir, the new Army. I feel as much Pain at loosing the fine Opportunity We now have of destroying the Brunswickers, as I should if a surgeon was Sawing off my Limbs.

RC (MHi:Warren-Adams Coll.); addressed: “To The Hon. James Warren Esqr Speaker of the House Boston”; docketed: “Mr J. A Lettr Feby. 1777” (twice). MS mutilated.

1.

Four New Jersey members recently elected and in attendance in early 1777 were Abraham Clark, Jonathan Elmer, Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, and John Witherspoon (Burnett, ed., Letters of Members , 2:liv–lvii).

2.

These members from Pennsylvania were Robert Morris, Benjamin Franklin, William Moore, Daniel Roberdeau, and Jonathan Bayard Smith. When Moore declined, the Assembly voted on 22 Feb. to add two more—James Wilson and George Clymer (same, 2:lxiii).

3.

Charles Carroll (barrister), Samuel Chase, William Paca, and Benjamin Rumsey, who all attended in early 1777, were elected on 10 Nov. 1776 and the last three re-elected on 15 Feb. 1777. Additional delegates, Charles Carroll of Carrollton and William Smith, were elected on 15 Feb. but perhaps not soon enough to figure in JA's estimate (same, 2:xlv–li).

4.

Numbers, 11:5.

To Joseph Palmer, 20 February 1777 JA Palmer, Joseph To Joseph Palmer, 20 February 1777 Adams, John Palmer, Joseph
To Joseph Palmer
Dr sir Baltimore Feb. 20. 1777

Yesterday, I had the Pleasure of yours of Jany. 28.1 I am rejoiced to hear of the Measures taken by our state to raise their Battalions and to tax an hundred Thousand Pounds. Congress have been upon the subject of regulating the Prices of Labour and Provisions. I shall inclose you, what they have done.2

Are not these mere temporary Expedients and palliative Remedies. We must aim at a radical Cure.

The success of our Cause appears to me to depend entirely, (under God,) on our Supporting the Credit of our Currency. This must be done at all Events but cannot be done long by regulating Prices. We must cease emitting. We must borrow. And We must import if possible a Fund of Gold and Silver to redeem the Bills as they become payable. Pray write me your Thoughts upon this subject. I wish I had Time to enlarge.

RC (NN:Myers Coll.); addressed: “The Hon. Joseph Palmer Esqr Braintree, Massa. Bay.”

1.

Adams Papers; not printed above.

2.

Enclosure not found. On 15 Feb., in response to a report from the committee appointed to consider the action of the four New England states on regulation of prices and wages, the congress urged similar conventions for the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, 89Maryland, and Virginia and for the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. It proposed that the first group meet on 17 March at York, Penna., the second at Charleston on 5 May ( JCC , 7:124–125).