Volume 18 , Issue 28

In Congress, 5 September 1776

The Maryland Gazette, out of Annapolis, Maryland, dated 26 September 1776, Thursday, page 3, had the following extract from the minutes of Charles Thomson, Secretary, with lordship Howe concerning America's independence from Great Britain.

Found on Newspapers.com

Eagle off Staten Island, August 15, 1776
"Mr. Lord, I have received the honor of our lordship's letter of the 12th, inclosing a sketch the propositions mentioned i your late conversation, which I return herewith.

"As I think they contain matter that, upon a conference and cool discussion, might be wrought into a plan of permanent union, I shall, with great satisfaction, embrace the first opportunity that may be offered upon those grounds to promote so desirable an event. I have the honor to be, my lord, you lordship's most obedient servant. ~ Howe." The following is the purport of the message sent from lord Howe to congress, by general Sullivan.

In Congress, September 5, 1776
Resolved, That general Sullivan be requested to inform Lord Howe, that this congress, being the representatives of the free and independent states of America, cannot with propriety send any of its members to confer with his lordship in their private characters, but that, ever desirous of establishing peace on reasonable terms, they will send a committee of their body, to know whether he has any authority to treat with persons authorized by congress for that purpose, in behalf of America, and what that authority is, and to hear such propositions as he shall think fit to make respecting the same.

Resolved, That t0morrow be assigned for electing the committee.

September 6, 1776.
Resolved, That the committee to be sent "to know whether Lord Howe has any authority to treat with persons authorized by congress for that purpose, in behalf of America, and what that authority is, and to hear such propositions as he shall think fit to make respecting the same" consist of three.

The members chosen, Mr. Franklin, Mr. John Adams, and Mr. E. Rutledge. The committee, who were appointed to wait on lord Howe having returned to congress, made their report in the following words:

"In obedience to the order of congress, we have had a meeting with lord Howe. It was on Wednesday last, upon staten-island, opposite to Amboy, where his lordship received and entertained us with the utmost politeness.

His lordship opened the conversation by acquainting us, that though he could not treat with us as a committee of congress, yet as his powers enabled him to confer or consult with any private gentlemen of influence in the colonies, on the means of restoring peace between the two countries, he was glad of this opportunity of conferring with on that subject, if we thought ourselves at liberty to enter into a conference with him in that character. We observed to his lordship, that as our business was to hear, he might consider us in what light he pleased, and communicate to us any propositions he might be authorized to make for the purpose mentioned: but that se cold consider ourselves in no other character than that in which we were placed by the order of congress. his lordship then entered into a discourse of considerable length, which contained no explicit proposition of peace, except one, viz. that the colonies should return to their allegiance and obedience to the government of Great Britain. The rest consisted principally of assurances that there was an exceeding good disposition in the king and his minsters to make that government easy to us; with intimations that, in case of our submission, they would cause the offensive acts of parliament to be revised, and the instructions to governors to be reconsidered, that so if any just causes of complaint were found in the acts, or any errors, in government were perceived to have crept into the instructions, they might be amended or withdrawn.

WE gave it as our opinion to his lordship, that a return to the domination of Great bruiting was not now to be expected. We mentioned the repeated humble petitions of the colonies to the king and parliament, which had been treated with contempt, and answered only by additional injuries; the unexampled patience we had shown under their tyrannical government, and that it was not till the last act of parliament, which denounced war against us, and put us out of the king's protection, that we declared our independence. That this declaration had been called for by the people of the colonies in general, that every colony had approved of it when made, and all now considered themselves as independent states, and were settling or had settled their governments accordingly; so that it was not in the power of the congress to agree for them that they should return to their former dependent state. That there was no doubt of their inclination to peace, and their willingness to enter into a treaty with Britain, that might be advantageous to both countries. That tho' his lordship had at present no power to treat with them as independent states, height, if there was the same good disposition in Britain, much sooner obtain fresh powers from thence for that purpose, than powers could be obtained by congress from the several colonies, to consent to a submission. His lordship then, saying that he was sorry to find that no accommodation was like to take place, put and end to the conference.
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