1Plain Truth, 17 November 1747 (Franklin Papers)
...the Success which attends our Enemies by Cruizing in our Bay without risque or opposition,” Palmer told the Assembly on October 16, “it may reasonably be expected that they will continue their Depredations in the Spring, and in all likelyhood block up the Trade of this flourishing Colony—a Loss which we apprehend will be sensibly felt by all sorts of People.” But the Assembly remained...
2From George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 18 July 1755 (Washington Papers)
I have not, as yet, composed the latter. But by the all powerful dispensatns of protected beyond all human
3Adams’ Argument for the Defense: 3–4 December 1770 (Adams Papers)
“If I can but be the instrument of preserving one life, his blessing and tears of transport, shall be a sufficient consolation to me, for the contempt of all mankind.” ...that the spirit of the law upon such occasions, is conformable to humanity, to commonsense and feeling; that it is all benignity and candor. And the trial commences with the prayer of the Court, expressed by the Clerk,...
4A Full Vindication of the Measures of the Congress, &c., [15 December] 1774 (Hamilton Papers)
...common sense is apparent in many respects: They endeavour to persuade us, that the absolute sovereignty of parliament does not imply our absolute slavery; that it is a Christian duty to submit to be plundered of all we have, merely because some of our fellow-subjects are wicked enough to require it of us, that slavery, so far from being a great evil, is a great blessing; and even, that our...
5The Farmer Refuted, &c., [23 February] 1775 (Hamilton Papers)
and splenetic, that I will venture to pronounce it one of the most ludicrous performances, which has been exhibited to public view, during all the present controversy....passion for conceit, and a noble disdain of being fettered by the laws of truth. These, Sir, are important qualifications, and these all unite in you, in a very eminent degree. So that, though you may never expect the...
6Notes of Proceedings in the Continental Congress, 7 June–1 August 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
The text of the Notes of Proceedings (hereafter referred to as Notes) as here presented was inserted by Jefferson in the manuscript of his Autobiography; all previous editors of Jefferson’s papers have printed it with the Autobiography at the place where Jefferson inserted it (..., or rather suspended, 29 July 1821, is a MS of 90 leaves, all versos being blank save three; however, Jefferson...
7To George Washington from Landon Carter, 31 October–2 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
...the Manœuvres of my dear Washington, whose happy success must treasure up the blessings, possibly of Millions yet Unborn; for without affecting to be enthusiastically religious I never read of a divine instrument of human happiness, but I carry the gratitude of ages, back to record the rembrance of such a friend to mankind. But let me not tire you with my own heartfelt expectations. Can you...
8From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
for from all the accounts we receive from thence the affairs of the Southern States seem to be so exceedingly disordered, and their resources so much exhausted, that whatever should be undertaken there, must chiefly depend on the means carried from......either not be undertaken at all, or being undertaken, may fail—I am perswaded Congress are not inattentive to the present State of the Army,...
9Memorial to the States General, 19 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
...Crown of Great Britain, were made, the People, who now compose the United States of America, were a Part of the English Nation; as such, Allies of the Republick, and Parties to those Treaties; entitled to all their Benefits, and chearfully submitting to all their Obligations....Englishmen, and reducing them to the worst of all Forms of Government; starving the People, by blockading the...
10To George Washington from Unknown Author, 15 July 1784 (Washington Papers)
[The author, who was a planter, probably in Virginia but possibly in Maryland, and a man with some knowledge of the classics, rings all the changes on the declension of the American Revolution from its early days of glory to its present sorry state in 1784. His jeremiad on the corruption of American society and its institutions repeats things often said before and......People of all Ranks...