CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS,

685

the Legislative or Executive authority of the respective States or with their Resolution of the firstof June now transmitted to me “ that they will pay an equal Attention to the Rights of the State ofNew York with those of the other States in the Union” I shall for the present leave it for theirCandor to determine. I cannot however forbear observing, that the present Inattention of Congress on this point strikes me with additional surprise when I consider this is not the first Instance inwhich the Person I have mentioned and some others of their officers of high Rank have aimed abold stab at the Honor & authority of this State. So long ago as the month of August last Iremonstrated to Congress thro’ Gen 1 . Washington on the Conduct of Brig 1 . Gen 1 . Starke then com-manding at Albany for receiving from the revolted subjects of this State several of its citizens whohad been apprehended and destined to Banishment by Col 1 . Allen & his associates & for detainingthem under military confinement. To this atrocious insult on the civil authority of this StateCongress though made acquainted with it has not to this day thought proper to pay the least attention.

How r ever pure the Intention of Congress may have been in this Resolution for appointing aCommittee to confer with the Revolted Citizens of this State I am apprehensive it will by no meansproduce the salutary Effects for which I suppose it was calculated,—for notwithstanding the just& generous Terms offered by my different Proclamations founded on the Resolutions of the Legislature of this State, the refractory Disposition of the principal Actors in this Revolt has still Increased.By them it will be considered as an implied acknowledgement of their authority & thereby tend tostrengthen the usurpation ; and in the minds of the well affected Citizens who know the repeated anduncontradicted Declarations which the principal Revolters have made that they have receivedEncouragement from several Members of Congress some of whose names are mentioned and whohave observed that the most flagrant Insults against the civil authority of this State even by Officersof Congress have been totally disregarded It will I have too much cause to fear excite freshJealousies. For these Reasons and because the last clause of the Resolution seems to hold up aprinciple which may be considered by the Legislature as subversive of the internal Polity of theState. I submit it to the Consideration of Congress whether it would not be prudent to postpone theJourney of the Committee till such time as the Legislature have convened & taken the Resolutionsof Congress under consideration. For however prejudicial a Delay in this matter will certainly beto the Interests of the State, the evils resulting from it would not be so extensive as these whichmight ensue from a breach betwixt the Legislature and the Gen 1 Congress .

These Remarks it has become my Duty as the supreme Executive Magistrate of this State to makeon the Resolutions transmitted to me.

What the sense of the Legislature on them will be I cannot take upon me to determine ; but if Ican judge from the sentiments of several members of the Legislature & principal officers of Govern-ment now with me to whom I have communicated them I have reason to think they will beconsidered as by no means satisfactory.

The measure of the sufferings of this State is nearly full. Those which have been broughtupon them by their spirited exertions in the Common Cause & the operations of a powerful &enraged enemy, they have I trust submitted to with a becoming firmness. In what light they willconsider the attacks made upon them in the Hour of their Distress by those who ought to betheir friends and supporters will be best judged of by considering the unconquerable spirit theyhave shown in resisting the Incroachments and usurpation of the British Government.

As the critical situation in which the Resolutions of Congress have placed the executive authorityof this State will constrain me to quit the field in order to convene the Legislature you will be pleasedto direct your next letter for me at my house at Pokeepsie. I am &c. &c. &c.

His Excellency John Jay Esq. President of Congress . Geo. Ceinton.

Vol. iv. 74