American Aurora
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Ben Franklin supports Tom Paine’s vision of democratic government, that is, government by a single-chamber legislature, elected annually by the widest possible suffrage.812
Tuesday, July 30, 1776. Today, in the Continental Congress, Ben Franklin speaks on proposals to create a confederation of America’s new nation-states. The issue is whether a confederated congress should distribute voting power to each state equally, to each state according to wealth, or to each state according to population. John Adams took notes:
Article 17. “In determining questions, each Colony shall have one vote.” …
Dr. Franklin moves that votes should be in proportion to [population] numbers. Mr. Middleton moves that the vote should be according to what they pay.813
As president of the convention that is currently designing a very democratic constitution for the state of Pennsylvania, Ben Franklin asks the American Continental Congress that its proposed Articles of Confederation reflect the sovereignty and equality of the people:
[T]he XVIIth Article, which gives one Vote to the smallest State and no more to the largest when the Difference between them may be as 10 to 1 or greater is unjust and injurious to the larger States …
[T]he Practice hitherto in Congress of allowing only one Vote to each Colony was originally taken up under a Conviction of its Impropriety and Injustice, was intended to be in some future time corrected, and was then and since submitted to only as a temporary expedient … This clearly appears by the Resolve of Congress dated Sept. 6, 1774, … “That in determining Questions in this Congress, each colony or Province shall have one vote: the Congress not being possessed of or at present able to procure proper Materials for ascertaining the importance of each Colony.”
That importance has since been suppos’d to be best found in the Numbers of People …814
Franklin believes that each American, not each state, should have equal representation in a national congress. Allowing one vote for each state (without adjusting for differences in population) gives the citizen of a less populous state greater representation (and political power!) than the citizen of a more populous state. That’s not “equality,” at least not as Tom Paine and Ben Franklin use the term.
Wednesday, July 31, 1776. Today, the British Minister to France David Murray (Lord Stormont) reports to British Secretary of State Lord Weymouth that France won’t be sending arms to America:
Besides the desire that this Court [of France] naturally have to protract the American War till it waste our Strength and Treasure, which desire must make them averse to anything that tends to damp the Hopes of the Rebels, they think My Lord that France is a Gainer by the Trade she is beginning to carry on with America … Opinion in the French Cabinet is that they should give us friendly Professions, but should avoid any step that can tend to discourage the Rebels … I have been informed too … that they would not suffer the Rebels to be supplied with Ammunition …815
Friday, August 2, 1776. Today, under the presidency of Benjamin Franklin, the Pennsylvania constitutional convention decides that “the future legislature of the state shall consist of one branch only …,” meaning a state assembly but no state senate.816
Saturday, August 3, 1776. Today, in France, private French arms supplier Pierre Penet writes Benjamin Franklin of his difficulties in shipping arms to the colonies:
We are forced Sir to acquaint you that all the Houses you have in Spain and Portugal … make no remittances to [our company in] Nantes, we have now in our stores Goods ready to send you to the amount of Forty thousand Guineas, but two of your Ships have arrived here from Cadiz in Ballast [with nothing on board to trade] one is Hancock and the other the Adams … [W]e shall immediately dispatch this Vessell with a Cargo of Ammunition provided however we can obtain from Manufacturers the credit we require, and we beg you will send us remittances by the first opportunity …817
Monday, August 12, 1776. Today, at his home in Franklin Court, where America’s war leaders continue to visit with his grandfather, Benny Bache turns seven years old.
Wednesday, August 14, 1776. Today, Abigail Adams warns her husband that Massachusetts has delayed the creation of a new state government and that some prefer government by a one-chamber legislature:
Mr. Smith [from South Carolina] call’d upon me today and … gave us [an account] of the universal joy of his province upon the Establishment of their New Government … This State [Massachusetts] seems to be behind hand of their Neighbors. We want some Master workmen here. Those who are capable seem backward in this work and some who are so tenacious of their perticuliar plan as to be loathe to give it up. Some who are for abolishing both House and Counsel, affirming Business was never so well done as in provincial Congress …818
Thursday, August 15, 1776. Tom Paine’s vision of democratic government is enjoying great readership in France. Today, in Paris, congressional emissary Silas Deane writes:
The pamphlet called Common Sense has been translated, and has a greater run, if possible, here than in America. A person of distinction writing to a noble friend in office has these words; [transl.] “I think as you, my dear Count, that Common Sense is an excellent work, and that its author is, of the millions of writers that we know, one of the greatest legislators; isn’t it marvellous that, if the Americans follow the beautiful plan their compatriot has laid out for them, they will become the most flourishing and happiest people who ever existed.”
Thus freely do men think and write in a country long deprived of the essentials of liberty; as I was favored with a sight of the letter and permitted to take this extract, I thought it worth sending you as a key to the sentiments of some of the leading men.819
Friday, August 16, 1776. Today, John Adams laments:
The Convention of Pennsilvania has voted for a single Assembly … [W]hat surprizes me not a little is that the American Philosopher [Benjamin Franklin] should … be a zealous Advocate for it.820
Sunday, August 18, 1776. Today, congressional emissary Silas Deane writes from Paris:
I went to Versailles, and [French Foreign Minister Count de Vergennes] … gave us immediate admission … I pursued nearly the line marked out by my instructions …
To which he replied … That … the court had ordered their ports to be kept open and equally free to America as to Britain. That, considering the good understanding between the two courts of Versailles and London, they could not openly encourage the shipping of warlike supplies …
I went to Versailles [again yesterday] … and waited on M. Gerard, first secretary of foreign affairs … from whom I had … assurances … that, in one word, I might rely on whatever Mons. Beaumarchais should engage in the commercial way of supplies …821
Today, in the name of the company he has formed to conceal the French government’s arms shipments to America, French secret agent Caron de Beaumarchais writes the Continental Congress:
The respectful esteem I bear … has induced me to form … an extensive commercial house solely for the purpose of serving you in Europe, there to supply you with the necessaries of every sort, to furnish you expeditiously and certainly with … powder, ammunition, muskets, cannon, or even gold for the payment of your troops …
RODERIQUE HORTALEZ & CO.822
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1776
The Pennsylvania Gazette
We hear that the following is a Copy of the Declaration of Rights passed by the Convention of this State.
A DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
1. THAT all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural inherent and unalienable rights, amongst which are the enjoying and defending life and property …
2. That all men have a natural and unalienable right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences …
7. That all elections ought to be free, and all freemen having a sufficient evident common interest with, and attachment to the community, have a right to elect officers or be ele
cted into office …
12. That the people have a right to freedom of speech and of writing and publishing their sentiments …
16. That the people have a right to assemble together …
With Ben Franklin as its president, the constitutional convention of Pennsylvania is writing America’s most democratic state constitution.
Tuesday, August 27, 1776. At eight o’clock tonight, under instructions from George Washington, his secretary, Robert Harrison, makes a report to the Continental Congress on the battle for Long Island:
I this minute returned from our Lines on Long Island where … from the Enemy’s having landed a considerable part of their Forces and many of their Movements, there was reason to apprehend they would make in a little time a Genl Attack. As they would have a Wood to pass through before they could approach the Lines, It was thought expedient to place a number of Men there on the different Roads leading from whence they were stationed … This being done, early this Morning a Smart engagement ensued between the Enemy and our Detachments, which being unequal to the force they had to contend with, have sustained a pretty considerable loss. At least many of our Men are missing, among those who have not returned, are Genls Sullivan and Lord Stirling …
While These Detachments were engaged, a Column of the Enemy descended from the Woods and marched towards the Center of our Lines … Today Five Ships of the Line came up towards the Town …823
Thursday, August 29, 1776. This afternoon, at half past four, George Washington writes the Continental Congress of his disastrous defeat on Long Island:
I am sorry to inform Congress that … I [cannot] ascertain our Loss, I am hopefull part of our Men will yet get in …
The Weather of late has been extremely wet … which has occasioned much sickness and the Men to be almost broke down …824
Today, John Adams writes his former law clerk William Tudor:
[C]oncerning the late Skirmishes, upon Long Island … I think We have Suffered in our Reputation for Generalship, in permitting the Enemy to Steal a March upon Us … Our Officers don’t seem Sufficiently Sensible … that Stratagem, Ambuscade, and Ambush are the Sublimest Chapter in the Art of War …
Have We not put too much to the Hazard in sending the greatest Part of the Army over to Long island from whence there is no Retreat?825
Saturday, August 31, 1776. Today, George Washington issues General Orders for a retreat from Long Island to New York City:
Both officers and soldiers are informed that the Retreat from Long Island was made by the unanimous advice of all the General Officers … [I]t was thought unsafe to transport the whole of [the] Army on[to] an Island, or to engage [the enemy] with a part and therefore unequal numbers; whereas now [our] whole Army is collected together without Water intervening, while the enemy can receive little assistance from their ships; their Army is and must be divided into many bodies … whereas ours is connected and can act together. They must affect a landing under so many disadvantages that, if officers and soldiers are vigilant and alert to prevent surprise and add spirit when they approach, there is no doubt of our success.826
George Washington also writes the Continental Congress:
Inclination as well as duty would have induced me to give Congress the earliest Information of my removal [retreat] and that of the Troops from Long Island and Its dependencies to this [New York] City the night before last; but the extreme fatigue … rendered me … entirely unfit to take pen in hand …
In the Engagement on the 27th Generals Sullivan and Stirling were made prisoners … I [have not] been yet able to obtain an exact account of our Loss; we suppose it from 700 to a Thousand killed and taken. Genl Sullivan says [British Admiral] Lord Howe is extremely desirous of seeing some of the Members of Congress …827
Monday, September 2, 1776. It is not going well. Today, George Washington writes the Continental Congress:
Our situation is truly distressing … The Militia … are dismayed, Intractable, and Impatient to return. Great numbers of them have gone off; in some Instances, almost by whole Regiments, by half Ones & by Companies at a time … [W]hen their example has Infected another part of the Army, When their want of discipline & refusal of almost every kind of restraint & Government, have produced a like conduct, but too common to the whole, and an entire disregard of that order and subordination necessary to the well doing of an Army … our condition is more alarming and, with the deepest concern I am obliged to confess my want of confidence in the Generality of the Troops …
All these circumstances fully confirm the opinion I ever entertained, and which I more than once in my Letters took the liberty of mentioning to Congress, that no dependence could be put in a Militia …828
Wednesday, September 4, 1776. Today, John Adams writes:
Our Generals, I fear have made a Mistake in Retreating from Long Island. I fear they will retreat from the City of New York next … I don’t like these Measures. I wish there was more firmness … The Panick, which is Spread upon this occasion is weak and unmanly. It excites my shame, and Indignation …829
Sunday, September 8, 1776. Before attacking New York City, British Admiral Richard Howe has suggested a meeting with delegates of the Continental Congress on New York Harbor’s Staten Island. Today, Ben Franklin writes George Washington:
The Congress having appointed Mr. Adams, Mr. Rutledge, and my self to meet [British Admiral] Lord Howe and hear what Propositions he may have to make, we purpose setting out to-morrow and to be at Perth Amboy on Wednesday morning … What we have heard of the Badness of the Roads between that Place and New York makes us wish to be spar’d that part of the Journey.830
Monday, September 9, 1776. Today, Ben Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge (a South Carolina congressional delegate) set out from Philadelphia by carriage and on horseback for their meeting with British Admiral Richard Howe on Staten Island. John Adams describes the journey:
[T]he first night we lodged at an Inn in New Brunswick [New Jersey]. On the Road, and at all the public Houses, We saw such Numbers of Officers and Soldiers, straggling and loytering, as gave me, at least, but a poor Opinion of the Discipline of our forces, and excited as much indignation as anxiety …
The Taverns were so full we could with difficulty obtain Entertainment. At Brunswick, but one bed could be procured for Dr. Franklin and me in a chamber little larger than the bed, without a Chimney, and with only one small Window. The Window was open, and I, who was an invalid and afraid of the Air in the night, shut it close. “Oh!” says Franklin, “don’t shut the window. We shall be suffocated.” I answered I was afraid of the Evening Air. Dr. Franklin replied, “the Air within this Chamber will soon be, and indeed is now, worse than that without Doors. Come, open the Window and come to bed, and I will convince you. I believe you are not acquainted with my Theory of Colds.” Opening the Window, and leaping into Bed, I said I had read his Letters to Dr. Cooper, in which he had advanced that Nobody ever got cold by going into a cold Church or any other cold air; but the Theory was so little consistent with my experience that I thought it a Paradox … The Doctor then began an harrangue upon Air and Cold and Respiration and Perspiration, with which I was so much amused that I soon fell asleep and left him and his philosophy together…831
Wednesday, September 11, 1776. Today, British Admiral Richard Howe meets with Ben Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge. The issue of American independence isn’t negotiable for either side, so the meeting goes nowhere. The battle for New York City will begin.832
Monday, September 16, 1776. Today, George Washington reports his loss of New York City:
On Saturday about Sunset, Six more of the Enemy’s Ships … went up the East River … In half an Hour, I received Two Expresses … that the Enemy, to the amount of Three or Four thousand, had marched to the River & were embarked … However, Nothing remarkable happened that night; but in the morning they began their Operations. Three Ships of War came up the North [Hudson] River … and about Eleven O’Clock those i
n the East River began a most severe and Heavy Cannonade …
As soon as I heard the Firing, I rode with all possible dispatch towards the place of landing, when to my great surprize and Mortification, I found the Troops that had been posted in the Lines retreating with the utmost precipitation and those ordered to support them … flying in every direction and in the greatest confusion, notwithstanding the exertions of their Generals to form them. I used every means in my power to rally and get them into some order but my attempts were fruitless and ineffectual and on an appearance of a small party of the Enemy, not more than sixty or seventy, their disorder increased and they ran away in the greatest confusion without firing a Single Shot …
Finding that no confidence was to be placed in these Brigades, and apprehending that another part of the Enemy might pass over to Harlem plains and cut off the retreat to this place, I sent orders to secure the Heights … which being done, the retreat was effected with but little or no loss of Men, tho of a considerable part of our Baggage … Most of our Heavy Cannon, and a part of our Stores and provisions, which we were about removing, was unavoidably left in the City … We are now encamped with the main body of the army on the Heights of Harlem …833
Benny Bache will (as an adult) observe:
[Washington] attempted against a naval enemy, possessed of a superior land-force, to defend Long Island and other situations capable of being taken in the rear by water. He consented to have depots of the most important stores left in New-York or its vicinity; a place exposed to attack by water; instead of having them placed in strong positions in the country behind him; so when deprived of many of these by the enemy, he could no longer keep together his troops, or prevent great sickness, or execute various military projects.834