President John Hanson
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Third President of the United States
in Congress Assembled
November 5, 1781 to November 4, 1782
www.johnhanson.net
Copyright © Stan Klos, President Who? Forgotten Founders 2004 & 2008
The Third United American Republic
Presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789
March 1, 1781
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July 6, 1781
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July 9, 1781
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Declined Office
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July 10, 1781
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November 4, 1781
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November 5, 1781
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November 3, 1782
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November 4, 1782
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November 2, 1783
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November 3, 1783
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June 3, 1784
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November 30, 1784
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November 22, 1785
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November 23, 1785
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June 5, 1786
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June 6, 1786
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February 1, 1787
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February 2, 1787
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January 21, 1788
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January 22, 1788
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January 21, 1789
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CONTINUED
Two days later, on November 5th, at the convening of the second USCA under the Articles of Confederation the credentials of the Delegates were entered into the record and a President was elected. The Journals report:
The following members attended: New Hampshire: Mr. [Samuel] Livermore; Massachusetts: Mr. [James] Lovell, [George] Partridge, and [Samuel] Osgood; Rhode Island: Mr. [Daniel] Mowry and [James Mitchell] Varnum; Connecticut: Mr. [Richard] Law; New Jersey: Mr. [Abraham] Clark and [Elias] Boudinot; Pennsylvania: Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, [Samuel John] Atlee and T[homas] Smith; Maryland: Mr. [John] Hanson, Mr. [Daniel of St. Thomas] Jenifer, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll; Virginia: Mr. [James] Madison, [Edmund] Randolph, and Jo[seph] Jones; North Carolina: Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins; South Carolina: Mr. [Arthur] Middletown, [John] Mathews, [Thomas] Bee, [Nicholas] Eveleigh, and [Isaac] Motte; and Georgia: Mr. [Edward] Telfair and N[oble] W[imberly] Jones. Their credentials being read, Congress proceeded to the election of a President; and the ballots being taken, the honorable John Hanson was elected.[27]
On President Hanson’s election, the letters of the delegates in attendance are silent. It is noted that the USCA almost failed to achieve the minimum seven state delegation quorum on November 5th. Elias Boudinot, who was supposed to return to New Jersey on the 5th, was persuaded by the other delegates to remain in Philadelphia so New Jersey would have two representatives in the USCA thus qualifying a seventh state to convene Congress. Boudinot writes to John Stevens on November 5th:
Embarrassed on this Occasion, I was preparing to return home, having had no Idea of remaining here longer than this day, being the Terms on which I first accepted the Appointment. Indeed had this not been the Case, the exhausted State of my Finances and the derangement of my Family Affairs would oblige me to return. The monstrous Expence attending a residence in this City, must soon take away the Ready Cash of any fortune among us. However as there were only Mr. Clark & myself here, and our Presence absolutely necessary to form a Congress in this important Conjuncture, We took our Seats this Day and have proceeded to the Choice of a President, Mr. Hanson of Maryland. I shall Continue here this Week, in hopes that your honorable Houses will urge the attendance of one of the other Gentn. by that Time. I shall do myself the honor of calling on you next week, as I have some matters of great Importance I would willingly communicate to the Legislature before my Return Home. Never was there Time which required a full representation of the States more than the present as Matters of the utmost future Consequence to this rising Empire, are & must be the Subjects of constant discussion.[28]
President John Hanson, the day after his election, responded to Philip Thomas’ letter noting that he had resigned his seat in the Maryland Assembly:
I am favored with yours by the post. I have Wrote to the speaker of the House of Delegates resigning my Seat in the Legislature Which you will immediately make public and if Mr. Johnson Will Serve pray use your influence in getting him elected. The Business of the present session will be important indeed and will require much Wisdom and Cool deliberation to conduct it properly.[29]
On November 10, 1781, President Hanson's wrote a letter of thanks to Thomas McKean:
It is always a pleasing task to pay a just tribute to distinguished Merit. Under this impression give me leave to assure you, that it is with inexpressible satisfaction that I present you the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, in testimony of their approbation of your conduct in the Chair and in the execution of public business; a duty I am directed to perform by their Act of the 7th instant, a copy of which I have the honor of enclosing.
When I reflect upon the great abilities, the exemplary patience and unequalled skill and punctuality, which you so eminently displayed in executing the important duties of a President, it must unavoidably be productive of great apprehensions in the one who has the honor of being your Successor. But the Choice of Congress obliges me for a moment to be silent on the subject of my own inability: And although' I cannot equal the bright example that is recently set me, yet it shall be my unremitting study to imitate it as far as possible; and in doing this the reflection is pleasing that I shall invariably pursue the sacred path of Virtue, which alone ought to preserve me free from censure. [30]
On the same day the President also wrote George Washington:
" I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency a copy of an Act of Congress of the 7th instant, for your information and satisfaction. Your Excellency's letters of the 27th and 31st ult. have been received and laid before Congress.
As this is the first opportunity I have had of writing to your Excellency since Congress were pleased to elect me to the singular honor of being their President, and as a literary correspondence, from our mutual situations, becomes indispensably necessary between us, give me leave to assure you, Sir, that it will not only be a pleasure of a superior nature, but invariably my study, to render that correspondence as advantageous and agreeable as possible. Any intelligence worth communicating, which first reaches me, shall be related with unreserved freedom, candor & punctuality- And permit me to hope for a similar treatment from your Excellency. Already my knowledge of your Character leads me to anticipate infinite satisfaction.
I cannot avoid mentioning that the present Aspect of our Public Affairs is particularly pleasing: And so much do we seem extricated from our perplexing difficulties, and such, I hope, is the power and force of recent Experience that we shall not relapse into our former state of imbecility and distress. The events of the present Campaign will, no doubt, fill the most brilliant pages in the history of America. May Heaven still continue to smile on our efforts![31]
Two days later, John Hanson considered resigning from the Presidency because of poor health, family responsibilities, and the "irksome" qualities of the "form and ceremonies" required as president. He was urged to continue by fellow members who cited the great difficulty Congress would have selecting a replacement, since only seven states were then represented. Hanson decided to remain as president, contingent upon his reelection as a delegate by the Maryland Assembly. On the 16th, he wrote to his wife Jane asking her to join him in Philadelphia:
My last was of the 13th by the post, acquainting you for the reasons I mentioned, of my intentions of resigning my Seat as president of Congress, and accordingly on Wednesday last I desired leave of absence; but some of the members Expressing their dissatisfaction at my so-soon laying Congress under the difficulty of Electing Another, (for a Difficulty there would be as the votes of Seven States are necessary and only Seven States are at present represented) I Shall Continue, unless the assembly of our State Should leave me out of their Delegation. I therefore hope you will immediately prepare to Come up, if your State of health will permit it. I have got a very good match for my Horse, And Shall Send them down about the 25th of this month.
On November 28, 1781, Maryland returned Hanson as one of its four delegates to the USCA enabling him to remain serving the United States as its President.[32] The USCA, however, suffered from cavalier delegate attendance. Hanson, like predecessors Samuel Huntington and Thomas McKean, was required by the USCA to write the States on the deficiency of their members:
Congress feel themselves reduced to the disagreeable necessity of directing me to write to your Excellency respecting the deficiency of a Representation from your State. For a considerable time past only seven States have been represented, and those merely by the essential number of Delegates. From this information you will readily conceive, without a minute and painful detail, the numerous inconveniencies and real dangers they are subjected to, abstracted from every consideration of interest, honor and reputation.
The most important powers vested in Congress by the Confederation lie dormant at this time by reason of the unpunctuality of the Delegates of six States in point of attendance, and some of those powers too indispensably necessary to be exercised at this great and important Crisis. Permit me, Sir, to flatter myself that it is superfluous to urge anything more upon this delicate but momentous subject, and to hope that your Excellency's influence will be exerted to prevail upon your State to send forward and keep up a full Representation in future.[33]
It was only two days later, with support of 21 delegates against 2, that Edmund Randolph's motion to take a national census failed due to Constitution of 1777 state quorum requirements not being met. Two delegations were divided and five states were unrepresented on November 17th so only six states voted YES on the census resolution. This census quorum fiasco was not forgotten in 1787 when Edmund Randolph, who would help draft the second U.S. Constitution, was sure the census would be complied with every ten years.[34]
The Confederation government, despite the Victory at Yorktown, was off to an all too familiar shaky start in its efforts to govern the United States of America. John Hanson and the USCA, however, did not forget the superb efforts of General Lafayette defending Virginia against Cornwallis while George Washington was preparing to attack General Clinton in New York. John Hanson, at the direction of the USCA, wrote to the Marquis de Lafayette on November 24th, 1781:
It is with infinite pleasure and satisfaction, that I transmit to you the enclosed copy of an Act of Congress of the 23d instant. Believe me, Sir, that Congress being sensible of your great ability, integrity and fortitude, and your distinguished and zealous attachment to the cause of America, have, with the greatest cheerfulness, bestowed upon you the new and great marks of confidence & esteem contained in that Act-And certain I am they could not have bestowed them more worthily or with greater propriety.
I shall at this time only beg leave to assure you, that it is my most sincere & ardent prayer, that you may have a safe & prosperous voyage to your native Country; that you may receive a gracious and welcome reception from the greatest and best of Kings; and that you may arrive to an happy and pleasing interview with your Family; And permit me to indulge the Hope of your speedy return to America.[35]
On that date the USCA also directed the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to prepare a letter for the King of France of thanks to be carried by Lafayette on his return home.
Later that month, George Washington arrived in Philadelphia on a clear crisp sunny autumn day. He was immediately received at Independence Hall being formally introduced to the USCA by two members. President Hanson rose and welcomed him remarking:
Sir: Congress, at all times happy in seeing your Excellency, feel particular pleasure in your presence at this time, after the glorious success of the allied arms in Virginia. It is their fixed purpose to draw every advantage from it by exhorting the states in the strongest terms to the most vigorous and timely exertions. A committee has accordingly been appointed to state the requisitions necessary to be made for the establishment of the army, and they are instructed to confer with you upon that subject. It is. therefore, the expectation of Congress that your Excellency would remain for some time in Philadelphia, that they may avail themselves of your aid in this important business, and it would at the same time be agreeable to them that you may enjoy a respite from the fatigues of war, as far as is consistent with the service.
To which George Washington made the following reply:
Mr. President: I feel very sensibly the favorable declaration of Congress expressed by your Excellency. This fresh proof of their approbation cannot fail of making a deep impression upon me, and my study shall be to deserve a continuance of it. It is with peculiar pleasure I hear that it is the fixed purpose of Congress to exhort the states to the most vigorous and timely exertions. A compliance on their parts will, I persuade myself, be productive of the most happy consequences. I shall yield a ready obedience to the expectation of Congress, and give every assistance in my power to their committee. I am obliged by the goodness of Congress in making my personal ease and convenience a part of their concern. Should the service require my attendance with the army upon the North River, or elsewhere, I shall repair to whatever place my duty calls, with the same pleasure that I remain in this city.[36]
After the Commander-in-Chief returned to the field, the USCA, for the remainder of his Hanson’s term, would follow the lead of previous congresses to greatly weaken the powers of the president. This was accomplished by transferring presidential powers and duties to numerous committees, departments and federal employees. One such transference occurred in 1781 with the appointment of Robert Morris as Superintend of Finance, a modern day Secretary of the Treasury. Six months later, on December 31, 1781, the passage of Robert Morris’ plan for to establish Bank of North America was enacted.[37] By the middle of January President Hanson and other Delegates were sending letters home praising the successful launch of the Bank by Superintendent Morris:
Our national Bank opend Monday last and many notes have been Issued-it seems to be the inclination of all ranks of people to give it all possible Credit-some notes have been brought in by the Farmers to be Exchanged what were instantly paid off in hard money. While others after finding that the money was ready went off with the notes well Satisfyed of their being equal in Value to Gold and silver. The Merchants here are throwing their money into the Bank, and taking out notes, which they find equally Answers their purposes. These notes too will be received in the Continental Treasury in discharge of Taxes. Ten or twelve Vessels are lately arrived here from the Havanna, with a large quantity of Specie, which it is said will all go into the Bank-in short from present Appearances I think there Can be no doubt, but the Credit of the Bank will in a very Short time, be so well established, that it will be in the power of the Directors, to Issue notes to any Amount they please; prudence will dictate to them, not to Issue more than they have Cash in hand, at least for some time. When those notes get Circulated through the Continent, it will be a difficult matter in Case our Enemies (I mean the disaffected) Should have designs Against the Bank, to Collect a number Sufficient to endanger its Credit; and no man or Set of men perhaps would think themselves Safe in making the Attempt.[38]
In another important step of weakening the presidency, the USCA watered down presidential duties by successfully proposing and passing the removal of the voluminous correspondence tasks from Hanson’s office. Specifically, on January 28th, 1782 the USCA passed a resolution transferring the "signature" and other presidential communication duties to the Secretary of the United States, Charles Thomson with this resolution.[39]
In order that the President may be relieved from that load of the business with which he is unnecessarily incumbered, that the officers at the head of the several boards executive departments lately established, may be enabled to execute the duties required of them, and that business may be conducted with regularity and despatch, Resolved, That it shall be the business of the Secretary--
1st. To transmit to the Superintendent of finance, all papers referred to him by Congress; as well as an authenticated copy of every act, ordinance and resolution of Congress touching the finances of the United States and particularly of those which relate to supplies, the expenditure of public money or the settlement of public accounts: to the Secretary at War, all papers referred to him by Congress; as well as an authenticated copy of every act, ordinance and resolution touching his department and particularly of those which relate to military preparations or the land forces of the United States and: to the Secretary or agent of marine, or to the person entrusted with the duties of the office of Secretary or agent of marine, all papers referred to him by Congress; as well as an authenticated copy of every act, ordinance or and resolution touching his department and particularly those which relate to naval preparations and maritime matters: and to the Secretary for foreign affairs, all papers referred to him by Congress; as well as an authenticated copy of every act, ordinance and resolution of Congress touching his department and particularly of those which relate to the intercourse between the U. S. and foreign nations or which it may be necessary to communicate to the Ministers of these United States at foreign courts.
2nd. To return such answers as Congress shall direct to be given to the memorials petitions and communications: To keep a daily register account of all memorials, petitions and communications received by Congress, noting therein their object and the steps taken respecting them; and lay the said account or register every day, on the table of Congress for the inspection of the members.
3rd. To return such answers as Congress shall direct to be given to the memorials, petitions and communications, except where Congress shall judge it proper that the same be given by their President, or where it shall be the duty of any of the executive departments to return such answers:
4th. To attend Congress during their sessions, and, in their recess, to attend the committee of the states, to read the public despatches, acts, ordinances and reports of committees, and to make the proper entries in the journals; to authenticate all acts and proceedings not specially directed to be authenticated by their President; and to keep a register of all treaties, conventions and ordinances:
5th. to cause to be made and laid upon the table for every State represented in Congress, a copy of every ordinance or report upon a matter of importance, and not of a secret nature, for the consideration of which a day is assigned:
6th. To keep the public seal, and cause the same to be affixed to every act, ordinance or paper, which Congress shall direct:
7th. To superintend the printing of the journals and publications ordered by Congress:
8th. To keep a book in which shall be noted in columns, the names of the several members of Congress, the State which they represent, the date of their appointments, the term for which they are appointed, and the date of leave of absence.[40]
On that same date the USCA voted for a new “postmaster general; and, the ballots being taken, Mr. Ebenezer Hazard[41] was elected.”[42] On February 18th, the USCA granted George Washington broad powers to negotiate directly with Great Britain over the fate of Cornwallis and his army eliminating another duty from the John Hanson and his office.[43]
On February 21st, the USCA debated and passed another resolution proposed by Superintendent Morris which was for the establishment of a United States Mint.
That Congress approve of the establishment of a mint; and, that the Superintendent of Finance be, and hereby is directed to prepare and report to Congress a plan for establishing and conducting the same. [44]
The mint, however, was never constructed under the USCA government. The U.S. Mint law was re-enacted by the Constitution of 1787 Congress as the Coinage Act of 1792. The 1782 USCA legislation, although mistakenly credited with the Mint’s creation by many John Hanson enthusiasts, was defunct ten years when the U.S. Mint opened its doors on April 2, 1792 under directorship David Rittenhouse
On February 19th, Congress and Hanson completed the reorganization of the complex Department of Foreign Affairs.[45] Little did John Hanson and his fellow delegates realize that by 1787 this office would become the most prestigious and influential executive position in the United States of America under the collapsing federal government.
On other foreign affairs matters it was decided by the USCA in late February that President Hanson would alert Massachusetts officials to the suspicious nature of John Temple's return to Boston from London in October 1781. Temple had introduced himself to Congress in November because he had brought with him letters for Congress from John Adams written from Amsterdam, where he had visited Adams en route to America. President Hanson decided to direct his correspondence to Governor John Hancock writing:
although Mr. Temple was the Bearer of some letters from the honorable John Adams, at Amsterdam, yet the subject of the letters with which he was intrusted and of those which Mr. Adams chose to send at the same time by another conveyance, sufficiently evince that he had not the full confidence of that Minister; and that the letter which Mr. Adams took the trouble of writing respecting Mr. Temple did in no wise account for his past conduct or explain his future views or designs. Therefore, as the United States ought to be on their guard, as well against the secret arts as open force of their subtle and inveterate enemy, it is the wish of Congress that your Excellency and the Council would enquire strictly into the conduct, views and designs of Mr. Temple, and, if you are not fully convinced of the uprightness of his intentions, or if you have any apprehensions that he has, in his visits to America, been countenanced or employed by, or has acted in concert with, the British Ministry or their Agents, that you take such measures respecting him, as may put it out of his power to injure the cause of these United States.[46]
Just day before writing Hancock, John Hanson wrote Philip Thomas about various business matters including, sadly, the sale of some of his slaves:
I have not the least inclination to purchase Mr. Bowles's Hand. Sally I am persuaded will be very easy without him-if she wants to be Sold I have no objection to let Mr. Bowles have her, at £100 (not less). Bond on Interest for the money will do. I observe Mr. Lee, Mr. Addison, and J Hanson, have advertised their Negroes for Sale. I was Surprised at it. I did not Know the motive, and wish their plan may Succeed.[47]
President Hanson, on other monetary matters, received a letter from Maryland Governor Thomas Sim Lee in March that he and the other delegates were to be paid in "red money."[48] These red bills were receivable for 1781 taxes at par and redeemable in bullion coins after December 25, 1784 but they were already depreciating rapidly in Philadelphia’s money exchanges. Hanson wrote the Governor
If it is meant, that the Delegates in Congress are to receive the 35/ allowance in red money, it will be prudent in us to decamp in time, for that money will be of no more use to us here than so much waste paper. I thank your Excellency for your kind offer in procuring my balance in red money.[49]
Due to the red money fiasco, later in the week Hanson sent an urgent letter to the ever dutiful Thomas averring “… little time [I will] be in a great want of money-if you Can get me £100, it will make me easy. I should be under no difficulties if the state would remit but half of what is due me.” [50]
On March 19, 1782, the USCA officially thanked a “Supreme Being” when calling for a national Day of Fasting.[51] The resolution was sent out to all the states and Generals as evidenced by this Hanson letter to Nathanael Greene:
Your two favours of the 24th January and 10th of February have been received and laid before Congress. I have now the honor to enclose a Proclamation of Congress, dated the l9th instant, assigning the last Thursday in April for fasting, humiliation and prayer. The general Affairs and transactions on the Continent seem to afford little matter either to inform or amuse. The reduction of the Islands of St. Christopher and Nevis, in the West Indies, will, no doubt, be known before this can reach you. For farther and more minute Intelligence I beg leave to refer you to Capt. Hutchins, who will have the honor of delivering this letter.[52]
In early April, John Hanson fell ill. By April 15th the President was unable to fulfill his duties and the USCA began to debate the merits of creating an USCA office of Vice President, who would serve in the absence of the President. A motion was then made by Samuel Livermore, seconded by Mr. Elias Boudinot, in the following words:
That a Vice-president be chosen by ballot, to exercise the office of Vice-president of Congress in the absence or inability of the President, until the first day of November next; and that in case of such absence or inability, the Vice-president shall exercise all the powers of President of Congress Rejects motion to elect a vice-president upon the disability of the president; elects Daniel Carroll "chairman" during the illness of President Hanson.[53]
The measured failed and a second motion was brought to the floor:
That whenever the President for the time being, shall be prevented, by sickness or otherwise, from attending the house, one of the members present be chosen by ballot to act as chairman for the purpose of keeping order in the house only, but that all official papers shall nevertheless be signed and authenticated by the President as heretofore.[54]
The USCA then proceeded to the election of a chairman “…and, the ballots being taken, the Honorable D. Carroll was elected.”[55]
Hanson’s illness spread through the family but by the end of April he wrote Thomas that he was feeling better:
I have lately had a most severe fit of Sickness but thank God am so far recovered as to be able to ride out-Little Caty has had several fits of the Ague & fever but as every fit is more moderate am in hopes she will soon get rid of it. She rides out with us every day. Your mother thank God is recovering her health tho' she has been a good deal fatigued since my illness and that of Catys…[56] [two days later writes] I Am not yet perfectly recovered, am Generally feverish-began this morning to take the Bark, which with the help of Exercise I am hopes I shall in a few days be restored to my former health. Poor little Caty has not yet lost her Ague and fever.[57]
During this period Minister John Adams achieved recognition from the Dutch of US Independence. On April 19th, Adams dispatched the following letter and resolutions to US Foreign Secretary Robert. R. Livingston:
John Adams to Robert R.
Livingston
Amsterdam, April 19th, 1782.
To: Robert R. Livingston,
Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
Sir: I have the honour to transmit you the
following resolutions of the respective provinces, relative to my admission in
quality of Minister Plenipotentiary, together with two resolutions of their
High Mightinesses, upon the same subject, all in the order in which they were
taken.
I have the honour, etc.,
John Adams.
Friesland.
Extract from the
Register Book of the Lords, the States of Friesland.
"The requisition of Mr. Adams, for presenting his letters of
credence from the United States of North America to their High Mightinesses,
having been brought into the Assembly and put into deliberation, as also the
ulterior address to the same purpose, with a demand of a categorical answer,
made by him, as is more amply mentioned in the minutes of their High
Mightinesses, of the 4th of May, 1781, and the 9th of January, 1782, whereupon,
it having been taken into consideration, that the said Mr. Adams would have,
probably, some propositions to make to their High Mightinesses, and to present
to them the principal articles and foundations upon which the Congress, on
their part, would enter into a treaty of commerce and friendship, or other
affairs to propose, in regard to which dispatch would be requisite.
"It has been thought fit and resolved to authorize the
gentlemen, the Deputies of this Province at the generality, and to instruct
them to direct things, at the table of their High
Mightinesses, in such a manner that the said Mr. Adams be admitted forthwith as
Minister of the Congress of North America, with further order to the said
Deputies, that if there should be made, moreover, any similar propositions by
the same to inform immediately their Noble Mightinesses of them. And an extract
of the present Resolution shall be sent them for their information, that they
may conduct themselves conformably.
"Thus resolved at the Province House, the 26th of February,
1782.
"Compared with the aforesaid book to my knowledge,
A. J. V. Sminia."
Holland and West Friesland.
Extract of the
Resolutions of the Lords, the States of Holland and West Friesland, taken in
the Assembly of their Noble and Grand Mightinesses. – March 28, 1782
"Deliberated by resumption upon the address and the ulterior
address of Mr. Adams, made the 4th of May, 1781, and the 9th of January, 1782,
to the President of the States-General, communicated to the Assembly, the 9th
of May, 1781, and the 22d of last month, to present his letters of credence, in
the name of the United States of America, to their High Mightinesses, by which
ulterior address the said Mr. Adams has demanded a categorical answer, that he
may acquaint his constituents thereof; deliberated also upon the petitions of a
great number of merchants, manufacturers and others, inhabitants of this
Province interested in commerce, to support their request presented to the
States-General the 20th current, to the end that efficacious measures might be
taken to establish a commerce between this country and North America, copies of
which petitions have been given to the members the 21st; and it has been
thought fit, and resolved, that the affairs shall be directed, on the part of
their Noble and Grand Mightinesses, at the Assembly of the States-General, and
there shall be there made the strongest instances that Mr. Adams be admitted
and acknowledged, as soon as possible, by their High Mightinesses in quality of
Envoy of the United States of America. And the Counsellor-Pensionary has been
charged to inform, under his hand, the said Mr. Adams of this Resolution of
their Noble and Grand Mightinesses."
Zealand.
Extract of the
Resolutions of their High Mightinesses, the States-General of the United
Provinces. – April 8, 1782
"The Deputies of the Province of Zealand have brought to the
Assembly and caused to be read there the Resolution of the States of the said
Province, their principals, to cause to be admitted as soon as possible, Mr.
Adams, in quality of Envoy of the Congress of North America in the following
terms:
April 4th, 1782.
"It has been thought fit and ordered, that the gentlemen, the
Ordinary Deputies of this Province at the generality, shall be convoked and
authorized, as it is done by the present, to assist in the direction of affairs
at the Assembly of their High Mightinesses, in such a manner that Mr. Adams may
be acknowledged as soon as possible as Envoy of the Congress of North America;
that the letters of credence be accepted, and that he be admitted in that
quality according to the ordinary form, enjoining further upon the said Lords,
the Ordinary Deputies, to take such propositions as should be made to this
Republic, by the said Mr. Adams, for the information and the deliberation of
their High Mightinesses, to the end to transmit them here as soon as possible.
And an extract of this resolution of their Noble Mightinesses shall be sent to
the gentlemen, their Ordinary Deputies, to serve them as an instruction.
J.M.Chalmers
"Upon which, having deliberated, it has been thought fit and
resolved to pray, by the present, the gentlemen, the Deputies of the Provinces
of Guelderland, Utrecht, and Groningen, and Ommelanden, who have not as yet
explained themselves upon this subject, to be pleased to do it, as soon as
possible."
Overyssel.
Extract from the
Register of the Resolutions of the Equestrian Order, and of the cities
composing the States Overyssel.
Zwoll, April 5, 1782.
"The grand Bailiff de Sallande, and the other commissions of
their Noble Mightinesses for the affairs of finance, having examined,
conformably to their commissarial resolution of the 3d of this month, the
addresses of Mr. Adams, communicated to the Assembly the 4th of May, 1781, and
the 22d of February, 1782, to present his letters of credence to their High
Mightinesses, in the name of the United States of North America; as well as the
resolution of the Lords, the States of Holland and West Friesland, dated the
28th of March, 1782, carried the 29th of the same month to the Assembly of
their High Mightinesses, for the admission and acknowledgment of Mr. Adams,
have reported to the Assembly, that they should be of opinion that the
gentlemen, the Deputies of this Province in the States-General, ought to be
authorized and charged to declare in the Assembly of their High Mightinesses,
that the Equestrian Order and the cities' Judge, that it is proper to
acknowledge, as soon as possible, Mr. Adams, in quality of Minister of the
United States of North America, to their High Mightinesses. Upon which, having
deliberated, the Equestrian Order and the cities have conformed themselves to
the said report.
"Compared with the aforesaid Register.
Derk Dumbar."
Extract from the
Register of the Resolutions of their Noble Mightinesses, the States of
Groningen and Ommelanden.
Tuesday, April 9, 1782
"The Lords, the States of Groningen and Ommelanden, having
heard the report of the gentlemen, the Commissioners for the Petitions of the
Council of State and the Finances of the Province, and having carefully
examined the demand of Mr. Adams, to present his letters of credence from the
United States of North America, to their High Mightinesses, have, after
deliberation upon the subject, declared themselves of opinion that in the critical
circumstances in which the Republic finds itself at present, it is proper to
take, without loss of time, such efficacious measures as may not only repair
the losses and damages that the kingdom of Great Britain has caused, in a
manner so unjust, and against every shadow of right, to the commerce of the
Republic, as well before as after the war, but particularly such as may
establish the free navigation and the commerce of the Republic, for the future,
upon the most solid foundations, as may confirm and re-assure it by the
strongest bonds of reciprocal interest, and that, in consequence, the
gentlemen, the Deputies at the Assembly of their High Mightinesses, ought to be
authorized on the part of the Province, as they are by the present, to admit
Mr. Adams to present his letters of credence from the United States of North
America, and to receive the propositions which he shall make, to make report of
them to the Lords, the States of this Province.
E. Lewe, Secretary
"The States-General, having deliberated the same day upon
this resolution, have Resolved,
'That the Deputies of the Province of Guelderland, which has not yet declared
itself upon the same subject, should be requested to be pleased to do it as
soon as possible.'"
Utrecht.
Extract of the
Resolutions of their Noble Mightinesses, the States of the Province of Utrecht.
April 10, 1782
"Heard the report of Mr. de Westerveld, and other Deputies of
their Noble Mightinesses for the Department of War, who, in virtue of the
commissarial resolutions of the 9th of May, 1781, the 16th of January, and the
20th of March, of the present year, 1782, have examined the resolution of their
High Mightinesses of the 4th of May, 1781, containing an overture, that the
President of the Assembly of their High Mightinesses had made, 'that a person,
styling himself J. Adams, had been with him, and had given him to understand
that he had received letters of credence for their High Mightinesses from the
United States of North America, with a request that he would be pleased to
communicate them to their High Mightinesses,' as well as the resolution of
their High Mightinesses, of the 9th of January, containing an ulterior overture
of the President, 'that the said Mr. Adams had been
with him, and had insisted upon a categorical answer, whether his said letters
of credence would be accepted or not;' finally, the resolution of their High
Mightinesses, of the 5th of March last, with the insertion of the resolution of
Friesland, containing a proposition 'to admit Mr. Adams in quality of Minister
of the Congress of North America.'"
"Upon which, having deliberated and remarked that the Lords,
the States of Holland and West Friesland, by their resolution, carried the 29th
of March to the States-General, have also consented to the admission of the
said Mr. Adams in quality of Minister of the Congress of North America, it has
been thought fit, and resolved, that the gentlemen, the Deputies of this
Province in the States-General, should be authorized, as their Noble Highnesses
authorize them by the present, to conform themselves, in the name of this
Province, to the resolution of the Lords, the States of Holland and West
Friesland, and of Friesland, and to consent, by consequence, that Mr. Adams be
acknowledged and admitted as Minister of the United States of North America,
their Noble Mightinesses being at the same time of opinion that it would be
necessary to acquaint Her Majesty, the Empress of Russia, and the other neutral
powers, with the resolution to be taken by their High Mightinesses upon this
subject, in communicating to them (as much as shall be necessary) the reasons
which have induced their High Mightinesses to it, and in giving them the
strongest assurances, that the intention of their High Mightinesses is by no
means to prolong thereby the war, which they would have willingly prevented and
terminated long since; but that, on the contrary, their High Mightinesses wish
nothing with more ardor than a prompt re-establishment of peace, and that they
shall be always ready on their part to co-operate in it, in all possible ways,
and with a suitable readiness, so far as that shall be any way compatible with
their honour and their dignity. And to this end an extract of this shall be
carried by missive to the gentlemen, the Deputies at the Generality."
Guelderland.
Extract from the Precis
of the ordinary Diet, held in the City of Nimeguen, in the month of April,
1782.
Wednesday, April 17,
1782
"The requisition of Mr. Adams to present his letter of
credence to their High Mightinesses, in the name of the United States of North
America, having been brought to the Assembly and read, as well as an ulterior
address made upon this subject, with the demand of a categorical answer by the
said Mr. Adams, more amply mentioned in the registers of their High
Mightinesses, of the date of the 4th of May, 1781, and the 9th of January,
1782, moreover, the resolutions of the Lords, the States of the six other Provinces,
carried successively to the Assembly of their High Mightinesses, and all
tending to admit Mr. Adams, in quality of Envoy of the United States of North
America, to this Republic; upon which their Noble Mightinesses, after deliberation, have resolved to authorize the Deputies of this
Province, as they authorize them by the present, to conform themselves in the
name of this Province, to the resolution of the Lords, the States of Holland
and West Friesland, and to consent, by consequence, that Mr. Adams may be
acknowledged and admitted, in quality of Envoy of the United States of North
America, to this Republic. In consequence, an extract of the present shall be
sent to the said Deputies, to make, as soon as possible, the requisite overture
of it to the Assembly of their High Mightinesses.
J. In DeBetouw."
This resolution of Guelderland was no sooner remitted, on the
19th, to their High Mightinesses, than they took immediately a resolution
conformable to the unanimous wish of the Seven Provinces, conceived in the
following terms:
Extract from the
Register of the Resolutions of their High Mightinesses, the States-General of
the United Provinces.
Friday, April 19th,
1782
Deliberated by resumption upon the address and the ulterior
address, made by Mr. Adams, the 4th of May, 1781, and the 9th of January of the
current year, to the President of the Assembly of their High Mightinesses, to
present to their High Mightinesses his letters of credence, in the name of the
United States of North America, and by which ulterior address the said Mr.
Adams has demanded a categorical answer, to the end to be able to acquaint his
constituents thereof; it has been thought fit and resolved, that Mr. Adams
shall be admitted and acknowledged in quality of Envoy of the United States of
North America to their High Mightinesses, as he is admitted and acknowledged by
the present."
W. Boreel."
"Compared with the aforesaid register.
H. Fagel."
The Formal Resolution Of Their High
Mightinesses.
Extract from the
Register of the Resolutions of their High Mightinesses, the States-General of
the United Provinces.
Monday, April 22, 1782
"Mr. Boreel, who presided in the Assembly the last week, has
reported to their High Mightinesses and notified them, that Mr. John Adams,
Envoy of the United States of America, had been with him last Saturday, and had
presented to him a letter from the Assembly of Congress, written at
Philadelphia, the 1st of January, 1781, containing a credence for the said Mr.
Adams, to the end to reside in quality of its Minister Plenipotentiary near
their High Mightinesses. Upon which, having deliberated, it has been thought
fit and resolved to declare by the present, that the said Mr.
Adams is agreeable to their High Mightinesses; that he shall be acknowledged in
quality of Minister Plenipotentiary, and that there shall be granted to him an
audience, or assigned commissioners, when he shall demand it. Information of
the above shall be given to the said Mr. Adams by the agent, Van der Burch de
Spieringshoek.
W. van Citters."
"Compared with the aforesaid register.
H. Fagel."
 |
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY THE UNITED NETHERLANDS GOLD MEDAL - LIBERA SOROR. (Free sister.) The sun shedding its rays on two maidens, one of whom, with breast-plate and helmet, and personifying the States-General of the Netherlands, holds with her left hand a staff surmounted by a cap of Liberty over the head of her companion. The latter, an Indian queen (America), holds in her left hand a lance, a shield with thirteen stars (the thirteen original United States), and the end of a chain which binds a leopard (Great Britain), on whose head she rests her left foot. Their right hands, clasped, are extended over a fire burning on an antique altar ornamented with a caduceus and a cornucopia, the attributes of Mercury, god of commerce. Exergue: SOLEMNI DECR. AGN. 19 APR. MDCCLXXXII (Solemni decreto agnita, 19 Aprilis, 1782: Acknowledged by a solemn decree, April 19, 1782). TYRANNIS VIRTUTE REPULSA. (Tyranny repulsed by virtue.) A unicorn (Great Britain), royally gorged, lies extended at the foot of a precipice, against which it has broken its horn; in the background a vast country (America), diversified by plains, rivers and mountains. Exergue: SUB GALLIÆ AUSPICIIS (Under the auspices of France). On the platform: I. G. HOLTZHEY Fecit. Obverse |
 |
John George Holtzhey was born in Amsterdam, in 1729. He was the eldest son of Martin Holtzhey, a celebrated engraver, who died in Middleburg, November I, 1767. John George Holtzhey was the pupil of his father, and engraved, in collaboration with him, the plates in a work entitled: "Catalogus der (73 stuks) Medailles en gedenkpenningen betrekking hebbende op de voornamste historien der Vereenigde Nederlanden (Amsterdam, 1755)." Among his works are two medals relating to the United States of America, "Libera Soror," and "Faustissimo Fœdere Junctæ." He was one of the most eminent engravers of his day. He died in Amsterdam, February 15, 1808. |
It was not until Wednesday, May 8th, that President Hanson returned to the USCA. Daniel Carroll happily turned over the gavel as the first USCA Chairman. In the coming years several more patriots, including Thomas Jefferson at Annapolis, would once again hold the title of USCA Chairman. That evening, Hanson wrote home urging the sale of his farm’s hemp bounty to raise money for family in Philadelphia:
Your mother request you to tell Toney to raise her all the money he can from his & Molls Chickens &c. You will be pleased to sell the Hemp if the price is not lowered. Chloe too is to Sell all She can out of the Garden.[58]
On May 31, 1782, the USCA made it clear to Paris Peace Commissioners that the negotiations must include France with the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Secretary for foreign affairs acquaint the minister plenipotentiary of France, that the signal proofs of inviolable constancy to his engagements, given by his Most Christian Majesty in the answer to the attempts of the British court to seduce him into a seperate peace, has been received by Congress with the sentiments with which it ought naturally to inspire faithful and affectionate allies, and entirely corresponds with the expectations which the magnanimity and good faith of his past conduct had established. That Congress embrace with particular satisfaction this occasion of renewing to his Most Christian Majesty the assurances which they have so often and so sincerely repeated, of a reciprocal and equal resolution to adhere, in every event, to the principles of the alliance, and to hearken to no propositions for peace which axe not perfectly conformable thereto.
That in case any propositions conformable to these principles should be made to them, which the insidious steps the British Court is pursuing render very improbable at the present juncture, Congress will be no less attentive than they have heretofore been to the precautions necessary for preventing delays and preserving harmony and confidence in the discussion of them.
That the insidious steps which the Court of London is pursuing render it improbable that any propositions conformable to those principles will be made to the United States; but that in case such propositions should be made, Congress will not depart from the precautions measures which they have heretofore taken for preventing delay, and for conducting the discussions of them, in confidence, and in concert with his Most Christian Majesty; and that as Congress observe, with the warmest approbation, the purpose of his Most Christian Majesty to oppose to the false appearances of peace held out by Great Britain, those redoubled efforts which may render her sincerely disposed to it, so his Majesty may be persuaded, that they are no less impressed with the necessity of such concurrent exertions on the part of the United States, as may frustrate the views of the common enemy in the new defensive system which their policy seems to have adopted on this continent.
That the Secretary of Foreign Affairs also furnish to the said Minister Plenipotentiary a copy of so much of the letter of the day of last from the Commander in chief as relates to a letter to him from General Carloton together with copies of the latter and of the resolution of Congress passed in consequence thereof.
That the Secretary of F. Affairs transmit copies of the first of these resolutions and of the papers referred to in the last, to the Minister Plenipotentiary of the U. States at the Court of Versailles and to their other public minister in Europe.
By the time these USCA orders were received by the Peace Commissioners, John Jay had already taken a hard line in the Peace negotiations. Commissioner Jay refused to continue treaty negotiations with Great Britain unless the United States was recognized as a foreign nation. Additionally Jay, against these direct orders of USCA, persuaded fellow Commissioners John Adams and Benjamin Franklin to exclude France from the treaty negotiations.
The three Commissioners in 1782 required the British Ministry to formulate a new commission authorizing Peace Commissioner Richard Oswald to negotiate a treaty without France or Spain and with the United States of America as a sovereign nation. The absence of France and Spain in the negotiations came as a great relief to Great Britain because it took their claims to North American territory off the negotiation table in the areas being claimed by the United States of America. On September 21st, 1782, Parliament passed an act empowering Commissioner Oswald to enact a treaty with United States of America as a sovereign nation:
An act to enable his Majesty to conclude a peace or truce with certain colonies in North America therein mentioned, it is recited … And it is our royal will and pleasure, and we do hereby authorize, empower and require you, the said Richard Oswald, to treat, consult of, and conclude with any commissioners or persons veiled with equal powers, by, and on the part of the Thirteen United States of America, viz. New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three Lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, in North America, a peace or a truce with the said Thirteen United States, any law, act or acts of parliament, matter or thing, to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.[59]
President Hanson and the USCA, for purposes of successful negotiations were kept in the dark by the Commissioners until the very end as evidenced by this late October Hanson letters to Maryland’s Governor:
No letters from our foreign Ministers Since my last and therefore can give you no Account of the progress of the Negotiation for Peace. I fear it is going on very slowly. The Evacuation of New York this fall remains a Doubt. What little intelligence we have from thence is rather favorable to that Event. They are not laying in wood or forage in Any great quantities, And numbers of the refugees are embarking for Nova Scotia. I enclose you a paper.[60]
In June, John Hanson removed his legislative and presidential "hats" to don the robes of judge. Hanson presided over a border dispute between Connecticut and Pennsylvania in Congress for the next three days. Following that hearing, President Hanson addressed a series of rash mail robberies with debates over a new federal law being passed offering rewards for the apprehension and conviction of robbers of the United States mail. June also produced legislation creating a seal for the United States. The Seal adopted was Secretary Charles Thomson’s drawing representing the assemblage of three different Committee designs of the Great Seal of the United States in Congress Assembled:
 |
| First Die of the Great Seal of the United States, 1782 |
The device for an armorial achievement and reverse of the great seal for the United States in Congress assembled, is as follows: ARMS. Paleways of thirteen pieces, argent and gules; a chief, azure; the escutcheon on the breast of the American bald eagle displayed proper, holding in his dexter talon an olive branch, and in his sinister a bundle of thirteen arrows, all proper, and in his beak a scroll, inscribed with this motto, "E pluribus Unum." For the Cest. Over the head of the eagle, which appears above the escutcheon, a glory, or, breaking through a cloud, proper, and surrounding thirteen stars, forming a constellation, argent, on an azure field. REVERSE. A pyramid unfinished. In the zenith, an eye in a triangle, surrounded with a glory proper. Over the eye these words, "Annuit Coeptis." On the base of the pyramid the numerical letters MDCCLXXVI. And underneath the following motto, "Novus Ordo Seclorum."[61]
On July 23rd Congress took up the hospital department regulations and revised them. On the 31st the USCA resolved to use all western land cessions ceded by Great Britain as collateral for restoring the public credit of the United States. August brought the reorganizing of the adjutant general's department and a revision of John Jay's diplomatic instructions regarding in Spain. On August the 9th the USCA received news that peace negotiations had begun at Paris with the United States.
We are acquainted Sir, by authority, that negotiations for a general Peace, have already commencd at Paris, & that Mr. Grenville is invested with full Powers, to treat with all Parties at war, & is now at Paris in the execution of his Commission, & we are likewise, Sir, further made acquainted, that his Majesty, in order to remove all obstacles to that Peace, which he so ardently wishes to restore, has commanded his Ministers to direct Mr. Grenville that the independency of the 13 Provinces should be proposed by him, in the first instance, instead of making it a condition of a general treaty; however not without the highest confidence, that the Loyalists shall be restord to their possessions, or a full compensation made them for whatever Confiscations may have taken place. dated Augt. 2d. 1782.[62]
In September the USCA’s business turned to a request for “… a neat edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of Schools." The Delegates began to debate the matter because it was a common practice for the federal government to be involved in funding Christian education. The Journals of the USCA report on September 12, 1782.
Whereupon, Resolved, That the United States in Congress assembled, highly approve the pious and laudable undertaking of Mr. Aitken, as subservient to the interest of religion as well as an instance of the progress of arts in this country, and being satisfied from the above report, of his care and accuracy in the execution of the work, they recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States, and hereby authorize him to publish this recommendation in the manner he shall think proper. [63]
Robert Aitken’s Bible was printed at his Philadelphia print shop, using an early American movable-type press. The paper stock was a thick grade of wood-pulp paper because cotton was too expensive for this production. The edition was printed and sold as "The Bible of Revolution" for two centuries.[64]
The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments: Newly translated out of the Original Tongues; and with the former Translations Diligently compared and revised. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by Robert Aitken, 1782; printed in two parts in one volume (6 1/8 x 3 1/2 inches). Text in double-columns, unpaginated, ornamental border and woodcut arms of Philadelphia on General title-page, printer's woodcut monogram on title-page verso of New Testament. Before the Revolutionary War, British printers held the royal patent to publish the King James Bible, to the exclusion of American printers. During the war, importation of English bibles ceased. When sales of Aitken's edition was threatened with the prospect of peace, the United States in Congress Assembled passed a resolution on 10 September to protect Aitken's investment. In true entrepreneurial fashion, to insure sales remained steady, Aitken inserted a copy of the resolution just after the title page resulting in this edition being the only bible endorsed by the U.S. Congress.
On September 16, 1782, Congress commissioned George Washington with the authority to negotiate a general cartel for the exchange of prisoners passing this commission:
The United States in Congress Assembled
To all People who shall see these presents send Greeting
Whereas justice & humanity and the practice of civilized nations requires that the Calamities & asperities of War should as far as possible be mitigated, and we being disposed for that benevolent purpose to accede to a general Cartel between the United States of America and the British Nation for the exchange, subsistance & better treatment of all Prisoners of War. Now therefore know ye, that reposing high confidence in the wisdom, prudence and integrity of our trusty & well beloved George Washington Esquire our Commander in Chief of all our Armies raised or to be raised for the defence of the United States of America, we have authorised & empowered, and by these presents do authorise & empower our said Commander in Chief, for us and in our name to negociate, accede to & establish in the proper forms and with the usual solemnities, such General Cartel between the United States in Congress Assembled and the King of Great Britain for the exchange, subsistance & better treatment of all Prisoners of War as well Land as naval prisoners, hereby giving and granting to our said Commander in Chief full power and authority ultimately and on all points to adjust and conclude the principles, terms and conditions of the said Cartel, and in general to do and perform every matter & thing which shall in any wise be necessary for the final and perfect accomplishment thereof. And the better to enable our said Commander in Chief to execute the trust reposed in him by these presents, we do hereby further authorise and empower him, from time to time, by Commission under his hand and seal, to nominate & constitute such and so many Commissioners as he shall judge necessary to meet, treat, confer and agree with Commissioners to be appointed and competently authorised on the part of the King of Great Britain, touching the terms, conditions and stipulations for subsisting, better treating & exchanging all prisoners of War as aforesaid, as well as for liquidating and settling all accounts and claims whatsoever respecting the maintenance & subsistance of Prisoners of War on either side, and we do hereby declare, that the engagements concluded upon by our said Commander in Chief in the premises, being mutually interchanged with the party contracting on behalf of the Crown and Nation of Great Britain, shall be binding and conclusive on the United States of America. In Testimony whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made patent, and the Great Seal of the United States of America to be thereunto affixed.
Witness His Excellency John Hanson, president of the United States in Congress Assembled, the sixteenth day of September and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, and of our Sovereignty & Independence the seventh.
John Hanson
Charles Thomson Secy
On September 28th, the USCA adopted and passed a preliminary treaty for Benjamin Franklin, Peace Commissioner, to propose to the King of Sweden. Franklin, being dutifully involved in the Treaty of Paris negotiations with Great Britain was unable to travel to Sweden. The King sent his emissary to France and there through the efforts of Franklin, the two nations signed a treaty on April 3, 1783. This was the first treaty signed by the U.S. with any nation not directly involved in the Revolutionary War. Sweden, thus became the first neutral nation to officially recognize United States of America as an independent republic. President Hanson’s USCA is often credited with this treaty because on September 28 they gave Benjamin Franklin sweeping powers to conclude a treaty (which they enclosed) with these instructions:
You are to negotiate and conclude the proposed treaty of amity and commerce with the person or persons that shall be appointed by his Swedish Majesty at Paris, and not elsewhere, unless some other place should be fixed upon for negotiating a general peace; in which case you may negotiate and conclude it at the same place.
The privilege of holding, inheriting and disposing of real property by the Citizens and Subjects of the contracting parties within their respective Territories reciprocally cannot be admitted but under the restriction of actual residence within the Nation where such real property may be at the time of holding, inheriting or disposing of the same. As we shall be better able to judge by experience what commercial regulations will be most beneficial for the citizens and subjects of the contracting powers, it is our desire that the treaty be made for twelve years only.
It is possible that the fourth article in the plan of a treaty may be objected to on the part of the king of Sweden, as unequal, he having more ships of war than the United States, and not being engaged in any war which may render protection necessary to the ships of his subjects. He may also apprehend, that the giving protection to our vessels may involve him in a war with Great Britain. To this it may be answered, that the fifteenth article is as unequally in favor of Sweden, giving her the benefit of the carrying trade, which cannot be enjoyed by the citizens of the United States--Therefore the one article may be set against the other.
Nor do we apprehend that according to the laws of nations the protection to be given to the vessels of the United States conformably to the forth article can be a just cause of war on the part of Great Britain.But as the direct and essential object of the treaty is to obtain the recognition of our Independency by another European power, you are instructed not to adhere to the 4th article so as to prevent the conclusion of the treaty. Upon the same principle you may also use your discretion in extending the term of the treaty to twenty years but no farther. You are also at liberty, in case it be found necessary, to recede from the stipulation proposed in the 9th article, that whatever shall be found laden by the Subjects and Inhabitants of either party on any Ship belonging to the Enemies of the other shall be subject to confiscation.
Done in Congress at Philadelphia the twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two and of our Sovereignty and Independence the Seventh.[65]
Also occurring under the Hanson Presidency was a separate treaty, executed by Minister John Adams in Amsterdam on October 8, 1782:
To commemorate the October 8th, 1782 treaty Congress issued the following gold medal:
Treaty of Amity and
Commerce between their High Mightinesses the States-General of the United
Netherlands and the United States of America, to wit: New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, and Georgia. Concluded October 8, 1782; ratified January 22, 1783.
Their High Mightinesses the States-General of
the United Netherlands and the United States of America, to wit: New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, and Georgia, desiring to ascertain, in a permanent and equitable
manner, the rules to be observed relative to the commerce and correspondence
which they intend to establish between their respective States, countries and
inhabitants, have judged that the said end cannot be better obtained than by
establishing the most perfect equality and reciprocity for the basis of their agreement,
and by avoiding all those burdensome preferences which are usually the sources
of debate, embarrassment, and discontent; by leaving also each party at liberty
to make, respecting commerce and navigation, such ulterior regulations as it
shall find most convenient to itself; and by founding the advantages of
commerce solely upon reciprocal utility and the just rules of free intercourse;
reserving withal to each party the liberty of admitting at its pleasure other
nations to a participation of the same advantages.
On these principles their said High Mightinesses
the States-General of the United Netherlands have named for their
Plenipotentiaries, from the midst of their assembly, Messieurs their Deputies
for the Foreign Affairs; and the said United States of America, on their part,
have furnished with full powers Mr. John Adams, late Commissioner of the United
States of America at the Court of Versailles, heretofore Delegate in Congress
from the State of Massachusetts Bay, and Chief Justice of the said State, who
have agreed and concluded as follows, to wit:
Article I.
There shall be a firm, inviolable, and universal
peace and sincere friendship between their High Mightinesses, the Lords, the
States-General of the United Netherlands, and the United States of America, and
between the subjects and inhabitants of the said parties, and between the
countries, islands, cities, and places situated under the jurisdiction of the
said United Netherlands and the said United States of America, their subjects
and inhabitants, of every degree, without exception of persons or places.
Article II.
The subjects of the said States-General of the
United Netherlands shall pay in the ports, havens, roads, countries, islands,
cities, or places of the United States of America, or any of them, no other nor
greater duties or imposts, of whatever nature or denomination
they may be, than those which the nations the most favoured are or shall be
obliged to pay; and they shall enjoy all the rights, liberties, privileges
immunities, and exemptions in trade, navigation, and commerce which the said
nations do or shall enjoy, whether in passing from one port to another in the
said States, or in going from any of those ports to any foreign port of the
world, or from any foreign port of the world to any of those ports.
Article III.
The subjects and inhabitants of the said United
States of America shall pay in the ports, havens, roads, countries, islands,
cities or places of the said United Netherlands, or any of them, no other nor
greater duties or imposts, of whatever nature or denomination they may be, than
those which the nations the most favoured are or shall be obliged to pay; and
they shall enjoy all the rights, liberties, privileges, immunities and
exemptions in trade, navigation and commerce, which the said nations do or
shall enjoy, whether in passing from one port to another in the said States, or
from any one toward any one of those ports from or to any foreign port of the
world. And the United States of America, with their subjects and inhabitants,
shall leave to those of their High Mightinesses the peaceable enjoyment of
their rights in the countries, islands and seas in the East and West Indies,
without any hindrance or molestation.
Article IV.
There shall be an entire and perfect liberty of
conscience allowed to the subjects and inhabitants of each party, and to their
families; and no one shall be molested in regard to his worship, provided he
submits, as to the public demonstration of it, to the laws of the country:
There shall be given, moreover, liberty, when any subjects or inhabitants of
either party shall die in the territory of the other, to bury them in the usual
burying-places, or in decent and convenient grounds to be appointed for that
purpose, as occasion shall require; and the dead bodies of those who are buried
shall not in any wise be molested. And the two contracting parties shall
provide, each one in his jurisdiction, that their respective subjects and
inhabitants may henceforward obtain the requisite certificates in cases of
deaths in which they shall be interested.
Article V.
Their High Mightinesses the States-General of
the United Netherlands and the United States of America shall endeavour, by all
the means in their power, to defend and protect all vessels and other effects,
belonging to their subjects and inhabitants, respectively, or to any of them,
in their ports, roads, havens, internal seas, passes, rivers, and as far as
their jurisdiction extends at sea, and to recover, and cause to be restored to
the true proprietors, their agents, or attorneys, all such vessels and effects,
which shall be taken under their jurisdiction: And their vessels of war and
convoys, in cases when they may have a common enemy, shall take under their
protection all the vessels belonging to the subjects and inhabitants of either
party, which shall not be laden with contraband goods, according to the
description which shall be made of them hereafter, for places with which one of
the parties is in peace and the other at war, nor
destined for any place blockaded, and which shall hold the same course or
follow the same route; and they shall defend such vessels as long as they shall
hold the same course or follow the same route, against all attacks, force and
violence of the common enemy, in the same manner as they ought to protect and
defend the vessels belonging to their own respective subjects.
Article VI.
The subjects of the contracting parties may, on
one side and on the other, in the respective countries and States, dispose of
their effects by testament, donation or otherwise; and their heirs, subjects of
one of the parties, and residing in the country of the other, or elsewhere,
shall receive such successions, even ab intestato, whether in person or by their attorney or
substitute, even although they shall not have obtained letters of
naturalization, without having the effects of such commission tested under
pretext of any rights or prerogatives of any province, city or private person.
And if the heirs to whom such successions may have fallen shall be minors, the
tutors or curators established by the judge domiciliary of the minors may
govern, direct, administer, sell and alienate the effects fallen to the said
minors by inheritance, and, in general, in relation to the said successions and
effects, use all the rights and fulfill all the functions which belong, by the
disposition of the laws, to guardians, tutors and curators: provided,
nevertheless, that this disposition cannot take place but in cases where the
testator shall not have named guardians, tutors or curators by testament,
codicil or other legal instrument.
Article VII.
It shall be lawful and free for the subjects of
each party to employ such advocates, attorneys, notaries, solicitors or factors
as they shall judge proper.
Article VIII.
Merchants, masters and owners of ships,
mariners, men of all kinds, ships and vessels, and all merchandizes and goods
in general, and effects of one of the confederates, or of the subjects thereof,
shall not be seized or detained in any of the countries, lands, islands,
cities, places, ports, shores, or dominions whatsoever of the other
confederate, for any military expedition, publick or private use of any one, by
arrests, violence, or any colour thereof; much less shall it be permitted to
the subjects of either party to take or extort by force anything from the
subjects of the other party, without the consent of the owner; which, however,
is not to be understood of seizures, detentions, and arrests which shall be
made by the command and authority of justice, and by the ordinary methods, on
account of debts or crimes, in respect whereof the proceedings must be by way
of law, according to the forms of justice.
Article IX.
It is further agreed and concluded that it shall
be wholly free for all merchants, commanders of ships, and other subjects and
inhabitants of the contracting parties, in every place
subjected to the jurisdiction of the two powers respectively, to manage
themselves their own business; and moreover as to the use of interpreters or
brokers, as also in relation to the loading or unloading of their vessels, and
everything which has relation thereto, they shall be, on one side, and on the
other, considered and treated upon the footing of natural subjects, or, at
least, upon an equality with the most favoured nation.
Article X.
The merchant ships of either of the parties,
coming from the port of an enemy, or from their own, or a neutral port, may
navigate freely towards any port of an enemy of the other ally: they shall be,
nevertheless, held, whenever it shall be required, to exhibit, as well upon the
high seas as in the ports, their sea-letters and other documents described in
the twenty-fifth article, stating expressly that their effects are not of the
number of those which are prohibited as contraband; and not having any contraband
goods for an enemy's port, they may freely, and without hindrance, pursue their
voyage towards the port of an enemy. Nevertheless, it shall not be required to
examine the papers of vessels convoyed by vessels of war, but credence shall be
given to the word of the officer who shall conduct the convoy.
Article XI.
If, by exhibiting the sea-letters and other
documents described more particularly in the twenty-fifth article of this
treaty, the other party shall discover there are any of those sorts of goods
which are declared prohibited and contraband, and that they are consigned for a
port under the obedience of his enemy, it shall not be lawful to break up the
hatches of such ship, nor to open any chests, coffers, packs, casks, or other
vessels found therein, or to remove the smallest parcels of her goods, whether
the said vessel belongs to the subjects of their High Mightinesses the
States-General of the United Netherlands or to the subjects or inhabitants of
the said United States of America, unless the lading be brought on shore, in
presence of the officers of the Court of Admiralty, and an inventory thereof
made; but there shall be no allowance to sell, exchange or alienate the same
until after that due and lawful process shall have been had against such
prohibited goods of contraband, and the Court of Admiralty, by a sentence
pronounced, shall have confiscated the same, saving always as well the ship
itself as any other goods found therein, which are to be esteemed free, and may
not be detained on pretence of their being infected by the prohibited goods,
much less shall they be confiscated as lawful prize: But, on the contrary,
when, by the visitation at land, it shall be found that there are no contraband
goods in the vessel, and it shall not appear by the papers that he who has
taken and carried in the vessel has been able to discover any there, he ought
to be condemned in all the charges, damages and interests of them, which he
shall have caused, both to the owners of vessels and to the owners and freighters
of cargoes with which they shall be loaded, by his temerity in taking and
carrying them in; declaring most expressly the free vessels shall assure the
liberty of the effects with which they shall be loaded, and that this liberty
shall extend itself equally to the persons who shall be found in a free vessel,
who may not be taken out of her, unless they are military men actually in the
service of an enemy.
On the contrary, it is agreed that whatever
shall be found to be taken by the subjects and inhabitants of either party, or
any ship belonging to the enemies of the other, or to their subjects, although
it be not comprehended under the sort of prohibited goods, the whole may be
confiscated in the same manner as if it belonged to the enemy; except,
nevertheless, such effects and merchandizes as were put on board such vessel
before the declaration of war, or in the space of six months after it, which
effects shall not be, in any manner, subject to confiscation, but shall be
faithfully and without delay restored in nature to the owners who shall claim
them, or cause them to be claimed, before the confiscation and sale, as also
their proceeds, if the claim could not be made, but in the space of eight
months after the sale, which ought to be publick: Provided, nevertheless, that
if the said merchandizes are contraband, it shall by no means be lawful to
transport them afterwards to any port belonging to enemies.
Article XIII.
And that more effectual care may be taken for
the security of subjects and people of either party, that they do not suffer
molestation from the vessels of war or privateers of the other party, it shall
be forbidden to all commanders of vessels of war and other armed vessels of the
said States-General of the United Netherlands and the said United States of
America, as well as to all their officers, subjects and people, to give any
offence or do any damage to those of the other party; and if they act to the
contrary they shall be, upon the first complaint which shall be made of it,
being found guilty after a just examination, punished by their proper judges,
and, moreover, obliged to make satisfaction for all damages and interests
thereof, by reparation, under pain and obligation of their persons and goods.
Article XIV.
For further determining of what has been said,
all captains of privateers or fitters-out of vessels armed for war, under
commission and on account of private persons, shall be held, before their
departure, to give sufficient caution, before competent judges, either to be
entirely responsible for the malversations which they may commit in their
cruizes or voyages, as well as for the contraventions of their captains and
officers against the present treaty, and against the ordinances and edicts
which shall be published in consequence of and conformity to it, under pain of
forfeiture and nullity of the said commissions.
Article XV.
All vessels and merchandizes, of whatsoever
nature, which shall be rescued out of the hands of any pirates or robbers,
navigating the high seas without requisite commissions, shall be brought into
some port of one of the two States, and deposited in the hands of the officers
of that port, in order to be restored entire to the true proprietor as soon as
due and sufficient proofs shall be made concerning the property thereof.
Article XVI.
If any ships or vessels belonging to either of
the parties, their subjects, or people, shall, within the coasts or dominions
of the other, stick upon the sands, or be wrecked, or
suffer any other sea damage, all friendly assistance and relief shall be given
to the persons shipwrecked, or such as shall be in danger thereof; and the
vessels, effects and merchandizes, or the part of them which shall have been
saved or the proceeds of them, if, being perishable, they shall have been sold,
being claimed within a year and a day by the masters or owners, or their agents
or attorneys, shall be restored, paying only the reasonable charges, and that
which must be paid, in the same case, for the salvage, by the proper subjects
of the country: there shall also be delivered them safe conducts or passports
for their free and safe passage from thence, and to return, each one to his own
country.
Article XVII.
In case the subjects or people of either party,
with their shipping, whether publick and of war, or private and of merchants,
be forced, through stress of weather, pursuit of pirates or enemies, or any
other urgent necessity for seeking of shelter and harbor, to retract and enter
into any of the rivers, creeks, bays, ports, roads or shores belonging to the
other party, they shall be received with all humanity and kindness, and enjoy
all friendly protection and help, and they shall be permitted to refresh and
provide themselves, at reasonable rates, with victuals, and all things needful
for the sustenance of their persons or reparation of their ships; and they
shall no ways be detained or hindered from returning out of the said ports or
roads, but may remove and depart when and whither they please, without any let
or hindrance.
Article XVIII.
For the better promoting of commerce on both
sides, it is agreed that, if a war should break out between their High
Mightinesses the States-General of the United Netherlands and the United States
of America, there shall always be granted to the subjects on each side the term
of nine months after the date of the rupture, or the proclamation of war, to
the end that they may retire, with their effects, and transport them where they
please, which it shall be lawful for them to do, as well as to sell or
transport their effects and goods, in all freedom and without any hindrance,
and without being able to proceed, during the said term of nine months, to any
arrests of their effects, much less of their persons; on the contrary, there
shall be given them, for their vessels and their effects, which they could
carry away, passports and safe conducts for the nearest ports of their
respective countries, and for the time necessary for the voyage. And no prize
made at sea shall be adjudged lawful, at least if the declaration of war was
not or could not be known in the last port which the vessel taken has quitted;
but for whatever may have been taken from the subjects and inhabitants of
either party, and for the offences which may have been given them, in the interval
of the said terms, a complete satisfaction shall be given them.
Article XIX.
No subject of their High Mightinesses the
States-General of the United Netherlands shall apply for or take any commission
or letters of marque for arming any ship or ships to act as privateers against
the said United States of America, or any of them, or the subjects and
inhabitants of the said United States, or any of them, or against
the property of the inhabitants of any of them, from any Prince or State with
which the said United States of America may happen to be at war: nor shall any
subject or inhabitant of the said United States of America, or any of them,
apply for or take any commission or letters of marque for arming any ship or
ships to act as privateers against the High and Mighty Lords the States-General
of the United Netherlands, or against the subjects of their High Mightinesses,
or any of them, or against the property of any one of them, from any Prince or
State with which their High Mightinesses may be at war: And if any person of
either nation shall take such commission or letters of marque, he shall be
punished as a pirate.
Article XX.
If the vessels of the subjects or inhabitants of
one of the parties come upon any coast belonging to either of the said allies,
but not willing to enter into port, or being entered into port and not willing
to unload their cargoes or break bulk, or take in any cargo, they shall not be
obliged to pay, neither for the vessels nor for the cargoes, at least if there
is not just cause to presume that they carry to an enemy merchandizes of
contraband.
Article XXI.
The two contracting parties grant to each other,
mutually, the liberty of having, each in the ports of the other, consuls,
vice-consuls, agents, and commissaries, of their own appointing, whose
functions shall be regulated by particular agreement, whenever either party
chooses to make such appointments.
Article XXII.
This treaty shall not be understood in any
manner to derogate from the ninth, tenth, nineteenth, and twenty-fourth
articles of the treaty with France, as they were numbered in the same treaty, concluded
the sixth of February, 1778, and which make the articles ninth, tenth,
seventeenth, and twenty-second of the treaty of commerce now subsisting between
the United States of America and the Crown of France; nor shall it hinder His
Catholic Majesty from according to that treaty, and enjoying the advantages of
said four articles.
Article XXIII.
If at any time the United States of America
shall judge necessary to commence negotiations with the King or Emperor of
Morocco and Fez, and with the Regencies of Algiers, Tunis, or Tripoli, or with
any of them, to obtain passports for the security of their navigation in the
Mediterranean Sea, their High Mightinesses promise that upon the requisition
which the United States of America shall make of it, they will second such
negotiations in the most favourable manner, by means of their Consuls residing
near the said King, Emperor, and Regencies.
Contraband.
Article XXIV.
The liberty of navigation and commerce shall
extend to all sorts of merchandizes, excepting only those which are
distinguished under the name of contraband, or merchandizes prohibited; and under this denomination of contraband and merchandizes
prohibited, shall be comprehended only warlike stores and arms, as mortars,
artillery, with their artifices and appurtenances, fusils, pistols, bombs,
grenades, gunpowder, saltpetre, sulphur, match, bullets and balls, pikes,
sabres, lances, halberts, casques, cuirasses, and other sorts of arms, as also
soldiers, horses, saddles, and furniture for horses; all other effects and
merchandizes, not before specified expressly, and even all sorts of naval
matters, however proper they may be for the construction and equipment of
vessels of war, or for the manufacture of one or another sort of machines of
war, by land or sea, shall not be judged contraband, neither by the letter, nor
according to any pretended interpretation whatever, ought they or can they be
comprehended under the notion of effects prohibited or contraband: so that all
effects and merchandizes, which are not expressly before named, may, without
any exception, and in perfect liberty, be transported by the subjects and
inhabitants of both allies, from and to places belonging to the enemy;
excepting only the places which at the time shall be besieged, blocked, or
invested; and those places only shall be held for such which are surrounded
nearly by some of the belligerent powers.
Article XXV.
To the end that all dissention and quarrel may
be avoided and prevented, it has been agreed, that in case that one of the two
parties happens to be at war, the vessels belonging to the subjects or
inhabitants of the other ally shall be provided with sea letters or passports,
expressing the name, the property, and the burthen of the vessel, as also the
name of abode of the master, or commander of the said vessel, to the end that
thereby it may appear that the vessel really and truly belongs to the subjects
or inhabitants of one of the parties; which passports shall be drawn and
distributed, according to the form annexed to this treaty; each time that the
vessel shall return, she should have such her passport renewed, or at least
they ought not to be of more ancient date than two years, before the vessel has
been returned to her own country.
It has also been agreed that such vessels, being
loaded, ought to be provided not only with the said passports or sea letters,
but also with a general passport, or with particular passports or manifests, or
other publick documents, which are ordinarily given to vessels outward bound in
the ports from whence the vessels have set sail in the last place, containing a
specification of the cargo, of the place from whence the vessel departed, and
of that of her destination, or, instead of all these, with certificates from
the magistrates or governors of cities, places and colonies from whence the
vessel came, given in the usual form, to the end that it may be known whether
there are any effects prohibited or contraband, on board the vessels, and
whether they are destined to be carried to an enemy's country or not; and in
case any one judges proper to express in the said documents the persons to whom
the effects on board belong, he may do it freely, without, however, being bound
to do it; and the omission of such expression cannot and ought not to cause a
confiscation.
Article XXVI.
If the vessels of the said subjects or
inhabitants of either of the parties, sailing along the coasts or on the high
seas, are met by a vessel of war, or privateer, or other armed
vessel of the other party, the said vessels of war, privateers, or armed
vessels, for avoiding all disorder, shall remain without the reach of cannon,
but may send their boats on board the merchant vessel, which they shall meet in
this manner, upon which they may not pass more than two or three men, to whom
the master or commander shall exhibit his passport, containing the property of
the vessel, according to the form annexed to this treaty: And the vessel, after
having exhibited such a passport, sea letter, and other documents, shall be
free to continue her voyage, so that it shall not be lawful to molest her, or
search her in any manner, nor give her chase, nor to force her to alter her
course.
Article XXVII.
It shall be lawful for merchants, captains, and
commanders of vessels, whether publick and of war, or private and of merchants,
belonging to the said United States of America, or any of them, or to their
subjects and inhabitants, to take freely into their service, and receive on
board of their vessels, in any port or place in the jurisdiction of their High
Mightinesses aforesaid, seamen or others, natives or inhabitants of any of the
said States, upon such conditions as they shall agree on, without being
submitted for this to any fine, penalty, punishment, process, or reprehension
whatsoever.
And reciprocally, all merchants, captains, and
commanders, belonging to the said United Netherlands, shall enjoy, in all the
ports and places under the obedience of the said United States of America, the
same privilege of engaging and receiving seamen or others, natives or
inhabitants of any country of the domination of the said States-General:
Provided, that neither on one side nor the other, they may not take into their
service such of their countrymen who have already engaged in the service of the
other party contracting, whether in war or trade, and whether they meet them by
land or sea; at least if the captains or masters under the command of whom such
persons may be found, will not of his own consent discharge them from their
service, upon pain of being otherwise treated and punished as deserters.
Article XXVIII.
The affair of the refraction shall be regulated
in all equity and justice, by the magistrates of cities respectively, where it
shall be judged that there is any room to complain in this respect.
Article XXIX.
The present treaty shall be ratified and
approved by their High Mightinesses the States-General of the United
Netherlands and by the United States of America; and the acts of ratification
shall be delivered in good and due form, on one side and on the other, in the
space of six months, or sooner if possible, to be computed from the day of the
signature.
In faith of which, we the Deputies and
Plenipotentiaries of the Lords the States-General of the United Netherlands,
and the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, in virtue of
our respective authorities and full powers, have signed the present treaty and
apposed thereto the seals of our arms.
John Adams.[L.S.]
George van Randwyck.[L.S.]
B. V. D. Santheuvel.[L.S.]
P. V. Bleiswijk.[L.S.]
W. C. H. van Lijnden.[L.S.]
D. J. van Heeckeren.[L.S.]
Joan van Kuffeler.[L.S.]
F: G: van Dedem, tot den
gelder.[L.S.]
H:
Tjassens.[L.S.]
Convention
between the Lords the States-General of the United Netherlands and the United
States of America, concerning vessels recaptured.
Concluded October 8, 1782.
The Lords
the States-General of the United Netherlands and the United States of America,
being inclined to establish some uniform principles with relation to prizes
made by vessels of war, and commissioned by the two contracting Powers, upon
their common enemies, and to vessels of the subjects of either party, captured
by the enemy, and recaptured by vessels of war commissioned by either party,
have agreed upon the following articles:
Article I.
The vessels
of either of the two nations recaptured by the privateers of the other, shall
be restored to the first proprietor, if such vessels have not been four and
twenty hours in the power of the enemy, provided the owner of the vessel
recaptured pay therefor one-third of the value of the vessel, as also of that
of the cargo, the cannons and apparel, which third shall be valued by
agreement, between the parties interested; or, if they cannot agree thereon
among themselves, they shall address themselves to the officers of the
admiralty of the place where the privateer who has retaken the vessel shall
have conducted her.
Article II.
If the
vessel recaptured has been more than twenty-four hours in the power of the
enemy, she shall belong entirely to the privateer who has retaken her.
Article III.
In case a
vessel shall have been recaptured by a vessel of war belonging to the
States-General of the United Netherlands, or to the United States of America,
she shall be restored to the first owner, he paying a thirtieth part of the
value of the ship, her cargo, cannons and apparel, if she has been recaptured
in the interval of twenty-four hours, and the tenth part if she has been
recaptured after the twenty-four hours, which sums shall be distributed in form of
gratifications to the crews of the vessels which have retaken her. The
valuation of the said thirtieth parts and tenth parts shall be regulated
according to the tenor of the first article of the present convention.
Article IV.
The
restitution of prizes, whether they may have been retaken by vessels of war or
by privateers, in the mean time and until requisite and sufficient proofs can
be given of the property of vessels recaptured, shall be admitted in a
reasonable time, under sufficient sureties for the observation of the aforesaid
articles.
Article V.
The vessels
of war and privateers of one and of the other of the two nations, shall be
reciprocally, both in Europe and in the other parts of the world, admitted in
the respective ports of each with their prizes, which may be unloaded and sold
according to the formalities used in the State where the prize shall have been
conducted, as far as may be consistent with the 22d article of the treaty of
commerce: Provided, always, that the legality of prizes by the vessels of the
Low Countries shall be decided conformably to the laws and regulations
established in the United Netherlands; as, likewise, that of prizes made by American
vessels, shall be judged according to the laws and regulations determined by
the United States of America.
Article VI.
Moreover, it
shall be free for the States-General of the United Netherlands, as well as for
the United States of America, to make such regulations as they may judge
necessary, relative to the conduct which their respective vessels and
privateers ought to hold in relation to the vessels which they shall have taken
and conducted into the ports of the two powers.
In faith of
which, We, the Deputies and Plenipotentiaries of the Lords the States-General
of the United Netherlands, and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of
America, have, in virtue of our respective authorities and full powers, signed
these presents, and confirmed the same with the seals of our arms.
Done at the
Hague the eighth of October, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two.
John
Adams.[L.S.]
George
van Randwyck.[L.S.]
B.
V. D. Santheuvel.[L.S.]
P.
V. Bleiswijk.[L.S.]
W.
C. H. van Lijnden.[L.S.]
D.
J. van Heeckeren.[L.S.]
Joan
van Kuffeler.[L.S.]
F:
G: van Dedem, tot den gelder.[L.S.]
H:
Tjassens.[L.S.]
To commemorate the October 8th, 1782 treaty Congress issued the following gold medal:
 |
TREATY OF AMITY AND COMMERCE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE UNITED NETHERLANDS GOLD MEDAL, FAVSTISSIMO FOEDERE JVNCTÆ. DIE VII OCTOB. (Octobris) MDCCLXXXII. (United by a most auspicious alliance, October 7, 1782.) Fame seated on the clouds is blowing a trumpet, held in her left hand; in her right she holds two shields: one bearing the arms of the United Netherlands, the other studded with thirteen stars (the thirteen original United States); above the two shields is a wreath, and beneath them are the lion's skin and the club of Hercules - Obverse |
 |
TREATY OF AMITY AND COMMERCE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE UNITED NETHERLANDS GOLD MEDAL, Reverse, JUSTITIAM ET NON TEMNERE DIVOS. (Learn justice, and not to despise the gods.) On the face of a pyramid, the base of which is adorned with flowers, is placed the crowned shield of Amsterdam, resting on fasces; beneath, on a scroll, the inscription: PRODROMUS (a forerunner). A flying Mercury places a wreath on the shield; below on the right, an anchor, a basket of flowers, and a cock crowing (France); in the background, the sea covered with ships. Exergue: S. P. Q. AMST. SACRVM. (Senatui populoque Amstelodamensi sacrum: Dedicated to the Senate and people of Amsterdam). On the platform, I. G. Holtzhey fecit. |
On October 11th, 1782 with USCA and President Hanson issuing its most notable Proclamation of a call for Public Thanksgiving to God [66] due to the favorable news trickling in on the negotiations of Peace with Great Britain.
Image Courtesy of the Library of Congress
It being the indispensable duty of all nations, not only to offer up their supplications to Almighty God, the giver of all good, for his gracious assistance in the a time of public distress, but also in a solemn and public manner to give him praise for his goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of his Providence in their behalf; therefore, the United States in Congress assembled, taking into their consideration the many instances of divine goodness to these states, in the course of the important conflict in which they have been so long engaged; and the present happy and promising state of public affairs; and the events of the war in the course of the last year now drawing to a close, particularly the harmony of the public councils, which is so necessary to the success of the public cause; the perfect union and good understanding which has hitherto subsisted between them and their allies, notwithstanding the artful and unwearied attempts of the common enemy to sow dissension between them divide them; the success of the arms of the United States and those of their allies, and the acknowledgment of their independence by another European power, whose friendship and commerce must be of great and lasting advantage to these states; and the success of their arms and those of their allies in different parts do hereby recommend it to the inhabitants of these states in general, to observe, and recommend it to the executives of request the several states to interpose their authority in appointing and requiring commanding the observation of the last Thursday, in the 28 day of November next, as a day of solemn thanksgiving to God for all his mercies: and they do further recommend to all ranks, to testify their gratitude to God for his goodness, by a cheerful obedience to his laws, and by promoting, each in his station, and by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion, which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national happiness. Done in Congress at Philadelphia, the eleventh of October, in the year of our LORD one thousand and seven hundred and eighty two, and of our Sovereignty and Independence, the eleventh.
John Hanson, President Charles Thomson, Secretary.
In Philadelphia, with Hanson’s term as President nearing its end, the USCA completed the reorganization of the quartermasters department, enacted post office regulations and happily accepted, on October 29th, New York’s accession of its Northwest Territory lands.
On the same day Hanson wrote a letter to the acting commandant of New Orleans. Estévan Mirù was governing New Orleans in the absence of Governor Bernardo de Galvez. On May 4, 1782 Mirù’s had written a letter to Thomas McKean on behalf of Oliver Pollock, a former commercial agent for the United States in New Orleans. Pollock’s claims were long outstanding and had been reintroduced to Congress on September 23rd. Hanson responded to Mirù, in his final letter as President, transmitting the resolution passed by the USCA:
I had the honor to receive the two letters which your Excellency was pleased to write on the 4th of May and address to Mr. McKean, my Predecessor, respecting Mr. Oliver Pollock. I immediately communicated them to the United States in Congress Assembled. The inclosed Resolution will satisfy your Excellency of the good disposition of Congress and of their firm determination to do Justice to Mr. Pollock, and as soon as possible enable him to satisfy the demands of those subjects of His Catholic Majesty who have so generously aided him in his services for the United States. I pray God to have you in his Holy Keeping, and grant you happiness & success in the administration of your Government. [67]
Hanson ended his presidency listening to committee report on Native American affairs. The USCA chronology with John Hanson as its President is as follows:
1781 - November 5 New Congress convenes; elects John Hanson president. November 8 Authorizes Board of War to prosecute spies under the Articles of War. November 9 Restricts travel of Yorktown prisoners on parole. November 12 Repeals resolve accepting quartermaster certificates in payment of quotas. November 14 Urges states to maintain representation; sets date for hearing Connecticut-Pennsylvania boundary dispute. November 20 Augments authority of secretary of marine. November 23 Recommends that states legislate to punish violations of international law. November 28 Holds audience with General Washington.
December 4 Adopts ordinance on "captures on water." December 5 Receives New York protest against Congressional resolves on Vermont. December 10 Exhorts states to complete troop quotas. December 11 Calls states to take census "of the white inhabitants thereof." December 13 Observes day of thanksgiving. December 17 Appeals to the states for men and money. December 19 Orders placing supernumerary generals on half pay. December 20 Authorizes exchange of Governor Thomas Burke. December 31 Adopts ordinance incorporating Bank of North America.
1782 - January 2 Exhorts states to suppress trade with the enemy. January 3 Reforms medical department. January 8 Amends ordinance on captures on water; rejects motion to enlarge peace ultimatum. January 9 Authorizes negotiation of consular convention with France. January 10 Reforms inspector general's department. January 17 Investigates suspicious Silas Deane letters on conciliating Britain. January 22 Instructs peace commissioners to communicate informal demands on fisheries and boundaries. January 25 Amends consular convention. January 28 Enlarges duties of Secretary Charles Thomson to relieve president of Congress. January 29 Advised of diminution of French aid.
February 1 Instructs Benjamin Franklin on repayment of Dutch loan obtained for United States by France. February 8 Authorizes Franklin to borrow additional 12 million livres from France. February 11 Authorizes export of tobacco to New York by Yorktown "capitulants"; rejects appeal to permit states to clothe own Continental troops. February 18 Authorizes Washington to negotiate general prisoner exchange. February 20 Seeks authorization to apportion war expenses in contravention of Articles of Confederation quota formula. February 21 Authorizes establishment of a mint. February 22 Reorganizes department of foreign affairs. February 23 Authorizes exchange of Cornwallis for Henry Laurens. February 26 Amends ordinance on captures on water. February 27 Adopts plan for settlement of state accounts.
March 1 Sets conditions for recognizing Vermont independence. March 7 Revises rules of Court of Appeals. March 11 Orders settlement of Bon Home Richard prize claims; refers Native American petition to New York. March 15 Drafts fiscal appeal to the states. March 19 Adopts fast day proclamation. March 21 Holds audience with General Washington. March 27 Orders study of Continental Army staffing needs. March 30 Adopts measures for curtailing prisoner-of-war escapes.
April 1 Rejects fiscal quota reduction appeal. April 3-4 Debates Vermont compliance with independent statehood conditions. April 8 Revises paymaster regulations. April 9 Orders submission of comprehensive army returns. April 15 Rejects motion to elect a vice-president upon the disability of the president; elects Daniel Carroll "chairman" during the illness of President Hanson. April 18 Rejects motion to require delegates to disclose conflicts of interest on land claim issues. April 20 Debates Vermont compliance with independent statehood conditions. April 23 Recommends pensions for disabled troops; orders reduction of supernumerary officers. April 29 Endorses Washington's proposals for retaliation against the death of Joshua Huddy. April 30 Endorses John Jay's conduct of negotiations with the court of Madrid.
May 1 Warns states of British plans to divide their enemies with proposals of separate peace; debates western land cessions and motion to disclose delegates' conflicts of interest. May 4 Orders measures for the protection of American shipping. May 8 Opposes sending William Carmichael to the court of Portugal. May 13 Holds audience with French minister to celebrate birth of a Dauphin. May 14 Denies emissary of Sir Guy Carleton passport to Philadelphia. May 21 Authorizes state authorities to curb trade with the enemy. May 22 Sends delegations to states to solicit compliance with requisitions. May 24 Reviews superintendent of finance report on status of US credit abroad. May 27 Exhorts states to maintain representation in Congress; instructs Francis Dana to delay presenting his credentials to the court of Russia. May 28 Receives French report on peace overtures. May 31 Reaffirms opposition to separate peace negotiations.
June 5 Orders study of proposal to enlist German prisoners of war. June 7 Rescinds work-release program for British prisoners of war. June 12 Revises regulations for naval courts-martial. June 14 Endorses proposals for return of South Carolina exiles. June 17 Calls for biannual inspection of the operation of the executive departments. June 20 Adopts great seal for the United States in Congress assembled. June 21 Exhorts states to curb trade with the enemy. June 24-27 Debates proposals for resolution of the Connecticut-Pennsylvania boundary dispute. June 27 Receives report from the congressional delegation to the southern states. June 28 Endorses General Greene's rejection of truce proposal in South Carolina.
July 2 Endorses superintendent of finance’s recommendation against appointing consuls in the West Indies. July 3 Complains against Spanish release of British prisoners of war. July 10 Adopts ordinance regulating distribution of prizes. July 11 Places moratorium on promotion or appointment of Continental officers. July 17 Adopts ordinance to prevent illicit trade with the enemy. July 18 Receives report from the congressional delegation to the northern states; orders measures to stop mail robberies. July 23 Revises hospital department regulations. July 31 Debates recommendation for acceptance of western land cessions as a preliminary to restoring the public credit of the United States.
August 1 Reorganizes adjutant general's department. August 5 Receives Robert Morris' funding plan. August 6 Revises John Jay's diplomatic instructions. August 7 Reorganizes Continental Army. August 9 Receives British commissioners' announcement that peace negotiations have begun at Paris. August 12 Authorizes Washington to negotiate prisoner exchange. August 14 Suspends inquiry into General Gates' conduct at Camden. August 15 Rejects move to repeal peace commissioners' instructions to be guided by French court. August 16-20 Debates Massachusetts' petition to include fisheries claim in peace ultimatum. August 23 Appoints judges to hear Connecticut-Pennsylvania boundary dispute. August 27 Debates Kentucky statehood petition. August 29 Orders purchase of ship for packet service to Europe.
September 3 Orders resumption of postal service to the Carolinas and Georgia; presents ship America to France. September 4 Sets fiscal quota for the immediate payment of interest on the public debt. September 6 Debates proposal to appeal to the states to cede western lands. September 9 Suspends issuance of bills of exchange to pay loan office certificate interest; instructs Washington on prisoner cartel. September 10 Sets state fiscal quotas. September 12 Endorses Robert Aitken's proposal to print an American edition of the Bible. September 14 Authorizes solicitation of $4 million in foreign loans. September 16 Commissions Washington to negotiate prisoner exchange. September 17 Refuses to accept Henry Laurens' resignation as peace commissioner. September 19-20 Debates report that Henry Laurens improperly petitioned parliament while imprisoned. September 24 Receives information from the Chevalier de La Luzerne on recent peace maneuvers in Europe. September 28 Adopts plan of a treaty of amity and commerce with Sweden.
October 1 Rejects New Jersey’s plan to retain Continental revenues for the payment of the state's Continental troops. October 3 Reassures France on US commitment to military preparedness and to its no separate peace pledge. October 10 Appeals to Rhode Island and Georgia to adopt impost amendment. October 11 Sets day of thanksgiving and prayer. October 14-15 Debates promotion of general officers. October 16 Sets fiscal quota for 1783; instructs Washington on prisoner exchange negotiations. October 18 Requests Washington to decide fate of Wyoming garrison; sets state fiscal quotas; adopts Post Office ordinance. October 23 Reorganizes quartermaster department. October 28 Adopts supplemental Post Office ordinance; recommends suspension of plans to execute Charles Asgill in retaliation for the death of Joshua Huddy. October 29 Accepts New York's western land cession.
November 1 Refers investigation of Alexander Gillon to the superintendent of finance. November 2 Committee on Native American affairs confers with Catawba Native American delegation.
USCA Sessions 1781 to 1789
- First USCA 1780-1781, convened March 2, 1781 - Samuel Huntington and Thomas McKean Presidents*
- Second USCA 1781-1782, convened November 5, 1781 - John Hanson President
- Third USCA 1782-1783, convened November 4, 1782 - Elias Boudinot President
- Fourth USCA 1783-1784, convened November 3, 1783 - Thomas Mifflin President
- Fifth USCA 1784-1785, convened November 29, 1784 - Richard Henry Lee President
- Sixth USCA 1785-1786, convened November 23, 1785 -John Hancock and Nathaniel Gorham Presidents
- Seventh USCA 1786-1787, convened February 2, 1787 - Arthur St. Clair President
- Eighth USCA 1787-1788, convened January 21, 1788 - Cyrus Griffin President
- Ninth USCA 1788-1789, failed to convene after several attempts
*Samuel Johnston was also elected President during the first USCA Session on July 9th, 1781, but the following day declined the office.
At age 62 and in poor health, Hanson returned to home to Frederick Town after spending 15 months in Philadelphia. John Hanson died a year later on November 15th, 1783, aged 63, at the residence of Thomas Hanson, his nephew at Oxon Hill, Prince George County, Maryland.
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| John Hanson's obituary: Maryland Gazette, Thursday, November 27, 1783. http://www.msa.md.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc4800/sc4872/001283/html/m1283-0646.html |
At his death he owned 11 slaves and 223 acres of farmland with another 255 acres under lease all in Frederick County. He also owned six Frederick Town lots and one lot in Georgetown, Maryland. His will passed the estate to his wife and then to their sole surviving son, Alexander Contee Hanson. Hanson also made provisions for Philip Thomas and his grandchildren in his will.
John Hanson's Last Will and Testament are published below along with its transcription:
John Hanson's Last Will and Testament are published below along with its transcription:
In the name of God Amen. I, John Hanson of Frederick Town in Frederick County being in Good Health but considering the uncertainty of Human Life do make and ordain this my last will and Testiment as follows Vizt.
I give and Bequeath to my son Alexander Contee Hanson one Negro Woman Named Sal and her son Charles Roger and her Daughter Named Nan, one Negro man named John and one Negro man Commonly Called Ned Barnes two feather Beds Such as my Wife may Choose to Part with one Silver Pint Cup Six Silver Table Spoons Six Silver Tea Spoons and one pair of Silver Tea Tongs to him and his heirs forever.
The Lots or portions of Ground remaining unsold of the ground I purchased of Benjamin Delaney Esq. Adjoining to Frederick Town I desire may be sold by my Ex. Hereafter named and the Money Arising from Such Sale be paid one third thereof to Richard Potts one third to Doctor Philip Thomas and the remaining third may be Divided Between my wife and Son Alexander
I Give and bequeath to my Grand Daughter Catherine Thomas one Negro Boy (nan’s son) named Bill to her and her heirs forever.
I Give and Bequeath to my Grand Daughter Rebecca Thomas one Negro Girl Named Charity (Moll’s Child) to her and her heirs forever.
I give and Bequeath to my Grand Son John Hanson Thomas one Negro Boy named Bob and the Child my Negro Nan is now big with one feather Bed and Twenty Pounds in Current Money to him and his heirs forever.
I Give and Bequeath to my Beloved Wife Jane Hanson my Lots and Houses in Frederick Town and which I purchased of a certain Adam Koon for and during her Natural life and after her Decease I Give the said Lots and Houses to my son Alexander and his heirs forever the remaining part of my personal Estate not herein before Divided
I Also Give and Bequeath to my said Wife forever.
My will is that Debts which may be Justly due and owing from me at the time of my Death my be paid and satisfied out of the Debts that may be due and owing to me and if those Debts or what may be Collected be not Sufficient to discharge what I owe then my will is that the Deficiency be paid and Satisfied out of the Legacies given to my Son Alexander and out of the Residuary part of my Personal Estate to my Wife in due proportion according to the Value of the Personal estate hereby bequeathed to each of them.
I give and Bequeath to my much esteemed Son in Law Doct. Philip Thomas one Mourning Ring
Lastly I Constitute and Ordain my Wife Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament And I desire my Estate may not be Appraised or any Inventory thereof returned unless she shall Choose to Appraise and Inventory the same And I do hereby revoke all former Wills by me made and in Testimony Whereof I have in the presence of the Witnessed Subscribing Signed Published and Declared this to be my last will and affix my seal to the same this 20th day of September 1781
Signed Sealed Published and
John Hanson jr (seal)
Declared in the Presence of us (signature)John Nelson, Jeffery Magruder, Rich Butler
Frederick County April 13th 1784 Then came Jane Hanson and made Oath that the a foregoing Instrument of writing is the True and Whole Will and Testiment of John Hanson late of Frederick County Deceased that hath Come to her hands in Posession and that she Doth not know of any other - Geo. Murdock Regt.
Frederick County April 13th 1784 Then came Richard Butler one of the Subscribing Witnesses to the aforegoing Last Will and Testament of John Hanson late of Frederick County Deceased and made Oath the Holy evangelists
President John Hanson is believed to be buried in Addison Graveyard, at Oxon Hill.
[1] James Terry White, The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, James T. White Company, New York, 1909, page 312
[2] See this website’s page “John Hanson Myths” for the refutation of both assertions.
[3] Alexander Contee Hanson was appointed by General Washington as his private secretary during Revolutionary War. Alexander would spend most of his service in the field.
[4] Peter Contee Hanson served as an Army Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War and died in the Battle of Fort Washington, New York, on November 16, 1776 at the age 25.
[5] Samuel Contee Hanson, the Hanson’s youngest son, served as surgeon on the staff of General George Washington. He was killed in action on June 29, 1781 at the age 24.
[6] The Maryland Assembly exists today and has remained a part-time “citizen legislature” for more than 350 years. The first assembly convened on February 26, 1635 but was not recognized by the Proprietary’s representative, Governor Leonard Calvert, and its records are lost. Three years later the Maryland General Assembly would convene again on January 25, 1638 with the blessings of the Governor. The meeting took place at the original Maryland capital in St. Mary’s City. It was at St. Mary’s in 1649 that the Maryland General Assembly enacted the Act of Religious Toleration making it the only place in the world at that time where freedom of religion was granted to its citizens under law. In 1694 the General Assembly designated Anne Arundel Town (now known as Annapolis) as the capital of Maryland and held its first session at that location The General Assembly met for the first time in the new capital in 1695, and there it has sat continuously since, with two exceptions. In April 1757 an epidemic of smallpox in Annapolis drove it to Baltimore, and in April 1861, the Assembly left Annapolis and repaired to Frederick, a Maryland city loyal to the Union.
[7] Dr. Philip Thomas (1747-1812) began his medical practice in Frederick after studying at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. His role during the Revolutionary War involved the forwarding of supplies from the Frederick County militia to the Continental Army, including several shipments to Washington at Yorktown. Thomas also had charge of the Hession Barracks in Frederick that was used as a jail for British prisoners during the war along with Fort Frederick. After the battle of Yorktown Washington order the transfer of British prisoners to different confinement areas in several states. Those to be forwarded to Fort Frederick, placed under Thomas's care, included Light Infantry, 594; Seventeenth Foot, 205; Thirty-Third Foot, 225; Seventy-first Foot, 242; Eightieth Foot, 558; Hereditary Prince, 425; Regiment Du Bose, 271; Jagers, 68; British Legion, 192; and North Carolina Volunteers, 114;. For a total destined for Fort Frederick of 2924. For these and other services Thomas attained the rank of Colonel. Jane Hanson, his wife, passed away at their Frederick home forcing John Hanson to take a summer of 1781 leave of absence from the USCA in Philadelphia. Hanson would return to Congress in September 1781 and be elected its President. His letters in 1781 and 1782 to Philip Thomas have provided scholars with much information on Hanson’s political, business and family was serving as USCA President. Thomas and the President remained friends and business partners until Hanson’s death in 1783. In 1789 Thomas was one of the electors for George Washington in the first nation election for U.S. President.
[8] On June 20, 1774 John Hanson was elected Chairman of Frederick County Committee of Observation, the new county governing body, which is equivalent to the current Frederick County Board of Commissioners.
[9] On June 21, 1775 Hanson was elected Frederick County Treasurer
[10] Proceedings Of The Conventions Of The Province Of Maryland, Held At The City Of Annapolis, on the twenty-second day of June, 1774; on the twenty-first day of November, 1774; on the eighth day of December, 1774; on the twenty-fourth day of April, 1775; and on the twenty-sixth day of July, 1775 Volume 78, Page 5
[11] Article X, Proceedings Of The Conventions Of The Province Of Maryland, Held At The City Of Annapolis, on the twenty-second day of June, 1774. Volume 78, Page 5
[12] John Hanson to Charles Carroll of Carrolton, September 7, 1780, LDC 1774-1789
[13] John Hanson to Charles Carroll of Carrolton, December 11, 1780, LDC 1774-1789
[14] Maryland Plan, for the purpose of this work, is the series of Maryland demands, beginning in 1777, that required all state land claims to the Northwest Territory be ceded to the Articles of Confederation government, the United States in Congress Assembled (USCA).
[15] Instructions of the General Assembly of Maryland to George Plater, William Paca, William Carmichael, John Henry, James Forbes, and Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Esqs. laid before the Continental Congress on 21st of May, 1779, State Claims Northwest Territory Address Of Hon William E. Chilton Of West Virginia , In The Senate of The United States On April 10. 1912, p.5-6
[16] Journals of the US Continental Congress, September 6, 1780
[17] Journals of the US Continental Congress, October 10, 1780
[18] John Hanson to Charles Carroll of Carrolton, November 28, 1780, LDC 1774-1789
[19] Daniel Carroll to Charles Carroll of Carrolton, February 20, 1781, LDC 1774-1789
[20] February 22, 1781, JCC 1774-1789
[21] Articles of Confederation, March 1, 1781, JCC 1774-1789
[22] March 2, 1781, JCC 1774-1789
[23] John Hanson to Thomas Lee, April 2, 1781, LDC 1774-1789
[24] John Hanson to Phillip Thomas, April, 10, 1781, LDC 1774-1789
[25] John Hanson to Thomas Lee, October 2, 1781, LDC 1774-1789
[26] John Hanson to Thomas Lee, October 10, 1781, LDC 1774-1789
[27] Election of John Hanson, Journals of the United States, in Congress Assembled, November 5, 1781
[28] Elias Boudinot to John Stevens, November 5, 1781, LDC 1774-1789
[29] John Hanson to Phillip Thomas, November 6, 1781, LDC 1774-1789
[30] John Hanson to Thomas McKean, November 10, 1781, LDC 1774-1789
[31] John Hanson to George Washington, November 10, 1781, LDC 1774-1789
[32] Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al., A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789, John Hanson, Jr. Maryland State Archives, page 406
[33] John Hanson to States, November 15, 1781, LDC 1774-1789
[34] Constitution of the United States, Article 1, Section 2: "The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."
[35] John Hanson to Marquis de Lafayette, November 25, 1781, LDC 1774-1789
[36] Washington’s Remarks to the USCA, November 28, 1781, JCC 1774-1789
[37], Bank of North America, December 3, 1781, JCC 1774-1789
[38] John Hanson to Phillip Thomas, January 14, 1782, LDC 1774-1789
[39] Ibid, January 28th, 1782
[40] January 28, 1782, JCC 1774-1789
[41] Ebenezer Hazard (1744–1817) was born in Philadelphia and educated at Princeton University. He established a publishing business in New York in (1770). He was appointed NYC's Postmaster in 1776 and U.S. Postmaster General in 1782.
[42] Ibid
[43] Ibid, February 18th, 1782
[44] Ibid, February 21st, 1782
[45] Ibid, Department of Foreign affairs February 22nd, 1782
[46] John Hanson to John Hancock, March 1, 1782, LDC 1774-1789
[47] John Hanson to Phillip Thomas, February 23, 1782, LDC 1774-1789
[48] For more on red money see Kathryn L. Behrens, Paper Money in Maryland, 1727-1789 (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1923), pp. 72-75.
[49] John Hanson to Thomas Sim Lee, March 12, 1782, LDC 1774-1789
[50] John Hanson to Phillip Thomas, March 18, 1782, LDC 1774-1789
[51] Ibid, Day of Fasting, March 19, 1782
[52] John Hanson to Nathanael Greene, March 22, 1782, LDC 1774-1789
[53] Vice President Motion, April 15, 1782, JCC 1774-1789
[54] Chairman Motion, April 15, 1782, JCC 1774-1789
[55] Daniel Carroll Elected Chairman, April 15, 1782, JCC 1774-1789
[56] John Hanson to Phillip Thomas, April 27, 1782, LDC 1774-1789
[57] John Hanson to Phillip Thomas, April 30, 1782, LDC 1774-1789
[58] John Hanson to Phillip Thomas, May 8, 1782, LDC 1774-1789
[59] King George III, An act to enable His Majesty to conclude a peace or truce with certain Colonies in North America Colonies in North America therein Mentioned. Printed Charles Eyre and William Strahan, London, September 21, 1782
[60] John Hanson to Thomas Sim Lee, October 15, 1782, LDC 1774-1789
[61] Ibid, Great Seal of the United States in Congress Assembled, June 20, 1782
[62] John Hanson to Thomas Sim Lee, The August 2 conciliatory letter of Gen. Guy Carleton and Adm. Robert Digby to Washington, which the latter had enclosed with August 5 letter to Congress, was printed in this day's Pennsylvania Packet. LDC 1774-1789
[63] Ibid, Aiken’s Bible, September 12, 1782
[64] Bancroft-Parkman, American Book Prices Current, Published 1895, Page 206
[65] Treaty Instructions to Benjamin Franklin, September 28, 1782, JCC 177-1789
[66] Opt Cit, “Public Thanksgiving to God “ October 11th, 1782
[67] John Hanson to Estévan Mirù, October 29, 1782, LDC 1774-1789
The Congressional Evolution of the United States of America
Continental Congress of the United Colonies Presidents
Continental Congress of the United Colonies Presidents
Sept. 5, 1774 to July 1, 1776
September 5, 1774
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October 22, 1774
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October 22, 1774
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October 26, 1774
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May 20, 1775
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May 24, 1775
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May 25, 1775
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July 1, 1776
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Commander-in-Chief United Colonies & States of America
George Washington: June 15, 1775 - December 23, 1783
Continental Congress of the United States Presidents
July 2, 1776 to February 28, 1781
July 2, 1776
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October 29, 1777
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November 1, 1777
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December 9, 1778
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December 10, 1778
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September 28, 1779
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September 29, 1779
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February 28, 1781
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Presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789
March 1, 1781
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July 6, 1781
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July 10, 1781
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Declined Office
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July 10, 1781
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November 4, 1781
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November 5, 1781
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November 3, 1782
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November 4, 1782
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November 2, 1783
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November 3, 1783
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June 3, 1784
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November 30, 1784
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November 22, 1785
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November 23, 1785
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June 5, 1786
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June 6, 1786
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February 1, 1787
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February 2, 1787
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January 21, 1788
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January 22, 1788
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January 21, 1789
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Presidents of the United States of America
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*Confederate States of America
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(1929-1933)
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United Colonies Continental Congress
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President
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18th Century Term
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Age
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Elizabeth "Betty" Harrison Randolph (1745-1783)
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09/05/74 – 10/22/74
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29
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Mary Williams Middleton (1741- 1761) Deceased
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Henry Middleton
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10/22–26/74
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n/a
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Elizabeth "Betty" Harrison Randolph (1745–1783)
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05/20/ 75 - 05/24/75
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30
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Dorothy Quincy Hancock Scott (1747-1830)
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05/25/75 – 07/01/76
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28
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United States Continental Congress
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President
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Term
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Age
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Dorothy Quincy Hancock Scott (1747-1830)
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07/02/76 – 10/29/77
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29
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Eleanor Ball Laurens (1731- 1770) Deceased
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Henry Laurens
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11/01/77 – 12/09/78
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n/a
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Sarah Livingston Jay (1756-1802)
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12/ 10/78 – 09/28/78
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21
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Martha Huntington (1738/39–1794)
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09/29/79 – 02/28/81
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41
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United States in Congress Assembled
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President
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Term
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Age
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Martha Huntington (1738/39–1794)
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03/01/81 – 07/06/81
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42
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Sarah Armitage McKean (1756-1820)
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07/10/81 – 11/04/81
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25
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Jane Contee Hanson (1726-1812)
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11/05/81 - 11/03/82
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55
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Hannah Stockton Boudinot (1736-1808)
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11/03/82 - 11/02/83
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46
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Sarah Morris Mifflin (1747-1790)
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11/03/83 - 11/02/84
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36
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Anne Gaskins Pinkard Lee (1738-1796)
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11/20/84 - 11/19/85
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46
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Dorothy Quincy Hancock Scott (1747-1830)
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11/23/85 – 06/06/86
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38
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Rebecca Call Gorham (1744-1812)
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06/06/86 - 02/01/87
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42
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Phoebe Bayard St. Clair (1743-1818)
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02/02/87 - 01/21/88
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43
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Christina Stuart Griffin (1751-1807)
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01/22/88 - 01/29/89
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36
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Constitution of 1787
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President
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Term
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Age
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April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797
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57
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March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801
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52
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Martha Wayles Jefferson Deceased
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September 6, 1782 (Aged 33)
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n/a
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40
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March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825
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48
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March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829
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50
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December 22, 1828 (aged 61)
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February 5, 1819 (aged 35)
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n/a
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March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841
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65
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April 4, 1841 – September 10, 1842
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50
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June 26, 1844 – March 4, 1845
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23
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41
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60
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July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853
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52
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March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857
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46
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n/a
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n/a
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March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865
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42
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February 22, 1862 – May 10, 1865
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April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869
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54
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March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877
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43
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March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881
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45
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March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881
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48
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January 12, 1880 (Aged 43)
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n/a
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June 2, 1886 – March 4, 1889
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21
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March 4, 1889 – October 25, 1892
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56
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June 2, 1886 – March 4, 1889
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28
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March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901
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49
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September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909
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40
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March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913
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47
| ||
March 4, 1913 – August 6, 1914
|
52
| ||
December 18, 1915 – March 4, 1921
|
43
| ||
March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923
|
60
| ||
August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929
|
44
| ||
March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933
|
54
| ||
March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945
|
48
| ||
April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953
|
60
| ||
January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961
|
56
| ||
January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963
|
31
| ||
November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969
|
50
| ||
January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974
|
56
| ||
August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977
|
56
| ||
January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981
|
49
| ||
January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989
|
59
| ||
January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993
|
63
| ||
January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001
|
45
| ||
January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009
|
54
| ||
January 20, 2009 to date
|
45
|
Capitals of the United Colonies and States of America
Philadelphia
|
Sept. 5, 1774 to Oct. 24, 1774
| |
Philadelphia
|
May 10, 1775 to Dec. 12, 1776
| |
Baltimore
|
Dec. 20, 1776 to Feb. 27, 1777
| |
Philadelphia
|
March 4, 1777 to Sept. 18, 1777
| |
Lancaster
|
September 27, 1777
| |
York
|
Sept. 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778
| |
Philadelphia
|
July 2, 1778 to June 21, 1783
| |
Princeton
|
June 30, 1783 to Nov. 4, 1783
| |
Annapolis
|
Nov. 26, 1783 to Aug. 19, 1784
| |
Trenton
|
Nov. 1, 1784 to Dec. 24, 1784
| |
New York City
|
Jan. 11, 1785 to Nov. 13, 1788
| |
New York City
|
October 6, 1788 to March 3,1789
| |
New York City
|
March 3,1789 to August 12, 1790
| |
Philadelphia
|
Dec. 6,1790 to May 14, 1800
| |
Washington DC
|
November 17,1800 to Present
|
Book a primary source exhibit and a professional speaker for your next event by contacting Historic.us today. Our Clients include many Fortune 500 companies, associations, non-profits, colleges, universities, national conventions, PR and advertising agencies. As a leading national exhibitor of primary sources, many of our clients have benefited from our historic displays that are designed to entertain and educate your target audience. Contact us to learn how you can join our "roster" of satisfied clientele today!
Hosted by The New Orleans Jazz Museum and The Louisiana Historical Center
Hosted by The New Orleans Jazz Museum and The Louisiana Historical Center
Historic.us
A Non-profit Corporation
A Non-profit Corporation
Primary Source Exhibits
727-771-1776 | Exhibit Inquiries
202-239-1774 | Office
202-239-0037 | FAX
Dr. Naomi and Stanley Yavneh Klos, Principals
Naomi@Historic.us
Stan@Historic.us
Primary Source exhibits are available for display in your community. The costs range from $1,000 to $35,000 depending on length of time on loan and the rarity of artifacts chosen.
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| U.S. Dollar Presidential Coin Mr. Klos vs Secretary Paulson - Click Here |
The United Colonies of North America Continental Congress Presidents (1774-1776)
The United States of America Continental Congress Presidents (1776-1781)
The United States of America in Congress Assembled Presidents (1781-1789)
The United States of America Presidents and Commanders-in-Chiefs (1789-Present)
The United States of America Continental Congress Presidents (1776-1781)
The United States of America in Congress Assembled Presidents (1781-1789)
The United States of America Presidents and Commanders-in-Chiefs (1789-Present)
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