[24] The Journal of the Continental Congress, II, 26.
[25] Ramsay, "The History of South Carolina" [Edition, 1809], I, 474-475.
[26] _The Gazette of the State of South Carolina_, Nov. 22, 1784.
[27] Moore, "Historical Notes," 14.
[28] Sparks, "Washington's Works," III, 218.
[29] Ibid.
[30] Letter of General Thomas to John Adams, Oct. 24, 1775.
[31] Moore, "Historical Notes," 4.
[32] Hamilton's "Works," I, 76-78.
[33] Moore, "Historical Notes," 13.
[34] Madison's Papers, 68.
[35] Letter of Hamilton to Jay, March 14, 1779; and Journals of the
Continental Congress.
[36] Hening, Statutes at Large, IX, 280.
[37] Ibid., XI, 308, 309.
[38] Rhode Island Colonial Records, VIII, 640, 641.
[39] Ibid., 358-360.
[40] Moore, "Historical Notes," 19.
[41] Manuscripts in the Archives of Massachusetts, CXCIX, 80.
[42] Moore, "Historical Notes," 20.
[43] Laws of the State of New York, Chapter XXXII, Fourth Session.
[44] Sparks, "Correspondence of the American Revolution," III, 331.
[45] Moore, "Historical Notes," 20.
[46] Ibid., 21.
[47] Taking up the Southern situation, Hamilton in 1779 wrote Jay as
follows:
"_Dear Sir_: Colonel Laurens, who will have the honor of delivering
you this letter, is on his way to South Carolina, on a project which I
think, in the present situation of affairs there, is a very good one,
and deserves every kind of support and encouragement. This is, to
raise two, three, or four battalions of negroes, with the assistance
of the government of that State, by contributions from the owners, in
proportion to the number they possess. If you should think proper to
enter upon the subject with him, he will give you a detail of his
plan. He wishes to have it recommended by Congress to the State; and,
as an inducement, that they would engage to take their battalions into
Continental pay.
"It appears to me, that an expedient of this kind, in the present
state of Southern affairs, is the most rational that can be adopted,
and promises very important advantages. Indeed, I hardly see how a
sufficient force can be collected in that quarter without it: and the
enemy's operations there are growing infinitely serious and
formidable. I have not the least doubt, that the negroes will make
very excellent soldiers with proper management: and I will venture to
pronounce, that they cannot be put in better hands than those of Mr.
Laurens. He has all the zeal, intelligence, enterprise, and every
other qualification, requisite to succeed in such an undertaking. It
is a maxim with some great military judges, that, with sensible
officers, soldiers can hardly be too stupid; and, on this principle,
it is thought that the Russians would make the best soldiers in the
world, if they were under other officers than their own. The King of
Prussia is among the number who maintain this doctrine, and has a very
emphatic saying on the occasion, which I do not exactly recollect. I
mention this because I have frequently heard it objected to the scheme
of embodying negroes, that they are too stupid to make soldiers. This
is so far from appearing to me a valid objection, that I think their
want of cultivation (for their natural faculties are as good as ours),
joined to that habit of subordination which they acquire from a life
of servitude will enable them sooner to become soldiers than our white
inhabitants. Let officers be men of sense and sentiment, and the
nearer the soldiers approach to machines, perhaps the better.
"I foresee that this project will have to combat much opposition from
prejudice and self-interest. The contempt we have been taught to
entertain for the blacks, makes us fancy many things that are founded
neither in reason nor experience; and an unwillingness to part with
property of so valuable a kind, will furnish a thousand arguments to
show the impracticability, or pernicious tendency, of a scheme which
requires such sacrifices. But it should be considered, that if we do
not make use of them in this way, the enemy probably will; and that
the best way to counteract the temptations they will hold out, will be
to offer them ourselves. An essential part of the plan is, to give
them their freedom with their swords. This will secure their fidelity,
animate their courage, and, I believe, will have a good influence upon
those who remain, by opening a door to their emancipation.
"This circumstance, I confess, has no small weight in inducing me to
wish the success of the project; for the dictates of humanity and true
policy equally interest me in favor of this unfortunate class of men.
"While I am on the subject of Southern affairs, you will excuse the
liberty I take in saying, that I do not think measures sufficiently
vigorous are pursuing for our defence in that quarter. Except the few
regular troops of South Carolina, we seem to be relying wholly on the
militia of that and two neighboring States. These will soon grow
impatient of service and leave our affairs in a miserable situation.
No considerable force can be uniformly kept up by militia, to say
nothing of the many obvious and well-known inconveniences that attend
this kind of troops. I would beg leave to suggest, sir, that no time
ought to be lost in making a draught of militia to serve a
twelve-month, from the States of North and South Carolina and
Virginia. But South Carolina, being very weak in her population of
whites, may be excused from the draught, on condition of furnishing
the black battalions. The two others may furnish about three thousand
five hundred men, and be exempted, on that account, from sending any
succor to this army. The States to the northward of Virginia, will be
fully able to give competent supplies to the army here; and it will
require all the force and exertions of the three States I have
mentioned, to withstand the storm which has arisen, and is increasing
in the South.
"The troops draughted, must be thrown into battalions, and officered
in the best possible manner. The best supernumerary officers may be
made use of as far as they will go. If arms are wanted for their
troops, and no better way of supplying them is to be found, we should
endeavor to levy a contribution of arms upon the militia at large.
Extraordinary exigencies demand extraordinary means. I fear this
Southern business will become a very _grave_ one.
"With the truest respect and esteem, I am, sir, your most obedient
servant,