Sir,
Philadelphia
7th Jany. 1776
We have the Honor of your Letter of 26th last Month, the Marine Service is of such vast Importance that We doubt not of your utmost Attention to it in all its Branches.
The Ravages committed by the armed Vessels & the continual Alarms raised by them must be very distressing to the Colony but what would not a wise Man do or suffer to preserve his Liberty, the alone Source of human Happiness and only Security for the permanent Enjoyment of it. The Colony has bravely defended Itself and supported the common Cause of America. The next Campaign of our Enemies will make every possible Effort against Us [and] will probably require still greater Exertions. We are therefore clearly in Opinion with You that a Regiment ought to be raised & kept up in the Colony at the continental Expence & shall embrace the first favourable Opportunity of applying for one. If by the divine Blessing We succeed next Campaign, the Burthen of the War will be over & the Reestablishment of our just Rights and Privileges will be the glorious Reward of this arduous Struggle.
The Removal of the Stock is of great Importance & We are happy to find that proper Measures are adopted for that Purpose.
We lament that any Persons should be so lost to Virtue & the Love of their Country as to attempt to divide Us when our Union is essential to our Preservation but We hope that the wise & temperate & yet spirited Conduct of the general Assembly will prevent the intended Mischief & preserve Union in the Colony.
We are concerned for the Uneasiness occasioned by the different Constructions of the Resolve of l 5th July last. We lately gave our Opinion upon it, but horned Cattle, Sheep, hogs & poultry cannot be exported by it, our extreme Want of Powder occasioned that Resolve.(1) No Man ought to take the Advantages of the Necessities of his Country to demand exorbitant Prices for what she stands in Need of, nor to abuse a License given by her to her Injury or should an instance of that kind happen others ought by no Means to violate her Resolves for if once the Resolutions of Congress are trampled upon there will be no common Bond of Union left, no adequate Power to collect & exert the united Strength of the Colonies, Confusion and certain Destruction would soon follow. A moments Reflection must satisfy any Man of this & induce him as he values everything dear to human Nature religiously to support the Resolves of Congress.
We are with great Regard Sir Your most obedient very humble Servants
Sam Ward
P.S. Mr. Hopkins is so engaged he could not attend to look over the letters & desired me to sign & forward them myself, for important news refer you to my Letter to the Govr. & Com[pan]y.(2)
This Moment an Express from N. York has brought the Kings Speech at the Opening of Parliament which I have enclosed;(3) It is decisive; Every Man must now be convinced that under God our Safety depends wholly upon a brave, wise and determined Resistance. May infinite Wisdom direct all your measures to the Preservation of America in general and the Happiness of the Colony in particular.
S. Ward
RC (RHi). Ward, Correspondence (Knollenberg), pp. 171-72.
1 On July 15, 1775, Congress approved the exportation of American "produce" in exchange for certain war materials. Then, on October 26, it ordered copies of this resolve distributed throughout Europe and the West Indies, with the term "provisions" replaced by the phrase "the produce of these colonies," and passed another resolve permitting American exports to the foreign West Indies "except horned cattle, sheep, hogs, and poultry." JCC, 2:184-85, 3:306, 308. For an indication of the confusion caused by these apparently conflicting resolves, see Ward to Nathaniel Shaw, Jr., December 13, 1775
2 Not found.
3 See John Dickinson's Proposed Resolutions on a Petition to the King, January 9-24, 1776, note.
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