President John Jay
Third President of the Continental Congress
United States of America
December 10, 1778 to September 29, 1779
Copyright © Stan Klos, President Who? Forgotten Founders 2004 & 2008
The United States Continental Congress 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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Commander-in-Chief United States of America
George Washington: July 2, 1776 - February 28, 1781
John Jay (December 23 [O.S. December 12], 1745 – May 17, 1829) was a distinguished American figure, renowned as a statesman, diplomat, abolitionist, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Hailing from a prosperous lineage of merchants and government officials in New York City, Jay's ancestry comprised French Huguenot and Dutch heritage. His legal career flourished, and he actively participated in organizing opposition against British policies, notably the Intolerable Acts, through his involvement with the New York Committee of Correspondence in the period leading up to the American Revolution.
Jay's political journey began with his election to the First Continental Congress, during which he endorsed the Articles of Association. Continuing his service, he secured a seat in the Second Continental Congress, where he assumed the role of the third President from December 10, 1778, to September 29, 1779. Following this, Jay embarked on diplomatic missions, initially serving as the ambassador to Spain from 1779 to 1782. Subsequently, he was reassigned to France in 1782, where he played a crucial role as the chief negotiator of the Treaty of Paris. This historic treaty, ratified in 1784, marked Britain's recognition of American independence, effectively bringing an end to the war.
Upon his return to the United States in the Spring of 1784, John Jay declined a USCA appointment as the second Secretary of Foreign Affairs. He made this decision contingent upon Congress retracting its resolution to establish two rotating federal capital seats of government and enacting legislation to assign additional domestic responsibilities to his proposed newly named Department of State. Following the passage of this legislation on December 21, 1784, Jay accepted the position and was duly sworn in as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs on the same day. He served in this capacity until the position was dissolved in 1789.
Throughout his tenure as Foreign Secretary in New York, Jay consistently championed the idea of a strong, centralized government. His advocacy extended to actively supporting the ratification of the proposed United States Constitution of 1787, underscoring his unwavering dedication to this principle. In 1788, he collaborated with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison as a co-author of The Federalist Papers, contributing five of the eighty-five essays.
Following the formation of the new federal government, President George Washington nominated John Jay to serve as the inaugural Chief Justice of the United States on September 24, 1789. The Senate confirmed his appointment two days later, on September 26, 1789. In the interim period from September 26, 1789, to March 21, 1790, Chief Justice John Jay additionally assumed the role of acting United States Secretary of State.
In 1794, President Washington selected John Jay as the special envoy to Great Britain, tasked with preventing a potential second conflict. Jay's objectives included negotiating the opening of new Caribbean trade routes, establishing equitable trade practices, resolving Revolutionary War debts, and settling border disputes along the Northwest Territory. As part of the negotiation, the United States committed to maintaining neutrality in the ongoing war between France and Great Britain.
The Chief Justice brokered an outstanding treaty, yet the Jeffersonians staunchly supported France in its conflict with Great Britain. The Republican opposition, spearheaded by James Madison, initiated a propaganda effort, denigrating the agreement, which led Americans to dub it "Jay's Treaty." Chief Justice John Jay deemed it inappropriate for him to publicly advocate for the treaty, and despite the assistance of fellow Federalist leaders, the treaty became so unpopular that citizens could witness a trail of burning effigies from Boston to Philadelphia.
In 1795, John Jay was elected as the governor of New York and served until 1801. In the waning days of President John Adams' administration, Jay was confirmed by the Senate for another term as chief justice, but he declined the position and retired to his farm in Westchester County, New York.
Bio
John Jay was born in New York City on
December 12th, 1745 and died in Bedford, Westchester County, New York, on May
17th, 1829. He was the sixth son and eighth child of Peter Jay and Mary, Van Cortlandtof. His family was of French descent and his
great grandfather, Pierre Jay, was a Huguenot merchant of La Rochelle,
France. He grew-up on the Family’s farm
and country house in Rye, New York. His
father, a successful businessman, retired to the country at the age of 40. As a
young child Jay survived an attack of strep throat that killed his younger
sister. He also escaped smallpox that
left his brother Peter and his sister Nancy totally blind.<!--[if !supportFootnotes]
[1]
Jay, as a young man was taught by his
mother until seven when he was sent to New Rochelle to school under the tutelage
of the Rev. Peter Stoope. The Reverend
was the pastor of a French Huguenot Church that had recently joined the
Episcopal denomination. Here Jay learned
English, mathematics and French.
Rev.
Peter Stoope, was by birth a Swiss, an eccentric man, very absent-minded and
wholly devoted to mathematics, so that the parsonage was allowed to fall into
decay, and the boys were half-starved under the management of his wife, ‘who was as penurious as he was careless.’ To
keep the snow off his bed in winter, John used to stuff the broken panes of his
window with bits of wood. But the plain food agreed with him, his health was
excellent, and he used to recall afterwards the pleasure he had in the woods
picking nuts, which ‘he carried home in his stockings.’ French was spoken
generally at the parsonage and by the people of the village, who were, as its
name suggests, chiefly descendants of French refugees; thus he easily and early
learned the language that was to prove so useful to him. [2]
Jay remained in New Rochelle for three
years returning home at eleven to be privately tutored by Mr. George Murray.
Soon after turning 14 Jay took the entrance exams to Kings College (now
Columbia University). He was admitted to
the college in 1760 which, was extraordinary year in English History as it
marked the beginning of the End of the Seven Years War with the capture of
Montreal. In 1763 with the signing of
the Treaty of Paris, [3]
the sun truly never set on the British Empire.
The treaty marked the beginning of an extensive period of British
dominance outside of Europe and ended, actually, a nine year struggle that was
actually the First World War. Little is known of Jay’s college life during this
1760 to 1764 period but Pellew, his biographer, writes:
The
first two years he lodged at the house of Lawrence Homer, a painter, at "
the corner of Verlettenburgh Hill and Broadway," and the last two years he
had rooms in the college. He set himself at once, of his own accord, to curing
certain defects of utterance and rapid reading, and he made an enthusiastic
study of English composition, a study that bore fruit in the graceful and easy,
but at the same time often laconic style for which he was noted, and which in
the first Continental Congress at once placed him in " the little aristocracy
of talents and letters" with William Livingston and Dickinson. [4]
On the record there is a letter, in
1763, of John Jay writing his father about the possible raise in rent in his
New York residence. His father advised
that if the landlady does raise the rent, to say nothing, don’t argue and just
moved out.[5] In his third year John Jay turned to the law
and worked diligently in his classes.
Jay was briefly suspended, in his final month, for witnessing the
breaking of a rather expensive table but refusing to divulge the name of the
guilty student. The suspension did not affect his standing, academically, at
the College as at his graduation he was given the honor to address General
Gage, his majesty's council, the graduating class and numerous notables, on the
blessings of peace.
Students and Teachers of US History this is a video of Stanley and Christopher Klos presenting America's Four United Republics Curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. The December 2015 video was an impromptu capture by a member of the audience of Penn students, professors and guests that numbered about 200.
For More Information go to
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America's Four United Republics
Two weeks after leaving college, Jay
joined the legal office of Benjamin Kissam with his father offering some
suggestions on the execution of his apprentice agreement.[6] Here John learned the law as a Kissam
apprentice with writing, his mentor claimed, that was penned "by the rapid whirl of
Imagination" noting that young Jay must exercise caution lest
imagination rule reason.[7] Four years later in 1768 he would be admitted
to the bar of New York.
Upon being admitted to the bar Jay was
determined to start a law partnership with his friend, Robert R. Livingston who was a year
behind him in Kings College. Jay often
made his sentiments clear on his admiration for his eloquent friend writing him
kudos while leveling criticisms:
I
have often remarked Ambition to be one of your strongest Passions, and have as
often been surprised that instead of attending to such Pur[suits?] as are most
capable of gratifying so noble a Passion, you seem [rather?] to counteract your
own Purposes, and to destroy those very Hopes which you are desirous to
establish.... reject the Invitations of Syren Pleasure, and fly with hasty
Steps the flowerly Vale of unsubstantial Joys.[8]
For many years the legal partnership
of Jay & Livingston thrived in
New York City.[9] Jay was
well respected in the legal community and only one year later, in 1769, Kissam
wrote to Jay, “All the causes you have
hitherto tried, have been by a kind of inspiration."[10] Kissam
and Jay continued as great friends though often on the opposite side of the
legal question. Jay’s partner, Livingston would go on to be one of the Committee of Five who drafted the Declaration of Independence
and become U.S. Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 1781 to 1783. In 1789, as Chancellor of the State of New
York, Livingston would administer the oath of office to George Washington at Federal Hall in New
York City.
John Jay was a loyalist in the cause
of British opposition earning a comfortable living representing the wealthy
merchants, many who were friends of his father from New York City. The question that puzzled me was how a 28
year old loyalist would end up being a Delegate to the First Continental
Congress and the primary author of their Address
to the King and People of Great Britain?
In April 1774, John Jay got swept up
into the whole revolutionary affair serendipitously. Four months after the Boston Tea Party, a New
York Tea Party took place:
April
15th, the Nancy with a cargo of tea arrived off Sandy Hook, followed shortly by
the London. The Committee of Vigilance assembled, and, as soon as Captain
Lockyier of the Nancy landed in spite of their warning, escorted him to a pilot
boat and set him on board again, while the flag flew from the Liberty Pole, and
cannon thundered from the “Fields." April 23d, the Nancy stood out to sea
without landing her cargo, and with her carried Captain Chambers of the London,
from which the evening before eighteen chests of tea had been emptied into the
sea by the Liberty Boys.[11]
The dumping of tea first in Boston and
then into New York Harbor threatened rule by mob rather than law. The New York
merchants were successful businessmen prospering in the Colonies and the idea
of the interruption of trade in the Colonies’ busiest harbor was
unacceptable. When the New York Chapter
of the Sons of Liberty called a meeting of their “Vigilance Committee” to form a New York committee of
correspondence protesting the Port Bill that closed Boston Harbor the merchants
moved swiftly to establish their representatives in this new colonial political
system.
The merchants and other conservatives
turned out in force fearful of trade restrictions being imposed upon New York
by the Sons of Liberty. The merchants,
with the help of their counsel John Jay, expanded the proposed committee of
correspondence, primarily made up of the avant-garde, from 21 to 51. Jay was nominated and elected three days
later along with other conservatives giving the merchants majority control of
committee.
Amongst this turn of events,
Committeeman Jay pressed forward on his plans to marry Sarah Livingston:
On
April 28, 1774, at patriotically named ‘Liberty Hall,’ Elizabeth, New Jersey,
he married ‘the beautiful Sarah Livingston,’ the youngest daughter of William
Livingston, soon to be the famous revolutionary governor of New Jersey, and
already well known for countless literary and political poems, letters, and
essays. In the notices of the wedding, Jay, young as he was, could be described
as ‘an eminent barrister.’ [12]
The
marriage would go on to produce six
children: Peter Augustus, born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1776; Susan, born
and died in Madrid after only a few weeks of life, in 1780; Maria, born in
Madrid in 1782; Ann, born in Paris in 1783, William and Sarah Louisa, born in
NYC in 1789 and 1792. [13]
At the Committee of 51’s first meeting, Paul Revere arrived with an
urgent letter requesting that they support the non-importation measures
established by the Massachusetts Committee of Safety. John Jay, only 28, was asked to draft a reply
denying the request. The May 23, 1774
letter sent from the Committee of 51
to Boston did not support non-importation measures but it called for a Congress
represented by all the colonies.
The
alarming measures of the British Parliament relative to your ancient and
respectable town, which has so long been the seat of freedom, fill the
inhabitants of this city with inexpressible concern. As a sister colony
suffering in defense of the rights of America, we consider your injuries as a
common cause; to the redress of which, it is equally our duty and our interest
to contribute. But what ought to be done in a situation so truly critical,
while it employs the anxious thoughts of every generous mind, is very hard to
be determined. Our citizens have thought it necessary to appoint a large
committee, consisting of fifty-one persons, to correspond with our sister
colonies, on this and every other matter of public moment ; and, at ten o'clock
this forenoon we were first assembled.
Your
letter, enclosing the vote of the town of Boston, and the letter of your
Committee of Correspondence were immediately taken into consideration. While we
think you justly entitled to the thanks of your sister colonies, for asking
their advice on a case of such extensive consequences; we lament our inability
to relieve your anxiety by a decisive opinion. Take cause is general and
concerns a whole continent, who are equally interested with you and us: And we
foresee, that no remedy can be of avail, unless it proceeds from the joint act
and approbation of all.
From
a virtuous and spirited union, much may be expected, while the feeble efforts
of a few, will only be attended with mischief and disappointments to
themselves, and triumph to the adversaries of our liberty. Upon these reasons
we conclude, that a Congress of Deputies from the colonies in general, is of the
utmost moment; that it ought to be assembled without delay, and some unanimous
resolutions formed in this fatal emergency, not only respecting your deplorable
circumstances, but the security of our common rights.
Such
being our sentiments, it must be premature to pronounce any judgment on the
expedient which you have suggested. We beg, however, that you will do us the
justice to believe, that we shall continue to act with a firm and becoming
regard to American freedom, and to co-operate with our sister colonies in every
measure which shall be thought salutary and conducive to the public good. We
have nothing to add, but that we sincerely condole with you in your unexampled
distresses, and to request your speedy opinion of the reposed Congress, that if
it should meet with your approbation, we may exert our utmost endeavours to
carry it into execution.[14]
This reply cleared Committee of 51 of any treasonous acts
against the Crown, kept the harbor open, and sought citizen’s measures through
a peaceful Congress of all the Colonies. Despite the measure, The Son’s of
Liberty tried to pressure the citizens of New York to support the Boston
non-importation measures. The committee, officially called the NY Committee of
Correspondence, remained firm in their resolve and acted quickly to pass a set
of resolves with the second being:
That
all Acts of the British Parliament, imposing Taxes on the Colonies, are unjust
and unconstitutional, and particularly that the Act for blocking up the Port of
Boston is, in the highest Degree arbitrary in its Principles, oppressive in its
Operation, unparallelled in its Rigour, indefinite in its Exactions, and
subversive of every Idea of British Liberty ; and therefore justly to be
abhorred and detested by all good Men. [15]
The rule of law prevailed while New
York and John Jay’s pen unknowingly played a pivotal role in the birth and
establishing the initial mission of a Continental Congress.
On July 5, 1774 the N.Y. Committee of
Correspondence elected delegates to the Continental Congress with this
resolution:
The
Committee of Correspondence in New York, having on Monday Night last proceeded
to the Nomination of five Persons to go as Delegates for the said City and
County, on the proposed General Congress at Philadelphia, on the 1st of September
next ; the five following Persons were nominated for that Purpose:
Philip
Livingston, James Duane, John Alsop, John Jay, Isaac Low
The
Inhabitants, therefore, of this City and County, are requested to meet at the
City Hall, on THURSDAY" next, at 12 o'Clock, in order to approve of the
said five Persons as Delegates, or to choose such other in their Stead, as to
their Wisdom shall seem meet. By Order of the Committee, Isaac Low, Chairman.
Tuesday 5th, July, 1774 [16]
 |
| John Jay's Nomination to the 1st Continental Congress - - Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division.[17] |
Jay was a delegate to the First
Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774. Jay was a
loyalist and heavily supported Joseph Galloway’s Plan to restore the Colonies
to a permanent Union with Great Britain. John Adams wrote of Jay and the Plan:
He
has a horrid Opinion of Galloway, Jay, and the Rutledges. Their System he says
would ruin the Cause of America. He is very impatient to see such Fellows, and
not be at Liberty to describe them in their true Colours.[18]
The Plan, discussed in a previous
chapter, failed of a vote six to five by the Colonies. Jay, a staunch conservative, did however sign
the Articles of Association which implemented radical measures
against the crown:
Article
I - That from and after the first day of December next, we will not import,
into British America, from Great-Britain or Ireland, any goods, wares, or
merchandise whatsoever, or from any other place, any such goods, wares, or
merchandise, as shall have been exported from Great-Britain or Ireland; nor
will we, after that day, import any East-India tea from any part of the world;
nor any molasses, syrups, paneles, coffee, or pimento, from the British
plantations or from Dominica; nor wines from Madeira, or the Western Islands;
nor foreign indigo.[19]
The Articles also stated:
And we do solemnly bind
ourselves and our constituents, under the ties aforesaid, to adhere to this association,
until such parts of the several acts of parliament passed since the close of
the last war, as impose or continue duties on tea, wine, molasses, syrups
paneles, coffee, sugar, pimento, indigo, foreign paper, glass, and painters'
colours, imported into America, and extend the powers of the admiralty courts
beyond their ancient limits, deprive the American subject of trial by jury,
authorize the judge's certificate to indemnify the prosecutor from damages,
that he might otherwise be liable to from a trial by his peers, require
oppressive security from a claimant of ships or goods seized, before he shall
be allowed to defend his property, are repealed.-And until that part of the act
of the 12 G. 3. ch. 24, entitled "An act for the better securing his
majesty's dock-yards magazines, ships, ammunition, and stores," by which
any persons charged with committing any of the offenses therein described, in
America, may be tried in any shire or county within the realm, is repealed-and
until the four acts, passed the last session of parliament, viz. that for
stopping the port and blocking up the harbour of Boston-that for altering the
charter and government of the Massachusetts-Bay-and that which is entitled
"An act for the better administration of justice, &c."-and that
"for extending the limits of Quebec, &c." are repealed. And we
recommend it to the provincial conventions, and to the committees in the
respective colonies, to establish such farther regulations as they may think
proper, for carrying into execution this association.[20]
With this signature, John Jay endorsed
the steps more radical than those so earnestly avoided by the Committee of 51 only six months
earlier. The liberal Adam-Lee Faction,
unbeknownst to many of the conservatives, had won because the Continental
Congress was transformed into a revolutionary quasi-government of the Colonies
with the execution of the Articles
of Association. Although a loyalist
no longer, Jay remained conservative on all matters concerning a colonial
separation from Great Britain
John Jay, still only 28 in October,
became quite active in key Congressional Committees. Abraham Yates' notes on Jay, at the First Continental
Congress, recount the 28 year old Jay’s important standing in the committees.
Sept.
5: appears as delegate from New York Oct. 11: on committee to draw up memorial
to people of Great Britain and to people of America. Oct. 25: appointed to draw
up a letter to an agent.[21]
Jay’s notes on his committee involvement
are as follows:
Committee for Address to
the King, appointed 1 Oct
Reported and recommendation of Dickinson added to the Committee 21 Oct
Again reported 24, Oct. -- approved 25, October
Committee for memorial to Colonies and address to G. Borham appointed 11 Oct.
address and reported 15 Oct -- recommitted 18 Oct -- returned and approved 21 Oct
memorial reported 19 Oct -- approved 21 Oct
Reported and recommendation of Dickinson added to the Committee 21 Oct
Again reported 24, Oct. -- approved 25, October
Committee for memorial to Colonies and address to G. Borham appointed 11 Oct.
address and reported 15 Oct -- recommitted 18 Oct -- returned and approved 21 Oct
memorial reported 19 Oct -- approved 21 Oct
Committee for Address to
Quebec and Letters to S Sam Johns appoint 21, October
Address to Quebec, reported and recommitted 24 Oct again reported and approved 26 Oct
Committee for Letter to Colony Agents appoint 25 Oct
With Address to the King should enclosed Appoint 25 Oct
reported and approved 26 Oct” [22]
Address to Quebec, reported and recommitted 24 Oct again reported and approved 26 Oct
Committee for Letter to Colony Agents appoint 25 Oct
With Address to the King should enclosed Appoint 25 Oct
reported and approved 26 Oct” [22]
As one of a committee of three (John
Jay, Richard Henry Lee and
William Livingston) Jay prepared the "Address to the People of Great
Britain," which, was primarily his work. It was Richard Henry Lee who, along with
Jay, wrote separate drafts. Lee, being the senior statesmen, did not work with
Jay to incorporate a blending of the two different approaches to the
address. Lee’s draft, therefore, was
presented to Congress and it was not warmly received. William Livingston
retained Jay’s draft and read it to Congress not identifying the author. Congress immediately embraced this draft and
adopted with little alteration on October 21, 1774. Intrigue between Richard Henry Lee and John Jay began with this committee and permeated
congress as the two men took opposite sides of the aisles. John Adams
wrote:
Mr.
Arthur Lee in London, had heard some insinuations against Mr. Jay as a
suspicious Character, and had written to his Brother Richard Henry Lee or to
Mr. Samuel Adams or both: and although they were groundless and injurious, as I
have no doubt, my Friends had communicated them too indiscreetly, and had
spoken of Mr. Jay too lightly. Mr. Lee had expressed doubts whether Mr. Jay had
composed the Address to the People of Great Britain and ascribed it to his
Father in Law Mr. Livingston afterwards Governor of New Jersey. These Things
had occasioned some Words, and Animosities which Uniting with the great
Questions in Congress, had some disagreable Effects. Mr. Jays great Superiority
to Mr. Livingston in the Art of Composition would now be sufficient to decide
the question if the latter had [not] expressly denyed having any share in that
Address.[23]
Thomas Jefferson, while ignorant of
the authorship of the Address to the
People of Great Britain, declared it to be "a production certainly
of the finest pen in America."
[24]
Congress
ended the first session approving John Dickinson’s, a staunch
conservative Delegate from Pennsylvania, Petition to the King which,
blamed the current events on the King’s counselors, ministers and governors.
Your
royal indignation, we hope, will rather fall on those designing and dangerous
men, who daringly interposing themselves between your royal person and your
faithful subjects, and for several years past incessantly employed to dissolve
the bonds of society, by abusing your majesty's authority, misrepresenting your
American subjects and prosecuting the most desperate and irritating projects of
oppression, have at length compelled us, by the force of accumulated injuries
too severe to be any longer tolerable, to disturb your majesty's repose by our
complaints.[25]
The Delegates would conclude as penned
by Dickinson:
Your
royal indignation, we hope, will rather fall on those designing and dangerous
men, who daringly interposing themselves between your royal person and your
faithful subjects, and for several years past incessantly employed to dissolve
the bonds of society, by abusing your majesty's authority, misrepresenting your
American subjects and prosecuting the most desperate and irritating projects of
oppression, have at length compelled us, by the force of accumulated injuries
too severe to be any longer tolerable, to disturb your majesty's repose by our
complaints. [26]
John Jay
returned to New York and although embraced by the liberals was shunned by many
conservatives due to his labors in Congress.
Not
all New Yorker, however, were ecstatic over the new developments. Many felt that it was more desirable to
submit to parliamentary measures that they then to be tyrannized by extra-legal
and violent actions of the local committeemen.
When the old Provincial Assembly met early in 1775, the conservatives
were in control. They disreguarded the
efforts of Congress and instead sent their own petition to King George. Later they refused to choose delegates
Second Continental Congress, and word spread in the other colonies that New
York might desert the Association. [27]
Jay remained firm on his resolve to
abide by the Articles of Association
and measures taken in Congress despite the Provincial Assembly’s actions:
Jay
was at once elected one of a committee of sixty, called a Committee of
Inspection, that superseded the old Committee of Fifty-one, and that was
specially charged with promoting non-importation. It is not surprising that in
this familiar business the Committee of Mechanics cooperated heartily. The
committee for the relief of Boston, of which Jay was also a member, was
likewise not unoccupied.
Inspection
was variously engaged, searching ships for imported goods, examining captains
and boatmen, selling confiscated property at public vendue, warning the people
of, for instance, the scarcity of nails, and recommending that none should be
exported, or contradicting false statements published by the loyalist editors.[28]
Jay and others formed the New York Provincial Congress to
replace the New York Provincial Assembly with the first meeting was convening
on April 20, 1775 in New York City with Philip Livingston as its chairman:
CITY
AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK.— Philip Livingston, Esquire, John Alsop, Esquire, James
Duane, Esquire, John Jay, Esquire, Colonel Leonard Lispenard, Mr. Francis
Lewis, Mr. Abraham Walton, Mr. Isaac Roosevelt, Mr. Alexander McDougall, and
Mr. Abraham Brasher.
CITY
AND COUNTY OF ALBANY.—Colonel Philip Schuyler, colonel Abraham Ten Broeck, and
Abraham Yates, Junior, Esquire.
ULSTER
COUNTY.—Charles De Witt, George Clinton, and Levy Pawling, Esquires.
ORANGE
COUNTY.—Colonel A. Hawkes Hay, Henry Wisner, Esquire, John Herring, Esquire,
Mr. Peter Clowes, and Mr. Israel Seely.
WESTCHESTER
COUNTY.—Colonel Lewis Morris, John Thomas, Junior, Esquire, Robert Graham,
Esquire, Major Philip Van Cortlandt, Samuel Drake, Esquire, and Mr. Stephen
Ward.
DUTCHESS
COUNTY.—Colonel Morris Graham, Major Robert R. Livingston, Junior, and Egbert
Benson, Esquire.
KING’S
COUNTY.—Simon Boerum, Esquire, Captain Richard Stillwell, Mr. Theodorus
Polhemus, Mr. Denice Denice, and Mr. John Vanderbilt.
SUFFOLK
COUNTY.—Colonel William Floyd, Colonel Nathaniel Woodhull, Colonel Phineas
Fanning, Thomas Tredwell, Esquire, and John Sloss Hobart, Esquire.
NEW-TOWN
AND FLUSHING, IN QUEEN’S COUNTY.—Colonel Jacob Blackwell and Mr. John Talman.”[29]
The
Convention unanimously chose Philip Livingston, Esquire, to be their President.
Only Tryon, Gloucester, and Cumberland
were not represented and the five new delegates, including John Jay, were
elected to the Second Continental Congress with the following instructions:
Delegates
to represent this Colony at such Congress, with full power to them, or any five
of them, to meet the Delegates from the other Colonies, and to concert and
determine upon such measures as shall be judged most effectual for the
preservation and re-establishment of American rights and privileges, and for
the restoration of harmony between Great
Britain and the Colonies.[30]
The scope of the Provincial Congress
did not extend beyond electing delegates they dispersed on April 22. A
Committee of now 100 became the Colonial Government of New York as the Provincial
Assembly disbanded itself earlier on April 3rd.
The need for a Second Continental Congress was dire as the King never responded to the 1774 petitions
and the battle of Lexington had begun.
The people of New York City were plagued by mobs as news poured in of
the military action in Massachusetts. The new committee of 100, of which Jay
was an influential member, worked tirelessly to restore order in the midst of
the political and military chaos. The mobs continued while Congress in session
even effecting Kings College. [31]
As a member of the second congress,
which met in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775, Jay was obliged to leave for New
York but arrived late after the session began.
The mood was solemn. John Adams wrote, “Battle of Lexington on the 19th of April, changed the Instruments of
Warfare from the Penn to the Sword.” [32]
Jay served on various committees
including a committee on May 26 to draw up a letter to people of Canada, a
committee on the Necessity of taking up
Arms, a committee to write a letter to the King (Olive Branch Petition),
another on writing a letter to the people of Massachusetts Bay who petitioned
Congress and finally on July 12th committee to plan protection for
trade of the colonies.
John Jay, primarily, drafted the "Address
to the People of Canada and of Ireland" which was adopted by Congress but virtually ignored by the citizens of
both regions. After
working diligently on the committee for the Necessity
of taking up Arms and the measures adopted, he lobbied hard in Congress to
send a second petition to the King which was written by John Dickinson. On July 8th the petition was
signed by the members of congress individually.
John Jay also convinced Congress to write petitions to Jamaica and
Ireland. Adams wrote of these measures:
“This Measure of Imbecility, the second Petition to the King embarrassed every Exertion of Congress: it occasioned Motions and debates without End for appointing Committees to draw up a declaration of the Causes, Motives, and Objects of taking Arms, with a view to obtain decisive declarations against Independence &c. In the Meantime the New England Army investing Boston, the New England Legislatures, Congresses and Conventions, and the whole Body of the People, were left, without Munitions of War, without Arms, Clothing, Pay or even Countenance and Encouragement.” [33]
In later years, John Adams would see the wisdom in writing all
these addresses promulgated by John Jay in a letter to Thomas Jefferson:
I never bestowed much attention to any of those addresses, which were all but repetitions of the same things; the same facts and arguments; dress and ornaments, rather than body, soul, a substance. ... I was in great error, no doubt, and am ashamed to confess it, for these things were necessary to give popularity to the cause, both at home and abroad.[34]
Neither the King nor Parliament ever
answered the petitions leaving no alternative for the Continental Congress but
capitulation or resistance to Great Britain.
These petitions, therefore, were crucial to the cause as they opened the
way for a general acquiescence among the conservatives to enact the Declaration
of Independence.
Congress Adjourned August 2, 1775 but
reconvened September 13th.
Jay was appointed was appointed a member of the secret committee on the
29th November 1775, after a confidential interview with a French officer, "to
correspond with the friends of America in Great Britain, Ireland, and other
parts of the world."[35] This was beginning of the American state
department and diplomatic service. In 1777 this committee was named the
committee of foreign affairs, and in 1781 it was succeeded by a Department of
Foreign Affairs.[36] John Adams
recalls an interesting exchange with Jay in on November 29, 1775:
Within a day or two after the Appointment in Congress of the Committee of Correspondence, Mr. Jay came to my Chamber to spend an Evening with me. I was alone, and Mr. Jay opened himself to me, with great frankness. His Object seemed to be, an Apology to me, for my being omitted in the Choice of the two great Secret Committees of Commerce and Correspondence. He said in express terms, "that my Character stood very high in Congress with the Members universally, and he knew there was but one Thing which prevented me from being universally acknowledged to be the first Man in Congress, and that was this, there was a great Division in the House, and two Men had effected it, Samuel Adams and Richard Henry Lee, and as I was known to be very intimate with those two Gentlemen, many others were jealous of me." . . . My Answer to all this was, that I had thought it very strange, and had imputed it to some secret Intrigue out of Doors, that no Member from Massachusetts had been elected on either of those Committees. That I had no Pretensions to the distinction of the first Man in Congress: and that if I had a clear title to it, I should be very far from assuming it, or wishing for it. It was a Station of too much responsibility and danger in the times and Circumstances in which We lived and were destined to life live. That I was a Friend very much Attached to Mr. Lee and Mr. Adams, because I knew them to be able Men and in Pop-up large image flexible in the cause of their Country. I could not therefore become cool in my friendship for them, for the sake of any distinctions that Congress could bestow. That I believed that too many commercial Projects and private Speculations were in contemplation by the composition of those Committees: but even those had not contributed so much to it, as the great division in the House on the Subject of Independence and the mode of carrying on the War. Mr. [illegible] Mr. Jay and I however parted good Friends and have continued such without interruption to this day 8 of March 1805. [37]
Jay was also placed on committees to
draw up a declaration justifying the determination of Congress to authorize
privateers to work against the commerce of England, committees to devise means
for supplying medicines for the army; to inquire into the dispute between
Pennsylvania and Connecticut; to review the qualifications of generals, to
purchase powder for the troops besieging Boston, and to recommend the proper
disposition of the tea then in the colonies.
John Jay was overwhelmed with work and
up until December, having to support a family on no pay. On December 23rd he wrote Sarah
Jay the news that:
I now have the Pleasure of informing you New York Convention has at length made some Provisions for their Delegates at 4 dollars per day for their attendance at this and on the last Congress ... The Allowance indeed ... by no means equal the loss I have sustained by the appointment, but the Convention I suppose consider the Honor as an Equivalent for the Residue. [38]
Jay would go on in the letter that
only five New York delegates are there, Colonel Morris and Mr. Lewis being absent,
“so I cannot leave until the session
adjourns.” He adds that he hopes to join her family in Elizabeth and will
miss SLJ greatly for Christmas. He concludes the remembers how much more
happiness they have than most people, so is grateful and “Tomorrow or on Tuesday the next Congress will I believe determined the
Time of Adjournment so that it is probably I shall have the Happiness of
wishing you a happy New Year my beloved.”[39]
This was not to be as Congress
remained hard at work through New Year’s:
December 26 Adopts plan for redemption of Continental bills of credit. December 29 Adopts solutions for importing and manufacturing salt. December 30 Recommends Secret Committee negotiations with Pierre Penet and Emanuel de Pliarne for European arms and ammunition. January 1 Recommends "the reduction of St. Augustine." January 3 Recommends a quarantine of Queens County, N.Y., for refusal to send deputies to the New York Convention, January 6 Adopts regulations for the division of marine prizes. January 8 Orders reinforcements to Canada; receives news of the king's speech from the throne (October 27, 1775) and of the destruction of Norfolk, Va., January 11 Resolves that any person refusing to accept Continental currency "shall be. . . treated as an enemy of his country. [40]
On January 4th, 1776 Jay
found it necessary to write Sir James Jay, his older brother who was knighted
by King George III for his fund raising activities for Kings College, seeking
reconciliation for the Colonies with the Crown.
Philadelphia. 4 January 1776. As to Politick's I can say little, nor do I desire that Your Letters should say anything on that Subject.(1) Thus much I can say in general that Everything with us is in a good Way, and, tho' We desire Reconciliation, are well prepared for contrary Measures. This is an unnatural Quarrel, & God only knows why the British Empire should be torn to Pieces by unjust Attempts to subjugate us. Some say a great Number of Foreign Troops are coming over, but I think it somewhat uncertain whose Battles they will fight. Adieu Dr Brother. [41]
Meanwhile Alexander Hamilton was writing John
Jay several letters informing him that that a proclamation has been issued to
dissolve the old assembly in New York to elect a new one. He was reassuring Jay
that although the Tories were saying they will dominate the election, he
believes the Whigs will prevail. At first he indicates only that that he would
like Jay to come but later he insists his presence is necessary.[42] John Jay’s first son was born in Elizabeth,
New Jersey on January 24, 1776 and he did not return to New York as her health
was precarious requiring his time and his duties in Congress required whatever
was left.
In April 1776, Jay was elected to the
New York Provincial Congress who requested his return to New York under
correspondence from the Council of Safety in May. He left Congress but did not resign his seat
but planned on returning after a few weeks in New York as he was also needed in
Philadelphia. Parliament had issued the Prohibitory Bill prohibiting the
American colonies from “all manner of
trade and commerce” and declared that any ships found trading “shall be forfeited to his Majesty, as if
the same were the ships and effects of open enemies.” This Act declared all
Americans to be outlaws beyond the king’s protection even while conservative
American leaders were working with their British counterparts to craft a
settlement to present to the King and Parliament that would end the fighting
between colonial and royal forces. John Adams wrote,
know not whether you have seen the act of parliament, called the restraining act, or piratical act, or plundering act, or act of independency, for by all these titles it is called. I think the most apposite is, the act of independency. For king, lords, and commons have united in sundering this country from that, I think, forever. It is a complete dismemberment of the British Empire. It throws thirteen colonies out of the royal protection, levels all distinctions, and makes us independent in spite of our supplications and entreaties. It may be fortunate that the act of independency should come from the British parliament, rather than the American congress; but it is very odd that Americans should hesitate at accepting such a gift from them.[43]
Jay was unable to return to:
… his seat in the Continental Congress, as the New York Provincial Congress forbade his leaving "without further orders." For this reason it was that Jay's name is not among those of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. Obedient to the call of his colony, Jay mounted horse and started forthwith for New York, where he was sworn in and took his seat in the local congress on May 25th. He was at once placed on one committee to draft a law relating to the peril the colony is exposed to by its intestine dangers, and on another to frame into resolutions the report of the committee on the recommendation by Congress of a new form of government. Accordingly, on June 11th, certain important resolutions on the subject of independence were moved by Jay and Agreed to: " That the good people of this Colony have not, in the opinion of this Congress, authorized this Congress, or the delegates of this Colony in the Continental Congress, to declare this Colony to be and continue independent of the Crown of Great Britain." This action of Jay's was not due to any doubt in his own mind as to the necessity of the proposed change, but simply to his conservative adherence to constitutional methods. [44]
Robert
R. Livingston, Jay’s law partner, remained in Philadelphia representing New
York. He, more than any other delegate had the most to lose monetarily as New
York was the prize port and the most vulnerable to attack should a war
ensue. Livingston lost hope writing Jay
in late May:
I am much mortified at not hearing from you. I wrote to you last week, and am just now setting out for Bristol in order to meet Mrs. Livingston. I could wish to find Mrs. Jay there also. Pray send some of our colleagues along, otherwise I must be more confined than either my health or inclination will allow. You have doubtless seen the account brought by the Rifleman from London, by which it appears we shall have at least 34,000 commissioners. If your Congress have any spirit, they will at least build fourteen or fifteen light boats capable of carrying a twelve- pounder, to secure Hudson River, which is to be the chief scene of action. The carpenters employed on the frigate would build two or three a day, if they were built hi the manner of batteaux, which is the true construction. I wish you would direct Gaine to send me his paper. God bless you. [45]
Jay responded on the 29th
to Livingston explaining why he was bound to New York:
The pleasure I expected from a junction of all our families at Bristol has vanished. Dr. Bard tells me the waters there would be injurious to Mrs. Jay's complaints; so that I shall again take a solitary ride to Philadelphia, whenever the Convention, who directed me to abide here until their further order, shall think proper to dismiss me.
Messrs. Alsop and Lewis set out next Saturday for Philadelphia. Mr. Duane informs me that he is about to return home, and considering how long he has been absent from his family, I think hinrt entitled to that indulgence. I pray God that your health may enable you to attend constantly, at least till it may be in my power to relieve you. Is Mr. Clinton returned ?
Our Convention will, I believe, institute a better government than the present, which in my opinion will no longer work anything but mischief; and although the measure of obtaining authority by instructions may have its advocates, I have reason to think that such a resolution will be taken as will open a door to the election of new or additional members. But be the resolution what it may, you shall have the earliest advice of it. And should my conjectures prove right, I shall inform the members of Duchess of your readiness to serve, and advise them to elect you. Don't be uneasy at receiving so few letters from me. I have been so distressed by the ill health of my wife and parents, that I have scarce written anything. [46]
Jay was placed at the head of a
committee “To detect Conspiracies”
and had the power to seize, try and sentence Tory conspirators. It was discovered the Thomas Hickey, one of
Washington’s bodyguards, plotted the Commander-in-Chief’s assassination. Jay’s committee tried Hickey, found him
guilty and hung the would be assassin on June 28, 1776 as an example to other
conspirators. The plot was traced back to New York Colonial Governor Tryon with
NYC Mayor David Matthews having being the principal agent. [47]
On June 25th, 1776, Lieutenant General William Howe arrived with three
advanced ships arrived off Sandy Hook, in New Jersey. On the 30th, the rest of
the British fleet, 130 ships, arrived and landed 9,300 troops on Staten Island
July 2, 1776.
Upon of their arrival the New York Provincial Congress adjourned to relocate to
White Plains New York. Meanwhile, Robert
R. Livingston sat in the Committee of Five drafting the Declaration of Independence. Like Jay was forbidden to leave New York to
attend Congress so was Livingston precluded by the same body to vote for
Independence. On the same day the
British occupied Staten Island the Continental Congress voted unanimously for
Independence with the exception of New York.
Livingston and the other delegates drafted a letter to The New York Provincial
Congress on how to vote on the upcoming Declaration of Independence in which
Dickinson participated in the drafting process.
During this period, Jay made the short
trek over the Hudson River to visit his wife in Elizabethtown. Upon returning
to New York City he discovered the legislative body had voted to disband on the
arrival of the British and reconvene to White Plains. John Jay wrote Livingston:
I returned to this City from Elizt. Town, & to my great mortification am informed that our Convention influenced by one of G[ouverneur] Morris' vagrant Plans have adjourned to the White Plains to meet there tomorrow.”[48]
Robert
Livingston replied:
(1) I have but a moments time to answer your letter. I am mortified at the removal of our convention. I think as you do on the subject. If my fears on account of your health would permit I shd. request you never to leave that volatile politician a moment.(2) I have wished to be with you when I knew your situation. The Congress have done me the honour to refuse to let me go. I shall however apply again today. I thank God I have been the happy means of falling on a expedient which will call out the whole militia of this country in a few days-tho' the Congress had lost hopes of it from the unhappy dispute & other causes with which I will acquaint you in a few days.(3) We have desired a Genl to take the Command. I wish Mifflin may be sent for very obvious reasons.(4) If you see [him] tell [him] so from me. I have much to say to you but [not a] moment to say it in. God be with you.[49]
The New York Provincial Congress
reconvened in White Plains July 9, 1776 with Robert R. Livingston en-route from
Philadelphia. In a strange twist of
events the New York Body excluded Livingston and Jay from the great event of
the Revolution, the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Had John Jay
been in Philadelphia, there is little doubt he would have sided with the
conservatives causing the postponement of Independence. By keeping Jay in New York his influence on
Congress had been loss and now he was faced with their Delegates letter, the
July 2nd Resolution, and 12 States signing the Declaration of Independence. The debate on whether or not to sign lasted
only the morning. On Jay's motion the
New York Convention unanimously approved:
IN CONVENTION OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK
WHITE PLAINS, July 9th, 1776.
RESOLVED,
UNANIMOUSLY, That the reasons assigned by the Continental Congress for
declaring "the United Colonies free and independent States "are
cogent and conclusive; and that, while we "lament, the cruel necessity
which has rendered that measure unavoidable, we approve the same and “will, at
the risk of our lives and fortunes, join with "the other Colonies in
supporting it. "
RESOLVED,
That a copy of the said Declaration and
the aforegoing Resolution be sent to the Chairman of the Committee of the
County of Westchester, with order to publish the same, with beat of "
drum, at this place, on Thursday next,
[July 11 ,1776]; and to give
directions that it be published, with
all convenient speed, in the several Districts
within the said County; and that copies thereof be forthwith transmitted to the other County
Committees within the State of New York, with orders to cause tire same to be published in the
several Districts of their respetive
Counties.
RESOLVED,
That five hundred copies of the Declaration of Independence, with the two last
mentioned Resolutions of this Congress for approving and proclaiming the same,
be published in handbills and sent to all the County Committees in this State.
RESOLVED,
That the Delegates of this State, in Continental Congress, be and they are
hereby "authorized to consent to and adopt all such measures as they may
deem conducive to the happiness "and welfare of the United States of
America." It is said that the Report which was thus made by the Committee
was unanimously adopted by the Congress; and, further, that an Order was made
by the Congress directing that copies of the Resolutions which constituted the
Report should be transmitted to the Continental Congress.[50]
Robert
R. Livingston arrived in White Plains on July 11th, too late to
participate in the State debate and sign the New York resolution. He also missed the signing of the Declaration
of Independence on August 2, 1776 having the distinction of being one of five
assigned to draft the most notable document in U.S. History but never signing
it.
The
successes of the British in New York; the retreat and desperate condition of
Washington's army (for details on the battles and retreat go to Chapter 11, Thomas Mifflin) induced a feeling of
despondency throughout the States in 1776.
By the end of December, 1776, Westchester County had been abandoned to the British; the attack on Canada had failed, and Washington was retreating through New Jersey. " In this Cmoment of gloom and dismay," Jay prepared an address from the Provincial Convention to their constituents: " What are the terms on which you are promised peace? Have you heard of any except absolute, unconditional obedience and servile submission? . . . And why should you be slaves now, having been freemen ever since the country was settled? ... If success crowns your efforts, all the blessings of freedom shall be your reward. If you fall in the contest, you will be happy with God in Heaven." The address was favorably received, and Congress at Philadelphia ordered it to be translated and printed in German at the public expense.[51]
Jay drafted the state constitution
adopted by the convention of New York on April 20, 1777, which was meeting
successively at Harlem, Kingsbridge, Philip's Manor, White Plains, Poughkeepsie
and Kingston since July 10, 1776. The Constitution borrowed heavily from its
colonial counterpart creating a weak bi-cameral legislature that could be
dissolved by the Governor. It included
land qualifications for voting and didn’t require ratification by the
people. The Constitution also included a
New York State Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. Despite
sufficient representation numbering 70 legislative members the constitution was
a product of New York’s privileged, who remained in control of the New York
Political System.:
For
the city and county of New York, nine. The city and county of Albany, ten. The county of Dutchess, seven. The county of
Westchester, six. The county of Ulster,
six. The county of Suffolk, five. The
county of Queens, four. The county of
Orange, four. The county of Kings,
two. The county of Richmond, two. Tryon County (Now Montgomery County),
six. Charlotte County (Now Washington
County.), four. Cumberland County
(Partitioned January 15, 1777 for the creation of the State of Vermont.),
three. Gloucester County (Partitioned
January 15, 1777 for the creation of the State of Vermont.), two.[52]
John Jay,
who drafted the Constitution, did not vote on its ratification as his mother
passed away:
On April 17, 1777, his mother died, and Jay hastened to Fishkill to attend the funeral and comfort the family. During his absence, on a Sunday, the Constitution was adopted; it was hurriedly printed, and published April 22d by being read from a platform in front of the courthouse at Kingston. Like all the early constitutions, except that of Massachusetts, it was never submitted to the people; the election of delegates for the express purpose of framing a constitution being deemed a ratification in advance. Jay was at once placed on a committee for organizing the new form of government. Under the plan of organization, fifteen persons, including Jay, were created a Council of Safety “with all the powers necessary for the safety and preservation of the State, until a meeting of the Legislature," and with instructions to administer the oath of office to the governor, when elected. Robert E. Livingston was appointed chancellor, John Jay chief justice, and others were appointed judges, sheriffs, and clerks, to act pro tempore, till the institution of the new government, a period, as it happened, of some six months. [53]
Early in his new duties as the New
York Chief Justice, John Jay wrote his friend Gouvernor Morris about court and
politics:
I am now engaged in the most disagreeable part of my duty, trying criminals. They multiply exceedingly. Robberies become frequent: the woods afford them shelter, and the tones food. Punishments must of course become certain, and mercy dormant—a harsh system, repugnant to my feelings, but nevertheless necessary. In such circumstances lenity would be cruelty, and severity is found on the side of humanity.
The influence of Lord North's conciliatory plan is happily counterbalanced by the intelligence from France. There was danger of its creating divisions. A desire of peace is natural to a harassed people; and the mass of mankind prefer present ease to the arduous exertions'often necessary to ensure permanent tranquility. What the French treaty may be, I know not. If Britain would acknowledge our independence, and enter into a liberal alliance with us, I should prefer a connexion with her to a league with any power on earth. Whether those objects be attainable, experience only can determine. I suspect the commissioners will have instructions to exceed their powers, if necessary. Peace, at all events, is, in my opinion, the wish of the minister. I hope the present favorable aspect of our affairs .will neither make us arrogant or careless. Moderation in prosperity marks great minds, and denotes a generous people.[54]
In the autumn of 1778, General Washington visited John Jay at
Fishkill for a confidential council on pending plans of a French and American
Campaign against Canada. They concurred in abandoning the measure, chiefly on
the likelihood that if conquered, Canada would be retained by France.
Jay was elected to the Continental
Congress on a special occasion due to the Vermont’s withdrawal from the jurisdiction
of New York. The Republic of Vermont was born due to Ethan Allen’s skillful
political response to the competing factions in the Continental Congress.
Several New England States wanted to control parts of Vermont thus expanding
their own borders. Also during this period New York was determined to hold the
Continental Congress Presidency as Henry
Laurens tenure was nearing its end.
The New York leader’s choice was General Philip Schuyler[55]
who was not present at the time. John Jay, the newly appointed but previously
notable delegate had taken his old seat in Congress. According to Sparks,
editor Writings of Washington:
On the account of his absence, Mr. Jay was prevailed upon to take the chair, with a resolution on his part to resign in favor of General Schuyler as soon as he attends [56]
John Jay arrived in Congress on
December 5th, 1778 the same day Silas Deane published an appeal
"to Free and Virtuous Citizens of America". Deane had been
recalled from France for alleged corrupt dealings by Arthur Lee. In the summer
of 1778 Deane attempted to clear himself but Congress sought to resolve the
impasse by tabling the matter and not calling back Arthur Lee to substantiate
Deane’s claim. In his address (see the previous chapter for a full
account of this affair), Deane indicted the conduct of his fellow commissioner
Arthur Lee and obliquely challenged the authority of Congress. Samuel Adams,
who had led the anti-French faction, with the help of President Henry Laurens, opposed Deane. Supporters of
Benjamin Franklin, one of Deane's fellow foreign commissioners, came to his
defense.
Jay stepped right in the middle of the
controversy. The New York Delegate had been briefed by Gouverneur and Robert Morris that Deane,
despite his exceptional contributions as a commissioner in France, was ill-treated
by Congress. John Jay who was part of the conservatives or “constructive
party” helped secure Deane's 1776 appointment. Delegate Jay regarded Deane
as honest and patriotic. He had little
regard for the Lees due to a bitter dispute with Richard Henry Lee in the First
Continental Congress. Jay also knew that the Lees-Adam Faction was responsible
for the Conway Cabal, General Schuyler and Arthur
St. Clair's loss of favor during Burgoyne's Campaign against Fort
Ticonderoga and Saratoga. John Jay ardently supported Deane and therefore
became a political opponent of then sitting President Henry Laurens.
President Henry Laurens was livid over Deane's public
outcry and the President unsuccessfully attempted to have Congress censure
Deane's publication. Laurens, for the third time, quit his office expecting
Congress to reject his resignation. To Laurens surprise he was not asked to
stay on as President by a majority vote of the delegates. Instead Congress
called for a recess until the following day to deliberate and then hold an
election for a new President.
The Continental Congress turned to
Laurens adversary, John Jay only three days after taking his Delegate seat and
elected him President of the Continental Congress on December 10, 1778.
Eight states voting for Jay and four for Laurens. On December 10th
Jay wrote George Clinton of New York:
Many unavoidable Delays prevented my arrival here till Sunday evening last. Yesterday Mr. Laurens resigned the Chair, & this morning Congress were pleased to appoint me to succeed him. This Circumstance was unexpected. Let your public Letters be public ones. I mean that public & private matters should not be mixed in the same Letters.
Commodore Wynkoop's memorial has been presented & committed. You shall have the earliest Intelligence of its Fate.1 I have heard, tho not from authority, that the Enemy have quitted the River without having accomplished anything of Importance. God Grant it may be true. We have no Intelligence worth communicating.
The Season for bringing on the affair of Vermont is not yet arrived, nor can I divine what will be the Issue of it. I can only say that my Endeavors shall not be wanting to bring it to a Termination satisfactory to New York. Be pleased to present my best Respects to Mrs. Clinton & believe that I am [57]
Fellow N.Y. Delegate, James Duane also
wrote New York Governor Clinton on December 10, 1778:
Mr. President Laurens, who has been in the Chair 13 months yesterday resigned, sated with honor, and worn down with fatigue. A respect as to the Confederacy had an influence on this measure. You remember this grand instrument of our federal union restrains the same member from serving more than a year at one time.
A great majority of Congress immediately determined that one of the New York Delegates should succeed in the Chair. We held up General Schuyler, which seemed to be very agreeable. On account of his absence, Mr. Jay was prevailed on to take the chair with a resolution on his part to resign in favor of General Schuyler as soon as he attends. (1) I hope we shall be able to contrive the means of his executing the particular commission with which he is intrusted. (2) On this subject we have not yet conferred any further than to learn to my utter astonishment that he is not possessed of the Maps and papers reported by a Committee of Convention to justify our claims. I entreat your Excellency to forward one of the Maps and a copy of the minutes of the Committee, or rather of their state of the territorial claim of New York.
All the States except Maryland and Delaware have actually signed the Confederacy. New Jersey without waiting for our offer. I fear it will cost me a jaunt to Maryland to prevail on that State to accede; as I am spoken of as one of a Committee for that purpose. (3) Disengaged as we are from any obligation to New Jersey we propose to hold out the grant of the bounty lands to Maryland. The want of ability to gratify their soldiery is a capital if not the material objection.
I write in a hurry after the fatigues of the day. I write in confidence because I have not time to weigh what I write. Your Excellency I wish to see what passes on every important event.[58]
General Schuyler did not attend nor
seek John Jay’s office of President. It should be noted that in 1778, John Jay
was actually serving in a dual role of Chief Justice of New York and President of
the Continental Congress. He did not resign the Chief Justice position until
shortly before resigning the Presidency.
The resignation of both offices was required to accept the position of
Foreign Secretary to the United States in 1779.
During his Presidency, John Jay
continued to align himself with the "constructive party"
contingent that was against the Adams and Lees.
According to Sanders,
He wrote to Washington that the Marine and
Commercial Committees did not and could not amount to much because they were
mere tools of the 'Family Compact' who desired to keep them useless and
impotent for their own purposes. And of course he was no friend of Gates and
the Cabal Crowd. [59]
Jay
is described by most Congressional Scholars as an elitist believing that the
wealthy, socially connected and men of intellect should govern the country.
Delegate William Carmichael's letter to Signer of the Declaration of
Independence Charles Carroll of Carrollton on January 16, 1779 gives some
indication of the inner workings of congress and John Jay:
I am much beholden to you for your letter of the 2nd inst. Let me assure you that all will be done-as you wish. In this august Assembly we dawdle and dally-nothing ever gets done as one could wish. I give you an example. There was a spirited discussion on how to reimburse Mo Beaumarchais petition on his behalf by M. France, decided to render payment in tobacco. It was late when Congress was ready to vote. As usual we looked to the President to give his opinion before balloting. Mr. Jay is more judicious than his predecessor in the chair, and less prolix, but I almost despaired of our getting thro' because Mr. Penn, Caro[lina], would not desist. It seems that Maryland tobacco is to be purchased which would be a pretty business.[60]
As with his predecessors Jay was no
stranger to the chrisitian-judeo theology the so entwined the workings of the
Continental Congress. One of John Jay's acts as President was issuing a
Proclamation call for a Day of Fasting
Humiliation and Prayer:
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, in just punishment of our
manifold transgressions, it hath pleased the Supreme Disposer of all events to
visit these United States with a destructive calamitous war, through which His
divine Providence hath, hitherto, in a wonderful manner, conducted us, so that
we might acknowledge that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the
strong: and whereas, there is but too much Reason to fear that notwithstanding
the chastisements received and benefits bestowed, too few have been sufficiently
awakened to a sense of their guilt, or warmed our Bosoms with gratitude, or
taught to amend their lives and turn from their sins, that so He might turn
from His wrath. And whereas, from a consciousness of what we have merited at
His hands, and an apprehension that the malevolence of our disappointed
enemies, like the incredulity of Pharaoh, may be used as the scourge of
Omnipotence to vindicate his slighted Majesty, there is reason to fear that he
may permit much of our land to become the prey of the spoiler, and the Blood of
the innocent be poured out that our borders to be ravaged, and our habitations
destroyed:
Resolved, That it be recommended to
the several states to appoint the first Thursday in May next, to be a day of
fasting, Thanksgiving humiliation and prayer to Almighty God, that he will be
pleased to avert those impending calamities which we have but too well
deserved: that he will grant us his grace to repent of our sins, and amend our
lives, according to his holy word: that he will continue that wonderful
protection which hath led us through the paths of danger and distress: that he
will be a husband to the widow and a father to the fatherless children, who
weep over the barbarities of a savage enemy: that he will grant us patience in suffering,
and fortitude in adversity: that he will inspire us with humility and
moderation, and gratitude in prosperous circumstances: that he will give
wisdom to our councils, firmness to our resolutions, and victory to our arms
That he will have Mercy on our Foes, and graciously forgive them, and turn
their Hearts from Enmity to Love.
That
he will bless the labours of the husbandman, and pour forth abundance, so that
we may enjoy the fruits of the earth in due season. That he will cause union,
harmony, and mutual confidence to prevail throughout these states: that he will
bestow on our great ally all those blessings which may enable him to be
gloriously instrumental in protecting the rights of mankind, and promoting the
happiness of his subjects and advancing the Peace and Liberty of Nations. That
he will give to both Parties to this Alliance, Grace to perform with Honor and
Fidelity their National Engagements].1 That he will bountifully continue
his paternal care to the commander in chief, and the officers and soldiers of
the United States: that he will grant the blessings of peace to all contending
nations, freedom to those who are in bondage, and comfort to the afflicted:
that he will diffuse useful knowledge, extend the influence of true religion, and
give us that peace of mind, which the world cannot give: that he will be our
shield in the day of battle, our comforter in the hour of death, and our kind
parent and merciful judge through time and through eternity. Done in Congress, this 20th day of March, in
the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, and in the
third year of our independence.
John Jay, President. Attest, Charles Thomson, Secretary.[61]
 |
| March 20, 1779 Proclamation for a day of Fasting Humiliation and Prayer signed by John Jay - Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division.[62] |
On
April 2nd, 1779 as John Jay wrote to Major General Benjamin Lincoln a letter of
recommendation for a Continental
soldier. Jay acknowledges he is not personally acquainted with Clarkson but is "so well informed" of his
character … as to believe you will always be happy in leading a young soldier
to glory, and to afford him that countenance and protection which a brave and
generous youth seldom fails to invite". He adds that he will be
obligated to Lincoln "by becoming
his friend as well as his general". Under General Lincoln, Clarkson
participated in the siege of Savannah, and in the defense of Charleston he
served as a major of infantry. He became a prisoner at Charleston's surrender
to the British. In 1781 as a prisoner exchange he returned to his place as
aide to General Lincoln, and was with him at the reduction of Yorktown. Letters
such as these were common occurrences in the line of Presidential duties but
they did not carry the weight of a Constitution of 1787 U.S. Presidents who
were also Commander-in-Chiefs of the U.S. Armed services.
 |
| President John Jay to General Benjamin Lincoln image Courtesy of the Stan Klos Collection [63] |
Later that month, however, rivalry
between General Horatio
Gates and Commander-in-Chief George
Washington reignited once again and President John Jay was, by the nature
of his office, the primary arbitrator. Paul H. Smith Library of Congress
editor, Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789 writes:
Gates' March 15 letter to Congress …
contained his opinion of possible routes for an expedition into Canada and
discussed his correspondence with Washington on the subject, which reflected
the strained relations that had long prevailed between the two generals. Jay
made the following extract of it, which he sent to Washington under cover of a
brief note dated '6th April 1779' and marked 'Private.'
'The enclosed Copy of my Letter to
General Washington of the 4th Instant,' Gates explained, 'in answer to
his of the 14th Ulto. from Middlebrook, will give Congress a true Idea of my
opinion, respecting our entering Canada, and the only Route which we can take
with reasonable Hopes of Success. Individuals and not the public will be
benefited by an Expedition into Canada, by either of the routes from Albany.
That of Coos alone is practicable, but not without the Co-operation of the
allied Fleet. General Washington's Letter of the 14th Feby is enclosed. It
being the only Letter I have received from his Excellency, since December,
Congress will immediately judge of the Extent, or Limitations which it is
proper to observe in their Instructions to me.'
Jay's covering note to Washington reads
simply:
'Mr. Jay presents his Compliments to General
Washington, and encloses an Extract from a Letter in a certain Degree interesting.'
Washington's lengthy April 14 reply to
Jay's note reflected great sensitivity over how his correspondence with Gates
might be interpreted and the intensity of Washington's feeling against him,
which prompted even a sympathetic biographer to observe. 'Was it necessary to
employ 3500 words in order to demonstrate that Washington's dislike of Gates
was justified and was as deep-seated as Gates's bias against his
Commander-in-Chief?' [64]
Upon Receipt of Washington's April
14th 1779 letter, President John Jay, in true patriot fashion, composed a warm
letter to the Commander-in-Chief:
Dear Sir, Accept my Thanks for the long
& friendly Letter of the 14 Inst. which I have had the Pleasure of
receiving from you. It was for many Reasons grateful to me. I value the Esteem
of the wise and virtuous, and had wished to know the particulars of
Transactions, respecting which only vague and unsatisfactory Reports, had come
to my Knowledge. Delicacy forbid my breaking the Subject to you when here. I
was sure of your Politeness, but not certain of a more than usual Degree of
Confidence. The latter is now become manifest, and permit me to assure you it
shall be mutual.
The Impression attempted to be made,
has not taken. It passed without a single Remark. Your Friends thought it
merited nothing but Silence and Neglect. The same Reason enduced me to take no
Notice of it in my Answer.
I have perused the several Papers with
which you favored me. The Delicacy, Candor & Temper diffused thro' your
Letters, form a strong Contrast to the Evasions & Design observable in some
others. Gratitude ought to have attached a certain Gentleman to the Friend who
raised him. A spurious Ambition however, has it seems made him your Enemy. This
is not uncommon. To the Dishonor of human nature, the History of Mankind has
many Pages filled with similar Instances; and we have little Reason to expect
that the Annals of the present, or future Times, will present us with fewer
Characters of this Class. On the contrary, there is Reason to expect they will
multiply in the Course of this Revolution. Seasons of general Heat, Tumult and
Fermentation favor the Production & Growth of some great Virtues, and of
many great and little Vices. Which will predominate, is a Question which Events
not yet produced, nor now to be discerned, can alone determine. What Parties
and Factions will arise, to what Objects be directed, what Sacrifices they will
require, and who will be the Victims, are matters beyond the Sphere of human
Prevision. New Modes of Government not generally understood, nor in certain
Instances approved-Want of Moderation and Information in the People-want of
Abilities & Rectitude in some of their Rulers-a wide Field open for the
Operations of Ambition-Men raised from low Degrees to high Stations, and
rendered giddy by Elevation, and the Extent of their Views-Laws dictated by
the Spirit of the Times, not the Spirit of Justice and liberal Policy-Latitude
in Principles as well as Commerce-Fluctuation in Manners, and public
Counsels-Suspension of Education-Indifference to Religion, and moral
Obligations &c &c. are Circumstances that portend Evils which much
Prudence, vigor and Circumspection are necessary to prevent or controul. To me
there appears Reason to expect a long Storm, and difficult Navigation. Calm
Repose and the Sweets of undisturbed Retirement, appear more distant than a
Peace with Britain.
It gives me Pleasure however to
reflect, that the Period is approaching when we shall become Citizens of a
better ordered State; and the spending a few troublesome Years of our Eternity
in doing good to this and future Generations is not to be avoided or regretted.
Things will come Right, and these States will be great and flourishing. The
Dissolution of our Governments threw us into a political Chaos. Time, wisdom
and Perseverance will reduce it into Form, and give it Strength, Order and
Harmony. In this Work you are (in the Stile of one of your Professions) a
master builder, and God grant that you may long continue a free and accepted
one.
Thus my dear Sir! I have indulged
myself in thinking loud in your Hearing-it would be an Hybernicism to say in
your Sight tho in one Sense more true. It is more than probable that I shall
frequently do the like. Your Letter shall be my Apology-and the Pleasure
resulting from Converse with those we esteem, my motive. [65]
This letter became the foundation of
what became a steadfast friendship between John Jay and George Washington for
the rest of their lives. John Jay had gained Washington's trust and respect
earlier when he backed The Commander-in-Chief position to forgo General Lafayette Congressional
proposal liberate the French people in Quebec. George Washington strongly
opposed the plan and despite some significant support for Lafayette in Congress
President Jay opposed the invasion with this letter:
The Congress have directed me to
observe to you, that the Plan for emancipating Canada was conceived at a Time
when, from various movements of the Enemy there was the highest Reason to
expect a speedy & total Evacuation of all the Posts they held in these
States. Those Indications however proved fallacious & the Probability of
their quitting this Country in the Course of the Winter is become very slender,
nor is it by any Means certain that they will do it in the Spring. Prudence
therefore dictates that the arms of America should be employed in expelling the
Enemy from her own shores, before the Liberation of a Neighbouring Province is
undertaken. As the proportion of force necessary for our Defence must be
determined by the future Operations & Designs of the Enemy which cannot now
be known, and as in Case of another Campaign it may happen to be very
inconvenient if not impossible for us to furnish our proposed Quota of Troops
for the Emancipation of Canada, Congress think they ought not under such
circumstances to draw their good Ally into a Measure the Issue of which
depending on a variety of Contingencies would be very uncertain, & might be
very ruinous. [66]
1] George Pellew, John Jay, Houghton, Mifflin and Company Boston:1890, page 6
[2] Ibid, page 9
[3] Definitive
Treaty of Peace and Alliance between Great Britain France and Spain,
concluded at Paris, February 10th 1763
[4] Ibid, page 11
[5] Peter Jay to John Jay, 1763 n.d. , The Papers of John
Jay, Kissam, Benjamin, Original Manuscript, Columbia University, Butler
Library, Rare Book & Manuscript Division.
[6] Ibid, January 16, 1764
[8] Ibid, John Jay to Robert Livingston,
May 1, 1765, Original Manuscript Repository
at Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
[9] Ibid, An account with Christopher
Tappen, concerning various court costs incurred by the partnership of Jay &
Livingston, 1768-1772, Original Manuscript., October 31, 1791
[10]Ibid,
Nov. 6, 1760
[11] George Pellew, John Jay, Houghton, Mifflin and Company Boston:1890, page 25
[12] Ibid, page 21
[13] Louise V. North, The "Amiable" Children of John and
Sarah Livingston Jay,
Columbia's
Legacy: Friends and Enemies in the New Nation Conference at Columbia University
and The New-York Historical Society, Dec. 10, 2004
[14] Peter Force, American
Archives: Containing A Documentary History Of The United States Of America
Series 4, Six Volumes and Series 5, NY Committee of 51 to Committee of
Correspondence, Boston, May 23, 1774
[15] Thomas Jones and Edward Floyd De
Lancey, History of New York During the Revolutionary War: And of the Leading
Events, New York Historical Society: 1879, page 459
[16] Ibid, 450
[17] Advertisement, New York Committee of
Correspondence, Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division
[18] John Adams, John Adams diary 22, 4
September - 9 November 1774. Stitched sheets in marbled paper covers (35 pages,
13 additional blank pages). Original manuscript from the Adams Family Papers,
Massachusetts Historical Society, page 21.
[19] Journals of the Continental Congress,
Articles of Association, October 20,
1774.
[20] Ibid
[21]
Abraham Yates, Notes of the 1st
and 2nd Continental Congresses, The Papers of John Jay, Kissam,
Benjamin, Original Manuscript, Columbia University, Butler Library, Rare Book
& Manuscript Division. Jay ID: 2732
[22] Ibid, Jay’s Notes on his appointments
to committees, Jay ID: 12955
[23] John Adams, John Adams autobiography,
part 1, "John Adams," through 1776. Part 1 is comprised of 53 sheets
and 1 insertion; 210 pages total. Original manuscript from the Adams Family
Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society. Page 4
[24] Jefferson, Thomas, July 27, 1821,
Autobiography Draft Fragment, Original Manuscript, The Thomas Jefferson Papers
Series 1. General Correspondence. 1651-1827, page 517
[25] Journals of the Continental Congress,
Petition to King George, October 26,
1774.
[26] Ibid
[27] Donald L. Smith, John Jay A Founder of a State and Nation, Teachers College Press,
Columbia University 1968, page 16.
[28] George Pellew, John Jay, page 42.
[29] Peter Force, American Archives: Minutes of the Provincial Convention of
New-York, City of New-York, April, 20, 1775.
[30] Ibid
[31] Fredrick Jay wrote John Jay on May
11, 1775 that Election of members of Westchester County committee, President
Myles Cooper driven from King's College by a mob in disguise, Original
Manuscript, Columbia University, Butler Library, Rare Book & Manuscript
Division
[32] John Adams, John Adams autobiography, part 1, "John
Adams," through 1776. Part 1 is comprised of 53 sheets and 1 insertion;
210 pages total. Original manuscript from the Adams Family Papers,
Massachusetts Historical Society.
[33] Ibid
[34] John Adams and Charles Francis Adams,
The Works of John Adams, Second President
of the United States, Little Brown: 1856, page 80
[35] William Henry Michael, History of the
Department of State of the United States, United States Department of State:
1901, page 93
[36] Charles Oscar Paullin, Diplomatic Negotiations of American Naval
Officers, 1778-1883 The Johns Hopkins Press: 1912, page 12
[37] John Adams, John Adams autobiography, part 1, "John
Adams," through 1776. Part 1 is comprised of 53 sheets and 1 insertion;
210 pages total. Original manuscript from the Adams Family Papers,
Massachusetts Historical Society.
[38] John Jay to Sarah Jay, December 23, 1775 , The Papers of John Jay,
Original Manuscript, Columbia University, Butler Library, Rare Book &
Manuscript Division. Jay ID: 5305
[39] Ibid
[40] Paul H. Smith, ed. Letters of
Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789, Chronology 1778-1779
[41] Ibid, John Jay to James Day January
4, 1776.
[42] Alexander Hamilton to John Jay,
January 4, 1776, Original Manuscript, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American
History
[43] John Adams and Charles Francis Adams,
The Works of John Adams, Second President
of the United States, Little Brown: 1856, page 207
[44] George Pellew, John Jay, page 54
[45] William Jay, The Life of John Jay: With Selections from His Correspondence, J.
& J. Harper: 1883 page 5
[46] Ibid
[47] Henry Russell Drowne, A Sketch of Fraunces Tavern and Those
Connected with Its History, Fraunces Tavern: New York 1919, page 8.
[48] Paul H. Smith, ed. Letters of
Delegates to Congress, John Jay to Robert R. Livingston, July 1, 1776.
[49] Ibid, Robert R. Livingston to John Jay, July 9, 1776
[50] Dawson, Henry Barton, Westchester
County, New York, During the American Revolution, New York State: 1886, page
196.
[51] George Pellew, John Jay, page 75
[52]
New York State Constitution of 1777
[53] Opt Cit, page 88
[54] William Jay, The Life of John Jay: pages 23 and 24
[55] Philip John Schuyler (November 20,
1733 - November 18, 1804) was a Major General in the American Revolution and
later a United States Senator from New York.
Alexander Hamilton, who was later Secretary of the Treasury, married his
daughter Elizabeth.
[56] Jared Sparks, The Writings of George
Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses By George Washington, Harper
and Brothers, Publisher, New York: 1847, page 378
[57] George Clinton, Hugh Hastings, and
James Austin Holden, Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New
York, 1777-1795, State of New York: 1900, page 360
[58] Paul H. Smith, ed. Letters of
Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789, James Duane to
Governor Clinton, December 10, 1778
[59] Jennings B. Sanders, Presidency of the Continental Congress
1774-89 A Study in American Institutional History, University of Chicago
Press, 1930.
[60] Opt Cit, William Carmichael to Charles Carroll of Carrollton on January
16, 1779
[61] Journals of the Continental Congress,
Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer
to Almighty God, March 20, 1779
[62] Ibid, Broadside by Hall and Sellers:
Philadelphia, Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections.
[63] John Jay, to Benjamin Lincoln, Original Manuscript,
April 2. 1779, Stanley L. Klos Collection,
[64] Paul H. Smith, ed. Letters of
Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789, Notes On George Washington’s April 14, 1779
letter
[65] Ibid
[66] Ibid, John Jay to the Marquis de
Lafayette, January 3, 1779
[67] Ibid, John Jay to George
Washington April 1779
[68] Journals of the Continental Congress,
September 13, 1779.
[69] Francis Wharton, The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence
of the United States, Published by an
Act of Congress date August 13, 1888, Government Printing Office, Washington
D.C. 1889, Page 556
[70] Ibid
[71] Paul H. Smith, ed. Letters of
Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789, Chronology 1778-1779
[72] Paul H. Smith, ed. Letters of
Delegates to Congress, Samuel Huntington to John Jay, October 1, 1779.
[73] Ibid, John Jay to George Clinton,
October 5, 1779.
[74] Ibid, John Jay to Samuel Huntington,
October 15, 1779.
[75] Ibid, Samuel Huntington to John Jay,
October 17, 1779.
[76] John Jay to
George Clinton, Original Manuscript, October 25, 1779, Jay, Peter to John Jay,
1763 n.d. , The Papers of John Jay, Kissam, Benjamin, Original Manuscript,
Columbia University, Butler Library, Rare Book & Manuscript Division.
[77] Ibid, John Jay to Robert Livingston,
October 25, 1779
[78] Jared Sparks, The Diplomatic
Correspondence of the American Revolution, Department of State, 1830, page 211.
[79] Ibid, pages 217-218
[80] Francis Wharton, The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States,
page 710
[81] Jay, William, The Life of John Jay, pages 450-453
[82] Jay, John to Floridablanca, Jose
Monino y Redondo, conde de, 1780 May 01, The Papers of John Jay, Original
Manuscript Library of Congress, Jay Papers ID:
10263
[83] Wharton, Francis, ed, The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United
States, United States Congress: 1888,
John Jay to the President of the United States in Congress Assembled.
[84] Ibid, John Jay to Count de Florida
Blanca, September 22, 1781
[85] Ibid, Benjamin Franklin to John Jay,
Passy, April 22, 1782
[86] Journals of the United States in
Congress Assembled, 15 June, 1781
[87] James Grant Wilson and John Fiske , Appleton's Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography, D. Appleton and company: 1888, page 409
[88] Francis Wharton, ed, The
Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States,
John Jay to the
President of the United States in Congress Assembled.
[89] Ibid, Jay to Livingston, June 25,
1782
[90] Ibid, Jay to Montmorin, June 26, 1782
[91] Richard Oswald was born in Scotland
in 1705 and is best remembered as the British peace commissioner in Paris in
1782. He had an extensive career as a merchan and counselor to the British
Ministry on trade regulations and the conduction of the Revolutionary War in
America.
[92] Jared Sparks, The Life of Gouverneur
Morris: With Selections from His Correspondence Gray & Bowen, Published 1832, page 245
[93] Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes
(December 20th, 1717—13 February 13th, 1787) was a French
statesman and diplomat. He served as Foreign Minister during the reign of Louis
XVI, notbably during the American War of Independence.
[94] Alleyne Fitzherbert, 1st Baron St
Helens (born Derby 1 March 1753, died London 19 February 1839) was a British
diplomat assigned to Brussels until August 1782. Lord Shelburne appointed him plenipotentiary
to negotiate a peace with France, Spain, and
the United States. On January 20, 1783 the preliminaries of peace Spain
and France were duly signed. The peace with the American colonies, which was
agreed to in November was not brought to a conclusion under Fitzherbert's
charge but he maintained the treat with France in Spain made the Treaty of
Paris possible with the United States.
[95] Edward Everett Hale, Franklin in France, Roberts Brothers,
Boston: 1888, pages 93-93
[96] Charles III of Spain, House of
Bourbon, Cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty, Born: 20 January 1716 and Died:
14 December 1788
[97] Joseph Matthais Gérard de Rayneval
(1736-1812) was the under-secretary of state to Comte de Vergennes. In 1776, he
produced a memo of the strategic situation, "Reflections
on the Situation in America."
In 1782, he was sent on several secret missions to England, to make
peace feelers.John Jay earned of the French duplilcity, leading him to begin
separate negotiations with the British.
[98] François Barbé-Marbois, (31 January
1745—12 February 1837) who in 1779 was made secretary of the French legation to
the United States. When the minister Chevalier de la Luzerne returned to France
in 1783, Barbé-Marbois remained in America as chargé d'affaires.
[99] William Petty-FitzMaurice, 1st
Marquess of Lansdowne, KG, PC (2 May 1737 – 7 May 1805). He was known as The Earl of Shelburne between
1761 and 1784. During the Treaty of
Paris he was the first Bristish Home Secretary in 1782 and then Prime Minister
1782 – 1783.
[100] Smith, Donald L., John Jay A Founder of a State and Nation,
page 87
[101] John Jay, The Peace Negotiations of
1782 and 1783: An Address Delivered Before the New York Historical
Society. Kessinger Publishing: 2006
[102] George Bancroft, History of the United States: From the Discovery of the American
Continent,
Little,
Brown, And Company, Boston: 1875 pages 583-583
[103] William Temple Franklin, William
Duane, Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, Derby
& Jackson, New York: 1859, page 556.
[104] Francis Wharton ed, The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United
States, John Jay to Gouverneur
Morris, October 13, 1782
[105] Ibid, John Jay to Robert Livingston,
November 17, 1782.
[106] Ibid
[107] John Adams, John Adams diary 35, 26
October - 17 November 1782. Folded sheets, first leaf serves as cover (22
pages). Original manuscript from the Adams Family Papers, Massachusetts
Historical Society. Page 2
[108] Ibid, page 10
[109] John Adams, Letter from John Adams to
Abigail Adams, 8 November 1782. 4 pages. Original manuscript from the Adams
Family Papers, Massachusetts Historical Society
[110] Wharton, Francis, ed, The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United
States, John Adams to Robert Livingston,
November 21, 1782.
[111] Thomas Jones, Floyd De Lancey, History of New York During the Revolutionary War: And of the Leading
Events, New York Historical Society: 1879, pages 329-300
[112] John Adams, John Adams diary 37, 22 -
30 November 1782. Stitched sheets without covers (23 pages, 1 additional blank
page). Original manuscript from the Adams Family Papers, Massachusetts
Historical Society, page 3.
[113] Ibid, page 7
[114] Ibid, page 17
[115] James Grant Wilson, and John Fiske, Appletons' Cyclopædia of
American Biography; D. Appleton and company, 1888, page 410
[116] Paul H. Smith, ed. Letters
of Delegates to Congress, Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, July 25.
1783
[117] James Madison, The Papers of James
Madison, J. & H. G. Langley, 1841, page 518
[118] Treaty of Paris, original Manuscript,
September 3, 1783, National Archives of the United States
[119] Journals of the United States in
Congress Assembled, Jays Election as Foreign Secretary, May 7, 1784.
[120] Paul H. Smith, ed. Letters
of Delegates to Congress , Charles Thomson to John Jay, JUNE 18,
1784
[121] James Grant Wilson, The Memorial History of the City of New-York,
J.B. Lippincott & Co, Philadelphia:1858,
page 359
[122] Journals of the United States in
Congress Assembled, August 19, 1784.
[123] William Jay, The Life of John Jay, page 158
[124] Ibid
[125] Ibid, page 160
[126] George Pellew, John Jay, page 230
[127] Paul H. Smith, ed. Letters of
Delegates to Congress, Elbridge Gerry to James Warren, Dec. 23, 1784
[128] John Jay, New York Packet, Friday,
March 7, 1788 The Federalist. No. Lxiv
[129] George Pellew, John Jay, page 294
[130] John Baker-Holroyd, 1st Earl of
Sheffield (21 December 1735–30 May 1821) was an English politician who came
from a Yorkshire family. In 1781 he was created a Peer of Ireland as Baron
Sheffield, of Dunamore in the County of Meath, and in 1783 was further created
Baron Sheffield, of Roscommon in the County of Roscommon. He was a great authority on farming, and in
1803, he was appointed President of the Board of Agriculture.
[131] Thomas Francis Moran, The Formation and Development of the
Constitution,
George Barrie: 1904, page 290.
[132] John Jay, Resignation as Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, Original Manuscript, June 29, 1795 Library of Congress
[133] Webster, Daniel, Speech at Public Dinner at New York, March
10, 1831, The Library of Literary Criticism of English and American Authors By
Charles Wells Moulton..
[134] James Grant Wilson, and John Fiske,
Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography, page 411.
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(1897-1901)
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(1841-1845)
|
(1989-1993)
| |
(1901-1909)
| ||
(1845-1849)
|
(1993-2001)
| |
(1909-1913)
| ||
(1849-1850)
|
(2001-2009)
| |
(1913-1921)
| ||
(1850-1853)
|
(2009-2017)
| |
(1921-1923)
| ||
(1853-1857)
|
(20017-Present)
| |
(1923-1929)
|
*Confederate States of America
| |
(1857-1861)
| ||
(1929-1933)
| ||
(1861-1865)
|
United Colonies Continental Congress
|
President
|
18th Century Term
|
Age
|
Elizabeth "Betty" Harrison Randolph (1745-1783)
|
09/05/74 – 10/22/74
|
29
| |
Mary Williams Middleton (1741- 1761) Deceased
|
Henry Middleton
|
10/22–26/74
|
n/a
|
Elizabeth "Betty" Harrison Randolph (1745–1783)
|
05/20/ 75 - 05/24/75
|
30
| |
Dorothy Quincy Hancock Scott (1747-1830)
|
05/25/75 – 07/01/76
|
28
| |
United States Continental Congress
|
President
|
Term
|
Age
|
Dorothy Quincy Hancock Scott (1747-1830)
|
07/02/76 – 10/29/77
|
29
| |
Eleanor Ball Laurens (1731- 1770) Deceased
|
Henry Laurens
|
11/01/77 – 12/09/78
|
n/a
|
Sarah Livingston Jay (1756-1802)
|
12/ 10/78 – 09/28/78
|
21
| |
Martha Huntington (1738/39–1794)
|
09/29/79 – 02/28/81
|
41
| |
United States in Congress Assembled
|
President
|
Term
|
Age
|
Martha Huntington (1738/39–1794)
|
03/01/81 – 07/06/81
|
42
| |
Sarah Armitage McKean (1756-1820)
|
07/10/81 – 11/04/81
|
25
| |
Jane Contee Hanson (1726-1812)
|
11/05/81 - 11/03/82
|
55
| |
Hannah Stockton Boudinot (1736-1808)
|
11/03/82 - 11/02/83
|
46
| |
Sarah Morris Mifflin (1747-1790)
|
11/03/83 - 11/02/84
|
36
| |
Anne Gaskins Pinkard Lee (1738-1796)
|
11/20/84 - 11/19/85
|
46
| |
Dorothy Quincy Hancock Scott (1747-1830)
|
11/23/85 – 06/06/86
|
38
| |
Rebecca Call Gorham (1744-1812)
|
06/06/86 - 02/01/87
|
42
| |
Phoebe Bayard St. Clair (1743-1818)
|
02/02/87 - 01/21/88
|
43
| |
Christina Stuart Griffin (1751-1807)
|
01/22/88 - 01/29/89
|
36
|
Constitution of 1787
First Ladies |
President
|
Term
|
Age
|
April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797
|
57
| ||
March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801
|
52
| ||
Martha Wayles Jefferson Deceased
|
September 6, 1782 (Aged 33)
|
n/a
| |
March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817
|
40
| ||
March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825
|
48
| ||
March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829
|
50
| ||
December 22, 1828 (aged 61)
|
n/a
| ||
February 5, 1819 (aged 35)
|
n/a
| ||
March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841
|
65
| ||
April 4, 1841 – September 10, 1842
|
50
| ||
June 26, 1844 – March 4, 1845
|
23
| ||
March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849
|
41
| ||
March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850
|
60
| ||
July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853
|
52
| ||
March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857
|
46
| ||
n/a
|
n/a
| ||
March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865
|
42
| ||
February 22, 1862 – May 10, 1865
| |||
April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869
|
54
| ||
March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877
|
43
| ||
March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881
|
45
| ||
March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881
|
48
| ||
January 12, 1880 (Aged 43)
|
n/a
| ||
June 2, 1886 – March 4, 1889
|
21
| ||
March 4, 1889 – October 25, 1892
|
56
| ||
June 2, 1886 – March 4, 1889
|
28
| ||
March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901
|
49
| ||
September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909
|
40
| ||
March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913
|
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)
