John Penn
John Penn to Thomas Person (February 13, 1776) III, 239.
“...For God sake my Good Sir encourage our People, animate them to dare even to die for their Country.”
John Penn to John Jay; August 27, 1779
If my prayers or wishes are of any consequence, you are restored to health long before this; pray Remember me to Sir James, Colo. Livingston, Mrs. Jay, and Lady Kitty and believe me to be with great truth, Your sincere Friend &c, J. Penn
Joseph Hewes
Joseph Hewes to Samuel Johnston (May 11, 1775) I, 342.
“...Galloway has turned apostate; he struggled hard in the House of assembly to get a majority to Condemn the proceedings of the late Congress, & to Petition the King &c. as the assembly of New York had done. By this Step he has lost the Confidence of all ranks of People.
“...presented with a box with a halter in it- Galloway fled. In short it is impossible to describe the Spirit of these people and the alteration they have undergone since I left them in December last. All the Quakers except a few of the old Rigid ones have taken up arms, there is not one company without several of these people in it, and I am told one or two of the companies are composed entirely of Quakers. The people of this Province in general are associating in Companies and employing Sarjants to teach them tthe exercise. I find all the Provinces are in Arms except No. Carolina. New York has been Converted almost as instantaneously as St. Paul was of old, a Tory dare not open his mouth either in that Province or this. The Battle near Boston & the Act of Parliament for restraining the Trade of all the Colonies except New York & N.Carolina has wrought the Conversion of New York. I wish to God it may have the same affect on our Province, I tremble for No. Carolina every County ought to have at least one Company formed & exercised, pray encourage it. Speak to the people, write to them, urge strongly the necessity of it, I had rather perish Ten thousand times than they should give up the matter now in the time of tryal.”
Joseph Hewes to Samuel Johnson (June 5, 1775) I, .
“I wish to God you was here that I might advise with you on some matters of great importance.”
Joseph Hewes and Robert Smith to a London Mercantile Firm (July 31, 1775) I, 685.
“...We expect to send you another vessel, with such another cargo, before the exportation is stopped, which will be the 10th of next September; but we shall write you more at large, by a ship to sail from hence to London in about two weeks. All our remittances must hereafter be by bills; we have laid ourselves out to remit you in that way, as all other is now in a fair way of being entirely shut up. We are in a terrible situation indeed; all trade is now at an end, and when it will again be revived, god only knows. Every American to a man is determined to die, or be free. we are convinced, nothing can restore peace to this unhappy country and render the liberty of your’ secure, but a total change of the present Ministry who are considered in this country as enemies to the freedom of the human race, like so many Devils in the infernal regions, sending out their servants, furies, to torment where-ever they choose their infernal vengeance shall fall.
“Permit us, dear Sirs, as you have once exerted yourselves, to try another effort to save from destruction the once, and but lately, the most flourishing empire in the world.
“We do not want to be independent, we want no revolution, unless a change of Ministry, and measures would be deemed such; we are loyal subjects to our present most gracious Sovereign, in support of whose crown and dignity we would sacrifice our lives, and willingly launch out every schilling of our property, he only defending our liberties. This country, without some step is taken, and that soon, will be inevitably lost to the mother country. We say again, for the love of Heaven, the love of liberty, the interest of posterity, we conjure you to exert yourselves. Petition again; the eyes of our gracious Sovereign may yet be opened, and he may see what things are for his real interest, before they are eternally hid from his eyes.”
Joseph Hewes to Samuel Johnston (January 4, 1776) III, 28.
“The Congress at our request have agreed to send two Clergymen to North Carolina to explain to the Highlanders and regulators the nature of the dispute between Great Britain and the Colonies, and left the appointment to us. We applied to Mr. Elihu Spencer and Mr. Alexander McWhorter two eminent divines of the Presbyterian religion who have undertaken the Service. They are strongly attached to our cause and I hope will render it essential Service.”
Joseph Hewes to James Iredell (May 17,1776) IV, 26.
“This being a day of humiliation, fasting (or in Vulgar language Congress Sunday) I mean to steal as much time from my private devotions as will serve to acknowledge the receipt of your agreeable favour of the 29th ultimo which has just reached me.”
William Hooper
William Hooper to James Duane (November 22, 1774) I, 262.
“...God bless the Congress.”
argument for freedom of the press
William Hooper’s ? Draft Resolve (June 7-12, 1775) I, 455-456.
“Resolved that it be and hereby it is recommended to the Inhabitants of the united Colonies in America of all Denominations That Thursday the 20th day of July next be set apart as a day of public humiliation fasting and prayer, that a total Abstinance from Servile labor and recreation be observed and all their religious assemblies Solomnly Convened to humble themselves before God under the heavy Judgments felt and threatened to confess our manifold Sins, to implore the forgiveness of Heaven, (that a sincere repentance & reformation may influence our future conduct) and that a Blessing may descend on the husbandry, Manufactures & other lawful Employments of this people and especially that the Union of these American Colonies in defence of their Just Rights & priviledges may be preserved, confirmed and prospered, that the Congresses may be inspired with Wisdom, that Great Britain and its Rulers may have their eyes opened to discern the things that shell make for the peace and Happiness of the Nation and all its Connections adn that America may soon behold a Gracious interposition of heaven for the redress of her many grievances, the restoration of her invaded Liberties, a reconciliation with the parent State upon terms constitutional and Honourable to them both and the Security of them to the latest posterity.”
William Hooper to Mary Hooper (June 20, 1775) I, 523.
“I wish my friends in Boston may have as little to atone for to God & their Consciences as I have, altho your Son Wm. may have been mistaken be assured that he can upon God to Witness that in his Conduct he has never taken a step which has not been dictated by the honesty of his heart & a sincere love for the Constitution of G. Britain.
William Hooper to Samuel Johnston (March 13, 1776) III, 371.
“...I am happy to hear that my family are well; would to God I was with them.
The King would not for a long time consent to treat with the Congress but was at last prevailed upon. They are to contend for much & be content with little. Their Creed is divide & impera.Heaven Grant that America may have virtues to resist their lures. I most earnestly wish peace & reconciliation upon terms honorable to America. Heaven forbid that I should submit to any other.”
William Hooper to Samuel Johnston (September 24, 1776) IV, .
“...the constitution of Pennsylvania ... No man to be an Assemblyman unless he believes in God. Is Irreligion then the flourishing growth of Pennsylvania and is Atheism a weed that thrives there? Sure this insinuates as much.”
William Hooper to Joseph Hewes (October 27, 1776) V, 408.
“God grant that these precautions may be unnecessary; at least they are prudent.”
William Hooper to Joseph Hewes (November 5, 1776) V, .
“What may be the event of an engagement betwixt Genl. Howe and Genl. Washington I am not bold enough to pronounce, it is known only to the Lord of hosts.”
William Hooper to North Carolina Convention (November 14, 1776) V, 484.
“We have this moment received Intelligence from the Jersies that 100 of the Enemies Ships steering Southward, the Congress have thought proper to dispatch an express to you that you may hold yourselves in immediate readiness to oppose any attempts against your state, or to render assistance to your Neighbors.
“A Careful look out should be kept alnong the Sea Coast, that we may be apprized of their movements and not taken napping. As your defence & that of South Carolina must consist chiefly in Militia, You will take measires that they hold themselves in perfect readin ess to march when and wherever the Convention shall think fit to order them. We are making every preparation to oppose any designs they may have against this place & with the blessing of God. I confide shall be able to disappoint them.”
William Hooper to Joseph Hewes (November 16, 1776) V, 497-498.
“...I lament the late changes in your Convention. To what strange infatuation has been owing the removal of Mr. Johnston from your Councils. At a time when the Abilities of the first Characters in the State are necessary to give you a Constitution which will secure happiness, Life, liberty & property to the Inhabitants, you have deprived yourself of the most able head in North Carolina and as good a heart as God ever mnade. Is it become criminal then to stretch forth the hand of compassion & shed the tear of pity upon suffering weakness. Is not liberty the same to one Class of beings as to another, or a few of us Gods Elect who have a right to think & act as we please, without suffering any others to step within the pale of our Privileges? I confess there are few incidents which have taken place since my entrance into publick life which have given me equal distress. Past services seem to be no security for future preferment & a life far exhausted in promoting the publick good is to close under the greatest Example of Ingratitude that has ever marked a people. In dust and ashes may they attone for it, to God & to my friend, & the friend of his Country.”
William Hooper to Joseph Hewes (November 29, 1776) V,497-498.
“...The people here are vastly comforted with 7 days of Rainy Weather which we have had as it must retard Gen. Howes progress thro’ the Jersies. Heaven they say fights for them, well that it does for they attempt nothing for themselves. If Salvation comes to them it is the superabundant unmerited grace of God which gives to Sinners infinitely more than they can ask or think.”
William Hooper to Joseph Hewes (November 30, 1776) V, 558.
“Where the Eastern Army is, or how employed God only knows... From whence I shall write you next I know not. Perhaps from this- perhaps Lancaster- perhaps Baltimore- perhaps Heaven. Was it not for my family, I could wish the latter.”
William Hooper to Joseph Hewes (December 1, 1776) V, 562.
“The Enemy are pressing on to this City. Heaven knows we are very ill prepared to receive them.”
William Hooper to Robert Morris [Baltimore] (December 28,1776) V,689.
“When the Devil proffered our saviour the Kingdoms of the World, he surely placed his thumb on this delectable spot & reserved it to himself for his own peculiar seat and inheritance.”
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