1780. Virginia cession to U. States. Constitu tion of Massachusetts. Pennsylvania act for slavery. In this forlorn situation, where they could receive no intelligence but through British channels, they were informed of several decisive battles, which were represented as completely destroying every prospect of American independence, and led to expect the fate of vanquished rebels. They heard, that the blood of André would be required at their hands; and were told, that the commandant of the garrison in St. Augustine had announced his fixed resolution, instantly to hang up six of them, if the Americans should execute their threats of putting to death colonel Brown, of the East Florida rangers. Amidst all these sufferings and perils, not an individual of their number applied for British protection.1 Virginia ceded to the United States all the lands to which it had title on the north side of the Ohio. The acceptance of this cession by congress was believed to be of great importance. "It will be a means," a distinguished patriot observed, "of perfecting our Union, by closing the Confederation; and thus our Independency will be in a great measure secured."2 A convention, called in Massachusetts for the purpose, framed a constitution for that State. By this constitution, a governor, lieutenant governor, senate, and house of representatives, were to be chosen by the free suffrages of the people, and a council of nine was to be chosen by the legislature, either from the senate, or the people at large. It was adopted by the people, and John Hancock was chosen governor. To the Constitution is prefixed a Declaration of rights, the first article of which is, " All men are born free and equal." This article is a virtual abolition of slavery.3 The representatives of Pennsylvania, in general assembly, in abolishing justice to persons heretofore denominated Negro and Mulatto slaves, and in grateful commemoration of their own happy deliverance from that state of unconditional submission to which Britain would have reduced them, passed an act for the abolition of slavery. By this act no persons, who shall be born within this state from and after the passing of this act, shall be deemed and considered as servants for life, or slaves; and all servitude for life, or slavery of children, in consequence of the slavery of their mothers, in the case of all children born within this state, 1 Ramsay, Hist. S. Carolina, i. 372, 373; ii. 462. 2 Letter of R. H. Lee to Samuel Adams, member of Congress, dated " Chantilly, Feb. 5, 1781." 2 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. i. 186. The whole territory then belonging to the United States, northwest of the Ohio, has been estimated at about 200,000,000 acres. 3 It was inserted with a particular view to the liberation of the negroes on a general principle. Some persons, however, doubted the extent of this principle until the trial of a case at the supreme judicial court in Massachusetts in 1783, the decision of which was in favour of a negro, on the ground of the first article in the Constitution. from and after the passing of this act, shall be, and hereby is 1780. utterly taken away, extinguished and for ever abolished. sage to The Mercury, a congress packet, was captured on the 3d of H. Laurens September, by the Vestal frigate, off the banks of Newfoundland. on his pasMr. Henry Laurens, late president of congress, having been Europe is appointed minister from the United States to the States General taken; of Holland, was on board the packet, on his passage to the Hague. He was taken to England, where he was examined by the privy council, and committed close prisoner to the tower, on and coman accusation of high treason. His papers, which had been mitted to thrown overboard, but recovered and decyphered, were found to contain the sketch of a treaty of amity and commerce between the Republic of Holland and the United States of America.1 the tower. Caghnawaga, which before the war had been the seat of Sir CaghnawaWilliam Johnson, was principally destroyed by a party of Indians gadestroyand others under his command. The American Academy of Arts and Sciences was incorpo- American rated by the legislature of Massachusetts. Academy. Phillips Academy, at Andover in Massachusetts, was incor- Phillips porated.2 Academy. The 19th day of May was distinguished by the phenomenon Dark day. of a remarkable darkness in the northern parts of America; and is still called "The Dark Day." Thomas Hutchinson, formerly governor of Massachusetts, Death of died at Brampton in England, aged 69 years. 1 Belsham, G. Britain, b. 19. Warren, ii. 276, 277. 2 The founders were Samuel Phillips, Esq. of Andover in Massachusetts, and his brother, John Phillips, LL.D. of Exeter in New Hampshire, who made their donations for this purpose in 1777. Their design, as expressed by themselves, was "to lay the foundation of a public free School or Academy for the purpose of instructing Youth, not only in English and Latin Grammar, Writing, Arithmetic, and those Sciences wherein they are commonly taught; but more especially to learn them the great and real business of living.-The first and principal object of this Institution is the promotion of true Piety and Virtue." See 1808, Art. THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTION. 3 The darkness commenced between the hours of ten and eleven, A. M. and continued until the middle of the next night. The wind was at southwest; and the darkness appeared to come on with clouds, which came in that direction. Its extent was from Falmouth, in the Province of Maine, to New Jersey. The darkness appears to have been greatest in the county of Essex (Massachusetts), in the lower part of New Hampshire, and in the Province of Maine; but it was great in Rhode Island and Connecticut. In New York it was less than in those places, and in New Jersey the darkness was not very uncommon. In most parts of the country where the darkness prevailed, it was so great, that persons were unable to read common print, determine the time of day by their clocks or watches, dine, or manage their domestic business, without additional light. "Candles were lighted up in the houses; the birds, having sung their evening songs, disappeared and became silent; the fowls retired to roost; the cocks were crowing all around, as at break of day; objects could not be distinguished but at a very little distance; and every thing bore the appearance and gloom of night." Memoirs of American Academy, i. 234-246; Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. i. 95-98. Beside this instance of uncommon darkness, and that on T. Hutchinson. March 1. 1781. THE Compact of the Confederation was rendered complete. Confedera- Much difficulty had been experienced in obtaining its ratification. tion com pleted. Bank of established. Various and sometimes conflicting amendments had been proposed by the states respectively; but they had successively yielded to the opinion, that a federal compact would be of vast importance in the prosecution of the war. One of the greatest impediments had hitherto been found insuperable. Within the chartered limits of several states there were immense tracts of vacant territory, which, it was supposed, would constitute a large fund of future wealth. The states, not possessed of this advantage, insisted on considering this territory as a joint acquisition, to be applied to the common benefit. The cession made by Virginia, the preceding year, of its northwest territory was now accepted by congress; and, to the great joy of America, the Confederation was completed.1 A national bank was instituted. The plan of it was projected N. America by Robert Morris, one of the delegates of Pennsylvania, a man of high reputation, and well versed in affairs of commerce and finance, whom congress had appointed treausurer. He assigned to this bank a capital of 400,000 dollars, divided in shares of 400 dollars each, in money of gold or silver, to be procured by subscriptions. Twelve directors were to manage the bank, which was denominated by congress, "The President, Directors, and Company of the Bank of North America." To the financial skill and indefatigable efforts of Mr. Morris in the treasury department, it has been thought, his country was scarce less indebted, than to the valour of her soldiers and the wisdom of her statesmen. Under his auspices, public credit revived; the army the 19th of October, 1762 [not 14th, as ib.], there was one 21 October, 1716; when "people were forced to light candles to eat their dinners by." Of this darkness there is an account in the Philosophical Transactions, No. 423; but the particulars of it are not preserved. General authorities for 1780: Gordon, iii. Lett. 2-4; Ramsay's American Revol. ii. 151-204, and Revol. S. Car. ii. c. 9-12; Marshall's Life of Washington, iv. c. 4-6; Stedman's American War; Tarleton's Campaigns, c. 1-3; Moultrie's Memoirs of Amer. Revolution; American and British Chronicle; and Anderson's Hist. Commerce, iv. A. d. 1780, where is an account of the associa tion of the neutral powers of Europe, formed this year, which was called "The Armed Neutrality." 1 Journals of Congress, vii. 43-49. Marshall, iv. c. 8. All the states, excepting Maryland, had already authorized their delegates in congress to ratify the articles of Confederation. The Maryland delegates, by virtue of an act of their state for that purpose, signed the articles on the 1st of March: "By which act," says the Journal of Congress, "the Confederation of the United States was completed, each and every of the Thirteen United States, from New Hampshire to Georgia, both included, having adopted and confirmed, and by their delegates in Congress ratified the same.' was pacified; and a new impulse given to every operation in the 1781. field and the cabinet.1 part of 1780; took com The successes of the British, after the reduction of Savannah Retrospect and Charlestown, encouraged them to a vigorous invasion of of the latter North Carolina. The American army, after its defeat and dis- when persion on the 16th of August, 1780, rendezvoused at Hillsborough; and toward the close of the year advanced to Charlottetown. At this place general Gates transferred the command to general Greene, whom congress had sent to take charge of gen. Greene the southern army. The whole of this army consisted of about mand of the 2000 men, more than half of whom were militia. With this in- southern considerable body of troops, miserably provided, general Greene took the field against a superior regular force, which had already marched in triumph 200 miles from the sea coast. Soon after he took the command, he divided his force, and sent general Morgan with a respectable detachment to the western extremity of South Carolina, and marched with the main body to Hick's Creek, on the north of the Pedee, opposite to Cheraw Hill. army. Cowpens. On the entrance of general Morgan into the district of Ninety Six, lord Cornwallis, who was far advanced in his preparations for the invasion of North Carolina, found it necessary to drive him from his station, that he might not leave an enemy in his rear. Lieutenant colonel Tarleton was therefore ordered to proceed with about 1100 men, and "push him to the utmost." Tarleton had two field pieces, and a superiority of infantry in the proportion of five to four, and of cavalry the proportion of three to one. With these advantages, he engaged Morgan at the Jan. 17. Cowpens, near Pacolet river, on the 17th of January. The Battle of the attack was begun by the first line of infantry, consisting of the 7th regiment, the infantry of the legion, and corps of light infantry annexed to it; a troop of cavalry was placed on each flank; the first battalion of the 71st and the remainder of the cavalry formed the reserve. General Morgan had drawn up his men in two lines. The front line was composed entirely of militia, placed under the command of colonel Pickens, and was advanced a few yards before the second, with orders to form on the right of the second when forced to retire. Major M'Dowell with a battalion of the North Carolina volunteers, and major Cunningham with a battalion of Georgia volunteers, were advanced about 150 yards in front of this line. The second line consisted of the light infantry, and a corps of Virginia riflemen. The cavalry under lieutenant colonel Washington were drawn up 1 Botta, b. 13. Journals of Congress, vii. 109-111, 257. Mr, Morris's plan was proposed to congress 17 May; approved 26 May; and the bank incorporated 31 December. 1781. Cornwallis pursues Morgan. at some distance in the rear of the whole. The British, led to the 12 men only were killed, and 60 wounded. Congress, in honour Lord Cornwallis was surprised and mortified, but not dispirited, by intelligence of this disastrous event. With the expectation of retaking the prisoners, and the intention of obliterating the impression made by the late defeat, his lordship instantly determined on the pursuit of Morgan, who had moved off with his prisoners toward Virginia. The movements of the royal army induced general Greene immediately to retreat from Hick's Creek; and, leaving the main army under the command of general Huger, he rode 150 miles through the country to join the detachment under general Morgan, that he might be in front of lord Cornwallis, and so direct both divisions of his army, as to form a speedy junction between them. Greene, on his arrival, ordered the prisoners to Charlotteville, and directed the troops to Guilford court house, to which place he had ordered general Huger to proceed with the main army. In this retreat the Americans endured extreme hardships with admirable fortitude. The British urged the pursuit with such rapidity, that they reached the Catawba on the evening of the same day on which |
