Delegates to Congress . Letters of delegates to Congress, 1774-1789, Volume 14, October 1 1779-March 31 1780
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William Churchill Houston to To: Caleb Camp
Sir,
(1)
Philada. 5 October 1779 .
I am sorry that it has not been in my Power to command as muchTime as I should have wished to employ, in giving a distinct Account tothe Legislature of the most material Occurrences in the Progress ofBusiness since I came to Congress. It is certainly the Duty of every Personin publick Trust to make those from whom he derives his Appointmentacquainted with the Manner in which he executes it, that they may beenabled to decide how far he fulfils or deceives their Expectations, and toform, at any Time, a clear Estimate of his Character. Next to Want ofFidelity, I look upon the Neglect of giving due Information to hisConstituents, the greatest Crime in a publick Man.
The principal Intention of this is to point at a Question which fromaccidental Circumstances has acquired a Magnitude and Importance abovewhat, simply considered, it was entitled to. A Question which has excitedmuch Inveteracy and Ill-blood in Congress, and not a few Speculationsand Suspicions abroad. I mean the Recal, or rather Supersession, of Mr.Arthur Lee, Commissioner of the United States at the Court of Madrid. Ihave carefully read over the Papers, and attended to every feasible Meansof unbiassed Information rela-
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tive to this Question, and I think have done it with a Temper divested ofPrejudice. The Result is this: I take Mr. Arthur Lee to be a man of ajealous, suspecting, difficult Disposition; trusty, capable and industrious.Indefatigable above others in procuring and transmitting Intelligence,accurate and frugal in Expenses and Mony-matters, simple, severe andrepublican in his manners; so much so as to be thought by many sour andcynical. This I take to be his Character; and in many Essentials I am notafraid to call him equal to any Person Congress ever employed in a similarCapacity in Europe. The Story hawked about, that his Indiscretionsprevented the Court of Spain from treating with him, I cannot thinkbelieved by those who propagate it, as that Conduct in the SpanishMinistry is ascribable to very different Reasons which must strike everyPerson at once who has the least Knowledge of the State of matters as theyrespected that Power. But admitting he were the best-qualified and mostmeritorious Man on Earth, is it not my Duty to vote for removing himwhen the Time of Congress is absolutely wasted, and the publick Businessnot only retarded but stopped by unavailing Altercations concerning anIndividual? When a General offers up a forlorn Hope to save an Army, theAlternative is dreadful; but the Principle is defensible and the Practice ofit often necessary. I confess that in a republick, where Approbation,Honour and Praise, more than Money and Emoluments, are the Reward offaithful Services, such Things ought to be admitted with Reluctance andCaution; yet still they may not be always avoidable. But further, should itturn out to be a Fact that France was doubtful of him, and that Spainhesitated, it mattered not how good a Man he was, one every wayinferiour, if free from such Exception, would have been preferable for thePurpose of treating. The real Causes of Delay being now removed, it is tobe hoped the gentleman who succeeds Mr. Lee will be successful. As Iwould ever wish to be simply just, but at the same Time to do what is best,all Things considered, I have no other Request than that this State of Factsmay be remembered another Day, when Time will throw Light upon whatis now dark, Prejudice will be extinct and the Means of judging fairly willcome within the Reach of all. Into what Course of Conduct, or to whatLength of Crimination, Resentment may impel this unfortunate Man, I amexcused from surmising. Whether, as many have done, he will adhere tothe Part he has taken in Spite of what he may think ill Treatment; orwhether, as many have also done, he will transfer himself to a Situationwhere he will expect more Attention; does not belong immediately to thepresent Decision; at least, I have taken the Liberty to throw it out of theBalance. At all Events I am happy this troublesome Affair is ended, and Ihope it will never rise up to disturb the Counsels of America more.Subjects of Contention and Animosity are retiring one after another, andUnanimity reviving in Congress where it is so essentially necessary.Trifles have had their Day, and too long a one has it
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been; Matters of Moment have now a Claim to their, and that it may notonly be longer, but perpetual, I am persuaded is the ardent wish of everyhonest Man. Upon reviewing what I have written, a Suspicion occurs that theabove Representation may imply a Reflection on the Conduct of some ofmy Colleagus, which is as far from my Meaning as it would be repugnantto Justice. The Time is not the same, other Circumstances also disagree.On the contrary I must declare that I think their Situaton hard andundeserved. The whole Train of the Transaction I can trace minutely. Tothe Quarter from whence the Accusations have originated, the Motiveswhich inspired them and the Instruments which have been employed fortheir Circulation I am not a Stranger, nor am I surprised at any Thing thusfar. But that their Fellow-citizens should entertain Impressionsunfavourable to those they once thought well of, and not call for anInvestigation of their Conduct, or suspend their Opinions till anExplanation should be had, may perhaps be a Matter of someDiscouragement. If the Gentlemen know what is alledged to their Charge,I am astonished they do not apply for an Opportunity of Justification.Certainly if I should ever be of Importance enough to be found fault with,I should expect the Liberty of explaining Facts and Motives; after that it isthe Part of an honest Man to submit in Silence to the Judgment of thosewho have a Right to pass upon his Conduct.
I enclose sundry Papers marked from Number 1 to 5 (2) which Ihave met with since I came to this Place, and which I have copied for theSight of such Gentlemen of the Legislature as may think it worth theirTrouble to read them. They relate to a Matter which was before theLegislature at their last Sitting previous to the present. One, if not more ofthem, is on the Files of the Assembly. They may be of Use on some futureOccasion, but my principal Object in copying them is to communicate thenoble and dignified Sentiments of the Commander in Chief, and to givesome Idea of the Difficulties he has to encounter. If ever any Mandeserved Gratitude and Confidence he does, and the more especially as hismodesty will never allow him to be elated with the former, nor hisgoodness of Heart to abuse the latter. His Letter marked No. 2 is anExample of it's Kind.
It is necessary that I give you the Trouble of communicating to theHouses the Substance of this lengthened Letter. I have no Idea they willhave Patience to go over the whole.
I am, with due Respect, your obedt hble Servt,
William Ch Houston
Note: RC (Nj: State Papers).
1 The recipient of Houston's first "Account to the legislature" wasidentified by Edmund Burnett as Gov. William Livingston. Burnett,Letters, 4:472. The account, however, was probably addressed to CalebCamp (1736-1816), of Essex Co., NJ., who
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served as a delegate to the New Jersey General Assembly, 1776-82, andwas speaker of the House, 1778-80. Livingston, Papers (Prince), I :385.Houston, who had recently served with Camp in the assembly, wasapparently writing to him in his official capacity, giving him "the Troubleof communicating to the Houses the Substance of this lengthened Letter."Houston also directed his repons of November 12 and 22 to Camp,although he addressed his letter of December 20 to both Camp andLivingston. Thereafter, when Camp was no longer speaker, Houston sentmost official letters directly to the governor.
2 Not identified.