Papers of John Adams, volume 5

To William Tudor, 25 February 1777 JA Tudor, William

1777-02-25

To William Tudor, 25 February 1777 Adams, John Tudor, William

To William Tudor

dear sir Baltimore Feb. 25. 1777

I had last Evening yours of the 12 Instant. Am much obliged to you for it. Why did not the Court martial find Buckner guilty of Cowardice? Why did they only cashier him? When shall We have any Discipline? When shall We be decisive? When shall We punish, the worst Crimes, with the last Punishment?

I shall very soon become as clamorous an Advocate for Order, Subordination, Government, and Discipline, as ever Philanthrop1 was, indeed I am already.

I am extreamly mortified that those worthy Men, who Staid for Six Weeks, from the 1. of Jany, were obliged to go home unpaid. If I could explain to those honest Men the true Causes of this, they would acquiesce but I cannot. But they will be paid.

Am glad to hear, that the Army in Brunswick, are in a good Way. I hope We shall demolish them. We must. We will. Twenty thousand Men, are not necessary for this. But I hope neverthe-94less, you will have that number and more by the Time you mention.

I wish I could learn what Forces you have, at Morristown Chatham, Elizabeth Town, Princeton &c. &c. &c.

What has Heath done? How many Men has he? What has Spencer done?

I hope there will be Enquiries, Sometime or other, into the Conduct of our Armies from Long Island to this Moment.

I hope We shall e'er long renounce some of our Monarchichal Corruptions, and become Republicans in Principle in Sentiment, in feeling and in Practice, and among other Republican Institutions I hope We shall annually elect all our General officers. This would purge the Stream of Some Impurities. At least I hope so.

In Republican Governments the Majesty is all in the Laws. They only are to be adored. They must be obeyed.

But at present We are not sensible of this. Citizens must be made to feel, the force of civil Laws, and soldiers those of military ones.

Have you many Symptoms of Austere Republicanism in your Army? Is Virtue, or Rank? is Glory or Pay, your object.

Pray write me often, and let me know every Thing.

RC (MHi:Tudor Papers); addressed: “Coll Tudor Judge Advocate General in the Army Morristown Free J. Adams”; docketed: “25th. Feby. 1777.”

Pseudonym of Jonathan Sewall; see vol. 1:174–211.

Committee Report on Abraham Clark’s Motion, 27 February 1777 JA

1777-02-27

Committee Report on Abraham Clark’s Motion, 27 February 1777 Adams, John

Committee Report on Abraham Clark's Motion

27 February 1777

Resolved That General Washington's Proclamation of the Day of 1 does not interfere with the Laws or civil Government of any State: but considering the Situation of the Army was prudent and necessary.

MS in JA's hand (PCC, No. 36, I, f. 5); docketed: “brot. in 27 Feby. 1777 ordered to lie.”

The spaces for the day and the month are left blank. Dated 25 Jan., the proclamation, in an effort to separate friend from foe, ordered those who had accepted pardons from the Howes to repair to headquarters or to any general officer so that arrangements might be made for them to withdraw within enemy lines. The proclamation was printed in both Philadelphia and Baltimore (Washington, Writings, ed. Fitzpatrick, 7:61–62). Feeling that Washington by this order contravened state laws for punishing traitors, Abraham Clark of New Jersey moved on 6 Feb. that 95the proclamation should in no way affect such laws or interfere with the legislative powers of the states. JA was made chairman of a five-man committee to consider Clark's motion ( JCC , 7:95). Writing some days after the committee reported in favor of the proclamation, Clark asserted that the committee, realizing that its report would meet opposition, favored having it tabled as a way of killing the issue. He added that it would never be taken from the table unless he made the effort (Clark to Elias Dayton, 7 March, in Burnett, ed., Letters of Members , 2:292). The congress did nothing further on the issue.