Title: To secure the blessings of liberty : selected writings of Gouverneur Morris /
Authors: Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816; Barlow, J. Jackson.
Publisher: Liberty Fund,
Year: 2012
Subjects: Morris, Gouverneur,; United States History; United States History; United States History; United States Politics and government; United States Politics and government
Abstract: Born into an aristocratic family in New York, Gouverneur Morris (1752-1816) completed his bachelor's degree at the age of sixteen from Columbia University (then King's College). He began reading law in the office of William Smith, one of the leaders of the New York bar. There he formed lifelong friendships with Robert Livingston and John Jay and earned a reputation as an expert in public finance through his opposition to a new issue of bills of credit by the New York colony. Morris's belief that human nature dictated self-serving goals in any political action made him a late convert to the cause of independence from Britain. Nevertheless, his optimism about the American future prevailed, and his political involvement during and after the American Revolution spanned more than three decades. As editor, J. Jackson Barlow writes, "Once he became an advocate of separation, Morris never looked back.^
Contents: To the inhabitants of the colony of New-York (1769) -- Political inquiries (1776) -- Oration on the necessity for declaring independence from Britain (1776) -- Public letters to the Carlisle Commissioners (1778) : To the Carlisle Commissioners, June 20 ; To the Earle of Carlisle, July 21 ; To the Earl of Carlisle, September 19 ; To Sir Henry Clinton, October 20 -- Proposal to congress concerning the management of the government (1778) -- Report of the committee on the treasury (1778) -- Some thoughts on the finances of America (1778) -- To the Quakers, Bethlemites, moderate men, refugees, and other the Tories whatsoever, and wheresoever, dispersed (1779) -- "An American" letters on public finance for the Pennsylvania Packet (1780) : February 17 ; February 24 ; February 29 ; March 4 ; March 11; March 23 ; April 11 ; April 15 -- Righteousness establisheth a nation (1780) -- Observations on finances: foreign trade and loans (1781) --