New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-12-19

During the Revolutionary War great efforts
were made by the British commanding officers TO
induce Americans to Join the Royal standard and
take up arms against their couRtrymen. Ia llT
General Howe collected as many of the refugees
or tories as could be persuaded TO enlist into
body which by degrees were augmented to several
thous ands. Over these he appointed officers eho-
sen from among those gentemes who, for their
attachment to the Royal cause, had been obliged
to abandon their property, or who lived under his
protection in Newly o.l- and the adjacent islands
Governor Tryon being chosen Commandments
Chief These new forces stationed in New
York and i,s vicinity, in order to give free scope
of operations TO the grand army, and allow 1t to
exert its whole strength for the purpose to which
it was originally destined
The Tories in New York were organised under
the superintendent of (" The Board of Directors
of Associated Loyalists," commissioned by British
authority. William Franklin, formerly Royal Gov
ernor of New Jersey, was President Of this Board.
Gov F. was a son Of Doctor Franklin, and wes
nearly as pcuous in his opposition to the he
volution as his father vas in the support of it.
biographical sketch of him may be found in Mr..
Wards Memoirs Of Curwen.
Doctor Franklin however, not affected by
the ties of consangunity or private friendship in
his views of the Tories or Refugees, or the course
10 be pursued towards them. The following are
extracts from hi, letters totwo English gentlemen,
written some time after the peace:
To Francis Masess.
PAssY, (France) June &C. 1875
ave differ little in our sentiments respecting The Loyal
ISIS las they call theseves and the conduct OF America
towards them which you think seems aciuated by spirit
ofrevenge; and that would have been more agreeable 10
their taking the oaihs Of allegiance TO the new govern
uents" That there should still be some resentment against
hon, in the reas,s III those who have their homes
farms and towns lately destroyed and relatives scaped
the conduct Of these rogahsts, IS moi "ondeiiui
though believe, the opposition by many TO ler re,eslao
could be reliance on their oais ana 'ha lhc ehect
receiving those people again would De an o.
that very anarchy confusion they falsely reproach Us
even example you propose Of the English Com
monweatl's restoring the Of the Koyass in 1919
after being subdued rather 10 countenance and
encourage acting diercnuy as probably II The power
ich always accompanies property, had mol oeen restore
to the Royass their estate had remained cohtscaed
and their persons had been hanshed they could not have
so much contributed the restoration OF knSy power
and the new government OF the Republic might rave oeeh
more durable" ,.;s,o.. ,ro an ,,,
other side OF the question All the in England and
South Scotland and most OF those possessed by he de-
con6caons made OF The OF Caedonans and Brit
the original possesors in your sand or The native
Irish in the last century only The against Us was BE-
gun By general OF Parliament declaring all
con6scated and probably one great motive TO the loyalty
tons They promises TO rely from your governments
Standardization ncase of loss and see your Paramen'
lon because though sill enemies, they men they
are in necessity; and think evcu hired assassin hasa
right 10 his his employ III seems, too moreFea
onabe that the expense paying these should TALL upon
the Government WHO encouraged the mischief done rather
,t,o Nnr.,Iit No
king amends but for very small part OF ihat mischief
not therefore, clear that our retaining them chargeaoie
with Injustice"
al have limited above that the lopeiist was mprc
perry assumed by these people Rovai'sfs 'ey may per
maps called, But the true oyatSts were toe peor c
America, against when they ac!ed. no peopie W.
known truly loyal, and universally 20 10 lhel sew
regns. Buihey were equally iond OF woa' toey
have already said that Think just you should reward
those Americans who joined Your troops IN me war asa
their country but II ever honesty con,u Dc 'e's
with policy is 50 in III Instance Es an Xxi
To alexander Small
.PRILADELPHIA, Sept. g, 1887.
llad been at home as you wish soon after the peaer
might possibly have mtisated some OF Inc seventies
against the royaiSls believing, DO that tear ana error
rather than malice, occasioned their deseo OF tier con
try's and the adoption OF toe Kings me puoc re-
sen,ment against them abated that none who
ask refused and many OF them now I'VE
among much al their ease AS TO the % cor
tscs;ed estates operation that none OF our po
clans yet venured TO propose Ihty are sor' OF
people that love To lotiy themselves in Their projects by
nrerrdepi Perhaps they wait 10 your Government re-
store forfeited estates in Scsand TO the scoicn mos
10 Ireland 10 The irish and hose in England tome elc
always glad 10 hear from you and oil your welfare
TO the same.
"PnllAoELPHiA, Nov. 5. 1889.
al f,roe, who II WINS thai said We commanded 20
forgive mics but we are no where c"hamnen !"
forgive our friends Certain IL IS, however, that a'rocions
rSriss done ourriends naturally more desp!
resented thnn the done by enemies. They (iher
as, have lell live under the government OF tht
King in England and Nova Scotia. We do not mis' them
their do We envy them their present
happiness
Other American patriots seem to have looked
upon the course of the Tories with somewhat less
severity than Doctor Franklin. At one time dti-
ring the war, General Washington recommended
Congress to authorize proclamation OF pardon
to such of the refugees would return and signl-
fy their allegiance to their native country. John
JAY was American Minister to Madrid when the
New.York Confscaton Act Of 1879 passed.
In q letter to Gov George Clinton dated May,
1880, he says 8 An English paper contains what
they call, bat can hardly believe to be, your con-
fscation act If truly printed New-l orii Is DIS
craced by injustice too pal pabe to admit even OF
palla,ion.' Upon this The biegrapher OF MIR,
jaw remarks The Confscation Act referred le,
was unfortunately authentic. Mr.. Jay in after
life, often spoke of it with strong indignation he
regarded the dispute with Britain as one in which
men might conscentiousy take opposite sides
and while he was ever ready to take all proper
measures for preventing the Tories from injnE;ng
the American cause, he abhorred the idea OF pun
isRing them for their opinions. His wish was that
No estate should be conhscated except such as be-
longsd to those who had been either peridious or
cruel. BY the act alluded TO many were attanted
who had been perfectly inoensive, and he believed