Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-07-31
From The Nep York True SIM.
SECRErJOURNAL OF THE CONTlN-
CnNEDESS

w -, atlN aitV-
tn T OF 1920, the secret journals of the acts
ant proceedings of the Continental Congress
We're ordered to be- published. and the three
votumes which accordingly made theirappear-
aiice, contain much important and interesting
information, which we perceive has not been
appreciated by our late historians i'm gcttipp
up their annals.
One oi the early sud curious designs of this
body was To make a descent upon Nova Scotia.
totaka away the cannon and stores. to DESTROY
the docks, yards and magazines. and To capture
and destroy the ships or transports there,
belonging to- the enemy. A resolution of this
character actually was adopted, and another
II, which was TO send two persons into
the provinc TO learn the disposition of the
people towards the United States, as well a.
TO ind out whether the proposed attack wa.
feasible.
Another project ola similar kinl was enter.
tainel, an II is curious to observe the natural
tcnlency Of events to certain points. TIL,
s,lzing n securing the barracks and castle o
81 Augustine were resolved on. as a measure
oi security, anl the States of North and Sou,l
carolina amt u ,orgia, Were recommended I,
attempt their reduction. Florida has neve,
escaped the attention of the United States. am
has. at last. become one of the confedcracy.
Ihe policy OF conquest or annexation was
strongly developed in tibet ontinentalConyrcss
Alter hearing OF the death OF General Mont.
gomery and the repulse of his troops before
Quebec, an address was officially published Ia
tn people OF Canada. with the signature Of
John Hancock, in which it was said. ave
will never abandon YOU to the unrelenting pity
oil your and our enemies" Troops were
promised them, and il was recommended that
the inhabitants should form associations i'm
TIE different parishes, elect duties to n pro-
I Nlnnt. n,,r.. .,1 IL. AZ.
gress should send representatives to ours.-
The proclamation concluded with the express
SION of the full hope" that "the standard of
tyranny Will never hereafter find a shelter i'm
North America n hope, it must be admit
ted, that looks very much like fulflment. 1t
seems also, thata Monsieur Mesplet was en-
gagged To 90 to Canada, set up a press, and there
TO carry ON the printing business. Two hun
dred dollars were voted him 10 defray his ex-
ponses.
II Is evident that some opinions were enter
tanned that even the Bermudians sympathised
with oar cause, for a secret correspondence
with their island. induce | the passage of a re-
solution to send out two ship loads of pro-
visions, and 10 purchase, man and arm there
TWO sloops OF war for the use of the united
colonies.
On the Stl of July, lT6, General Washing
ton was authorized 10 call forth and engage i'm
our colonial service, the Indians of the ST.
Nova Scotia, and Penobscot tribes.
The design on Nova Scotia was not aban.
doned even in l777, and the State of Massa-
chusetts, whose sons had years gone by, sig
nallzed themselves at Louisbursh, was selec-
ted to make the attempt.
An Eruption into Canada being planned
indcr the direction of Gen. Lafayette, 80, 900
lvres were placed at his disposal, and at his
several French officers were commits
stoned III order to command IA regiment of
canadians proposed to be raised. We would
-escue from oblivion the names of the bray
foreigners who received this mark of the con-
idence Of CONGRESS-.
mons. Jlmat, then aid TO Lafayette, was to
be Lieut.. Colonel, and also Mr.. DE Vrigny.
Chevalier Pont Gibant, Major; Nj. de Sig
ONE, Mr.. DE Lomagne, and Baron du Frey.
Captains. We also find a record of the com
mission of Major De Buisson, promoted TO a !
Lieut.. Colonelcy. We believe this person
distinguished himself at a subsequent period.
Ihls project OF conquering Canada, which is
NOT treated with any great degree of parlicu-
,larlty by our general historians, appears TO
nave deeply interested Congress, as well as
General Lafayette, and il was not unit March.
| rs, that it was abandoned as an attempt
highly hazardous and imprudent.
A very singular movement was made on the
29th OF April, l779. A committe made a re-
port TO Congress Off plan to induce the foreign
olhcers and soldiers who were in the service
uTeat Britain TO desert. 'Considerinp."
says the document, "that you are reluctantly
compelled 10 be instrumets of avarice and ann.
biuon, we not only forgive the injuries which
YOU have been constrained to offer us. but 10
mold out oyour acceptance a participation of
the privileges OF free and independent states.
Large and fertile tracts of country invite and
will amply reward your industry"
Every captain who brought with him 40
men was TO have 500 acres good woodland four
oxen, one bull, three cows and. four hogs If
a Lieutenant came with him, the subal,ern
officer was TO receive half what was given the
capiain.-Every soldier was to- have 80 acres
oi land, one OK, one COW and two hogs. The
persons were TO be at immediate liberty
to settle their farms. without being liable In
do military duty. The address was carried NV
a vote OF & states, TO 3 in the negative. and
one divided. Rhode Island, Connecticut and
New Jersey voted, no. Maryland was diyi-
lied. One thousand copies were ordered to be
printed IN the German language and, and dis
tributed.
On the goth Of November, IT'S, an attempt
toIenuce East FLORIDA, was agreed upon, and
an attack by sea and land was arranged.
In 1913 the memorial Of one Alexander
McNutt, the agent of several townships in
Nova Scotia, was laid before Congress. in
which he prayed TO be- admitted under safe
conduct to s. tile in America. The PRAYER of
the memorial was granted, and for the pur-
pose OF an easier co operation with the people
OF that province, a road was laid out TO The 81.
Johns at Tire expense Of SIS 900.
we stop here for the present, with the re-
mark that these proceedings give FATHERS novel
view OF the feelings of our iorcfathers at this
crisis of our revolution. We gather from our
histories the idea OF much despondency-the
suiicrings and disasters of the army occupy
such prominence on their pages that we in
scnsibiy incline TO the opinion that almost
every one dcspaired of the issue. But the
secret Journal Of Congress shows no such feel.
ing. So far indeed were they from entertain.
ing'ny fear That we find the idea Of conquest
was continually in their minds. Canada
Novo Scotia and East Florida were all aimed
at, and they looked forward To the day ,yLcn