Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-08-07

King, with which they were charged, and
Mr.. Lee was charged with the address to
the people Of England. The last was first
reported. On reading it every countenahcc
fell and dead silence ensued for many min
utes. Atlength, it was laid on the table for
perusal and consideration till the next day,
when first one member, aud then another,
arose, and paying some faint compliments
to the composition, observed that there were
still certain considerations not expressed in
it which should properly find place in it.
At length Mr.. Livingston, 1.-THE Governor
of N. J.,) member Of the committee, rose
and observed that friend Of his had been
sketching what he had thought mightsbe
proper for such an address, from which hc
thought some paragraphs might be advan-
tageously introduced into the draught pro
posed; and he road an address which Mr.
Jay had prepared, dc 5eac essc, as. it we're.
There was but one sentiment of admiration.
The address was recommitted for amend
ment, and Mr.. jays draught reported and
adopted with scarce any alienation, These
facts were stated to me by Mr.. Pendlcton
and Col. Harrison, of our own delegation,
Except that Col. Harrison ascribed the
draught to Gov'r. Livingston,) and were
afterwards confirmed to me by Gov'r Liv-
ingston; and will presently mention an
anecdote confermative Of them, from Mr..
Jay and II. II. L. themselves. .
MIR. Henry's draught Of petition to the
King was equally unsuccessful and was re-
committed for amendment. Mr.. John
Dickinson was added to the committee, and
a new draught prepared by him was passed
The occasion Of my learning from Mr.Jay
that he was the author Of the address to the
people of CIR. Britain requires explanation
by a statement of some preceding circum-
stances. The I'd session of the lst Congress
met, on their own adjournment, in May,
ITS. Peyton Randolph was their Presi-
dent Tn the meantime Id. North's con-
ciliatory proposition came over to be laid by
the Governors before their Legislatures. -
Id. Dunnore accordingly called that Of Vir-
ginia to meet in June. This obliged p.
Randolph, as Speaker, to return. Our
other old members being at Congress, he
pressedm to draw the answer to Id. North's
proposition. 1 accordingly did SO, and it
passed with little softening Of some ex-
prcssions for which the times were not yet
ripe, and wire-drawing and weakening 9TH
ers to satisfy individuals. l had been APP
pointed to go on to congress in place of
Peyton Randolph, and proceeded immedi-
atcly, charged with presenting this answer
to Congress. AS it was the first which had
been given, and the tone Of it was strong,
the members were pleased with it, hoping
it would have good effect On the answers
of the other States A committee which
had been appointed to prepare declaration
to be published by Gen. Washington on his
arrival at the army, having reported one,
it was recommitted, aud Dickinson and my
self added to the committee. On the ad-
journment Of the House, happening to go
out with Govr Livingston, one of the COM
mittee, l expressed to him my hope he
would draw the declaration. He modestly
excused himself and expressed his wish that
l would cit. But, urging him with con-
siderable importantly, he at length said:
"you and /, sir, are but new acquaintances;
what can have excited go earnest a desire
on your part that l should DO the draughts-
'nan?" "Why sir" Said I, II have been
you drew the address to the people
Great Britain. / think it the first compo.
sition in the English language; and, there
fore, am anxious this declaration should be
prepared by the same pen." He replied,
''tnat might have been misinformed on
that subject" A few days after, being in
with r. Fl. Lee, in Congress
Hall, little before the meeting of the
House, Mr.. Jay observing us, came up, and
taking r. II. Lee by button on the coat,
,aid to him pretty sternly: II understand,
'ir, that you informed this gentleman that
The address to the people of Great Britain
presented to the committee by me, was
lrawn by Govr. Livingston" The fact was
hat the committee having consisted Of only
Lee, Livingston, who was fother-in-law Of
Jay, and Jay himse.f. and Lees draught
having been rejected, and Jay approved SO
,nequivocally, his suspicious natursiy fell
IN Lee as author Of the report, and the
'ather, as they daily had much sparring in |
Congress, Lee being firm in the revolution
Try measures, and Jay hanging heavily on
heir rear. 1 immediatery stopped Mr..
Jay, and assured him that, though I had
indeed been so informed, it was not by Mr.. |
Lee, whom had never heard utter word |
IN the subject.
I found Mr.. Henry to be silent and al |
most unmeddling member Of Congress. On
he original opening Of that body, while
,eueral grievances were the topic, he was
n his element, and captivated all by his
,old and splendid cloquence. But as soon
IS they came to specific matters, to sober
easoning and solid augmentation, he had
be good sense to preceive that his decla-
nation, however excellent in its proper