The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-14
ROBT. MORRIS, FINANCIER.
mrs SERVICES TO THE UNITED
STATES DURING THE REVoLUTION
They Are Recalled ~ the Uniaus Me-ori.i
Go Htw at HstsVte, ~. ", Dedicated by
Secretary Carlisle Yesterday.

They Are Rse-iies sy the Unis-e He-or,s
60 Hiun st Batavia, N. ", Dedicated bl
Secretary Carlisle Yesterday.
BATAVIA, N. ", Oct 13.-The memory o
Robert Norris the man whose money and credit
were the financial backbone and sinew Of tn,
| American Revolution. is honored here to-day by
| the dedication OF the old Holland Company's
land office a monument to his services.
! John q. Carlisle, whose name is the thirty.
| first on the list OF Secretaries OF the United
| States Treasury, delivered the address at this
memorial 10 the man whose name is first.
! When Robert Morris was first elected TO Con-
gress, in 1873, he was about 40 years Of age. and
| the most solid Of the solid business men OF his
time. He owned more ships, sold more goods,
and possessed more unlimited credit than any
man in the colonies. He was large man physi-
cally, with massive head, rudy countenance.
and the sanRuine, open-hearted temperament
that we read In the face of Col Ingersoll or Mr..
Beecher. He was rather a nineteenth than an
eighteenth century character, free from the
pompous manners OF the times. His brown hair.
which he never powdered, was worn in an I'M
conventional way. and he had the enthusiasm
and faith in himself which we like to think Is q
product Of only our own generation.
Ten years previously he had testified his pa
triotism by determined fight against the Stamp
Willing & Co. to the agreement by which the
merchants of America pledged themselves to
import no more goods from England: yet in the
Congress of 1870 he foresaw that the Declare
tion of Independence was premature. From his
repeated service on finance committees he
realized the difficulty Congress would have in
commanding sufficient revenue to prosecute
war; and he opposed the Declaration. How
ever, when It was finally adopted. he signed IL
with the rest
MORRIS REDEEMs THE NATIONS CREDIT WITH
MS own.
How true was his Judgment in the stand he
took was demonstrated within n year. In the
spring of 1777 the terms for which the CONT
mental soldiers mad enlisted were about 10 ex-
pire. They had not seen hard money since their
first enlistment. and the paper with which they
had been paid had deprecated till acceptance of
II as currency was farcical. Uniforms and
equipments were worn out, rations were short.
and the army was the verge Of dissolution.
Unless there was immediate provision of $780,
900. in gold the war for independence seemed
destined to failure.
Congress had exhausted its credit, even with
the individual States. and was poweriess to
meet the issue. The financial stringency was
such that even thus early, the war had become
unpopular. Such was the that Washington
laid before Congressman Robert Morris when
he appealed to him for counsel. Most men OF
affairs would have declared that nothing could
be DONE that the country wanted peace and
prosperity. whether the proposition as to free
dom and equality were self-evidcnt or not, and
the war would have stopped.
Mr.. Morris was made of better stuff. He went
to his wealthy friends In Philadelphia and urged
them to buy Government securities to at least
the amount Of the necessary $4,000. Unsuc-
cessful In inducing a loan merely his rccom-
mendation, he backed IL with his personal notes,
and within a few days $4,000 in actual coin
on its way to the disheartened army. The
soldiers paid and reenlisted. Other loans
following from the same source-largely ncgotl-
ated in Holland-the campaign Of I777 was
prosecuted anew. and the capture Of Burgoyne
infused fresh hope in the hearts OF the colonists
alliance Of that year would never have been
formed For we must not suppose that France
that sort Of thing We may be sure that France
looked well Tn our finances and chapce Of success
before she took the risk of sharing our defeat.
assumed for Congress by Mr.. Morris. our finances
were all on paper. There was Continental paper
paper money, issued as drafts by Individual
States on the colonial Treasury, for state loans
man who stood so high In the confidence of men
and nations that his private credit redeemed all
STRONG GUARD AT THE PUBLIC TREASURY
Having insured a continuance OF the war. Mr.
Morris was content to put the country finances
once more into the hands of Congress. And I'M
I'll that body had reached the limit .: his plans
and had again 81 think for itself. things went
very well. But by 1881 Congress was again at
Its wits end, and the Treasury was $4,000
man, was once more called into Counsel, and on
Feb 2, iIsl, was made Superintendent, OF FL
nance. He was invested With wen nigh abso-
lutte control Of the Treasury and It's then phan-
tom resources. OF the wonderful manipulations
by which he made those resources count for
lie the system Of tax collection that taxes were
actually collected, Of his establishment Of the |
financial interests Of the States of his own notes
issued the first year to the amount OF 81 400 600
WR5 he Isp q e
war on its feet: OF those achievements the de- |
tails are T dry, but the results results Inspiring
vigorous policy Of his department, but in the |
rigid economy OF its administration. Hundreds |
sucking their little selves full OF the nations |
life blood, were summarily dismissed. We find |
eral OF the army came to him with a requisition
To buy hundred tons Of hay for certain bril-
gsdei and that Mt Morris after Inquiries as 70
amount OF hay to twelve tons: and that proved
TO be more than sufficient supply.
sIstance to the army, was never RELAXED. His
ships were, constantly running the blockade
name He would send a cargo Of his own com,
modities TO France, the ship would return TO
uaucu WIN kOOuS. ana, run
ming into the first available harbor distribute the
goods directly tn the army, The extent of Mr..
MOrriss losses by this unbusinesslike but con-
yenient procedure will never be known.
ADVISES CONCENTRATION ON yorktown AND
FURNISHES SUPPLIES.
Few important military movements were I'M
iertaken without consulting the Superintendent
II Finance. Outside of his province OF deciding
whether or not proposed plan was worth the
ietsiis was frequently acted upon. He may be
'ad TO have captured Cornwallls. For some
lime Washington's pet scheme had been 10 con-
;entrate the allied armies and capture New
Ork city by assault. The French commanders
likewise approved OF this idea, for they felt the
OF brilliant victory: their Govern
nent must be kept AWARE that the war was an
aggressive one. F. .4hr.
Having matured their plans. w ashlngton and
he French Generals applied ~ Mr. Morris for
unds. He at once disapproved OF the scheme.
he pointed out that, though they might win a
sensational victory, they could not hold their adj
'antage, They had no available ships for pro-
Getting New York harbOr, and the British war
'essels could speedily shell ths allied forces out
II the city. He refused TO ApportiOn money for
victory at once 50 costly and 30 short-liVed.
rather. he said, move upon COrnW alls, hemmed
hs.x