Archive · The Orangetown conference, May 1783
May 26, 1783
Congress answers: “continue his remonstrances”
Congress’s response to Washington’s report of the conference: the ministers in Paris are to protest to Britain and seek reparation, and Washington is to keep pressing Carleton. Passed unanimously.
What it says, in plain language
The resolution restates the words of the preliminary articles, “without causing any destruction or carrying away any Negroes or other property of the American Inhabitants,” and finds that “a considerable Number of Negroes belonging to the Citizens of these States have been carried off” against them. Copies of the Washington and Carleton letters go to the American ministers in Europe, who are to “remonstrate thereon to the Court of Great Britain” and seek “such reparation as the Nature of the Case will admit.” Washington is to “continue his remonstrances” and insist that the departures stop. The same sheet carries two further resolutions of the day, granting furloughs to the soldiers enlisted for the war. The copy shown here is the one sent to Washington, signed by Charles Thomson, secretary of Congress; a long opening passage naming the negotiators was struck out before it was sent.
What it adds to the boards
Board 2 ends the Orangetown story with Carleton’s refusal and the Virginia delegates’ letter of August. This is the step in between: Congress accepted Washington’s account, called the removals a breach of the articles, and sent the file to Paris. The Virginia delegates who wrote Harrison from Princeton on August 23 had this resolution behind them.
The struck-out opening on page 1 had named the negotiators, Richard Oswald for Britain and John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and Henry Laurens for the United States, before the clerk shortened it.
Page 1
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Transcription
By the United States in Congress assembled May 26. 1783
Whereas by the Articles agreed upon the 30 of November last by and between the Commissioners of the United States of America for making peace and the Commissioner on the part of his Britannic Majesty, it is stipulated that his Britannic Majesty shall with all convenient speed and without causing any destruction or carrying away any Negroes or other property of the American Inhabitants withdraw all his Armies Garrisons and fleets from the said United States and from every port place and harbour within the same. And whereas a considerable Number of Negroes belonging to the Citizens of these States have been carried off therefrom contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of the said Articles,
Resolved That Copies of the letters between the Commander in Chief and Sir Guy Carleton and other papers on this subject be transmitted to the Ministers plenipotentiary of these States for negociating a peace in Europe and that they be directed to remonstrate thereon to the Court of Great Britain and take proper Measures for obtaining such reparation as the Nature of the Case will admit
Ordered that a Copy of the foregoing Resolve be transmitted to the Commander in Chief and that he be directed to continue his remonstrances to Sir Guy Carleton respecting the permitting Negroes belonging to the Citizens of these States to leave New York and to insist on the discontinuance of that measure,
On Motion Resolved That the Commander in Chief be instructed to grant furloughs to the Non Commissd. Officers and Soldiers in the Service of the United States inlisted to serve during the War who shall be discharged as soon as the definitive Treaty of peace is concluded, together with a proportionable Number of commissioned Officers of the different Grades. And that the Secretary at War and Commander in Chief take the proper Measures for conducting those Troops to their respective homes in such a manner as may be most convenient to themselves and to the States through which they may pass and that the Men thus furloughed be allowed to take their Arms with them,
On Motion, Resolved That the commanding Officer in the Southern department be also instructed to grant furloughs to the Troops under his Command from the State of North Carolina who have been inlisted to serve for the Term of Eighteen Months together with a proportionable Number of Commissioned Officers of the different Grades and that the Secretary at War in conjunction with the commanding Officer take measures for conducting such Troops to their respective homes,
Cha Thomson secy.
[Docket:] Resolve of Congress May 26. 1783, respectg furloughs, published in Orders 2d June. Respectg Negroes & Property. Copy transmitted to Sir Guy Carleton & our Commissioners
Transcribed from the Library of Congress image of the copy sent to Washington. Original spelling kept; the struck-out opening passage is omitted; the manuscript’s long dashes are shown as commas. The phrases quoted in the Papers of James Madison, vol. 7, p. 80, n. 1, match.