Assembly, that it was declared to be an insufficient compliance with the Requisition which was its immediate object; and the insisting on that Construction betrayed a Disposition towards the State which her comparative merit as a member of the Union was far from deserving. That the Resolution under Consideration would leave the Dispute concerning the 86,658 Dollars on fair and Proper Ground for future Discussion without injury to either side of the Question If therefore the Proposition should be rejected, on what motive could it be accounted for that would not savour more of that narrow vindictive Spirit which too often attends the Bickerings of Individuals, than of that liberality and candour which should always mark the Conduct of States. That the Board of Treasury had, by their Report, manifested a Desire to correct the Error they had committed; but having officially communicated the obnoxious measure to Congress, they considered an Order of the House necessary to enable them to proceed in it. The matter therefore now rested with Congress, and how far it would be proper to turn into Coolness and Disgust the federal ardor of a State which had been, and might be continued to be, a liberally yielding Source of Supplies, and that too on a mere punctilio which had been abandoned by the Board who brought it into View, must be submitted to their wisdom & Prudence. Note. These arguments were not delivered in the order in which they are here arranged, but were brought forth in a course of Answers, Replies, Rejoinders, &c., and are now stated from memory in such order as to convey the Intention, of the Speakers with tolerable Precision. By Mr. Smith's Return there appears to be, of the 16ths of the new Emissions, at the Disposal of the United States, viz, At Liberty by the Rect of old Emissions from the State of Pennsylvania, to the of Aug 1786 57,607 49 Will be at Liberty when the States shall have paid in the Balance of old Emissions 28,839 51 86,447 Of which there remains due to the State on acct of the 390,000 Dollars exchanged for the State Emissions *Balance remaining at the Disposal of the U. S. 78,642 7,805 It is proposed that this 7,805 Dollars shall be immediately at the Disposal of the United States, on Condition that they neither claim nor issue any part of the above mentioned 78,642 Dollars. And as the said sum of 78,642 Dollars has been paid over to the State in Bills of the State of 1781-that the said Bills of 1781 be repaid to the U. States, or debited to the State of Penns in the general account at the foption of the U. States, they paying to the State of Penns the like Sum of 78,642 Dollars in the new Emission money of 1780. Notes added since. *Note. This Balance is supposed to arise from some of the warrants not being fully paid which were estimated in the 208,000 Dollars supposed to be appropriated before the negotiation of the 390,000 Dols. This option was proposed in order to soften Feelings, and was so understood at the Time-But it was nevertheless expected, and so understood also, that the option would be decided according to the Desire of the State. Sir, WM. HOOKER SMITH TO V. P. BIDDLE, 1786. Wioming, Aug. 10th, 1786. We hear that Capt'n Schoots is this day set out for Philada., we Expect in order to ask for Protection for Corn'l John Frankling and Major John Jinkins, in order to attend the Assembly as Agents; we are at this time in Great Confusion, the Conduct of Capt'n Shoots is amasing to us, he appears of Late to be on the side of Allin, Franklin, Jinkins, & associates, he has Inlisted himself in Proprietors, wrights Pritty Largly & is Padling about with Franklin & Jinkins in the Land Jobing way; under the Susquehanna Proprietors, on Satterday the fifteenth of July, I sot out from Wioming, on a journey to Jersey, I spoke with Franklin in the morning as I sot out, who informed me that he had wrote a number of advertisements, to call the people together Some Day on the last of the month, I told him that I should be back in eight days; I Expected as soon as I was absent Frankling altered the advertisments, called on the people to meet on this Day, the 20th, whilst I was absent, the worning was two short for the people in this long Settlement, to have general notice, only a few, I am informed met, they were called upon to attend to bisness, Frankling Read to the people, what fue there was, the votes of the Susquehanna Company, who met of late, and desired that the people would adopt them by passing them into votes hear, on this the settlers withdrew all to a very fue, Frankling & Jinkins Pushed on the bisness. I am Credebally informed that there was not more than 25, which voted & most of them straglers. Jinkins gave out such threatening words, that no man present dare apose, Jinkins declared that if any man in the settlement did oppose the doings of that meeting he would distroy him. John Jinkins swore in the most sollemn manner, that in case the people should constitute or appoint any other agent than what should be chosen by that meeting; that day he would send them to the Eternall Shades of Darkness, and that he knew he could rase a party to VOL. XI.-3 assist him, & that he would Distroy Both men, woman and children, he would not spare the lives of any one, Little or Great, and he would take their effects to himself. Refer to the inclosed, which was handed to me; They chose at that meeting Frankling and Jinkins for agents; They have the sword in their hands, Frankling is a Colonel, and Jinkins Major; the settlers cannot make any Defence, they have been deprived of their armes, the half share men are well armed, thirty of them can destroy the whole settlement. The former part of this Letter I wrote at Wioming; I am on the track of Capt'n Schoot, & this day at Hellers at wind Gap; when I began this letter I expected to have sent it by a young mann my Neighbourhood; if these men should get protection from Council, it will disharten the settlers, they are not chosen by the settlers, if they come under your Protection it will be their designe to affront you, & bring on a Rupture. The Susquehanna Company have voted to give the west branch people their lands, by this they expect one thousand men from thence to assist one Hue Forgeman has been of late at Wioming, who lives now at Dellaware, he has formerly been a justice at Wioming under Connecticut, he saith that when Ever Franklin calls he can have from that Neighborhood five or six hundred men, Franklin and associates brag that they can have from west Branch 1000, from Delaware 500, from Varmount 1000, such Reports intimidate the people. Notwithstanding there is yet virtue in most of the settlers. I have copyed Hamiltons Letters and spread them in the settlement, which is not only economising but Stimulates, when I left, the people were all in a Tumult. I have Drawn a Petition to offer to the Assembly, which was signing briskly when I left. The settlers in general fix on me as their agent. I Expect to Receive from them in a few Days, the Petition and a Power of agency, and Instructions to the Assembly. Franklin has had of Late a Request of Powder; we had three Cannon at Wioming, which is Either secreted, or sent to Tioga. The principal agents against Government are, John Franklin, John Jinkins, James Fin, Christopher Holbert; they have voted against taking the Laws; they have pursuaded the people against Government. You will observe the inclosed Letters. I fear my family will be Destroyed; I Dare not go to Wioming at present; people can be had plenty against the above persons. If they could be brought to justice, or removed, the people would soon be quiet. If your Honors should want any Inteligence from me, before I come to the Assembly, I may be found either at Hellers, at wind Gap, or at Colonal Strouds. P. S.-If the Wioming Disturbance should come to an open rupture, if troops should be sent to enforce the laws, Doct'r Smith begs that the friends to Government may not suffer with the disobedient. I should wish to go with them, or at least be permitted to give in a list of Names of such as are friends, & beg for Protection, as to my own part, I am Devoted & at your honors Service, I wish for Regu larity, order & an Introduction of the Laws. W. H. SMITH. ABRAHAM WESTBROCK, &c., TO V. P. BIDDLE, 1786. Honr'd Sir, This comes by Doctor Smith, who is obliged to fly. Franklin & his party have knowledge of his informing Government of Hamilton's Letters, Franklin & Jinkins have given out most shocking threatenings, as to the meeting which Franklin warned of Late, and Proceedings, and as to every particular transacted hear, refer to the Doctor; we feel ourselves sensably bound by our oath of fidelity to the States, and in Conscience as Honest men, to Declare against the Proceedings of Franklin & Jinkins, and as we Expect soon to come to an open Rupture; the Doctor has Drawn a Petition which is now signing, & the Letters from Hamilton are Public, we are determined to act on the Honest side, if the oposite party should prove to hard for us, we hope we shall Receive assistance from Govern ment. Indorsed, Honored Sir, we are Devoted & your Honors ABRAHAM WESTBROCK, Papers transmitted by Wm. Montgomery, Esq., &c., relating to the Wyoming business, &c., to be laid before a Committee of the House, for private inspection. Directed, To Charles Biddle, Esq'r, Vice President of the Supreme Executive Council, in his absence to the President. A MEETING RESPECTING WYOMING, 1786. At a meeting held at the house of Abel Geranton, July the 20th, 1786, Jeames Fien, Moderator. In the first plase Franklin read the Doings of the Meeting Latly held at Hartford by the Susquehannah Company, at which s Company voted that all that was setled on the West Branch under Pen sylvania shou'd hold their Lands, and that all that was on the East Branch should hold the Country for the sa Company, and sd Company would suport s setlers to hold sa Lands for the Connecticut Claimants, and those on, should represent the whole. Franklin and Beach then Did Solemnly Declair that Congris had not setled nothing in regard to the write of Soil as some had reported, But quite the reverce for Connitiecut was Determin'd to have another tryal, for Jurisdiction, Purhaps that would not Com on soon as Pensylvania would allow the Peopel the Whole purchais and the Laws of sd State it would be Best to accept for the present. Obediah Gore, had a number of votes done ready for the peopel to vote to in s meeting which was that the peopel had good write to their Lands and that the Connitiecut Purchis was good, and authentick and the settlers hear should hold the whole of the Indian Purchis for the Conniticcut Clameants, and Franklin said that if any Man should fall of from that and take this Land, his, under the Stait of Pynsylvenia he should look upon to Be a Perjired Person and guilty of Perjury, in the highest Sort, the agents that should be chosen at 8 meeting should have their instruction not to take up with nothing Short of the whole Purchis, this was voted in the meeting, By about 20 or 30 and them Mostly half Shear men, and perhaps but fue of them that have ever taken the oath of fidelity, sa Gore, Franklin and Beach told the meeting that in case they gave up their Indian Deed, they would Be all turned of amediately, and that if Pynsylvenia had granted a County Last Session, No Doubt, But they would grant the whole the Next. John Jinkins then swore in the Most Sacred Manner that in case that the Peopel should Constitute or appoint any other agent, But what should Be chosen by that meating that Day, he would Send them to the Eternal Shades of Darkeness and that he knew he could raise a party to assist him at any time he wanted, and that he would Destroy Both man, woman and children, of all such persons he would not spair the Life of one either Small, or Great, and would take their effects to himselfe. Agents Chosen at sd Meeting to represent this Settlement at the August Session. JOHN FRANKLIN, JOHN JINKINS, GILES SLOKEM, Director.* The above writer was afrade to put his name, but what he has asserted can be proved by a number present. * The foregoing paper is so badly written that it is difficult to decypher it. |