We have the honor to be, Sir, &c.
JOHN ADAMS,
B. FRANKLIN,
JOHN JAY.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
Philadelphia, May 28th, 1783.
Gentlemen,
By the direction of Congress contained in the enclosed resolutions, I have the honor to transmit you the correspondence between General Washington and Sir Guy Carleton, together with minutes of their conference, when in pursuance of the invitation of the first, they met in Orange county. Nothing can be a more direct violation of the seventh Article of the provisional treaty, than sending off the slaves, under pretence, that their Proclamations had set them free, as if a British General had, either by their laws or those of nations, a right by Proclamation, to deprive any man whatever of his property. They may with much more propriety pretend to re-establish every one of their adherents in all the rights they had before the war, since they engaged so to do, and the people with whom they made these engagements were capable of entering into them, which slaves were not. Or even if they were, the promise made to them must be under the same limitations with those made to their other adherents in this country, and amounts to nothing more than this; "make yourselves free, and we will protect you in that freedom as long as we can." The Articles imply, that they were no longer able to protect them. You will be pleased to remonstrate on this subject, and inform Congress of the effects of your representations.
We have been much embarrassed by your silence, not having had a line from you since the Provisional Articles took effect, nor being at all acquainted with the progress of the definitive treaty; though the earliest information on this subject becomes very important. Congress, after some hesitation have ventured to hope, that it will meet with no obstructions, and have accordingly discharged by the enclosed resolution a considerable part of their army upon those principles of economy which extreme necessity dictated. As scarce a week passes without several arrivals from France, Congress complain with some reason of your silence. For my own part I could wish, that you would severally impose upon yourselves the task of writing weekly, and sending your letters to Mr Barclay. As you are possessed of cyphers, there can be no hazard in this, where the subject of your correspondence requires secrecy.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.