The history of the rise, progress, and establishment of the independence of the United States of America, Vol. 2 (of 3) : $b Including an account of the late war, and of the thirteen colonies, from their origin to that periodGordon, William
History
The history of the rise, progress, and establishment of the independence of the United States of America, Vol. 2 (of 3) : $b Including an account of the late war, and of the thirteen colonies, from their origin to that period
Gordon, William
United States -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
from dark thickets, and rugged paths. They were frequently obliged to
pass through narrow defiles, in which small parties might harass the
bravest and most numerous army. They had to cross rivers, fordable only
at one place, and overlooked by high banks, from whence an enemy might
attack with advantage, and retreat with safety. They could have no
accommodations, but a few plain necessaries carried on pack-horses.
They, for the most part, slept in open air, and experienced all the
inconveniences of a savage life.
None of all the expeditions before undertaken against the Indians had
been so successful as this first effort of the new-born commonwealth. In
less than three months, viz. from the 15th of July to the 11th of
October, the business was completed, and the nation of the Cherokees so
far subdued, as to be incapable of annoying the settlements. The whole
loss of the Americans did not exceed fifty men.
The means adopted by the British to crush the friends of congress, have
been providentially over-ruled, so as to produce the contrary effect.
Their exciting Indians to massacre the defenceless frontier settlers,
promoted the unanimity of the inhabitants, and invigorated their
opposition to Great-Britain. Several who called themselves tories in
1775, have become active whigs, and cheerfully taken up arms in the
first instance against Indians, and in the second against Great-Britain,
as the instigator of their barbarous devastations. Before this event,
some well-meaning people could not see the justice of contending with
their formerly protecting parent state; but Indian cruelties, excited by
ministerial artifices, soon extinguished all their predilection for the
country of their forefathers[32].
The delegates of _Maryland_, assembled in full convention the 14th of
August, have agreed upon the constitution and form of government for
that state; to which they have prefixed a declaration of rights. The
convention of the _Delaware_ state, formerly stiled “The government of
the counties of Newcastle, Kent and Sussex upon Delaware,” after a
declaration of rights resolved upon their constitution in September.
When the deputations, from the committees of the several counties, met
in Philadelphia, they agreed upon the number the general convention
should consist of, the time they should meet, and the manner in which
they should be elected. No person was excluded from voting: many
however, as must have been expected, chose to exclude themselves, as
they would not appear by voting to countenance the establishment of a
new mode of government. The convention met the 15th of July, and
continued by adjournments to the 28th of September, during which period
the constitution was settled by a declaration of rights and a frame of
government.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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