The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. VIII, 1909Various
History
The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. VIII, 1909
Various
American-Irish Historical Society -- Periodicals; Ethnology -- United States -- Periodicals; Irish Americans -- Periodicals
“Every morning when I look out of my window in the far distance I can
see in the battlefield which decided the ownership of that region a
tall and stately monument built by private subscription to General
Sullivan, to commemorate his work on that bloody day, and just below
it stands a magnificent marker of granite, placed there by the Sons of
the American Revolution to mark the very center of the conflict which
took those valleys away from the possession of the Indians and turned
them over to civilization and happy and peaceful occupation; and those
who know the iron will and determined character of John Sullivan know,
as we do, that when he got through with the Indians and their
worthless white associates they had no more thirst for blood. Sullivan
served notice on them and carried it out that if there was any more
blood shed in that part of the country the Indians would furnish the
blood.
“So perhaps, in an humble way, I have alluded to that feature of
Sullivans’ life—his closing campaign, which identifies him with
Northern Pennsylvania and Central New York.
“With the close of the campaign of 1779, which may be said to have
terminated his military career, General Sullivan resigned his
commission and retired from the army. The constant strain of five
years almost constantly in active and perilous service had wrecked a
constitution never of the strongest, and he felt he had given all of
his life and strength to the cause of Independence.
“His resignation was accepted with profound regret, although it was
universally felt that the reasons for his retirement were imperative.
Although he lived for fifteen years after his resignation, his health
was not robust and he died in 1795 at the early age of fifty-four,
universally admired and lamented. He had, however, no sooner left the
army than his brilliant legal and forensic talent was seized upon, for
such services to the country as his health would permit, in the
legislative halls of the nation, the executive chair of his own State,
and later upon the Federal Bench.
“In 1780–1781 he was a delegate to Congress. In 1782 he was appointed
the Attorney-General of New Hampshire and was re-appointed to that
office on the adoption of the new constitution of that State in 1784.
“In 1786–1787 he was President and Chief Magistrate of the State of
New Hampshire, an office equivalent to that of Governor at the present
time.
“In 1788 he was speaker of the House of Representatives of New
Hampshire and President of the Convention that ratified the
Constitution of the United States.
“In 1789 he was a presidential elector and voted for General
Washington for President of the United States, and in March of the
same year he was elected Chief Magistrate of the State for the third
time.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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