Patrick Henry to Wythe, 11 November 1777
Contents
Letter text, November 11, 1777
Sir: Pay rolls for the Militia of Kentucky have been laid before the auditors, in order to obtain warrants for payment. The Auditors have scrupled to allow this militia the pay fixed by the law for those on actual duty, because they were obliged for their own personal safety and the security of their wives and children, to keep themselves in forts, and remain on the defensive against parties of Indians continually infesting that country, too numerous to permit the inhabitants to return to their plantations. The pay rolls are properly authenticated by the commanding officer under whose orders the men acted. In this state of the case, the advice of the Executive power is requested, and as I am in doubt on the subject, I am to pray Sir, to take the sense of the assembly on it. I am sensible that many instances have occurred similar to this, in which pay has been allowed, and I wish to put a stop to such a practice if it is wrong, and that no doubt of its rectitude may remain if it is proper. It may be observed, that 250 men have been ordered by the government from the more interior counties to that place for its protection, the time of whose arrival there I cannot ascertain. I have the honor to be.
The Honble George Wythe, Esq.,
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
Letter text, November 11, 1777
Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That the institution of an Academy, for the advancement of knowledge in Military Architecture and Gunnery, will be useful in this Commonwealth.
Resolved, that it is the opinion of this Committee, That the Governor be desired to communicate to Captain Loycautle235 the above resolution, and express to him, that it is the desire of the Houses of Assembly to employ his knowledge in such a way, as will be more
extensively useful to the Commonwealth, than if confined to a particular command; and therefore to request, that he will be pleased to undertake the duties of the institution above mentioned, for which a salary shall be allowed of fifteen hundred dollars per annum, to commence from the time he accepted of this proposition, and that he be allowed the rank of colonel.
Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee that the General Assembly will make good the engagements of the delegates of this Commonwealth in Congress, to defray the expenses of Capt. Loycaute,
Letter text, November 13, 1777
James Madison236 was chosen a member of the Privy Council in the place of Thomas Adams.
Letter text, November 14, 1777
Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, That one uniform rule of law is to be applied to all the citizens of this Commonwealth, that the act of Assembly, “providing against invasions and insurrections,” has pointed out the occasions of calling out the militia into actual duty, the mode of doing it, and of ascertaining and certifying their services; that if the directions of the said act have been observed in the case of the militia of Kentucky, mentioned in the Governor’s letter, they are entitled to receive their pay; and, therefore, that the auditors should proceed to examine their accounts and that the Governor be advised to direct the same accordingly.
Letter text, November 1777
James Madison, Esq.; the younger, of Orange, is elected a member of the Privy Council of this State.
Letter text, November 15, 1777
It appearing to the Council, that it is necessary there should be an Agent for this State at Charles Town, for assisting & directing such of the Vessels belonging to the Commonwealth, as may happen to put in there, and also for purchasing such Commodities as this State may from time to time have Occasion for, & in general to do whatever he may judge for the Interest of this Country in Relation to the above Particulars- they advised his Excellency the Governor to appoint Maurice Simonds Esquire to that Office & inform him thereof by Letter.
Footnotes
235For testimonials of Capt. Loyeaute’s antecedents and ability, see Ballagh’s “Letters of Richard Henry Lee”, p. 345, p. 367 and p. 377.
236James Madison, son of the president of the county court of Orange, was born March 16, 1751. In 1769 he went to Princeton College, and for some time after his return continued the life of a student. In 1774 he was a member of the Revolutionary Committee of his native county, and in 1776 was elected a member of the May convention. It was on his motion that the word “toleration” was struck from George Mason’s draft of the Declaration of Rights, and the word “freedom” inserted in its stead. Madison continued a member of the Executive Council for a period of two years, at the end of which time he was elected to Congress. In this latter body he began the work which led to a new constitution and the granting of national powers to the Federal government. His further career, culminating in his occupation of the presidency for two terms, is matter of National record.
