READING: Reactions to Lord Dunmore's 1775 Proclamation

How much does this tell us about the shape of the coalition for American independence, and what their "real" or most important reasons for revolt were?

James Madison: To William Bradford, 19 June 1775: ‘…It is imagined our Governor has been tampering with the Slaves & that he has it in contemplation to make great Use of them in case of a civil war in this province. To say the truth, that is the only part in which this Colony is vulnerable; & if we should be subdued, we shall fall like Achilles by the hand of one that knows that secret. But we have a good cause & great Courage which are a great support… <https://founders.archives.gov/?q=Madison%20to%20William%20bradford%20tampered%20with%20the%20slaves&s=1111311113&sa=&r=1&sr=>

Benjamin Franklin: To Jonathan Shipley, 7 July 1775: ‘Your excellent Advice was, that if we must have a War, let it be carried on as between Nations who had once been Friends, and wish to be so again…. Lord Dunmore and Governor Martin, have already, we are told, taken some Steps towards.. exciting an Insurrection among the Blacks… <https://founders.archives.gov/?q=Dunmore%20AND%20slaves&s=1111311113&sa=&r=22&sr=>

Lund Washington: To George Washington, 3 December 1775: ‘Our Dunmore has at length Publishd his much dreaded proclamation—declareg Freedom to All Indented Servts & Slaves (the Property of Rebels) that will repair to his majestys Standard—being able to bear Arms—What effect it will have upon those sort of people I cannot tell—I think if there was no white Servts in this family I shoud be under no apprehensition about the Slaves, however I am determined, that if any of them Create any confusition to make & [an] example of him, Sears who is at worck here says there is not a man of them, but woud leave us, if they believe’d they coud make there Escape—Tom Spears Excepted—& yet they have no fault to find[.] Liberty is sweet… <https://founders.archives.gov/?q=Dunmore%20AND%20slaves&s=1111311113&sa=&r=26&sr=>

Richard Henry Lee: To George Washington, 6 December 1775: ‘The proclamation there alluded to, we have seen. It proclaims martial law thro Virginia and offers freedom to all the Slaves, calling their Masters rebels &c.—It seems this unlucky triumph over Hutchings with his less than half armed Militia, so dispirited the miserable wretches in that neighborhood, that many have taken an oath of Ld Dunmores prescribing, reprobating Congress Committees &c… <https://founders.archives.gov/?q=Dunmore%20AND%20slaves&s=1111311113&sa=&r=27&sr=>

Lund Washington: To George Washington, 17 December 1775: ‘Lord Dunmores Negroe Soldiers are, it is said, commanded by Scotchmen—proper Officers for Slaves, for they themselves Possess Slavish Principals… <https://founders.archives.gov/?q=Dunmore%20AND%20slaves&s=1111311113&sa=&r=28&sr=>

George Washington: To Richard Henry Lee, 26 December 1775: ‘Lord Dunmores Letters to General Howe &ca wch very fortunately fell into my hands, & Inclosed by me to Congress, will let you pretty fully into his diabolical Schemes—If my Dear Sir that Man is not crushed before Spring, he will become the most formidable Enemy America has—his strength will Increase as a Snow ball by Rolling; and faster, if some expedient cannot be hit upon to convince the Slaves and Servants of the Impotency of His designs. You will see by his Letters what pains he is taking to invite a Reinforcement at all event⟨s⟩ there, & to transplant the War to the Southern Colonies. I do not think that forcing his Lordship on Ship board is sufficient; nothing less than depriving him of life or liberty will secure peace to Virginia… <https://founders.archives.gov/?q=Dunmore%20AND%20slaves&s=1111311113&sa=&r=29&sr=>

Samuel Hopkins: To Thomas Cushing, 29 December 1775: ‘Does not the conduct of Lord Dunmore, and the ministerialists, in taking the advantage of the slavery practised among us, and encouraging all slaves to join them, by promising them liberty, point out the best, if not the only way to defeat them in this, viz. granting freedom to them ourselves, so as no longer to use our neighbour’s service without wages, but give them for their labours what is equal and just?… <https://founders.archives.gov/?q=Dunmore%20AND%20slaves&s=1111311113&sa=&r=30&sr=>

Thomas Jefferson: I. Comments on Soulés’ Histoire, 3 August 1786: ‘L’humanité des Britons.’… In it’s relation of this war… they conducted it, both in theory and practice, on the most barbarous principles, that the expression here cited will stand in contradiction to the rest of the work…. For their practice, recollect their exciting the savages against us, insurrections of our slaves, sending our prisoners to the East Indies, killing them in prison ships, keeping them on halfrations and of the most unwholsome qualities, cruel murders of unarmed individuals of every sex, massacres of those in arms after they had asked quarter &c. &c… <https://founders.archives.gov/?q=Dunmore%20AND%20slaves&s=1111311113&sa=&r=48&sr=>