Gouverneur Morris to John Jay, 30 June 1775
[N York 30 th . June 1775–]
My Dear Sir
Our House are about to send you their Plan of Accomodation and I think myself bound to say Something on the Subject for Reasons you will presently see the second third fourth sixth and seventh ^ & eighth ^ Articles form a short Plan which I drew in the Committee excepting that in the eighth the word Assemblies in the third Line was altered to Colonies. 1 The first Article was moved debated altered amended and finally left as it is in the Committee so was the fifth the ninth foolish Religious Business I opposed untill I was weary it was carried with by a very small Majority and my Dissent entered 2 the tenth I did not like but however it is in and the Resolution I moved and it was unanimously carried. 3 I forgot to mention that the second article as I drew it stood thus: –That from the Necessity of the Case Britain ought to regulate the Trade of the whole Empire–– 4 now then my Reasons on this Occasion are these the Article for triennial Assemblies the first Article in the gross as it stands and what relates to the Security of our own Legislature I think may work a Rejection of the Plan at Home Particularly the last may raise an Idea that Britain has some Right to the Power of altering Colony Constitutions which is in American Politicks a most damnable Position–The Article about Religion is most arrant Nonsense and would do as well in a high Dutch Bible as the Place it now stands in. Our Letter to you on this Subject which tho drawn by myself was unanimously and literally assented to will shew you how strongly we are of opinion that the Dispute ought to be simplified and every reasonable Man will be of Opinion that provided our essential Rights be secured on solid Foundations we may safely permit the British Parliament to use big sounding Words–
I drew a long Report for our Committee to which they could make no Objections excepting that none of them could understand it one or two excepted they who attacked it by Piece Meal but were afraid of the Principles because they could not meet them and the Mob of us were fearful of extensive Novelties if I have Time I will send you a Copy. But I was pleased at the Rejection because as I observed to you before I think the Question ought to be simplified–I address this Letter to you but I shall be glad you will read it to Livingston 5 for I intend it for both of you. make my Compliments to him and tell him that I shall write to him when I have Leisure to write a good Letter this is a damn–d bad one and would not exist if I did not think it a Duty to myself to shew my friends that I had no Hand in that foolish religious Business–I am as you well know your Friend
Gouv Morris