John Jay to George Clinton, 16 September 1779
Philadelphia, 16 Sept r 1779
Dear Sir
Your Favor by M r . Phelps has arrived– I approve much of your Resolutions respecting Vermont– It is a Pity they had not taken Place two Years ago– They were committed– and a Report I am told will ^ believe will ^ be made To Day or Tomorrow– whether it will be sufficiently explicit or pass in its present Form is uncertain– My Endeavours [to] render it proper ^ neither have or ^ shall not be wanting. 1
I am now in Congress and a very extraordinary Vote has this moment passed– The Proprietors of Indiana & Vandalia, claiming a Right to ^ the Sovereignty & Soil of ^ a Tract of country claimed by ^ which ^ Virginia ^ says is within her Lines ^ have petitioned Congress to interfere, asserting they had a Right to become a ^ petitioned Congress to interpose in their Behalf– By On reading the Petition ^ seperate Independent Government by Virtue of the certain Acts of the British King and Council previous to our Independency 2
My Offi Resolution to resign the Office of Chief Justice was taken after much Deliberation & Thought of on the Subject. I have ^ since ^ frequently examined my the Reasons which influenced me to that Measure, and still remain so perfectly satisfied of their Propriety that ^ with them, as ^ there is ^ therefore ^ no probability of a Change in my opinion, & therefore ^ it will be unnecessary ^ to detain my Resignation any longer from the Council of Appoint nt – Should the Legislature ^ may perhaps ^ in Consequence of this Step incline to keep me here– On this Head I must inform you that the Situation of my Fathers Family 3 is such that I cannot longer reconcile it to my Ideas of filial Duty to be absent from them unless my Brother should be so circumstanced as to pay them necessary Attention– The enclosed Letter to him is on that Subject–and I have desired him in Case he cannot undertake to have his Father & Family almost constantly under his Eye, to prevent my Election– His Determination ^ therefore ^ on this Point will govern mine on the other . Sh d . he not be at Kingston be pleased to send the Bearer with it to him.