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The Committee appointed to prepare the draught of an answer to the Letter from the Continental Congress , reported a draught, which was read, and ordered to be engrossed.
The following engrossed answer, to the Letter from the Continental Congress, was read and approved, and ordered to be signed by the President and despatched immediately.
Trenton, October 13, 1775.
GENTLEMEN: The Congress of New-Jersey, animated witli equal affection to the common cause of America, and equally with the other Provinces desirous to promote its general interest, as far as in their power, are sorry to find their good intentions likely to be restrained by one of the resolutions of the honourable Continental Congress of the 12th instant, obligingly communicated to us by their President.
We cannot but observe, that if the nomination of the
We also humbly conceive that, as other Provinces have been indulged with this privilege, we cannot, in justice to our constituents, nor consistent with the honour of our Province, give up this claim.
We have no doubt, therefore, but that the honourable Continental Congress will reconsider this resolution, and determine that this Province ought neither to be precluded a privilege granted to every other Province, nor restrained in their endeavours to promote the general interest of America; in such case, we beg leave to assure them that this Congress will exert all its influence in promoting the raising the proposed levies; and we have the pleasure to add, that we have reason to hope they will be attended with the desired success.
We are, Gentlemen, your most obedient servants.
By order of the Provincial Congress of New-Jersey.
SAMUEL TUCKER, President.
The Members of the Honourable the Continental Congress, Philadelphia.
Letter to the Continental Congress
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Field-Officers of the Battalions, proposed to be raised in this Province, be not first ascertained to be in this Congress, it will much impede the expeditious raising the men. And we are dearly of opinion that will tend much to expedite this service, if Field-Officers are first of all appointed;
for if they are such as are generally respected in the Province, not only Captains and subalterns of reputation will offer their service, but the privates will enlist more cheerfully; indeed, the other commissions cannot, perhaps, be properly filled up, without inserting in what Battalion the officers are to serve.