50 Journal and Correspondence

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little discretion. I wish you health & happiness and am with
great regard D^r Sir
Y^r most hum: Serv^t
Ch. Carroll of Carrollton.

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[S. Chase to Gov. Johnson.]

York town April 21. 78.
Tuesday Night 11 o'Clock
Dear Sir
Congress this Evening reced a Letter from Gen: W. inclos
ing a Philad^a Paper, of the 17 ult. — The Draft of the two Bills
(ment^d in mine of the Day) are published in it — Dispatches
arrived there last Tuesday, in 28 Days — under the London
Head of 19 Feb^ry — on the Monday preceding Leave was
given to bring in the two Bills Lord Norths speech is in it,
on making the proposition,
last late acts for your Satisfaction,
our army is great, our navy is great, our Men in Health, in
Spirits & well supplied, but the Resistance of America is
greater, & the War has lasted longer, than was at first appre-
hended, much longer than any friend to this Country could
wish, & I do not think it will end in this Campaign, in the
present situation of affairs only three propositions can be
made — I^st to strengthen our force & continue the War upon
the present plan. 2. to recal it from America, and 3 to offer
Terms of Conciliation to her. — the first is attended with too
great an Expence of Men and Money, an Expense which
Conquest itself wo^d not balance. The second is to subscribe
to the Independ^y of America, the third is that which appears
to Me to be the best and the wisest. I wish for an open Con-
ference with America — he then explained his plan as expressed
in the Bills.
I will now hold out to the Colonies a Cessation of the
Exercise of Taxation, & I will not subject it to any Condⁿ or
to the Demand of any specific Contribution. I do not see
that any other Concession can be made without admitting the
complete Ind^y of America but wo^d better Effect of that
Independ^y. I cannot see into futurity, but it is big
with many possible Evils. Independ^y with a cordial Love
between us, is one thing with an Union with our Enemies,
fatal, from their Ind^y a Danger arises from a great Naval
Power; a Danger also to our other Possessions. I do not
think that we should yield to it, till our Resources are much
lowered — Ind^y is not beneficial to America, she cannot be so
happy, so easy, cannot have such personal Liberty; as if she
remains dependent on us.