Edmund Pendleton to James Madison - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC00099.119
From Archive Folder	Collection of letters, documents & briefs from Edmund Pendleton to the Madisons
Title	Edmund Pendleton to James Madison
Date	21 July 1783
Author	Pendleton, Edmund (1721-1803)
Recipient	Madison, James
Document Type	Correspondence
Content Description	Discussion of the Army mutiny at Newburgh, suggests New York or Williamsburg for the new national capitol, Virginia House of Delegates, and treaty with Sweden. Watermark of Lion with sword facing away from soldier with tricorner hat on bayonet, both surrounded by picket fence. Countermark "GR" underneath an upside-down bell.
Subjects	President Military History Soldier's Pay Mutiny Rebellion Revolutionary War Washington, D.C. Government and Civics Politics Global History and Civics Commerce Treaty Newburgh Conspiracy
People	Pendleton, Edmund (1721-1803) Madison, James, Sr. (1723-1801)
Place written	Edmundsbury, Virginia
Theme	The American Revolution; The Presidency; Government & Politics; Creating a New Government
Sub-collection	The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Additional Information	Following the British surrender at Yorktown, George Washington moved 11,000 Continental soldiers to Newburgh, New York. Resentful at the lack of support they had received during the war and bitter at Congress' failure to compensate them for their wartime sacrifices with back pay and pensions, many officers and soldiers threatened a military uprising. This threat of a military coup--known as the "Newburgh Conspiracy"--was strongly opposed by Washington, who believed that the military needed to be subordinate to civilian authority. In June 1783, however, a group of armed former Pennsylvania soldiers marched on Philadelphia, surrounded Independence Hall, and demanded back pay. Congress asked the Pennsylvania government for assistance. The state refused, and the humiliated Congress temporarily relocated, first in Princeton, New Jersey, and later in Annapolis, Maryland, and New York City.
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide With your last favor [letter]...came the missing one of June 24th containing the account of the behavior of the soldiers in their insult to Congress. I wish the conspiracy may be traced to its real source, and the motives truly investigated, when I still think it will not terminate in public good, or the redress of real injury in the Army; the citizens I supposed cannot be well pleased either with the company of their Military visitants, or reflections upon their conduct which made such a visit necessary, and fix'd a stigma on their public character, as wanting either inclination or courage to support the members of the great National Council, holding Session in their metropolis--perhaps the people might want neither, and the fault was in their rulers in not calling forth exertions. Be this as it may, they do not reason badly who counsel a return to Philadelphia either to prevent unfavourable impressions abroad, or that the great question of fixing the permanent residence of Congress may not be embarrassed, or influenced by temporary convenience.

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