under its different names of congress, convention and Committee of Safety; was a member of the committee which drafted the State constitution of 1776; and when the resolution of the continental Congress recommending a new form of government came up for consideration, he spoke with force and ability. "Sir," said he, "these and ten thousand other reasons will serve to convince me that to make a solid and lasting peace, with liberty and security, is utterly impracticable. My argument, therefore, stands thus: As a connection with Great Britain cannot again exist without enslaving America, an independence is absolutely necessary. I cannot balance between the two. We run a hazard in one path, I confess; but then we are infallibly ruined if we pursue the other."

New York was the last State to sign the Declaration of Independence, her delegates to Congress not being empowered to act independently of the New York convention. But no time was lost. The convention met on the 9th of July, and on that day a copy of the act was received and a resolution of approval passed. To Mr. Morris was entrusted the drafting of the reply to the delegates from New York in the continental Congress. It should also be noted, that he endeavored to introduce an article recommending the future Legislature to take measures for the abolishment of domestic slavery.

In 1778, Gouverneur Morris was sent to the continental Congress, then seated at York, Pennsylvania, and on the day his credentials were approved, he was appointed a member of the committee to investigate the condition of the army at Valley Forge. From this date began the friendship with Washington, which continued through life. He also served on many standing and special committees, and was chairman of three. His ardent interest in the cause of the Colonies did not meet with the approbation of his mother and other members of the family, and he also incurred the displeasure of his early friend and adviser, Judge William Smith. Not being returned to Congress, after a service of five years, Gouverneur Morris began the practice of his profession in Philadelphia, and became a citizen of Pennsylvania. In May of 1780, by a fall from

his carriage, Mr. Morris received an injury that resulted in the loss of a leg. Robert Morris-to whom he was not related-appointed him, in 1781, Assistant Superintendent of the Finances, in which position he served with ability for three years and a half. a half. General Washington appointed Morris and Gen. Knox, on behalf of the United States, to consult with the British Commissioners with regard to the exchange of prisoners, the first meeting taking place in March of 1782. Gouverneur Morris was a delegate from Pennsylvania to the convention called for framing the constitution of the United States, which met in Philadelphia in May of 1787, and to his pen is due the clear and forcible language in which the constitution is expressed. Although dissenting from the majority of his colleagues on many important points, when the Constitution was adopted he signed it with entire willingness.

In December of 1788, Mr. Morris sailed for Europe, with confidential letters from Washington, and while abroad was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of France. On the recall, in 1793, of M. Genet, the Minister of France, being demanded by the United States, that of Mr. Morris was requested by France, and in 1794 he was succeeded by James Monroe. On his return to America, he established himself at Morrisania, intending never again to enter upon public life, but in 1800 he was chosen to the Senate of the United States to fill a vacancy, and served three years. In politics he was a federalist, but during the "Tie Controversy," he differed with his party and approved the choice of Jefferson.

Gouverneur Morris was a man of strong convictions. In political life he was too independent to be trammelled by the dictates of party, and in private life his integrity was above suspicion; in neither was he influenced by low aims or selfish ambitions. He lived not for fame, but for duty; not for self, but for his country. He died 6th November, 1816.

CHAPTER IX.

SKETCHES OF THE Members of THE PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION.

BY W. H. Egle, m. d.

ALLISON, JOHN, of Franklin county, was born in Antrim township, that county, December 23, 1738. His father, William Allison, was a native of the north of Ireland, where he was born on the 12th of November, 1693; came to America about 1730, and located in the Cumberland Valley, where he died on the 14th of December, 1778. John, the second son, received a thorough English and classical education, chiefly under the care of the Scotch-Irish Presbyterian ministers of the locality. As early as October, 1764, he was appointed one of the provincial magistrates for Cumberland county, and reappointed in 1769. At a meeting of the citizens of that county, held at Carlisle on July 12, 1774, he was appointed on the Committee of Observation for Cumberland, and became quite active in the struggle for independence. He was a member of the provincial conference held at Carpenters' Hall, 18th of June, 1776, and appointed by that body one of the judges of the election of members to the first Constitutional Convention for the second division of the county, at Chambersburg. He was in command of one of the Associated battalions of Cumberland county during the Jersey campaigns of 1776 and 1777, and a member of the General Assembly in 1778, 1780, and 1781. In the latter year he laid out the town of Greencastle, which has grown to be one of the most flourishing towns in the Cumberland Valley. In 1787 he was chosen a delegate to the Pennsylvania convention to ratify the federal constitution, and in that body seconded the motion of Thomas McKean to assent to and ratify it. At the first federal conference, held at Lancaster in 1788,

he was nominated for Congress, but defeated at the election Colonel Allison died June 14, 1795.

that year.

ARNDT, JOHN, of Northampton county, son of Jacob Arndt, was born 3d of June, 1748, in Bucks county, province of Pennsylvania. His father removed to Northampton county in 1760, where he erected what was long known as Arndt's mill, on the Bushkill, and here most of his life was spent. At the outset of the war of the Revolution he became one of the leading spirits in that struggle. He was captain of a company in Colonel Baxter's battalion of Northampton county of the "Flying Camp," and in the battle of Long Island was wounded and taken prisoner. He was soon after exchanged, and on the 25th of March, 1777, was commissioned register of wills; and justice of the peace, June, 1777. He was appointed one of the commissioners to take subscriptions for the continental loan, December 16, 1777; and commissary of purchases in Pennsylvania, February 9, 1778. While filling this latter position he advanced large sums of money to the government, most of which was refunded to him. He served on the Committee of Safety for the county, was one of its most efficient members, and earnestly devoted to the patriot cause; was appointed by the General Assembly one of the commissioners to settle the accounts of the County Lieutenants, December 4, 1778; and one of the Commissioners of Exchange, April 5, 1779. He was elected a member of the Council of Censors, 1783-84; delegate to the Pennsylvania convention to ratify the federal constitution, 1787; and chosen an elector at the first presidential election following. In 1783, when Dickinson College was incorporated, he was named one of the original trustees. He served several years as county treasurer, was appointed recorder of deeds and clerk of the Orphans' Court, May 22, 1788, and continued in office under the constitution of 1790 until the election of Governor McKean, when he was removed. Under the act of 1796 the county records were required to be kept at the county seat, when Mr. Arndt took up his residence at Easton, where, after going out of office, he devoted the balance of his life to mercantile pursuits. In 1796 he was nominated for Congress, but defeated by ninety

votes. During the so-called Fries Insurrection of 1798 his utmost exertions were given to the preservation of law and order, and his wise and judicious counsels were heeded by many of the rebellious. Henry says that Mr. Arndt "as mineralogist and botanist held no mean rank; and his correspondence with Rev. Mr. Gross and other clergymen shows that he was a pious man." Captain Arndt died on the 6th

of May, 1814.

ASHMEAD, SAMUEL, of the county of Philadelphia, the son of John Ashmead, was born in 1731. Little is known of his early history, save that he received a good education and was brought up to mercantile pursuits. Early in life he was commissioned one of the provincial magistrates; on January 16, 1767, appointed an associate justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and recommissioned April 27, 1772; and in 1773-74 became presiding justice of the courts. He was a delegate to the provincial convention held at Philadelphia, January 23, 1775, and served in the General Assembly in 1782, 1783 and 1789. In 1787 he represented his county in the convention to ratify the federal constitution. Mr. Ashmead died at his residence in the Northern Liberties on the 19th of March, 1794, and was interred on the 21st in the Baptist Church burial-place.

BAIRD, JOHN, of Westmoreland county, was born about 1740, in Lancaster, now Dauphin county. He removed to Westmoreland county about 1770, in company with some Scotch-Irish neighbors, and took up land in what was afterwards Huntingdon township. He appears to have been a man of mark west of the Alleghenies, but in all the histories recently published no mention is made of him. He served as one of the overseers of the poor in 1773; was appointed by the constitutional convention of 1776 one of the board of commissioners for Westmoreland county, and commissioned a justice of the peace June 11, 1777. During the war of the Revolution, and in the border wars of his section, he was very efficient in recruiting the military forces. He was a member of the Supreme Executive Council from November 18, 1786, to November 25, 1789; and a delegate to the Penn