Letter from Samuel Stebbins Sr to son, Wm.
Title
Letter from Samuel Stebbins Sr to son, Wm.
Subject
Subject -- Post Revolutionary War
Description
Stebbins correspondence
Creator
Samuel Stebbins 1762-1836
Date
1815
Contributor
Samuel Stebbins 1762-1836
Rights
CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
Language
En-US
Type
Text
Text
Letter From Samuel Stebbins Sr., Ridgefield, Conn
To William Stebbins, Frederick stead Island of St. Croix
6th March AD 1815
My dear son William
I on Saturday evening the 4th Inst rec'd a letter from your brother John per Mail, informing me that an opportunity would present itself in the course of the ensuing week for me to convey this to you. I therefore with gratitude to the great disposer of events, I now sit me down to congratulate you on the return of Peace to our much injured country. My son, ever since the change in our Administration, the United States have been too much like a criminal, confined in a dungeon, with chains fastened to his hands and his feet, and riveted in the Wall.
Mr. Jefferson began his reign with his restrictive system, to aid his good friend the fallen Tyrant and you very well know the effect it had on our country previous to your departure. But Alas our sufferings had then but just commenced, and his successor Mr. Madison's reign has brought the country to the very verge of ruin. What will the Impartial World think of a country that boasts so much of freedom and independence, when they are informed that in this short and inhuman contest with Great Britain, the United States have expended more Millions than were expended by us in a seven years' war to gain our Independence. What must they think of an Administration who plunged our Country into a War with the most formidable power in the Universe, under the pretense of protecting free trade and sailor's rights, and the liberty of the Seas, (that great highway of Nations); and at a time too when they had destroyed the little Navy which under the fostering care of the Father of our
Page 2
Country the immortal Washington, and his successor Jn Adams, had just begun to rear its little head. -Alas! Alas! Millions have been expended and nothing is gained. Happy is it for America that Almighty Wisdom has interposed and put a stop to the sanguinary contest.
Had the War continued not a short time longer our country must have been ruined. Our Treasury was drained. That Treasury which once was full and overflowing, and concerning which a Jefferson was at his Wits end to what to do with. And Congress with all its wisdom could not devise Ways & Means to replenish it. The common necessaries of Life had arisen from one to five hundred per cent, and the people were taxed far beyond their abilities to pay.
The specie was hoarded up, in so much that our Banks were allowed to issue their Bills of a less sum than one Dollar; the Corporation of the City of New York, of Albany, of many other Cities also, were under the necessity of issuing Bills for change. 100 Dollars in specie would purchase from 115 to 120 Dollars in Bills of either of the Banks in New York, and indeed in any of the United States, southward of Connecticut. The New England States my son were an exception. The Bank at Hartford in Connecticut, and the Banks of the more eastern States never refused to redeem their Bills with specie. But among the commotion people their Bills had stop circulation, and believe me, for Months before the glad tidings of Peace resounded in our ears, I scarcely saw a Connecticut Bank Bill, or a sixpence in specie, to such a deplorable situation we were reduced. But I forbear and turn from the sad picture. I hope the return of Peace will enable my too long absent Son to return to his native land and to the embraces of an affectionate, but until lately a despairing Mother to the tender embraces also of his brethren; sisters who with open arms stand -
Page 3
ready to receive him. And may Almighty God be pleased to you a safe and a speedy passage.
Thanks to the heavenly Father for his goodness to me and to my family. We are all of us my son in a good state of health. My own health and the health of your sister Ruth is much better than when you left our Country.
Indeed I may say we are all Well. Your dear Mother and the whole of my family join with me in our desires that you will present to your affectionate Wife her dear Mother and to all ....our unalterable love and affection; and they heartily join with me in prayers to the throne of Grace that Holy God will protect you and shower down upon you and your family the best of Heavens blessings. Your affectionate Father,
Samuel Stebbins
Transcription by Henry Austin Clark Sr. Digital image to OCR completed by E-Archives, Project Archivist, Caroline Welling Van Deusen
To William Stebbins, Frederick stead Island of St. Croix
6th March AD 1815
My dear son William
I on Saturday evening the 4th Inst rec'd a letter from your brother John per Mail, informing me that an opportunity would present itself in the course of the ensuing week for me to convey this to you. I therefore with gratitude to the great disposer of events, I now sit me down to congratulate you on the return of Peace to our much injured country. My son, ever since the change in our Administration, the United States have been too much like a criminal, confined in a dungeon, with chains fastened to his hands and his feet, and riveted in the Wall.
Mr. Jefferson began his reign with his restrictive system, to aid his good friend the fallen Tyrant and you very well know the effect it had on our country previous to your departure. But Alas our sufferings had then but just commenced, and his successor Mr. Madison's reign has brought the country to the very verge of ruin. What will the Impartial World think of a country that boasts so much of freedom and independence, when they are informed that in this short and inhuman contest with Great Britain, the United States have expended more Millions than were expended by us in a seven years' war to gain our Independence. What must they think of an Administration who plunged our Country into a War with the most formidable power in the Universe, under the pretense of protecting free trade and sailor's rights, and the liberty of the Seas, (that great highway of Nations); and at a time too when they had destroyed the little Navy which under the fostering care of the Father of our
Page 2
Country the immortal Washington, and his successor Jn Adams, had just begun to rear its little head. -Alas! Alas! Millions have been expended and nothing is gained. Happy is it for America that Almighty Wisdom has interposed and put a stop to the sanguinary contest.
Had the War continued not a short time longer our country must have been ruined. Our Treasury was drained. That Treasury which once was full and overflowing, and concerning which a Jefferson was at his Wits end to what to do with. And Congress with all its wisdom could not devise Ways & Means to replenish it. The common necessaries of Life had arisen from one to five hundred per cent, and the people were taxed far beyond their abilities to pay.
The specie was hoarded up, in so much that our Banks were allowed to issue their Bills of a less sum than one Dollar; the Corporation of the City of New York, of Albany, of many other Cities also, were under the necessity of issuing Bills for change. 100 Dollars in specie would purchase from 115 to 120 Dollars in Bills of either of the Banks in New York, and indeed in any of the United States, southward of Connecticut. The New England States my son were an exception. The Bank at Hartford in Connecticut, and the Banks of the more eastern States never refused to redeem their Bills with specie. But among the commotion people their Bills had stop circulation, and believe me, for Months before the glad tidings of Peace resounded in our ears, I scarcely saw a Connecticut Bank Bill, or a sixpence in specie, to such a deplorable situation we were reduced. But I forbear and turn from the sad picture. I hope the return of Peace will enable my too long absent Son to return to his native land and to the embraces of an affectionate, but until lately a despairing Mother to the tender embraces also of his brethren; sisters who with open arms stand -
Page 3
ready to receive him. And may Almighty God be pleased to you a safe and a speedy passage.
Thanks to the heavenly Father for his goodness to me and to my family. We are all of us my son in a good state of health. My own health and the health of your sister Ruth is much better than when you left our Country.
Indeed I may say we are all Well. Your dear Mother and the whole of my family join with me in our desires that you will present to your affectionate Wife her dear Mother and to all ....our unalterable love and affection; and they heartily join with me in prayers to the throne of Grace that Holy God will protect you and shower down upon you and your family the best of Heavens blessings. Your affectionate Father,
Samuel Stebbins
Transcription by Henry Austin Clark Sr. Digital image to OCR completed by E-Archives, Project Archivist, Caroline Welling Van Deusen
Original Format
manuscript
