Dobbs County, NC - Richard Caswell's Acceptance Speech, 1777

Richard Caswell's Acceptance Speech on becoming Governor, Jan 1777

NEW BERN, N.C., January 14, 1777 (From the New Bern Gazette &c.)
On Friday last his Excellency, RICHARD CASWELL Esq., Governor of this 
State, arrived here. He was met about six miles from town by about 
thirty Gentlemen on horseback, who accompanied him to New Bern, the 
bells ringing as soon as he entered the town. Being conducted to Mr. 
Edward Wrenford's tavern, where a handsome collation was prepared, he 
received the Continental officers and soldiers (drawn up for the 
purpose) a salute with small firearms. The fort, Pennsylvania Farmer, 
and other vessels in the harbour, fired many guns, under a display of 
the colours of the United States; and in the evening, the town was 
handsomely illuminated. 

On Monday the 13th instant, the inhabitants of the town assembled and 
waited upon his Excellency with the following congratulatory address: 
  
To his Excellency, RICHARD CASWELL Esq., Governor, Captain-General, 
and Commander-in-Chief in and Over the State of North Carolina
The ADDRESS of the INHABITANTS of the town of NEW BERN:
May it Please your Excellency,
Permit us, in the sincerity of our hearts, to Congratulate Your 
Excellency on your unsolicited advancement, by the unanimous suffrages 
of the representatives of the freemen of this State, to the supreme 
command of the same, the highest honour a grateful people can bestow. 
  
Uninfluenced by private ambition and sordid interest, you have ever 
pursued the good of your country. Mankind have been taught, by your 
example, that the love of liberty, and a steady perseverance in acts of 
private and public virtue are the surest ways to preferment, and the 
best title to the honours of a free State. We have not a doubt, 
therefore, but that your Excellency's endeavours in your important 
station will give full satisfaction to the most sanguine expectations 
of the public. 
  
In this pursuit, we hope your Excellency will receive the support and 
assistance of every lover of liberty and friend to his country; and, as 
the inhabitants of the Town of New Bern wish to be distinguished as 
such, you may depend upon our most hearty concurrence and best 
endeavours to make your administration easy to yourself and happy to 
the people. 
  
HIS EXCELLENCY'S ANSWER
To the inhabitants of the town of NEW BERN: 
Gentlemen - For your congratulations on my appointment to the supreme 
command of this State, and your favourable and kind sentiments of my 
principles and conduct, be pleased to accept my most cordial thanks. My 
election to that important office, by the unanimous suffrages of the 
representatives of a free people, unsolicited by me, I consider as the 
highest honour I could receive, and Shall ever think it my duty to 
pursue every measure in my power for the benefit and prosperity of this 
State, and to promote the happiness and safety of its inhabitants. In 
doing which, if I am so happy as to give Satisfaction to the public, my 
utmost wishes will be answered. 
  
In the course of my administration, I shall hope for, and thankfully 
receive, the support and assistance of every lover of liberty and 
friend to his country. As such, the inhabitants of the town of New Bern 
have ever distinguished themselves. The respect and civilities I have 
received from them on former occasions (of which I retain the most 
grateful sense) together, Gentlemen, with your present assurances, give 
me the strongest reliance on your concurrence and endeavours to make my 
administration easy to myself and happy to the people. 

______________________________________________________________________

Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Clair Hadley - donandclair@verizon.net
______________________________________________________________________