The Battle for the Fourteenth Colony: America’s War of Liberation in Canada, 1774–1776

20 | A Late-Changing Cast: New Continental Leadership for Canada

Chapter 20 A Late-Changing Cast New Continental Leadership for Canada I must confess I have very great Confidence, in the Abilities and Integrity, the Political Principles and good Disposition of this Committee. | John Adams to James Warren, Philadelphia, 18 February 1776 A General Thomas, (lately an Apothecary), was on his way with 1200 men to join the Rebels in Canada, where they may arrive the beginning of May. | Journal of the Siege and Blockade of Quebec . . . , 23 April 1776 The composition of Congress’s Committee to Canada, officially named on 15 February, contrasted with November’s Committee to the Northern Army, which had consisted of New Englanders and one New Yorker.The new committee members were all middle colonists: Pennsylvania’s Benjamin Franklin and Maryland’s Samuel Chase, both members of Congress; and Marylander Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a welcome observer in Philadelphia, but not an official delegate.When Congress named these three commissioners, they also requested that Charles Carroll “prevail on Mr.John Caroll to accompany the committee to Canada, to assist them in such matters as they shall think useful”; John Carroll, Charles’s cousin, happened to be a Jesuit priest.1 There were at least two other Congress members who expressed a desire to be part of the Committee to Canada, who would have been interesting additions . John Adams told his wife Abigail,“I wish I understood French as well as you. I would have gone to Canada, if I had”; but it is hard to imagine his fellow delegates unleashing the brash radical upon the Canadians at such a sensitive juncture. Robert R. Livingston Jr., who had been on the November Committee to the Northern Army, similarly confided to New York delegate John Jay,“If a Committee should be sent to superintend the operations of the Canada expedition I’d like to be one of the number.”Livingston,however,faced A Late-Changing Cast 291 two critical challenges.First,he was in poor health and severely depressed after his grandfather, father, and brother-in-law General Richard Montgomery all died in a six-month span. Politically, Livingston had also opposed the Canadian campaign on principle,and believed “it is most evident the Canadians are not to be relied on”—challenging views to overcome for committee success. However, Adams and Livingston were not seriously considered; by February, there was a general consensus to appoint Franklin, Chase, and Carroll.2 Benjamin Franklin,the “First American,”scientist-philosopher,and longtime political agent, was eminently suited for the Canadian mission. Shortly after the nominations, John Adams listed the doctor’s impressive qualifications: “His masterly Acquaintance with the French Language, his extensive Correspondence in France, his great Experience in Life, his Wisdom, Prudence, Caution,his engaging Address,united to his unshaken Firmness in the present American System of Politicks and War.”Two years later, in France, Adams would find that he had oversold Franklin’s ability with the foreign tongue, where experience proved that the doctor “spoke it poorly” and “stumbled badly in conversation,”but the raconteur made up for those limitations with his brilliant charm.His most significant downside was his age,having turned seventy just a month before his Canada committee appointment.3 Franklin also had a wealth of Canadian connections. As a chief advocate for the British acquisition of New France in the French and Indian War peace settlement,he authored his famous “Canada Pamphlet.”In the post-Conquest era, Franklin visited the province as the North American postmaster, establishing the New York-to-Montréal mail route. He had also been present for Parliament’s 1774 Quebec Bill debates,before returning to Philadelphia completely disenchanted with the Ministry and joining the second Continental Congress.Drafting the United Colonies’Articles of Confederation,the doctor included a clause ensuring that Canada was “entitled to all the Advantages of our Union.”The septuagenarian was willing to serve where called, but was not overly enthusiastic to hear of his new committee appointment.4 Franklin’s delegate counterpart,thirty-five-year-old Samuel Chase,offered complementary skills. He was a leading Annapolis Son of Liberty who had fervently supported the cause since the Stamp Act Crisis.He honed his political talents in Maryland’s colonial assembly and patriot committees,producing 292 The Battle for the Fourteenth Colony appointments to both Continental Congresses.Chase was an effective orator, writer,and organizer; his biggest limitation was his overwhelming zeal.Based on...