Part 23 (2/2)

CHAPTER x.x.xVI.

PEACE AND INDEPENDENCE

A. D. 1781 TO 1784.

1. On the 19th of October, 1781, as has been previously stated, Lord Cornwallis surrendered himself and his army to General Was.h.i.+ngton, at Yorktown, in Virginia. The timely arrival of the friendly French fleet under Count Rochambeau enabled Was.h.i.+ngton to lay siege to Cornwallis and force him to surrender.

2. The English commander, who was a skillful soldier, complained that he had been forced, by the orders of his superior officer and against his own judgment, into a position from which he could not escape. General La Fayette, however, doubtless had at least an equal share in bringing about the result, for it was his skillful maneuvering of an inferior force that held Cornwallis checked so that Was.h.i.+ngton was enabled to bring his troops to their appointed places at the appointed times and cut off all hope of escape.

3. But a glorious day it was for the colonies, for it virtually put an end to the war, and everybody knew it. The only real questions henceforth were as to the terms of the peace.

Independence and peace were now a.s.sured.

1782.

4. When the news reached England of Cornwallis's surrender, Lord North, the British Prime Minister exclaimed: ”Oh, G.o.d! it is all over.” He well knew that the stubborn King had exhausted the patience of the English people. They, and not the King and his ministers, at last put a stop to the bloodshed between the two countries. On November 30th, 1782, a treaty was signed in Paris by which American independence was acknowledged.

5. The war was over at last. The seven years of deadly conflict were ended. Thanks to their patient endurance, their undaunted courage and their untiring perseverance, the American colonies had at last achieved their independence. North Carolina was at last a free and independent State, owing neither allegiance or fealty to any prince or power in the world.

6. Of coa.r.s.e there was great joy at the coming of peace, with the full recognition of the colonies as independent States. But there were still more difficulties to be overcome before the full tide of peace and prosperity could set in.

7. The agricultural interest of the State was doubtless affected by the war less than any other, owing to the employment of slave labor. But the soldiers had returned and wanted homes. Homes were not to be provided in a day, nor the implements of husbandry, rude though they were at that time. Cattle and horses, too, were to be obtained before the soldier became a farmer.

8. The finances of the country were in a wretched condition.

There was no money to pay the current expenses of the government, and none even to pay the troops. In educational matters the condition was no better There were only two chartered schools in the State, one at New Bern and one at Charlotte. The Const.i.tution had, indeed, enjoined the establishment of schools and colleges, but with North Carolinians of that day it was freedom first and education afterwards.

9. The population, however, had increased steadily during the war, so that in spite of its casualties, the State was stronger in numbers in 1782 than in 1775. The Legislature met at its appointed times and places, and so did the courts, and civil law had resumed its sway. But swords are not turned into pruning- hooks in a moment, nor are the feuds of a long, bitter war to be settled or forgotten in an hour.

10. Naturally, the Whigs bitterly remembered how much they had suffered at the hands of the Tories during the long deadly struggle. Many of these latter had fled from the province, but now desired to return and be restored to citizens.h.i.+p, or at least to receive possession of their former homes. But the people resolved that this should not be so, for they wanted no Tories among them. Accordingly, when Tories who had left their homes desired to return to them after the peace, permission was refused them.

11. But it was necessary to reward the Whigs as well as to punish the Tories. A broad, fertile land, watered by great navigable rivers, and abounding in every possible resource for pleasure, wealth and prosperity, was secured to us by their courage and endurance. But if our brave soldiers desired reward, how much more did they deserve their pay, which was still largely in arrears.

12. Commissioners, therefore, were appointed to sell the lands of refugee Tories, and from that and other sources to pay up the arrears due the North Carolina soldiers. Furthermore, the land now known as Tennessee, then a part of our State, was also to be largely devoted to the same patriotic purpose. General Greene was given twenty-five thousand acres; one half that quant.i.ty to brigadier-generals, and so in a descending scale to the private soldiers.

QUESTIONS.

1. What is said of the surrender of Cornwallis?

2. Of what did the English commander complain? What credit is due La Fayette?

3. How were the colonies considering the question of peace and independence?

4. What was the effect, in England, of the news of Cornwallis's Surrender? When and where was the treaty of peace signed?

5. What had North Carolina gained by the war?

6. How did our people enjoy peace?

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