Delaware Loyalists
Niccolo Machiavelli once said that, “...good morals, if they are to be maintained, have need of the laws...” (Niccolo, Machiavelli. Personal quote) The idea of breaking away from England is the type of idea that will cause the Patriots to go wrong by ignoring laws which, in effect, cause them not to follow or to forget their learned morals and values. It is written, “that every freeman for every injury done him in his goods, lands, or person, by another person, ought to have remedy by the course of the law of the land, and ought to have justice and right for the injury done to him freely without sale, fully without any denial, and speedily without delay, according to the law of the land.” (The Delaware Bill of Rights of 1776) Since the Patriots were convinced that the only right thing to do was to break away from England, they have forgotten that basic right according to the Bill of Rights. There are many Loyalists who have had their property destroyed by the Patriots simply because they do not wish to separate from England. Other than the idea that destroying property in such a manner is morally wrong, it will also continue to make Delaware’s economics suffer. The economy will not only suffer because of the property damage, but because the Patriots refuse to accept the fact that Delaware needs help from the English in order to create a strong economy. Eventually the financial fight to re-build or fix the broken economy will be a battle that the people of Delaware cannot win without support from England. In effect, breaking away from England will only set up Delaware for financial ruin. Breaking away from England will also degrade all the standards and qualities that the great colony of Delaware was founded upon, as well as harm the people both politically and economically.
Politics will be dramatically affected in a negative if Delaware separates from England. In the Delaware Bill of Rights it is written, “That all government of right originates from the people, is founded in compact only, and instituted solely for the good of the whole.” (The Delaware Bill of Rights of 1776) In order to properly govern with this bill in mind, the people of Delaware will have to do what is best for the colony. Breaking away from England certainly is not the best for Delaware because it will only hurt trade since England is responsible for much of the profit from imports and exports. So in the case that Delaware separates from England, there will be hostility between the two and the trade market will go down in ruins. Also, ignoring the Bill of Rights will show that there is no pride in Delaware because that would be knowingly disobeying one vital piece of the foundation Delaware was built upon. Showing no pride in Delaware restates the fact that the Patriots' morals are failing. Politics are not the only areas in which Delaware will suffer if they do separate from England.
Economics will also greatly suffer from any separation from England. In 1723 and 1729 Delaware was going through economic crises. Delaware “issued currency to combat depressions in the early part of the eighteenth century.” (The Journal of Political Economy) After creating the new currency to assist Delaware, it was said that the beneficial effects of this first act were so immediate that on November 2, 1723, a second Act was passed providing for the further issuance. This fact supports the fact that Delaware can begin to support itself in order to stay strong, but it also needs the additional help from England because the problem did not end here. The first time this crisis occurred was in 1723, while it reoccurred again in 1729. (Currency Issues to Overcome Depressions in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Maryland, 1715-37) Based on repeating patterns there is enough evidence to conclude that if there is no support from England, Delaware will surely fall, once again, into financial ruins because of their lack of experience.
In one instance, a great deal of illegal smuggling was taking place in Delaware. The British then stepped in, in order to help stop the smuggling and help restore the economy. It was told that, “Consequently the state of illicit trade would be a better indication of the effects of the British legislation, especially upon the trade of this district, than either the number of new manufactures or the fluctuations of the amount turned into the exchequer. One of the chief aims of the new acts was the prevention of illicit trade.” (The Trade of the Delaware District Before the Revolution) It is clear to me that the British wanted to help out and stop the smuggling in order for local manufactures can make more profit based on the fact that according to the English, “The chief aim was to make the empire self-sufficing, and as a means to this end it was thought that the mother country should furnish necessary protection to the colonies, who, in return, should render her obedience.” (The Trade of the Delaware District Before the Revolution) I agree that the British wanted to help strengthen local manufactures for the good of Delaware. A reasonable conclusion that can be drawn is that Delaware is supposed to, by moral, stay loyal and obedient to England to show their gratitude.
True loyalists know the importance of staying faithful to their mother England. It is known that Delaware is in England’s debt. In the Petition of American Loyalists, 1778, it is said that, “We [loyalists] have taken the Liberty to address ourselves to your Lordship on this Subject; and we entreat your Lordship to communicate to his Majesty our Desires to serve him and Readines to Sacrifice our Lives in Defence of his Person and Government” (Petition of American Loyalists) It is all clearly stated in that document, that many people of the colonies still love the King and are willing to do anything in order to serve him. Following this petition is one way that confirms that the Loyalists, opposed to the Patriots, have not forgotten or ignored their values. There is no morally correct side to choose from except for that of the loyalists because they live with their values in mind when problems such as breaking away from England arise.
Hanna, Mary. "The Trade of the Delaware District Before the Revolution ." (1917): 267-275, 320.
Lester, Richard . "Currency Issues to Overcome Depressions in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Maryland, 1715-37." The Journal of Political Economy Vol. 47 No. 2(1939): 182-217
Farrand, Max . "The Delaware Bill of Rights of 1776." The American Historical Review Vol. 3, No. 4 (1898): 641-649.
Quarterly, William, Mary . "Petition of American Loyalists, 1778." The William and Mary Quarterly, Second Series Vol. 1, No. 1(1921): 70-71.
Niccolo, Machiavelli. "Quote."
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