Richard Henry Lee
6th President of the United States
in Congress Assembled
November 30, 1784 to November 23, 1785

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LEE, Richard Henry, statesman, born in Stratford, Westmoreland County, Virginia, 20 January, 1732; died in Chantilly, Virginia, 19 June, 1794, was third son of Thomas. At an early age he was sent over to England and educated at the academy of Wakefield in Yorkshire. In 1752 he returned to Virginia. The wealth of his family was such that it was not necessary for him to earn a living, but, without any view to professional practice, he applied himself with great diligence to the study of law. Not only English but Roman law occupied his attention, and he was an earnest student of history.

In 1757 he was appointed justice of the peace for Westmoreland county. In 1761 he was elected to the house of burgesses, of which he remained a member until 1788. Extreme diffidence for some time prevented his taking any part in the debates. His first speech was on a motion "to lay so heavy a duty on the importation of slaves as effectually to put an end to that iniquitous and disgraceful traffic within the colony of Virginia." On this occasion his hatred of slavery overcame his diffidence, and he made a powerful speech containing the germs of the principal arguments used in later days by the northern Abolitionists.

He was an energetic opponent of the stamp-act, and in 1765 formed an association of citizens of Westmoreland county for the put-pose of deterring all persons from undertaking to sell stamped paper. A Tory gentleman in the neighborhood accepted the office of stamp-collector, and boasted that he would force the stamped paper upon the people in spite of all opposition. Mr. Lee, being then captain of a volunteer company of light horse, at once went with his men to this gentleman's house and made him deliver up his commission as collector and all the stamped paper in his possession, and bind himself by oath never again to meddle with such matters; the commission and the obnoxious paper were thereupon burned with due ceremony in a bonfire on the lawn. At the news of the Townshend acts of 1767, Mr. Lee moved, in the house of burgesses, a petition to the king, setting forth in pointed terms the grievances of the colonies. In July, 1768, he wrote a letter to John Dickinson, suggesting that all the colonies should appoint select committees "for mutual information and correspondence between the lovers of liberty in every province." The suggestion was in harmony with the views of the famous "circular letter" of the Massachusetts assembly, written by Samuel Adams and lately sent forth to all the colonies.

There has been some discussion as to whether Adams or Lee is to be credited with the first suggestion of those remarkable "committees of correspondence" which organized the American Revolution. The earliest suggestion of such a step, however, is to be found in a letter from the great Boston preacher, Jonathan Mayhew, to James Otis, in June, 1766. The letter just mentioned from Lee to Dickinson seems to have come next in point of date, and at the same time Christopher Gadsden appears to have received from Lee a letter of similar purport. Mr. Lee may or may not nave heard of Mayhew's suggestion. The idea was one that might naturally have occurred to several of these eminent men independently. The machinery of committees of correspondence was first actually set in motion by Samuel Adams, as between the towns of Massachusetts, in 1772. The project of inter=colonial committees was first put into practical shape by the Virginia house of burgesses in the spring of 1773, on motion of the youthful Dabney Cart, brother-in-law of Thomas Jefferson.

Mr. Lee was a member of the Virginia committee then appointed, and about this time he wrote to Samuel Adams a letter, which was the beginning of the lifelong friendship between the two great leaders. In August, 1774, Mr. Lee was chosen delegate to the 1st Continental congress just about to assemble at Philadelphia. He was member of the committees for stating the rights of the colonies, for enforcing commercial non-intercourse with Great Britain, and for preparing suitable addresses to the king and to the colonies -- Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Georgia, and the Floridas -- that had not sent delegates to the congress.

In the 2d congress he drew up the address to the people of Great Britain, which, along with a last petition to the king, was carried over to London by Richard Penn in August, 1775. About this time Mr. Lee was chosen lieutenant of Westmoreland county, an office which, after the analogy of the lord-lieutenancy of a county in England, gave him command of the militia; hence he is often addressed or described, in writings of the time, as "Colonel Lee."

For more than a year he had openly and warmly advocated a declaration of independence; and after the Virginia, convention, 17 May, 1776, had instructed its delegates in congress to propose such a measure, it was Lee who took the foremost part. On 7 June he moved

"that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."

The motion was seconded by John Adams. Congress deferred action for three weeks, in order that more definite instructions might be received from the middle colonies. During the interval Mr. Lee was called home by the illness of his wife, so that Mr. Jefferson was appointed in his place as chairman of the committee for preparing a draft of the proposed declaration. For the same reason, the task of defending the motion, when taken up for discussion, fell mainly upon John Adams, who had seconded it.

James Adams was successful in defending Mr. Lee's motion and on July 2, 1776 the United Colonies of America officially became the United States of America. It was July 2, 1776 that John Adams thought would be celebrated by future generations of Americans.

"The Second Day of July 1776 will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. . . . It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more." -- John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776

During the next four years Mr. Lee served on more than a hundred committees, and his labors in congress were so arduous as to injure his health, so that he was several times obliged to go home and devote himself to recruiting his strength. In 1780-'2 he did not take his seat in congress, inasmuch as the affairs of Virginia seemed to require his presence in the assembly of that state. Besides the business of defense against the British army then operating in the southern states, two questions of great importance were then debated in Virginia. The one related to the propriety of making a depreciated paper currency a legal tender for debts, the other was brought up by a proposal to repudiate all debts to British merchants contracted by citizens of Virginia before the beginning of the war. In these debates Mr. Lee took strong ground against paper money, and he vehemently condemned the repudiation of debts, declaring that it were better to be "the honest slaves of Great Britain than to become dishonest freemen."

After the peace he devoted much time to considering the best method of funding the public debt of the state, and providing for the revival of public credit. In the hopes that Mr. Lee could duplicate his financial success with Virginia's debt, Congress elected him President on November 30, 1784:

The committee, to whom were referred the credentials produced by the delegates from the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, report, "That they have carefully examined the credentials to them referred, and are of opinion, that the honorable Samuel Holten and George Partridge, of the State of Massachusetts; the honorable David Howell, of the State of Rhode Island; the honorable William Churchill Houston and John Beatty, of the State of New Jersey; the honorable Joseph Gardner and William Henry, of Lancaster, of the State of Pennsylvania; the honorable Samuel Hardy, James Monroe and Richard Henry Lee, of the State of Virginia; the honorable Hugh Williamson and Richard Dobbs Spaight, of the State of North Carolina; the honorable Jacob Read, John Bull and Charles Pinckney, of the State of South Carolina; and the honorable William Houstoun and William Gibbons, of the State of Georgia, appear to be clearly and indisputably entitled to their seats, are authorized to sit and vote in the present Congress of the United States. Eight states being assembled, the United States in Congress assembled, proceeded to the election of a President, and, the ballots being taken, the honorable Richard Henry Lee was elected.

His Presidency was a busy one attending to the needs of the new nation.

1784 --- December 3 Registers commission of Swedish consul Charles Hellstedt; orders redeployment of Fort Stanwix troops to West Point. December 7 Countermands redeployment of Fort Stanwix troops, who are ordered to Fort Rensselaer. December 8 Receives Massachusetts and New York agents assembled to select judges for hearing land claim dispute between the two states. December 11 Rejects motion to adjourn from Trenton; commends the marquis de Lafayette. December 14 Postpones election of treasury commissioners; directs Benjamin Franklin to delay signing consular convention with France. December 15 Receives Spanish announcement closing Mississippi River. December 17 Elects chaplain to Congress; resolves to appoint minister to Spain. December 20 Overturns decision to create two capitals; appropriates $100,000 for capital buildings. December 23 Adopts ordinance for fixing upon a place for the residence of Congress." December 24 Certifies selection of judges for hearing Massachusetts-New York land claim dispute; adjourns to New York City.

1785 --- January 11 Reconvenes, five states represented. January 13 Achieves quorum, seven states represented. January 18 Accepts offer of New York City Hall for the use of Congress. January 20 Communicates to states intelligence on the precariousness of United States credit abroad. January 24 Orders preparation of a requisition on the states for 1785. January 25 Elects treasury commissioners; tables L'Enfant plan for establishing a corps of engineers. January 27 Adopts ordinance "for ascertaining the powers and duties of the Secretary at War." January 31 Resolves to appoint minister to Great Britain. February 1 Ratifies terms of a two-million-guilder Dutch loan.

February 2 Adopts proclamation urging states to penalize counterfeiting. February 7 Approves lease of public buildings at Carlisle, Pa., to Dickinson College; orders removal of War Office, Post Office, and Treasury offices to New York. February 10 Elects Philip Schuyler commissioner for planning federal capital. February 11 Adopts regulations for the office for foreign affairs, conceding to Secretary Jay's demands. February 18 Limits terms of ministers abroad. February 21 Resolves to send commissioners to the Illinois Settlements. February 24 Appoints John Adams minister to Great Britain. March 4 Opens debate on western land ordinance.

March 7 Authorizes Benjamin Franklin's return to America; resolves to appoint minister to the Netherlands. March 8 Elects Henry Knox secretary at war. March 10 Elects Thomas Jefferson minister to France. March 11 Adopts instructions for negotiating with the Barbary states. March 15 Adopts instructions for the southern Indian commissioners. March 16 Rejects motion to limit slavery in the territories. March 17 Imposes 12-month limit for submission of claims against the United States. March 18 Adopts instructions for the western Indian commissioners. March 21 Elects southern Indian commissioners; thanks king of Denmark for offer to ordain American candidates for holy orders. March 28 Receives report on granting Congress commerce powers. March 31 Adopts ordinance for regulating the office of secretary of Congress; receives report on 1785 requisition.

April 1 Debates Continental military needs. April 7 Authorizes military establishment of 700 troops. April 14 Reads revised western land ordinance. April 18 Accepts Massachusetts western land cession. April 22-28 Debates western land ordinance. April 29 Appeals to states to maintain representation.

May 2-6 Debates western land ordinance. May 9-10 Fails to achieve quorum (five states). May 12 Fails to achieve quorum (six states). May 13 Receives coinage report. May 18-19 Debates western land ordinance. May 20 Adopts western land ordinance; appeals to North Carolina to repeat western land cession. May 24 Fails to achieve quorum (four states). May 27 Renews appointment of geographer of the United States; appoints 13 continental surveyors.

June 1 Authorizes appointment of federal court to decide South Carolina Georgia boundary dispute. June 3 Publishes treaties with the Indians negotiated at Fort Stanwix and Fort McIntosh. June 6 Authorizes negotiation of an Indian treaty at Vincennes. June 7 Discharges Fort Pitt garrison. June 14 Responds to French announcement of the birth of a second heir to the throne. June 17 Orders John Jay to plan audience for the Spanish plenipotentiary Diego de Gardoqui. June 20 Orders inquiry into the administration of the late superintendent of finance. June 21 Orders annual inquiry into treasury administration. June 23 Appoints William Livingston minister to the Netherlands (declines). June 29 Asks Virginia to provide military support for Indian commissioners. June 30 Orders a study of mail transportation.

July 1 Rejects motion to abolish court of appeals, but terminates salaries of the judges. July 2 Receives Diego de Cardoqui. July 4 Celebrates Independence Day. July 5 Appoints John Rutledge minister to the Netherlands (declines). July 6 Adopts the dollar as the money unit of the United States. July 11 Continues rations for Canadian refugees. July 12 Receives Post Office report. July 13-14 Debates granting Congress commerce power. July 18 Debates 1785 requisition. July 20 Abolishes commissary of military stores. July 22 Debates 1785 requisition. July 25 Abolishes quartermaster department. July 28-29 Debates 1785 requisition.

August 1-3 Debates 1785 requisition. August 5 Orders removal of the treasurer's office to New York (by October 1) . August 10-13 Recesses. August 15 Thanks king of Spain for sending Gardoqui mission. August 17 Appoints Samuel Holten chairman in the absence of President Lee (through September 29) for the recovery of his health; Secretary Thomson to re port delegate attendance monthly. August 18 Endorses conduct of Massachusetts governor James Bowdoin in controversy with British naval captain Henry Stanhope. August 25 Grants John Jay greater latitude in negotiating with Gardoqui. August 29 Abolishes committee of the week (duties transferred to secretary of Congress.

September 2-3 Fails to achieve quorum (five states and two states) . September 5 Receives John Jay report on British occupation of northwest posts. September 7 Authorizes John Jay to inspect the mails when ever required by United States "safety or interest" ; approves the conveyance of mails by stage carriages. September 13-17 Debates 1785 requisition. September 19-21 Debates appeal of Connecticut settlers in the Wyoming valley. September 22-26 Debates 1785 requisition. September 27 Adopts 1785 requisition. September 29 Authorizes commission to settle Massachusetts New York eastern boundary.

October 5 Orders postmaster general to extend system of posts. October 7 Debates threat of western separatism. October 12 Authorizes troops to attend western Indian negotiations; exhorts states to meet fiscal quotas. October 17-18 Mourns death of Virginia delegate Samuel Hardy (age 27). October 20 Receives John Jay report on naval threat of Barbary states. October 21-22 Fails to achieve quorum (six states and one state) . October 25 Fails to achieve quorum (four states). October 27 Rejects proposal to create consular establishment. October 28 Confers consular powers on ministers abroad.

November 2 Postpones convening of court to determine Massachusetts-New York western land claims dispute; suspends recruitment for 700 troop establishment. November 4 Congressional session expires.

At the end of the presidential term of one year he returned to Virginia, but in 1787 was sent again to the congress. He was not a member of the convention at Philadelphia which in the summer of that year framed our Federal constitution; and when the new constitution was reported to congress, he earnestly opposed its adoption. He thought it provided for a consolidated national power that would ultimately destroy the state governments and end in a centralized despotism. His correspondence at this time with Samuel Adams, who was inclined to entertain the same fears, is very instructive.

These misgivings were shared by Patrick Henry and many other patriotic Virginians, and the first senators elected by their state were Lee and Grayson, in opposition to two Federalists, one of whom was James Madison, who had been foremost in the constructive work of the great convention. As senator, Mr. Lee proposed the tenth amendment to the constitution in these words: "The powers not delegated by the constitution to the United States, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively." The amendment, as adopted, substituted the word "granted" for "delegated," and added at the end the words "or to the people."

Though at first an Anti-Federalist, Mr. Lee came to be a warm supporter of Washington's administration, and especially approved of his course in the affair of "citizen" Genet. In 1792 he was obliged by failing health to resign his seat in the senate and retire to his estate at Chantilly, where he spent the last two years of his life

Mr. Lee was tall and graceful in person and striking in feature. His voice was clear and rich, and his oratory impressive. He did not waste time in rhetoric, but spoke briefly and to the point. His ideas were so lucid and his expression so forcible that when he sat down after a few weighty words it used to seem as if there were no more to be said on the subject. His capacity for work was great, though sometimes limited by poor health; as Dr. Rush said, "His mind was like a sword too large for its scabbard."

He was twice married, and left, by his first wife, a Miss Aylett, two sons and two daughters; by his second, a Miss Pinkard, two daughters. His life has been written by his grandson, Richard Henry Lee, of Leesburg, Virginia, "Memoir of the Life of Richard Henry Lee, and his Correspondence" (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1825). See also Bishop Meade's "Old Churches, Ministers, and Families of Virginia," vol. ii., pp. 135-143

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