1 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: On this episode of news World. The lives of these 2 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:11,000 Speaker 1: men are essential to understanding the American form of government 3 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: and our ideals of liberty. The founding fathers all played 4 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: key roles in securing American independence from Great Britain and 5 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: in the creation of the government of the United States 6 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: of America. One of those key men was Governor Morris. 7 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: Morris was born January thirty first, seventeen fifty two in 8 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: one of New York's prominent Tory families, Tory meaning very 9 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: pro king. He was born on the family estate Morrisania. 10 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: Now think about that for having some sense of identity. 11 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: High I'm Governor Morris of Morris on the north side 12 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 1: of the Harlem River, which was then in Westchester County 13 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,760 Speaker 1: but is now part of the Bronx. Interestingly, he was 14 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 1: named after his mother, Sarah's maiden name, Governor, which means 15 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: governor in both Dutch and French, which is spelled go 16 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: ou v er n e u r. So he lived 17 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: without his whole life, and he'd walk up to Bill 18 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: and say Hi, I'm Governor Morris. Now he might have 19 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: thought they thought he was a governor, but they didn't. 20 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: They figured out, oh, that's his name. Morris's father died 21 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: in seventeen sixty two when Morris was ten years old, 22 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: and in his will he indicated quote that his mind 23 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: desire that my son, Governor Morris may have the best 24 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: education that is to be head in England or America. 25 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: Part of that occurred when Morris received a scholarship to 26 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: King's College of New York, which is now Columbia University 27 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: he was twelve years old. Did a very different sense 28 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 1: of when you went to school back then and when 29 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: you went to work. He graduated both a bachelor's degree 30 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 1: in seventeen sixty eight and a master's degree in seventeen 31 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 1: seventy one. He studied law with Judge William Smith and 32 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: gained mission to the bar in seventeen seventy five. Member 33 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 1: this sub period where you didn't go to law school 34 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: though that's a nineteenth century invention, but you went and 35 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: you've studied with a lawyer and learned from doing things 36 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: with them, something which Jefferson had done down to Williamsburg. 37 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,239 Speaker 1: During a visit home at the age of fourteen, Morris's 38 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: right arm was badly burned when a pot of hot 39 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: water found him. His arm became badly crippled. In later portraits, 40 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 1: Morris's right arm is often hidden. Immediately after graduating, Morris 41 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 1: was studying law in the office of William Smith, who 42 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 1: eventually became Chief Justice of the Province of New York. 43 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:57,959 Speaker 1: Notice not yet a state chief Justice of the Province 44 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:01,920 Speaker 1: of New York. Morris was license to practice law three 45 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: months before his twentieth birthday. Now, if you get to 46 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: be a lawyer at nineteen, again, it tells you a 47 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: difference and how that society operated. People died younger, they 48 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: went to work younger, they studied younger. Who's a very 49 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 1: different kind of experience. Due to his aristocratic background, Morris 50 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: initially favored reconciliation with England rather than pursuing independence, even 51 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,959 Speaker 1: less people had a deep psychological commitment to the king. 52 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: In seventeen seventy four, Morris wrote in a paper quote 53 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: taxation is the chief bar and a safe compact seems, 54 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: in my poor opinion, to be now tendered internal taxation 55 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: to be left with ourselves. Reunion between the two countries 56 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: is essential to both. I say essential. It is for 57 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: the interest of all men to seek reunion with the 58 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: parent state. The spirit of the English Constitution has yet 59 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: a little influence left, and but a little the remains 60 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: of it will give the wealthy people of super priority 61 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: this time. But would they secure it. They must banish 62 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: all schoolmasters and confine all knowledge to themselves. This cannot be. 63 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: The mob begin to think the gentry, begin to feel us, 64 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,279 Speaker 1: their committee will be appointed. They will deceive the people 65 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 1: and again forfeit a share of their confidence. And if 66 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: these are instances of what with one side is policy 67 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 1: with the other perfidy, farewell aristocracy, I see, and I 68 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: see it with fear and trembling, that if the disputes 69 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: with Britain continue, we shall be the worst of all 70 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:38,919 Speaker 1: possible dominions, the dominion of a riotous mob rememory. This 71 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 1: is a period when you have, for example, patriots who 72 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 1: disguise themselves as Indians and throw tea in Boston Harbor. 73 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: So riot his mob was not totally irrelevant, But it's 74 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: also the challenge that for many people in America is 75 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: very deep and very real. They enjoyed being English. They 76 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 1: i wanted to be part of the British system. They 77 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: admired the king and felt loyal to him. But at 78 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 1: the same time they had increasing problems and gradually, inch 79 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: by inch, people began to realize that, you know, there's 80 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 1: something profoundly wrong in this relationship. As the conflict continued, 81 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: his views shifted. He began to argue that maintaining a 82 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 1: connection with Britain was no longer possible. In independence is 83 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: absolutely necessary for the future of America. In a sense, 84 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:35,799 Speaker 1: as you watch Governor Morris gradually transition from totally loyal 85 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 1: British subject to beginning to see that maybe America has 86 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: to go a different way, you're watching what's happening to 87 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: thousands and thousands of people across the thirteen provinces. In 88 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 1: May seventeen twenty six, speech to New York's Provincial Congress, 89 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: Morris says, quote, a connection with Great Britain cannot exist, 90 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:01,720 Speaker 1: and independences absolutely necessary. Or he's saying this in May. 91 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 1: They don't actually issue the detrition independence until July, so 92 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: let me pick up again. Independence is absolutely necessary. I 93 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 1: cannot balance between the two. We run a hazard in 94 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: one path, I confess, but then we are infallibly ruined 95 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 1: if we pursue the other. Some name many persons in 96 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:24,359 Speaker 1: America dislike the word independence. For my own part, I 97 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: see no reason why Congress is not as good as 98 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: States General or Parliament, and as a mighty easy matter 99 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 1: to please people when a single sound will affect it, 100 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 1: it's quite a hackney topic. Boldly insisted on, though very 101 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 1: lightly assumed, that the instant American independence is declared, we 102 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: shall have all the powers of Europe on our backs. Experience, 103 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: Sir has taught those powers, and will teach them more 104 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: clearly every day that an American war is tedious, expensive, uncertain, 105 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: and ruinous. Nations do not make war without some view. 106 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: Should they be unable to come of America, it would 107 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 1: cost them more to maintain such conquests than the fees 108 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: simple of the country's worth. Morris has detected two things 109 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: that many people have not yet realized. The first is 110 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: the other European countries are not so afraid of an 111 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: American revolution that they're going to side with the British monarchy. 112 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 1: In fact, most of them have been fighting with Great Britain, 113 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 1: so they're going to see this as an opportunity to 114 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: help the Americans rebel against the British for the purpose 115 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: of weakening Great Britain. And in fact this has been 116 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: a long view held by the French Foreign minister who 117 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: realized that if he allowed the British to continue to 118 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: occupy the eastern part of North America, they would become 119 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: so big that they would not be capable of France 120 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: opposing them. So all of a sudden, you have people 121 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 1: who are willing to send money, troops, and in the 122 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: case of France, both an army and a navy, and 123 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: Morris sort of intuited this. But second, Morris understood something 124 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: which Washington really understood, and that is this is a 125 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: huge country. Back then, Washington was fully prepared if he 126 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:13,560 Speaker 1: had to to retreat into the mountains, well, the British 127 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: could never have dug him out. So from Morris's perspective, 128 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: it's very likely that an American rebellion will succeed eventually, 129 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: and he was deeply involved in trying to think through 130 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: that transition. In fact, Morris influenced and shaped the New 131 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: York Constitution. On July nineteenth, seventeen seventy eight, during a 132 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: lengthy speech, Morris argued about the necessity of a strong 133 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 1: executive leader, stating quote, the executive magistrate should be the 134 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 1: guardian of the people, even of the lower classes, against 135 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 1: legislative tyranny, against the great and the wealthy, who, in 136 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:55,079 Speaker 1: the course of things, will necessarily compose the legislative body, 137 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: a quote which I suspect President Trump would like. Morris 138 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:03,199 Speaker 1: was an ad against slavery, introduced a resolution prohibiting it 139 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 1: in New York's Constitution, but was unsuccessful in getting it 140 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: adopted at that time, but its useful minder. There were 141 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: many people who were opposed to slavery and who recognized 142 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 1: that there was an inherent contradiction between saying we are 143 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: endowed by our creator with certain and annibal rights, but 144 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: it doesn't apply to everybody, and Morris is one of 145 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: those who thought, you know, we really have to confront this. 146 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:32,560 Speaker 1: In fact, the resolution he introduced argued, quote, whereas a 147 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:35,199 Speaker 1: regard to the rights of human nature and the principles 148 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: of our only religion loudly call upon us to dispense 149 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 1: the blessings of freedom to all mankind, and inasmuch as 150 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: it would at present be productive of great dangers deliberate 151 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: the slaves within the state. It is therefore most earnestly 152 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 1: recommended to the future legislature State of New York to 153 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: take the most effectual measures consistent with the public safety 154 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 1: and the private property of individuals for abolishing domestic slavery 155 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 1: within the same so that in future ages, every human 156 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: being who breathed the air of the state, she'll enjoy 157 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 1: the privileges of a free man. Now that is a 158 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: long jump, and if you are in Georgia, or Virginia 159 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: or South Carolina, it was a little scary, and will 160 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: of course come back about seventy years later and suddenly 161 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: lead to the Great Crisis of the survival of the 162 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: United States. Morris had a difficult time with his own family, 163 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 1: had a strained relationship with his mother. She was a 164 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: loyalist who actively supported Britain during the American Revolution. His 165 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: mother had given her state to the British for military use, 166 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:00,040 Speaker 1: and his half brother stats Long Morris served as a 167 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: general in the British Army during the American Revolution. His 168 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 1: other half brother, Lewis Morris, was a signer of the 169 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: Decoration of Independence. This led to a seven year estrangement 170 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:13,959 Speaker 1: between Morris and his mother. This, by the way, is 171 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: not totally uncommon. Remember that Benjamin Franklin's son becomes the 172 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 1: Royalist governor of New Jersey and then autumnly sets up 173 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 1: a terrorist organization that goes around killing people who want independence, 174 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,319 Speaker 1: and so he had Franklin as one of the leaders 175 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 1: of independence and his son as one of the deep opponents. 176 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 1: In seventeen seventy eight, Morris wrote to his mother that 177 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 1: since he left home he had not heard directly from her, 178 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 1: writing that quote, never had the satisfaction of knowing that 179 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 1: if the many letters have written you ever received one. 180 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:47,959 Speaker 1: He would give me infinite pleasure to hear of my friends, 181 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 1: yourself in particular. But since it is my lot to 182 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: know no more than the burthen of a general report, 183 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: I must be contented. I received great pain from being 184 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 1: informed at your distress. To my account, be of good cheer, 185 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:03,199 Speaker 1: pray you I have all that happiness which flows from 186 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:06,080 Speaker 1: conscious rectitude. I would it were in my power to 187 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: solace and come for your declining years. The duty I 188 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 1: owe to a tender parent demands this of me. But 189 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 1: a higher duty has bound me to the service of 190 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 1: my fellow creatures. In other words, no matter how much 191 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 1: he loved his mother, he loved America and freedom more, 192 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 1: and it was a chasm that they had a hard 193 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: time getting across. After the American Revolution, Morris eventually returned 194 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 1: home to assist his mother with her claim for damages 195 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 1: caused by the British Army during the war. The claim, 196 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 1: which included the destruction of property and the loss of 197 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 1: four hundred seventy acres of wood used for ship building, 198 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 1: amounted to nearly eight thousand pounds, but it was never paid. 199 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 1: During her lifetime, Morris was a member of the New 200 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 1: York State Assembly in seventeen seventy seven seventeen seventy eight, 201 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:53,559 Speaker 1: and then in seventeen seventy eight he was elected to 202 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:57,000 Speaker 1: the Continental Congress and almost immediately sent on a fact 203 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 1: finding mission to visit General Washington's army at Valley Forge. 204 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 1: Upon his return him at April, he reported the conditions 205 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: they are, describing it as quote, the skeleton of an 206 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 1: army in a naked, starving condition, out of health, out 207 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 1: of spirits. From April to November seventeen seventy eight, Morris 208 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 1: corresponded frequently the Washington, receiving updates and requests. In seventeen 209 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:25,199 Speaker 1: seventy nine, Morris moved to Philadelphia to resume his law practice. 210 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 1: That year, Morris lost his left leg during a carriage 211 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 1: accident where his left ankle was caught in the turning 212 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: spokes of a moving carriage wheel. Doctors emptied his left 213 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,960 Speaker 1: leg just below the knee, and Morris used a wooden 214 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 1: leg for the rest of his life. Afterwards, Morris wrote 215 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,200 Speaker 1: to a friend, Sir, the loss is much less than 216 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: you imagine. I shall doubtless be steadier with one leg 217 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: than with two. That's a pretty determined optimistic view of 218 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 1: life in my judgment. In seventeen eighty one, Morris became 219 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: the assistant in the United States Superintendent of Finance under Robert 220 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: Morris relation. The two worked to secure military funding for 221 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: the remainder of the war, to reform currency standards, and 222 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: draft an early blueprint for a national bank. Now we 223 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 1: tend to forget you can't have an army without being 224 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: able to pay for it, without being able to find 225 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: powder and guns, and so people like Morris are very, 226 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 1: very important in Washington's ability to sustain the war and 227 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: to sustain the army. Morris wrote to a friend shortly 228 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: before his death, quote, the Bank of North America, the 229 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 1: first bank in the country, was planned by your humble servant. 230 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: Morris was involved in the Newburgh Conspiracy of seventy eighty three, 231 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 1: where conan army officials. Remember, they had gotten Cornwallis to surrender. 232 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: They had gotten to a point where we clearly were 233 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: going to be an independent country. But Conan army officers 234 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: were frustrated. Congress couldn't pay for the war. They were 235 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: necessarily even paying their salaries, and there was a serious 236 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 1: effort at Newburgh to challenge the government. Governor Morris, Alexander Hamilton, 237 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 1: and Robert Morris advocated for an amendment to the Articles 238 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: of Confederation to grant Congress the power to tax, but 239 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: state legislatures rejected the proposal. So here's a Congress that's 240 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: supposed to be paying for the army but has no 241 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: direct ability to raise any money to pay for it. 242 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: Morris wrote to Congress urging them to address the army's 243 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: grievances before the situation worsened. On March tenth, seventeen eighty three, 244 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: a meeting of officers was anonymously called for the following 245 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: day in the camp at Newburgh. This is one of 246 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 1: the most important moments in American history. The army had 247 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 1: won the war with the help, of course of the French, 248 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: but they were a key mont what kind of country 249 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 1: were going to become? The officers who were the center 250 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: of power in the country, were fed up, felt the 251 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 1: Congress had failed them, were prepared to usurp congressional power. 252 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 1: Major John Armstrong, aide de camp to General Gates, circled 253 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 1: an inflammatory address that asked the men to force an 254 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 1: ultimatum that if Congress did not comply, the army should 255 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: threaten to disband or refuse to disband after a peace 256 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: treaty ending the war's sign. One of the key moments, 257 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: Washington comes to see them. The officers are gathered in 258 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: a big room and Washington, in a very dramatic moment, 259 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 1: takes off his glasses, reminding them that he had grown 260 00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 1: old in the service of his country, that he had 261 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: been at war from seventeen seventy five to seventeen eighty three. 262 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: They only have been home to Mount Vernon once, And 263 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: he said, would you really give up everything we have 264 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 1: fought for the whole principle of the rule of law, 265 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 1: the whole principle than the de liberty and trying to 266 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 1: establish a military dictatorship. They collectively were stunned, and gradually 267 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: they all left, recognizing that Washington had literally saved the 268 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 1: concept of freedom as we know it. Compounded by the 269 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 1: way later when Washington goes to Annapolis and there's a 270 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:26,640 Speaker 1: room dedicated to this in the state capitol where there's 271 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 1: a statue of Washington handing in his sword because he's 272 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: giving up being the commanding general at a time when 273 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 1: he could have, in fact taken over the whole country. 274 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: He was the most popular man in the country, the 275 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: most respected man in the country, the only person on 276 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 1: any kind of force that could fight. And he goes 277 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:47,919 Speaker 1: to Anapolis, where the Continental Congress was at that time meeting, 278 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 1: and it's a very vivid thing if you get a 279 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: chance to visit at sometime, because here's Washington's standing holding 280 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: out his sword. The Congress is sitting as a reminder 281 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,160 Speaker 1: of who who is important. They're the important people they're sitting. 282 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: They represent civilian power, and he is their servant. He 283 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 1: is the general who serves them. And it's a remarkable moment. 284 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 1: When he heard of it, King George said, if Washington 285 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,240 Speaker 1: really gave up power, he would be the greatest man 286 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 1: of the century. And of course he did, and he was. 287 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 1: But at this time, in seventeen eighty three, Washington works 288 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 1: with Morris and they get Congress to pass legislation on 289 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: March twentieth to pay the officers a lump sum of 290 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 1: five years pay. The officers accepted this offer. Three years later, 291 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 1: in seventeen eighty six, Morris's mother passed away and because 292 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:43,919 Speaker 1: of his father's will, the estate went to his brother, 293 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 1: his parents' second son, stats Long Morris, who was the 294 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:51,640 Speaker 1: general in the British Army. Morris's oldest brother had received 295 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 1: his portion of the state before their father passed. The 296 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:58,399 Speaker 1: remaining seven thousand pounds were to be paid to the children, 297 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 1: and of that he's got a total of two thousand pounds. 298 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 1: So it didn't know how the well being do all 299 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 1: that badly, but it must have sort of hit him 300 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 1: that his brother, who was a general in the British Army, 301 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:32,640 Speaker 1: actually gets the estate. A year later, in seventeen eighty seven, 302 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: he's chosen as part of Pennsylvania's delegation to the Constitutional Convention. 303 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:39,640 Speaker 1: After living in the state for seven years and being 304 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:43,199 Speaker 1: considered a resident. He was eager to replace the Articles 305 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:46,680 Speaker 1: of Confederation and has set under the articles quote the 306 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:50,399 Speaker 1: fate of America was suspended by a hair. It was 307 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:53,600 Speaker 1: a sad reality that the article simply didn't work. They 308 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: had two weeks of central government, They had no ability 309 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: to raise money. The system was just not going to function. 310 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 1: During the invention, Morris advocated for unlimited terms for the president, 311 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,800 Speaker 1: a Senate appointed by the president, and a federal property 312 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:10,480 Speaker 1: qualification for voting. When speaking on not limiting the term 313 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 1: for the president, Morris said, quote, we must either then 314 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:17,119 Speaker 1: renounce the blessings of the Union or provide an executive 315 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 1: with sufficient vigor to pervade every part of it. Morris 316 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: spoke one hundred and seventy three times during the convention, 317 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: more than any other delegate. James Wilson came in second 318 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:30,919 Speaker 1: at one hundred and sixty eight and Madison third at 319 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: one hundred and sixty one. Fellow delegate William Pierce said, quote, 320 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 1: is one of those geniuses in whom every species of 321 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: talents combine to render him conspicuous and flourishing in public debate. 322 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:45,879 Speaker 1: He winds through all the mazes of rhetoric and throws 323 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 1: around him such a glare that he charms, captivates, and 324 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 1: leads away the senses of all who hear him. Pretty 325 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 1: strong language. Morris was the only delegate to make a 326 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 1: lengthy speech against slavery. Advocating the number of presenters be 327 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 1: based on free inhabitants, stating that slavery quote was the 328 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,479 Speaker 1: curse of heaven on the states who were prevailable as quote, 329 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: you see here the beginning of the tension and the 330 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 1: beginning of what will grow as an anti slavery movement. Marris, 331 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 1: when discussing how to calculate the number of representatis, said, quote, 332 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 1: upon what principle is it that slaves shall be computed 333 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 1: in the representation? Are they men? Then? Make them citizens 334 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:27,080 Speaker 1: and let them vote? Are they property? Why? Then is 335 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:31,479 Speaker 1: no other property included. Morris also argued strongly for a 336 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 1: popular election over a congressional election for presidents, saying, if 337 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: the people should elect, they will never fail to perverse 338 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:42,399 Speaker 1: some man of distinguished character or service, some man, if 339 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:46,840 Speaker 1: he might so speak, of continental reputation. If the legislature elect, 340 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 1: it will be the work of intrigue, of cabal and 341 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 1: of faction. It will be like the election of a 342 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 1: pope by a conclave of cardinals. Real Merit will rarely 343 00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:58,479 Speaker 1: be titled to deployment. I don't know if Morris were 344 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: alive today, if he be all that confident that we 345 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 1: have produced people of distinguished character or service. But it 346 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 1: is a system which has made us much more responsive 347 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 1: as a country and has given the people enormous levels 348 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,200 Speaker 1: of power, more than virtu any country in the world. 349 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: Morris was assigned to the Committee's style during the Philadelphia 350 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:20,960 Speaker 1: Convention and was given the task of editing the final 351 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 1: draft of the Constitution. I mean, imagine the sense of 352 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,360 Speaker 1: responsibility you'd have to feel that you are now amending 353 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 1: a document which, if it is adopted, will go on 354 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:36,880 Speaker 1: to be the central organizing document for the United States 355 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: of America and be copied by many other countries. And 356 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 1: here he is editing the final draft. His most significant 357 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:48,199 Speaker 1: contribution to American history was the inclusion of the phrase 358 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:52,600 Speaker 1: we the people the United States. Initially it said we 359 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 1: the people the States, but Morris wanted to define the 360 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 1: country as a nation and not as a collection of 361 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: independent states, included the word united. This is really important. 362 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 1: This is a moment when you have colonies who had 363 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:09,680 Speaker 1: become states, who had won their independence, and it was 364 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:13,280 Speaker 1: a real question were we going to be one country 365 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:16,640 Speaker 1: or we're going to be a loose coalition of thirteen 366 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 1: or more countries. And there are a substantial number of 367 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 1: people who felt that to protect freedom you did not 368 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: want a strong central government. On the other hand, the 369 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:30,880 Speaker 1: difference between thinking yourself as a Virginian or someone from 370 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:35,640 Speaker 1: Massachusetts and thinking of yourself as an American is enormous. 371 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:38,920 Speaker 1: So putting in we the people of the United States 372 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:43,600 Speaker 1: was in fact a very clever and very significant step 373 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:47,120 Speaker 1: in the right direction. Morris wrote in the cover letter 374 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 1: that was sent with the Constitution to the States, quote, 375 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,639 Speaker 1: individuals entering into society must give up a share of 376 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 1: liberty to preserve the rest. In all our deliberations on 377 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: this subject, we kept steadily our view which appears to 378 00:23:59,880 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: us the greatest interest to every true American, the consolidation 379 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 1: of our union, in which has involved our prosperity, felicity, safety, 380 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:14,600 Speaker 1: perhaps our national existence. James Madison stead of Morris's contributions, quote, 381 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 1: the finish given to the style and arrangement of the 382 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:21,479 Speaker 1: Constitution fairly belongs to the pen of mister Morris. A 383 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:24,400 Speaker 1: better choice could not have been made, as the performance 384 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 1: of the task proved the talents and tastes of the 385 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 1: author were stamped on the face of it. Morris decided 386 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: to take no part in the ratification debates. He turned 387 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 1: down an offer from Hamilton to co author the Federalist Papers, 388 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 1: which of course are the most famous political pamphlets ever 389 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: written and are remarkably helpful no understanding the Constitution. After 390 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 1: the adoption of the Constitution, Morris succeeded Jefferson as Ambassador 391 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,680 Speaker 1: to France from seventeen ninety two to seventeen ninety four. 392 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 1: When Morris was appointed ambassador, the French Revolution was in 393 00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:00,399 Speaker 1: full swing, the monarchy had been overthrown, the in the 394 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:03,320 Speaker 1: midst of political unrest. Remember, for all of challenges the 395 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 1: American Revolution, it's essentially not a bloodbath. There's a fight 396 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,679 Speaker 1: between two movements of British government and people who want 397 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:14,200 Speaker 1: to be free. In America. The French Revolution is an 398 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:21,640 Speaker 1: orgy of death, executing aristocrats, executing nuns and priests, executing 399 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:25,119 Speaker 1: the king and Queen, and finally the revolution begins to 400 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:28,719 Speaker 1: devour itself and begins to execute its own members. So 401 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:33,679 Speaker 1: there was an imagery and a reality that was horrifying 402 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 1: and that actually made Americans much more conservative and much 403 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 1: more cautious. As the revolution continued and took a violent term, 404 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:45,440 Speaker 1: Morris was there watching it. As the ambassador became concerned, 405 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,919 Speaker 1: he wrote quote, the passions of the people are so 406 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:52,320 Speaker 1: great that they are beyond the reach of reason, and 407 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:56,160 Speaker 1: if the revolution does not soon end, it will destroy itself. 408 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,959 Speaker 1: By the time of the reign of terror, Morris wrote, quote, 409 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:04,080 Speaker 1: the revolution is degenerated in a bloody farce. Liberty is 410 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:06,200 Speaker 1: being murdered in the streets by the hands of those 411 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: who claim to be his champions. He is especially critical 412 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:13,199 Speaker 1: of the execution of King of the sixteenth, writing, the 413 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:15,359 Speaker 1: execution the King is not an act of liberty, but 414 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 1: of vengeance. It will not bring peace to France, but 415 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:22,360 Speaker 1: will spread terror to all her neighbors. And of course, utunly, 416 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: the French revolution becomes so self destructive that Napoleon takes 417 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:30,280 Speaker 1: over and poses a dictatorship and becomes the Emperor of 418 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:34,119 Speaker 1: France now. Morris returned the United States in seventeen ninety nine, 419 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:37,919 Speaker 1: and in eighteen o nine, at the age of fifty seven, 420 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 1: he married a member the prominent Randolph family of Virginia, 421 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:45,280 Speaker 1: who was a distant relative of Thomas Jefferson. In eighteen hundred, 422 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:47,719 Speaker 1: Morris was elected as a Federalist to the U. S. 423 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 1: Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of 424 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:54,879 Speaker 1: James Watson. He served from April third, eighteen hundred to 425 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 1: March third, eighteen o three. He lost his re election 426 00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:01,400 Speaker 1: campaign and went back to New York. In eighteen ten, 427 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 1: Morris joined the Erie Canal Commission as chairman, which planned 428 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:08,680 Speaker 1: and organized the construction of a canal from the Hudson 429 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:12,439 Speaker 1: River to Lake Erie. This secure New Yorker support and 430 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:16,159 Speaker 1: helped New York's rapid expansion for our generation, this is 431 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:19,399 Speaker 1: an enormous thing. As hard for us to remember. The 432 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:21,199 Speaker 1: idea that you could get in a boat in New 433 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:24,000 Speaker 1: York City and go all the way to Lake Erie 434 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:27,280 Speaker 1: and then you could go down Lake Erie suddenly created 435 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 1: a channel for commerce for pioneers, for travel that was 436 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 1: unheard of, and that really led to New York becoming 437 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,840 Speaker 1: the dominant city and the dominant state for most of 438 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 1: the next two hundred years. Morris himself opposed the War 439 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: of eighteen twelve. In a speech, he warned that the 440 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 1: country's heading toward inevitable division, writing quote, the general current 441 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:53,920 Speaker 1: of events for some years past drives us rapidly towards 442 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:57,679 Speaker 1: a condition in which no human power can prevent these 443 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 1: states from separating. The two or more sections independent of 444 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 1: each other. Now, ironically, the problems there were that New 445 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:07,200 Speaker 1: England did not want to go to war. The rest 446 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:09,240 Speaker 1: of the country did want to go to war. So 447 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 1: the division he was worried about was totally different than 448 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:15,920 Speaker 1: the division which would occur some forty five years later. 449 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:20,439 Speaker 1: In eighteen sixteen, Morris died as a result of a 450 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,440 Speaker 1: failed attempt to treat a urinary blockage, at the age 451 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 1: of sixty four. In those six decades, he had been 452 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 1: a major contributor to the emergence of a free, independent 453 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 1: and survivable America. Governor Morris is a remarkable figure, and 454 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:39,880 Speaker 1: he's one of the examples of the citizens who rose up, 455 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:43,960 Speaker 1: who did their duty, who weren't motivated by personal ambition. 456 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 1: They weren't motivated by a desire for money or fame 457 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: or power. They were motivated by a deep belief that 458 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 1: freedom mattered, that it was time to stand up to tyranny, 459 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:58,800 Speaker 1: and that they had to do their part if America 460 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:01,960 Speaker 1: was going to be free. Is a man well worth remembering. 461 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 1: Newtsworld is produced by Gingish, Sweet sixty and iHeartMedia. Our 462 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 1: executive producer is Guarnsey Sloane. Our researcher is Rachel Peterson. 463 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:17,040 Speaker 1: The artwork for the show was created by Steve Penley. 464 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:21,160 Speaker 1: Special thanks to the team at Ginger Street sixty. If 465 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:23,680 Speaker 1: you've been enjoying Newtsworld, I hope you'll go to Apple 466 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:27,080 Speaker 1: Podcast and both rate us with five stars and give 467 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:30,480 Speaker 1: us a review so others can learn what it's all about. 468 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 1: Join me on substack at gingrish three sixty dot net. 469 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:37,600 Speaker 1: I'm Newt Gingrich. This is Newtsworld.