Portfolio: Essay 2 --Loyalists vs Patriots

{Note: The bold and italic portions are the parts of the essay that I wrote. I kept the other portions for refrence to the entire essay.}


March 13, 1774

Dear Cousin Maryanne,

I thought I would write and see how things have been. It has been a while since we last spoke. How have you been? Are you still a farmer way out there in the country? I do not know if you have heard but I just recently became a royal governor. So as you could probably guess, things are going quite well for me. Have you heard of this rebellion of the colonists against the Crown? Apparently they want liberty and freedom from our glorious government and king. Staying loyal to the British crown and King George III is the only way to end this conflict quickly. As you can guess, I have sided already with my fellow British who still remain loyal. I do not know whom you have sided with, but it is my hope that you will remain loyal to the crown. I offer my best wishes to you and your family in this time of struggle.

Your cousin,

William Trenton


March 25, 1774

Dearest William,

Things have been quite well here on the farm. Indeed it has been quite a while, I’m glad to hear from you. I’m also happy to hear about your position in government. I have heard about the rebellion and how the colonists are feeling about this, and I’m sorry the see the position you’ve taken on this matter. In this time of war, the best for everyone in the end is liberation from the British. How can you question the want for liberty and freedom? This is exactly why we were proud of being British. Our fellow British, have imposed on us taxes that they didn’t even consider asking you about. You are part of the British government and they do not consider what you want, as if you and I are not equal with them. Remember what your fellow colonists have said, “Resolved, That his majesty's liege people of this his most ancient colony have enjoyed the right being thus governed by their own assembly, in the article of taxes and internal police; and that the same have never been forfeited or any other way yielded up, but have been constantly recognized by the kind and people of Great Britain.”(1) The country seems to be moving forward and you do not seem to be moving with it. This I do not understand. I pray you reply with haste so we may continue this discussion.

Your Cousin,

Maryanne Withers


April 6, 1774

Dear Maryanne,

I cannot understand why you have not sided with the other loyal British. You are British by birth, which makes me wonder why. You ask why I would question the want for liberty and freedom. We have the liberty to be British subjects. We have the freedom to live where we want and to an extent, do what we want. As well, George III, and his military protect us. If it were not for such protection, many of us would have been killed long ago. Therefore, it is his right to tax us. I will agree that I do not like the fact that he did tax us without our consent. Regardless, these taxes help keep the military and economy going so that our well being is taken care of and so that we are protected. It is part of our living under this government that we are not completely equal. True British do not mind living under our king. We embrace it. The British see your kind as a mob. We see you as a mob who could take away our liberty and our property. We are afraid of being deprived of our personal peace and the loss of authority. I am sure that your road of revolution will lead to chaos for colonists and British alike, now and in the future. It is my sincerest hope that you will come and ally yourself with us so that this turmoil may come to an end.

Your cousin,

William Trenton


April 18, 1774

William,

Can you not see that we are on the brink of war? I am sorry to speak with such contempt, but has the British Parliament really clouded your mind so much? We must protect ourselves. I do not believe that by contributing to these taxes we are keeping our security in Britain. They do not have any respect for our government. They consider us to be lesser. I do believe that a revolution in the colonies and the right to liberty is worth the chaos that may be caused. Remember what has happened in Boston? They have completely shut down the harbor and are leaving us to the cold and to starve. (3) They are the ones causing chaos if anyone. Dear cousin I beg of you, please reconsider your position. Ally yourself with who you came to this continent with, and with whom you know well. The turmoil is not likely to end as soon as you wish. You are not in Boston like I, and therefore do not have any idea of real turmoil. I will agree that without the British military we would be in great trouble, however, we are coming upon a time for change. They are more against us than they are for. They have supported us in the past in coming here, but now they ignore our voices. And so, dear cousin, we must stand together, not divided, or we will surely fall.

Your Cousin,

Maryanne Withers


April 30, 1774

Dear Maryanne,

I can see that we are on the brink of war. The British Parliament has not clouded my mind. On the contrary, I am thinking clearer than ever before. They do have respect for the government because it is part of their government. We are British citizens; therefore we follow their laws and are part of their government. We do not have a separate government just because we live so far away from Britain. Can you honestly say that the liberty you crave is really worth the death and chaos? Britain’s military might will crush you. No one is happy about the harbor being shut down but if the tea had not been destroyed, the harbor would still be open. If you try to sever ties with Britain then, “There is an end to your trade, and a total loss of your property.”(4) If you must blame anyone, blame the ones who dumped the tea and started this, not the British. If you and the other colonists you have sided with, would only follow British laws and obey the king, then all this trouble could have been avoided from the beginning. I have allied myself with the ones who are trying to keep the peace, not start conflict. Yes, I may not know of the turmoil you face but I have heard enough about it to know that you deserve it. You say we should stand together. I’m sorry my dear cousin, but that is just not possible. I’m sorry to say but if you are not with me, then you are my enemy.

Your cousin,

William Trenton


May 13, 1774

Dear Cousin,

We tried to follow their law, but they themselves are the ones who violate it. As I mentioned earlier, they are the ones who created the law of us governing ourselves in accordance of taxation and internal police. So if they would only follow their own law, we would not have all of this trouble. Since there is no war, or at least not yet, they do not even have the right to be present in our towns. Just a few weeks ago those bloody red coats came into my home without even knocking and asked for some food. I gave it to them of course, but they don’t even have manners. William they have taken our dignity, our respect, our money, our harbor… what are next, our lives? Indeed, they have already taken lives. Or have you forgotten about the Massacre down here in Boston? William we must stand together. Not just as colonies, but remember we are family. Do not let the British Empire separate us. We can win if we only do this together.

Your Cousin,

Maryanne Withers