Dobbs County, NC - Richard Caswell's Acceptance Speech, 1777 Richard Caswell's Acceptance Speech on becoming Governor, Jan 1777 NEW BERN, N.C., January 14, 1777 (From the New Bern Gazette &c.) On Friday last his Excellency, RICHARD CASWELL Esq., Governor of this State, arrived here. He was met about six miles from town by about thirty Gentlemen on horseback, who accompanied him to New Bern, the bells ringing as soon as he entered the town. Being conducted to Mr. Edward Wrenford's tavern, where a handsome collation was prepared, he received the Continental officers and soldiers (drawn up for the purpose) a salute with small firearms. The fort, Pennsylvania Farmer, and other vessels in the harbour, fired many guns, under a display of the colours of the United States; and in the evening, the town was handsomely illuminated. On Monday the 13th instant, the inhabitants of the town assembled and waited upon his Excellency with the following congratulatory address: To his Excellency, RICHARD CASWELL Esq., Governor, Captain-General, and Commander-in-Chief in and Over the State of North Carolina The ADDRESS of the INHABITANTS of the town of NEW BERN: May it Please your Excellency, Permit us, in the sincerity of our hearts, to Congratulate Your Excellency on your unsolicited advancement, by the unanimous suffrages of the representatives of the freemen of this State, to the supreme command of the same, the highest honour a grateful people can bestow. Uninfluenced by private ambition and sordid interest, you have ever pursued the good of your country. Mankind have been taught, by your example, that the love of liberty, and a steady perseverance in acts of private and public virtue are the surest ways to preferment, and the best title to the honours of a free State. We have not a doubt, therefore, but that your Excellency's endeavours in your important station will give full satisfaction to the most sanguine expectations of the public. In this pursuit, we hope your Excellency will receive the support and assistance of every lover of liberty and friend to his country; and, as the inhabitants of the Town of New Bern wish to be distinguished as such, you may depend upon our most hearty concurrence and best endeavours to make your administration easy to yourself and happy to the people. HIS EXCELLENCY'S ANSWER To the inhabitants of the town of NEW BERN: Gentlemen - For your congratulations on my appointment to the supreme command of this State, and your favourable and kind sentiments of my principles and conduct, be pleased to accept my most cordial thanks. My election to that important office, by the unanimous suffrages of the representatives of a free people, unsolicited by me, I consider as the highest honour I could receive, and Shall ever think it my duty to pursue every measure in my power for the benefit and prosperity of this State, and to promote the happiness and safety of its inhabitants. In doing which, if I am so happy as to give Satisfaction to the public, my utmost wishes will be answered. In the course of my administration, I shall hope for, and thankfully receive, the support and assistance of every lover of liberty and friend to his country. As such, the inhabitants of the town of New Bern have ever distinguished themselves. The respect and civilities I have received from them on former occasions (of which I retain the most grateful sense) together, Gentlemen, with your present assurances, give me the strongest reliance on your concurrence and endeavours to make my administration easy to myself and happy to the people. ______________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Clair Hadley - donandclair@verizon.net ______________________________________________________________________