North Carolina
September 1784
"Governor Caswell, it is an honor to speak with you." Black smiled faintly. He needed this man's support. He could afford to be nice.
"Governor Moultrie, the pleasure is mine." Caswell was a small man, thin with greying hair. He'd served as governor from 1776-1780, stepped down as the state constitution wouldn't let him run again, and would return to office in just a few days. "Will you walk with me in the garden? It is an oppressive day and I like some hope of a breeze."
Black frowned. He bowed however, and together they walked outside. Neatly dug rows of purple, orange and yellow flowers awaited them nearly perfectly aligned in the fertile soil.
"Sarah loves these," Caswell said pacing past sunflowers.
"Your wife, sir?" Black glared at the flowers. They didn't approve of him either and sagged.
"Yes, sir," Caswell said without turning. "She will be back later today. You are staying for dinner?"
"Alas the situation in Charleston is delicate yet. You will give her my regrets?"
"Of course, Governor." Caswell knelt and ripped out a weed.
"You don't have slaves for that?"
"No, they work the fields and crops. This garden is Sarah's. We like to tend to it ourselves." He paused. "I heard of what happened in Charleston of course. Do you require assistance?"
Black stepped away from him causing several nearby flowers to rally. "No, Governor. Thank you. I've come on another matter. Are you aware of what's happening in Philadelphia?"
"General Heyward's trial? Yes, Mister Spaight wrote my predecessor almost daily."
"Thomas has found himself a lawyer. They're fighting extradition."
Caswell nodded. "They will lose, of course. Mister Pinckney's demands are entirely reasonable."
"My demands," Black corrected softly. "However it seems they've found supporters among the delegates."
"A handful of New Englanders. You know they aren't like us. They don't have our sense of justice and honor."
"Yet they hold one-third of Congress, while even with Virginia we hold a quarter. By forming a bloc these men can lead Congress into all types of error."
Caswell looked up. "Take care of that tree, if you please. My wife is particularly attached to it."
Black retracted his hand from its rough bark and straightened. "What I'd like to know is what you'll do if they fail us."
"Us?" Richard Caswell paced over. "This is a South Carolinan matter, is it not? Otherwise your request for extradition wouldn't hold."
"The treason charge is South Carolina's," Black retorted, "but when he deserted he abandoned North Carolinan boys as well. He
must be brought to justice. In Charleston, where together we may appropriately deal with him."
"Mm. Well, to answer your question if they refuse extradition then we would protest."
"We would do more than protest," Black snapped.
"What did you have in mind?"
"If they fail to extradite, then it can only be because they consider their own prerogatives more important than our states' welfare. Do you want God knows who from New Hampshire telling you how to run your state?"
"Of course not."
"Then there is only one thing to do. If Philadelphia fails us, if they refuse to live by the rules they endorsed, then they break our alliance. South Carolina will leave, and demand his return as a sovereign nation."
Caswell straightened. "That is extreme."
"It is easily avoidable. They must abide by their word."
"And you want to know if North Carolina will join you?"
"Yes."
"I cannot answer," he replied. "I know you haven't consulted your assembly much since the crisis, but North Carolina does not have that luxury. I must consult."
Black frowned. The less people involved the better. "Can you do so discreetly? If Philadelphia finds out what we're about, General Arnold will show up in New Bern and make your decision for you."
Caswell's eyes hardened. "I'll see to it."
-----------
Pennsylvania
"Order!" Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States Congress, beat his gavel. "We will have order!" He waited to the excited mumbling subsided and peered at the man standing in front of him. "Mister Adams. We've agreed to table General Heyward's hearing. Why are you here?"
"Mister President," Adams nodded to him then faced the delegates. "Gentlemen, we thank you for the offer but have no need of a delay. With your permission the defense wishes to proceed."
More excited mumbling. Waymouth arched his eyebrows. Jefferson leaned back, holding his gavel like he planned to beat the man down with it. "Sir, the calendar for today has been reset."
Adams turned again. "And I thank you for the courtesy, but it is unnecessary. We're ready to continue."
John Jay of New York looked up. "Mister Adams, your client is not here. We're told he took ill late last night. How can he possibly testify?"
"I do not need him!" Adams grinned, the look of a man not quite sane. "Not today. The defense has another witness, Mister President, and it would be discourteous to make him wait!"
Jefferson shook his head. "Objections?"
Charles Pinckney half rose, then sat down again. He didn't trust Adams, but if the fool wanted to proceed without Heyward so much the better.
Jay rose however. "This is highly irregular. General Heyward has a right to be heard."
"And he will, sir. Just not today."
"Mister Jay is right," Jefferson said. "It is quite impossible to continue. New Hampshire isn't even here!"
"Why?" Adams challenged. "What else were you going to do today?"
"That is Congressional business, Mister Adams, of which you are no longer a member!"
"We were to discuss the costs involved in repairing and widening the post roads and what kind of tolls to add," Maryland noted.
"Thank you, Mister Stone," Jefferson replied drily. "I was not aware."
"Post roads?" Adams asked. "They can wait."
"
Mister Adams..."
"
Mister President, I believe a man's life outweighs roads! I call for a vote!"
"
You are not in a position to call for a vote, sir! Bailiff!"
"Mister President!" Waymouth stood. "Massachusetts moves that General Heyward's trial proceeds."
William Ellery didn't know what Adams was at, but he liked Heyward and if his lawyer had a plan, so be it. "Rhode Island seconds the motion."
Jefferson growled. "Master Clerk, call the vote!"
"New Hampshire? Massachusetts? Rhode Island?" The boy rapidly read through the names, updating the wood tally board as he went. Finally he turned to Jefferson. "Seven to four in favor, sir, with New Hampshire abstaining if you please."
Jefferson did not please. "Proceed!"
"Thank you, Mister President." Adams smiled sweetly. In the half second it took him to face South Carolina's bench however, the grin faded and he looked cold. Unfriendly. "I call Captain John Paul Jones of the sloop
Ranger."
More mumbles as the various delegates turned. Captain Jones, dressed in his finest uniform, stepped forward, swore his oath and stared at the wall.
Adams watched the naval commander closely. Today could make or break his case. Heyward's nightmare before collapsing at the guard's feet was on everybody's mind. Some thought it a sign of a guilty conscience. He must not, could not allow them to brood on that.
"Captain Jones, to save us time I asked you to pen a letter summarizing your findings on a recent trip to Charleston. Is this your letter?"
"Mister President," Pinckney retorted. "We've not seen this letter before today!"
"This letter did not exist before last night," Adams replied smoothly.
Jefferson frowned. "What does Captain Jones's voyage to Charleston have to do with this?"
"I hope to show that shortly, sir."
He glared at Adams. "Very well."
"Thank you. Captain Jones, is this your letter?"
Jones nodded distantly. "Yes."
"Thank you. Mister President, again to save us time may I recommend the clerk read the letter so we may know its contents?"
"Let me see."
Adams obeyed. Jefferson read closely, glancing from time to time at Jones. His eyes narrowed. "You are certain of your facts?"
"As certain as one can be," Jones replied, still looking straight ahead. "Some of it is rumor. I've listed what I cannot directly corroborate."
"You will want to take a look at this, Mister Pinckney." He held up the letter as the South Carolina representative stood.
"Mister President!" Adams protested. "That's evidence."
"One moment." He handed the notes down. Pinckney glanced through them, his eyes widening. He flushed purple.
"Is this true, Charles?" Jefferson asked quietly.
"Lies!" Pinckney snarled. He tore the letter. "Lies!"
Jones leapt to his feet, shocked out of his case of nerves.
No one called him a liar. "Are you prepared to defend that statement?" The room erupted.
"Order!" Jefferson roared.
Adams picked up the letter and held it up in both hands, slowly circling so the fiercely debating delegates could see South Carolina's breach.
"Mister Adams, sit down!"
The Harvard lawyer continued holding up the torn paper. "See what South Carolina thinks of justice?" he demanded.
"Mister Adams!"
He still didn't turn. "Is Congress going to accept this? To have evidence destroyed because they do not suit one man's way of thinking? The truth does not change, no matter who may wish it otherwise!"
Jefferson leapt to his feet. "Mister Adams, that is speculation! Hearsay!"
"Not all of it!" Adams ignored Jefferson and slammed his fists on New Jersey's tables. "There are rumors, yes. Strong rumors repeated several times, but that is not all Mister Stewart." He abandoned the stunned delegate and stormed to Thomas Miflin of Pennsylvania. "He has newspapers. He has first-hand accounts."
"This is your last warning, sir!"
This letter that
your president seeks to suppress is our first true account of what is happening in South Carolina for many years!"
He turned on the furious Richard Spaight of North Carolina. "It details sabotage at home to provoke a crisis. It speaks of barbarity against the Indians which goes far to explain their attacks on our frontier! It gives a Georgian newspaper's account of South Carolina militia in British territory provoking a war! You want treason?" He spun and pointed at Jefferson. "You will not find it stains my client. His only crime was not asking us for help sooner. He didn't leave Cherokee country to destroy South Carolina!"
He slammed the broken letter on Pinckney's desk. "He went home to save it!"
