1. The copy of Symmes’s letter to New Jersey Assembly speaker Caleb Camp, dated at Morristown on 14 Feb., reads: “I beg leave to trouble your Honorable house with a subject which has for sometime past given me much concern.

“Application has been made to me as a Majestrate of the state of New Jersey, for a redress of wrongs; by soldiers in the Continental Army, from this and one other State; who say that they are aggrieved by being denied a discharge after the term of three Years for which they had Inlisted, is expired. and that they are obliged with some aggravating Circumstances to continue as yet in the service; which they consider as very discouraging and oppressive.

“I would by no means sir, be Understood, as Insinuating any thing to the prejudice of the Gentlemen officers of the Jersey, or any other line in the American Army: no man can be more ready than I am, to allow them the applause which they are so justly intitled to from every Citizen of the United States. But sir I must say, and am sorry for the Occasion; that I believe that there is some Misunderstanding between the officers and their Men, which has Unhappily worked itself into the Camp by one means or other. I believe this to be one, viz. as numbers of the privates now in the service were not Inlisted by any one officer at this time belonging to the lines, the officer (who Inlisted the soldier) Upon his resignation or discharge, has on oath turned over the soldier to the officer who succeeded him, as having Inlisted during the war; the present officer believes it to be the Case, and is now hardly persuaded that the fact is otherwise.

“I know not sir, what to do in the affair—the matter is of the Utmost delicacy—for me to interfere at all, may be attended with some bad Consequences—it would seem to call into question that superiority of the Officer over the soldier which is vital in an Army. to reject the Complaint of the Soldier altogether, would be Undoubtedly a denial of that Justice which is the Right of every subject. viz. ‘to be heard with respect to the Merits of his Cause, where the Majestrate is allowed to have Jurisdiction.’

“I am warranted to say sir, that so great is the discontent among some of the troops, ariseing from this source that many have already deserted, and others say publicly in the Streets, that they will go over to the Enemy, if they are denied that Justice which is their due.

“I beg leave only to add, that it is my full belief that the matter is by no means Unworthy the attention of Your Honorable House; but that it calls in an eminent manner for the speady direction and Inquiry of the Legislature of the State” (DLC:GW).