To the Honorable Congress of the United States June 17, 1779

From the original letter at the Library of Congress.

Philadelphia June 17th 1779

Honble. Sirs

On the 25th ult. I addressed a Letter to this Honble House (being my second on the same subject) requesting copies of Mr. Deane’s Narrative and subsequent Letters to Congress so far as they relate to me, which request has not been complied with. I have a right, and do hereby complain of and charge this House with injustice, in withholding from me, such parts of the said Narrative and Letters; and find myself obliged to intimate to Congress that as I cannot consider my Services to the United States inferior to that of any gentleman in his House, so I find it impossible in me to put up any longer with such treatment.

I have not been a servant for the sake of hire, or a friend from the expectation of reward. I have done what I conceived to be my duty in the worst of Times, and shall continue to do so, regardless of the favor or disfavor of this House, or any of its members on one side or the other. I am sensible that I have deserved the former but if I cannot have it on fair and open grounds I prefer the latter.

I observe by the Journals of the 26th ult. that on the reading of my letter of the 25th, a motion was made for committing it together with my former letters on that subject and to enquire of me &c. &c. I consider myself obliged to the gentlemen who moved and voted for the committing, and am quite at a loss to understand the conduct of those who negatived it. The motion whatever might be its design has a good appearance, and the compliance of the House therewith would have tended to establish a point which has hitherto been much controverted, namely, whether an extensive trading company had not been formed between Mr. Deane and certain Members of Congress. A gentleman was then in Town, who was present at the Examination of two Members of Congress on that subject, was possessed of the Questions and Answers in Writing, and had communicated the substance of them to me. He is a Col. in the Virginia line, and had sat twelve years a member in the former assemblies of that State.

I am Honble Sirs your Obt Humble Servant,

THOMAS PAINE