Even independence supporters distrusted republican rule and accepted it reluctantly

Evidence

Having ruled out reconciliation as an option, Hewes all but directed the North Carolina Provincial Congress to endorse independence. Perhaps worried that planter-class opposition to republican rule might keep the convention from doing so, Hewes sent a second letter to Johnson adding, “I hate republicks and would almost prefer the Government of Turkey to live under, however I expect I must Submit to it for I see no prospect of reconciliation.” Despite his distrust of popular rule, Hewes preferred it to an oppressive monarchy. “If the people can be made happy I shall endeavor to be content,” he wrote with a sigh of resignation and some regret. — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 136

Categorization

• XREF: Directly bears on the course focus on competing understandings of freedom among the founders — some independence advocates were no democrats. — connects to: Elite patriots backed republican independence despite distrusting popular rule — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 136
• SEED: Angle for an essay on how ‘glorious’ founding rhetoric papers over founding figures’ actual ambivalence about popular government.
• SHARE: Great for a constitutional-law friend: a founding-era delegate explicitly preferring Turkish government over republics while still pushing independence.

Broader Connections

• Elite patriots backed republican independence despite distrusting popular rule #corroborates (0.95) — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 136