Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-03-04 00:00:00, page 2

J to deliver prme, ^, to a
clifs of pe>ple, to be account
. ry to the Aff-mbly, &c at eve
lofs in aa^r'l service? If an Af
ioff or be not able to purchase
in afe an accident flioud happen
ng to the Province, the officer can
niared, and if he dues not fail in his
* not to be pu rifhd.
AHCe. The Miftia in general are
jonn~ of military discipline, and as ac
• r- is expect'd from them early ntxr Sum
:'k no time fhoild be nefl died in train
. we therefore humbly propose that the
e should i* exergi rdt©ce a week,except
.r, meet n; Ttalion, and then once a week,
$ @ce a fortnight °;il the fill day
ex , Ater which time it might perhaps be
V- exilic the m n once every week in
CT nd once in every month in battalion-.
?'ck. D urn Majors and Fife-Majors "hi
t+o r= n tul in toe Miitia, and have a great
' Intbl; ^e wi'h the II rule would confider
ici there is fufficient encouragement given to
'• ;<'/. A family may labour under such
m.m as tv make it nearly impoffi >le for
:it s o m rch with the company :we sub-
Houle, whether it would not be too
lament for a man, in that fitnition, to
,u the public as a cowaid and betrayer
—We think it would not injure the
I'l the Captain with a power of dis
w:% pei fonal attend nice of any of his
pon them finding an ther, whom he approves
H accoutred, and ready to inarch w,th the
im'rG an Aflociator mould be situated in
:o ci beiore mentioned, we think the pu
ober too licht for his basely withdraw-
If from the defence of his country, at the
- Article, We think the expence of m^intain
e momics o; poor Affocia tors, entering into
Service, will fall too he^vy on particular
many of which are very poor ; the bene
vr^M com the service of such Associators will
,! to the whole province, and therefore the
xjem?? ^',l ling forthrir families, in their ah
nee, th >ul3 be refunded by it.—We would pray
he Haute aifi) to consider, whether it would rot
unve a good HFct in encouraging the poorer forts
rple to a& with foirit, by engaging to maintain
em, in case of their being disabled from labour
H e service.
; th Article. It would desolate wh tie townfllips to
draught of whole companies at a time. We would
propose, when. the ranks of the Captains are fixed,
that the pri sees in e?ch comoan ', ballot which
ihall march fi/ft on any emergency ; and if a full
company is necessary, let the eldelt: Captain take
: oe tbid of the men from each of the three elduft
ripanics, and take their tour of duty in that
nr.
F Article. And in the mode for levying taxes,
,F For what purpose should any diibn&ic n
A : between the application of t he fines Of Af
ss aid Non-ABociaters ? Associators fines
, be immediately applied toward s payment of
c taxes, and burnt.
, fines paid by Non-Associators are to be fafe-
Terved in die hands of Michael I liilegas, Elq;
° unkn,nn occasion.
OLD LIONS directing the mile of levy
hg Taxes on Non-Associat ors.
Article, Many healthy rich people, who are
futy years of age, having no chooren under
care, an 1 their Servants being ex tried, they
in-r of the burthen of affociatirug ; if they
,bp.ya fax of we think
.fd be put on a footing with o ther Non
. We Afftßors ought not to bo efccufrd,
ny pretence, from performing the duti ts enjoir
em, without at lead paying the expence of
er peiton's performing that duty.
Bth. Refinance against a common enemy is 'equal
ly advantageous to the whole community, and all
the members of it should contribute their proporti.
on towards it, but as feme persons declare rhem-
Alves confrientioufly scrupulous of joining in this
enol T'-ntial purpose of society : It ought not to be'.
OfA their interest to aft so deftruaive a part to
the very exigence of the community. The Atfoci
^ous by these resolves are obliged to furnifh them
selves with a rood firelock, bayonet, steel ramrod,
wdrm, primng-wire and brush, cartridge box,
twelve frats,, a knapsack, powder-horn and pouch ;
he mult attend twenty days in the year at the place
of ^vrere at his own expence, and in case of an
inv /ion mult risk his life not only in his own de
fence, but in that of the Non-Associator's person,
farniy arid property The penalty on the Non
\foriatvs for refufing to do a duty which heowes
is country, and to be at all this trouble, expence
'rifk is only Fifty Shillings per annum. The
it advantage given to the Non-Associator in
nt of interest, would entirely defeat the Asso
ciation, if the people in general were not actuated
y a patriotic spirit. - We pray the Honourable
House particularly to attend to this objection.
If the number, of times of exticife was increased
in the manner before-mention d, and the Non-As
sociators to pay in proportion to the number of
such times of exercise, and the Associators allowed
One Shilling for every day that they exercise to find
them in piovifions, the inequality between Associ
ators and Non-Associators would be greatly re
duced.
nth. We think the Field-Officers of the several
battalions more proper and impartial judges to de
termine appeals, or difebarge or lower afieffments
of Non Associators, than the Commissioners, many
ofyhom are themselves Non-Associators, particu
larlv in this county.
.We think, as the fines for not affeciating are fixed
at ascertain sum by the AiTtmbfy, they should not
be lowered or difth rged by the Commissioners or
any other person, except for such reasons as roen
tioned in t%e preceding article, viz, Death of the
INon-Affociator or the difTolution of the Association,
as no fines can accrue after either of those times,
but we are of opinion that to lodge so large apoxer
in the Commissioners as to difeharge or lewer'afttfr'
men's as they Ihall think proper, will tend to defeat
the Association entirely.
We beg leave further to represent so this Hon.
House, that there are a great many persons able and
, willing to affillin the defence of the province, but
cannot afford to buy arms and accoutrements, or if
th , ,could afford it, the public demand for them
is id great that they cannot be procured by a Mili
tia, other there are who have arms but are unwil
ling to alfccinte, the lime is now faft approaching
,when a large ar,ny is expected to invade the pro
vince, and it will^e neceikuy to strain every nerve
in our defence,=Tt )F^c^t such a time a large
number of able bodied men useless for want of arms,
which may easily be procured, would in our humble
opinions be extreme bad policy. We therefore
pray the House to dire& that all Non. Associators
shill within iJmall pace of time deliver up their
to-4hefneatal Captains of the townships or
To tie Honourable tie REPR ESENTATIVES
oftie FREEMEN 0, the Province of Penhlj Ivania,
in General Assembly met.
The PETITION of the PRIVATES of the Mi
litary Association of the City and Liberties
of Philadelphia,
Humbly fcenuetb,
TH AT ,onr Petitioners, having the greater
confidence in the equity and justice 0! this
HcAoJrihJe House, have signed the articles of Af
fodatibn framed the last session, notwithstanding th,
many difficulties to which they are thereby fubje&-
ed, and the itrong inducements to th m to become
Non- Associators by the ealy terms of exemption,
being firmly perfualed t.tat, on a reconsideration,
this Honourable House will remove every reafona
bje cause of complaint, and hear with favourable
attention what your Petitioners with the greatest
dehuence and iefp & beg leave to point out as re
c-bary to quiet the minds of the Associators and
excite them to aril with cheaifulnefs and vigour in
the service to which they may be called. When
the importance and neceflity of defending our coun
try against the ravages of a cruel and desolating
enemy are so obvious, no arguments can be necef,
lary to ffiew it to be the duty of every good citizen
to bear an equitable and proportionable part of the
public burden; and surely no terms of exemption
affe&ing property merely, can be deemed equal to
the rilks and dangers to which they "ekipofe them
selves who are under the most solemn engagements
of honour and duty to lay down their lives, if ne
cessary, in defence of their country ;—but your
Petitioners would more especially solicit the atten
tion of this Honourable House touhe following par
ticulars, in which they humbly apprehend the re
solutions of the House to be defective.
First. That no regard has been (hewn to the
great and otberwife useless expence Associators have
been at to equip themselves with arms and other
accoutrements, and the long and earnest assiduity
with which they have endeavoured toqualify them
selves for the duties of the field, they beg leave to
observe that, in levying penalties upon Non-Asso
ciators, this Honourable Huufe have confined their
views to the future only, imp<fing no more on such
persons than what might be efteeme ' an equivalent
to the twenty days which are expe&ed to be em
ployed in the fi Id.—Though this Honourable
Hotile upon the flightleft attention to the fubje&,
mod and indeed seem to be fehfble that the time
prescribed is not fuffioent to acquire a competent
knowledge of the art military, as they recommend
it so the Associators, not already fufficientlv expert,
to meet as frequently as they c/n, at other times,
to perfeft themselves in the military exercise. Here
then your Petitioners conceive themselves aw -iev
ed ; that, while animated with a fervent regao to
Liberty and their Country, thev have acquired a
share of military knowledge fufficient, th<v hope,
to encourage them to meet the enemy in the field,
and being thereby exposed to the greatest danger,
as most capable of repelling it, no regard has been
(hewn either to the expence of equipment, or loss
of time in acquiring this ufeful and neceff-r- know
ledge.—The hardships and partiality of the regula
tion will farther appear more ftiongly, when it is
considered that your Petitioners will probably be
called cut to do duty before many of the field days
arrive—so that the hrongeff temptations are held
out from the smallness of the penalty to the lazy,
the timid and difaffc&ed, to avoid the danger and
fatigue, by neglecting to qualify themselves, or at
a critical moment evading their duty.—So apparent
already are the efl'cas of this legulatim, that per
sons of the above character ask& to ridicule those
wh;ofe patriotism would lead them to activity and
action when necessary, by reprefent);.* this Honour
ab;e House as raring tl.eir lives at g-f a piece —
Such easy terms of exemption in times of such im
mia nt danger your Petitioners humbly conceive
seem rather an invitation to prefer eate, security
ami convenience to the public interests and fafety,
an I if unaltered will leave your petitioners little to
hope or exp<&, but the exertions and efforts of a
generous few whole zeal will probably prove their
def+ruaion.—Your Petitioners humbly presume,
that, when so much is at flake, and there is so lit
tle profpe& of feenring it but by the frerd, the
ternis inq - ed upon Non-Associators should be such
as to induce every man of suitable age and strength
(nut truly con fcienticufly fcrupulon§ to join in the
Afforiaticn, and not such as would lead every one,
who e at achrnent to the cause of his country did
not fjperfede every other orYderarion, to pay his
fine end decline serving; they therefore cannot bi t
lament that while they who are enemies to the li
berties and cause of America, may under the au
thority of the Province appear in the garb of its
best friends, by paying lets than <{ prmonth, they
who are really its belt friends are liable by an acci
dental deficiency to be reproached with cowardice
and ex posed to infamy —
Your Petitionets, sensible that a compensation
for arms and pad time employed in the public Ser
vice involves several important confederations, do
not presume to point out any sum, but beg leave to
state their complaint, and leare it to the wisdom
and justice of the House to give them Suitable re
rirefs.—
Secondly. Your Petitioners beg leave to represent,
that, under the present regulations, the estates of
Non-Associators pay nothing but in common with
Associators ; and by tris means such perlons, who,
by age or other incapacity, are not included in the
above articles, have the protection and itcurit//
arising from the Association, upon easier term* 'han
others; an indulgence for which your Petitionis
can fee no good reason, and which involves fome'of
the most confider'ble estates in the Province ; —be^
sides personal service being principally required for
the protection of property, your Petitioners would,
with all humility, submit to the Honourable Houfe,'
whether an annual sum of so much in the pound,
over and above the taxes paid equally by Associators
and Non-Associators, ought not to be levied on the
taxable estates of all Non-Associator, and others,
who co not come within the limits of the recom
mendation of the Honourable Continental Centred,
refpe&ing a general Association.
Thirdly. Your Petitioners beg leave to point out
a defeat 0 the above regulation, refpe&ing appren
tices % In some cases the apprentice is willing to af
feciate, and the matter ,ritho!di bis ccnlent; in
placet in which they reside, wVo mould ppir. f r"o
per perlons to value them, and give the refp(&ive
owners certificate of such receipt and valuation ;
and, in case of a loss, the province refund their va
lue. These arms to he dillributed by the command
ing Chicers of the several battalions in the fame
manner as the provincial arms are d ftri ; uted.
That the several m utters and things before-men
tioned may be fully considered, and redress granted
in the premiss by the Honourable House, is the
humble praver of your Petitiones.
Mark B rd, , Balsar GFEHft,
Danitl Eroadhiad, Jonathan Potts.
In Committee, February 17, 1776.
The foregoing Petition being < ellbcrateiv read
and considered, ordered that the fame be signed by
the Chairman, in behalf of this Committee.
MARK BIRD, Chairman.
others th? mafler contents, nV the ap,-entice re^
fufes. Your Petitioners would handily piopoie,
that, in#the former case, the master fhonld pay the
fine; and in the other, that the apprentice, if ot
estate, shall pay the fine b\ hs guardian or next'
friend; and, if non tftated, fufferfuc, punishment
as.the House shall deem proper and fuirable to the
off nee.
Fourtbl, Yoir Petitioned do most earnestly re
monlirate against the application of the fines and
penalties, levied in consequence of the Association :
As the money t) arise is not by the way of tax, to
defray the charge which the Affociatm s may occasi
on, they humbly conceive that reason, cuftoni and
precedent all concur in (hewing, that such app"o
uropriation ought to he for the immediate fui port
and encouragement of the Association; and this,
they humbly submit, might very properly/be dore
in the following manner : —That all such fi es and
penalties, whether levied from Associators or Non-
Associators, be carried unto a fund by themselves,
to be appropriated, H r JI, To the relief of such Ai
fociators, as may be wounded, or otherwise disa
bled, in a&ual service. Secondly, To the relief and
fnpport of the widows and children of those who
may he killed in actual service, by way of annuity.
Thirdly, To the providing of arms and accoutre
ments for such Associators as are unable to furnifh
themselves. Fourthly, To pay fuh Associators as,
through poverty, are not in the public tax-bonks,
for the time they may Spend in the field. The resi
due, if any, to be applied as before proposed. Such
an appropriation, your Petitioners conceive,, would
give life an! Spirit to the Association, and, upon a
call ofa&ual service and danger, the mind of the
brave Allocator would be relieved from those anxi
eties for his family, which would otherwise damp
his ardour, and induce him to avoid danger rather
than meet it.
Fifthly. In order to prevent any evasion of the
regulations now or hereafter to be made, your Pe
titioners pray, that all persons alledging Scruples of
confidence, or claiming exemption by virtue of a e
or otherwise, be, if required, under a teftby oath
or affirmation, before they be admitted to the in
dulgence claimed ; — s the above ex options are not
made in favour of Pretenders, but of those whoae
truly and really entitled thereto, your Petitioners
humbly conceive no good reason can he offered
against filch claimants giving full fitisfaaion, on
this head, to those of their fellow-citizens who are
risking all that is dear and valuable to them in life,
in the defence of the rights and interests of the pro
vince, in which those of all its inhabitants are in
cluded.
Sixthly. Your Petitioners beg leave to represent,
that it has been the practice of all countries, and is
highly reasonable, that all persons (not being mer
cenaries) who expose their lives in defence of a
country, Should be admitted to the enjoyment pt
all the rights and privileges of a citizen of that coun
try which they have defended and protected : Un
der this consideration your Petitioners beg leave to
Submit to the House the case of a number of brave
and spirited Germans and others, who have chear
fully joined in the Association, but are not entitled
to the privileges of Freemen Electors.—Good poli
cy, as well as gratitude, suggest the propriety of
granting every indulgence which c n attach them
to this country, and animate them in its defence;
your Petitioners therefore pray, that some mode
may be adopted for the purpose.
Seventhly. Your Petitioners pray this Honoura
ble Huufe to revise the 34th Article of the Rules
birred the latt session, for the government of the
Associators, by fu ftituting in the place of the pe
na.ty therein mentioned, " That fuc h offender (h ill
U for ^ve^ hereafter incapable of holding any Office
of profi* or trust, uul the authority of this Pro
vince :" They moreover pray this Ho durable
House 0 give dire&'ons to two or more Affo i 4or c ,
to join the Commissioners of this city and the ieve
ral counties, in hearing the appeals of such persons
as are mentioned in the nth Resolution framed in
the last session of this Honourable House.
E ghtb'y. Jr is with great concern your Petitioners
inform this Honourable Hou e, that, notwithstand
ing the directions given and pointed out the Lift fef
fon, there is ^reat reason to fear the Afleffors in
many places, from different motives, have omitted
to execute the branch of th ir offi e which refpe&s
the Association : —Your Petitioners therefore pray
this Honourable House to make some further p ovi
fionagainft such negh&, so that the falu^ary and
beneficial effects, arising from th ^Affociation, may
not fail through the neglect or other mifeondutt of
those entrusted to carry into execution the intenti
ons of this Honourable House.
Yom Petitioners, with the utmost humility, re
quest this Honourable House, to take these matters
into their serious corfi era ion, and grant them such
relief, as, in their wisdom and equity, shall seem
best calculated to remove that inequality whi-h ap
pears in the foregoing terms of exemption, aud
such other reliefs as the nature of the case may me
rit and require.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever
pray, &c.
Signed by Order of the Committee of Privates.
SAMUEL SIMPSON, Chairman.
7b the Honourable the R E PRESENTATIVES
of the FREEMEN of the Province of Penn
sylvania, in General Assembly met.
The MEMORIAL of the OFFICERS of
the Military Association of the City
and Liberties of Philadelphia,
She°weth,
'HAT your Memorialifts have perused r at
I the request of the private Associators of
this city and Sherries, their Petition to your Ho
nourable House, a d concur with them in the fenti
merts therein contained, eatnel'ly desiring the at
tention of the Honourable House to the weighty
matters therein set forth In addition to the se
veral amendments proposed by the Privates to the
rules and regulations relative to the Association,
your Memorialifts beg leave to subjoin the follow
ing, which they think of great importance.
That numbers of the present Associators are
people who have not heretofore affiliated, and
therefore are for the most part undisciplined.
Among these are a great many apprentices, and
others who, however desirous they may be of
gaining military inftru&ion, will not he permitted
to turn out oftener than the regulations require.
And it is well koo vn to persons of experience in
this way, that it is rinpoffib e to train men so as
to render them expert folders, without great af
fidrvy and frequent exercise, and that the times
raentioned in the regulations are scarce fufficient
to perk'd a man even in his Manual.—Yinr Me
mmiHii ? there^re reeled the Honourable House
would incr^afe the number of days appointed tor
die general v.ee^ogs of AfTocistors, which, in
the opinion of your Memorialists, should be at
lead once in every week.
flat the w>„. I,pair.;,.ri f. J?.:rm+ ,•A
Friers are so egitrfriy trifling that no persons
ein be procured 10 do the duty, and our batm
l ons are almost tftal'r deprived of their nwfr,
as' the Drummers and Friers I r ve left the Afoci
ation to get employ wheie they receive pay on
which they can fobfift. That the Dummetsad
Fefers are in general persons who hare no other
way of gaining u livelihood ; and as much rime is
taken up in pc Meeting themselves they ought, we
conceive, inttlad of casual and uncertain pay, to
have a permanent and fettled fuppom.
Your Memorial ills therefore pray the Honour
able House, to raise the wages of the Drura
and Fife-Majors, and allow the Drummers
and Fifers reasonable and coolant pay, that per
lons already taught may be induced to join the
Association, and that others may be incited to
qualify thej^felvcs for this part of milirv^ cm%
which is r rt merely parade but absolutely effent.J
to the feri/ice.
That tbe officers of tie several battaJines ex
perience many irconveniencies from the want of <c
Serjeant .Major; and as there are now in all the
battalio is officers tolerably qualified, it is Sub
mitted to the Honourable Houle, whether, in
stead cf an Adjutant, it would not be better to
appoint a Serjeant Major on contact pay, and let
a 'ubaJtern officer in every battalion do the duty
of an. Adjutant.—
our Memorialifls beg leave to give it as their
opinion to the Honourable House, that the several
alterations a«d amendments pointed out in the
?erition from the Privates, together with those
before -mentioned, being made, the minds of the
people will be entirely fatisfied, and strength and
vigour will be given to the Association, which,
though now very extensively adopted, will then
be more generally agreed to, and which perlons
in general signed, not because they esteemed the
regulations perfect or in all cases proper, but
frpm their zeal for the cause, and the confidence
they had in the Honourable House that you
would be pleased to remedy all defects when ap
plied to for that purpose.
By -order of a Board of Officers,
Pbiladebbij, Feb. n
21, 1776. D.Ro BERDEA U,%
% the Hon. the REPRESENT ATIVES of
the FR. EEMEN of the Province of Pennsyl
vania, in General Assembly met.
The REMONSTRANCE and PETITION of
the Committee oF Inspection and Obser
vation of Chester County,
Humbly feiveth,
TH AT your Remonstrants, in obedience to
the Refoves of this Honourable House, —
and from zeal to the cause of their country, —
have, since your last feflion, used their best endea
vours to prevail on the people of this county to
ajopt and sign the Atticles for the better govern
mentofthe Military Association ; but Me find them
not so well received as the exigency of the times
requires;—and are apprehensive, unless your Ho
nors will, at this session, amend such parts thereof
as are the most exceptionable,—they will not be
generally signed, but by those who think it better
to adopt any government rather than none.
" Your Remonstrants beg leave briefly to men
tion some of the Articles which the People most
generally objed lto, viz. They fay, that the bur
then of the Association falls chiefly on the poor
and middling fort of the inhabitants, —whilst the
mere opulent are, for the most part, exempt,
they carrying on their buficefs by bought fervanrs
and negroes :—On the contrary, those in low and
middling circumstances are obliged to take in ap
prentices; the arming of which, together with
their loss of time, will be extremely burthenfome;
so much so, that they cannot comply with the Re
solves of the House, without dlftreOing themselves
and families :—But, were arms and accoutrements
to be provided at the public charge, they are rea
dy to conform to the other part as far as in their
power."-
Your Remonstrants are humbly of opinion, that
the above objections are founded in juftice,—and
firmly believe, that was some measure taken to
provide arms for the whole, at the public charge,
—and all able-bodied men, from sixteen to fixtv,
obliged to associate or pay the fine, —that then it
would be generally adopted.
Your Remonstrants therefore humbly reqtiefl!
your Honours to take the premises under your se
rious confederation, and m^ke such alterations in
the present Association, as to you may seem just
and reasonable.
Styled by Order and in behalf of the Committee
, ANTHONY WAYNE, Chairman.
Chefler, February 12, 1776.
§',sO4 # $< 61^0$@0„0$0
ANNAPOLIS, February 22.
Extras from the Proceed ngs of the Convention
of the Province of Maryland, held at tbe city
of Annapolis, on Thursday the 7th of Decern
ber, 1775.,
Tburfhiy, Jrnu.ar? 1?,.
The Convention took into consideration the
King's Speech to Parliament on the 27th day of
OAober last, and after some time spent therein.
Rf/ved unanimoufy, That the following decla
ration be entered on their journals :
WE, the Delegates of the freemen n'Maiy
land in Convention, affixed with hencen
eft concern by the opinion decked in the King's
tfeech to Parliament, on the 27th day of Oflober
last, and expressed in the addrefsol the Lord Spi
ritual and Temporal to his Majefly in anfv er
thereto, that the nece fltyry preparations for defence
made by thele colonies, are carried on for the
purpose of eftablilling an Indepeodant Empire,
and bri'g desirous to rera ve from the mind of
the King, an opinion which we feel to be highly
injurious to the people of this province, and to
declare ynd manifeft to his Majesty, to the Par
liament, the people of Great-Britain, and to the
'whole world, the rectitude and purity of cur in
,ent;ons in the present opp- firion to the measures
of th? Biitifh Miuillry and Parliament, do decluie,