Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-06-27 00:00:00, page 5

DrtoPENNSVLVANIA Packet.
A/a-^A/A H ERE never was, in any state, a
< ^ > criiis which required more fteadi
{'X T ^'> nefs and resolution than that which
q^ rt, is now to be found in America.
4 ^ > The dearest rights of the people
Se/^^'tr™- ' are invaded—their properties are
destroyed or rendered useless—Thousands are
reduced to poverty —A town is condemned un
heard, and puniihed with a blockade by land and
fea —The constitution of a province is altered—
Americans are to be dragooned into a renunciation
of their prerogatives as men and freemen—Ven
geance is taken on the offenders against an usurped
authority—-A military government is established.
—,ln Short, the system of tyranny, which has hi
therto been concealed under the specious covering
of regulations of trade, is now openly avowed,
and forcibly executed. These are a part of the
evils which threaten to destroy the liberties
of the people, if a resource is not found in their
own virtue.
The weak policy of the Minister has attempted
to divide the colonies by inflicting on Boston
alone, a punifhmeiy: equally deserved by New-
York, and, I might add, by Philadelphia: But
ray countrymen are not to be deceived by so (hal
low an artifice. The right which punishes one
offender, may punish a thousand, if power bellows
the means, and avarice or ambition affords a fuffi
cient inducement. It requires little argument to
convince the most unthinking mind, that the cause
of the people of Boston is the common cause of
America. They are puniihed for opposing an
authority which we all deny—Our denial is equally
an offence against the sovereignty of Great Bri
tain—lt may, therefore, draw upon us the fame
vengeance.
To assume an authority against right, is one of
the most cruel exercifts of power that ever insult
ed a free nation—To censure and condemn, un
heard, even where the jurisdiction is lawful, is one
of the most flagrant violations of the liberty of the
fubjeCt, that ever affronted common sense.—Yet
these things have been done : But the timidity
or the justice of former times has left it to the
present Parliament of Great-Britain, to (hew the
firft instance of uniting these opprellions, and to
acquire the glory of itriking out a new road to
despotism, by at once usurping and abusing
power.
When America remonstrated against the
Stamp-Ad, and forbad the damp masters to dis
tribute the paper, Great-Britain was without a
minifterof Lord North's enterprize to compel her
to submit. The prudent framer of that ad, was
contented with prophecying, that it would execute
itfelf, and (when he found he was mistaken) with
fuffering a repeal to take place. He did not attempt
by military execution, to force the colonies to re
ceive or use what they did not like—He did not,
with a meanness below a minister, make out his
accountof damages ; nor, like a tyrant, demand
a reimbursement, at the point of the sword: But,
to convince us how much we are fallen, the prefect
system of despotism is enlarged. Not fatisfied
with his triumph over the rights of the East-India
Company, the premier seeks to remove their dis
pleasure, by facrificing to them the wealth of the
Americans. In the prosecution of th s design, he
vainly imagines, he can rob the people of this
country of their property and freedom, with as
much ease as his servility to his sovereign can pro
cure him the tinsel pageantry of a Ear, or the
^(application of the public treafure,can buy a
venal vote.
We find, from the speeches of the members of
the House of Commons, that not a man in the
oppofitibn, denies the right of the Parliament to
pass an ad to destroy the property of several
thoufandsof unrepresented citizens. Their
sole arguments are, the inexpediency and the ty
ranny of it—Not because they have no right,
but because the punishment exceeds the offence.
The cause of America, then, is to be supported by
Americans, alone. From their own virtue, and
firmnefs, must they exped that relief, which the
misguided tyranny of people in power, forbids
them to exped from the justice of their cause.
The call to unanimity and resolution is loud, and
none but Caves would be deaf to it.
A people whom luxury has not enervated, and
whom ambition has not corrupted, will not tamely
resign the dearest blessings of humanity. Such a
people are the Americans, and such, I trust, they
will be found, should the injustice of Great-Bri
tain force them to avow an opposition, which op
pression alone can juftify.
I shall make n'o apology for what I have said.
Bold as my expreflions may appear, they are au
thorized by the emergency of the case. The
present attempts of the Ministry are, to deprive
us of privileges which ought to be dearer than
our lives—We should, therefore, lay down our
lives to preserve them.
June 18, 1774. MARCUS BRUTUS.
A: feme gentlemen do not, or affect not to compre
hend horn it is possible that the Britifo Parlia
ment, having the power to tax America without
her content, should be as prejudicial to the people
&f Great-Britain as to the Americans themselves,
it may not be improper to transcribe the extrafl of
a letter to Z^King of Poland from an Englif?
Gentlemen on this fubjeG; it made its appearance
in the Public Advertfer of February 30th, 1773.
TO 0 fay nothing how abhorrent from the fpi-
I rit of our combtution, is the right which
our blessed House of Commons has assumed oftax
ing three millions of people without their consent,
I think the raising a revenue in America ought to
be objected to by every good Englishman on the
following principles :—lf America is not diredly
taxed, she enables England to raise such sums as
our ancestors could have no idea of, as Europe has
been astonished with, as our enemies have been
POS TS CRIPT to the Pennfyfoania Packet. No. 140.
“ The Crown since our Parliament has usurped
itfelf into septennial, has had a constant majority
in the House of Commons; the use made of this
majority has been to take money from the fubjed
for purposes not national ; for the creation of offices ;
for the extension of places and penfans; which offi
cers, placemen and pensioners, in return enable
the crown to take more money from the fubjed
for the fame non-national purposes, for new crea
tions, &c. and so on. The impious change is
rung ad infinitum. There may be Englishmen
perhaps hard enough not to feel for our fellow fub
jeds of Ireland reduced to the extremity of dis
tress by these practices ; but sure there is scarcely
one so stupid as not to perceive that the command
which the crown and its instruments haveover the
property of Ireland must (and not remotely) affect
his own. He must perceive that Irish money will
insure a majority on this fiae the water to declare
every frefh demand of English money (be it ever
so unnecessary, insolent and exorbitant) to be
proper, necessary and moderate. He must per
ceive, that were it not for the depredations made
on the property of that nation, the assistance
which flie might afford Great-Britain in any exi
gency would be ten fold greater than it is; the
burden on our own shoulders much lighter, the
foundation of our security more solid, and the pow
er of the whole empire much enlarged ; and we
have certainly no reasons to flatter ourselves that
the money of America would be more virtuous
ly applied than that of Ireland, the reverse.
Her distance is greater ; the abuse would be great
er. On these principles I must repeat, Sir, that
every good Englishman bf common sense will object
tothe raising a revenue on the Americans without
their confent*. Your Majesty laments the fall of
Pitt: It was a fall indeed ! Our country fell with
him. What I deprecated is now arrived. The
Duke of Bedford and his accursed afTociates are
blundering the veuel of our commonwealth on
the rocks from which no human prudence nor
intervention can get her off. She is struck.
She is foundering. Which ever way we turn our
eyes, ruin flares us in the face. It is true we are
an island ; our situation may save us till the rage
and indignation of a people forces us into the way
of salvation: This alone can redeem us. Machi
avel fays, nothing but the last calamity, or the ap
pearance ofit, can (aye a corrupt state by drawing
it back to its firft principles. I believe it is not
far off. I almost long to fee the Piebeans (for
amongst them there is (till worth) on the sacred
mount. Our only hopes, I must repeat it, are in
the middle or common class of people. I must
speak freely to your Majesty: The knowledge I
have of the most excellent part of your excellent
character. Tour detestation of referee commands
me to think aloud. The higher order of men in
this country is perhaps as trifling and profligate a
race as ever disgraced humanity : It goes hand in
hand even with the spirit of a court, more con
temptible, but full as insidious and hostile to the
happiness and dignity of the governed as that of
Tiberius. JElius Sejanus had not one bad quali
ty, which the present firft Lord of the Treasury
does not eminently poffefs§. He has the perfidy,
the intrigue, the fpiteful effeminate vindidivenefs
of temper; and were the people equally degene
rate with the Romans at that period, his overt
acts would not be less violent and abominable. He
is indeed not like Sejanus the firft, but a subordi
nate favourite; for which reason contempt is ad
ded to the odium with which he is burthened. In
short I never could persuade myfelf that he was
limply a bastard of the House of Stuarts, but
that from his perfidy, ingratitude and enmity to
every thing that is great, generous and liberal, he
must be the unadulterated offspring of that exe
crable race. What indeed, I confefs, ought to les
sen our indignation towards this one mifereant is,
that no man can hold these high offices (such is the
condition of the times) unicis deeply tainted with
the lame black qualities. From the instant of Mr.
Pitt's being tricked from the helm of our affairs,
which he held so gloriously, the various admini
strations (excepting the short, virtuous, andjuftly
* Mr. Pitt's acceptance of his Peerage, by which
for a time he certainly forfeited the good opinion cf the
people; and as his power was solely founded on the
good opinion of the pesp e, he might properly be conft
derea as fa len. He has indeed by his Jubfcquent
conduß re-eftabliflod himfelf in the good opinion of
the people, but his power is in a great measure loft,
as by quitting the House of Commons, he quitted the
field where bis services were required.
§ TH D- cfS n.
overwhelmed with ; America being exempt from
immediate taxation, has been one of the causes of
her immense increase in people, both from natural
generation and importation offoreigners. Herin
creafe of people increases the demand for English
manufactures, which increases our people at home,
as it increases the means of bringing up families,
and by increasing our commerce it increases the va
lue of our lands, and our ability of answering the
demands of the state ; but the rapid increase of
the population of America, which encreafes our
numbers at home, or at lead counteracts the mul
titude of circumstances concurring to their de
crease, by furnishing our artisans and manufacturers
with the means of bringing up families; the in
crease of our (hipping and sailors, on which de
pend our national force, importance and even ex
igence, are not the only advantages of America's
remaining exempt from immediate taxation by
the British Parliament ; for as long as she retains
the privilege of taxing herfelf, every farthing rai
sed is applied to its proper legitimate purposes,
there are no abuses of her public money. Hence
she has the power of assisting her mother country
very amply in emergencies with money and men;
but were she dripped of the privilege of taxing her
felf, she would at the fame time be stripped of the
power of giving any effectual abidance to her pa
rent.
popular one ofLord Rockingham) have been guil
ty of one continued treason to the laws of their
country, the ictereft and dignity of the nation,
and the rights of mankind. This instant of my
writing an event demonstrates the truth of what I
have asserted: “ That the middle and lower class
<'of people have dill virtue." Every power, every
influence of government has been called forth, and
availed of to defeat the election of Serjeant Glynn
for the county of Middlesex. Serjeant Glynn is
a Lawyer of the firft abilities and public spirit.
The influence of the court in Middlesex must nc
ceffarily be very great. The freeholders are but
few, and the tradesmen employed by the crown
very numerous ; notwithstanding be has carried it
by an infinite majority. As a specimen of the
virtue and fortitude of the man, I fend your Ma
jesty inclofed his congratulary address to his con
stituents ; it breathes such a noble ardor, that I
am persuaded your Majesty will be pleased with it.
You are a lingular Prince; you are a friend to the
voice of liberty, and of truth.
o#s#-ss***#****#4-*#*
WILLIAMSBURGH (Virginia) June 9.
An express arrived in town last night from
Pittfburg, with letters to his Excellency the Go
vernor from Captain Connelly, commandant at
that place ; giving an account that the Shawanefe
Indians have openly declared their intentions of
going to war with the white people, to revenge
the loss of some of their nation who have been
killed ; that they had scalped one of the traders,
and detained all the rest who were in their towns;
that it was expe^wd the Cherokees would join
them, as they had sent a belt last fall to the Nor
thern nations to strike the white people, which
had been received by the Shawanefe and Waa
balh Indians ; that the Six Nations postponed their
answer till this spring; and that there is soon to
be a grand council in the lower Shawanefe town,
where about seventy Cherokees and a number of
other Indians are to attend, on the fobjed of go
ing to war with the Englidi. Sundry parties
are now gone out, by order of Captain Connelly,
for the piote&ion of the inhabitants, and are to
assemble at the mouth of Whaling Creek, inorder,
if itis judged practicable, to go against the tipper
Shawanefe town. The Delawares, who pro
fefs to be cur friends, informed Captain Connelly
that a party of Shawanefe were now gone against
the settlements; and it is imagined they will fall
upon Green Brier. All the country about
Pittfburg is in a very ruinous and dittrefled situa
tion, the inhabitants having chiefly fled, and sort
ed themfclves as low as Old-down on Potow
mack liver.
B O S T O N, 'June C).
On last Lord's day the innocent, exemplary and
ufeful life of Mr. RICHARD DR APE R,
was terminated by a lingering consumptive dis
order, in the 48th year of his age. He was Prin
ter to his Excellency the Governor, and the Ho
nourable his Majesty's Council; and publisher of
the Massachusetts Gazette, and the Bolton Week
ly News-Letter.
He was descended from 2 religious and reputa
ble family, who early emigrated to America, from
Banbury, in Oxfordihire; his grandfather, Mr.
Richard Draper, was for many years Deacon of
Dr. Colman's church, his father, Mr. John Dra
per, succeeded Mr. Bartholomew Green in the
publication of the Boston Weekly News-Letter,
which has been regularly continued by the family
for 80 years past, and was the firft publication cf
the kind in New-England, if not the firft in the
new world.
The person whose loss we now regret, was re
markable for the amiable delicacy of his mind,
and gentleness of his manners.—A habit enfeebled
and emaciated by remorLlefs disease, and unremit
ted distress, could never banifli the smile from his
brow: a well-founded confidence in the mercies
of his God, and the happy confeioufnefs of a life
well spent, smoothed the pillow of anguish, and
irradicated the glooms of death, with the promise
of succeeding joy; in every relation he sustained
in life, his endearing manners, and inflexible in
tegrity, rendered him truly exemplary; as a pub
lisher he was remarkable for his judgment in fe
leding intelligence, and almost lingular for that
honest indignation with which he would reject any
attack upon private character; amid the tempest of
political warfare, his firm attachment to the in
terest of his friend and patron, whom he thought
injuriously treated, sometimes exposed the most
lively sensibilities to the rage of some licentious
pens; he would pity and endeavour to reclaim, by
patiently fuffering what he had fufficient ablities
to chastise: by a happy equanimity of disposition
he rose superior to the ruder passions, long schooled
in affliction, he sighed for the calm repose of the
grave, and panted for the blessings of immortality.
I he wife, the good of all parties, unite in expres
sing their foirows on the loss of the tender husband,
the kind friend, the humble chriftian, the beloved
citizen, and the honest man.
His remains were very refpedfully interred last
evening.
June 13. Last Thursday a Committee of the
House of Representatives watted on the Governor,
with the following answer to his speech at the
opening of the session.
May it pleafeyour Excellency,
YOU R speech to both Houses of General
Assembly, at the opening of this session, has
been read and considered with all due attention in
the House of Representatives.
Your Excellency has therein fignified to us,
that his Majesty has been pleased " to appoint
you Governor and Captain-General of his province
of Massachusetts-Bay, and that your commiflion
has been read and published:" We congratulate
your Excellency on your fafe arrival, and honour
you in the inaft exalted Ration in this province;
and confiding in your Excellency, that you will
make the known conflitution and charter of the
province the rule of your administration, we beg
leave to aflure you, that nothing, on our part,
shall be wanting that may contribute to render the
fame easy and happy to yourfelf, and to aid your
Excellency in promoting the prosperity of his Ma
jelly's government and the welfare of our consti
tuents, and we thank your Excellency for the
assurances you are pleased to give of your concur
rence with us therein.
It gives us pain to be informed by your Excel
lency, that you have the King's particular com
mands for holding the General Court at Salem,
" from the firft day of this instant, June, until his
Majesty shall have lignified his royal will and
pleasure for holding it again at Boston." We are
entirely at a loss for the cause of this command, as
we cannot conceive any public utility arising front 1
it, and both we and our constituents are now fuf
fering the great inconveniences ofit.
The removal of the Assembly from the Court-
House in Boston, its antient and only convenient,
feat, has very lately given great difeonter.t to the
good people of this province; and we cannot hue
thinkxhat misrepresentations, from persons r eliding
in this province; have induced his Majesty's Mi
nisters to advise his Majesty to lay your Excellence
under an injunction, whereby the people are, in
this instance, deprived of the benefit of that dif
crexionary power, which is vested in the Governor
by the charter, and has been exercised by former
Governors, of determining in such case for the
good of the province: We confide however io
your Excellency's impartiality and justice, that
the true state of this province, and the character
of his Majesty's fubjetfs in it, their loyalty to their
Sovereign, their affection for the parent country,
as well as their invincible attachment to their just
rightsand liberties, will be laid before his Majesty;
and we hope by this means your Excellency will
be the happy instrument of removing the displeasure
of his Majesty, and restoring harmony, which has
too long been interrupted by the artifices of in
terested and designing men.
Your Excellency has laid no particular buftnefs
before us, excepting the supply of the treasury for
the support of government, for the enfui»g year,
to which we fliall give our immediate attention, as
also to any other matters your Excellency may
please to lay before us, and give that dispatch to
the public business, which the manifold and great
inconveniences of our present situation will admit.
The Hon. House of Representatives, before
they proceeded to business in Salem, on Wednesday
last, came into the following resolutions, and or
dered the fame to be entered on theirjournals, viz.
Refolded, That by the royal charter of this
province, the power of convening, proroguing and
adjourning the Great and General Court of As
sembly, from time to time, is vested in the Go
vernor, to be exercised as he flutil judge necessary,
and for the good of the people.—Therefore,
Refolded, That it is clearly the opinion of this
House, that whensoever the Governor of the pro
vince doth convene or hold the General Assembly
at any time or place unnecessarily, or merely in
obedience to an inftru&ion, and without exercising
that judgment and diferetion of his own, with
which by charter he is fpecrdly vested for the good
of the province, it is manifeftly inconfident with
the letter, as well as the spirit and intention of
the charter.
Refilled, That the town of Boston hath, from
the earliest times of this province, been judged,
and ftdl is, on various accounts, the most con
venient place for bolding the General Assembly,
and accordingly ample provision is there made for
the accommodation of the said General Assembly,
at a very great expence, to the people of this
province.
Rtfolued, As the clear opinion of this House,
that the General Assembly cannot be removed from
its antient feat, the Court-House in Boston, and
held in any other place, without great and manifold
inconveniences to the members thereof, andinjury
and damage to thole who have necessary business
to tranfa& with the said General Assembly; many
of which inconveniences have been clearly ftarec,
and expressed by former Houles of Representatives,
as appear by their journals.
Replied, That this House can fee no necessity
for the removal of the General Assembly from its
antient and only convenient place, the Court-
House in Boston, to the town of Salem ; and the
removal of the said Assembly from the Court-House
in Boston, without necefity, is at all times to be
considered a very great grievance.
PORTSMOUTH, (Nav-Harnffiire)
June 10, 1774.
Last Wednesday his Excellency the Governor
sent the following message to the Honourable
House of Representatives, then fitting.
Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen oj the Assembly.
ASI look upon the measures entered into by
I I the House of AfTembly, to be inconfiftenc
with his Majesty's service, and the good of this
government, it is my duty, as far as in me lies, to
prevent any detriment that might arise from such
proceedings. —I do therefore hereby dissolve the
General Assembly of this province, and it is dis
solved accordingly.
J. WENTWORTH.
JOSEPH WILSO N,
Has imported by the last vessels from Liverpool, and
is row opening tor Ele, at his (tore in Chefnut',
street, a few doors from the corner of Front hrect,
A LARG E assortment of yaid wfe ,nd 7 5
Irish Linens, of ail prices, with sundry Man
chester Goods fanable for the present frahm, wh:ch
he will fell on very reahnaide terms for cafn, or on
short credit. He has allo fur sa le, alaiet of,the rirfi
quality, and genuine old red Fort.