The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-06-17 00:00:00, page 2

-LONDON
'ftOUSE of COMMONS, A,,rd 23.
A merican Intercourse Bill.
ft /§ R- secretary Fox having moved that the order of
I»'A the day be read for the house's resolving nfe!f
into a Committee on this bid, it was read accordingly,
and' the Speaker having left the chair, Mr.- St. Andrew
St. John took his sea; at the table.
Tar committee then proceeded to debate t^e clauses
and fill up the blanks, when
Sir Robert Berries rose, and laid, two matters of ob
j>Mion to tire bid as it Stood, struck him, which lie
would,take the liberty of dating. In the firft place, he
conceived it was not re design of the party, who
brought in the bill, to place American ships on bet
trr terms than EXtifh fllips, but that the benefits, ad
vantages, ad accommodation, derived under the
operariin 06 the bill, if it passed into a law, fhoul
be reciprocal. At present, as the clauses of the bill
were worded, he conceived American vessels would
be allowel a variety of advantages, which were not
extended to British ships. Another matter that ap
peered to him to require some .Iteration was this
foppofe a plague Should break out in any one of the
thirteen p ovinces of America, according to the
Voiding of debid, the government of Great-Britain
would have no authority to oblige American ships
coming under such circumdances, to perform quaran
tine, or produce bills of health. Sir Robert said, he
did not mention these matters by way of oppqfing the
bill, or throwing the least impediment in its way. The
bill, he was ouvificed, was a measure extremely ne
ceffary, and he had full confidence in its being the in
tention and desire of his majesty's ministers to pass it
in a mape bed adapted to the peculiar circumftauces to
which it was to apply, and in the way lead liable to
objedion of any kind; it was enough for him, there
fore, to have Lggefted what flruck him as worthy
force anent on.
Mr- Secretary Fox said he was afhato A d to repeat
what he had been so often obliged to trouble the house
wi h on tie subj & of the present bill, but as the ob
inions Started, came within the scope of the declara
lion he had before made, he could not avoid repeating
the fame anfwr. The present bill, he begged gentle
men to recoiled, was a mere temporary measure, a
dapted to an occasion that pressed exceedingly, viz.
foe necessity of opening an immediate intercourse with
America. In doing i, the objed of the bill was rather
to remove obflacles than to provide regulations, and
therefore particular care had bAn taken' to couch the
bill in as general terms as possible: in Short to avoid
any thing like an adverfion to the legal Situation of
America and Great Britain, and to leave it partly 10
the negotiation now going on, and partly to the con
fid< ration of parliament in their dig- fling and meliora
ting another bill then pending, to fay what rules the
nature of the case rendered most necessary, and to give
th^fe rubs and regulations theit due force and autho
rity. Had the late ministry been so good, in'fheir ad
juhment of the provisional treaty, as to have infer ed
some one article or other that had a reference to a fu
ture Treaty of commerce between America and Great-
Eritain, they would not on y have done their country
avety effenti.il pece of service, but have saved the
prefen government and both houses of parliament an
infinite eal of trouble, and relieved them from a dif
ficulty which, in every point of view that it could be
considered, would be found to be of great magnitude.
Had the late ministry, for infiance, not only by t eir
treaty greed, that a cessation of hostilities should tike
place, in the Ariel and common sense of the words, viz.
by the armies of the two countries no longer continu
ing to fight, or make war on each other, but in a more
general acceptation of the term, and a more ext^five
sense of it namly, that from and after the ratification
of the provisional treaty, all forts of hostilities Should
cease, and that the prohibitory laws that impe led the
commerce of the two countries Should no longer have
effort on either fd, in that case undoubtedly there
would have been little or no occasion for the present
bill. As the : ah administration, however, had not been
kit'd enough in their treaty of peace with America,
to have made the provision necessary to prevent the em
bar-affment the country now felt, it became the duty
of hi male?)'- urgent Servants to apply the best and
mos l s dy remedy, that the nature of the case would
admit: and as he did no doubt but that every gentle
rcm saw tilt necessity of immediately opening an in
tercoqrfe with America, they would join with him in
thinking, that if they were to look to every possible
caf rat might arise, (Such as the case of a plague
baring out in any of the thirteen provinces, which,
though it came within he Scale of possibility, was not
very much within that of probability, at ieaft, if the
fhortnt fs of the time, for which the present bill was
intended to operate and have effert, was considered )
infiead cf embracing the object of the bill without
delay, the would Scarcely ever be able to attain it.
Mr. Fix therefore hoped, it the other clauses of he
bill were thought unobjectionable, it would be allow
ed to pab, without any material alteration.
When MrS*. Andrew St. John came to the clause git
ini a power to his majeftyi n council to issue such order
or orders as to their wisdom Should feerri proper, during
the operation of the bill, wi'h refpert to the mode of
entry of American veffelr, as far as regarded a difpen
fuion with the dutie , an allowance of the drawbacks,
bounties, & c.
Mr. Arden rose, and after declaring, that he was
a firm friend to the bill, and particularly so to the
purport of the present clause. which he had himfelf
suggested as necessary to be introduced into a former
bill, now, for very good reasons ufpeoded said, he
thought it would be more advifeable to define, express
]y, the full extent of the powers intended to be v.fted
in his majesty and council, than to leav- jr to conjec
ture and doubtful conßrudion. Mr Arden reasoned
very fenfidly on this point, and remarked, that it wr
undoubtedly necessary in the particular casein quefli
on, m give very extensive powers to the crown; but
it appeared to him to be by far tie wisest way to ex
press in the bill, the full extent of the powers so veiled
in the c-?wn, in or d er th^t gentlem 11 might not at^
future period fay, that when they voted for the bill,
hey were not aware (hat they gave, ard that they ne
r meant to give, powers to such an extent. Mr.
Arden,after urging the neceffityof this in strong terms,
proposed to insert the words " Duties, drawbacks, or
otherwise?' in the clause under consideration.
7 his occasioned a conversation between Mr. Secre
tary Fox, Mr. Eden, governor johnftone, Mr, An
thony Bacon, Mr. Thornton, and Mr. Arden, in
which it was on all hands agreed, that the bill w^s in
ifpeofiblr necessary, and Mr. Secretary Fox having
declared his readiness to adopt any proposition not
kdy to defeat the aim of the bill, the amendment was
Copied, proposed, and agreed to.
The clause 0a ing how long.the bill was to have
ffeT, was next du^uffel, and v became a queflioß,
what the time of its operation Should be. By Some fix
weeks,and by others a month, was proposed as the fit pe
riod. Mr. secretary Fox fail, he'eared not how Short
:t was, and if the gentlemen opposite to him co id an:
dertake to fay, that the bill would be received with e
qual candour in the other house, and meet with as little
bbßruaidn there; in ffibrt, that it would pal's the lords
in as brief a Space of t me as it was likely to pass the
commons, he would agree to limit its operation to one
month, but as that was not a matter, upon which he
ould depend, he most propose fix weeks.
Mr. Arden and the rest of the gentlemen smiled,
but not choosing to undertake for the other house, Mr.
secretary Fox's motion was put and agreed to.
The bill at length parted the committee.
The whole of this debate, if it can be so termed, was
conduced hi perftfl good humour ; and it was agreed
on all hands that it was better policy to treat the Ame
ricans generally, than to go in 0 the question wi ether
they were to be considered under either of the three
dihihaions of Britiln fubj-fts, aliens, or a people fui
generis, as Mr. Burke had a few days since defined
them. ,
Philadelphia, June 17.
PROCEEDINGS of the Freemen of the City and
Liberties of Philadelphia, aifrmbled agreeable to
Public Notice, at the State House, 011 Saturday
the 14th June, 1783.
Colonel SAMUEL M'LES in the Chair
WHEREAS in 'he course of the late war with
Great Britain,many persons, inhabitants of these
United States, loft to all sense of decency, virtue and
public spiri t, abandoned their country in the hour of
her diflrefs, and joined the armies, aided the measures
and incited the cruelties, employed by the king of
Great Britain to reduce and to enslave us :
And whereas, by the blessing of H aven, our firug
gle for peace iberty and independence, hath been glo
rious and fu cefsful, and the hopes which these men
entertained of provision and Support from the crown
of Great Britain, are now disappointed; in consequence
whereof, it is apprehended that tuey "will endeavour
to introduce themselves into the United States, and so
licit the restoration of property, juflly forfeited by
their treasons;
And whereas many resolves have been lately pas
sed by the good people of our fitter slates, to prevent
the return of such persons among them;
Therefore, in order to preserve the public welfare,
and to prevent this slate from becoming a receptacle
for rhe outcasts of America;
We do resolve, ift. That we confider it as incon
fi^ent with the inteteft and dignity of the good peo
ple of this slate, that any person who hath voluntarily
withdrawn himfelf from this, or any of the United
States of America, since the nineteenth day of April,
1775, and hath joined the armies, or aided and abet
ted the measures employed by the king of Grat
Britain againd this country ; or who hath been legal
ly attainted, or expelled by this, or any of the United
States, Should be Suffered to return to, or reside within
the slate of Pennsylvania.
2d. That we confider it our duty as citizens and
individuals, to prevent any such persons returning in
to this flae; and we do Solemnly determine and mu
tually pledge ourfelvesto each other, to use all the
means in our power, to expel, with infamy, such per
Sons who now have or hereafter shall presume to come
among us, and that the name- of such persons be pub
lifhed in the news-papers of this city, by the commit
tee appointed to carry these resolves into execution.
3d. That we consider the restoration of toe efta'es
forfeited by law, as incompatible with the peace, the
fafety and the dignity of this commonwealth.
4th. That the dignity and interest of this flute re
quires that funds be provided for the payment and
discharge of the pubic debts.
sth. That our representatives in assembly be in
flruaed upon these important fuljeas.
6th. That the infiru lions to out representatives,
be in the words following :
Inßruflions from the Freemen of the City and Liber
ties of Philadelphia, to their Representatives in Ge
neral Assembly.
IN the exercise of that unquestionable right of the
freemen of the slate of Pennsylvania to inftruft tueir
representatives on Subjects of political importance,
we the freemen of the city and iberties of Philadelphia,
address you at this time on a business of the greatest
magnitude, comprehending in its extent all the inha
bitants of this ft ite, in their most effenttal interests, and
which may, in its consequences, affea remote p fterity.
Scarce have we had opportunity to felicitate each
other on the auspicious dawn of peace, when we find
our apprehensions excited and our momentary exul
tation changed toextreme anxity, left by the return
of the unnatural enemies of our independence, the
Imiling profpecls which now present themfeives to our
view, Should be unfortunately clouded
We are actuated against this class of men, by what
we conceive to be the bell founded refentrnent: they
ieferted the cause of their country when their Service
were wanted, neglected the firft and mot important
duties of the citizen, mot of them inftiguec iand ma
ny of them aHu^ly perpetrated enormities accomoa
-lid with every circumftancp of barbarity, and feafted
wj:h a malevolent fatisfaaion on th? horrid catalogue
cf murders and devastations committed upon the whig
inhabitants of tie United States, during the season of
* thrir trial and ditirefs.
It is unnecessary to de gnate by any particular ap.
pellation the persons referred to, we mud be loft to me
mory and feeling, or there can be no possibility of
'miftake.
We coufider ourselves as anting on the present occa
sion, not only on our per fonal account but for those
who may live after us ; the measures adopted in the
early periods of goveromen operate with accelerated
force and additional weight ia proportion to the df
tance of time. Judice, policy, and our obligition hi
perpetuate the freedom we poffeL, forbid us to per At
the return cf those degenerate and apodal, son of
America, woo hold principles incompatible with a re
pubican government.
That the object we have in contemplation may be at
tained in a constitutional and unexceptionable mode
we inftruH you ac the next sessions of assembly to use
four udmoft influence, to procure a law to be paSfed,
; providing, that no person who has voluntarily with
idrawn hims-ls from the Uaied States, fioce the 19th
lof April, 1775, and hath joined or abetted the armies
l or councils of the king of Great- Britain, or who has
been legally attainted or expelled from any one of the
said Hates by the executive authori y thereof, Shall
ever be permitted to return to ta'is land, faired to li
berty, or enjoy the rights of a citizen of this common
wealth.
Mercenary confi ier;tions : connexions of friendship,
blood or alliance with the persons whom we wjfhto
exclude, may ery probably ocrafion objections to
t e measures suggested; but we trull, we confidently
trust, teat every proposition for a rellitution of the
confiscated estates to their for uer owners, and the
return of those whodeferted their country in the hour
of danger and Sacrifice, will be r probated witn a
hearty indignation—that those unworthy men. who
would have rejoiced in the (objection of America to
the domination of Britain, and rioted in her spoils,
will not be allowed, in th- calm of peace, to participate
of the blessings of liberty and commerce, in the acqui
sition of which; they n% only refufed to contribu e
their proportion of labour and o hazard, but defect
ed to the enemy, and prostituted their unavailing force
to reduce this country to a slate of Slavery, height
ened by all the cruelties which an enraged despot, with
his unfeeling miniflers, could inflia.
But while we inßruCt you to guard against the return
of our enemies, permit us to suggest to you, the jus
tice, policy and expediency of laying a permanent
foundation tor the establishment of public credit, and
for doing ample juflice to those esrly, determined and
p-rfevering w igs, who willingly rifqued their lives,
lent their money, and contributed their labours for
the defence of their country, by projecting an I giving
validity to such measures as are calculated to give
the public creditors, whether citizens or Soldiers, the
fulled assurance of the punctual payment of their in
terest and the final difeharge of the public debts.
7th. That a committee, confining of the field cfi-*
fibers and the captains of the militia of the city and
liberties, together wi:h two persons from each ward
in the city, except Dock and. Mulberry wards, for
each of which four are to be appointed, four for the
Northern Liberties, and sou, for Southwark, be
committee to carry these resolves into ex cution.
SAMUEL MILES, Chairman.
(Attefled) JOHN SEJEE, Secretary.
The following Gentlemen, together with the Field Of
ficers and Captains of the militia of the city and li
berties, compole the committee.
Northern-Liberties. J ho Rice, Shipwright, John
Houflon, John Harrison, Zachariah Andrews
Mulberry ward. Colonel Farmer, Jacob Schreiner,
captain Heyfham, coonel Bayard.
Upper Delaware ward. Andrew Hodge, junior,
William Bright.
High Street ward, captain M'Naughton, Toomas
Fitzgerald.
North ward. Jacob Barge, Michael Shubart.
Lower Delaware. Charles RiS k Blair M'Clenachan.
Cuemut ward. Jedidiah Snowden, William Pollard.
Middle ward. Robert Smith, William Richards.
Wdow ward. George Henry, Mr. Mokoe.
South ward. Andrew Caldwell, H, Shiell.
Dock ward. Alexander Rutherfo d, James Hunter,
Francis Gurney, William Turnbull.
South ward. Elias Boys, W.lliam Brown, Jonathan
Penrofe, George Ord.
The Committee appointed by the 7th resolve of the
1 citizens, are requeued to meet at the City Tavern, 011
Thu,riday evening at 7 o'clock.
At a relpeftable MEETING of the Freemen cf the
county of Bucks, held at Newtown, the 12th in
fiant. Colonel HART in the Chair.
"IP " " following Resolutions were proposed and
, Unanimously adopted, viz.
Resolved, That the critical Situation of the whig in
terest claim- ;the flri&eft attention of its Supporters.
RefolveS, That a repeal of the test laws now in force
is utterly incomparable with the peace, liberty, and
happiness of the good citizens of this commor wealth.
Resolved, That, in the opinion of this meeting, it
is expedient the Freemen of this county Should infirua
their representatives to employ every effort in promo
ting effe ient measures to exclude forever from rtfidence
or inheritance in this commonwealth, all Such persons
as have joined or voluntarily adhered to tie common
enemy of these United-States, since July 4th, 1776.
Resolved, That,, in tie opinion of this meeting, the
most convenient and expeditious mode jn which this
Salutary purpose can be accomplished, will be by a
delegation from each township, to meet in grand com
mittee at William Bennet's, on the 29th day of July,
authorised to frame ioftrufbons for the government
of our representatives in assembly, and to take any
further fleps which they may deem effemial for the
Support of public credi, and the maintainable of our
just rights and our in.ereds.
Resolved, That the Chairman be requeued to com
municate ti?e proceedings of this fleeting to the respec
tive townships of the county, and to call their imme
diate attention to tne fubjed.