The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-12-05 00:00:00, page 2

has Lid, the State will have other opinions. Now as what this
gentleman firfl advanced rTpedirg a perpetual revenue in the
hands of an executive power is. in our firuation, as a true and
pure Republic,, futile and perfectly unapplicable, for the reasons
advanced in my former letter, and a, the weight of the duty is
scarcely to be mentioned, and as the method is easier than any
other which can be devied, and falls equally on all the Stares,
and on the individuals in each State, according to their Several
abilities, I Should be glad to know what objections he has to it, or
can advance, for at present he has fuppprted none. He content
ed himfelf with Rating a queftiun at firfl: setting out, which all
America was agreed to before he put it, and consequently could
be no queflion at all.
I obfirve his pieces are interspersed with cop'ufed notions on
government. His meaning may be good, and 1 have no reafin
to believe it is not; but, for want of diAin^uifliipg one fort of
government from another, he draws conclusions which suit
nether.
He does not fee the difference between a country, like. Eng
land. where scarcely one man in a hundred is an elector, and
this country, where every man is an elector, aid :ruv likewise
be elefrd. Nor yet between the Parliament of Eoflzn ( ne
hobfe of which, the Peers, it perpetual, and the v'camie- ri led
up by the Crown, and the other umov.able only in seven ;ears)
and our constitutional governments, the representatives under
which, both Jegiflatiye and executive, are annually chosen by
curfelves in most instances. Nor yet between the executive
power possessed by the Crown, not to be touched at all, be it in
hands ever so vicious, extravagant or ignorant, and the Congress
cf America, which, as Members, are removeable at pleasure,
and mull be chosen every year. In ffiort, he does net fee the
difference between tbe one country wrapt up in the most absurd
species of slavery, and the other p, ff fling aid enjoying all their
natural and civil rights; and thus, by carrying the jeahufies ne
cefTary in people under a Monarchy into the Confutations of a
Republic, he degrades the virtue on which Republics are founded.
Rut there is an observation which this gentleman throws out,
and likewise a second observation under another signature, belli
of which have considerable weight, and on which I shall offer
fore remarks.
The owe is a quotation from Montesquieu, which was intro
duced into a former declaration of Congress, and is in these
words: “ When the power of making laws, and the poyver of
«' executing them, are united in the fame person, or the fame body
<< of Magistrates, there can be no liberty; because apprehen
“ fions may arise, left the fame Monarch or Senate Should enaft
“ tyrannical laws, to execute them in a tyrannical manner,"
I (half pay all the regard to this quotation which the citizen of
Rhede-Bland wishes to he paid. Though, by the bye, it is ygy
easy to fee that Montesquieu means a power perpetually exifling
ip the fame person or periods, and not a power me,cd in those
who are remcveable at pleasure. I with those who quote Mon
tesquieu would ftriftly regard his applications. It was very pro
per, said by Congress to Britain, whose government over us
Was absolute, but cannot be said by us to ourselves.
The other observation which I allude to is in Mr. Bradford's
„prr of November 16th, in these words : “No two States,"
f ya the writer, “ have agreed on the meafore (meaning the five
<< per cent, duty) without particular provisoes and limitations of
" their own, differing from the others; it is, therefore, impof
c 6b'e that a regular systematical olle&ion of the duties should
« take place, unless those limitations and provides are firft re
-66 moved."
New these two observations, taken either separately or collec
tively, may be of use to us. They naturally apply to something
wanting, and Lmething defective. We want some laws which
Congress cannot make, and when the Spates attempt them they
are imperfed. Certainly then the whole of our system is not
yet cornpleat.
The United States are, as Mr. Burke very justly Riles them,
« The greatest Commonwealth on the face of the earth." * But
all Commonwealths must have some laws in common, which re
gultre, preserve and protest the whole.
What would the sovereignty of any one individual State be, if
left to itfelf, to contend with a foreign power. It is on our
united sovereignty that our greatness and fafety, and the security
•f our foreign commerce rest. This united sovereignty, then,
* See Mr. Turke's Speech on the Case of Mr. Laurens, December
17th, 17'1, in the Parliamentary Debates, Pap 18,.
will, upon reflection, occur to (hew, that her objections are not
only wrongly founded, but wrongly judged of.
The Citizen of Rhede-Jflan, has fad that the duty of five per
cent, will fall unequally. It i^eafy to fay any thing. But he has
not advanced a tingle case or argument to prove it, which he
certainly would, if he<could have difepvered any. He has like
wile said many other things; but he has only laid them, and
left them to ffiift for themfdves. Now a man ought never to
leave an aflfertion to ffiift for itfelf. It is like turning out a sick
ly infant to beg a home in other people's houses.
But there is one thing which this gentleman has not said; for
he ha< not attempted to ihew an rafter way of railing the money,
and he knows, full a^ well as I de, that the ftuatim of a coun
try at war rquiiesmoney. But I can tell him the reason why
he has been silent on this head; it is because he cannot devise an
easier way, nor any that so we'l suits the circumflances of Rhode-
Inland; because, being considerably in the line of commerce, she
can easier raise it through that medium, than through any other.
And this brings me to shew the convenience and lightness of the
five per cent, duty, so far as refpeds the individuals in any or all
the States.
As a tax. it will fcarcsly be felt. The utmost difference it
can make will be very little more than a half-penny in.the /bil
ling, and in the fluftuatiun of trade, it will be inferably loft ;
tor there is scarcely a day that pafles over our heads, but in
which the rife or fall in prices is much greater; and it will so
naturally and eerily divide and circulate itfelf through the com
munity, that its prod^aivenefs will arise from the universality
of its operation.
It will likewise be found not only the lighted of all other
modes of raising money, but the most convenient; for it operates
with the ease of a tax in kind, without any of its difficulties a: d
incumbrances. The man who might be scarce of money, has
still money's worth ; he comes to market, and, by fueb means
as are most convenient to himfelf, disposes of it, and procures,
in the lieu thereof, such imported articles as he has occasion for,
and in that exchange he pays his portion of the duty, with ut
any other trouble.
It is likewise that kind of a duly which a man may pay r r
not ; because he may chufe whether he will wear or consume
foreign articles. It is a duty too which the confnmer is never
cilled w/@n to r a yi because whenever it fnirs him he goes to buy,
and pot before, anl there ends the matter.
It is 2 duty uhich is the most easy culleScd because it is col
lected but in few places, and in the lump, without rambling
over the world for it, and requires but few pedons, and may be
done at a small expence; and I am perfwaded that when the
States find toe convenience of this mode in preference to others,
they will be inclined to throw fume o' th/r prefect taxes into
the fame channel. I have obfeived that the last convinced it
often the men rffbaitaKy convinced ; dnd notwithstanding what
the gentleman, who fries himfelf a Citizen of Rhode-ffland,
nruft be something more than a name; and requires to be as eom
pleatly organized for the line it is to a& in, as that of any indi
vidual State, and, if any thing, more so, because more depends
upon it.
Every man in America Rands in a two-fold order of citizen-
Ship. He is a citizen of the State he lives in, and of the Uni
ted States; and without justly and truly supporting his citizen-
Ship in the latter, he will inevitably facrifice the former. By
his rank in the one, he is made secure with his neighbours; by
the other, with the world. The one proteas his domestic fafety
and property from internal robbers and injustice ; the other his
foreign and remote property from piracy and iavafion, and puts
him on a rank with other nations. Certainly, then, the one,
like the other, must not and cannot be trusted to pleasure and
caprice, left, in the display of local authority, we forget the
great line that made us great, and must keep us so.
In introducing these remarks I have followed a thought natu
ral'y arising from the observations made by the Citizen of Rhode
l fland, and I find that experience begins to suggest the idea of an
inadequacy in our confederated system to several cases which
must necessarily happen; what I mean is, that the confederation
is not adapted to fit all the cases wdoh the empire of the United
States, in the course of her sovereignty, may experience; and
the case before as /hews that it is not adequate to every purpose
of internal benefit and commercial regulation.
Several new and important matters have arisen since the confe
deration was formed. The entering into foreign alliances and
treaties of commerce. The borrowing foreign loans. The ceffa
tmn of the emissions of the paper currency. The railing the
supplies by taxes, 'and several others which might be enumerated.
But as nothing can happen to which we are not equal, the thing
necessary is to think wifely and deliberately of them, and provide
accordingly, ^Friend to Rhode Island and the Onion.
N E W-Y O R K, November 30.
Ry the brig Iris, captain Caldcleugb, which arrived
here ?n Wednesday in the fleet from England, we
have received London papers to the 7th of ORober,
from which are felrtßd the following advices.
H A G U E, aoberi.
We have just received the following private intelli
gence from Paris, trie embers of which are (efficient
t^ excite the tears of every humane person.
Paris, September 26.
SIR,
I here fend you the melancholy relation of the dif
afiers which happened at the siege of Gibraltar.
Ou the 9th, the land batteries began to play on the
place, the fire was well supported and directed, and
every day m?d- feme prorrefs, there was no doubt
therefore entertained, that when the floating batteries
began their fire, Gibraltar must soon capitulate.
On the 13th, rhe eleven floating batteries took their
Rations for attacking the place on the fide next the
Cea. The arrangements have been made without any
obstacle, at nine in the morning the firing began from
the floating batteries, which mounted altogether 193
brass cannon, and had besides above 150 other cannon,
which served for balbft, and for change in case of ac
cidents /these cannon were all 24 pounders.
The whole firing at once, both from the land and
sea, presented the most dreadful feene that can be
imagined ; success appeared certain on our fide; but
at eleven o'clock the English began fir ng red hot balls.
One hundred and ten cannon pouring forth an ir;cef
fant fliower of fory balls, soon threw the batteries in
to tbe'utmeft disorder; force of the balls entered the
port holes, and the fire spread every where. While
the day laded th y were able to extinguish the flames,
but at fix o'clock in the evening three of the floating A
batteries blew np ; the rest cut their cables with an
intention of retreating, but without effeft, their tackle,
ma% and fails being all burnt, it was therefore im
possible for them to draw back a single step, and the,
burning hail did not ceale. Boats were immediately
put out to save tf/rr< ws.
The prince cfeffaff u, who bad performed prodigies
of valent, and who had loft the greatest part of his
men, threw himfelf into one of th^fe boats with (eve
ral officers, and 152 men belonging to his battery,
got into another; at the very instant when this second
boat was getting away, a bad fell into the middle of
the boat, which immediately funk and ev < r y foul that
was in it perilled. The next day at four in the mor
ning, four more of the floating batteries blew up,
and at eight o'clock the ekventh battery cught fire
and blew up in a minute after. The loss of men in
this action is computed to be 1500 or 2000. G neral
Elliot saved about 300 men, and sent them back the
fame day.
This terrible shock has net, however, in the lead
discouraged the besiegers; they are now disposing mat
ters fcr taking the place 'by affauls-and the foldiera
are not at all dismayed. The fire continues with un
remitting fury on the land fide.
The combined fleet is in the bay of Algefirhs ; it
will therefore be very difficult to throw any fuccours
into the place. The English fleet comes nearer every
day, and will probably arrive before the end of the
month, and then we may (gped to fee a second daugh
ter.
L O N D O N, September 24.
Extract of a letter from Fewey, Sept. 21. °
“ L'Hebe, the French frigate carried into Plymouth
the 17th instant, is perhaps the most complete ship in
the world of her rate, (being much (uperior to the Ar
tois) mounts 38 guns, but is fit to carry 46, her up
per deck 14, feet 7 inches in length, extreme breadth
from out to cut 42 feet, heighth between deck five feet
eight inches, and measures 1064 tons."
A private letter from Gibraltar has the following
paragraph:
" I really believe, from my foul, we have not aman
among us that wonl,d wish himfelf away, or but who se
cretly values himfelf on being an aßive party in this
most memorable siege; fueb a fpirir of heroism visibly ani
mates them, that there is not an individual that I have
converted with, but confiders himfelf as principally in
strumental in the defence of the place. This martial
ardour evidently originated from the gallant Elliot, of
whose heroic disposition all subordinate ranks seem e
qually inspired. We are so accustomed to shells, balls
and other the like manufactured military elements, that
we regard them as little, and sometimes behold them
with as little concert as the passengers in the Greets of
Sept. 25. Ten fail of the Leeward island fleet are ar
rived, which separated in a gale of wind on the Banks
of Newfoundland : before the gale there were 49 Blips
in company, between twenty and thirty of which are
fcr I ondon ; the remainder may be expected in a day
or two, the wind being fair, and the coast quite clear
of privateers.
The J^nus man of war, with two or three more of
the WeftTndia fleet, were left well three or four days
since off Clear: It is supposed the remainder of the fleet
is put into Ireland.
Yesterday some dispatches were received from Lis
bon, which were brought over in a neutral ship arrived
at Plymouth, in seven days, bound to Oftend. She fell
in with lord Howe's fleet on Thursday last, the 19th
of September, within three days fail of Liibon.
Extract of a letter from Newcadle, September 7,
“ We are assured that above 6000 acre# of land are
sowed io Scotland with tobacco, which if it pays the
duty of is. 3d. per Ib. will brine in 6co 0001. About
3300 acres of the above, is on the banks of the Tweed.
London do the fauibs and crackers of she mob. If
we perish, we have one of the most Ropendous rocks on
earth as a monument; if we survive, every mention
of our hard services, our fufferings, and our atchieve
ments, will be to us so many badges of honour, either
way, of unfading glory."
A correspondent has favoured us with the following
extract of a letter from Gibraltar, the particulars it con=
tains )he assures us, may be depended upon as a fa€t.
" The commander in chief, the duke de Crillon had
given orders to the floating batteries to make an attack
at eight o'clock in the m ^ningof the 13th of HR month,
and from that time till four o'clock, there was an in
cessant fire on both sides. The fire of the enemy some
times silenced that of the English.
" But at fouro'clock, the brave general Elliot te*^
ed his disposition, so wifely, so courapeoufly,
happily, that the battery on land was set on fire, in
fueb a manner, as there is no instance of; and at five
the floating batteries were on fire also.
" That of the prince of Nassau Seighen, and that of
Mr. de Moreno, oere firfl on fire as being the most ex
posed ; but the conflagration soon became general. The
prince of Nassau, in the moment that they had like
to have b~en destroyed, threw all the powder overboard
carried , off the wounded frit, and then, securing all the
men who were with him, went last himfelf at midnight,
after having been for eight hours in the most immi
nent danger.
“ By bis intrepidity and presence of mind in this
action, he has acquired the greater honour.
“ General Elliot, not less humane in victory, than
brave in battle, sent boats to save those who were
drowning, and to collect the wounded, and was so for
tunate, a , by that means to preserve them from death.
'' Of 4000 men, who were on the floating batteries,
it is thought that the French and Spaniards have loft
2000 at lead"
“ We are well informed that the Scots intend to ap
ply next feffon, for a repeal of the duty on Scotch
tobacco."
Caober 4. By a gentleman joR arrived from Paris
we learn, that the defeat of the Spanish batteries, gun
boats, &c. was fully confirmed ; when he left that place
it was likewise reported that his mod chriftian majesty
had received an express from the count d'Artois, ac
quainting him with the particulars of that affair.
A letter from the Hague, received on Wedoefday
has the following article : " The Spanish ambassador
has received an expr < fs from Madrid with some im
portant news, which he immediately communicated to
his serene highness the prince of Orange ; since which
it is whispered about that the Spaniards in making an
attack upon Gibraltar were defeated, and that a num
ber of their men were killed, wounded, and taken pri
fonerr. Since this news has been circulated, a peace
is talked of : and it is said the French and Spanish am
bassadors have had some private conferences with their
high m'ghtineßes upon the fubjefl ; so that we now
hope that it ^li not be long before a negotiation is set
on foot by all fr he powers at w^r for a peace.
By advices frem Conßantinople we learn, that great
jealousies were ent-rtam'd of a certain ambassador re.
fpeHing the late dreadful conflagration in that city •
and it is strongly faf pefted, that a distribution of Gal
lic gold among the Helions there has brought matters
to the present ahrming crilis. The populace are in
the utmoß confufion, being in general of opinion, that
the foblime I orte has been duped by the most intrigue
ing nation in Europe, more famous for extending their
empire by politics than war. In order to appease the
public, the grand seignior has secured the abovemen
tio^ed ambalhidor in rhe caflie in the Seven Towers.
Oaob'r 5, His holirefs, the pope, is so very passi
onate, that be often forgets himfelf, like Julius the se
cond, ^e is apt to kick and cane his attendants for
the m R trifling offence : during his flay at Vienna,
he picked a quarrel with count Caunitz, the prime
minister, ad offered him a Rap in the face before a
numerous company, which occasioned a great deal of
scandal.
The Dutch have fuffered irreparrable damage, in as
much as their herring fifheries having been interrupt
ed, that lucrative branch of trade is (lipped through
their .bands, and going take another course. The
Danes and 3wedes have now got those orders for pick
led herring, which, before the war, were nearly en
grossed by the Dutch : the Swedes in particular have
turned their thoughts to the felting of herrings; and
in tne city of Gottenbutgh alone, there were this year
cured 139,000 tuns of herring ; 3700 tuns were fmoak
ed, and tuofe that were spoiled produced 2845 tuns of
oil.
oa. 7 Amongst the commoners talked ofin Dublin,
to be call'd 10 the peerage, the names of Yelverton,
Burgh, Gr ti#n and Flood, Rand foremoß.
Report confidently asserts, that Mr. Flood is to re
affume the vice-treaforyfhip of the filler kingdom, im
mediately after the meeting of the I r ish parliament.
Tuesday next both houses of parliament will be fur
ther prorogued until Tuesday the 26th of November.
It is rather extraordinary, that the Ville de Paris,
a French three decker, after being jo five engage