The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-11-18 00:00:00, page 2

Doctor Shippen's Vindication.
As force persons may be ignorant ofthe true motives
wiiich actuated doftor^ Morgan and Ruth toaccnle
.and prosecute me with so much perfevenncr and
virulence, nd may think it impossible any men could
be at so muca pains and expence to prove what hao *°
exigence, but in their malice mb refitment: I haM
perfuad^d myfclf to break my refolnron nt treating
them and their writings with a frint and 1 >v^re gn con
tempt: but I will do it only f 6 far as wribe uecett :ry
to ih^w their wicked defi,p, and convince you ot the
propriety ofmy conduH. , , . , .
Doctor Morgan was appointed director cf the hotyi
tils in the year 1775, by a m fority of one voice, wuu.lv
t charitably obtained for him, at hi^ reqrn G. .
Fn J nuary, 1777, be was dismissed the fer ice win
ignominy, in c^nfeqnence of the clamors and cpm
plaints of officers of ^l ranks ; n the army, as appears
on the journals of Congress.—When my fellow citiL ns
went on; in t'^e flying camp, in the bimmer of 177^ I
was called upon to attend tnem as creator and c^rf
physician of their hospitals. —A multitude of com
plaints of t efufferin, of the sick, under doHor Mor--
gan's care, were marie about' this- time,. end my con
duct was much commended, as appears from the fol
lowing extrad&of letters from doßor Rush, then a mem
ber of Congrer, and authenticated by him before the
court martial, one dated Philadelphia, November 28th,%
1776: " I am bound, in jufbee to your fidelity, to
" inform you, t r at every perlon who comes from
'' the camp, speaks in the moG refpeAful terms of
u ymr c< ndud towards the sick and wounded under
“ your care." In another of September, 1776,. he
writes thus; “ The fatisfaftionyou have giveniu your
'• department will induce Congress to continue you,.
“ if pofhble," and then go p s 'on to shew me how I
cm continue director, and my private practice and
Features, at the fame time; and and', " I wifll the fame
" simplicity and ceconomy were used in proscribing.
" every where as we hear are used in the hospitals un
" der your care."
Influenced by these confid p radons Corgrefs refolded,
in October 1776, that all the hck under doßor Mor
gan, on the well fide of Hudfon'^ river, should be
transferred 0 my. care, hoping he might silence the
complaints made againfthim, by attendhig more pro
perly to the few that were on the e.tG fide. Their ex
petitions were net answered, for the clamours conti
nued and eie reafed so much, that they were obliged
to difipis him entirely, or have no army. General
Waftrington writes thus to Congress, as late s Janua
ry, 1777' ; " I am amazed to hear complaints of the
" hospital on the east fide of Hudson's river. Doctor
" Morgan with most of his mates has been conftantl,
" there, since I left it with the maiffixiy of the army.
" It is in vain however to look back upon pad misfor
“ tunes; I will not pretend to point out the carries,
“ but I know matters have been Grangely- conducted
“ in the medical line. I hope your new appointment,
“ when it is made, will make the neceffcry reform in
“ the hospital, and that I shall not, the next cam
's paign, have my ears and eyes too knocked with the
" complaints and looks of poor creatures, perilling
" for want of proper care either in the regimental or
'• hospital surgeons." And in April, 1777, I was ap
pointed director general of all the hospitals, by the
unanimous vote of the thirteen United States.
The doctor was greatly mortified at this appointment,
and, not willing to givecredit to the true cause affiga
ed by Congress themselves, chose rather to suppose,
though very falfely, that his disgrace was effected by
my means; and that I, as he expresses it in his sth
charge, reviled and calumniated my superior officer,
in order to vilify and fuoplant him. ARuated by this
opinion, he seeks revenge, and has employed bimfelf
from that time to this in collecting, by every means,
materials for the accusations, which have been care
fully examined by a court-martial, and, notwithstand
ing every advantage was given him, during a trial of
near three months, he was not able to support one of
them, and therefore they were all reje*ed by the court,
and I was acquitted.
That he flopped at notiring ever so mean to gain
testimony against me, read the following declaration,
on oath, of Mr. Robert Jewel, a friend to bis coun
try and reputable citizen;
" I hereby certify and declare, That doßor Mor
' gan offered me a certificate to sign, wiiich he had rea
“ dy drawn up, reflecting on the character of doctor
" Shippen, which was not true. He importuned me
“ mu<h to sign it; I refu fed: he then begged I would
“ draw up one myfelf as near it as I would. I told
" him I knew nothing against doctor Shippen; I would
“ sign nothing. He urged and persuaded me much to
" do something, and added You know Mr. Jewel,
" you are under obligations to me, and ought to
“ oblige me so far. At length he obtained a deposits
" on before justice Adcock, in which I did not mean
" to' reflect on defter Soippen's charaaer as dir^bf
" general or an honed man."
Sworn before W. RUSH.
Mr. Jewel also deposed, t: at Dr. Morgan acquainted
him, that he was informed of the matters contained in
the certificate by Dr. Rush. Dr. liman (wears, t. at,
prior to his giving a certificate to Dr. Morgan, Dr.
Rush asked him in what manner he would answer cer
tain quefiions if he was called upon, "nd that the form
of the said certificate was drawn up by Dr Rush.
Mr. John Scott, a man of exceeding good charaaer,
declared ou oath before the court, " that Dr. Rush
“ proposed a paper in the commissary's room at Beth
'c lehem, and when toe gentlemen were going to sign it,
" Dr. Rush said, " We will bring the Siippens down ,"
" upon which Dr. W. W. Smith ' gned it, and said he
" would join with all his heart."
Dr. Otto, a senior surgeon, when a papef was shewn
and read diGinßly to him, drawn up by Dr. Rufo, and
he was asked whether he signed his name to it, and
whether the faffs certified by him were true, answered
thus on oath: " I figny! my name to one part of it,
ff but not to the other, to the best of my recollection.*
C The fads in that paper I do not acknowlege as true,
" or to I ave been aflented to by me, but I must have
" been imposed upon te sign it." —Dr. Otto is an ex
cellent officer, is not mafler of English, and a very po
lite man: , , j1 A
Doctor Binney, when on his oath, w^s asked by me
whether he had not beard Dr. Morgan exp, efs a desire
of revenging an injury th t he said he had received from
me ? and arifwered “ i have beard Dr. Morgan obb rve,
“ that you had attempted to ru n him, to which he
“ added firong expressions of refitment " Many
more instances, were they necessary, migat be prodi . J
of the malicious and uncharitable defigos of Doctors
Morgan and'kulh in this pofecution.,
It is not lurprizing, my worthy fellow citizens, that
men actuated by such Prong refentrhents and m^evo
lent motives, should en leavour by every imaginable
means, to gratify their malice.,
It is not furprziug, t at after having failed offuc
cefs before a court-martial and in CongrTf, they
should attempt 10 impose upon the public, by it .tirg
one fide of the evidence only, and by infi^ious afl r
tions, which tlier' is no evidence to support. But toe
judgment of a disinterested and unimpeachable court
martial on each db 'rge, and the r^afons they theinlelves
give, lam persuaded, will fatisfy every candid mao,
that there was no foundation for the charges brought
against me; that no motive but the deepest m lice
could have prompted a continuance of them, anot it
no men, but such as were determin'd to gratify the
word of ' dions, at every hazard of their own reputa
tion, could have been the authors of them.
The judgment of the court martial, and the proceed
dings of Congress upon it, with the mighty affair of
Wine and Sugar next week-.
* As Dr. Morgan remained in the city with the ene
mies of his country all tnis time, he was quite ign^
rant of my conduct, and was obliged to ask informa
tion and assistance of Dr- Rush, before he could plait
his prosecution.
^^^^^^ ^&^-^^^^^'
Philadelphia, Nov. 18.
TUESDAY faft came on the election of a President
' and VicE-PRFsh,ENT of the Supreme Executive
Council of this commonwealth. The honourable the
speaker of the house, and the members of the General
Assembly, attended in the council chamber and were
received by his excellency the president and council. --
They immediately proceeded to the election, and his
excellency JOSEPH REED, esquire, was unanimouGy
chosen president, and the honourable WILLIAM
MOORE, esquire, was, by a large majority of votes,
chosen vice-president. Whereupon a declaration of
the election, being read, was signed by his excellency
the president and council, and by the speaker of the
house, and members of the general assembly. His ex
cellency then addressed 'the council and general affem
biy in the following terras :
GENTT EMEN,
I RECEIVE this, as I do every other mark of
public confidence, with gratitude and refpe£t. The
unanimity which has appeared on this and former oc
casions, does me the greatest honour, and must engage
me by the most powerful of all motives, to fliew myfelf
worthy of ycur choice; But as in becoming the ser
vant of the public, I do not lose the privileges of a
freeman, I shall, with the hone fbboldnefs becoming f'uch
a charaaer, take this opportunity (the last wiiich pro
bably I may ever have) to lay before you some fenti
meats, the result of observation, and the experience I
have had in the government of this state. To accom
plilh so great a revolution in so ffiort a time, to subvert
an established government, and'form a new one, unsup
ported by habits of obedience and opinion, will be al
lowed no easy talk,, if perfect union had fu bfifled in all
other refpefts. But when, to the difaffeftion of a con
siderable numberin the state, we add the internal divi
sions which have fubfifled among ourselves, and fo
mented by Grangers occasionally residing among us, it
is to be admired that we have preserved any govern
ment, much more that it should have grown to the vi
gor and strength it now has.
But to be useful, government muff not only be obey
ed, it mus ibe it fpeded, and I confider much more im
plied in election than barely nominating a man to the
office. It implies confidence, a promise of support in
the performanc^of his dirty, a fair representation and
candid confiruHion of all his affions.. Event's havejuf
tified the government 'of this fiate in many measures,
which for a season were the fubje& of the greatest com
plaint, and in which the mbft laudable anions,, were as
cribed to the most ungenerous motives, and yet the tor
rent of calumny, public and personal, does not cease
to flow. We know human nature too web to expeff,
while in office, that even your fuffrages will abash en
vy and difippeintment ; but your example will go far
to check the reffeas upon our public affairs, and teach
our fellow citizens, that while the, exercise the ineftf
mable privilege of freely canvassing the measures of go
vernment, they should do it with decency and candour,
ever remembering that they have not chosen angels,
but men, fubjeH to like paffons and' infirmities with
themfclves. In governments formed like ours this is
peculiarly necessary, to check those excesses, which,,
turning liberty into licent'oufnefs, have been often im
proved by bat ! men, in other countries, to the leftruc
tion of liberty itfelf. To the harmony which ha9fnb
fifted for a considerable time part between the legislative
and executive branches of government, I am persuaded
much of our present tranquility and the energy of go
vernment is to be ascribed : and tho' it is too much the
fafhion of this world to assume fuyerior wisdom and
merit, by depreciating the measures of their predeceffers,
it favours as little of prudence as of charity, and less
of polky than either :as in thecourfe of such frequent
elections, we shall soon be in the like situation ourselves,
and it must lessen the confidence of the people where the
- public good requires it to be most exteufively placed.
The laws which have been passed under the present go
vernment in favour of the rights of human nature, for
the advancement of education, on the molt catholic
principles, providing for and' rewarding those brave
men, who are defending the liberties and property of
their country, besides several whglefome municipal laws,
will, in my poor opinion, de honcur to the authors,
when they are laid low in te r 'ud. Ine present time
is perhaps the most trying and arduous to a public
character, when we ieem to be cabled to serve our country
at the rifque of some present popularity; but awife
and generous people will soon dillinguifh the fkifful and
firm physician, wh o applies suitable remedies, from the
vain an I ignorant quack, who tampers with the disease,
and plebes his patient at the expence of his fafety.
For mys If, gehriemen (if such a fubje& ought to take
up a moment of your time) I beg leave to add, that I
am coqfc , is of rotny def els to fill the flation to which
I have been eletled, but I have endeavoured to Supply
them by assiduity nd fidelity ; with what success, my
fellow-citizens rid judge. At your call, I abandoned
a lucrative profefkon, in the pritne ot life and abilities,'
when the state of my family and forte le, on any other
occasion, would not have warranted such a facrifre;
and Providence has added domestic to public cares':
the allowances of the Rate, generous as they appeared
at firft iew, have fallen fm>rt of that support, which
a decent regard to my Ration, with proper ceconomy,
required. But think not that I regret the facrifice I
have made: I rejoice that I had a life torlfque, and
some property to de^ o+e to the service of my country,
in such a cause : and my fellow-citizens cannot receive
it with more pleasure than I give it.,
But I should be wanting in justice and gratitude, if
I did not ackowledge the generous intentions of former
assemblies, tho'fru flrated by unforefeen events. A sup
port suitable to tie circumflances, and the rank to
which you have railed us, must, I presume, be at
agreeable to your conflituemts, as it is conformable to
the conflitution. And whatever charms power and
diftinHion may have for some minds, I look forward
with pleasure to the day, when I fhR mingle again
with the mass of my fellow citizens; tho' no length of
t'me can eraze the remembrance of those marks of af
feHi<m and" refpe& which I have received from a great
part o f this state, for whefe prosperity and happinefe
it is impoffib'e any one should entertain more sincere,
devout and fervent wishes, and to wh.#e service I any
Tver faithfully devoted."
The procession to the Court-house set ons from the
Council Chamber a little after twelve o'clock, ire the
following order, viz. .-„'.
Constables with their ftavesfr
Sub Sheriffs with their wands.t
High Sheriff with his wand.
Coroner with his wand.
Judges of the Supreme Court.
Prothonotary of the Supreme Court.
Judge, Register and Marshal of the Admiralty.'
Treasurer and Attorney. General of the State.
JuHices of the Peace.
Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas.
Secretary of the Council.
His Excellency the President and Honourable the Vice-.
President.
Members of the Council two and two.
Door keeper of the Council.
Serjeant at Arms with the Mace.'
Honourable the Speaker of the House-
Clerk of the House.
Members of the General Assembly two and two.
Door-keeper of the General Assembly.
Citizens.
On their arrival at the head of the Court-house flairs,
fiance was commanded.' Ris excellency; the president,.
the honourable the vice-president, and rhe-honourable
the speaker of the house came forward, a id the secreta
ry of the council read the declaration of t^e eleHion,
aitf proclaimed the president “ captain general and
commander in chief, in and over the commonwealth of
Pennsylvania." Immediately after the proclamation
was made,- thirteen cannon were fired, and colonel Ni
cola's regiment fired three vollies. The procession then
moved forward to the city tavern, where a cold colla
tion was provided, confident with that fragajity and-
CTcbßomy winch the fithation of our public affairs not
only renders necessary but honourable. The usual
compliments of congratulation being paid, thefcHow
ing toasts were drank, viz.
P'rofperity to the state of Pennfylvahia.
The other states in union, and the honourableCcngrefs~
The King, Queens and' Royal Family of France.
General Wafliington and the army.
The Pennfylvauiariine.
The trade and navigation of Pennsylvania.
Perdition to all Triors secret and open; arid eter^
nal honour to him who dare be honest in the word of
times.
His excellency retired and the company broke up.
The whole was conducted with the greatest decorum,
amidst every appearance of universal fatisfaßion and
j' o y After which the vice president and council
din o d with his excellency the president, and were ho
noured with the company ot his excellency the presi
dent of Congress, the minifler plenipotentiary of France,
the delegates of the state in Congress, the speaker of
she aflembly, chief justice, and other justices cf the
supreme court, judge of the admiralty, and attorney
general.
In COUNCIL, Philadelphia, November 16th, 1780.
THE dispatch of public business, and convenience
of the members, requiring Rated hours of meeting ;
Resolved, That from Eleven to Two o'Clock be ap
pointed for the ordinary business of the Council.
Extract from the Minut'%
T. MATLACK, ferrtary.
IN consequence of the above resolve the Presides t
of the state, for the convenience of such gentlemen as'
may have business, or favour him with visits, acqti- int#
them, That he will always be engaged from Eleven ter
Two o'clock; But wall be glad to fee them at any other
hours.
Doctor Ruffi's Introductory
Lecture to his Course of Che
mistry, will be delivered at the
University on Monday next, at
twelve o'clock.