Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-07-25 00:00:00, page 5

benefitted the Colonies, was now through a change of
a variety of concurrent causes, become altogether ina
dequate for the purposes of legislature; that, if the ef
,edsof Englishmen had been despoiled in France, if
their property had been wantonly as well as violently
destroyed, every man, anxious to assert his country's
rights, would have moved for an immediate enquiry
into the offence, for punishment being inflicted on the
offenders, and retributive justice being done to the par
ties injured; and, if the property of English fubjeds
should, by the law of nations, be protected in a foreign
and inimical country, much more ought that property
to be sacred and protected throughout every part of the
British dominions.
Mr. Thomas Townfoend profeffed himfelf far from
being attached to Administration measures; he con
curred with the present plans, because he thought them
the most feafible ; he expressed himfelf rather averse
to the alteration or new-modelling of charters, but
such a variety of inconveniencies had originated from
the Boston Town Meetings, that their regulation
became an objed of indifpenfible necessity. The Juries,
Mr. Townshend said, were by the bill altered in con
formity.to the English constitution ; and the bringing
offenders over to be tried in England was giving them
the best and only chance of a fair, deliberate and dis
passionate trial. Mr. Townfhend concluded by wishing
the repeal of the Tea Tax had taken place.
Colonel Barre began by reducing the fubjed of debate
to this question: “ Whether we would conciliate the
affections of our colonies by lenient or hostile
measures ?" The Colonel related the proceedings of
different Ministers, with refped to America. The late
Chailes Townfhend he censured for taxing America,
and making an injudicious choice of Commissioners to
execute the trust ; the condud of Governor Hutchin
son he condemned ; that of Governor Tryon he praised.
The Colonel confeffed we had assented to the blockad
ing the port of Boston, thinking it might produce a
Gompromife for the damage the East-India Company
had fuJained. Veiling the appointment of the Council
in the Crown would, the Co onel contended, render
the very office so odious, that no man of refpedable
character would be found willing to accept the trust.
The Colonel said, Administration were about to alter
the charter of a constitution, without knowing the pe
culiar nature of its form of government ; that the evi
dence of the culpability of the Arnericans was incom
plcat ; that the petition of Bollan, the Agent, ought
in justice to have been received; that the bill was a
L 0 N D 0 N, May 1,
HOUSE ^COMMONS.
Summary of Monday's D E BATE S 07 the Boston
BILL S.
Faw^ 1R William Meredith, in a speech for
* %$ & the Bills, observed, that if necessity
^^ , ^G° could plead for the right of taxation,
''^ ° ^* ''' e '" e °f the nation at the close of
te <„ ^ the last war was such as to ju^ify the
t j STAMP-ACT; that an English
— t man's security, as to his property,
consisted in his not being liable to have any tax imposed
on him, but by the very members who at the fame time
taxed themselves in a proportionate ratio; that
taxes resulting from regulations of trade were highly
proper, and under this description PORT DUTIES
were comprehended; that an impost, similar to the
Tea Tax, was levied by the 25th Charles 11. since
which period taxes on molasses, and other mercantile ar
ticles, had been proposed by Great-Britain, and acqui
efeed in by America.
Sir William was free to declare his DISAPPROBATION
of the tax on Tea, and conftffed his general aver
sion to tax America; but as the colonies had not only
refilled the supreme legislative authority of Great-Bri
tain, but had also despoiled the property of our mer
chants, it was time to make such Regulations, as
might enable our trading fubjeds to carry on their
American traffic with security. This, Sir William
affirmed, was the sole object es the Boston bills. Juries
were regulated agreeable to the Englith model. The
institution and appointment of the council would from
henceforth be on such a footing, as to occafidn no ob
ftrudions either to the executive or legislative powers.
Sir William concluded, that there was no other alter
native but either at once to give up the rig ht of enact
ing laws, or to deprive those of the executive power,
who have hitherto obftruded their operation when
enabled; and we had better, Sir William urged, at
once renounce all connexions with the colonies, than
not procure protection for odr merchants effects in fu
ture, as well as a redress of the injuries they have al
ready sustained by trading to America.
Mr. Stanley contended, that as the indepenbance
of America was a thing not possible, whilst the balance
of power was so formidable in Europe, the Americans
therefore must unite under some parent state, and they
would necefl'arily make choice of a protestant state for
their head; that, were they to unite under any other
state but that of Great-Britain, they would be subju
gated to slavery; that, therefore, to treat the parent
state with insult and indignity, to set at defiance her
ads, and trample under foot her legal authority, be
trayed a spirit of treasonable violence that called for
severe correction. Mr. Stanley argued, that the fame
mode of government which a century ago would have
POSTSCRIPT to the Pemifyhania Packet. No. 144.
PHILADELPHI A.
At a general meeting of the Freeholders and other inhabi
tants of the city and county of Burlington at the Court-
House, on Wednesday the 20th day 0, Jals, 1774.
ROBERT FIELD, Essy in the Chair.
THIS meeting taking into serious confederation
the alarming situation of North-America, from
the fatal tendency and operation of several late ads of
Parliament, and perceiving the necessity of entering into
proper measures for the preservation of our rights and
liberties, do unanimously resolve,
ift. That we approve of a general congress of De
puties from the fever.! Colonies, as the most likely
mode for restoring harmony, and firmly eftabfifhing
our constitutional privileges, and deem it expedient for
this province to be there repiefented.
2d. That we will cordially join with and support,
as far as may be in our power, all legal resolutions,
which may be adopted or recommended by the congress,
and particularly a non importation agreement.
3d. That in order for a due representation of this
province in the congress, and for effecting the salutary
public purposes intended, this meeting doth appoint
James Kinsey, Thomas Polgreen Hewlings, Henry
Paxfon, Anthony Sykes, Joseph Borden, Robert Field,
Isaac Pearson, Richard Smith and John Pope, to be a
Committee for the city and county of Burlington, to
meet the Committees appointed for the other c^nties
in a provincial meeting, at the .city ofNew-Brunfwick,
or any other place, hereby aurhoriling those gentlemen,
or anv three of them, generally to take such proper
fleps upon this occasion as they in their diferetion may
think most conducive to the public welfare.
Signed by order of the meeting,
ROBERT FIELD, Chairman.
shock to equity, and inimical to every principal of po
licy; that the protection proposed to be afforded the
military, would heap only odium on their heads; that
a continued Wretch of the tone of civil authority would
prove deftrudive to the body politic ; that when insult
ed by France or Spain we had recourse to negotiation,
when offended by our Colonies we instantly recurred
to fleets and armies. The Colonel concluded b'y affirm
ing, that the present measures were pregnant with
cruelty and injustice, and would eventually draw down
deftrudion on Great-Britain.
RESOLUTIONS unanimously entered into by the
Inhabitants of S OVTH- CARO LINA, at a General
Meeting, held at Charleftown, in the said colony, on
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the 6th, 7th and
. ^th days of July, 1774.
Resolved,
'H AT his Majesty's fubjeds in North-America
I owe the fame allegiance to the Crown of Great-
Britain, that is due from his fubjeds born in Great-
Britain.
Refilled, That his Majesty's fubjeds in America are
intitled to all the inherent rights and liberties ofhis na
tural-born fubjeds within the kingdom of Great-Britain.
Refolded, I hat it is repugnant to the rights of the
people, that any taxes should be imposed on them, unless
with their own consent, given personally, or by their
representatives.
Refolded, That it is a fundamental right which his
Majesty's liege fubjeds are intitled unto, that no man
should fuffer in his person or property without a fair
trial, and judgment given by his Peers, or by the law
of the land.
Resolved, That all trials of treafon', misprision of
treason, or for any felony or crime whatever, commit
ted and done in this his Majesty's Colony, by ary per
son or persons residing therein, ought of right to be had
and conduced in and before his Majesty's courts held
within the said Colony, according to the fixed and
known course of proceeding, and that the seizing any
person or persons residing in this Colony, fufpeded of
any crime whatever committed therein, and fending such
person or persons to places beyond the sea to be tried,
is oppressive and illegal, and highly derogatory to the
rights of British fubje&s; as thereby the inestimable
privilege of being tried by 2 jury from the vicinage, as
well as the benefit of summoning and procuring witnesses
on such trial, will be taken away from the party accused.
Refolded, That the statute made in the 35th year of
Henry VIII. chap. 2, intituled, " An ad forthetrial
of treasons committed out of the King's dominions,''
does not extend, and cannot, but by an arbitrary and
cruel conftrudion, be condrued to extend to treasons,
misprisions of treasons, or concealment of treasons,
committed in any of his Majesty's American Colonies,
where thereis fufficieot provision, by the law of the land,
for the impartial trial of all such persons as are charged
with, and for the due punishment of, those offences.
Refilled, That the late aft for shutting up the port
ofßofton, and thetwo bills relative to Bolton, which,
by the last accounts from Great-Britain, had been
brought into Parliament, there read, and committed,
are of the most alarming nature to all his Majesty's
fubjeds in America—are calculated to deprive many
thousand Americans of their rights, properties and pri
vileges, in a modcrucl, oppteffive and unconditutional
manner—are most dangerous precedents, and, though
levelled immediately at the people of Boston, very ma
nifeftly and glaringly !hew, if the inhabitants of that
town are intimidated into a mean fubmidion to said
ads, that the like are designed for all the Colonies;
when not even the shadow of liberty to his person, or
of security to his property, will be left to any of his
iubjeds residing on the American continent.
Refolded therefore, That not only the didates ofhu
mahity; but the founded principles of true policy and
felf-prefervation, makes it absolutely necessary for the
inhabitants of all the Cbloni^s in America to affid and
support the people of Boffon, by all lawful ways in their
power; arid' especially, to leave no jnftifiable means un
tried to procure a repeal of. those ads immediately re
lative to them, ?,nd also of all others affecting the con
ftitutienal rights and liberties of America in general, as
the best means to tffe& this most deferable end.
Refilled, That Henry Middleton, John Rutledge,
Christopher Gadfdeh, Thomas Lynch, and Edward
Rutledge, Esquires, be and they are hereby nominated
and appointed deputies, on the part and behalf of this
Colony, to meet the deputies of the several Colonies
of North-America, in general congress, the Gift Mon
day in September next, at Philadelphia, or at any other
time or place that may be generally agreed on; there
to confider the ad lately puffed, and bills depending in
Parliament, with regard to the port of Boston, and
province of Massachusetts-Bay, which ad and bills, in
the precedent and con sequences, affed the whole con
tinent—also the grievances under which America labours
by reason of the several acts ofParliament, that impose
taxes or duties for railing a revenue, and lay unnecessary
restraints and burthens on <rade—and of the statutes,
parliamentary ads, and royal inftrudions, which make
an invidious diftindion between his Majesty's fubjeds
in Great Britain and in America—with full power and
authority, in behalf of us and our constituents, to con
cert, agree tri, and effedually prosecute such legal
measures (by which we, for ourselves and them, must
solemnly engage to abide) as in the opinion of the said
deputies, and of rhe deputies so to be assembled, shad
be most likely to obtain a repeal of the said ads, and a
redress of those grievances.
5. Resolved, rem. con. That we are of opinion, th?
measures aie already begun, that will, step by step, at
length fix us in this deplorable situation, unless we are
virtuous enough to unite, and, at all events, keep the
hand of the I^ricilh Parliament out of our pockets.
6 Refo red, man. con. I hat if there are any among
us, so deftiture cf the generous extensive feelings of th:
human he.ur, so void of every true idea of the real ad
vantages of liberty, or so fordfoly attached to, what
At a general meeting of tie Magistrates, Lawyers, Free
ho ders, and other referable Inhabitants cf the county
of GRucefer, in New-Jersey, held at the Court house
in thefaid county, July 18, 1774, the following Refo
lutionswere read, maturely considered, and unanimous
ly agreed to.
ROBERT FRIEND TRICE, Esq; Chairman.
'S°''" °' """' ""' ™ iat Boston is now
fuffering in the common cause of all Britiflx
America, and therefore merits the most speedy and ef
fedual aid in the power of the whole to give.
2. Resolved, nem. con. That if the other Colonies
withhold their assistance until Maffachuferts is crushed
and deprived of her liberty by the high and dangerous
arm of Parliamentary power, now stretched forth over
her for that purpose, they may, with good reason, ex
ped soon to share the fame fate.
3. Resolved, That we are of opinion, the most pro
per and effectual aid Massachusetts can receive from the
other Colonies would naturally, and even necessarily,
result from their coming into a total cessation of trade
with Great-Britain and the British Weft-Indies, until
the oppressive and arbitrary ads, under which she so
heavily groans, are totally and effedually repealed, and
the town of Boston restored to her ancient rights and
privileges. The question being put, the resolution
read, and upon a division a very large majority appear
ed in support of the fame. It was passed.
4. ReJolved, nern. con. That if we fuffer the Parlia
ment of Great-Britain to tax us without our consent,
they may then efLblifh over us, at our expence (which
they would never be able to do at their own) a military
force, fufficient completely to fubjed us to the arbitrary
will of the minister, or, in his own words, to lay us at
his feet.
Refo led, That we will agree to pay the expence of
such gentlemen, as may be fixed upon to be lent upon
this business.
Resolved, That while the oppressive ads relative to
Boston are enforced, we will cheerfully, from time to
time, contribute towards the relief of such poor persons
there, whose unfortunate circumstances, occasioned by
the operation of those ads, may be thought to stand in
need of most afliftance.
Resolved, That we wilQ by all means in our power,
endeavour to preserve harmony and union amongst all
the Colonies.
Refilled, That a Committee of ninety-nine persons
be now appointed, to ad as a general Committee, to
correspond with the Committees of the other Colonies,
and do all matters and things necessary to carry these
refojutions into execution; and that any twenty-one of
them met together may proceed on business—their power
to continue till the next general meeting.—And in case
of the death, departure from the province, or refufal
to ad, of any or either of them, the parish or diftrid
for which filth person dying, removing, or refufing to
ad, was choien, Ihall fill up the vacancy.