Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-09-24 00:00:00, page 2

From the weakness and depravity of human nature
power is apt to become absolute, and liberty to run in
to licea ioufheis. The perfection of government con
fids in laying both under proper restraints.
In the Constitution of Pennsylvania I fee no kind of
power delegated to the executive part of the govern
ment, and yet I find an hundred barriers erected to
prevent the fuppafed power in that branch from be
coming arbitrary.—But in the Assembly I find the most
unbounded liberty, and yet no kind of barrier to prevent
it's degenerating into licentioulnefs.
If men were wife and virtuous as angels, a Angle le
gislative Assembly would be the best farm of govern
ment that could be contrived for them, except a des
potic one, which from being more simple would approach
nearer to perfection: But as this is not the case, the in
habitants of free states, in every age, have found it ne
cefTafy to secure and perpetuate their liberty by com
pound legislatures.
I have enquired in what states the most order, at
tachment to government, faithful execution of laws,
particularly against difaffeded perlons, prevail, and I
find them all to exist ia the greatest degrees in South-
Caroli a. There we behold a government adapted to
the passions and habits of people of all ranks and classes.
It is full of fafety, dignity and wisdom—and no won
der; it is formed upon the principles of their ancient
government, with the great improvements of a Go
vernor and Counsel, deriving their authority not from
the Crown of Britain but from the People.
All government supposes power, and power can ex
ist only by delegation. Why then should the people
by the Constitution of Pennsylvania, in so many cases,
refuse to part with their power when it is given wholly
to their servants who are bound by a thousand ties to
employ it only for their benefit, and who must return
it to them every year ?—The people in this case refem
bk a man who bequeaths his estate to himfelf, and af
ter wards appoints htmfelf his own executor.
It would take up a volume to point out the danger of
many of the articles of our government. —1 shall con
clude these re narks by proposing that an applica ion
be made *o the firft legislature of this state to mate such
alterations in the plan of government, as shall be most
agreeable to their confliuents. Nothing but such a Rep
can give permanent fafety and liberty to our state.
K.
Per the Pennsylvania Packet.
REMARKS'^CONSTITUTION
^PENNSYLVANIA.
IT ha, often been laid that the Americans are the
firft people in the world that ever have been biefled
with an oppottunity of forming a government for them
jeives. For the honor therefore of human nature it is
to be hoped we fhJlform such governments as (hall be
productive of more liberty, order and happiness than
those which have Seen formed by accident, or obtained
by grants from Kings and Proprietors.
It becomes legislators always to remember that man
kind are prone to error and vice, and that all govern
ments are instituted to rectify the one and restrain the
b her.
*+*4 —r 4"+*+ +4-^^®+t^^+^x
WILLIAMSBURG, (Kirgizia) Sept. i 3.
GENERAL Lee writes from Purryfburg, of
August 15th, that he is going to break up East-
Florida. President Rutledge, in aletter to the Coun
cil, writes, that the South-Carolinians had destroyed
five Indian towns in the lower settlements, and laid
waste their fields of corn. They have had two Ikir
milhes, in both of which the Carolinians have been
fuccefsful. They suppose they killed between 60 and
70 men.
Another veflfe! is arrived at Hampton with 1400
bushels cf fait, and a small quantity of ru a. The
Captain informs, that he spoke a French Ship, one of
a fleet of fourteen fail, laden with goods, and bound
for Delaware. A number of French officers were
lik-wile on board, who intended to offer their services
to the United States of America.
By letters from Cape Nichola Mole, of the 28th
ult. we learn, that two frigates had lately arrived at
St. Domingo from France, completely manned, in or
der to cruise off that iflaad and prote& all American
vessels within their limits. Two more frigates were
daily expend, for the fame parpofe- These sou
frigates are to act in conjunction, with two Spanish
frigates, which ate Rationed at Porto Rico, for the
protection of all North American vessels. The Spa
nifh Captains are to pay equal attention to the General
of St. Domingo's orders as to those of the commander
at Porto Rico. There is every appearance of a speedy
rupture between France, Spain and Great-Britain, as
Spain and Portugal are absolutely now at war.
HALIFAX, (Nova-Scotia ) Aaguft 13.
We have undoubted authority, that two thousand
Highlanders, under the convoy of three frigates and
three armed schooners, on a new confirmation for draw
ing the Uaft quantity of water, have been dispatched
by Lord Howe up the Bay of Fandy, to penetrate by
that fide into the New-Hampshire government, and that
Col. M'Lar.e with 3000 of the lower county militia of
Canada, with 600 Indians, are on their full march to
join that body of Highlanders at the head of the river
St. John's, and to to-opcraie with them.
NORWIC H, September 9.
By the Ticonderoga PR we learn, that oar Army
there have received intelligence, that Col Guv Jho
fton, Superintendant of Indian affairs, had set iff from
St. John's, witha large body of Indians and Regulars,
and intended to land them at the German Flats, rear
Albany.—That three Regiments from our northern
army, had marched to intercept them.
NEWPORT, September 16.
On the 3d of Auguff, Capt. Nathan Bull, of this
place, and Mr. Gideon Coggefhall, of Middletown,
with 12 other Americans, made their escape from Ha
lifax, in an open boat, in which they came round Cape
Sable, crossed the Bay of Fundy, and arrived at Be
verley on the 14th of August, from whence Capt. Bull
was brought to town by land last Wednesday, in a
very low state of health ; by whom, and Mr. Coggefhall,
we learn that Halifax was left without one ship of war ;
that the whole force they can raise there, would amount
but to 1500 men; that a little before they came away,
a number of transports arrived from England, which
brought out 300 head of cattle, but 91 of which lived
through the passage, and those miserable thin.
By a letter from General Thompson, dated Aug. 5,
Quebec Harbour, it appears that he, and ourmen who
have been long in captivity, were about to be sent to
Gen. Howe, to be landed in the States they belong to.
A vessel lately arrived at Dartmouth from Hispaniola
brings a confirmation of a war between Spain and Por
tugal.
The sloop -, Capt. Lever, belonging to New-
York, arrived at Dartmouth last Thursday, in seven
weeks from France, by whom we learn that American
vessels find a very free trade there, and that the French
only waited for a Declaration of Independence from
this country, when they were determined to strike some
capital blow.
We learn by the above vefTel, that the carpenters
were so closely engaged in the ship yards, Ihecould not
procure a single hand to do one days work on her ; that
Mr. Dean, from the Most Honorable the General Con
gress, was at the French Court; and that letters for
the Congress from him came in this vessel, which were
dispatched forward last Friday morning.
PHILADELPHIA, September 24.
In CONGRESS, September 16, 1776.
Refolded, That eighty-eight battalions be enlitted as
soon as possible, to ferre during the present war, and
that each State furaifh their refpe&ive quotas in the
following proportion, viz. Battalions.
New Hamplhire ' - 3
Massachusetts-Bay - - 15
Rhode-lfland - - 2
Conneaicut - - -8
New-York - -
New Jersey -
Pennsylvania - - - 12
Delaware - - - 1
Maryland - - £
Virginia - - - 15
North Carolina - ' -9
South Carolina - - - 6
Georgia - - - 1
That Twenty Dollars be given as a bounty to each
non-commissioned officer and private soldier, who shall
enlist to serve during the present war, unless sooner
dilcharged by Congress.
That Congress make prevision for granting lands in
the following proportions to the officers and soldiers
who shall io engage in the service, and continue there
in to the close of the war, or until difeharged by Con
grefs, and to the representatives of such officers and
soldiers as Giall be slain by the enemy ; such lands to
be provided by the United States, and whatever ex
pence shall be necessary to procure such land, the said
expence (had be paid and borne by the States in the
fame proportion as the other expences of the war, viz.
To a Colonel - - 500 acres.
a Lieutenant-Colonel 450 di.ro.
a Major - - 400 ditto.
a Captain - - 300 ditto,
a Lieutenant - 200 ditto,
an Ensign - - 150 ditto.
Each non-commissioned officer and soldier 100 acres.
That the appointment of all officers and filling up
vacancies, (except general officers) be left to the go
vernments of the several States, and that every Stare
provide arms, eloathing, and every necefLry for its
quota of troops according to the foregoing estimate;
the expence of §he eloathing to be deduced from the
pay of the soldiers as usual.
That all eiicerc be eommifliioned by Congress.
HARTFORD, September 16.
By a gentleman from Albany, since our last, we are
informed, that General Schuyler had received intelli
gence by express from Gen Gates at Ticonderoga, that
a heavy firing had been heard at that place, which con
tinued, with some intermissions, for several days, sup
posed to be between Gen. Arnold, at the head of the
American fleet on that station, and a party of the ene
my ; but as no return had been made to the General
when the expiefs came away, no further particulars
have as yet been obtained.
In order to prevent the officers and soldiers who shall
be entitled to the lands hereafter to be granted by the
resolution of Congress of the 16th, from difpefing of
the fame during the war,
Resolved, That this Congress will not grant lands to
any person or persons claiming under the assignment of
an officer or soldier. B, order of the Congress
JOHN HANCOCK, President.
Extrafl of a letter from Before, September 8.
" Capt. Prodof is confined in the common goal ia
Halifax, is treated most barbarously, and had been in
irons ten weeks on board the Mercury man of war -
they threaten to take away his life, but he despises
their threats; all that he wants is to meet his enemies
in the field. He has been in Halifax goal about five
weeks, together with Col. Allen, Mr. Lovell, and
2$ others."
From sundry gentlemen lately arrived from New-
York, we colled the following intelligence— That
General Washington on Monday fe'nnight having
received intelligence that an advanced party of the
enemy was aproaching his lines at Haerlem, he
prepared to attack them with one party in front,
whilst another attacked them in the rear to prevent
their retreat, which was nearly effeded, when the
enemy, after a smart engagement, secured their re
treat under cover of their men of war in the East-
River. Col. Knolton commanded one party, and
Major Leech the other, the former killed and the
latter wounded. That the regulars had loft thirty
men killed. That we had taken three field-pieces
and loft only five men. We are also informed that
on the Sunday evening before last ouf people had
sent three fire ships down upon the enemy's fleet,
one of which had grappled with a man of war, but
the man of war difcntangling herfelf, they burnt
to the water's edge without doing any damage.
We hear that our troops are strongly polled on
the heights of Haarlem; that the enemy are pre
paring to attack them, and that a general engage
ment Is expected every hour.
By letters from the camp at Haerlem we hear,
that a fire broke out last Friday evening in New-
York, which has destroyed a number of houses. It
is said two of the city churches are destroyed by it.
Ira CONVENTION of tbe Delaware State.
Wednesday, September 11, 1776. A. M.
A DELL AR ATION of Rights and Fundamental
Rules es the Delaware State, formerly filed the Go
vernment of the Counties &f New- Ceftle, Kent and
Suffer, upon Delaware.
I - 'T 'HAT all government cf right originates
I from the people, is founded in compaft only,
and instituted solely for the good of the whole.
2. That all men have a natural and unalienable
right to worship Almighty God according to the
dilates cf their own confeiences and (inderftandings,
and that no man ought or of right can be compelled to
attend any religious worffiip or maintain any ministry
contrary to or against his own free will and confent,ard
that no authority can or ought to be vested in, or affa
raed by any power whatever, that shall in any case
interfere with or in any manner controul the right of
confeience in the free exercise of religious worship.
3. That all persons profefling the chriftian religion,
ought forever to enjoy equal rights and privileges in
this State, unless under colour of religion any man
disturb the peace, the happiness or fafety of society.
4. That the people of this State have the sole, ex,
clnfive and inherent right of governing and regulating
the internal police of the fame.
5. That persons entrusted with the legislative and
executive powers are the traftees and servants of the
public, and as such accountable for their Gondu& -
wherefore, whenever the ends of government are per'
verted and public liberty manifefty endangered by the
legislative singly, or a treacherous combination of both,
the people may aid of right ought to eflabllffi a new,
or reform the eld gevenuneot.
That it be recommended to the several States that
the take the mofc speedy and effldual measures for
?nl fling their several quotas. That the money to be
gi^en for bounties be paid by the Pay-mailer in the de
partment where the soldier shall enlist.
That each soldier receive pay and subsistence from
the time of their enliflment.
September 18, 1776.
Resolved, That if rations be received by the officers
or privates in the Continental army in money, they be
paid at the rate of eight ninetieth parts cf a dollar per
ration.
That the bounty and grants of land, offered by Con
gress by a resolution of the 16th instant as an encou
ragement to the officers and soldiers to engage to serve
in the army of the United States during the war, shall
extend to all who are or shall be enlisted for that'term.
the bounty of Ten Dollars which any of the soldiers
have received from the continent on account of a for
mer enlistment, to be reckoned in part payment of the
Twenty Dollars offered by said resolution.
That no officer in the Continental army is allowed
to hold more than one commission, cr to receive nay
but in one capacity. y
September 19, 1776.
That the Adjutants of regiments in the Continental
army be allowed the pay and rations of Captains, and
have the rank of First Lieutenants.