Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1777-03-04 00:00:00, page 1

SPEECH of ^ Excellency WILLIAM
LIVINGSTON, Efa; Governor, Captain &e
neral and Commander in chief, in and over the State
of New-Jer,ey,, and the territories thereunto belonging,
Chancellor and Ordinary in thefme %v
To the Honorable the Council and the General As
sembly of the Jaid Stale,
Gentlemen,
HAVING already laid before the Assembly by
meflages, the feveial matters that hive occurred
to me, as more particularly demanding their attention,
during the present session ; it may seem lets neceHary
to addreis you in the more ceremonious form of a
speech. But conceiving it ray du y to the State;, to
deliver my Sentiments on the present fixation of af
fairs; and the eventful contest between Great Britain
and America; which could not, with any pr pnety,
be conveyed in occasional metlages, you will excrifemy
giving you the tiouble of attending for that purpole.
After deploring with you the deflation Spread
through part of this State by ah unrelenting enemy,
who have indeed marked their progress with a devHfa
tion unknown to civilized nations; and evincive of the
inoft implacable vengeance; I heartily congratulate you
on that subsequent Series of fecctfs, wherewith it hath
pleased the Almighty, to c r own the American arms;
and particularly on the important enterprize again# the
enemy at Trenton; and the figoar victory obtained
over them at Princeton; by the ga ! lant troops under
the command of his Excellency General Walhingon.
Confideiing the Contemptible figure ts ey make at
present; and the difgud they have given to many of
their own confederates amongUus, by their more thxn
Gothic ravages; (for thus doth the greAt disposer of
invents often deduce good out of evil) their irruption in
to our dominion, will probably redound to the public
benefit. It has certainly enabled us, the.moteeff.Du
ally to diftmguifn, ,ur ftieodb from oUr enemies It
has winnowed the chaff from the grain. I< has dilcri
tainated the temporizing politician, who on the lirft
appearance of danger, was determined to feetire his
idol, Property, at tIA hazard of the General Weal;
from the perkvering patriot, who having embarked
his all in the combrm cause, chutes rather to nik— ra
ther to lose that all fur the preservation of the more
estimable treafyre, Liberty; than to pofefs it (enjoy
it he cotild not) upon the ignominious terms of tamely
resigning his country and posterity to perpetual Servi
tude. It has, in a word, opened the eyes of those
who were made to believe that theii impious merit in
abetting our persecutors, woddexempt them from be
ing involved in the common calamity; But as the ra
pacity of the enemy was boundlels; their rapine was in
discriminate, and their barbarity unparented. They
have plundered friends and foes. .Effects capable of di
vision, they have divided. Such as weienot, they have
deflroyed. They have warred upon decripid age;
warred upon defencelefs youth. They have committed
hostilities against the profeffors of literature; and the
ministers of religion 1 Against public records; and pri
vate monuments ; and books of impovement ; and paper s
cf curiosity ; and against the Arts and Sciences. They
have butchered the wounded, allting for quarter;
mangled the dying, weltering in their blood; refufed
to the d-ad the rights of Sepulture; Suffered prisoners
to perish for want of sustenance; viola ed the chastity
of women; disfigured private dwellings of taste and
elegance; and in the rage of impiety and barbarism,
profaned edifices dedicated to Almighty God.
And yet there are amongst us, who either from am
bitious or lucrative motives ; or intimidated by the
terror of their arms; or from a partial fondnefs for the
British constitution; or deluded by insidious propositi
ons, are Secretly abetting, or openly aiding, their ma
chinations, to deprive us of that liberty, without which,
man is a bead, and government a curse,
Befidesthe inexpressible baseness of wishing to rife on
the ruins of out country, or to acquire iiches at the ex
pense of the liberties and fortunes of millions of our fel
low citizens, how loon would those delusive dreams, up
ci me conquest of America, be turned into difapprant
ment? Fur where is the fund to recompence those re
tainers to the British army ; thole intentional pensioners
ofa bankrupt nation? Was every eftatein America to be
confiscated, and converted into cash ; the product would
not Satiate the avidity of their own creatures; nor fur
nilh an adequate repast for the keen appetites of their
V 0 L. VI. NUMB. 277.
D U NLA P's
^m^rwi^^w
OR ' W^ F W^ THE
GENERAL b^BL^ ADVERTISER.
TUESDAY, M ARC H 4th, 1777.
own miuifteri.il beneficiaries. Instead of gratuities and
promotion, these unhappy accomplices in their tyran
ny, would meet with f^rciricus locks md cold dif
csin ; and after tedious attendance, be finally told by
their haughty matters, that they indeed approved of the
treason, bht deluded the trait Gr. Infuited, in fine, by
their pretended proteAprs but real betrayers, and
goaded with the ftiegs of their own consciences, they
would remain the frightful monuments of human con
tempt, and divine indignation; add linger out the rest
of their days in Self condemnation and remote, and in
weeping over the ruins of their country, which them
felyes had been ii&amental in reducing to deflation
and bondage.
Others there are who, terrified at the power of Bri
tain, have perfuadedtfemfelres that the is not only
formidable, but irrefikibe. That h^r power is great,
is beyond question. That it is hot to be defpiled, the
dilate of common prudence But then we ought allo
to confide, her", as weak in Cou ci ! , and groan.rig with
debt: Reduced in her trade; reduced in her revenue:
immersed in plealure; enervated with luxury; and in
diffipafion. and venality, surpassing all Europe. We
ought to confider her a 1 ha,cd by a patent rival, her
natural enemy; and particularly exasperated, at her
imperious conduct in thlilaft war, as well as her pro
Yoking manner of commencing it: And thence
i flamed with refentfaent; and only watching a favour
able jin&ure for open bothiities. We ought to con
sider the amazing exoence and difficulty of transport
ing troops and provisions, abo>e three thousand
miles; with the impoflibility of recruiting their army
at a lels distance, save c.dy with such recreants whole
conscious guilt mull on ~he firft approach of danger,
appal toe Itouteft heart; Thele inoperable oblbacks
are known and Acknowledged by every virtuous and
impartial man in the nation. Even die author of this
horrid war, is incapable of concealing his own confufi
on and distress. Too great to be wholly foppreffed, it
frequently discovers it's lelf in the course of his speech.
A speech terrible in word; aid fraught witn contra
di&ion : Breathing threadings, and betraying terror:
A motley mixture of m tgnaoimity and con fteroation ;
of grandeur, and abatement. With troops invincible,
he dreads a defeat; and wants reinforcements.. Victori
ous in America, and triumphant on the ocean, he is an
humble dependent on a petty prince, and apprehends
an attack upon his own metropolis: And with full
confidence in the friendship and alliance of France, he
trembles upon his throne, at her fec.et designs and open
preparations.
With all this, we ought to contrast the numerous
and hardy funs of America, enured to toil ; seasoned
alike to heat and cold; hale, robust, patient of fatigue,
and font an arderit love of liberty, ready to face dan
ger and death. The immense extent of continent
which out infatuated enemies have undertaken to sub
jugate. The remarkable unanimity of its inhabitants,
notwithstanding the exception of a sew-apostates and
deserters. Their unshaken resolution to maintain their
freedom, or peiifh in the attempt. The fertility of our
foil in all kinds of provdion, necessary for the iupport
of war. Our inexhaustible internal resources for mi
litary stores, and naval armaments. Our comparative
©economy in public expence, and the millions we save
by reprobating the farther exchange of our valuable
staples, for the worthless baubles and finery of English
manufacture. Add to this, that in a cause so just and
righteous on our part, we have the highest reason to
expert the blessing of Heaven upon our glorious conflict.
For who can doubt theinterpofition of the Supremely
Just, in favour of a people, forced to occur to arms,
in defence of every thing dear and precious; against a
nation, deaf to our complaints, rejoicing in our mise
ry, wantonly aggravating our oppressions, determined
to divide our substance, and by tire and (word to com
pel us into submission.
RefpeCting the constitution of Great-Britain, bating
certain prerogatives of dangerous tendency, it has indeed
been applauded by the best judges ; and display, in its
original ftruCture, illustrious proofs of wisdom, and the
knowledge of mankind. But what avails the best con
stitution, with the worst administration ? For what is
their present government, and what has it been for years
past, but a pensioned confederacy against reason, and
virtue, and honour, and patriotism, and the rights of
man? What their governors, but a set of political
craftsmen, flagitiously confpirfog to ere& the Babel of
Despotism, on the ruins of the ancient and beautiful
fabric of Law ? A fihamek.fi cabal notoriously employ
ed in deceiving the prince, corrupting the parliament,
debasing the people, deprtffing the most virtuous, and
exalumg the most profligate! In sho t, an inlatiable
juo&o of pub ic spoilers ? lavishing the national wealth,
and by peculation and plunder, daily accumulating a
debt already enormous ! —And what the majority of
their parliament, formerly the most august assembly in
the world, but venal pensioners on the crown, a perfect
mockery of all representation, and at the absolute de
votion of every minister? What were the charaderiftics
of their administration of the province, ? The ebflitu
tion of instructions in the room of law: The multipli
cation of officers to Strengthen the court inhered: p'er
.petualfy extending the prerogatives of the King, and
' retrenching tb/fghts of the fubj^a: Advancing to the
molt eminent Stations, men without, education, and of
diSLlute manners: Employing, with the people's mo
ney, a band of emissaries, to miireprefent and traduce
the people. And (to crown the system of miss rule)
{porting with our persons and estates, by filling the
highest feats of justice with bankrupts, bullies and
blockheads.
Considering then their bewildered councils; their
blundering miaiftry; their want of men and money;
their impaired credit, and declining commerce; their
loft revenues, and Starving iflaeds; the corruption of
their parliament, with the effeminacy of the nation—•
and the success of their enterprize is against all proba
bility. Considering farther, the horrid enormity of
their waging war against their own brethren expoflu
lating for an audience, complaining of grievances and
Supplicating for redress; and waging it with a ferocity
and vengeance unknown to modern ages, and contrary
to all laws human and divine, and we can neither
question the justice of our oppefition, nor the assistance
of Heaven to crown it with vi&ory.
Let us, however, not presumptuously rely on the
interposition of providence without exerting those ef
forts, which it is our duty to exert; and which our
bountiful Creator has enabled us to exert. Let usdo our
part to open the next campaign, with redoubled vigour ;
and until the United States have humbled the pride of
Britain, and obtained an honourable peace, chearfully
furnifh our proportion for eontin-uing the war. A war,
on our Side, founded on the immutable obligation of
Self defence ; and in Support of freedom, of virtue, and
every thing tending to enoble our nature, and render a
people happy. On their part, prompted by bound
less avarice, and a third for absolute (way; and built
on a claim, repugnant to every principle of reason
and equity : A claim, lubverfive of all liberty, natural,
civil; moral, and religious; incompatible with human
happiness, and usurping the attributes of Deity; de
grading man, and blalpheming God.
Let us all therefore, of every rank and degree, re
member our plighted faith and honour, to maintain the
cause with our lives and fortunes. Let us inflexibly
persevere in prolecuting to a happy period, what has
been so gloriously began, and hitherto so pr@fperoufly
conduced. And let those in more distinguished Stations,
From such a nation, (though al! this we bore, and
Should probably have borne for a century, lad they
not avowedly claimed the unconditional dilpofal of life
and property) it is evidently our interest to be detateh
ed. To remain happy or Safe in our connexion with
her, became thenceforth utterly impossible. She is,
moreover, precipitating her own fall, or the age of
miracles is returned; and Britain a phenomenon in the
political world, without a parallel.
The proclamations to ensnare the timid and credu
lous, are beyond expression, difiogenuous and tantali
zing. Ina gilded pili they conceal real potion. They
add insult to injury. After repeated intimations of
commfflioners to treat with America, we are preferred,
instead of the peaceful olive branch, with the devour
ing Iword. Instead of being visited by plenipotentiaries
to bring matters to an accommodation, we are invaded
with an army, in their opinion, able to subdue us, and
upon difeovering their error, the terms propounded a.
mount to this: 66 If you will Submit without resist
- - ance, we are content to take your property and/pare
" your lives; and then (the consummation of arro
“ gance !) we will graciously pardon you, for having
“ hitherto defended both.'