Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-07-01 00:00:00, page 2

EX TR ACTS from the PR o'c eedihgs sf the Provin
cial Conference 0, COMMITTEE S, of the
Province of Pennsylvania, held at tbe Carpenters
Halt, at Philadelphia,
June 23, 1776, A. M.
Ordered, ff H A T Doftor Ruth, the Chairman, Cel.
Hil, and Col. Smith, prepare a draft of
an Addre is ic the inhabitants of the Province and report
to the Conference.
Refolded unanimously, That it be recommended to the
said Convention to choafe arid appoint Delegates or De
-pities to reprelent this Province in the Congress of the
United Colonies; and also a .Council of Safety to exer
cise the whole of the executive powers of Government,
Io far as relates to the military defence and fafety of the
Province, and to make such allowance for the services
of the said Delegates and Council of Safety refpedively
as (hall be.reafonable. Which Taid Delegates and Coun
cil of Safety, are to continue for fix months, unless a
new Government (hall be formed within that time, in
which case their appointment is to cease.
The Conference then adjourned to three o'clock, P. M.
June 23, P. M. The Conference met.
The Gentlemen appointed to prepare a draft of an
Address to the inhabitants of tins Province, delivered at
the table, a draft which wagead.—O^ motion, That di
vers Resolutions.of Congref^of 3d and 4th days of June
jnft. requiring 10,000 of the Militia of the Colony of
Pennsylvania, the Government of the Counties of New-
Castle, Kent and Suffer upon Delaware, and the Colony
of Maryland ; be -raised to form a flying camp, be read,
the fame were read accordingly, and are in the words
following, viz,.
In C O N G.R ES S, June 3.
Refolded, That a flying camp be immediately establish
ed in the middle Colonies, and that it consist of 10,0'60
men, to complete which number—Refi^zW, That the
Colony of Pennsylvania be requeued to furnifli of the
Militia, , - - - - 6006
Maryland, - - - 3400
Delaware Government, - - 600
10,060
June 4th, 1776. Rifoßved, That it be recommended
to the Afftmblies and Conventions of the Colonies, re
quested to supply or furnifh Militia by the Resolutions of
yesterday, to take particular care that the Militias come
provided with arms, accoutrements, and camp kettles.
Extrafl from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
That three Provincial Brigadier Generals be employ
ed for the flying camp, two from Pennsylvania and one
from Maryland. . That the laid Brigadier Generals be
appointed by the refpe&ive Colonies above-mentioned.
That the flying camp be under the command of such
Continental General Officers as the Commander in Chief
(hall direct. That the Militia when in service be regu
larly paid and victualled in the fame manner as the Con
tinental troops. ,
Refolded, That the Militia be engaged to the firft day
of December next, unless sooner discharged by CongrefL
That the. pay of the Militia commence from the day
of their marching from home, and that they be allowed
^ne penny a mile lawful money, in lieu of rations for
travelling expences, and one dayls pay for every twenty
miles between home and the general rendezvous going
and returning.-
Extraflfrom the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
By special order the fame were read a second time.
On motion, Ordered, That a Relolution of the Affem
hly of this Province of June 14th inst. in consequence of
the foregoing roquifition of Congress, be read, and the
fame was read accordingly.
By special order the fame yeas read a second time, and
is in the words following, viz.
Tn ASSEMBLY, June 14, 1776.
Refolded, By the Members of Assembly now met, that
they are earnestly desirous of carrying into execution the
Resolutions of Congress of the firft inst. but that as they
despair after repeated disappointments of procuring a
quorum of the House, they find themselves unable at
this time to proceed on said Resolutions.
Extrafl from the Minutes,
ABEL EVANS, Clerk.
On motion, Ordered, That a copy of a Minute from
the proceedings of the Committee of Safety of this Pro
vince, entered on the journal of this Conference on Sa
turday last, be read, and it was read accordingly.
, Whereas it appears to this Conference, that the fix
thousand Militia required of this Colony by Congress,
and agreed by the Assembly of this Province to be raised,
are absolutely necessary for the defence and security of
the Thirteen United Colonies ; and whereas it appears
that the requisition of Congress was made to the colony
cf Pennsylvania, and that the fame cannot be complied
ufth by the Assembly or Committee of Safety of this
Province; and that unless this Conference, being the
only representative body of this Colony that can at this
time with propriety interpose in this business, undertake
to accomplish the desires of the Congress, and of the
Assembly io the premififeF; the aforesaid flying camp
cannot be raised in due time; and the liberties and fafe
ty of this Province, as well as of the other Colonies may
be thereby endangered ; and whereas the Militia of this
Province at firft affiliated by the advice and under the
authority of the Committees of Infpe&ipn and Observa
tion of the City and the several Counties : Therefore,
Refolded unanimously, That this Conference do recom
mend to the Committees and Associators of this Pro
vince, to embody 4500 of the Militia, which with the
1500 men now in the pay of this Province, will be the
quota of this Colony required by Congress.
Refolded unanimously, That Mefrs. Hill, Gurney, Hart,
Montgomery, Morgan, Cunningham, Gray, M'Callifter,.
M'Clean, Espy, Cook, and Perry, be a Committee to
devise Ways and Means for railing the.laid 4500 men,
arid to enquire into all matters necessary to fit them for
faking the field.., $
On motion, Onanimoufy ordered, That the Chairman,
Dr. Rufo, arid Col. Smith, be a Committee to draft a
Resolution declaring the sense of the Conference with
refpe& to an Independence of this Province, pn the
Crown and Parliament of Great-Britain, and report To
morrow morning.
The draft of art Address, &c. was by order read a se
cond time; arid being considered and amended, was
agreed to unanimously, and is in the following words.
Tbe Address of the Deputies from the Committees of Rennfyl
lania, assembled in Provincial Conference, ]une 12.
To the PEOPLE of PENNSYLVANIA.
Friends and Countrymen
IN obedience to the pou.r we derived from you, we
have fixed upon a mode of ele&ing a .Convention to form
a Government for the Province of Pennsylvania, under
the Authority of tbe People..,
Divine Providence is about to grant you a favour which
few people have ever enjoyed before, the privilege of
chufing Deputies to form a Government under which you
are to live. We need not inform you of the importance
of the trust you are about to commit to them. Your li
berty, fafety, happiness, and every thing that posterity
will hold dear to them, to the end of time will depend
upon their deliberations. It becomes you therefore to
choose such persons only to ad for you in the ensuing
Convention, as are distinguished for wildom, integrity,
arid a firm attachment to the liberties of this Province,
as.well as to the liberties of the United Colonies in ge
neral. •
, In order that your Deputies may know your fehti
ments . as fully as possible upon the fubjed of government,
we beg that you would convey to them your withes and
opinions upon that head immediately after their election.
We have experienced an unexpected unanimity in our
Councils, and we have the pleasure of observing a grow
ing unanimity among the people of the Province. We
beg that this brotherly spirit may be cultivated, and that
you would remember that the present unsettled state of
the Province requires that you should thow forbearance
charity—and moderation to,each other. We beg that
you would endeavour to remove the prejudices of the
weak and ignorant, refpeding the propoled change in
our Government, and assure them that it is absolutely
necessary to secure Property— Liberty—and the sacred
rights of Conscience to every individual in the Province.
Tae season of the year, and the exigencies of our Co
lony require dispatch in the formation of a regular Go
vernment. You will not therefore be furpril^d at our
fixing the day for the election of Deputies so early as the
Bth of next July.
We with you success in your attempts to eftablifli and
perpetuate your liberties, and pray God to take you uh*
der his special protection.
Signed by unanimous Order of tbe Conference,
THOMAS M'KEAN, Prefident#
June 24, 1776, P. M.
The Committee appointed for that purpose brought in
a draft of a Declaration, on the Tubjeft of the Indepen
dence of this Colony, on the Crown of Great-Britain,
which was ordered to be read by special order, the fame
was read a second time, and being fully considered, it
was with the greatest unanimity of all the Members
agreed to and adapted, and is in the words following.
(For tbe Declaration fee tbe Poffcript.)
Refolded, That Messrs. Bayard, Rufo and Smith be a
Committee to prepare a draft of an address to the As
sociators of this province, on the fubjed of embodying
4500 men. 5
The Committee appointed to devise Ways and Means
&c. made their report, which being read, was referred
to to-morrow.
The Committee appointed to wait on the Committee
of Safety reported in the following words. Thatin con
versation they found they were willing to agree to
any thing with this Conference in reason, that° woilld
promote harmony and good order ; and further th-t any
of the Conference was welcome to examine any of their
accounts or proceedings.
Signed,
J. BLEWER,
M. BIRD,
ROBERT LOLLER,
JOHN COLHOON.
Jtine 2s, 1776. The Conference met.
The Conference resumed the consideration of the re
port on the Ways and Means, & c . and after full donfi
deration. Refolded unanimouJlj, That it be recommend
ed to the Associators of the City of Philadelphia, and
the several Counties, to embody themselves in the fol
lowing proportion, viz.
City of Philadelphia, 210 County of Berks, 666
County of Philad. 746 Northampton, 346
Bucks, 4.00 York, 400
Chelter, 652 Cumberland, 3 g +
Lancaster, 746 1746
2 754?
>7+6f 45^
Troops under Col. Miles, i s oo
6oooMen.
Refolded unanimoufy, That the 4506 Militia recom
mended to be railed, be formed into fix battalions ; each
battalion to be commanded by one Colonel, one Lieu
tenant Colonel, one Major ; the Staff to confit of a
Chaplain, a Surgeon, an Adjutant, a Quarter-Matter,
and a Surgeon's Mate ; and to have one Serjeant Major,
one Qnarter-Mafter Serjeant, a Drum-Major, an<l a
Fife-Major ; and to be composed of nine companies, viz.
Eight battalion companies, to consist ofa Captain, two
Lieutenants, and one Ensign, four Serjeants, four Cor
porals, a Drummer, a Filer, and 66 Privates each ;
and one Rifle Company, to consist of a Capiam, three
Lieutenants, four Serjeants, four Corporals, one Drum
mer, ohe Fifer, and 80 Privates ; excepting that for the
Chester County Battalion ; one Company of Artillery is
to beraifed in the City of Philadelphia, instead of a Ri
fle Company.
Refolded unanimously, That it be recommended to the
Committees of Infpe&ion and Observation for the city
and liberties, &c. of Philadelphia, and for each County
tc order the Militia aforefaid to be raised out of tbe Bat
talions associated within their refoeaive limits, in such
proportion as they shall judge most equal.
Refolded unanimously, That the Committee of InfpeAi
on and Observation in each County, wherein a whole
Battalion is to be raised, shall nominate and appoint tbe
Field and other Officers to command such Battalion ; and
that the Committees aforefaid of the City and the Counties
wherein only a part of a battalion is to be raised, fiiall
have the right refpe&ively to nominate and. appoint the
Field officers and other officers as nearly as may be in
proportion to the number of men raised in the fame, and
they are desired to fend Sub-Committees to confer to
gether on such appointment, that harmony may prevail
in this whole tranfa&ion.
Refolded unanimoufy. That each private procure hit
own mufleet or rifle, with the other accoutrements re
quired by Congress ; but if they cannot be precured, it
is recommended to the Colonels of tbe several Battalions
in this Province, to lend the Colonels of the Battalions
now to be raised, the muskets which have been made by
order of the House of Assembly, and have been deliver
ed to them for the use of the Militia ; and the Colonels
are hereby authorized and differed to receive the arms
so to be delivered ; and to lend the fame to such privates
as cannot procure arms for themselves, until the expi
ration of the present service ; and if any private fhaß nee
lett ori refufe to return the arms to him lent in good or
der, to the Colonel of the Battalion to which he belongs,
at the end Of tbe service ; the original price thereof thaU
be dedu&edout of bis pay.%
Refolded unanimously. That it be recommended to the
Committees aforefaid, to advance to each private engag
ing itothis service, the fora of fifty (hillings, being the
firft months pay, and alio to furnifh one camp kettle for
every fix men, and te take particular care that the troops,
now recommended to be embodied, provide themselves
with good arms and accoutrements, a blanket, a haver
sack, and knapsack each, at their own expence. The
camp kettles to be returned to the Colonels of the re
fpe&ive Battalions, at the end of the campaign.
Refolded} Tnat it be recommended to every County
and diftria Committee in this province, to pay the ftrift
eft attention to the examination of all strangers or per
sons travelling through the City or Counties,vand per
mit no persons traveling through rhe City or Counties
to remain therein, unless they produce a pals or certifi
cate from the City, County, or Diftri& Committee from
whence they last came. And it is further recommended
to all Committees: to furnifh proper passes to all friends
to American Liberty upon their application therefor.
The Committee appointed to prepare a draft of an ad^
dress to the Associators, on the fubje& of embodying
4500 men, in conference of the Refoltition of Congress,
&c. presented a draft thereof, which was read.
By special order the fame was read a second time, and
agreed to unanimously, and is as folld+s, viz.
The Address of the Deputies of the Committees of Penn
sylvania assembled, in Provincial Conference at Phila
delphia, June 25, 1776.
To the Associators of Pennsy lvan1 &
Gentlemen,,
The only design of our meeting together was to put
an end to our own power in the province, by fixing up
on a plan for calling a Convention to form a government
under the authority of the people. But the sudden and
unexpected reparation of the late Assembly, has compel
led us to undertake the execution of a Resolve of Con
gress, for calling forth 4500 hundred of the Militia of
the Province to join the Militia of the neighbouring Co
lonies, to form a c@mp for our immediate protection.
We presume only to recommend the plan we have formed
to you, b ufting that in case of so much consequence your
love of virtue, and zeal for liberty will supply the want
of authority delegated to us exprefely for that purpose.
We need not remind you that you are no<w furniffied
with new motives to animate and support your courage.
You are not about to contend against the power of
Great-Britain in ofrder to difolace one set of villians, to
make room for another. Your arms will not be ener
vated in the day of battle, with the reflection that you
are to rifle your lives, or shed your blood for a British
Tyrant, or that your posterity will have your work to
do over again.—You are about to contend for perma
nent freedom, to be supported by a government which
will be derived from yourselves, and which will have for
its object not the emolument of one man, or class of
men only, but the fafety, liberty, and happiness of every
individual in the community.
We call upon vou therefore by the reflect and obedi
ence which are due to the authority of the United Colo
nies, to concur in this important measure. The pre
sent campaign will probably decide the fate of America.
It is now in your power to immortalize your names, by
mingling your achievements with the events of the year
1776 —a year which we hope will be famed in the annals
of history to the end of time, for eftablidiing upon alaft.
ing foundation the liberties of one quarter of the globe.
Remember the honor of our Colony is at stake. Should
you desert the common cause at theprefent juncture, tbe
glory you have acquired by your former exertions of
strength and virtue will be tarnished, and our friends and
brethren, who are now acquiring laurels in the most re
mote parts of America will reproach us, and blush to
own themselves natives or inhabitants of Pennsylvania.
But there are other motives before you—your hoafes
—your fields, the legacies of your ancestors, or the near
bought fruits of your own industry, and your liberty,
now urge you to the field. These cannot plead with you
in vain, or we might point out to you' further, your
wives, your children, your aged fathers and mothers,
who now look up to you for aid, and hope for salvation
in this day of calamity only from the instrumentality of
your swords.
Remember the name of Pennsylvania. Think of your
ancestors, and of your posterity.
Signed by an unanimous order of tbe Conference,
June 25, 1776. THOMAS M'KEAN, Chairman.
Refolded unanimously, That thanks be given to the Pre
sident, for his impartiality and elofe attention to the bu
siness of this Conference.
Refolded unanimous), That the thanks of this Confer
ence be given to the Committee of the City and Liber
ties of Philadelphia, &c. for their unwearied endeavours
in the public service, and particularly for their patrio
tic exertions in carrying into execution tbe Resolve of
Congress of May 1 sth last, for suppressing all authority
under the Crown of Great-Britain.
Then the Conference dissolved itfelf.
THOMAS M'KEAN, President.
Jonathan B. Smith,. -
Samuel C. Meatus, fretanes.