The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-09-16 00:00:00, page 1

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 178 c.
THE
ffra fflirimt^ I wy^k O^WOHm^t
G ENERA L Harare ADVERTISED
STATE of PENNSYLVANIA.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
Monday, September 11, 1780.
Demotion, .
Ordered, That the determination of the General At
fembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, on the depu
ted boundary between the States of Virginia and Penn
sylvania, laid before this House by the Supreme Execu
tive Council, be printed for public consideration.
Extract from Minutes,
THOMAS PAINE, Clerk.
The said Determination is as follows:
In the HOUSEof DELEGATES.
June 23d, 1780.
TH E General Assembly of Virginia have had under
their consideration, the agreement entered into be
tween the Commissioners of this Commonwealth and
those of Pennsylvania, at Baltimore, on the thirty-firlt
day of August, in the year 1779, receding the dispu
ted territory and boundary lines between the two States,
together with the papers and proceedings thereupon ; and
altho' the General Assembly of Virginia are far from
thinking the reasoning of the Pennsylvania Commission
ers in support of their claim conclusive, or that this Com
monwealth is bound by the Agency of Commissioners,
whole powers were restrained to an agreement for ascer
taining boundaries to be referred to their refpeflive Assem
blies for their ratification or rejection ; yet actuated by
the fame principles and motives which induced the Con
vention of Virginia, in that Aft which formed our new
government, to make a cession and release of the territory
contained within the r refpe&ive charters to the neigh
bouring Slates, to promote the common cause of Ameri
ca, to prevent as far as in their power future dispute and
animosity, and to prove the sincerity of their profeffions
and desire to cultivate and maintain the most cordial
harmony with their filler State of Pennsylvania, united
with us by the most sacred ties, in the defence of our com
mon rights and liberty ; the General Assembly of Virgi
nia are willing to ratify the aforefaid agreement on the
conditions express-din the following resolve, correspon
ding with the reservation in their offer of December the
18th, 1776.
Resolved therefore, That the agreement made on the
31st day of August, 1779, between James Madison and
Robert Andrews, Commissioners for the Commonwealth
of Virginia, and George Bryan, John Ewing, and David
Rittenhoufe, Commissioners for the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, be ratified and finally confirmed; to wit,
that the line commonly called Mason's and Dexon's line,
be extended due Weft, five degrees of Longitude, to be
computed from the river Delaware, for the fouthero boun
dary of Pennsylvania, and that a meridian drawn from
the western extremity thereof to the northern limits
of the laid States refpeftiyely, be the western boundary
of Pennsylvania for ever ; on condition, that the private
property and rights of all persons acquired under, founded
on, or recognized by the laws of either country previous
to the date hereof, be saved and confirmed to them, al
tho' they should be found to fall within the other, and
that in the decision of disputes thereupon, preference shall
be given to the elder or prior right, which ever of the
fain States the fame shall have been acquired under, such
persons paying within whole boundary their lands shall be
included the famepurcha'e or consideration money, which
would have been due from them to the State under which
they claimed the right; and where any such purchase or
consideration money hath since the declaration ot Ameri
can Independence been received by either State for lands,
which, according to the before recited agreement, shall
fall within the territory of the other, the fame shall be
reciprocally refunded and repaid ; and that theinhabitants
of the deputed territory, now ceded to the State of Penn
sylvania, shall not before the firft day of December in the
prefect year be fubjeß to the payment of any tax, nor at
any time to the payment of arrears of taxes or impofi
tious heretofore laid by either State.
Resolved, That upon the acceptance and full ratifica
tion of this condition and agreement 00 the part of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Governor be em
powered, with the advice of the Council, to appoint two
Commissioners, on behalf of this Commonwealth, in con->
junction with Commissioners to be appointed by the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to extend the line com
monly called Mason's and Dixon's line, five degrees of
longitude from Delaware river, as aforefaid ; and from
che western termination thereof to run and mark a me
ridian line to the Oh o river, which is as far as the Gene
ral Assembly conceive the fame can at present be extend,
ed and marked, without danger of umbrage to the Indians;
giving to the (aid Commissioners on the part of Virginia,
such inftruaions therein, as the Governor, with the ad
vice of the Council, sh 41 judge proper.
July 1, 1780. Tefte,
JOHN BECKLEY, C. H. D.
Agreed to by the Senate,
WILLIAM DREW, C. S. A Copy,
JOHN BECKLEY, C. H. D.
[Copy.]
STATE of PENNSYLVANIA.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
September 12, 1780.
The Bill entitled, " An Aft to remedy the inconve
niences of holding the Annual Elections in the fourth
Diftria of the county of Cumberland, and the second
Diftria in the county of Bedford, at the places hereto
fore appointed by the Laws of this Commonwealth
was read the second time, and being debated by para
graphs, was ordered to be tranferibed for the third read
ing, and in the mean time printed for public consider
ation.
Extraft from the Minutes,
rt HOMAS PAINE, Clerk.
[ Published every Tuesday, and Saturday.
An CA T to remey the inconveniences of holding the
Annual Eleßions in the fourth Diftria of the county
es Cumberland, and the second diftria in the county
of Bedford, at the places heretofore appointed by the
Laws of this Commonwealth,
WHEREAS it has been found very inconvenient
for the freemen of the fourth diftria of Cum
berland county, to attend the annual eledion at the
house of James Purdy, in Farmanagh township, as|by an
A& entitled," A Supplement to an Ad entitled, An
Aa for amending the several A&s for eleding Members
of Assembly," passed the fourteenth day of June, One
thousand Seven hundred and seventy-seven, is direded :
For remedy whereof,
Be it enaaed, and it is hereby enaded, by the Repre
sentatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Penn
sylvania, in General Assembly met, and by the authori
ty of the fame, That henceforth the freemen of the fourth
diftria of the said county, shall meet on the day by the
Conflitution of this Commonwealth appointed for such
eledion, at the house of Thomas Wilson, in the town
ship of Milford, and then and there elea Mem
bers of General Assembly, and other eledive Officers for
said county, and make return thereof according to the
Laws heretofore made and provided.
AND WHEREAS it is very inconvenient for the free
men of the townfllips of Air and Bethell, in the county
of Bedford, to attend the annual eledion at the House of
John Burd, in the second diftria of said county, as by
the above recited A& is directed : Therefore,
Be it ena&ed by the authority aforefaid, That hence
forth, the said townships of Air and Bethell, shall be a
fifth diftria of the said county of Bedford, for the pur
pose of such annual eledion ; and that the freemen of the
said townships shall hereafter meet, on the day apppoint
ed by the Constitution of this Commonwealth for such
eleaion, at the house of William Hart, in the said town
fllip of -Bethel, and then and there elea Members of the
General Assembly, and other eledive Officers for said
county, according to the said Constitution, and the Laws
in such case made and provided ; and a return of such
eleftions shall be made in the fame manner as the Laws
of this Commonwealth direst for other diftrids : Any
thing in the above recited AH to the contrary in any
wise notwithstanding.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY of Pennsylvania.
Friday, September 15, 1780.
The Bill entitled, " An AH to continue for a further
limited time, the Ad for laying bn embargo on the ex
portation of provifioHS from this State, by sea, for a li
mited time ;" was read the second time, and being deba
ted by paragraphs, was ordered to be tran cribed for the
third reading, and in the mean time printed for public
consideration.
Extract from the Minutes,
THOMAS PAINE, Clerk.
An ACT to continue for a further limited time, the
Ad for laying an Embargo on the exportation of pro
visions from this State, by sea, for a limited time.
TXT HEREAS an Aft entitled, " An A& for laying
an Embargo on the exportation of provisions from
this State, by sea, for a limited time,"gaffed on the twen
ty-eighth day of February, Anno Domini, One thousand
seven hundred and eighty, is expired by its own limita
tion, and it being expedient to continue the fame to a
further time : Therefore,
Be it enabled, and it is hereby enaßed, by the Repre
fentativesof the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Penn
sylvania, in General Assembly met. and by the authori
ty of the fame, That the said Aft, and every clause,
proviso, and thing therein contained, save the clause li
initing the continuance thereof, shall be, and the fame is
hereby continued for fix months, and from thence to the
end of the next fitting of the General Assembly.
Z/Generai ,Assembly 0, Pennsylvania.
Friday, September the iyb, 1780.
The Bill entitled, “ An A& to continue for a longer
time, the A& entitled, " An Aft to suspend the opera
tion. for a limited time, of the several laws of this Com
monwealth, for making the Bills of Credit of the United
States a Legal Tender in the payment of debts, equal to
gold and silver ," was read the fecund time, and being de
based by paragraphs, was ordered to be tranferibed for
the third reading, and in the mean time publifoed for
consideration.
Extraft from the Minutes,
THOMAS PAINE, Clerk.
An Aa to continue for a longer time, the Ad enti
tled, " An Aa to fufpeud the operation, for a limit
ed time, of the several laws of this Commonwealth,
for making the Bills of Credit of the United States, a
Legal Tender in the payment of debts, equal to gold
and silver.
WHEREAS the above recited Act would expire
VV with the ending of this present session of As
sembly, and it is just and necessary that the fame should
be continued, until the value of the said currency can be
fixed at some certain ft^ndard, and a proper mode efla
blifhed, which will make the advantages equal to both
debtor and creditor : Therefore, Be it enabled, &c. That
the Aft entitled, '' An Aft to suspend the operation for
a limited time, of the several laws of this Common wealth,
for making the Bills of Credit of the United States a Le
gal Tender in the payment of debts, equal to gold and
silver;" passed the 31st day of May, 1780, be, and is
hereby continued in full force, until the end of the next
fitting of the General Assembly, and no longer.
STATE of PENNSYLVANIA.
In General Assembly, September 14, 1780.
The Bill entitled, " A Supplement to the'A& entitled,
'' An Ad for regulating and establishing Admiralty Ju
rifdiaion ; was read the second time, and being debated
b, paragraphs, was ordered to be tranferibed for the
third reading, and in the mean time published for eonfi
deratiGH, Extrad from the Minutes,
THOMAS PAINE, Clerk.
A Supplement to the Aft entitled, " An a for regulating
and establishing Admiralty jurifdiaion "
TXTHEREAS by the Aft of Assembly, entitled,
V "An A& for regulating and establishing Admiral
ty Jurifdiaion," passed the eighth day of March last, no
provision is made for the trial of capital and criminal of
fenses, committed at sea, previou, to the passing of the
said A&, and it is reasonable that the fame mode of tri
al should be adopted, for offenders of this kind, before 1
the said time, as since, and it is necessary that all such
offenders should be duly puhifhed ; Be it therefore enaa
ed, and it is hereby enaaed, by the Reprefenta ives of
the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in
General Assembly met, and by the authority of the
fame, That all traitors, pirates, felonsand criminals, who
have offended upon the seas, or within the Admiralty ju-'
rifdiaion, on or before the said eighth day of March last,
may and shall be enquired of, tried, adjudged and pu
nished in the fame manner, at any Admiralty sessions to be,
held for the trial of such offences, as if the fame had been
committed since the aforefaid dayr And if any perlon or
persons happen to be indiHed for any such offence done,
or hereafter to be done upon the seas, or in any other place
within the Admiralty Jurifdißion, or as acceffaries before
or after the fa&, either on the land or upon the seas, by
a Grand Jury for the city and county of Philadelphia,
or for either of them, before the Judges or any two of
them, of the Court of Admiralty Sessions mentioned in 1
the Aa to which this isa Supplement, that then such or
der, process, judgment and execution, shall be uled, had,
done and made to and against every such person and per
sons, so being indicted, as against traitors, felons, mur
derers and other criminals, for treason, felony, robbery,
murder, manflauehter, or other like offences done upon
the land, within the said city or county, as by the Laws
of this Commonwealth is aceuftomed; and the trial of
such offence or offences, if it be denied by the offender cr
offenders, shall be had by twelve lawful men of the said
city and county of Philadelphia, or either of them ; and
such as shall be conviHed of any such offence or offences,
by verdift confeffien or otherwise, in the said Court,
shall have and fuffer such pains of death, losses of lands,
goods and chattels, and other punishment, as if they had
been convicted and. attainted of any treasons, felonies,
robberies, or other the said offences done upon the land ;
and shall be utterly excluded the benefit of clergy,
where the fame is taken away cr not admitted for such
like offence committed within the body of a county, or ,
at laud.)
AND WHEREAS it is found by experience, |
inexpedient to continue the eleventh feftion, in the Aft
to which this is a Supplement, any longer in force, be it
enabled by the authority aforefaid, That the said feftion,
" providing that nothing in the said Aft contained,
which might contradict or interfere with the directions of
an Aft of Assembly of this Commonwealth, intitled,
'' An Aft for the effe&ual suppression of Public Au&i
ons and Vendues, and to prohibit male persons capable of
bearing arms, from being pedlars and hawkers, passed
on the twenty-sixth day of November last, should have
ede/t, or be in force, for and during the continuance of
the said recited aft," be, and the fame is hereby repeal
ed and made void; and all prizesand property condemn
ed by the Judge of the Admiralty, in pursuance of the
directions of the said Aa, except negroes and mulattoes,
may and shall be fold at Public Auction, by the Marshal
of the said Court of Admiralty, in small lots or quae,
tities, (where the fame can be done) to the higheftand
best bidder for the fame, within twelve days after
such condemnation, on giving fix days previous notice
of such sale, as well in hand blls, as in one or more
of the public news papers of the city of Philadelphia,
and the nett proceeds thereof be distributed as by the said
Aft is prescribed, which distribution shall be by him
made, within fifteen days after luch sale, under the penalty
of twenty per centum for the sums so neglefted to be paid,
to be recovered in the action brought for the fame. #
And be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That all
other par's of the Aft of Assembly before recited, and to
which this is a Supplement, not hereby altered or sup
plied, shall remain, continue and be in full force and vir
tue.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That if any of the fubjefts of this State or of any of the
United States of America, shall commit any piracy or
robbery, or any aft of hostility, ag inst other the fub
jeHsof tbis State, or of any of the other United States
of America, upon the sea, under colour of any commit
on from any foreign Prince or State, cr pretence of au
thority from any person whats-ever, such offender and of
fenders, and every of them, shall be deemed, adjudged
and taken to be pirates, felons, and robbers ; ano they
and every of them being duly conviffed thereof, accor
ding to the Aa of Assembly above recited, for regula
ting and eftablifliing Admiralty Jurisdiction, or this Aft,
shall have and fuffer such punishment and forfeitures, as
pirates, felons and robbers upon the sea, ought to have
and fuffer.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid.
That if any commander or maftec of any Blip, or any
seaman or mariner, shall in any place where the Admi
ralty hath jurifdiaion, betray his trust and turn pirate,
enemy or traitor, and piratically and feloniously run away
with his or their ship or (hips, or any barge, boat, ord
nance, ammunition, goods or merchandizes, or yield
them up voluntarily to any pirate, enemy or traitor, or
bring any seducing message from either of them ; or con
fu!t, combine, or confederate with, or attempt or endea
vour to corrupt any commander, mafler, officer or ma
riner, to yield up or run away with any ship, goods or
merchandize, or turn pirate, or go over to pirates or ene
mies; or if any person shall lay violent hands upon
his commander, whereby to hinder him from fighting in
defence of his ship and^oods committed to his truf i; or
shall confine his master, or make or endeavour to make
a revoltin hia ship, he shall be adjudged to be a pi
rate, felon and robber ; and being convicted thereof as
aforefaid, shall have and fuffer such pains of death, loss
of lands, goods and chattels, as pirates, felons and rob
bers upon the seas ought to have and fuffer.