The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-12-19 00:00:00, page 3

Conclusion of the Piece on the FIVE per CENT,
begun in our Paper of the 7th Instant.
DOES he expert to make a <cap,e-goat of the former
power, to bear away the iniquity of a measure so
often exploded, not because the authority which enforc
ed it was 3000 miles off inflead of 300, but on another lo
cal circumstance because it was utterly repugnant to the
privileges of a free people, that being thus expiated it•
jnay befafely adopted by the prefect authority ! Had
the parliament demanded a sum of money to be levied
to pon real estates, &c. and collected by officers of their
own appointment, and in their way, doubtless they
would not have succeeded But that they should make
requisitions ofthe several governments, in times of war
to be by them freely granted in their own way, was a
plan often proposed by the patriots of this country.
But that would not answer then any more than now;
that would be for tie people to keep the Raff in their
own hands, which they then confider^d might other?
wife break their own heads. In short, his arguments
upon that head seem to resolve themselves into theft
two lines of tin poet.
" All piety confits therein
“ In them, in. (ser men all fin."
We are told, the members of congress may be replaced
at every choice, and that this is a fufficient security
for the rights of the people ; but if the power of re
moving their representatives is no security to the Bri
tons against the force of the revenue in the handsol
the minifiry, what ha^e we to rely on, whole repre
fentatives' are ministry and all? This is a temptation
tao great for any fee of men to be exposed to, who at
thh fame time have the command of the purses of the
people —which once obtained, it will be a talk much
easier to vote themselves septennial, and then for life,
as did the long parliament, and the Bates of Holland.
The power of granting theirown money, is one of
those ineftim^ble rights inherent in the people by birth,
it is one of those three privileges, viz life, liberty
and property, which one man or one set of men can
not forfeit or grant for another ; but are those unto
which all are born entitled. This doßrine has been
approved throughout the states, and thoroughly
established. But we are now about to grant to the
Sovereign power of this country a certain part of the
property of our posterity, for aught we know forever;
in the disposal of which they are to have no voice or
judgment. But. I am too tedious upon points so well
underßood, when adverted to by the people of this
country.
It may be expected something should be said up
on the general concurrence which the measure has
met with by those in power. This I doubt not has
tended to quiet many individuals in whose minds
doubts have arose at firft naming a revenue indepen
dent of the people, but without close examination
have hoped, that congress and the different assemblies
would not have adopted a measure, in its nature de
ftru&ive of the rights of the people. But this will not
appear so flrange, wneq we consult human nature
herein ; it will, dqubtlefs be .a much easier and more
agreeable tafkfto tranfad the bufiaefs of the public, to
have a fufficiency of cath at command to do it with;
the difagteeable application to the people for money
for every purpose, is hereby avoided, in which there
would be a necessity of explaining from time to time
the purposes to which it^is applied: besides, if the pre
sent profpe£ tof peace should take effect, it is proba
ble there would be some penfitoners for particui r ser
vices, for half pay, &c. who rely upon their friends.
Such grantees will be unwilling to depend upon the
people, left they should be flruck off the lift, as being
useless members of society, when thus exempted from
indufiry.
The present impost will yield a fund upon which
they may rely witn some degree of security, it being
absolutely vetted in congress, and overmuch the peo
ple can have no confront , , /+•
Add to these the spirit and aaivit, which we are
told it will give t,o all public deliberations; the dig
nity and weight in foreign courts, the energy to the
whole political machine ; all these advantages, height
ened by the difficulties and embarrassments which have
attended for want of money, have a tendency to en
gage the minds of those in authority, in promoting
the measure.
But, alts! they have not now time to consider, that
the mode of collecting this revenue may be of more
consequence to us and posterity than them all. They
know doubtless the integrity'of their own intentions,
and are not led to fufpe& that of any who may come
after them, in a measure that proposes great facility
and dispatch in the bufineD, which they have hitherto
done with continued labour and unwearied attention:
This is the very door, if history may be credited, at.
which despotic rale has entered into most free Rates.'*
May some .divine hand interpose and keep it shut, as
to the phoenix system of America !
Several late publications upon this fubjeft have so
well handled its inequality, confid^red as a mode of
•taxation, the difficulty of its execution, &c. that I
ffiall not attempt to come after them. Its immorality,
and the pernicious coufequenpes thereof, particularly
in a republican government, whose spirit, genius and
support, depend upon the virtue of toe people, may
be the fubjeft of some future thoughts, perhaps of
some able hand. But we are told by others, that this
train of evils is now merely imaginary. That altho'
the whole was true, with refped to Great Britain, the
reverse will be true with refped to America. That al
though they have not been able to prevent smuggling
at home nor abroad, with all the improvements they
could make in several centuries, yet it will be done
here at the firft onset, with the greater facility. That
although they, in order to prevent it, have multipli
ed the officers of the cuftoqfe until they are become an
intolerable burthen upon the people, yet here a fuffici
ent number to effect it, in the compleateft manner,
will by no means be so heavy a burthen as apprehend
ed; or at least ifit should, it will be a fufficient con
solation that we receive these things at the hands of
congress, and not of the king of Great-Britain and
his millifters. Their arguments need only to be firip
ped of their finery, and contrafled, to appear in their
true light.
My countrymen, it is not the men, but the measures,
we ought to attend to. Wein the country know near
. ly rhe cost of collecting our own t x-s: We have once
a year to choose assessors and collectors —this is gene
rally done in town meetings, met for other business and
takes up perhaps half an hour ; the fees of our collec
tors we know very well, because we agree with them e
very choice. The extravagancy of the man, therefore,
who asserts to you that for every thousand of money,
railed in the common mode of taxation, it costs you
three, must be enormous. He will doubtless attempt
to prove, to your fatisfaftion, that if by the "impost
p opofed they can neat fifteen hundred, there will be a
laving to you of five hundred.
Whether the Rate of Rhode IHand wW have inte
grity and firmnefs enough to perfwere in their present
patriotic resolution I know not, but, should the r pre
ftntatives of the people of that Rate remain faithful
guardians to the rights of their cooftituepts, they may
thereby he the means of (alvation to the rights and pri
vileges of the united Rates. The impost would un
doubtedly wrest from the inhabitants of that ft te a
much greater proportion of the public expence thah/they
were held to pay by the union. They have therefore
the fame resource as they, have in all other cases, where
the Rronger Rates shall endeavour to oppress the weak
er. They flee to the articles of confederation as a
fanduary ; neither can they be reproached for felfifh
nefs or difaffeaion. I believe we must all acknowledge
that no one Rate has gone before them, either in sup
plies or their appearance in the field. They have had
no Crown lands within their claim to contend for. It
would therefore become other Rates firft to relinquish
their particular claims to those lands, won by the arms
and treasure of the united Rates, and of none more,
if so much in proportion, as Rhode Island, before they
fix the charge of felfithnefs u pon them, or a fiill heavi
er burthen of the public expeace. To do which, in
the face and violation of a capital article of the con
federation, will be to leave them the mere name, not
of sovereignty only, -but.of liberty iiftlf.
But, fay these writers, th°e confederation is lame, and
infufficieiit for the purposes of government; congress
are thereby entrufled with too limited powers, and ne
ceßity require a reform in mat refpeft.
This, oblique refteßian upon those men who in
congress formed that plan, has been noticed by others.
I shall not pretend to fay they were equal to the talk, or
that the present congress are not much superior to
them---but this we have been well allured of, that it
was done with great deliberation and care. And it ap
pears evidently to have b-en their intention that the
powers of congress should be limited, especially in the
point in question. Moreover, it was adopted after a
particular consultation of the people at large. How
then are they+treated so ala negligence, so flightily,
with refpea to an alteration-fe essential to their rights
and privileges? They agreed to it in the form it thtn
flood, not with such amendments and alterations as ccn
grtfs should fee fit to propose.
But let us attend a moment to what congress have said
in early times upon tips fubjeft, than whom I doubt if we
can boast a wiser sett of men: in toe words of the great
Montesquieu, they fay, " When the power of making
" laws, and the power of executing them, are united in
" the fame person cr the fame body of magifirates, there
'' can no be liberty; because apprehensions may arise,
" left the f:me monarch or senate, should enact tyran
" med laws th execute them in a tyrannical manner."
Was there not one of those men, whose Ryle at that
time breathed the spirit of liberty, left to call those
things to remembrance in congress, when t<wy were pro
posing to them selves to be clothed with that power
which is so emphatically described above?
But we are positively assured by these courtly writers,
that there can be no doubt but that this power will be
exercised in the most moderate mam er, and for the
- and fafety of the people only. I mud not doubt
but it is attended with those circumflances which present
it to the view of their minds with the alluring profpea
" of public* fafety." True, fay t^y, it muftlie en
tirely with congress what number of oncers of the cus
toms (fufficient to guard every river, creek, bay or in
let, in a coast near 2000 miles in length) nd pensioners
shall be fopported upon the duties proposed; but the
people may rest assured, " the greatest frugality and ce.
conomy will be attended to."
It is hard to conceive what motives are fufficiently
powerful, to engage a man of capacity in the support
of a measure which so embarrasses his talents. 1 can
not charge the author of a peace fubferibed Candidas
in a Lofton paper, nor the Citizen, in the Providence
Gazette, with any views of a poll, after so solemn an
appeal to Heaven! That would be to treat him as he
has treated the farmer in the preceeding paragraph.
There is, however, an intimation therein, which
may serve to put the people on their guard, which is,
that one Rate mud not exped to frufirate the mea
sures of twelve; which implies, iftthis concurrence can
not be obtained by fair means, it must be obtained.
I cannot fu?pofe an implied threat of that kind is
countenanced by authority; and yet he writes like
one in authority ; for who less would undertake, that
" goods should be received in lieu of cash ?" for when
actually invefled, he could compound for no more than
his fe s; or undertake to shew that, the duties not only
" could, cr would be, but that they should be colleA.
ed?"
Money, fays the proverb, is the sinews of war; mo
ney in the hands of the foverrign executive powej;, to
be raised and disposed of at will, may be and often is
the instrument of tyranny; but in the hands of a free
and generous people is the fafeguard of their rights.and
privileges. This is the end of government. "
CAME to the pasture of the fubferiber,
on the 15th of Aoguß laR Ooe red and white
STEER, one red an< ( whi+e CO W, cne dark red
COW, one dark red HEIFER, and one dun COW
with a white foehe^d. The o^ner my have them
again by proving property and paying charges.
WILLIAM ELKINS, living in
D.c. 18. Walnut street, near Filth street.
A COUNTRYMAN.
Josiah Hewes & Joseph Anthony,
Having entered into Co-pntnei (hip, are removed from
th? Store 1 tely occupied by Josiah Hewes,in Chefnut.
Hre^, to the Stores on the north fide of Chefnut-
Rr^et wharff, where they have for SALE, lately im
ported,
SCARLET, blue, mixed and drab coloured fuperfime
and second Cloths; crimson, green, purple, plain
and figured Genoa Velvets; fine Dutch Hollands; a
Variety of Slks and Gauzes; tamboured Muslins;
embroidered silk Waistcoat Patterns; Barcelona Hand
kerchiefs ; Dimities ; Dowlafs, &c. &c &c.
AL S O,
Green Tea, Nutmegs, Allspice, Weft-Tndia Rum,
French Brandy, Spermaceti Candles and Sweet Oil.
Five Pounds Reward.
STRAYED or flolen from the pasture
0t Samuel Hodgdon, the 2 fh of November lift
A to rel GELDING, with a white face and switch
tail, <nd drcops pretty much co h s buttock, carries z
good head, bs mne hangs on the ne^r fide, trots and
c-nt rr. Whoever takes up the said Horse and Thief
d,a I have the ab.ve R ward, or for the Ho r se rn;v
THREE POUNDS, paid by JOHN STEPHENS in
Chefnut street, Philadelphia. D e. in.'
4[ A ME tojjie llace of the. fubferiber,
in th. Noith/rm liberties, some time a£o, an old
dry Red QO% Thr ov ner s drfired to "come and
prove preperte, pay charges and take her away, or (lie
wII be fold for her expences .•
Dec. 12. . TH'm^S RENSHAW.
CADI Z, O&ober r,
ON the 28th ultimo arrived in this bay, 2 Ruffian
men of war and 1 frigate, from Portsmouth which
place they left the 7th ditto, but from their neutrality
we cannot believe any information they give us.
The 19th ult. arrived in this bay a small fleet of mer
chantmen from Martinique convoyed by a frigate, all
very richly laden, they had been beating 3 days on
this coafl, and thereby caused the signal towers to give
the alarm to the fleet at Algefiras, who were only moor
ed with one anchor.
Philadelphia, Dec. 19.
Extract of a letter from Richmond (Virginia) dated
December 7, 1782.
“ Charleftown is evacuated; a flag is arrived here
in five days, and brings the account—The particulars,
or whether official, I have not time to learn."
There are other letters in town from Virginia, which
agree with the above, altho' no particulars are menti
oned.
*** The PHILOSOPHICAL .SOCIETY meets To
morro^, at Six o'clock in the Evening, at the Uni
versity : the Members are requeued to take Notice,
that the general Election for Officers will be held, ac
cording to charter, on the firft Friday in January;
and that the place of holding the Ele&ion is to be a-'
greed on at the next Meeting. T. MATLACK, fee.
A Genteel House to be Lett,
Nrar the market, in Thiid-ftreet, furnifhed or unfur
nifh^d, with a large Parlour, three Chambers, a Garret
a good Kitchen, and a large Vault. Enquire of the
Priner.
To be Sold by Public Auction,
0^ SATURDAY Next,
(The 21st of December instant)
At the C OFFEE-HOUSE,
1 wo Waggons, with four young,
strong HORSES to each Waggon,
and HARNESS compleat.
N. B. To be Sold as above, T^o Volumes of
NEA of^PERb, elegantly bound, one volume ccn
fiftiny of the P<nnfylvania Gazette, for the years 1780
and 81, bound together; the other the Pennfylvanu
Packet, for the year 1781.
Twenty Pounds Reward.
STOLEN cut of my pasture, on Sunday, the 10th of
Nevimber last, near Baltimore town, Two Blaek
GELDINGS, each 15 hands or better hi^h: or.e has
no white, is nog-hacked, hit tail nicked,' h ^ several
wind-gills cn his legs, especially behind, carries him-
Ulf weld's tender tn his forefeet from a founder, s a
bout ii yeers 0% trets and pacts, but looks rather
heavy for * ha<kt»y, will not draw in any carriage :
the other is han 6 me and strong made, has a remalft
abie bhz< on one fide his face, and the (car of a fiftuh
and fore cn hs b^ck, has four white feet, and is afa
tender in his forefeet, is abert 8 or 9 years old; he
WZB my riding horse about 4 years ago. FIVE Pounds
Reward for eath of the Horfet, or the above Reward
of Twenty Pounds for both Horses and Thief, paid by
me, RICHARD LEMMON.
Baltimore, Dec. 15, 1782.
N. B. Any perron who my have seen the above
hr rts lately, and will advise the fubferiber by letter cr
olherwife, will oblige R. Lemmon.
The Rainbow Tavern
Trf be L E T, and entered on Immediately.
Al ar 6 e, conynunt three itory brick H 0 USE
arc a tKO her frame Huufr adjoining , with a
Lot of Ground 240 feet in depth, fixated in Secend
ftreet, a little zbo e the barrack,. Fer toms enquire
of L ENRY GURNEY, in the Northern- Liberties.
Philadelphia, C&otcr ij, 1782.