Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-10-24 00:00:00, page 5

mankind! while your foie consolation is, that their
ignorance makes even vice more detestable. To
lee public offices publicly bought and fold, and no
purchaser made accountable to the people for the
abuse of office or the neglect of duty !
Whenever a nation finds itfelf in such fad cir
cumftanc'es, in order to a speedy remedy, they
must look minutely into the cause of their distresses.
Whence can such calamities arise? I shall not at
present point out the cause, but I will endeavour
to lay open the fonree from whence greater misery,
if possible, may follow.
Parliaments are the vitals of our constitution ;
but the independency of Parliaments alone is the
great bulwark of our liberty. While the mem
bers continue free, tmenflaved by corruption, un
influenced by power, we can never behold this a
fallen dependent state: hut if this great barrier
should once be invaded; if instead of a brave and
independent Parliament, you should ever have the
form only; nay, if the very form should be set
aside, and nothing left but the empty name ; if
your laws, far from being direded to the prospe
rity of her country, should be calculated to se
cond the ambitious intentions of a despotic mini
ftcr, or the sordid views of an avaricious, hungry,
mock patriot. If, under the bell: modelled com
monwealth, no traces of good government should
appear; if ever, my fellow fwbje&s, yoa should
POS 1 SCRIPT to the Pemifykama Packet. No. 157.
Milton's Euripides.
X&'^X " Foacienfion of the two greatest com
,f T ^ monwealthsthat are mentioned in hif
^% ' ^ fry, the Athenians and Romans, is
V^^^ generally ascribed to the faction of
* the Nobles, to the corruption of the
Commonalty, and the violence of numerous Land
ing armies. Whdft the people were industrious
and temperate, they were free: While they were
free they were arbiters of the earth. The fates
of empires and of kingdoms were in their hands,
and they weighed them in the balance of justice
and integrity. Fortitude accompanied them in
the field; clemency foftened the rigour of war,
though victory always attended their armies.
The wealth of the public was the chief care of
every individual, and the glo r y of the common
wealths reflected luftre on their sons.
But when extensive conquers raised extensive
defines, luxury Hole in, and under the ipecious
mafic of pleasure enslaved them,firft to themselves,
and then, in their hearts being corrupt, they rea
dily fell a prey to the wortt set of wretches that
God, in his wrath, ever lent, to persecute a per
verse people.
Reflection on the past, naturally leads the mind
to a review and comparison of the present times ;
and no period is more remarkable, or can more
justly demand our attention, than that in which
providence has alloted our (hare of action; I
therefore hope my fellow fubjeds will not only
pardon, but go hand in hand with me, while I
take a short uprejudiced view of their condition.
This island is happy in its foil and its climate,
and nothing but inattention to the true interest of
the country, could render it incapable of support
ing its inhabitants. Eyits fitnation, that open in
tercourse with other nations, common to the con
tinent, is cut off, and the absolute necessity of ex
pensive alliances, and being exposed to thediftref
fes of neighbouring armies, frequenly wafting its
fields by marches and encampments, and its towns
by plunder, are happily prevented. As it must
draw its fuhllence from trade, provident nature
seems to have deigned its ports for the ffore-houf
es ofthe western worlds you should therefore have
greater fleets, as well to export your own commo
dities, as to import wealth from all the corners of
the globe.
Your constitution is the no'oleft improvement of
human reason : (peculation might indeed go high
er: but (peculation, reduced to practice, must flop
here. In this are united all the advantages ofa!l
known governments, it ought therefore to feel
none, or very few of their evils. Whilst our Prince
is a patriot, he must be the greatest monarch, be
cause he mull command the attentions of a free
people, which alone can make him such, and his
fubje&s must be the happiest people in the world,
because nothing is neceflary to thatend but a pa-
triot Prince.
Yet we often find the greatest evils arise from
a misapplication of the greatest goods. Would it
not be astonishing, under such a government, to
fee all these blessings turned into curses? To fee
the public poor ! the people enslaved ! justice open
ly fold, delayed, or denied ! and life, liberty, and
property, of consequence infective! to fee one class
needy, wretched and oppressed! another pining in
splendid beggary ! and a third rioting in opulence
and luxury ! —To behold your nobles adopting
the vices, instead of emulating the virtues of all
To the P EOPL E.
“ This is true liberty, wh^n free born men
" Having to advise the public, may (peak
" freely."
From tie Morning Chronicles
live to fee your country reduced to such circum
stances, what will then be the duty of the fubjeft ?
Is every individual to chime with the times? fshe
to run into every scheme and mode of corruption
and slavery that promises to promote his private
gain, regardless of the finking, the expiring com
mon wealth? Is he to reverence the tyrants who
thus overturned the state, and confirmed their
bondage, not only on the present race, but intail
it on generations yet unborn ? If this could be the
case, it were in vain to expostulate, in vain to rc
monftrate.
But it cannot be, until there be a general de
pravity of morals, a total alienation from virtue,
a people cannot be compleatly enslaved. While a
single man is left who dares oppose tyranny, by
asserting the laws and liberties of his country, and
exposing the abuses thereof, and encroachments
thereupon, let them come fanftified from what
hand they will, the light of liberty cannot be to
tally extinguished, and while there are any ready
to embrace and support it, it must be extended
and secured. The distinguishing happiness of our
frame of government arises from this considera
tion, that when by any means the constitution is
reduced or broken, nothing is wanting to a restor
ation, but the virtue of the people.
The slavish dependence of Parliaments must ever
be ptoduaive of heavy national calamities; but as
this dependence is principally derived from the de
generacy and corruption of the people, fo' must
the restoration . of freedom and independence in
Parliament, be always wrought by the regeneracy
and purity ofthe people. Parliaments are by our
constitution created by and for the people; a par
liament created by other means, upon other prin
ciples, or for other purposes, deserves not even
the name. Those of the former mould alone,
can be looked upon as the representatives of the
people, as the security of our invaluable rightsand
privileges: those of the latter must prove the
bane of both.
ill. That by the royal charter of the province,
the Governor for the time being is exprefly obli
ged to convene " upon every last Wednesday in
the month of May, every year for ever, and at
such other times as he fliall think fit, andappoint a great
and general court." And therefore, that as his
Excellency bad thoughtfit, and 1, hie writ appointed
a great and general court to be convened on the
sth day of October instant, his conduct in prevent
ing rhe fame is against the express words, as well
as true sense and meaning of the charter, and un
constitutional ; more especially as by charter his
Excellency's power " to adjourn, prorogue and
difTolve all great and general courts, doth not
take place after said courts shall be appointed, un
til] they hare Gift “ met and convened."
Wednesday last the members chosen in conse
quence of Governor GAGE's late writs for cal
ling a General Assembly, met at the Court House
in Salem, pursuant to the precepts; and after
waiting a day without being admitted to the usual
oaths, which should have been adminiftred by the
Governor or other constitutional officers, and
having chosen the Hon. John Hancock, Esq;
to be their Chairman, and Benjamin Lincoln,
Esq; Clerk, they proceeded to bubach, and pas
sed the following resolves.
Province of the Massachusetts-Bay.
In the Court-H^fe at Salem, October 7, 1774.
WHEREAS his Excellency ThomasGace,
Esq; did issue writs, bearing date the firft
of September last, for the election of members to
serve as representatives in a great and general
court, which he did " think fit and appoint" to
be convened and holden the ,h day of October
instant, at the Court-House in 1 this place ; And
whereas a majority of members duly elected in
consequence of said writ, did attend at said Court-
House the time appointed, there to be qualified
according to charter for taking feats, and •&ing
as representatives in said great and general court ;
but were not met by the Governor, or other con
stitutional officer or officers by him appointed for
adminiftring the usual oaths, and qualifying them
thereto. And whereas a proclamation, bearing
date the 28th of September last, and published in
sundry news-papers, with the signature of his Ex*
ceilency, contains many reflections on this province
as being in a tumultuous and disorderly state, and
appears to have been considered by his Excellen
cy is a constitutional difeharge of all such persons,
as have been elected in consequence of his Excel
lency's said writ,—the members aforefaid so at
tending, having considered the meafares which
his Excellency has been pleased to take by his
said proclamation, and finding them to be unccm
ftitutional, unjust, and difrefpe&ful to the pro
vince, think it their duty to pass the following
resolves.
Therefore resolved as the opinion of said mem
bers.
BOSTO N, Oa^er io.
LUCIUS PUBLICOLA.
gdly, That as the pretended cause of his Ex
cellency's proclamation for difeharging the mem
bers, elected by the province in pursuance of his
writs, has for a considerable time existed, his Ex
cellency's conduct in chofingto issue said proclama
tion (had it been in other refpe&s unexceptiona
ble) but a few days before the court was to have
been convened, and thereby unavoidably putting to
unnecessary expence and trouble a great majority
of members from the extremities of the province,
is a measure by no means confident with the digni
ty of the province; and therefore it ought to be
considered as a difrefpedful treatment of the pro
vince, and as an opposition to that reconciliation
between Great-Britain and the colonies, so ardent
ly wished for by the friends ofboth.
4thly. That some of the causes assigned as afore
faid for this unconstitutional and wanton preven
tion of the general court, have in all good govern
ments been considered among the greatest reasons
for convening a parliament or assembly, and there
fore the proclamation is considered as a further
proof, not only of his Excellency's difaffedion
towards the province, but of the necessity ofits most
vigorous and immediate exertions for preferring
the freedom and constitution thereof.
§-j~^Hfo,.fc^^ 4.Q.L^.,!.^,..,.^,±^.L^,
Upon a motion made and seconded, Fated, That
the members aforefaid do now resolve themselves
into a provincial congress, to be joined by such
other persons as have been or shall be chosen for
that purpose, to take into confederation the dange
rous andalarmiag situation of public affairs in this
province, and to consult and determine on such
measures as they shall judge will tend to promote
the true interest of his Majesty, in the peace, wel
fare and properity ofthe province.
Copy Attest. B^nja. Lincoln, Clerk.
A Provincial Congress being thus formed, and
having chosen the Hon. JOHN HANCOCK, Esq;
chairman, and Benjamin Lincoln, Esq; clerk,
they adjourned to the court-house in Concord, there
to meet on TUESDAY, the eleventh day of
Oftober instant, at ten o'clock in the forenoon.
September 11, 1774.
SIXTEEN DOLLARS REWARD.
D AN AWAY from the fubferibers, living
" near the Rocky Spring, in Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, three servant men, viz. MOSES
M'C AN N, a thick well set fellow, about 5 feety
inches high, and about 24 years of age, an Irish
man, much freckled, with short brown hair; had
on a light coloured coat and jacket, linen drawers,
check shirt, and large brass buckles in his shoes.—
JAMES JACKSON, an Englishman, about
30 years of age, black hair tied, dark complexion,
and about 5 feet 6 inches high ; had on a dark co
loured thickset coat, no jacket, leather breeches
tird at the knees, a linen fliirt, a large silk handker
chief, and black varn Lockings.—S AMUEL
GREEN, a Welshman, speaks good English, by
trade a hatcheler, about 24 years of age, and about
5 feet 9 inches high, stout and well made, fair
complexion, and short light coloured hair; had on
a new light coloured coat, white linen jacket, buck-
Ikin breeches, and a large beaver hat half worn.
Whoever takes up and secures laid servants, so that
their matters may have them again, shall have the
above Reward, or Forty Shillings for each,
paid by WILLIAM BEAIRD,
JOHN BEAIRD,
JAMES M'C A MONT.
2dly. That the constitutional government of
the inhabitants ofthis province being by a conside
rable military force at this time attempted tobe
superseded and annulled, and the people under the
most alarming and just apprehensions of Savery,
having, in their laudable endeavours to preserve
themselves therefrom, discovered upon all occasions
the greatest aversion to disorder and tumult, it must
be evident to all attending to his Excellency's said
proclamation, that his representations of the pro
vince, as being in a tumultuous and disordered state,
are refledicns the inhabitants have by no means
merited ; and therefore that they are highly inju
rious and unkind.
Wilmington, Sept. 23, 1774.
Just Publifoed and to be Sold by
JAMES ADAM S,
At his Printing Office in Wilmington, as well as
the Printer hereof, and by WILLIAM
CARSON, at the Harp and Crown in Third
ftreet, Philadelphia,
AN ADDRESS to Protestant Difaters of
all denominations (on the approaching Elec
tion of Members of Parliament) with refpe& to the
date of Public Liberty in general, and of American
Affairs in particular.
«, We were favoured with the above pamphlet
by Capt. All, from London, as he passed by this
place last Tuesday, in his way to Philadelphia ; and
as it is said to be wrote by an American, one of
the firft rate Patriots of his country, now in Lon
don, little need be said in regard of its merits 5
it will speak for itfelf, to the admiration of the
reader.
TO BE SO L D,
THE TIME of a Scotch servant woman,
who has near four years to serve; she seems
to be inclined to go into the country. Enquire of
the Printer.