The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-03-23 00:00:00, page 2

IT is a painful as well as an invidious talk to point
out errors, but it is a neeeffiry talk. In States as in
men, improper treatment o flight maladies will occasion
great ones. And though many have died of disease, yet
not a few have died of the Doctor. At the com nence
ment of this centeft, it was not our fortune to have per
lons among us thoroughly versed m Stateaffairs. Atten
tive t) toeir private duties, the citizens of America had
no leisure or inclination to study, what there was no use or
necessity for to^m to know; so tnat your servants were
compelled to aft, io the very moment when they would
have wished to learn.' That they have erred therefore is
not to be wondered at, for it was human, but that they
have erred no more isalmoft miraculous.
T^ofe who think our prefect Rulers inferior to their
predecessors, judge hastily and perhaps rashly. It must
be remembered that our circumstances are different from
what they were. Diff rent qualifications therefore are ne
ceffiry to superintend them. A Clip affiultd in mid-oce
an by conflicting elements, requires the aid of intrepid
seamen. IVuen near her haven the can best be served by
a dexterous Plot. If those at the helm know not how
to fleer, it is better by far to affiftthan revile them. Since
in a common bottom we have freely embarked, let our
common ccunfrls be freely contributed. If we are friends
to the public, let us shew that friendfhip by our candor
in the examination of public affairs. Let us flriveto dis
cover what measures were erroneous, meerly that in future
we may learn to avoid them. And let us not blame those
now in authority for the erroneous measures of those who
went before them, but liberally difprn(e to others that cha
rity of opinion, which according to the common vicissi
tudes of life, we shall in our turns most surely Band in need
of.
When this war began, we were so much opposed to the
tyranny of Great-Britain, and so much disgusted with the
abuses ofner a iminiftratlon, that, by a very natural pro
gress of the human mind, we felt a repugnance even a
gainst those afeful institutions which our enemies had a
dopted. It was therefore a kind of merit to do every thing
the reverse of what they did. A general rule to which
many and great exceptions ought uadoubtely to be
made.
A diflixe. to contrasts and contraßors was among the
number of those which were then imbibed. Whether the
Rulers of America were themselves tindured with the pre
vailing prejudice, or whether they thought it was wife to
give way to the popular stream, is not worth an inquiry.
Certain it is, that they might at that time have made as
many contrasts as they pleased, upon very good terms,
and thereby f cured every necefory article, flipalitiog no
other payment than their paper. I 11l 11 not now date
the many advantages which would nave resulted from
adopting that mode of obtaining fapplies, because men are
pretty generally convinced of them. I shall simply ob
serve, that it had been fanaioned ny the conftaht practice
of all wife nations, particularly by the King of Prussia,
the greatest ceconomift in Europe ; and that if we had fol
lowed toeir ex maple, it would have been the interest of the
contraaors witi all their Agents and deputies to keep
down prices, or in other words, to keep up the value of
the paper I mean not to draw invidious companions,
burl must be permitted to fay, that there is wisdom in
rendering private interest subservient to the publie wel
„ fare. Let me add, that had coatradsbeen made, there
would not have been even the appearance of necessity to
render the paper a lawful tender, or to regulate prices.
Another and a capital error, was the prohibition laid on
all commerce. By this the use of money was lessened, at
the moment when the quantity of it was increased. Ame
rica, deprived of mmufubareß from abroa:l,was compelled
to maxe them at no ne, in a feafin when the demand for
labor was increased by the demind of men for the army !
The merchant was obliged to fell IbMhips, and dismiss his
feamea in foreign countries, when flips and seamen were
necessary to diftrefe the enemy. And toe farmer being
deprived of a market, had na longer any incitement to his
indufiry ; from which inuft neceffardy follow a scarcity of
his productions.
Athird great error, in the line of finance, was the re
gulation of prices. Its operation on the money has alrea
dy been mentioned, but tnis was only one among many
evils. It disgusted the people at a time when their good
will and affefton was mod neceffiry. It gave a woeful
imprrffion of the new governments, by laying down a vi
olation of the rights of property as the corner flone on
which they wereto be erected, ft difcoufiged commerce,
manuUftures and agriculture, or rattierit left to the hus
bandman, tradesman and merchant no encouragement at
all. It tended to lock up all commodities compelling the
whole com nuni yto become monopolizers. It introdu
ced the tedious and expenfi ze mode of trading by barter.
And it sapped the foundations of civil authority, for the
temptation of interest to contravene or elude the law was
too great to be refilled. Hence the breach of it became
general, and that taught the dangerous lesson, that laws
may be broken with impunity. Of confeq reoce, the le
gislature fell into contempt, because it was made inanifeft
that they were not possessed of that superior wisdom and
power, which are the sources of reverence and refpe&.
From the breach of regulations of the firfl kind arose
a couteft between the government and the people. A con
tell always dangerous, but particularly so at such times
as those io which it happened. Tais contest produced re
gulations of the second kind, enforcing the former by pains
and penalties, and impowering persons to seize at limited
prices. As the legislatures elt a necessity of aligning rea
ions for these laws they pretty generally agreed to
-whereas it is necessary to carry on thisjuft and necefary war,
and whereas it is necessary to fapport the army <wbo are
'ng agedm it From inch recitals followed, fir ft, a very
litagreeableimpreffioo of the justice of a war which was to
^ maintained by injustice, instead of fair, equal and ge
neral taxation; and secondly, a variance between the pen
ile and the army, or at least an abatementof their warm
and cordial affection towards each othe». For on the one
land, the peoplefelt a degree of coldness for thole who
were held up as thtecaufe why their property was wrested
rom them; andon the other hand, the army could not
mt be disgusted ata people who would not otherwise than
>y forte give bread to their protestors. Brides all this,
le Britilh were greatly encouraged to carry on the war,
y a hope of obtaining that affiltaace among us which their
To THS INHABITANTS or AMERICA.
My Countrymen,
But what are these regulations in the event? Are they
not a tax, anda very unequal one? They certainly are
intended to operate a tax, and on those near to the feat of
war, who already fuffer enough of its disadvantages. A
tax levied on every man in proportion ro his indufiry,
and with every circumftame of rigorous injustice. A pe
nalty on commerce, an incitement to engroffiog, a dis
couragement of labor, a reward of indolence. What can
fuco a fyflem produce, except want and difirefs ? Aik
of the farmer, why not;withftanding the regulations, Ie
ploughed and lowed, or the merchant, why he imported,
their answer is the fame, a hope that, by the next harvest
or the next arrival, the regulations would be no more ;
and a confidence that, at the worst, all regulations might
be eluded. Happy it is for us that they may, or long
since indufiry ceasing, the fruits of it would have been DO
more, and pinched with want, persecuting and perfected
by each other, we Ihould have funk felf-fubdued beneath
the yoke prepared for us.
But to every argument that can possibly be used, we
shall receive the empty answer of declamation. Spite of
constant and of fore experience we shall receive it. For
those who recommended regulations because of the suppo
sed impracticability of paying the prices of 1776, and la
refugee adherents had promised. For td make the Second
kind of regulations as palatableas possible, in compliance
with the ruling whimfey of the day, they were all of tnem
levelled at the difaffeded, the enemy had therefore the
declared'opmions of our own legislatures in their favour.
Many good Whigs were in Some degree intimidated by
this bugbear of disaffection, and the Tories were propor
tionably strengthened and consoled. The enemy ought
indeed to have examined the true causes which produced
this declaration of our legislatures, before they confided
in it ; but tney might fafely confide io the tendency of
the laws to which it served as a pretext. For a little re
flection must have convinced them, as it ought to have
convinced us, that, whatever abundance there might be
in the country, our aukward mode of collecting supplies
would not oily render it difficult to obtain them in the in
flant, but infallibly produce a future deficiency.
Tnefe Second regulations were the worst children in the
whole family of regulations. The tyranny of the former
laws now appeared in its proper garb. The invasion of the
rights of property was clotted with every necessary cir
cumstance of violence. And the industrious men who bro't
from abroad or produced at home those things which we
flood in need of, were Subjected to all the insult, and no
little degree of the infamy of felons. Good God ! Woat
Ihould we think of a legislator who would declare, that
it was a crime to procure bread or the hungry, or clothes
for the naked, and enact, that those who Should in future
commit that crime, Ihould have their houses and barns
and fibres broken open, their property seized, their per-
Sons iofuked, and their reputation stigmatized with the
odious appellations of Monopolizer and Tory? Change
but the terms, and we have had such laws. Webavehad
them, even in the hour of our wants and distresses.
H re let us pause, and ask of plain common sense, what
must be the necessary effect of this strange policy. The
answer is Short, Dearth and dearness. An answer to
which melancholy experience hati iaffixed the seal of truth.
What then have we left to hope, unless it be that salutary
reflection, tho' late, may come at last? That it may
teach us to avoid those rocks and ihoals from which we
have aftherto so narrowly escaped, and on which thou
fanis before us have been miserably Shipwrecked ?
It was hardly possible to have embittered the bitter
draught which these laws had prepared for the people;
yet even th,t was accomplished by the manner of enforc
ing diem. Men of old approve 4 character, who rejec
ted their neighbours and were by them refpeSed, would
notdefeend to it. The executors of these new laws there
fore, were men who, like the laws themselves, were new.
They were raen, railed to the low office of persecution.
And yet from necessity they were eotrufted with money —
but we w ill draw a veil over this part of the piflure.
There were other pernicious consequences which flow
ed from these laws- Property being that up from mark
et, it required a number of persons to coiled it for the
public use whose labour was loft to Society Adl to this, the
great train which became necessary in order ro bring it for
wards, and the still greater train which they required to
feed and supply them. Tae quantity of unprodudive la
bour neceff rily maintained from these causes is almost be
yond calculation, and the uaneceffary expence is in pro
portion to it. But this is not all. These persons are
maintained, either by fixed Salaries or by commit ms, If
by the former, they have no incitement to be industrious.
Their Salary goes on as faft while they are idle as it does
while they labour. And whether they sleep or wake,
whether the army be well or ill supplied, is equally to
them a matter of indifference, save only, that indolence
is more agreeable than toil, rest more ple.fing than fa
tigue,and (port more delightful than care. If the public ser
vants are maintained by commiffioos/n this case they may
become as much too attentive, as tney are too negligent
in the other. There was one Judas among twelve disci
ples, and one Peter. There was one who betrayed his
Lord, and one who denied him. Two out of twelve! I
have not the flighted intenticn to accuse or abuse those
which have been or which are employed. I verily be
lieve that tney are in general much better than could
reasonably be expelled, and I know that some of them
are highly deserving; but certainly it is dangerous to set
theintereft of individuals in opposition to that of the Com
munity. Yet this danger inevitably followed from the
baneful fyfteni of regulations. And what is still worse,
while one set of Servants are ftimuated by commissions
to enhance prices, another set cf them are lulled by salaries
to omit the necessary exertions in forwarding what is pro
cured.
These are the appendages on a fyflem of regulations.
These are the fruits of that notable fyffem, which in spite
of reason and of hitlory was adopted,and in spite of feeling
and experience adhered to. A fyflem of injustice, w ere inju
ry is Iharpened by intuit. A fyflem, which ifit coald
be rendered effectual, would, contrary to the declared
wilhes of its advocates, truly realize the money which
moneyed met possess. For flrange as it may seem ; the
fame persons, ii athe fameday, on the fame occasion, and
alinoft in the fame breath or sentence, will tell us: T. at
those who buy and refufe to fell, abound in money.
Tuat this money ought not to be realized. And that
prices ihould be so regulated, as that this money would
purchase twice as much as it otherwise would do.
creased their vociferou Snefs with the increased prices of
1777, and grew still more extravagant with the extrava
gance of 1778 ; those fame persevering politicians will
doubticfs fupoort the fame dogmatical positions, notwith
flapding the contradiction of three successive years And
still they will argue, and though confuted they will argue
still ; and still find breath and words and noif, (6 puff
and rave and roar, as vig^roufly, as boldly, and as loud
ly as ever. From the din ©I such bellowings let us turn
away, and consult the sacred oracle of experience.
By the fruit we may know the tree, and fad fruit indeed
hath this tree borne. Who would have fujefted, three
years ago, that, in the midst of a war against the great
est naval power, our native productions 111 uid become
dearer than foreign commodities? Yet even this ihing
hath come to pals The whole fyflem of commerce hath
been inverted, the laws of property invaded, tee laws of
jufiice infringed, every absurdity praCtifed, and every
impeffibility fried, to geta little beef and s little br<ad,
which would aliroft have come forward of themselves if
things had been leit to them natural course, if honest la
bor had been permitted to heap rhe blushing cluflers of
plenty in the lap of freedom. And n®w, after firain:g
and working tins cumbrous machinery of grinding regu
lations for three long tedious and oppressive years, what
at last have we fqueeze^ from ir to recoropence < or toil ?
What but the dry hulks of penury ? Not ing! Nay
worse than nothing. For it is notorious that, when we
began this war, our Counry was ful of provisions that
our annual exportation and consumption have been much
less than they used to be, and that at prefect we are mi
fcrably poor and bare.
Thus then whea we lock back on the path we have trod
den, we (hall find petal laws on refuting the p per, nd
penal laws on receiving it, penal laws on ineimry and
penal Lows on honesty, penal laws to produce ninn, p<|y,
and penal laws agarnft it, contradiction flaring in roe ^ce
of contradiction, and one half the perpie employed in 1 x
aCting all these contradictory penalties t m the other
half j while one system of finance hath rapidly fucceeced
to another fy item of finance, 2nd one Llrcpan mountain
been pld upon the top of another mountainous Uropia.—
This is not the coloring of a fervid imaginatio , neither
is it painted for the purposes of riJicwle. I have not fought
after the faults which I 1 ave found ; the* lay in my path.
I might have mentioned others, but I with them to be hid
den ; and even these I would have concealed, but it was
necessary to point them out, that they may be avoided,
and it was just to dired public enquiry to the true sources
or public misfortune. Yet not with a desire to draw down
censure on those who have erred with upright intentions.
Let me then repeat, that we ought not hastily to conclude
our prefect rulers interior ro their predecessors. Let me
intrear thole rulers to profit by the many fir king exam
ples before their eyes. And let me remind them, that,
with iu.h examp es, they will be doubly aulwerable for
their owflconduct.
lam yeur friend,
An AMERICAN.
^6++4+++++6§4^§4^+<> 9*<
THOMAS M'F EE,
At bis Dwelling houft in Cartels Alley,
CON TIN UES to post Merchants ant Shopkeep
ers books, and in a regular, clear and mereznt le
manner; adjalti ths molt intricate co- partnerships, p>i
vatr, and almost every other kind of long and unlettled
accounts. H^ alio draws and copies with neatness, care
and expedition, such writings as invoices, sales, accounts
current, ana writes letters, &c. &c.
Such perlons as will please to favour him with their
commands, may depend upon the utraoft care, pun&ual
ity and dilpatch.
March 20,
Goods Received, and So d on C©mmiffion,
Al the Store of the fubferiber, in a converter.! pa t
of the city, in Second-street, between Market and
Chefnat-ltieets, at the sign of the Hand-law, where all
kind of goods are received, and (old on th. belt terms
for the owners. The cellars and ftme-rooms are ailrby
and fit for the reception of )any kind of g c d. Ary
perlon having goods to dilpofe cf, either in tow n 9- coun
try, such as woolen or linen cloths, thread or yarn
stock ngs, or any other articles in any branch, whl meet
with convenient room, and cenftant attendance will be
given, by
JONATHAN ZANE.
Now on hand the following ARTICLh S, vz.
Logwood, Brazilletto, bidlick, G .unc ißedwood,
Ground Logwood, Giah cf various files, C<pp?i:%
Chalk, Po der, Spanidi brewn, Lump ana Powder
Antiraony, American square Bar and B fter Steel, Awl
blades by the groce, Glew, GBIs, Snuff in bottles,
Scarf and Thread Buttons, Hair Sand and Ind an-meal
Sieves, Wheat and Rhean Sieves Oat Ridd er, Sash-
Line and Weights, Fifli-Hooks and Lin°s, a iin 11 as.
fortment of Ironmongery, & .&c. A pair cf four fact
French Burr Mill-Stones, iron bound
Ready money and a good price for Horfetaib.
March 29.
FbilaWpbia, Rant 21, 1780.
DESERTE D,
On the 19th instant, from Capt. Theophilus lake's
Company, in Col. Benjamin Flower's Regiment of
Artillery and Artificers,
PA IRICK CAIN, a native of Ireland, about twen
ty-one years cf age, five feet five inches high, a
well set fellow, with sh rt black hair, one of his fore
teeth gone, had on a fillers bicwn jacket, and canvass
overalls, he is a remarkable (wearer, and can beat the
drum.
Daniel Morr:Jon, a native of Scotland, a lad of sixteen
years of age, wears his hair curled, which is light co
loured, answering to his complexion, had on a blue coat
faced with red, leather breeches, and white yarn stock
ings. Ir isluppofed they are on board some of the ves
sels in the river. Whoever fccures either of the deser
ters, and return# him to his regiment, shall receive One
Hunched Dollars reward, and double that sum for both,
by applying to the Commissary General of Military
Stores office, in this city.