The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1778-04-22 00:00:00, page 5

LANCASTER, Aprils.
'T "' following is the Speech of Lord
§ North, in the British House of Com
mons, February 17th, 1778. The public
curiosity for knowing what effeds our manly
and virtuous fortitude, perseverance and vi&o
xies, have produced in the Councils of cur ene
mies (for we are fare they have produced none
in their hearts) muff, at this time, be very
great ; we have, therefore, with the utmost ex
pedition, published the Speech, entire. A full
and candid examination of the several parts and
matters therein, will be published in the Crisis,
No. 6, which is preparing for the press. All
the remarks we ihall at present make, are,
that our unprincipled enemies are at laid funk
into that pit of despair, which, sooner or later,
will infallibly be the portion of wicked men,
and all thole who associate with them. Our
firmnefs in Council and in the field, cur fuc
ceTes at home and abroad, the importance in
which we are considered, and the re(pe& with
which we are treated, by the other European
powers, have made those guilty enemies of ours
to tremble, who now, finding they must be
plunged into a European, as well as an Ameri
can war, are meanly endeavouring to deduce
us into a flute or that deflruction which they
have brought upon themselves. 1
L O N D O N, February ig.
Lord North's Speech 04 bis g^ciliu^y motion, ,^
Tuefay last, from a Msmb^r,
THE proposition which I have the honour to
offer to the House, is for two a&s of Par ia
meat. I will now open the contend of them folly,
a^d will then refer them to a Committee of the
whole House. At the opening of the present ^ffon,
on rhe firft day, during the debate on the address to
his M fcfty, I to d the Houle Tat in m y opinion
terms might be made with the Colonies, ffiort of ua
.conditional fibmiffion; and that the time of making
them was the moment of victory. I Rid this, think
ing that the victory gained by Sir William Hpwe
was more decide than it realty was a^l ignorant
it rhe time 0$ Te dihiftcr which had Trim on Gen.
Burgoynes army. When the news cd that me^n
chdy event arrived, I was struck that the time of
proposing terms war past, and that the foft point to
be done was the railing of new levies and a new force.
The cordequerces of that misfortune were u known;
the general idea was, that the v^orioas army won a
march to Philadelphia, and that, flushed with vt&o
ry, a general engagement might have happened,
which would have been deceive. I thought it ne
ceffary therefore, to wait till the end of the cam
paign, till I had a knowh dge of ail the events of it ;
it is ended, and nothing dmitive has happened. The
forces of Wafniagton are not fufficient to make him
quit his defeufive plan. Ou • army is great, osr na
7, is great, one men in health, in Spirits, and well
fuppfed; but the refftance of America is greater,
and the war has sassed longer than was tiff appre
bended, much longer than any friend to this country
would wish; and I do think it will not end this
campaign. I think that our forces are Sufficient to
compel America to accept of reasonable terms; but I
make my proposition on this ground, that it is better
to offer a concession to the Colonies now, which ra?,
end the cooler within the year, than to continue the
war three or four years longer, though with the. as
furance of complete conquest in the present fixa
tion of affairs, only three propositions cap be made:
ift. To (Lengthen our force, and continue the
war upon the present plan.
2d. To recal it from America And,
3d. To offer terms of reconciliation to her.
The firft proposition is attended with too great an
expence of men and money ; an expence which con
quest itfelf would not balance. The ecood is to
fubferibe to the Independency of America. The
third is that what appears to me to be the best and
wisest. I never thought of propping an ultimatum
to America in a contest wh ; ch contains (0 many
rice and difficult points, so many matters which de
mand future remedies, without any person present on
the part of the Colonies; that would be imp iTible
and irapradicable. Whatever you give, uniefs it be
firft fettled and agreed on by perlons authorised by
the Colonies, might be given in vain. The danger
alfoof publishing such an ultimatum would be great,
every word would be critically examined by jealous
powers, and receive an invidious and (alfe c nibuQi
on, or unjust comment ; every proc fi ion wouM be
biased beforcit reached America ; if it go' there entire,
the Colonies, by refuting'^ condition would destroy
POSTSCRIPT ts the PENNSYLVANIA PACKET,
all. I wish, therefore, for an open conference with
America: I think there is so much afcaion foil left
in that country to yards this, that barely to enter on
the dUcafiLa is more than half the business. My
plan is to open (,ch a difeuffion. I ffiall therefore
propoie, Ift. Ar . AA of Parliament t? ve# h'^mmif
fi>ners with very ample ,ow^3 for this purpefe.
The powers mutt be ampl: : limited powers can pro
duce ah good. They muff be p-opie as to the pow
ers with whom they treat and as to the obje&scon
cerring which they treat. As to the peTo^s, the
present Cammiffioners have great powers; but the
present ad t must be full and clear, contai^mg no
doubt; no doubt whether they fhal treat with he
Congrefo, with rebels, w ; , serious a&uallyin ir^s,
whether with a General AfTembly of all the Calories,
or wth the Assembly of ^particular Colony. The
only rule to gu'de rhe Conumm >nersmuT be, whe
ther the persons with whom they treat are authorised
so to do. I (halt therefore propufe, that such per
foes Tail be dele ibeyl in the most general words ;
there (h)uld be no etiquette; the time for tha'is past.
As to the obj ids of the treaty, they Ihou'd be as
generally defenbed. The Commiffi nets (hould be
enabled to .treat -on ail grievances existing, or fup
po'ed to exi# in the laws of the Colonies, or in 'he
ftamtes of this realm ; on all ma tere, provisions or
things; and all aids and fu.urc contributions to be
rr Tried by f be Colonies; ter I have reason to thick,
fr-m the declarators of the Colonies, that 'hey. are
willing to contribute thetr ihare to the nuHic ;up
prr. This wif m^ke the tie stronger between us.
Those who derive an advantage from a State ought
to contribute to the burdens of it. The .execution
of thTe powers mast receive the fabfequent fanaion
es PhfbiQeyr; but here are f>me points in which
the option of ihe Q-mmiffiooers molt prevail imme
diately ; as the ,fronting of general,and particular
pardons; and a cihri^o of horti ries. They mu#
have allo .another immediate power more great and
exteafive, founded on the example es ar, &AmTd
in the 'tgn of Charles I[. the power of hibeading
afts of Parliament. Che Colonies have demanded
to be put in rhe feuation. they were m 1,6% I
ri üb r they will n< ^ pe placed exactly in re ame
fixation; but perhaps they my be placed in one
not much lels advantageous. The firmer fi ce bat
pear are many; rt.^.ov of r r - a* u,,..,. ~,, •„,
Colonies, m ny nece/firy-fer their dependence as to
trade, and many .ught to be, repealed ; ©/ pe bags
should be reviled. 1 would uve the Crar; ffi r,rs
full power to take them alfintoiheir c rfTidcr^ioß,
and to fufpead inch as fhruid be re,e>'& 1. .Cere >s
another provifim, which is, perhaps, a matter rd
convenience only ; they ihoTd have power of ap
pointing Gwerners in those Colon es ."mehis Ala
j-fy wis u'ed to appoint them. I ffiaTpr pole + @
limit the duration T this a& 0 June t, 1779. lfl
were to ftoe here, the p'an wou'd be certainly de
fea,ve ; deceive in not HE deg m irduc^nent to
the CToaies to : re..©with us They must give up
their claim of independency; but to induce them to
do tos, oh vom.' ^certain of fameihing fixed and
decided, ri it ne. ff^y to h rid out aninluce ment
to all the Cd^es co &iv<ly ;it is equally necefiary
to hold r out tc\each' - # myin particular. Though
forne ma, not renounce tin in' ri-pendency, fr^e
may; and it wilnt be laid, haii the Comorib
oners cannot treat with all, t^^y ih^lf not treat with
any. Tue- Colonie; mu.l la^ feme other induce
ment than meer hopes. Betorc die war broke out,
I offered a reconciliatorc p r epcfi:ion to America,—
I offered it be ore the fro'd was drawn; the ground
upon which I made it was, that it wasjuft the Colo
nies should contribute to rb^fnapert of government,
but that their taxation by Par arnrnt occ+fioned jea
.luufcs in them of our attempting to throw the bar
then off our own shoulders, upon theirs; and of ^n
dangeriag the security of their affembUes. This
propHition was unfortunate; it was rendered fufpL
cious by the luppofition of a variety of cases; it was
misrepresented or misunderstood. I thought it ne
ceflaiy to Row them that we were not fighting for
taxation ; for I never thought that Rich taxation
would be very beneficial to us. The Stamp was the
best duty tha ? could be laid, and even that would not
have produced much, so great was he ave+fion to it.
My intent of making this prop- firien was, to preveni
the war by prefe-vtog our righ 3, and fleeing them
fom their jealousies In mau, of the AfTembfie-c,
the?e w 3 an inclination to have accepted it, but they
referred it to the Con^refs. The Congress treated
it a* unreal nub'e and inlidious, and rejected it. Wrir
be ^n, an 1 my inte tion was from thebeginning, at
the moment of vidory, to five propofcri the fame
prop frimi te ms bviatiog all the mifteprtfenta
u ^ . a nd mriunderfyndmgs concerning it. The
prinqip^ objections to it were —•
ift' That the Co'onies h^d a foie right of granting
their own m^ey. M pn,pQfc, O r, so ,k e d t& a pet
fi^nect rev cue ro be /rant a by the 0, ic aie. Tri
inHance. My idea was, thatthy th old grant theT
own money in propmion in out grams, frying and
falling with them.
2d boat it v^ Qnrea 'enable, beetle the quanti
ty was not a cer;ai-<e-; but their cn.nbej,n was
af.e ? wards to undergo the revival of k'dAiament.•
Firs Was not my zee*. My intent was, that theif
proporren sh u!d be lenied, and, being fettled,
Thguid remain the fame..
3d. That i' was infidunas, because iheMinMry
intended to get one Colony to bid ag^nit another. 1
had no fucri intent. File Congress might fe^ve fet
fled whar each Colony (hould .£<, 1 will now
held out to the Colonies a cefotion of the CTercife of
taxa.inn, and I vill n^t hAjAt it to any conditions,
or to the demand of any fpeci'fic ;cootribgHcw.°My ^
proposition, thertfote, isan a& f Parliament, ground
ed on the jealousies of the right of taxation, and on
tae declarations of their being willing to contribute,
co take away this exe cite ab. Hugely, trusting to the
negGciations of our Cbmouffioners for gaining con
tributions from the Colonies; b^t I did not mean .ep
make their grant a fine qua now. but will declare fy
an ad of Parliament, that far the future, the f'.-T
•ment will not tax the Colonies for the pa . of
railing a. revenue; and if no account.o' con merge,
trill the money so raised, shad be appropriated tor^
u : e of di: Colonies L prop fe this as an explicit dr
c aration. It may be laid, (hould not the Co erne,
give up rheiryßim of indepe,deHce? rhe renouncia.-
iLn of that claim is i opfled in t e aft iifel' It may
be laid allo, if you give up taxation, whar is there
left to fipht fit ? I never thought taxation a faffi
cient object for the contort; and- upon this idea, 1
made my pr pufrioo before the war begun. But [
fought for the dependence of America. The Con
g.^s claimed ind-pendency. The Colony of Mas
lic u -US Bay claimed ii, ad a great outrage was
c ,mmit ed on our merchants, Ihe war has cft us
more tuan my rev-rue which could have b-en raj ed
fom Arre tea by Partiament. ("he com ft was >r
itf„em.-cy ba. it may b, .arced, & cocelli s
in time f war of m.pttboca<aare, are large ous.
fc .3 the ~it rune of this w<. 1 valved in 1.. m ▼
^ ;,----;•, -i^ £>reqm pir he %$ Tc
Ua;e ot our rHurces arew ikoo n ' hscneyf
-6 - czomi thereto e vn th! reipeff be oreju'ea)
.•.Sous Out army and navy are g cat; car 10l can
be re,a ed; the neceff-t, fu, plies :an be railed;
and our cu.fims are no dirm.iiheri. But why was
not conceit n made before? I am Willing that mv
pat conduct (hould be infpeded. I never proposed
any ax ~ When I was unfortunate enough (t.-r 1
will ftul afe the word notwifhftandmg the use made
of it) to be placed in my present office, I th-uric
there was a gleam of hope that the Colonies would
re-urn to their duty. My maxim was, to fay 00-
thing about America; o-iiber to propose or repeal
taxes ; neither,to advance nor recede ; bar to remain
in total filerice. But when it was neceffTy to give
the Ea& India Company a power of trying their tea
in America, I did nor think it right to repeal the
tax: I, however, diminished it. A repeal woa'd
Lavee•& of> > ierTr.e, or America was afraid the
Edit India Company wau'd ueder fell their .'mug
giers. A mc-no-poy was aT> urg.d They had, -$
ft&,,b? commodity ch aper than the, had in berime.
If they deemed this • arivance, they were re-d^ to
make any thing a grievance. When the war west
begun, I though it neceffiry tracer m.,an ¥ war ri-rc:,s
with a psmic commri% n; and the comm ffioners
Were mnof abilities men of honour, men of a pa;-
cifie dis efiim men trusted by America, win wefa
more likely to bring about a reconciliation. But thi^
comnuffion produced no effe&; because the claims
of America were so distant. Whea the fwerd was
drawn, why did I not make my propofi ion ? I own
I thought the war would soon have ended; and I
th mid have made it had America been reduced to
uacondiciopal fubmiffioa. Bit misfortunes, mifom.-
duel or a greater natural force in America than was
expected, and which no man .coa|d fringe, h v,
carried ion the war to it's prefearte^U. IwT n^
ver Gwd'that admAitf-mioir h.x^ decri,a'tse pubri*,
io waning to d^uAe 'them int > ineaftres whi^h/hey
thought were ineffectual. The iofmnatio- ilaid be
fore ^afljimimt was TT: } ?filament had every ,;a
per nec-ffriry to fev' its jedo tm, no papers \vcp,
retained, but them only which, 1 -r tire fake of th^
wrieis, it would*have b a en dangers to have
coed. But the u?CQpti< n is, tna- adminißß-tu
said, th-.t their opinion was that the w^r womd h,cn
be at an end. Our army and nay, were great: TH
Wiliam Howe's a.-my was gener Ry Superior to
Wallington's, and General B^ g yne's amiy, whrJ
[iff the laji Page.)