Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-05-27 00:00:00, page 2

To the Honourable the CONGRESS of the
United Colonies of North-America.
The M EMORIAL of the COMMITTEE of
the City and Liberties of Philadelphia,
Refetyul/j fce^rth,
'£' Id AT they have beheld with great affliction the
& Aflembly of the province of Pennsylvania with
draw from its union with the Congress (in consequence
of their inAruaionh to their Delegates) upon the Re
solve of the Co^gieL of the i^th instant, for suppressing
all authority derived from the crown of Great Britain
in the United Colonies.
I hat they consider the fafety, liberty and future
welfare of this colony as infepatably connected with its
union with the other colonies.
That they have always edeemed their chief happi
ness tp consist in the faithful execution of inch of the
Resolves of the Congress as tended to maintain laid
union.
That in consequence of the defection of the De
legates appointed by the Assembly of Pennsylvania,
from a union with the other colonies, they apprehend
ed an appeal was made to the people.
That in compliance with the request of a large ma
jority of the inhabitants of the city and liberties of
Philadelphia, on the 20th infant, they have ifTued
letters (by virtue of a power given to them in a Pro
vincial Convention held in Philadelphia, in January
1775) for calling a conference of the? Committees of
the counties, in order to colled the sense of the inha
bitants upon the aforefaid Resolve of Congress, and if
pufhble to bring about a re-union of the province with
the other colonies, by calling a Provincial Convention,
with a view to form a government for that purpose.
That they have heard with great ftirprife, that the
A ffembly of this province are about to prelent a Me
morial to your Honorable Body, in consequence of a
R emonftrance delivered to them from a number of the
inhabitants of Philadelphia, in which it is laid they
have requested an explanation of your Resolve of the
15th instant.
That th.e RernonfLance on which this Memorial is
founded, strikes diredly at the union of the colonies,
by praying for the continuance of a governmentin this
province which is Supported in its executive parts en
tirely by a Governor and officers who hold all their
power under the authority of the King of Britain.
That the laid Remembrance has been obtained by
indefatigable industry and unfair representations, and
is signed chiefly by men who hold offices under the
crown, or by people connected with them, or by (hole
who have uniformly opposed every measure adopted by
the Congress (petitions to the King only excepted) or
'by those who have published testimonies manifeftly in
jurious to many of those Reps that have been taken in
this province in fupphrt of the union of the colonies.
That the Committee are determined to comply with
the Revive of the Congress of the 15th instant, in the
manner before mentioned, ^d they declare that the
present Assembly of the province was not chosen, and
is not invested with powers to carry the said Resolve
into execution.
That the unwillingness of the House to appeal to the
voice of the people, and the pains they have taken to pre
vail upon the Congress to interfere in our “ domestic po
lice," betrays a fear that in refilling to comply with the
Reiolve of the Congress, they will aft contrary to th^
inclinations of a majority of their constituents.
That a majority of the present Assembly do not
possess the confidence of the people. That it does not
contain a full and eqeil representation of the province;
that it is composed of men who hold offices under the
crown of Britain ; that they have deputed the power
which was deputed foiely to them, to. persons who had
not the fan&ion of the voice of the people for legifla
tive purpoles; and that we have reason to believe that
they have been dragged into a compliance with most of
the Revolutions of the Congress from a fear of a Pro
vincial Convention;
From a government formed by men marked with such
inconhftencies, prejudices, and arbitrary views, we
have as much to fear as from the unlimited exertions
of that power which has declared itfelf possessed of a
right to tax us without our consent, and to bind us in
all cases whatsoever.
The Committee have too much confidence in the
wifdofn of'your Body, to believe (when informed of
the true fituatiemof the provi ce) that you meant to
include.the Assembly thereofia your recommendations
to ", AfTefnblies" to form new governments. The
origin and present tenure of your power can never fuf
fer you to forget that it was by making names yield to
things, and firm to substantial justice, that you ac
quired the confidence of America, and the admiration
of the world. r
They beg that the Congress would not be deceived
by mifrepiefentatioris. They declare solemnly that
they have no design or wish to alter those parts of the
charter or laws of the province which secure to every
man the enjoyment of his property, liberty, and the
sacred rights of confeience. They wish only to fee
alterations made in such of them as relate to represent
ation in the province, and such as render the consent
of the King and his Governor necessary to give efficacy
and execution to our laws, and these they conceive to
be no less necessary to the “ fafety and happiness of
our colony iu particular," than “ to /C-mic\ in ge
leral."
ROSTO V.
In the House of REPRESENTATIVES, May io. m
Refolded, as the opinion of this House, That the
inhabitants of each town in this Colony ought, in
full meeting warned for that purpose, to advise the
The situation of our province, it is true, requires
vigor and harmony in the direction of both civil and
military affairs, but these can never be obtained when
a people no longer confide in their rulers. The Com
mittee fear no calamities from a difurion throughout
the province, but thus publicly charge he feeblenefs of
all our Counsels to our union with men of narrow and
inrerefled views. The strength of a country, in the
time of war, consists in the number of its fightingmen.
The Constituents of this Committee, who are composed
chiefly of men of this class, have declared that they will
support the Union of this province with the other co
lonies at “ every hazard ;" and they have the pleasure
of informing you that similar determinations prevail in
most of the battalions of the province.
By order of the Committee,
THOMAS M'KEAN, Chairman.
Committee Chamber, May 24, 1776.
In CONVENTION, ^nna,olis, May 15, 1776.
WHEREAS it is necessary that the peace
and good order of this province should be
maintained as much as possible, and it appearing to
this convention that sundry officers appointed for
that purpose have refufed to take upon them the re
fpeCi/e trusts to which they have been appointed,
alledging scruples to take the usual oathsto govern
ment, during the unhappy differences with Great-
Britain.
Resolved, That the said oaths be difpen fed with
during the laid differences, and that the persons al
rady appointed, or who may hereafter be appointed,
do qualify themselves for their trusts, by taking the
refpr&ive oaths of office to which they are or may be
appointed. And all persons concerned, either in ad
ministering, or taking the said oaths of office, inde
pendent of the said oaths to the government, may
rest assured, that proper care shall be taken, upon
the fet'd ment of those differences (an event we most
ardently wish for) to indemnify them against any pe
nalties, directed by any laws to be inflicted on per
sons aching as aforefaid, without having firft taken
the said oaths.
May 21.
On readings a second time, and considering the
resolution of Congress, of the igth day of this in
stant, transmitted to this Convention by the Depu
ties attending for this province in Congress, by ex
press.
Refolded unanimously, That the people of this pro
vince have the sole and exclusive right of regulating
the internal government an police of this province.
Resolved unanim^Jf, That it is the opinion of this
Convention, that this Convention hath ample power
to draw the whole force of this province into adion
against thearmed force that is, or may be, employed to
carry into execution the several unconstitutional and
oppressive ads of the Britilh Parliament, for laying
taxes in America, to enforce the collection of thole
taxes, and for altering and changing the conftiruti
on and internal police of some of the United Colon ifs.
Resolved unanimously, That this province has hi
therto exerted itfelf, and will, upon all occasions,
continue to exert itfelf with chearfulnefs and alacrity
in the common cause, agreeable to the faith pledged
in the union of the Colonies; and, if it shall ap
pear to,this province necessary to enter into farther
compact with the other Colonies, for the preservati
on ci the constitutional rights of America, this pro
vince will enter into such farther engagements for
that purpefe.
Refined unanimously, That this Convention, by a
resolution of the 15th day of this instant, hath made
fufficient provision ro prevent a necessity for any pre
fon within this province now taking the oaths for
the support of government under the crown of Great
Britain ; and that it is ;he opinion of this Conven
tion, that it is not necessary that the exercise of every
kind of authority under the said crown should , be
now totally suppressed in this province, and all the
powers of government exerted under the authority of
the people.,
Refolded, That the Honorable Matthew Tilghman,
Esq; and Thomas Johnfoi, jun. Robert Alexander,
Samuel Chafe, Robert Goldfborough, William Paca,
Tnomas Stone, and John Rogers, Esquires, Depu
ties, now re elected, by ballot, to represent this
province in Congress, be, and they, or any three
or more of them, are empowered to represent this
province in Congress, until the end of the next sessi
on of Convention, as fully as they might, until the
end of this session of Convention have done the fame,
under their former appointment.
Resolved unanimoufo, That as this Convention is
firmly persuaded that a reunion with Great-Britain,
on constitutional principles, would most effectually
secure the rights and liberties, and increase the
strength, and promote the happiness of the whole
empire, objects which this province hath ever had
in view, the said Deputies are bound and dire&ed to
govern themselves by theinftruftions given to them
by this Convention in its feffibn ofDecember lad, in
fame manner as if the said inttruaions were particu
larly repeated. Extract from the Proceedings,
G. DUVAL, Clerk.
person or persons who shall be ch< fen to reprefert
them in the next general court.—Whether, that if
the Honorable Congress should, for the fafety of the
feid Colonies, declare them independant of the king
dom of Great Britain, they the laid inhabitantswill
• solemnly engage, with their lives and fortunes, to
support them in the measure.
SAMUEL FREEMAN,. Speaker.
H<A R T F O R D, Ma, 20.
' Captain Hawley, ofStratford, who, on the twen
ty firft of March, was taken by the Bellona, and
carried to Halifax, whence, on the fiventh of April,
he made his efeape, and arrived here last Saturday,
reports, that at Halifax were the Chatham,
fifty guns ; Orpheus, thirty-four ; Scarborough,
Glasgow, and kofe of twenty guns each, Kingfisher,
Tamer, and others of fixtten each, an armed brig,
two schooners, two final! Hoops and a number of
transports ; —that the Tamer and Glasgow were to
go home to refit.—On the twenty-fourth of April the
Niger of thirty-two guns, with two Ihips and a brig,
having on board feien hundred troops, failed fob
Quebec. Five transports arrived at Halifax, from
the Weft-Indies, with troops. About nine thousand
troops were at Halifax, before any were sent away.
On the twenty-fourth a packet arrived from Eng
land with accounts that three regiments were loft on
their passage to America, and twenty thousand more
expelled therein the spring. The design was to
make the strongest efforts at Quebec and New-York
—and to cut off the communication between the
Cotonir^. The tories were in miserable circumftan
ftances. Large families huddled into fmalF foom o ,
and some left on fliip- board. Provisions very scarce,
army and navy at two thirds allowance. Beefat fif
teen pence per pound.
NEW-YOR K, May 24.
A letter from St. Euftatia, dated April 10th, fays
a vessel arrived here from Whitehaven, that spoke
with Sir Peter Parker, who came out with a fleet of
fifty five fail, bound for America. He had only
with him atthat time fourteen fail, having parted
wfh the rest in a hard gale of wind. ✓
A efterday a considerable firing of great guns was
heard, and is supposed to be from the Dipping at
Sandy Hook. The reason wehave not yet been able
to learn.
By an express from our army in Canada, who left
it the 9th instant at Point de Chambeau, about 45
miles above Quebec, we are informed of the follow
ing further particulars relating to the situation of
our affairs in Canada, viz. That the small-pox
being in cur army at Quebec, occasioned so many of
them to be sick, and the rest dispersed at different
posts for the conveniency of quarters, so that there
were but about 200 effective men at Head Quarters,
'where there was no intrenchment nor breatt work,
nor proper tools to eredt any, and but about 6 days
provisions: That in a council of w,ar, it was deter
mined to leave the place in 2 or 3 days; and that
General Wooster, with his own baggage, Captain
Mott, and many others, had set out on the return a
day or two before the enemy's Ihips and vessels (said
to be 7in all) appeared in fight. That it was sup
posed Gen. Carleton had notice by spies or deserters
of the resolution to abandon the fi ge, and the situa
tion of our camp ; and on thaQinformation, conclud
ed on the sally, which was made on the 6th (the
fame morning the ships came up) with about 1203
men, and 6 field pieces. That by the defs of the men
they were supposed not to be regulars, but people
from the town: That on the unexpected appearance
of the ships and this force, our people quitted the
place with precipitation an I c'^fufion, leaving their
provision, baggage, cannon, about 200 sick, and eve
ry thing eife behind them. That the cannon con
fided of two 24 pounders, two 12 pounders, several
6 and 4 pounders, some mortars, cohorns, and ho
witzers, all cf brass, with some iron pieces, of va
rious sizes; that it was thought about 100 of the
sick went off with the small pox on them, and that
they were generally the better for going out; also
that mod of our people from the out posts escaped
and got together;—that there was no firing on ei
ther fide, but that as our people proceeded up the
river on shore, the men of war followed, till rear
the Point de Chambeau, where our people made a
stand, and the.fhips went down the river. That on
account of the scarcity cf provisions, and to avoid
sickness, General Thomas kept with him but about
500 men, intending to proceed up or down, accord
ing to his strength and accommodations; and that
the Canadians in general were well disposed in our
favour.-—Great numbers of our troops, with provi
sion, ammunition, &c. were on the way, having been
retarded by the badness of the roads, which had been
for some time impassable, and prevented ,he arrival
of recruits and necefiaries ; but that a powerful ar
my well appointed and provided, will this campaign,
probably retrieve our affairs, aud crown our impor
tant enterprize in that country with success.
PHILADELPHIA, % 27.
Thursday afternoon, about two o'clock, His Ex
cellency General WAS BIN GTON arrived in
this city from New-York.
Last Saturday a number of tories arrived in this city
from North Carolina, who were taken prisoners at
the battle near Moore's creek bridge, and, after be
ing examined before the Committee of Safety, were