Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-06-20 00:00:00, page 6

to nothing but to raise heats, and not appease, but irri
tate and disturb the more. It is said, if you remove
this duty, you will remove all grievances in America ;
but I am apprehensive that it is the right of taxation
they contend about, and not the tax ; it is the inde
pendant state of that country upon the legislature of this,
which is contended for ; but, Sir, lam ready to resist
that proportion, and to contend, at any future time,
against luch independence. I will not enter into the
characters of people, nor will I call the great person who
planned these measures a cherubim, feraphim, or arch
angel; but, as a man, I believe he has a good head, and
an honest heart. [The House here seemed very noisy,
and did not attend, being tired with the debate, thinking
that the General belonged rather to the heavy, than
the light horfe.] He fat down, concluding that he
wished to fee America convinced by perfuation rather
than the sword.
quired to give up much more, nay, to give up all.
Much has been said about requisition; but I wish gen
tlemen would confider how, and in what manner, the
Ministers of this country, treating with the Assemblies
of America, are to raise the money without the aid of
their legislature.
Mr. Burke rose to explain, that he did not mean to
cast the least slur upon the character of Mr. Grenville;
and concluded with faying, he would not raise the bo
dies of the dead, to make them vampires to fuck out the
virtues of the living.
Mr. C. Fox. Let us confider, Sir, what is the state
America appears in to this country , they will appear as
ufeful fubjeXs, if you use them with that temper and
lenity which you ought to do. When the Ramp act
was repealed, murmurs ceased, and quiet succeeded.
Taxes have produced a contrary behaviour; they have
been succeeded by riots and disturbances. Here is an ab
solute direlidion of the authority of this country. It
has been said, that America has not been represented
here, but virtually the Americans are full as virtually
taxed as virtually represented. A tax can only be laid
for three purposes: the ftf for a commercial regulation,
thefecond for a revenue, and the third for asserting your
right. As to the two firft, it has clearly been denied it
is for neither; as to the latter, it is only dome with a
view to irritate and declare war there, which, if you
persist in, I am clear of opinion you will effeX, or force
into OPEN REBELLION.
Lord Beauchamp. Sir, I should not intrude at this late
hour of the night, did I not wish to express my thoughts,,
that the Americans are not contending for the mode of
taxation, but the right. Some years ago, when this
a& was passed, combinations took place, in order to op
pose that authority which you wish to exert. Measures
are now adopted to induce them to consent to this aX,
not by force, but by means which I hope will bring
them to a sense of their duty. Had this repeal been
proposed some sessions ago, I should most probably have
adopted it; but the present disturbances in America to
tally prevent my giving my consent to it. I think it
impracticable to repeal it, because we give up our right;
and I am not right to fay, that no future moment I
would not tax America. There may be times when the
necessity of supplying the exigencies of this country may
demand that aid; and therefore I would exert our au
thority now by a practicable claim of right, which I
hope wiil not hereafter be disputed.
General Burgoyne. Sir, I look upon America to be
our child, which I think we have already spoiled by too
much indulgence. We are desired to conciliate mea
sures with the Americans ; I look upon this measure
to have a total different effect ; I think it a misuse of
time to go into a committee, and that even the enquiry,
the news of which will soon reach America, will tend
Mr. T. Townfoend. Sir, I wish much to go into a
committee upon this occasion, because the tea-duty, as
an object of revenue, is unworthy your consideration ;
but it is an object, which, when once removed from the
Americans, will give ease and fatisfa&ion to their minds;
and it is preserved by you merely to keep up a continual
contest. I will not go back to the ground of arguments
which has been often trod, and which I wish had not
been brought forth as the ground of former proceedings,
mixing them with the present. I (hall look upon this
committee (if granted) as the prelude to that peace and
quietness which you want to restore to America, and
shall therefore give my hearty affirmative.
Lord Clare. Every man who has spoke on this occa
sion, prudently has avoided going into any thing that
gave rife to the original taxation. lam lorry to find
that there is even a negative voice against continuing this
tax ; but as I find there is a diffention upon the occa
sion, it will or e room to the Americans to fay that the
question was much debated, and far from being unani
mous ; they will, upon that account, hold resistance to
the measure to be a good ground for some time or other
producing a repeal. I could have wished to have seen
the House nearly unanimous against the motion, as I am
afraid our differences here will countenance resistance
there. Would they have us surrender the right of
Great Britain? It is impossible, in the nature of things
that be can carry this question; and instead of my ho
nourable friend (Mr. Fuller) wifliing to restore peace
and quietude, he will find he is whetting his sword that
it may cut with a keener edge.
Mr. Buller. Sir, I would treat the Americans as
fubjeXs to Great-Britain, and think them liable to be
taxed as well as any others. lam afraid that the ef
fe& of all these disturbances has been owing toa change
of measures in this country. I think a repeal of this ad
will have a bad effed, and you will not know where it
will end.
Mr. Frederick Montague. Sir, I feel a strong incli
nation to trouble the House on this occasion. There
muff be one supreme right of taxing, ( allow, but I
think it inexpedient at present to exercise it, and the
only proper way of taxation of America through the
medium of commerce, and not by hard money. If this
motion is rejected, I do not think it will carry the ap
pearance as if we meant to be pacific.
Col. Barre. I have spoken, Sir, fully on this affair,
in what I have said at different times before, and it is
impossible to tread the fame ground, and to make it
pleasant to the heaters. It has been said that millions
have been collected from America for the use of this
country; but it ought to be considered, that the stroke
of war has been given in different parts of his Majesty's
dominions, sometimes necessary in one, sometimes in
another, and wherever an injury has been struck there,
Great-Britain resents it. This tax has been said to be
not a fruitful one; I think it a very fruitful one, for it
has produced riots and disturbances; it has been refitted,
it has done its duty, let us dismiss it. I have been much
quoted for requisitions; if you will make them with
some address, they will comply. I have been also quo
ted for the olive branch; I fay, you have let flip several
millions in the east, and now look for a revenue from a
pepper-corn in the weft. This you will have to lay to
your charge, that you will wet your sword in the bowels
of your own fubjeds, and have massacred many of your
fellow-creatures, who do not know under what consti
tution of government they live, by enforcing this tax.
You will at last resort to that romantic idea of requisition.
The House was verynoify, and not giving much attention
to him, prevented him from going on, or speaking, as he
had usually done, and confufed him so much, that the
little argument he had, he took not as a military officer
the advantaged ground.
Lord North said, he was ashamed to take up the time
of the House at that late hour of the night, and more
so, as what he had to fay chiefly related to himfelE«He
gave an account of the letter which Mr. Burke had
read from Lord Hillfborough to the Americans, and
dated the matter of its contents in a far more sensible
light than had before appeared. His Lordship said, this
letter of concession was so far from quieting the minds
of the Americans, that they were guilty of all riots and
disturbances; that the non-importation agreement was
as impudent and futile a measure as ever existed; and
said, he was glad he did not, at that time, propose the
repeal of this tax, when all the resolutions of the town
meetings denied the authority of this country. Nothing
but wisdom on our fide, and prudence on theirs, can
bring them to a better temper. The Tea tax is not an
inconsiderable revenue. Convince your colonies that
you are able, and not affraid to controul them, and, de
pend upon it, obedience in them will be the result of
your deliberation ; and let us conduct ourselves with
firmnefs and resolution throughout the whole of these
measures, and there is no doubt but peace and quietude
will soon be restored.
Mr. Dowdefwell. I wish the noble Lord would con
fider what will be the result of these measures. I ap
prehend the consequences will be dangerous. We are
now in great difficulties; let us resolve to do justice,
before it is too late.
The question for the repeal of the tea duty was then
put, and the House divided, ayes 49, noes 182.
BOSTO N, June 8.
The following is the conclusion of an Address Jent by the
Boston Committee to the people of every town in that
Government, with a paper which they are to fgn.
THERE is but one way that we can conceive of,
to prevent what is to be deprecated by all good
men, and ought by all pollible means to be prevented,
viz, The horrors that must follow an open rupture be
tween Great-Britain and her colonies ; or on our part,
a fubjeXion to absolute slavery: And that is by affecting
the trade and iqtereft of Great-Britain, so deeply as (hall 4
induce her to withdraw her oppressive hand. There can
be no doubt of our succeeding to the utmost of our
wishes if we universally come into a solemn league, not
to import goods from Great-Britain, and not to buy any
goods that shall hereafter be imported from thence, un
til our grievances shall be redrefled. To these, or even
to the least of these fhameful impositions, we trust in
God, our countrymen never will submit.
We have received such assurances from our brethren in
every part of the province of their readiness to adopt
such measures as may be likely to save our country,
that we have not the least doubt of an almost universal
agreement for this purpose; in confidence of this, we
have drawn up a form of a covenant to be fubferibed by
all adult persons of both sexes; which we have sent to
every town in the province, and that we might not give
our enemies time to counteract us, we have endeavoured
that every town should be furnifhed with such a copy on
or before the fourteenth day of this month, and we ear
nestly desire that you would use your utmost endeavours
that the fubfeription paper may be filled up as soon as
pollible, that so they who are in expectation of over
throwing our liberties may be difeouraged from prose
cuting their wicked designs; as we look upon this the
last and only method of preserving our land from slavery
without drenching it in blood, may God prosper every
undertaking which tends to the salvation of his people.
We are, &c.
Signed by order and in behalf of the
Committee of Correspondence for
Boston.
WILLIAM COOPER, Clk.
A Writer in the Massachusetts Spy, concludes as follows.
" My brethren, we have liberty and slavery set before
us, therefore let us chufe Liberty, and maintain it till
death. If our rights were thus invaded by the French,
should we once think of submission—and shall we submit
to Englifo tyranny ? Heaven forbid that Americans
should ever impiously resign the gifts of God into the
hands of tyrants It wiil be infinitely better to die in
the cause of our country, than to live in slavery—aster the
long and noble struggle we have made, if we fuffer tyranny
to prevail, we thill be treated in the moll brutal manner,
and our land will be filled with innocent blood ! Our
glorious patriots will be facrificed by the infernal hand of
tyranny. No man of honour or virtue will be fate—vil
lains, robbers, murderers, and the vilelt characters, will be
our masters and tread the sons of honour in the dirt !
"It cannot be fays one that our enemies will treat us so
inhumanly." I could not, for a long time, believe their
designs were so wicked, but new we know by our own
fight and feeling, that we have nothing to expe& from
them but injury upon injury unless death release us from
mfferable bondage—unless we resolutely defend our liber
ties. They who could make war upon an innocent people
from whom they had received great benefits, are capable
of any thing which is vile, and from such we can hope
for nothing but barbarity. Therefore, my friends and
brethren, let us all unite like one band of freemen, and
trusting in God, go forth in defence of our rights, and
either live a life of liberty, or die gloriously in the defences
of it."
7 E the fubferibers, inhabitants of the town of
VV having taken into our serious core
deration the precarious state of the liberties of Nort:
America, and more especially the present distressed co
dition of this insulted province, embarra/Ted as it is
several ads of the British Parliament, tending to the.
tire subversion of our natural and charter righ
among which is the aft for blocking up the barb?
of Boston: And being fully sensible of our inddpt
fable duty to lay hold on every means in our pou
to preserve and recover the much injured condrtiK
of our country; and confeious at the fame time <4 :
alternative between the horrors of slavery, or the c
nage and definition of a civil war, but a lufpenfion of
commercal intercourse with the ifLmd of Gre.
Britain, Do, in the presence of God, solemnly a
in good faith, covenant and engage with each orhe
ift, 'I hat from henceforth we will suspend all com
mercial intercourse with the said illand of Great Bri
tain, until the laid ad for blocking up the said har
bour be repealed, and a full reparation or our char
ter rights be obtained. And,
2dly, That there may be the less temptation to others
to continue in the laid, now dangerous commerce^ we
do in like manner solemnly covenant that we will not
buy, purchase or consume, or fuffer any person, by, for
or under us to purchase or consume, in aay manner
whatever, any goods, wares or merchandize which shall
arrive in America from Great-Britain aforefaid, from
and after the last day of August next ensuing. And in
order as much as in us lies to prevent our being inter
rupted and defeated in this only peaceable measure, en
tered into for the preservation and recovery of our
rights, we agree to break oft all trade, commerce and
dealings whatever with all perlons, who, prefering their
own private interest to the salvation of their now perish
ing country, shall Pill continue to import goods frora
Great-Britain, or shall purchase of thole who do import,
and never to renew any commerce or trade with them.
And, Whereas the promoting of industry, (economy,
arts and manufactures among ourselves is of the last im
portance to the civil and religious welfareofa community;
we engage,
gdly, That from and after the firft day of October
next ensuing, we will, not by ourselves, or any for,
by, or under us, purchase or use any goods, wares,
manufactures or merchandize, whensoever or howsoever
imported from Great-Britain, until the harbour of Bos
ton shall be opened, and our charter rights restored.
And, Lastly, As a refufal to come into any agree
ment which promises the deliverance of our country from
the calamities it now feels, and which, like a torrent
are rushing upon it with increasing violence, must evi
dence a disposition enimical to, or criminally negligent
of, the common fafety: We agree, that after this co
venant has been offered to any person, and they refufe
to sign it, we wiil confider them in the fame light as
contumacious importers, and withdraw all commercial
connexions with them forever, and publish their names
to the world. Witness our hands, June 1774.
SIX DOLLARS REWARD,
RAN AWAY from Mount Joy Forge, on
the 13th inst. (June) an Irish servant man,
named THOMAS BAHN, by trade a taylor,
came in last fall with Capt. Cook ; he is about 25.
years of age, 5 feet 3 or 4 inches high, well made, .
is a springy fellow, pretends to be a great boxer,
and is very apt to get drunk ; he has brown hair
and grey eyes: Had on when he went away, a
brown cloth coat, red flannel under jacket tied with
firings instead of buttons, buckskin breeches, check,
shirt, worded dockings, good (hoes, plated buckles,,
and a beaver hat about half worn : He has been in.
the work-house about five weeks since, and pretends,
ed he had met with a wife there which he left e.
Ireland, and has told some people he would go ih^
quell of her : She belonged to Mr. Gilpin, of Phi
ladelphia, and was fold out of the work-house. to
Mr. David M'Mutrie; so that it is likely, i he
hears where ^e is gone, that he may make that
way. Whoever takes up the said servant and con
fines him in any of his Majesty's goals, so that his
master may get him again, shall receive the above
reward, and all reasonable charges, paid by th^fub
fcriber, or William Dewees, Sen. in Philadel
phia. WILLIAM DEWEES, Jun.