The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-03-28 00:00:00, page 2

TH F; fubferibers, in behalf of themfchms rod
others, freemen and inhabitants of the county
of Philadelphia, who lately petitioned this ho
nourable board against certain abuses and irre
ff? Parities which happened at the late general elec
lj<m'fc,r the (aid county,^ do, in obedience to an
order of this board, for that purpose made,
HUMBLY CHARGE and SHEW:
ift. fr H AT when the militia of a part of the hate
were cohered for the defence of the country,
at the time and place in the petitions, now depending
before this board, mentioned, Jonathan D. Sargeant,
enquire, made his abearance there, in order by the
' undue means, hereafter mentioned, to procure their
votes and imereft at the then next ensuing elefbon for
'the county of Philadelphia • ,upon which major Hanna,
aid de-camp to general Lacey, who then commanded
at that Ration, gave ord rs to the officers of the inili
tin/of the county of Philadelphia, to meet at the ge
neral's quartern on a Sunday evening Ihortly proceed
ing the said ele^ion, upon,bufintfs of great importance,
as he termed it.
id. That, in compliance therewith, col. M'Veaugh,
col. Bitting, maj. Jolly, maj. Hart, maj. Bayard,
capt. Nice, capt. Erwin, capt. Beck, capt. Dunning,
ca,t. Dierman, capt. Bufleirk, capt. Peterman, capt.
Lovry, capt. Hinds, capt. Schnieder, capt. Roberts,
adjutant Potts, quartermafler Davis, lieut. Kite, lieut.
<Knox, lieut. Axe, lieut.Eufion, lieut. Gorgas, lieut.
Duffield, en6gn Sdhlomaker and ensign Jones, with
many other officers of the militia, aforefaid, whose
names are at present unknown to the fubfcribere, but
.which, when discovered, they humbly pray, may
be added hereto, met at the said general's quarters on
the said Sunday evening, and then and there, by the
undue procurement of the said Mr. Sargeant, held a
private meeting, apart from their men, with the said
general, his aid de camp, major Hanna, major Bay
ard and thr said Mr. Sargeant, not upon the fubjeft
of warfare but of the election ; and the said Mr.'Sar
^ant having fuffici'mly harrangued them thereon
produced to them tickets, co mining the names bf
Aiders persons to be proposed and run as candidates at
-the said Heftion; and did^ery untruly and mijuftly, and
*in order to impose upon and deceive thetfaid officers and
.men under th command of the said general, declare and
rfay, That,.the fame ticket had been agreed upon by ,a
majority of the eledors for the said county, who had
^or^y theretofore met at N< ffs tavern for the purpose
of freeing on a proper ticket; when in truth and in
daft the fame ticket had not been so fixed and agreed
on, wher by the said officers and men were wrongfully
imposed upon and deceived.
id. That the ail officers being, by the unfair prac
tices aforefaid, deceived, met tee general again the
next morning, upon the like invita ion, at his quarters,
and wishing to fapport the ticket which they were led
Jo believe had been agreed upon by t^eir friends, as
aforefaid, fobferibed a written agreement, drawn ^p
.major Hanna, to support the said ticket by their
votes and tbofe of their rasa, so far as Ihouid be in
-their power.
4th. That, the plan being thus agreed on, general
Lacey desired the said officers to apply to him, by an
address in writing, for liberty 'to go to the said eleffi
x>u; which was accordingly done and the permission
granted; and the clerks of the different companies,
Together with major Bayard, Mr. Strickland, Mr.
Redman, Andrew Coxe, and many others, to the sub
scribers unknown, were called upon by the general's
aid de-camp, to repair to hisquarters, to write a fuf
?ficient number of tickets to be delivered to the men at
or near the election grounds except that the name of a
'certain gentleman, against whom the body of the offi
cers objeded, was left out.
ssh. That matter being thus prepared, generl.li
cey, in order the more effeauany to fecurethe Piece's
thereof, issued bis general orders on the 7th day of
Oftober laid ; the fubffance of which is contained in
the petitions now depending before this house, and a
true copy whereof will be exhibited, and which could
not have been better calculated to prevent the above
mentioned deception from -being deteded till after
•voting.
6th. That, upon the 'Bth day of October a part of
ehe militia marched under the command of colonel
Bitting for Wentz's tavern, and the remainder ofth^m
binder colonel M'Veaugh for Germantown, at which
places the said elections were held, and before their ar
rival there the said tickets were delivered them by the
-said colonels, and by their orders • , and although most
of the officers Shewed a disposition favourable to liberty
and to the rights of the people, yet, being odder mili
tary law, and rigid military orders, they had it not
in their power, without disobedience of orders and the
danger of fubje&ing themselves to military punishment,
to allow the men time, opportunity, or the necessary
conveniences of detecting the said imposition by con
ftiking with their friends, or of learning what ticket
bad been agreed upon by them at Neff's, or who were
propdfed as candidates, or of afting and judging like
freemen, as of right they ought to have done
7th. That colonel M'Veaugh, through a sense of his
duty as an officer, which, from the extraordinary na
ture of his orders, was unfortunately opposed to his
duty as a citizen, marched his men to the election
ground, in their ranks, with drums beating and fifes
playing,under the command of himfelf and his said offic
ers,with their (words drawn in all the display of military
parade, and not finding the election opened, from the
fame sense of duty marched them to a distance, and
there kept them separated from the body of their
friends till they marched in Companies (except captain
Erwia's company, which he dismissed) to the election
The following are the charges Specified by the petition-
Yrs agouti the election of a councillor for the coun
ty of Pdibdepbia, with extracts from the proceed
ings and decision of council thereupon.
To His EXCELLENCY the PRESIDENT and the
Honourable the Supreme Executive Council
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
ground and voted in that manner, without being at all
examined as to their qualifications; and it was not till
then that they were allowed necessary refreshment, of
which they flood in great need ; that the battalion un
der the command of col. M'Veaugh had their said tic
kets delivered to them at Jenkins town, by his orders,
and although they werrtcid they Should have an hour
to alter them, yet only a part of them, by the tender
regard oftheir officers, could procure pen, ink or pa
per; that they were obliged to march before the ex
pihation of the said hour, before fufficient time was al
lowed for this purpose, and before they c^d consult
with rheir friends, and even this time was not induf
;trioudy employed, as they expelled to have full time
and opportunity at Germantown, as of tight 'they
ought, but which (he colonel, from' tie nature of his
orders, was obliged to refufe them
Bth That adjutant Bartlot, of colonel Eitting's bat
talion, delivered bundles of the said tickets to the said
officers and men near the election ground, and they
Were afforded neither fufficient time or opportunity, to
Filter them; that they marches to the election ground,
and after drawing up before the 'door left their ranks,
man by man, to give in their said tickets.
gth. That, on their march from Newtown to the
ekaion ground, colonel Bitting told the men they muff
give in the said tickets ; and u pon their Viewing their
'disapprobation thereof he faid,' every man who refufed -
was a tory and he would whip him.
'loth- 'rh*t, at Germantown, col. M'Vraugh, with
his drawn (word, and major Hanna ordered the men,
in a military manner, to keep in their ranks and not
to (peak to any body; and when some of them at
tempted to get drink or t#: rest themselves they were,
by the fame officers and by captains feck, Lewellin,
Young, a sub lieutenant, and rußoy other officers. Or
dered back and were obliged to obey.
nth. That when John Shabert, who had been'fick
and left captain Er win'seompany fora time, returned
with a number of tickets, which the men of the said
company gladly accepted and gave in, be was repri
memded by colonel M'Veaugh for so doing.
12th, That when Phineas Roberts, who had two
Cons and a fondo-law in tire militia who had been or
dered into Jersey upon duty, attempted to speak to
them in the rank', relativeto their welfare, at the re
quest of their-wivts an I families, he was reprimanded
by major Hanna em.p another officer, whose name is ;
unknown, for so doing, an! was told he had no buli
nefs to freak to the men or attempt biasing their mind's.
x;fh. That Phineas Roberts, Daniel Rees, Adam
Whartman, George Coffinger, Michael Whitman and
nnny others, qualified to vote, returned without voting
at a'l, by reason of there being no freedom of election.
14th. That James Fulton, an inf,?Qor at Getman
town, after receiving two tickets and the elctlors had
retired, opened, read and torexhem to pieces.
15th. That at Germantown there were four boxes
to put the tickets in and only four clerks, namely,
Archibald Engle, Mr. Oliver, Mr. Norton and Mr.
M'Net, who could therefore be no check upon each
other, and who -vers not under oath.
' 19th. That, that at Wentz's, many ofthe infpec-.
tors did not flay till the tickets were counted; and.
thatAndrew&Knrx,efaGre whoafledin the double ca
pacity of deputy of the fheriff and as judge of the
election, also a&ed as infpe&or, without realty keing
such, delivered ' the tickets out of a box for a time,
arid called out 'the names, and then desired Jacob
Lenld*, who was not an mfpe&or or under oath, to
do it for him, which ire did ; that Mr.tehld* said,,
as the tickets appeared to he all 'camp-tickets, he
might as well lump them, arid did'fo without calling'
dot the names, to the amount of faventy, andthat Mr.
Knox did not teturn (ill the business was ended.
In COUNCIL.
Philadelphia, Tuesday, February 26, 1782.
THE council resumed toe consideration of the elec
tion of a councillor for the county of Philadel
phia, and it was agreed to consider the fpecifica
tion of charges separately, in order todetermine whi^h
of them are supported by evidence,and thereupon thefirft
charge was read and considered; and the .queffin being
j6th. That at Germantown major Bethel, captain
Afhmead and captain Nice, who were no officers of the
election, acted a? inf;eft rs, while two of the infpeaors,
whose names are urikn. wn, wire asleep, and the said
Bethel, Nice and Afhmead Counted all the tickets' con
tained in one of the boxes, to'the amount of near two
hundred, without being on oath.
17th. That a large bundle of tickets was delivered
bycaptain Hazlet, an irifpeftor at Germahtown, out
of his box, to Mr. Engle to call out, which he did
though he was notun hifpefter.
73th. Thn th? fleaion at Wentz's was hot opened
till iwr foor o'clock, although by law it ought to
have be-n done before two o'clock.
23d. That Michael Whitman, upon being dented
by his father, at the election at Wentz's, to 4ei him
fee his ticket, was told by hs lieutenant, Adam Gil
bert, that if he or any of the men did not pats thd
tickets they had delivered 'to them, that they would
be ill-treated and defpfed when they got to camp, up.
on which the said Michael, not daring to alter his
ticket, did not vote at all.
NATHANIEL FALCONER,
JOSEPH CpWPKRTHWAIT,
JACOB S. HOWELL.
* This name should have been Auld.
20th. That at Wentz's Henry Giger, an infpe&or,
admitted Jacob Sickler to give in his vote although
he was under age and well known to rtkefaid inspector.
21st, That at Germantown Jacob Ashton, an in
spector, did, without asking a fi ogle qoefliob, receive
the votes of Joseph Delany ^nd Simon Ramtton, two
apprentice lads under twenty years of age and well
known to the said inspector.
22d. That at the election at Wentz's colonel Bitting
finding some of his men were altering the tickets, re
primanded and ahufed them therefor, tore the tickets
they were getting to pieces, and ordered his clerks to
write new ones.
The fi ; th charge being read, and the queflion being
put, was carried in the negative:
The sixth charge teing read, it was
Moved and agreed^
That this charge be divided, and the quefiion being
put, on the following words, to wit,
" That upon the Bth day of October, a part of the
" militia ma cried, under the coihmand of colonel Bit.
" ting, for Wen z's tavern, and the remainderof them;
" under col M'Veaugh, for Germantown, at which
“ places the said elections were held : and before their
" arrival there, the said tickets were delivered them
" by the said colonels arid by their order," was car.
Tied in the affirmative.
" And altho' the mos t of the officers shewed a difpofi
" tion favourable to liberty, and to the rights of the
" people, yet being under military law, arid rigid mi
" litary orders, they had it not in their power, with
"out disobedience of orders and the dangers of sub
" jesting themselves to military punifh'm'ents to allow
" the men time, opportunity or the neceffaty convent
" trices of deleting the said imposition by consulting
^ with their friends; or of learning what ticket had
" been agreed upon by them at Neff's, or who were pro
“ posed as candidates," was carried in the negative.
And The quedion being put on the following vfords,
viz.
Moved, that the several parts of the 7th charge, be
ing included 'in'the foregoing charges, are already de
termined : and the fame being seconded, and tile ques
tion put, was carried in the affirmative.
Monday, Mufich 4, 1782.
The council returned the consideration of the elevon:
The eighth charge was read,
ft was agreed, that this charge to the words “ to after
" them,'' is included in the determination already giv
en. And the question being put upon the following
words, viz. " That they marched to the ele&ion ground,
“ and after drawing up before the door left their
" ranks man by man to give in-their said tickets,"
was carried in the negative.
The ninth charge being read,
It was agreed, that this charge had been given
tip by the council for the Petitioners.
The tenth charge was'reacl
And it was agreed, that this charge is included in
the determinations already given.
The eleventh charge was read.
It was agreed, that this charge was given up by
the counsel for the petitioners.
The twelfth charge was read ;
Anti rbequeffion thereupon being put, Was carri
ed in the affirmative.
The thirteenth charge wasread ;
And the question being put was carried in the
negative.,.
The fourteenth charge was read;•
And it was agreed, that the faffs are as they Hand
'flatted ; but that 'from the circuniftances ih which the
ticket were torn there is no criminality.
The fifteenth charge was read;
And thequtftion thereupon being put, was 'carried
in the negative.
The sixteenth charge was read;
And it was agreed, that major Bethel, captain A&~
mead, and captain Nice did aft as infpe&ors.
The seventeenth charge was read ;
And the quellion being put, was carried rathe zfo
Amative.
The eighteenth charge was read ;
And it was agreed, that the election was opened after
two o'clock in the afternoon.
The nineteenth charge was read,,
And it was agreed, that the faffs Bated in . the pfoe
teenth charge are fopporred by evidence ; except oq|,
that it appears that Andrew Knox, efq; who wet @c
of the room in which the tickets yere counting re
mained out but ^ very short time,, abd |hat he dal re
turn before the bufio^fs was ended.
The twentieth change was read ;
And the quelTion being put ,was carried in th: 'hcjfr
live.
"Or of anting and judging like freemen 'as of right:
" they ought to have done," was carried in 'the affir
mative.
put, is this charge well founJel? Was carri d in the
NEGATIVE;
The second charge was read, an I the queflian being
put, was carried in the negative :
The third charge was read, and the queflicn being
put, was carried in the negative.
Saturday, March 2, 17^2.
The council resumed the consideration of the election
of a councillor for the county of Philadelphia, and
The fourth charge being read, and the question be
ing put, was carried in the negative:
And the question being put 011 the following words,
viz
Thetwenty-Erß change was read.;
And it was agreed, that John Ashton, an infp%t&fy
received a ticket from Joseph Delany, an apprentice,
The twenty-second charge was read ;
And it was agreed, that at the election at WeTit%%,
colonel Bitting reprimanded a man for altering ftg
ticket, and tore it.
The twenty-third'chlrge w„ react;
And the question being put, *as carried 1? the ,e,
ghtive,.
March iith, 17^2.
Moved (by the vice ^refident,) 'thab it be Vefi^W,
That, before the board niff proceed to their ^n^ ¥
termination of the Philadelphia onnty ^Je&ion., the @-
pinion of the chief juflice, and such ofpuifne fo4&#
as are in town, he teken on such par; of the .charge, '
as in the opinion of ttyjs board are supported by evidence
And the motion being seconded by doffor Gardner,,nd
some debars thereupon had, the queftien was put;
thereupon the council were divided, there being fiv§
yens and five nays ; so the question was 101.
[The yeas and n„s being called for, were t^k€3
and inferred in the pmutef.]