The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1774-08-02 00:00:00, page 2

Advices from Philadelphia, datod °f u b 2J, 1774..'
" The Committee from the several counties of
this province, met in this city the 15th inftant.and
being very busy ever since in framing iniruftiorib to
the Assembly, with which they were permitted to at
tend the House on the 21ft,having previously voted
three of their body, as proper persons to attend the
Congress, and rdprefeht this province, viz. Thomas
Willing, John Dickinson, and fames Wiljon. Yester
day morning the Committee were again admitted
into the Hbufe, when, to their disappointment, the
matter was not taken up and debated before them ;
but a resolve of the House was read to them, which
had been agreed to before their admission, setting
forth, that the House did vote' persons
to attend file ensuing Congress. After which the
House filled up the blank with the names of the fol
lowing persons, to appear at the Congress, in behalf
of this province, viz. Joseph Galloway, Samuel Road;
fohn Moreton, Charles Humphrys, George Ross, Edward
Biddle, and ThomarMiffiin : but as yet it is not known
how they will be intruded by the House,"
The following piece was handed about ambng the
members of the Assembly on the evening of the 21st
inttant, and as it'appears to be the production of a
mallerly pen, it was thought advifeable to reprint it
here.
To.the Rep RESENTatives of the Province of Penn
sylvania, now met in this City.
" All numerous afemblies, however compofed,are mere
" mob, and fwayedintheir debates by the leaf motive f
" this is confirmed by daily experience. An absurdity
" frikes a member, he conveys- it to his neighbours, and
'' the whole is infefled, Separate this great body, and
" though every member be only of middling Jenfe, it is
" not probable any thing but reason can prevail. Influ
" race and example being removed, good fenje will also
" get the better of a bad. The only way ts shaking peo
" ple wife, is to keep them from uniting into large as
" fembites."
GENTLEMEN,
PERMIT a cool considerate observer of the pre-'
sent diffracted proceedings of this province,
for one moment to claim your attention.
Let not, I beseech you, the noise and confufion
of the feene ftifle the voice of wisdom, or prevent
the full display of your ancient prudence. The
call of one not less well affeded to the privileges
and liberties, derived to us from our excellent con
stitution, than the molt zealous of her sons, of one
not heated by the fallacious spirit of a pretended pa
triotism, nor, he trusts, too tamely fubmiflive to the
hand ofoppreffion,foiicits your molt serious confeder
ation. Let him not supplicate in vain! yet even
on the lalt precipice on which the veftigesof order
and regularity shall be traced, pause, ponder, ma
turely deliberate, and with every nerve of reason
extended, reflect on the past, and penetrate into the
future.
You are now met in a legislative capacity, and are
to determine on a matter the molt important in.it
felf, the molt interelting in, its consequences, of any
that ever came before you. Nothing less is to be
agitated, than whether the people of this province
shall assert their rights and privileges on confitution
algrounds ; or deviating from the long known, and
securely trodden paths of prudence and regularity,
wander into the inaizy labyrinths of perplexity and
disorder.
From the refpedive counties of this province per-"
sons have been delegated, to take into their serious
consideration the present alarming state of affairs, to
deliberate on means the moll effectual for obtaining
redress of our grievances, and to give such inftrudi
ons to you, as they may judge expedient, By what
legal authority they have proceeded let them demon
strate. Among them are gentlemen of the firft abi
lities, of characters the mod refreshable ; let any of
them take up the pen, and convince you that their
appointment is conllitutional, or that their proceed
ings have been conducted with justice or equity. A
single delegate for one of the frontier counties, has a
vote in every debate btr^M equivalent to the whole
Committee of this opulent and populous city and
county, is this reasonable, or is it confident with
that just proportion observed in limiting the number
of Representatives for the counties, which compose
your house ? To hesitate on a decision of this quefion,
betrays an unpardonable partiality, or a fhameful
weakness.
This is not all. They have resolved on inftruftions
to be handed to you. These resolves have not
been entered into without warm opposition, and
without great division ; if they are to have any
weight, they are to supersede you ; if you are in
fluenced by them, they incur a dissolution of our
charter. The gentlemen chosen by ballot on the firft
of October, ^e the only persons before whom every
grievance should come ; you are the men; you are
chofcn to represent us on every occasion ; in,^ we
have reposed the mod unlimited confidence ; no
body of men are to supersede you: you are the
guardians of our rights ; we look to you for protec
tion against every encroachment ; and now implore
you to avert every innovation. Let us for one mo
ment examine how far these resolves must be short of
the general sentiments of the people. The com
mittees are appointed at county meetings, where, it
is notorious, not one fourth of the freeholders at
tend. The resolutions are previously drawn up by
some zealous partizan, perhaps by some fiery spirit.
ambitiously felicitous of forcing himfelf into public
notice ; too often by persons whose only conse
quence is derived from the calamities in which their
country may be involved. The orator mounts the
rollrum, & in some pre-conceived fpeech,heightened
no doubt, with all the aggravations, which the fer
tility pfhis genius can suggest, exerts all the pow
ers of elocution, to heat his audience with that blaze
Of patriotism, with which he conceives himfelfin
fpired, at such a time when the passion of liberty
implanted in every bread is awakened ; when the
threats of tyranny, and the terror of slavery, are art
fully set before them ; a measure need only be pro
posed to be reiolved on : ahn tam well convinced
many an American has given his assent to such a
m^aluie, from whicli a little reflection would have
made him retraft with horror.
from this fountain originates the authority of the
committees : it is a fountain from which no legal
authority can be deprived; we know not where
such precedents may terminate: setting up a power
to controul you, is setting up anarchy above order f
", IS , HE Beginning of Republicanism.
Sopnidry with her specious pretences may, per
haps glols over the matter, but found reason will'
never aid the demonstration. They are gigantic
Strides to set up the resolves of the populace above
the law, and above the constitution. Nip this per
nicious weed in the bud, before it is has taken too
deep root.
Methinks I already fee a new Cassius rife, and
tell your Speaker he differs from him in Sentiment ;
a "erts that they only are the men' made privy to the
desires and vvifhes of your constituents ; and that'
tbiy have a right to dictate to you what shall be
done..
If these principles become prevalent, fuffer the
hardihood of truth ungracious as it may found in
their ears, to tell you that you are only mere ma
chines, a vox ^ printerea nihil.- It these measures be
f^^fi^d by Y° U ; ?' a precedent be once eltablilh
%, it remains only in some future day, for some po-
P'-d ar leader,who may dissent from you in opinion,
to raise a general ct^lnour ; collect his number ,
propound his resolves ; quote this effablifhed pre
cedent to fuppbrt hinf'; and in the tone of authority
demand entrance into the serrate. But it is not my
pait to pointout to you the inuinerable inconveni
ences and mischiefs with Which: this measure, if a
dopted, is pregnant.
Deliver down to posterity < f the laws, the rights,
the geneious plah'of power," which your ancestors
have delivered to you ; and let not the murmurs of
your child:err be heard, for want of forefight and
precaution. °
^ EW_yo R K, July 28.
fhurfday lad three Transports arrived here from*
Boston ; they have taken in Ordnance, and a Propor-
Military Stores, among which are goo Barrels
of Gun Powder ; and we hear the Royal Welch Fu
zileers are embarked on board the Transports, with
a Detachment of the Train of Artillery, and to fail
directly for Boston.
f Extract of a letter dated Londori, April 27.
I hope there is no necefty of admonishing you to unite
i^ defence of the liberty of America. The froke may firft
befit tn Ld'lon ; but that man who does' not perceive it
meant againf the whole line of the colonies must be blind
indeed.
Trust me, the views of Adminifration are to subdue and
enfaueyou. They have fofare a majority in both Hou-
Jes of Parliament, that thty find no difficulty in executing
every wijh of the A , either in the ruin of this country
or America. Ilove tajpeak the naked truth : Tell the
people of America, that the favourite Minfry of the mos
powerful Monarch in Europe hate the name of liberty, and
abhor the man who dares fapport the principles of it.
They fuffer no man to fare their confidence until he has
proved himfelf ^ ^principled apofate, and frurns at the
idea of a. virtuous opinion. —This may be fappofed one of
the great reasons why Jo few of the jirft rank among us
openly effeoufe the cause of America ; for it is the cause of
vij tue, in wvicb nothing can be gained, but much loft.
The infinite mcreafe of perquiftes, pensions, and places,
in confluence of an uncontrolled direction of thelndia com
pany, has almoftflenced opposition. Having therefore, but
fewfriends left, and even thoje left without power to do
you any efcntiacjLrvice,you must rety upon nothing but
your own wisdom and virtue, to difapfeoint the wicked pur
poses of your powerful enemies : for their interest, inclina
tions, and even cxifence, all unite to work your ruin. I
do not venture to point out what Jleps you Jhould take to
avert the form, or direri it to your advantage. If you
mean to negotiate any thing with this country, let it be
done with dignity and frmnefs.
As to the merchants—many of them were such idiots
a> to waiton Lord North, and return to their country
houses perfectly fatispied that be meant nothing inimical to
you ;. "because he (aid so---be Jerved the Eafl-India di
rectors the fame trick not many Months since.
I have no doubt but that the People of England will,
in fix months time, fee the folly of those measures, and
drive the minijiry to the ,eceffity of giving up the quefi
on ; especially if you have spirit enough to afl properly."
There seems to be at present a coalition of parties
in this city, with refpe& to the measures previous
to a general congress of delegates from the several
Britilh colonies. Both parties acquiesced in the
delegates nominated for this city---and . those gen
tlemen have declared their present opinion, that a
non-importation agreement will be necessary---but
are left at liberty to conform to the general opinion
of the delegates at the congress. When matters are
finally fettled, we shall give a' more particular ac
count?
B O S T O N, July 2 s.
Massachusetts-Bay.
By the G OVE.RNO R,
A PROCLAMATION.
For the Encouragement of Piety and Virtue, and for pre-,
venting and punching of Vice, Profanity and Immo
rality.
IN humble Imitation of the laubale Example of
our most gracious Sovereign George the Third,
who in the firft Year of hisßeign was pleased to iffua
his Royal Proclamation for the Encouragement of
Piety and Virtue, and for preventing of Vice and
Immorality, in which he declares his Royal Purpose
to punish all Persons guilty thereof; and upon all
Occasions to bellow Marks of his Royal Favour on
Persons distinguished for their Piety and Virtue :
I therefore by and with the Advice ofhis Majes
ty's- Council, publilh this Proclamation, exhorting
all his Majesty's Subjects to avoid all Hypocrisy,
Sedition, Licentioufnefs,and all other Immoralities,
and to have a grateful Sense of all God's Mercies,
making the divine Laws the Rule of their Condud.
I therefore command all Judges, Juftices,Sheriffs^
and other Officers,.to ufc their utmost Endeavours to
enforce the Laws for promoting Religion and Vir
tue, and restraining all Vice and Sedition ; and I
earnestly recommend to all Ministers of the Gospel
that they be vigilant and active in inculcating a
due Submifljon to the Laws of God and Man ; and
I exhort all the People of this Province, by every
Means in their Power, to contribute what they can
towards a general Reformation of Manners, Restitu
tion df Peace and good Order, arid a proper Sub
jection to the Laws, as they expert the Blessing of
Heaven.
And I do further declare, that in the Difpofai of
the Offices of Honor & Trull, within this Province,-
the Supporters of true Religion and good Govern
ment shall be considered as the fitteff Objects of fuch*
Appointments.
And I hereby requre the Justices of Assize, and'
Justices of the Peace in this Province, to give ftrift
Charge to the Grand Jurors for the Prosecution of
Offenders- a gainft the Laws : And that, in their fe
veralCourts they cause this Proclamation to be pub
licly read immediately before theCharge is given.
GIVEN at the Council Chamber in Salem, the
21st Day of July, 1774, and in the fourteenth
Year of tiu Reign of our Sovereign Lord
GORGE:ic i hird, by the Grace of GOD, of
Great-Br ;ain. France and Ireland, King, Defen
der of th:h&c. THOS.GAGE.
By his Exc Tency's Command,)
Thos. ilucker Secry,J
GOD save the K I N G.
A correspondent fays, it is expected that theCoN
gress will recommend to the people of this conti
tinent to enter into an engagement not to purchase
any goods of the Eall-India company, or their fac
tors, until the company hath made compensation to
Boston, .and other towns on the continent, which
have fuffered in coofequen.ee of said company's base
ly fending their detested tea to America.
Thursday last the delegates from the several towns
in the province of New-Hamfhire met at Exeter,
when they made chice of Col. Nathaniel Falfom of
Exeter, and Maj. John Sullivan ofDurham, to re
present that province at the general Congress.
Last week an Address, signed by 46 of the Free
holders and Tradesmen of the Town of Eafton, in
the County of Bristol, was presented to his Excel
lency the Governor, the Purport of which was to
congratulate his Excellency on his Arrival to this
Province, and acknowledge their Gratitude to our
Sovereign for his gracious Appointment of him to
the Head of this Provine at this very important;
Jundure.---Alfo to bear their " Testimony against
all Riots, Routs Combinations, and unwarrantable
Reiolves which they apprehend have been the un
happy Occasion of many of our Trouble,."---Like
wife that they " will do every Thing in their Pow
er to difeountenance the Proceedings of the Com
mittee of Correspondence in Boston ; and that they
are ready to aid the Civil Officers in the Execution
of the good and wholfome Laws, and render his
Excellency'^ Adnunjilration fuccefsful and profpc-
QUS."