The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-10-09 00:00:00, page 1

-CONNECTICUT COURANT.
.iC providence of God the intelligent author and naw
: governor of the world, the nature and c reumd^oecs of
^* .nd, and perhaps from other things, aides the' neceffiy of
civil foctey and government. Aodthis civil ^G^ißment is al
ways deigned for the benefit of mat kind, for the ficority oftheir
perfoos and properties, and mainiaiaance sf the j ft rights and
privileges, whether natural or acquired, of all its members.
As I am a fncere fricol to the rights and liberties of mankinds
so am las finecre a friend o civil government io gem ral, sod to
all well regulated civil (tares. But the fame principe and cha
ratt-rs, from which I am a friend to the just rights of men, arid
to all well regulated civil government, renders me averse to every
thiag in the condod and regulations of government, which te^s
to injure the pufjos, er t.kc away any of the just properties,
rights or privileges of the people, the members of the civil com
munity Indeed when this is the fad, either fion tbs internal
corffiation and fabric of the government, or from prefect allow
ed and patronized by rhofe io power and troft, the very defigo of
civil government is thwarted, and it can no longer qnfwcr itschief
purpose. —Though I pre end not to a prophetic spirit, yet I p case
myktf with the pulped of ihe future greatness, glory and re-
Down of America I'cmto Le her rifig torn dark obfeurny
and contempt, rearing hrr princely head far above oiher ftara and
kingdoms, aud by her lolbc and mijefty erftieg trades and gleomy
ohl,arity upon 3 & bylomm. Petfoo, Grecian Roman or Britannic
glory. The concha of ^ovideocc, and the progress of empire,
ever finee A M. 1757 when Nimrod began to feign, give me
such rariiliiog profpeas of American greatoefs and glory ; a.d,
from the bilory of civil empire, and the sacred proprieties of Mes
fih'i glorious furore reign, I gather a firm belief, that America
will be th, gra^d theate 00 which will be difyayed both civil and
religions liberty in meridian splendor.
But fetch a p'e^fiog proved of the future pr fperi;y and glory of
America, fhuu:d not prevent, rather it fhsuld excite us to every
pre able and wife attempt to recover the aotient spirit of chrif
tianity, which dwelt so happy ia our ance/fors who planted this
land ; and to endeavour a reformation of all corruptions arid aba
fes that have got into our high p aces, all practices that arc coun
tenanced or patronized in our civil government and confutations,
which have a notorious and undeniable tendency to the injury of
the persons, or the deftrudion of the darling rights, liberties and
privileges of the people.
That natural or cfhntial religion, and that also which is found
ed on revelation, are greatly d:frcgardcd, and riot attended to by
our people of any denomination, as they ought to be, sod as this
iotriofi; nature and happy tendency requ res they (hon'd be I fop
pofe is an iadifpot&ble though melancholy truth. And that there
are things pra&fed under the allowance and patronage cf the civil
government of this, and of other colonies ia America, which aa
totally and direfTy tend to the injury of oor people in their per
font, properties and religion, I cannot but thick most a?d will be
granted by every one open a very little feriout configuration and
reikaivo. Until these corruptions and abuses in religion and civil
government be reformed, we have no rational ground of expecta
tion, that America will rife io glory and become the wonder and
dread of the nations. Though there be great and glorious things
designed by God for America, and they be already 00 the wheel,
they will not turn up till (he hath prepared herfelf for the recepti
-00 and enjoyment of them. God never confers his bleffiugs and
favours on men, till they are prepared to receive them c neither on
individuals cor Urge fecieties and dates.
I plead the privilege sod indulgence to contribute my mite to
wards foch a reformation in religion and in civil manners and
practice, as I judge to be oecefTary to the peace, good order and
pr^fperity of America. And what I (hall mention will fad direQ
1, under the cognizance of the civil magiftratc : tho' this proposed
reformation io politics add civil manners, will hare a mighty ten
dency to the deGred religious reformation. Indeed civil m^gif
travel may do great things' in the promotion of civil peace, and
the temporal welfare of the people ; and if they cin, all good ma
giftrates will exert tbemfelra in so good a cufe. The per
font aod lives of the people oo^hi to be dear ^ the civil
magistrate, and by all means io his power he ia bound to pre
serve them. Every thing therefore injurious to the perfoos, or
detrimental to the lives of his fubje^s, be mull exert ; Walt to
fopprefs.
I (hall now fugged fomedrng which 1 suppose (and I am per
faaded with good reefer) t> be both injurious to the perfoos and
detrimental to the fives, of the people. Something allowed by
Courant, and Hartford Weekly Intelligencer.
) N D A Y, October 9 1775
ANhCO O ibol GENERAL P U I' N A M.
DURING tie late war, when Gen. Amberft was marching'
across the Country of Canada, the army coming to one of the
takes, which they were obliged to psJs fiuna the French bad a vtf
fel of 12 guns upon it. He was in great aiftrefs ; bis boats were
n n match for her ; and fa atone was capable of Jinking bis whole
arm, in that fisuation. While he was pandering what foytd be
done, Putnam came up to him a*dj&d General that fh'p must be
taken. A,e fays Amberfi, I would,ve the world she was taken.
Ph take her ft, s Putnam. Amberft fmi ! ed and a fed bow ? Give
me feme we,'ges, a beet e(a large wooden bimmer or maul,ufed
for driving wedges) and a few men of my own choice. Amhetft
cowd not conceive bow an armed vefe was to be taken by four or
five men, a beetie and wedges. However, be granted Putnam's
requefi. When night come Putnam with his materials and men,
went in a boat unoer the veffe\ stern, and in an inftent drove in
the wedges behind the rudeer in the !itt e cavity between the rudder
and fop and left her. In the morning the fails were fanfluß
taring abed ; fee was adrift in tbs mildie of the Lake ; and fc
% prejenti, blown afeore,fa was cefil, taken.
th: civil authority of this government, and generally praaifed in
ali the governments in Amer ca with the approbation or civil au
thority : though it bath beco often fyeken and wrote agatefl by
individuals of great abilities.
[To be c^ tinged ] FY<URGUS.
lAm the HlohKnl^h JOURNAL
CIVIL war is now commenced and ths brightest gem io the
crown of Great Britain at Cake. With what indignation
mutt we look upon the present mioidry ; favou itifm has ever
been pernicious to cur rights and liberties, rod this is not the firfl
mac it hath brought the Kffig aod bis people to blows. The
Thane and bis pstty that execrated Ja&to, ever 6 cc the reins of
Government got intotheir hands, have been a curse to the ation ;
they have been Bribing and corrupting io England, and now they
arc murderingtheir Icdow fobjefts in America. The voice of the
people is railed against them and nothing but ricaJefa trunks
can atone for their political Gris.
The public money is pandered sway and the nation one hun
dred aid thirty million in debt; France threatens us ooonc fide,
and Span is arming vgainft us on the other ; we h,ve a war to
foppoft against the fy^it aod liberty es our cot flitution io Ame
rica, and we have neither foonry, men, nor credit. Charles the
Gift was ebft oate, and poor James was a bigot to whatever he
thought ; iley Offered because they would not be well advised,
and fiem fech examples e> er, Brit;fh Sovereign (hon'd take warning.
The tra,e -,d m-nufadlures of England and Ireland arc at the
lowed ebb, 3rd this blow agaioft thrtenftitetioD wh ch has been
firuck ia Arnette, will in all probabi ity put a period to com
mcice. Who arc we to blame for ihofe nfyortoGCs ? Can we
pu< up with the treatment ?Is the fpTit of t/c people fie' '? The#
Gift question is easily folded. We must look to the Kng ;he
will throw de fault on bis Minivers ; the people will then cry
cut giveihemop sacrifice must be msec in order to drike ter
ror into future favourites, and let these expiate for the misery
which they have occaGcued." There is no other road to peace,
there is no other alternative to reflorc harmony at home, or to
secure frierdfhip abroad.*
When peace is supposed to be secured to a nation it is natural
to think that a very heavy burthen is taken off rem the people ;
we found it other wife, for instead es beirg unburthened, the. load
is encreafed ; and, contrary to all the fjftems of economy, the
money which (hon'd be faced to pay the national debt, is Iqaander.
cd away io p aces. penGoni, and gratuities, to keep up a ministe
rial majority in the House oi Commons, By inch condud the
nation falls into contempt both abroad and at home ; and com
p arts agaioft government murmur all over the British dominions.
If the people ire nearly unanimous in thinking they are oppressed
the Mindset's fi nation ia dangerous ,• they think so in America;
and it is not very improbable but the people of England and Ire
land may prefent'y express their thoughts as boldly.
There is but one mode of reftori/g Eng'and to her primitive
glory ;— Ged fend it may be speedily effded ; for the prefect
alarming profpe& gives us a herrid piaure of blood. Civil dis
cord is the wurst of animoG ks; and intestine wars the most mi
frab^c catastrophe with which a nation can be curled. That we
have region to bate the detailed advisers of our King, ever, good
man must coofefs. That the cause of complaint may be removed
is an universal prayer ; and that thole who deserve a wooden pil
low, may take their I4t deep 00 Tower hill, is the with of every
man wh® is /7 Friend to bis Country
( umbgr §6§ )