The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-01-28 00:00:00, page 2

The following tie^, ^ith one other by the tame Author,
was received aconfiderable time age, with a request
for # publication ; but hitherto has been unavoidably
delayed, to give a fair opportunity to those political
di putants who, for a very long time, have engrossed
this paper, without the 1< aft advantage to the printer,
and, in the,,Thon of many good men, of little ad
vantage to America.
From the BOSTON INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE,
Of October 8, 1775.
Messieurs Powars and Willis,
A large number of your Customers and others earned request
you to pubtyh the fattening in your ufejul paper.
To the P ÜBLI C.
AS the affairs of Government and Liberty, are
the greatest points of controversy, now in the world,
it certainly is of great importance, that our ideas be clear
and just concerning them. Permit me therefore to offer a
few thoughts, upon a familiar metaphor, w^ich the holy
Ghost has used to illustrate their true nature. In Amos,
v. 24 . he fays, "Let judgment run down as waters,
" and righteousness as a mighty jiream." From whence we
may observe,
F^rfl. That judgment and righteousness are essential to
freedom. When we would represent any thing as quite
free, we fay,it is as free as water. And not only the flow
of mercy and grace from God to men, but also its effects
in taem, in producing obedience unto him, are often com
pared thereto in the word of truth —John, iv. 14. and vil.
38. Titus, 2. 11. 12. and 3, s—B. This is most certain,
because
Second. Freedom is not afling at random, but by reason
arid rule. Those wh® walk after their own lusts, are clouds
without °water, carried about of "winds ; or raging "waves
oj the sea, foaming out their own fame; while the true
sons of liberty are like freams, which run down in a
clear and fieady channel. David fays, I will run the way
of fy commandments, when thou Jhalt enlarge my heart. I
will walk at liberty, for Ifeek thy precepts.
11 Pet. 2. 10 19.
Third. Though tyranny and licentiousness often make
a great noise, yet government and liberty are much strong
er than they are. The former, like raging waves, dalh
themselves against the rocks, and die upon the shore; or
like a tempest, after making fad waste and devastation,
their flrength is gone, and their force isover. While the
latter, like a mighty stream, carry all before them, and ne
ver rest till they can get through or over all obstacles,
which are put in their way.
Fourth. Streams and rivers are of great use, and cause a
conftint Row of refreftment and blessings wherever they
cothe; so does the exercise and administration of judgment
and righteousness, among all people that eajoy them.
Hence,
Fifth. The command of heaven is, Let them run down;
put no ©bßrudion in their way. No, rather be in earnest
to remove every thing that hinders their fre: course.
Sixth. The context plainly fliews, that a main obstruc
tion to these great blessings, among the people then spoken
to, was their assuming a power to govern religion, instead
of being governed by it. True religion is a voluntary
obedience unto God. And the great design of all ordi.
nances and a&s of worfliip towards him, is that thereby
we may obtain pardon and cleansing, with direction and
assistance to behave as we ought towards our fellow-men.
But nftead of this, those people added their own inven
tions to divine institutions, and fubfiituted their aHs of
devotion towards God, in the place of a righteous practice
towards men; or for a cover to their contrary conduct:
And they would fain have been thought very religious, al
though they turned judgment into wormwood, bated him
that rebukedin the gate, and abhorred him that spoke up
rightly. These things were written for our admonition;
and all things of that nature, if indulged, will prove as
pernicious to us, as they did to the jews. And since felf
intereß and felf-Rattery have an amazing influence to blind
men, concerning their own conduct in these affairs, great
care ought to be taken to gaurd against deception therein.
And perhaps a close attention to two late publications, from
the ruling party in this State, may be very serviceable in
that refped.
Eleven years ago, the episcopal clergy appeared very
• earnest for having BRiops established in America ; which
caused Dr. Chauncy of Boston, to write an answer the
next year, to what Dr. Chandler had published upon that
fubfea. An I as Chandler had declared, thatall they wan
ted, was only to have their church compleatly organized,
without the least design of injuring others, the best reason
that Chauncy could give, why his request ought not to be
granted, was this: Says he,
“We are in principle, against all civil establishments in
" religion.—lt does not appear to us, that God has entruf
" ted the Rate vrith a right to make religious eftablifh
' ments. If the state in England has this delega 6d au
“ ffiority must it not be owned that the State in China
" n Turkey, in Spain, has this authority likewise?
" What should make the difference in the eye of
"true reason? Hath the state of England been dis
" tmguifhed by heaven by any peculiar grant, beyond the
" state in other countries ? Ifit has let the grant be pro
" iuced. If it has not, all states have, in common, the
" fame authority, in establishments conformable to their
" own sentiments in religion; what can the consequence
" be, but infinite damage to the cause of God and true re
" ligion 1 And such in sass has been the consequence of
" these establishments in all ages, and in all places.
" Should it be said, we claim liberty of conscience, and
" fully enjoy it; and why would we confine this privilege
" to our selves ? Is it not as reasonable, epifcopalians
" should both claim an 1 enjoy it ? It is readily allowed;
" and we areas willing they should possess and exercise
" religious liberty in its full extent, as we desire to do it
" ourselves. But then, let it be heedfully minded, we
“ claim nn right to desire the interposition of thefa/e to
'' eftablilh that mode of worship, government, or discipline,
'' we apprehend is most agreeable to the mind of Christ.
" We desire no other liberty, than to be left unrestrained
" in the exerc fe of our principles, in so far as we are good
<' members of society : And we are perfedly willing epif
" copalians fliould enjoy this liberty to the full. If they
" think Bishops, in their appropriated sense were con
" Rituted by Christ or his apostles we ob/eH not a word
" against their having as many of them as they please, if
“ they will be content to have them with authority alto
" gether derived from Christ. But they both claim and
' desire a great deal more. They want to be distinguish
" ed by having Bishops upon the footing of ajiate efia
" blijhment. The plain truth is, by the gojpel-cbarier,
" all profeffed chriftiaus are veiled with precisely the fame
" rights ; nor has one denomination any more a right to
'' the interposition of the civil magistrate, in their favour
" t/ian another; and wh rever this difference takes place,
" .t is beside the rule of scripture, and I may fay also, the
" genuine dictates of uncorru; ted reafon."* From whence
we may learn, that corrupt reasonings, have carried Dr.
Chauncy's denomination on in a way beside scripture rule,
for these hundred and forty years ; for just so long have
their rulers interposed their authority, to support their re
ligious ministers by afeffment and difrefs, to the unspeak
able damage of ether denominations, and contrary to the
pra&ice of the firß planters of the country, for eighteen
years. And that partiality was wholly an arbitrary ufur
patiqn of the ruling party, without the leafi warrant for it,
in either of our charters ; yet the majority of the conven
tion lad winter, voted to incorporate those ecclefiUßical
laws with others, into the new constitution of goverment,
which they were framing for us, which, if it had been re
ceived by the people, would have eftabliflied them in an
other manner than ever they were before.—Upon hearing
of which, the agent and commit ee of our Baptist churches
met at Boston, Feb. 21, and drew up a protest, and peti
tion to our next Aflembly against it ; wherein they shew,
that those laws are contrary to chriftian liberty, exclude
Christ from being the only lawgiver and h^ad of his church
are a breach of public faith, as they tax people were they
are net represented, and impower the majority to judge
for the rest about spiritual guides, which naturally causes
envying andfrife, contrary to the wisdom that is from
above, which is without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
And they elofe with faying, " Our earnest prayer is, that
" your honors may be the happy instruments of promo
" ting such impartial peace, as to fix it as a fundamen
" tal principle of our constitution, that religious rainifters
" shall be Supported only by Christ's authority, and not
" at all by assessment and Secular force : which impartial
" liberty has long been claimed and enjoyed by the town
" of Boston."
Great numbers, and of various denominations, fubferi
bed this addr@fs to our Assembly ; f which alarmed a
number of ministers; and Mr. Phillips Payson who prea
ched the election sermon, at Boston, May 27th, commen
ded the constitution that was framed for us last winter,
and fays, " It may justly be eonfidered as a high evidence
of the abilities of its compilers, and if it should not be
complied with, it is very probable we never shall obtain a
better." And he said to the Assembly,
" The importance of religion to civil Society and go
vernment, is great indeed, as it keeps alive ihe best sense
of moral obligation, a matter of such extensive utility, es
pecially in retpea to an oath, which is one ofthe princi
pal instruments of government. The fear and reverence
of God, and the terrors of eternity, are the most powerful
restraints übon the minds of men. And hence it is of spe
cial importance in a free government, the Spirit ofwhich
being always friendly to the sacred rights of conscience,
if will hold up the gospel as the great rule of faith and
practice. Established modes and uSuages in religion, more
efpe ially the Rated public worship of God so generally
form the principles and manners of a people, that changes
or alterations in these, especially, when nearly conformed
to the fpir t and fimplicly of the gospel, may well be es
teemed very dangerous experiments in government. For
this and other reasons, the thoughtful and wife among us
trust tnat our civil fathers from a regard to gQfpel wor
ship, and the constitution of t efe churches, will care
fully preserve them; an lat 11 times, guard against eve
ry innovation that might tend to overfet the pubiic
worship of God, though fiich innovations may be urged
from the most foaming zeal. Persons ofa gloomy, ghost
ly and mystic caff, bforbed in visionary f enes, deserve
but little notice in matters, either of religion or govern
ment. Let the restraint of religion once be broken
down, as they infallibly would be, by leaving the fehjea
of public worship to the humors of the mui ude and
we might well defy all human wisdom and p ver, to Sup
port and preserve order and government in the State." §
It is evident from the forecited fat, that lam one of
the persons, that this gentleman would perfume the pub
lic not to hear or re ard. But having a bet.er opinion of
my countrymen than to think that hh their ears can be
flopped against us by his mean, ey may in a future
paper expe& some remarks upon these publications, from
their humble Servant,
ISAAC BACKUS.
* Chauncy's answer to Chandler, page 152, y. 53, 179,
180
, Which would have been presented, if the constitution
had been received.
§ P. viii, xviii— xx,
(To be continued.) *
SAVANNAH (Georgia) December 3.
PTI HE incursion of the enemy from Florida into this
I State was so exceedingly iudden and unexpected,
that they were in the heart of the country before the alarm
was given to the inhabitants.
The Settlers on the Southern frontier immediately took
up arms—But so Superior were the enemy in numbers,
that the few brave inhabitants who dared attempt to op
pose their progress at every defile and advantageous piece
of ground, were compelled to retreat until joined by the
handful of Continental troops, who had not been drawn
to the westward by an appearance of an impending war
wjth the Indians.
With this little affi Rance it was determined that a Rand
should be made at the Meeting-house, in Liberty county ;
but accounts being received that another party of the ene
my had landed on Colonel's island and were marching to
Sunkury, it was resolved to reinforce the garrison in that
town with the third Continental regiment, and that there
mainder should retreat to Ogeeche ferry ; left the enemy
marching up from Sunbury, should attack us in reverse,
and get us between two fires. The retreat was happily
effected under the fire of the field pieces, and the camp
intrenched so ftrengly, that the enemy could not venture
an attack thereupon.
The enemy being thus in possession of one of the most
valuable and best cultivated Settlements in the State of
Georgia, gave loose to their Savage disposition, burning,
destroying and plundering every house and all the effeds
and property of the distressed inhabitants.
Having Satiated their barbarity with a&s of uncommon
wantonness and cruelty, they Suddenly retreated, being
joined by the division ofßritifh troops from Sunbury;
driving before them many negroes and several hundred
head of cattle.—The situation of the commanding officer
was really piteous, not having it ia his power to pursue
the enemy, owing to his inferiority in numbers.
General Screven, who in the firft skirmish was inhu
manly Shot on the ground, having before Surrendered and
Sued for quarter, has since died with the wounds received
from his Savage murderers. The character of this gentle
man, as a firm patriot, a gallant officer, a truly worthy
member of the community wherein he lived ; and in pri
vate life that of an affectionate husband, a kind and in
dulgent parent and ftedfaft friend, must render his loss de
servedly and universally regretted. In fine he lived the
worthy citizen, and fought and died the brave and gallant
champion in his country's cause.
^uis defiderio fit modus tarn chari capitis.
The numbers of the enemy amounted, from a variety
of accounts, to one thousand men at leafi ; 40® ofwhom
wereßritifh regulars,and 300 horfemen,compofedßrown's
and M'Girt's rangers.
CHARLES TOWN, (South-Carolina,) December 16.
In the evening of Friday the 4th inst. a large Ship, full
of men, anchored off Tybee in Georgia. Great pains
were taken to reconnoitre her, but no Satisfactory intelli
gence obtained till Sunday the 6th, when a mariner, who
had deserted from her, appeared and gave information,
upon oath, to the following purport, viz.
" That it was a British tranSport fliip called the Neptune,
commanded by a Captain M'Dougal, one of a fleet of 20
fail lying at Sandy Hook, having on board, as he was
told, about 5000 men, all Tories, under the denomina
tion of Jersey Volunteers, under the command of General
Court! nd Skinner, except three battalions of the Seventy
firft British regiment, (M'Leod's Highlanders.) That
they were to be convoyed by the Phoenix, a 44 gun ship,
the Vigilant floating battery formerly employed against
Mud-Island fort in the river Delaware, a galley, and one
or two sloops of war. That the Neptune had on board,
besides % mariners, upwards of 10c men, who had chiefly
their families with them, and were under the command of
Col. Alien, late of Philadelphia. That the Neptune and
another of the transports parted their anchors, and were
, driven to sea from Sandy Hook, by a violent fiorm on the
13th of November: that Capt. M'Dougal, upon opening
his inftruftions, found himfelf directed, n ease of parting
with the fleet, to proceed to Tybee, and if he should not
find it there, or it fliould not arrive in 48 hours after 1 im,
then to proceed to St. Mary's river, and there writ for
them. That he underfto©d from the people on board they
were defined to winter in Georgia. That it was thecom
mon talk at New-York that the whole 5000 were to win
ter at Savannah. That about three weeks before he left
New-York a fleet had failed from thencewithio,coo troops
on board, as given out for Virginia, but supposed for the
Weft-Indies."— May it not hence be in erred, that the
disaster which befel Admiral Byron's fleet off Cape Cod,
and M de Euille's expedition against Dominica, has pre
vented the execution of the enemy's designs upon this state,
by fending the 10,000 men designed this way to the Weft-
Indies : and that by fending ail the Loyal Refugees to
East Florida, they mean to make their at empt here m
the Spring, after they have collected all the force they can
mufier of tories, &c. But comewhen they will, 'tis to be
hoped we shall be well prepared for them.
Last Saturday a proclamation was issued for renewing
the embargo on flapping, to continue 30 days longer.
A small privateer brig, called the King George, mount
ing ten four-pounders, commanded by Capt. Stanton Ha
zard, has been cruizing some time off this bar and sent
three prizes for St. Augufline, and one for Rhode-Tfland;
those he sent off for St. Augufhae were, a sloop from Port
au Prince, another from Cape Francois, and a schooner,
Capt. Cn'lins, from Boston, all for this port; and that he
sent for Rhode Island is a vessel laden with tobacco He
put most of his prifeners afliore in Georgia, and used t^ ct
well. He told one of his p foners, there were nine priva
teer cruizing between the apes of Vir n a ani Georgia.
1 °C. 2;. Gov or Montfort Browne, of the Bah ma
Ifla Is, has offer I gre ' encouragemen to Loyal Re'3-
gees that will go :?fe : and starve on to r e dland^ it
P said a number tl 1 have already been Rut to Ra, 3
in Bermuda. Probably others will be got rid of, in the
fame way,by tl Bi dhCo^rnmer ,0 being fimtl the
fertile and Salubrious countries of EaR and Web Florida.
Tie late General Assembly, b Are the / difiotwhon, -re
solved, that this town ought to be defers ed to t e lap ex
tremity; accordingly, the most effectual meafer&t are
pursuing to repel the threatened invefion of the enemy,
in whatever quarter they may think proper to make the
attempt.
Dec. 2. Last Fri lay his Excellency Major General Lin
coln, appointed Commander in Chief of the American
troops in the Southern department, arr'ved here from the
Northward, accompanied by his Aids de Camp
[More Carolina and Georgia news is come to hand, and
will be in our next.]
PORTSMOU TH, January in
We have the pleasure to inform the public, that on
Thursday last arrived into this port the prize fliip M ; ry,
of 8 carriage guns, taken by the Genera! Sullivan of this
place, about fix days after the failed from hence, with a
valuable cargo, bound from Quebec to New-York; some
of the particulars are as follow, viz. 800 barrels of flour,
60 tierces of ditto, 200 bags of bread, 300 bushels of oats,
1000 bufliels of wheat.
* Last Saturday night as a vessel was making for this
harbour, the ftruex on Odiorn's point, and next morning
was observed to be in two parts ; by papers found on
board, the appears to be a prize taken by the Monmouth,
the'hands, being eleven in number, after taking to their
boat, all periled; their bodies were taken up the next
morning.
BOSTO N, January 7,
So severe was the fiorm of Saturday fe'nnight, that se
veral hundred wild fowl were afterwards taken up on the
eastern shore. Numbers of which were found alive in
sheds and out-houses, at Lynn, next mornin , which is a
circumstance not known by the oldest person there.
In the above storm, the privateer armed sloop called the
General Starks, and which failed from hence some tim?