The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-09-14 00:00:00, page 1

rfn ADDRESS to the Freeholders and other ELECTORS ofi
the State of Pennsylvania.
Gentlemen,
TH E time is now approaching for a general election of
members of AlTembly, to represent you in the grand Coun
cil of the State. It is an important crisis, for on the wisdom of
your choice may eventually depend much of the future happiness
-and welfare of yourselves and your posterity.
After incessant toils, expence and Self-denials, you have now
the profpea of feeing your virtuous struggle crowned with tri
umphant success ; and a haughty 'imperious enemy, who despised
your infant efforts at procuring peace, liberty and fafety, com
pelled by your persevering manly exertions to crouch to an ack
nowledgment of your independence.
You are now to reap the well-earned fruits of your labour,
You may now look forward to the rising grandeur of this State,
from the enjoyment of a free trade, and liberal intercourse with
the whole world; when the ports of the Baltic, of Germany,
of Holland, of France, Spain, and indeed of all the maritime
powers, will be open to you ; when no arbitrary aft of navigation
can controul your commerce, which Shall expand itfelf as far as
seas can carry or winds can waft you; when the arts of peace
will be substituted for the atchievments of war; when agricul
ture and manufactures will diffufe their benign influence, and
riches be difleminated through the land.
A generous competition will then take place betwixt the dif
ferent States, which fhafl, by the liberality of its constitution,
the freedom and mildness of its government, and the wisdom of
its councils, recommend itfelf the most to the difeontented inha
bitants of Europe, that may be desirous of emigrating to this
land of civil and religious liberty, where even the sons of Britain
will seek a refuge from persecution, and " blush to think their
fathers were our foes." Such a contention is glorious ; the rights
of humanity are interested in it; and I am sure you will not be
out-done. You have hitherto drawn to your hospitable chores,
more emigrants than any State in the union. The industrious
Germans have found amongst you an aflylum, have been received
with open arms into the bosom of your State, and have amply
repaid the generous reception, in becoming a most valuable ac
quisition, or by forming a most refpe&able class of citizens.
Productive population, multiplying like the feeds of the har
vest, and not extent of territory, constitutes your riches and re
sources, and the wisest maxims of your future policy will be to
encourage it.
But other important matters will more immediately strike your
attention. The liquidation of the continental debts, contrasted
during the war, in which the inhabitants of this State are deeply
interested, is an object of the firft magnitude. This can only be
effected by inftruCtions from your Legislature to your Delegates in
Congress, to procure an appropriation of revenues, fufficiently
great, both for the annual payment of the interest, and for the
creation of a finking fund, for the final extinction of the ca
pital. This will give validity to the claims of the public credi
tors, and occasion their debts to negociate for their full value.
For surely the patriotic citizen, who, despising paltry lucre,
has supported the cause of his country by generous loans of mo
ney, thereby furnishing the sinews of war; the public spirited
farmer, who has contributed part of his stock, and of his pro
duce, to the maintenance of the army ; the difintcrefted mer
chant, who has supplied our troops with imported goods, with
arms, ammunition and clothing; but above all, the veteran war
worn soldier, who has supported the toils and perils of campaigns
in every change of climate, who has fought your battles, and
established your independence, and after spending his fortune in
your service, has nothing left but a Certificate of his pay ;---I
fay, surely these virtuous characters, who have helped to work
out your national deliverance in times of danger and distress, are
entitled to a full measure of public justice. Let not the pro
fpeft of burthenfome taxes discourage you ; —be not alarmed ; —
your resources, from the extension and improvement of your trade
and an increasing population, will be greater than you can at pre
sent possibly conceive.
A more just and equitable tax bill should likewise be introduced,
to exonerate the freeholders from such heavy contributions as they
have hitherto paid towards the public exigencies, there being ma
ny productive Sources of taxation, which have not as yet been call
ed in to your relief; for by increasing the burthens upon real
estates, the value of freeholds diminishes, and the cultivation of
land is difeouraged, to the great prejudice of the commerce and
manufactures of the country.
Other circumstances will give additional weight to the conside
ration of eftablifbing a just, prudent and gentle administration
of affairs, such as will tend to procure you these great and signal
advantages. The business comes home to every man’s bosom, and
ffiould engage his most serious attention; for, next to your duty
to your God, that to your country should claim a devoted homage.
The progress of the arts and fciences,---of legislation and poli
tics,---the improvement of the country in cultivation,---the efta
tli/hment' of manufactures, —the increase of population,—the
extension of your trade, and the settlement of a just and equal tax
ation, will depend upon the sage and public spirited efforts of the
members who compose your next legislature. It is their conduCt,
which, from the peculiar situation of circumstances, will proba
bly fix the foundation, on which your future happiness and glory
will be reared. The present Assembly has confefledly rendered im
portant services to their country. If, like the divine mantle of Eli
jah, they had the power of imparting a similar spirit to their suc
cessors, I should think it presumptuous to address you upon the
qualities necessary in those who would wish to recommend them
selves to your confidence, and who are entitled to yoar favor.
Various methods may be employed to blind your judgments,
misguide your passions, and detach you from the true interests of
your country; but consult yowr consciences, and chafe your Re
presentatives, as you would your religion, after the most mature
and honest deliberation.
Begin, by searching in the city, and in your refpeCtive coun
ties, for proper characters. Canvas the merits of the different
candidates, and let your choice be fixed on those, whole talents
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER^, i,^
IB@B^^|@
O R, TH E 1
GENERAL ADVERTISER.
VOL. XI.I Published every TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY.—Price Six-Pence.
denote their defigoatlon, whose interests are blended with your
own;---patriots,---men of integrity and ability,---friends to our
glorious revolution.
Let them have sense to difeover the paths of rectitude, and in
dependency of spirit to walk therein ;---let their estates be such,
as to set them above the reach of temptation or corruption, and
by interesting them deeply in the public events, constitute them
the proper guardians of the public concerns.
Let their education be such, as to give them generous, dignified
sentiments, such as the Legislators of a rising empire should pos
sess ;---fo that they may discharge their important duties with re
putation to themselves, and advantage to you ;---by directing
their thoughts and actions solely to your prosperity and welfare,
without a single endeavour at making the cause of their country
subservient to their particular interests, or a single wish of under
taking the toils of office, for the emoluments that may arise there
from.
Let your representatives be men of business, I mean men of
active minds, inquisitive, fruitful in resource, jealous of the
public good, watchful over the views of particular parties or
ruling juntoes,---?^ quid detriment! refeublica Capiat, —and who
will personally examine into the state of public business, and not
from an indolence of character depend upon the representations
of others.
A If not natives of the State, let them at least be residents du
ring the war; not Spendthrifts, but rather men of thriving for
tunes; for it may be relied on, that those who govern well their
private concerns, will be the belt managers of the public affairs;
and those who practice frugality in their own houfhold, will pos
sess a spirit of political economy in the disposition of the public
treasury.
To a full insight into matters of a domestic nature, may be
added a competent knowledge of foreign affairs, which will be
oftentimes necessary for the discharge of many political duties, and
the determination of many important political difeuffions.
The maritime powers of Europe will now wish to form com
mercial treaties and connexions with you; endeavour therefore
to engage in your councils, men versed in a general knowledge of
the trade of the State, and of its interests, as relative to those
of other commercial powers, and who will take advantage of eve
ry circumstance that nature has given, or art can procure, to the
improvement thereof.
On the other hand, let not your choice fall on men of illiberal
minds, who make a merit of their unwearied 'real in persecuting
those who differ from them in opinion, and dignify their conduct
with the name of patriotism; Hi nigrie funt, hot tu Americans ca
veto, Beware of such men---they have " the voice of Jacob,"
but " the hands of Esau." The vigilance of our government
will deteX, and the laws will punish all who may be guilty of
practices dangerous to the repose of the State.
Distrust men of violent party spirit; for as Solomon wifely
adjudged, that ffie who would divide the child, could not be its
mother, so he that would wish to split the State into factions,
can never be the friend or father of his country,
Beware of those who have been in office, and have weakly or
wickedly employed their power, who have abused your confidence,
and whose conduX will not bear a scrutiny; beware likewise of
those who have enriched themselves by their public employments,
have fattened on the Spoils of their country, and being terrified
at the idea of being called to account, wish to become members
of the Legislature, in or'er to screen their criminal conduct from
the piercing eye of public examination.
On these and fucli like charaflers,---virtuous citizens,---fix
your indignation and contempt, and in opposition to every art
that may be praXifed to Seduce you from your duty and interest,
never let them be called to the firft honor in this free country—
the honor of serving you. Thank God! we are nA destitute of
honest men, —our country is not in the deplorable situation of
Sodom or Gomorrah, that might have escaped the divine ven
geance, if five righteous men had been found there.
With regard to members of Council, —let them be taken from
that class of beings. " on whom the author of nature has praci
" oufly bestowed a more liberal portion of the aetherial spirit,
" than is usually given to the sons of men." Let them be men
of virtue, judgment, experience, and knowledge, acquainted
with your constitution, your laws, customs, and manners, and
who will make your welfare, and the security of your privileges,
the unerring guide of their conduX. The majesty of the people
is more peculiarly represented in them—their education Should
be therefore liberal, and their manners engaging; and if their
fortunes are easy, it will enable them to serve the public with
Small Salaries, and thereby conduce to lighten the burthen of the
fuhje<ft, without eclipsing the luftre of the magistracy.
These are the fundamental points that you are to confider;
these are the qualities and qualifications, which (as near as the
depravity of human nature will admit) should form t^e ground
work of your choice. The prejudices of party may mifguidc;
the voice of clamorous faXion may mislead; but here, as on a
rock, you may fix yourselves. These rules are consonant to the
moral fitnefs of things ; under their influence you will become a
great, a powerful, and a happy people.
Still further, to secure you in the possession of these inestimable
blessings, let me advise you, with a watchful eye, and the Stub
born virtue of a free people, to guard your liberty.
The original stock that furnished this goodly plant is now de
caying or decayed in al! the eastern world ; but the tender flip,
taken from the parent tree, flourishes in this western hemisphere ;
let your vigilance serve, as a cherubim with a flaming sword, to
• protea every avenue through which it may be attacked. May
worse than death, may eternal infamy pursue the wretch that,
with Sacrilegious hand, attempts to lop off one. of the branches ;
it is planted in a luxuriant foil, you have besides watered it witli
your blood, and, with a little care and culture, it will flioot up
with such redoubled flrength, that " the hills will be covered
with the Shadow of it, and its boughs be like unto the goodly
cedar ;" and may you and your posterity repose Securely under its
friendly and hospitable Shade, is the sincere and fervent wish of
A PENNSYLVANIAN.
From the New-York Royal Gazette;
dated September 7, 1782.
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE;
HOUSE of LORDS, July 10, 1782.
Interesting Conversation on the late Change of Mini«
flers.
THE question, " That this house do now adjourn,"
being put by the chancellor,
The duke of Richmond rose and said, as the bufinefa
was so far at an end, that the question of adjournment
was moved, he trusted, considering the present situati
on of the public, and considering his own situation •
considering likewise that it was understood that par
liament was to be prorogued next day, he should be al
lowed to fay a few words upon the situation of the pub
lic, and upon his own situation, (for which, though
undoubtedly a Subordinate consideration to that of the
public)he must be supposed to feel somewhat nicely.
His grace Said, when his majesty had, happily for this
country, thought fit to change his ministers in March
lad, the idea was to colled and unite men on principle
and affeaion, but chiefly on principle, in order to
form a strong and permanent administration, by whom
it was hoped we should be extricated from the man,
difficulties in which the abominable system of meafure#
pursued by those who had long held the government
in their hands, had plunged us. He could not, there
fore, recolleaing that idea, but very greatly lament
the loss of the noble marquis, who had presided so late
ly over the treasury ; a loss, he would be bold to fay,
this country cou.d never recover ! at least, as far as it
was possible for a country to be affeded by the loss of
an able and virtuous individual, The noble marquis
h^d, his grace Said, beyond all the men he had evee
Seen in his life, the extraordinary talent of uniting men,
upon principle, and keeping them together. The late
administration, he underwood, had been connected up
on principle, and the firft and leading point to which
they were to direct their aim, was, to make peace with
America at any rate. When he said, at any rate, he
did not mean that this country was to make any mean,
humiliating or improper concessions, but he would Say
fairly and openly, that the independence of America
was not to stand in the way of any treaty.
Titis being then the basis on which they came in, and
the object having as far as his judgment went, been
uniformly pursued by his majesty’s ministers, he could
not but lament, as a very great misfortune to the pub
lic, the loss of two members of the other house, one o£
whom had been secretary of state, (Mr. Fox) the other,
chancellor of the exchequer, (lord John Cavendish.)
Ou the death of the late marquis of Rockingham, his
majesty had been pleated to raise the noble lord near him
to the high office of firft lord of the treasury, in conse
quence of which, that honourable gentleman, late se
cretary of state, had thought proper to resign the Seals;
a circumflance, when he repeated it, he sincerely la
mented, and which the country would undoubtedly
feel to beamatter much to be lamented. A variety of
obvious reasons, as well as his near relationship to that
honourable gentleman, made it improper to fay much
respecting him. As a public man, perhaps there ne
ver was a minister of greater abilities, or better calcu
lated for tranfa&mg business foreign and domestic ; aa
a private man he would fay nothing of him, for tha
reasons he had stated; their lordships would be better
able to collect his opinions with regard to the private
character of the honourable gentleman from his silence,
.than from any thing he cou.d fay ; but loving and ad
miring highly, as he did, he co^d not so concur with
him id opinion, as to think it became him to with
draw his support from administration, merely because
his honourable relation had thought proper to do so.
The late ministers came into office with a view to new
measures and a new lytiem ; in Short, to hold a conduct
directly th. .reverse ot that of their ptedeceffors. While
administration persevered in carrying into practice
those principles on which they dame into office, so long
ne should think it his duty to support them. He had
seen nothing hitherto that led him to suppose that they
mean to depart from these principles.
Every tning that had been promised the public, had!
been performed and no more ; he had no reason there
fore to fuipea the noble lord's fincertty ; and the less,
as the noble earl bad but that day fe'nnight avowed his
de erminarion of adhering flriftly to ail that was ex
pelled of him. If he under stood oim rightiy, it wastes
form an original indepen lent adminidragon, to intro,
duce ine Haded fyi^m ot oecunomy into every de
partment, and to effectuate a substantial parliamen
tary retorin. The noble earl had also Spoken of the
independence of each house of parliament, and of ths
crowns having a power to give its negative to what bills
it thought proper. With thele points, his grace said
he Ihould not meddle as they were totally out of th^
question, upon the prefect consideration ; all he looked
to was peace with America, and a parliamentary re.
Sown. Tothe one, rue house of commons, conftnuted
LContinued in tha Fourth Bage,j
[NUMB. 93 7.