The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-03-14 00:00:00, page 2

•QTNCE the ladmeeting of a general affemhly, the
3 good people of this Rate have net only felt the
Common calami ies of war, 'but from the wanton and
lavage manner in which mhas been hroG cured, they
have experienced such fev-ritiesas re unpractised, and
▼till scarcely be credited by civilized nations.
The enemy, unable to teftke any impression on the
Nothern Rates, the number of wnofe In abitan,, and
tite strength of whose country, hid baffled their repeat
ed efforts, turned their views towards the Southern,
which, a difference of circurnftances afforded some rx
petition of conquering, or t least of greatly distress
ing, After a long redfiance,/the reduction of Charlef
town was effected; by the^aA Superiority of force with
which it had been besieged. Tiielofs of that garrison,
asit confided of the continental troops of Virginia
and the Carolinas, and of a number of militia, felici
tated the enemy's march into the country, and their
eftabliihment of strong pods in the upper and interior
parts of it; and the unfavourable issue of the action
near Camden, Induced them vainly to imagine, that
no other army could be collevied, which they might
not easily defeat. The militia, commanded by the
brigadiers Sumpter and Morion, whose enterprising
spirit and unremitted perseverance under many diffi
culties, are deserving of great applause, harraffed and
# often defeated large part es, but, the numbers of those
militia were too few to. ^contend effectually with the
Co levied firength of tie enemy ,; regardless therefore
of t e facr d des of honour, deftit te of the feelings of
humanity, and determined to extinguish, if paffible,
every.?p:rk of freedom uh this coun ry, they, with
fie inGlent pride of conquerors, gave unbounded scope
to the exetcifes of their tyrannical disposition, in
fringed tier public engagements; arid violated the
mod solemn capitulations, many of^ur worthies cjti
.tens; were, withonreaufe, long and closely confined,
feme on board of prifon^hips, and others in the town
and cattle of St. Auguliine; their properties disposed
vof at rhe' win and caprice of the enemy, and their fa
,milies sent to a diff -rent and diflant part of the co- ti
nent, without the means of support; many who had
Surrendered ss prisoners of war were killed in cold
•bldod ; fveral fud'erel de.th in the most ignominious
tapper, and others were delivered up to savages, and
put to tortures, under which they expired : thus, the
lives, liberties and properti s of the people were de
, p^rid-nt, solely, on the pleasure of British officers, who
deprived them of wither or all on the most frivolous
pretences: Indians, flives and a dcfperate banditti of
rihe most profligate characters, were caressed and em
ployed by the enemy to execute their infamous pur
poles; devastation and ruin marked their progress, and
that of their adherents, nor were their violences re
^rained by the charms or influence of beauty and in
noceuce : even the fair sex, wnom it is the duty of all,
and the pleasure and pride of the brave, to protect,
they and their tender offspring were victims to the in.
Yeterate malice cf an unrelenting foe ; neither the tears
of mothers nor the cries of infants could excite, in their
-hreafts, pity or companion ; not only the peaceful ha
bitations of the widow, the aged and the infirm, but
Che holy temples of the most high were consumed, in
flames kindled by their ftcriligious hands tuey have
tarnished the glory of the British arrs, disgraced the
profeffion of a britifh soldier, and fixed indelible stig
mas of rapine, cruelty, perfidy and profatenefs on the
British name. But I can new congratulate you, .and
I do so most cordially, on the pleasing cnange of affairs,
which, under the beffing of Ged. the wi dpm, pru
dence, qddrefs and bravery of the great and gallant
general Greene, and the intrepidity of the officers and „
men under his command have happily effected ; a ge
neral who is justly intirted, from his many Signal f.r
vices, to honourable and fi gwlar marks of your appro
bation and gratitude : his fucce^es hive been more ra
pid and Complect than t e most sanguine could have
expended : the enemy, compelled to Surrender or eva
cuate every pest which they held in the country, fre
quently defeated and driven from pl ce to place, are
obliged to seek refuge under the walls ofCh^rleftown,
.and on islands in its vicinity : we have no ; the full
and absolute possession of every other part ofthe state,
and the legislative, executive and judicial powers are
sin the free exercise of their refpeCtive authorities.
<I also most heartily congratulate you on the glori
jcus victory ootaineo by the combined forces of Ame
rica and France, over their common enemy ; when the
v-ry general, w 0 was second in command at the re
duction of Charleftown, and to whose boasted prowess,
and highly extolled abilities, the conquest of no led
'than three Rates hid been arrogantly committed, was
speedily compelled to accept of the fame mortising
terms which bad been imposed on that brave but un
fortunate garrison; to surrender an army of many
thousand regulars, and to abandon his wretched fol
lowers, whom behad artfully fe need from their alle
giance by specious promises of protection which he
could never have hoped to fulfil, to the justice or mer
cy of their county ; on the naval superiority established
by the dhiftrious ally of the united Rates; a fuperio
rity,in itfelf so decided and in its conferences so ex
dehste, as must inevitably loon oblige the enemy to
yidd to us the only post which they occupy in this
ftate,;'on the reiterated proofs of the sincerest friend
fhip, and on the great fappbrt which America has
received from that power ul monarch ; a monarch
whose magnanimity is universally acknowledged and
admired, and on whose royl word we may confident
ly rely for e ety nectary assistance, on the perfect
harmony whichfubfils between France and America ;
9n the liability which her independence has acquired,
TheSFEECH of his excellency JOHN RUTLEDGE
Esquire, Governor and commander in chief of the
Rate of South-Carolina, tome general aff^mbly, mat
.A Jickf^nburgh, on Friday the 18th day of Janua
ry, 1782.
Honourable gentlemen ^f the Senate,
Mr. Speaker, anrtGetf&men of the House of
Representatives,
SOUTH-CAROLI N A.
and on the certainty that^t is too deeply rooted ever
to be ihak'o tor, animated as they are by national
honou , and united by one common interest, it must
and w/ll b. maintained.
What may be tie immediate effects on the British
nation, of the events which I have mentioned, of their
loss of territory in other parts of the world, and of their
web founded pprehenfions from the powers of France,
Spain god Holland, it is impossible to foretell. If ex
perience can teich wisdom to a haughty and infatuat
ed people, and if they will now be governed by reason,
they will have learnt tnat they can have no solid ground
of nope, to conquer any state in the union, for tiiough
their armies have obtained temporary advantages over
our troops, yet the citizens of these iiabes, firmly re
folvtd, as thy are, never to return to a domination
which near fix years ago, they unanimously and justly
renounced, cannot b subdued; and they must now
be convinced that it is the height of folly and madness
to persist in so ruinous a war ; if however we judge as
we ought, of their future by their past conduct, we
may presume t[iat ti,iey will not only endeavour to keep
poss ffiou of our capita 1 , but make an other attempt,
howsoever improbable the success of it may appear, to
subjugate tins country, it is therefore highly incum
bent on os, to use our most fhenuous efforts to fruftrate
so fatal a d-sign, and I earneflly conjure you by the
duty which you owe, and and the sacred love which
you bear to your country, by the conflant remem
brance of her biiter (offerings and by the just detes
tation of British government, which you and your pos
terity must for ever possess, to exert your utmost facul
ties for that purpose, by railing and equipping, with
all poflible expedition, a refpeAable permanent force,
and by making ample provision for their comfortable
fubfifteoce; lam sensible the expence will be great,
but a merfure so iudifpenfable to the preservation of
our redom, is above every pecuniary consideration.
Tne organization of our milijia is likewise a fubjeft
of infinate importance, a clear and concise law, by
which the burdens o service will be equally sustained,
and a competent numb r of men brought forth, and
kept in the field, when their affiflance may be required,
is efentiahy t our security, and therefore, justly
claim# your immediate and serious attention certain
it is, that some of our militia have, upon federal oe
cafion , exhibited instances of valdar whch would have
reflected honour on veteran troops. The courage and
conduct of the generals whom 1 have mentioned, the
cool anl de ermined bravery repeatedly displayed by
brigadier Pickens, and, indeed, the behavior of many
officers and men in every brig de, are unquestionable
tefiimonies of the truth of this aflertion. But, such
behaviour ann,ot be expected from militia in general,
without good order .nd drift dicipline, nor can that
order and dicipline be eflablfhe 1, but by a salutary
law, steadily executed.
Another mportant matter for your deliberation, is
the conduit of such o' our citizens as voluntarily a
vowng tueir a legiance, and eveh glorying in their
profeffions of loyalty and attachment to his britannick
majesty, h^ve off red their con,rawlation& on the fuc
cris of his arms, prayed to be embodied as royal mi
litia, accepted coma ; ffions in his service, or endea
voured toftr vert our conftitutioh, end eftablifli his
power in its Read, of trofe whl have returned to this
fta e, in defiance of law by w ich such return was de
•clared t. be.a capital offenc # , and have betted the
British interest ; and of fucr, whose behaviour has been
so reprehensible, that ju^ice and policy forbid their
free re-admission to the rights and privileges of citi
zens.
The extraordinary lenity of this date, has been re
markably conspicuous : other ft rfes have thought it
just and expedient to appropriate the property of Brit
ish fubje&s to th^public use, but we nave forborne
to takeeven the profits of the estates of our most im
pl cable enemies; it is with you to determine, whe
ther the forfeiture and appropriation of their proper
ty should now take place ; if such (hall bt your d<t r
mination, though many of our firmed friends have
been reduced for their inflexible attachment to the
cause of their country, from opulence to inconceiva
ble distress, and, if the enemy's will and po er had
prevailed, would have been doomed to indigence and
beggary, yet it will redound to the reputation cf this
state, to provide a becom ng support for the fami
lies of those whom you may deprive of their property.
The value of paper currency became, of late, so
much depreciated, that it was requisite, under the
powers veiled in tie executive during the recess of the
general assembly, to suspend the laws by which it was
made a tender • you will now confider whether it may
not be proper to repeal those laws, and fix some equi
table mode for the-difclarge fdebts, contracted whilst
paper money was in circulation.
In t' e present scarcity of Specie, it would be dificult,
if not impracticable, to levy a tax, toa y considerable
amount towards finking the public debt, nor will
the creditors of the state expert that such a t x should
at this timi be imposed bu t, it is just and reasona
ble, that all unsettled demands should be liquidated,
and fatisfadory affnreances of paymnt given to the
public cred tors.
The interest and honour, the fafety and happiness
of our countr depend so much on the refultof your
deliberations, that I flatter myfelf, you will proceed,
in the weighty business before you, with firmnefs and
temper, with vigour, unanimity and dispatch.
JOHN RUTLEDGE.
May it pleas your Excellency,
WE bg leave to return your excellency the
thanks of this house for y ur speech. Any
words that we might adopt, would convey but a very
feint idea of the fatisfaftion we feel, on the perfect re
eiiablifhment of the legislative, executive and judicial
powers in this state.
It is with, particular pleasure, that we take the earli
est opportunity to present to your excellency our un
feigned thanks, for your unwearied zeal and attention
to the.real interest of this country, and to teftify our
The ADDRESS of the Honourable the Senate,
in Answer to the Governor's Speech.
The Address of the House of Representatives in answer
to the Governor's Speech.
WE the house of representatives of the state of Souths
Carolina, in general assembly met, return your
excellency our most cordial thanks for your
very interfiling fpe-ch to both houses at the opening
of this session, the language of which evidently be
speaks a heart glowing with ardent zeal for the interest:
and welfare of our common country..
We want words to express our heart-felt exultation
on the pleasing reverse in our arfairs : on this Ipot, but
a few months past, a military despotism prevailed, and
tyranny, with lawless violence, was desolating our fair
poffrffons; but, we now, with extacy, behold a free
government re-eflablifted, liberty, that greater of
temporal blessings, restored, and every citizen secured
in the possession of his property by tie firm barrier of
the law of his country. This auspicious change, is in
a great degree, owing to the prudence, firmnefs and good
condu& of your excellency, -
If any thing can add to the sublime and refineden
joyment which must arise from your excellency's own
reftaions on Jour persevering, unabated and success,
ful exertions t6wards refeuing your country from the
iron hand of cpdreffion, be pleased, Sr, to accept the
most sincere, and unfeigned thanks of your grateful
fellow citizens.
The black catalogue which your excellency has giv
en of British barbarities, forms but a small part of the
whole; when ever the historic page shall be Raised
with their story, it will exhibit a nation devoid of faith,
with whom oaths, treaties and the most solemn com
pads were considered as trifles, who, without fcrupl?
or remorse, had abandoned all regard to humanity, ho
nour, justice and every ennobling sentiment of the hu
man bread. It is hardly possible to conceive any cir*
cumfiance that could aggravated^ atrocious wicked
ness of their conduct There is not left a step in the
degradation of national character, to which they can
now defeend. The name of a Briton must henceforward
be a term of reproach among all nations.
We should betray a great degree of insensibility, and
be wanting in justice to his merit, should we omit this
occasion of acknowledging, with the warmed gratitude,
our obligations to rhe great and gallant general Greene,;
his atchievemenrs in this state, while they rank him
with the greatest commanders cf ancient or modern
date, will engrave his name in indelible characters on
the heart of every friend to this country. Our acknow
ledgments are also due to all the brave officers aad men
under his command, who have so often fought, bled
and conquered for us. The generals Sumpter, Mari
on and Pickens, with the brave militia under thei
We flatter ourselves, that the blood which the ene
my has inhumanly fpilt, the wanton devaluation which
has marked their progress, and tyrannical system that
they have invariably pursued, and which your excel
lency has so justly and pathetically described to us,
will rouse the good people of this state, and will ani
mate them with a spirit to protest their country, to
save their rights and liberties, and to maintain, at all
hazards, their independency.
It is with iuexpreffible pleasure, that we receive
your excellency's congratulations upon the great and
glorious events of the campaign, on the happy change
of affairs, and on the pleasing profped before us ; and
we assure your excellency, that we concur most sin
cerely with you, in acknowledging and applauding the
meritorious zeal, and the very important fervice#
which have been rend red to this state by the great
and gallant general Greene, and the brave and intrepid
officers and men under his command, and to whom we
(hall be happy to give the most honourable and fingu
lar\ tefiimonies of our approbation and applause.
We are truly fenfibie of the immeafe advantage
which the united Bates derive from the magnanimous
prince their ally : we have the most perfect confidence
on his royal word, and on the sincerity of his friendfhip,
and, we think ourselves mucn indebted to that illufta
ous monarch, for the great and effedual assistance which
he hath been ple fed to give the confederated flat^, and
by whose means they have been enabled to tumble the
pride of Britain, and to eftablilh t. eir independency
upon the most permanent basis.
The importance of the several matters which your ex
cellency hath recommended to our consideration, is so
evident, that we shall proceed to deliberate upon them
with all possible dispatch, and we flatter ourselves, that
our business will be carried on with temper, firmnefs
and unanimity.
To which his Excellency returned the following Answer.
Honourable Gentlemen,
I Sincerely thank you for this address ; the approba
tion which you are pleased to declare cf my .onduft
affords me much fatis^&ion ; bound by the Wronged
ties, and the deepest gratitude, to promote the happi
ness of this country, I have only to regret, that my en
deavours for that purpose have not, as yet,^ produced
all the goed effects which I anxiously flrove to obtain.
Your sentiments of public affairs are so perfectly j u st,
that I forefee the happiest confeqnences mufi kefult
from the disposition which you proftfs.
entire approbation of the good condu& of the executive,
since the last meeting of the general assembly.
We fee and revere the good efs of divine providence,
in frufiratmg and disappointing the attempts of out
enemies to conquer the Southern States, and we trust,
that by the blessing of the fame providence, on the va
lour and intrepedity of the free citizens of America,
their attacks and enterprizes will continue to be re
pelled and defeated.
We reflet with pleasure on the Ready resolution
with which Charleflown was defended, by a small bo
dy of brave men, against such a vast superiority of
force, and we gratefully acknowledge the meritorious
conduct and important Cervices of the officers and pri
vates of the militia, who flood forth in the hour of
danger, and whose coolness, perseverance and ardour
und r a complication of difficulties, most justly entitle
them to the applause of their country.
JL. GERVAIS, Prefrient.
JOHN RUTLEDGE. .