The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-11-27 00:00:00, page 2

To THE PUBLI C.
THE candour due to public character, of which
unhappily there is too little in this flat#, will pre
vent ftridures upon public proceedings when they do
not tend to the advancement of force general interest
of liberty or justice. And even thn, tey will be un
der the restraint of decency and refped. lam inclin
ed to think as favourably of the pr sent assembly as of
any other gentlemen in office, but I fear they are Aid
ing into a most dangerous error, and subverting one
of the most essential principles of natural ju slice. I
cannot give my confeht to the establishment of any pre
cedent which may effect my own or my fellow citizens
rights as electors or elected, and much less fubjed our
characters and liberties to arbitrary or partial decisions.
A petition has been presented to the houfe,and entered
on the minutes, complaining in high, though general
terms, of a violation of the freedom of election in di
vers particulars. But except in one, no persons are
fpecified, there is no detail of faffs, or precise charge,
which any person can @ffer himblfto meet. An infp^c
tor is charged with mifconduft—there were a dozen of
infpeßors or more. A person of legal knowledge is
also charged; it is presumed there are many persons of
legal knowledge in this state, and some who took part
in the election; but who can be prepared to answer
charges upon such vague and uncertain description ?
Hence the house, very properly, and agreeable to par
liamentary usage (as I shall shew hereafter) assigned a
day for the hearing the petition, and also direßed that
the petitioners should previously fpeci'y the names of
the persons alluded to, and the faffs on which the gene
ral allegations were founded. The justice and proprie
ty of this resolution was so obvious, that I doubt whe
ther it was disapproved by a single person until the time
aligned was nearly expired, and then four of the pe
titioners very plainly tell the house, they had no right
to make such an order, or to call upon them in this
manner ; that they do not mean to criminate persons,
but measures; and in short, that the house is not com
petent to the enquiry as it refpefls delinquents ; can
not ^y them if accufcd, or punish them if guilty, and
that they must be referred to the ordinary courts of jus
tice. These are political heresies unknown to our con
flitution and parliamentary usage. Such is the nature
of this complaint, as well as of most others in contro
verted elections when fraud or violence are fuggefled,
that you cannot examine into the fraud or violence
without infantly naming the perpetrators—both confi
derations are unavoidably involved in the fame inquiry,
and where mal practice is proved, the delinquency of
the agent and the censure, or other puniffiment, imme
diately follows the decision of the controverted election.
The infiances es this are innumerable in the journals of
the house of commons. It is also a great miflake to fu p
pefe the house not competent to the enquiry of the de
linquency, or that a court of justice must be resorted to ;
it happens to be diredly the reverse. It is their pecu
liar privilege, the breach of which they might resent
and punish if any other court took up the enquiry,
except in case of actual breach of the peace. This is
so clear and unquestionable that no person acquaint
ed with the law and usage of parliament, would deny it.
What therefore can we fay when we find the house with
the order firft made, in full view on their minutes pro
ceeding to order the hearing at a future day, their reso
lution for fpecifying the persons and objections, uncom
plied with. I have said it is a subversion of natural jus
tice, and most certainly it is so, to go into an enquiry
which tends to injure the characters of men unheard.
Can this election be set aside without offering proof of
the contents of the petition, and can that proof be of
fered and a decision be had, without criminating some
persons as guilty of fraud or violence? Will it be just
to affix guilt upon them if absent, if present with what
colour of justice or reason could they be refufed a hear
ing, andan opportuni y to disprove by other tefiimo
ny the fads alledged. Suppose rhe house, under the
fallacious idea of examining measures not men, should
vote the election void for violence or fraud, and upon
a farther hearing either before themselves or elsewhere,
the parties charged with this violence or fraud should
appear perfectly innocent—what fhameful contradidi
on must appear ? The election vacated for mal practices
of which no person is guilty A petition like the pre
sent would, i apprehend, have been rejected in Eng
land for its uncertainty : there the original petition is ex
pelted to state fads and persons; and before any bear
jog there must be a fpecification of fur ther particulars
if necessary. Whoever will take the pains to turn over
the proceedings at the opening of every new parliament,
wi'l fee with what particularity the petitions are fram
ed. I will quote one or two out of 40 at the opening
of the parliament in the year 1705 :
Journal of the house of commons, vol. 15, page iq.
" A petition of fir Simon Har oort, knt. was pre
" fentad to the house, and read, fetti g forth, that the
" petitioner was duly elected to serve as a burgess in
" the present parliament for the borough of Abingdon,
" in the county of Berks, but through the partiali y of
" Mr. Joseph Spinnap, late mayor of the said borough,
" in admitting many persons to poll who had no right,
4< and through divers othrr indecent p aftices a majo
'' rity of votes was obtained, and taken for Grey Ne
" vill, efq; the mayor denying the petitioner a scrutiny
«' of the poll though he had promised it and to return
" accordingly: And praying relief in the premises"
The very next petition dates, “ That fir Thomas
" Bellot and Rowland Cotton, by themselves, and Mr.
" William Burflem, receiver general ofthe taxes of the
" said county, Richard Welsh, Robert Rodes and others,
" their agents, did by treaty, bribery, menaces and
« other illegal practices, procure divers votes, &c."
In page 179 following, we learn the determination of
the above election and the punishment of Mr. Burflem,
as follows, viz.
" Resolved, That fir Thomas Bellot is not duly elec
" ted a burgess to serve in the present parliament for
“ the b rough of Newcafile "
“ A morion was then made and the question proposed,
" That Mr. Wi'liam Burflem, receiver-general of the
" county of Stafford, is guilty of bribery in endeavour
" ing to procure fir Thomas Bellot to be elected,” &c.
" Resolved in the affirmative.
" Then resolved, That an humble address be present
" ed to her majefiy to difeharge the said William Burs
" lem from his said employment of receiver general."
Here we may observe the decision of the election,
the examination into the conduQ of those parties, and
the punifliment, all involved in one enquiry and difeuf
lion.
But the petitioners fay the house ought rot to call
upon them to appear in support of their petition, or
particularize their objections—. -In the fame book, page
26 I find the following order as of ccurfe :
" Ordered, That Thomas Alien, jun William Payn
' ton, John Cox, &c. the persons who signed the peti
' tion complaining of an undu^ election for the bo
“ rough of Whitechurch, do attend this house on the
" 4th September next, when toe matter of the said pe
" tition s to be heard," &c
And in support of what I have advanced, that the
law and ufge of parliament requires a farther fpecifi
cation of persons and objections, so as to give all par
ties an opportunity of being heard. I beg leave to
offer one more quotation from the 23d vol. of the jour
nals of the commons, 19th Nov. page 535.
Resolved, That in all cases of controverted elections,
for counties in England or Wales, to be beard at the
bar of the house, or before the committee of privilege
and eleftions, the petitioners do, by themselves or their
agents, within a convenient time, to be appointed either
by the house or the committee of privileges and ele&i
ons, as the matter to be heard shall be before the
house or committee, deliver to the fitting members or
their agents, lifts of the persons intended to be object
ed to, who vote for the fitting members, giving in the
said lifts, the several heads of objection, and dif
tinguiihing the fame against the names of the voters
excepted to, &c.
With much refpeft I must intreat the honourable
members of the assembly and council, o confider that
these authorities are of no party : they have neither
enemies to mortify nor friends to gratify; they speak
the genuine language of truth and reason, and cannot
be departed from without fubjeding the members of
both houses to the severe animadversion of all men of
learning and knowledge : and to the still severer remarks
of the honest and unprejudiced part of mankind, who
will feel and resent the dangerous wound given to the
cause of virtue and juflice.
It is too serious a business for party to mingle in ;
what is convenient to day will be a rule to-morrow,
and in justice be fandified to a precedent ; let the par
ties charged be known, and the charges fpecified; if
guilty their punishment will be more exemplary, and
the decision refpeded. But partial hearings and ar
bitrary votes will sooner or later cover their authors
with shame, and blast the honor of our public councils.
A Lover of Justice and fair Enquiry.
&w^^reww
Drugs and Medicines.
A GENERAL ASSORTMENT OF
Chemical, Galenical, and genuine Patent
MEDICI N E S,
TO BE SOLD, BY
William Smith,
At the MEDICINAL STORElately occupied by Mr.
John Sparhawk, in Secend-ftreet, five Doors be
low the Friend's Meeting House. Among which
are —
Argent. Viv.
Bals. Capivi,
— — Peruv.
.— Tolut.
Borax,
Calomel,
Camphor,
Cantharid.
Cot. Peruv. opt.
Crtm Tart.
FA. Lemon,
Flor ft Lavend.
Sulph.
F I. Sense,
Gum Ammon.
Aloes focot.
Arabic,
- A ffafeetid.
B nzoin.
Galban.
Guaric.
TEETH liribuments,
C uching ditto,
Differing Knives,
B:ft and common Lancets,
PATENT MEDICINES.
ANDERSON's, Hoopet'f, Lockyer's and Keyset's
" Pilis ; Boftock's and Godfrey's Cordial; Duffy's
Elixir; Biitifh and Hearlem Oil ; James's Powder ;
Walker's Jefuita Drops; Turiington's Balsam ; Bri
derfon's and Ryan's Worm Cakes ; Britifli Teeth Pow
der ; Hili's American Balsam ; Elixir Berdans, and
Britain of Horey.
ALSO, Vils, Nipple Pipes, Urinals, Iffne Plaifter,
Lavender and Honey Water, Ivory and Pewter Syringes.
With a small Variety of
SURGEON'S INSTRUMENTS, Viz.
ORDERS from his former Correspondents and
others, who may plcafe to apply to him, will be punc
tually attended to.
MEDICINE CHESTS for Ships or private Families,
remote from a Ph) fici&D, carefully put up, with suita
ble Directions.
Trocaes and Canufas,
Male and Female Cathe
ters, &:.
Myrrh,
Opium,
Scammon.
Tragacanth.
Gutt. Gamb.
Lap. Calaminar. ppt.
Magnesia,
M^nna,
Mere. Corrof. Subl.
Oh Caryfphill.
Piper Long.
Rad. Jallop,
—— Ipecac.
Rte,
Raf. C. C.
Sri. Nitri,
Sumina varia,
Spt. Sal. Vol, Oleos.
Tart. Emet.
Terra Japon.
Vitriol. Alb,
To be Sold at Public Au&ion,
At Southwark Auction-Store,
On THURSDAY, the 29th Instant,
A large Assortment of
Ship Chandlery:
Such as—Slips Brass anl Wo den Comp ffes, Sand
G^UA, from four hours te quarter minute, Brafitand
Iron Hinges of various kinds, Door, Chest, and Delk
Locks, Weft India Filets, Daily Assistants, Mariner's
C mpafe, Callenders, and a great number of other
Articles, too numerous to insert.
WILLIAM BROWN, Audioneer.
November 26.
Just Imported from France,
AND TO BE SOLD, BY
Safportas and Le Boeuf,
At their STORE in Front street, opposite the Coffee-
ALSO, Fifty Hogflheads of good Virginia
and Maryland Tobacco.
Phhadelohja, November 26, 178^.
p Y virtue of a Writ of Venditioni Ex
^^ punas to me directed,, will be Sold by Public
V-nriue, at the Coffee House, on TUESDAY the 4th
Dy of December next, at Four o'clock in the After
noon, A certain B i-k MESSUAGE, TENEMENT,
and Piece of GROUND, with several Back-buildings,
situate on th^ south fide of Walnut-street, between
Third and Fourth turrets, from the river Delaware, in
the City of Philadelphia; containing in breadth, on
Walnut-street, aforefaid, 16 feet 6 inches, and in
length or depth 108. feet, fubje& to a Ground-rent of
fourteen Spanish, coined, Silver Pieces of Eight.
Also, another MESSUAGE and Lot or Piece of
GROUND, adjoining the aforefaid Lot, containing in
breadth, on the North fide of Walnut street, 24 . feet
9 inches, and in length or depth 220 feet ; taken in Ex
ecution, as the property of Harry Gordon, by
WILLIAM WILL, Sheriff.
An entire New Work.
Now Selling at BELL's Book-Store, near Sc. Paul's
Church, in Third street, Philadelphia :
T HE
Revolution of America.
By the ABBE RAYNA L,
Author of the philosophical and political Hihory of the
Eftablifliments and Ccmnvr.ee of the Europeans in
both the Indies.
PRICE HALF A DOLLAR.
* # * Variety cf curious and ufeful BOOKS, in History,
Divinity, Voyages, Travels, Poetry', Novels, and
Entertainment, may be bad at said BELL's Book
Store.
Notice is hereby given, to Rich
as have LANDS in the Co^n y of Bedford, and do
not live in the said County, that they may have an
Opportunity of paying the ^axe? du, for the fame, to
the Subfeirter, being Treasurer for the laid County, at
the House of Mrs, Clinton, at th# Corner of. Canute
and Thiid-ftreets. BARNARD DOUGHERTY.
November 28, 1781.
AS taken out of the house or the
7, the fubferiber, < n the 2,lft of November, instant,
a large Silver CREAM-JUG, t^c maker's name For
tune, marked in the bottom H. C. bottom of the foot
broke off. Whoever (f^s i, it iff red for file, or se
cures it, so that tb^ 0: nr may get it ayain, shall have
ONE DOLLAR Rrv. lh , paid by. JOHN CRAW
FORD, in Mveus-Hwk.
N B. AR S Iverfmiths are defred to flop it ifeffer
ed :or file. Nov. 22.
Three Pounds Reward.
T, ANAWA Y from the fubferiber, on the 25th
X^ October last, a Negro WENCH, named BELLA,
aged 25 year, born in B?rbadocs, (peaks good Eng.
lifti, her dress unknown, as the has a variety of cloaths
with her. It is likely the will pass for a free woman,
as Die is fond of dress ani very talkative, and formerly
was the property of Captain Kelly, in Almond street.
Whoever takes up and (ecures the said Wench, so that
her matter may have her again, shall receive the above
Reward, and all reasonable Charges, paid by
GEORGE GOODWIN, Southwark.
Philadelphia, Nov. 14.
House, the following
SCARLET, blue,l
bro^n, and light-blue
fupe/fine and second- I
Broadcloths,
B us, green, buff, and
brown common ditto,
Serges of all colours,
Wiitons and Duroys,
White Flannels,
Dark and li,ht Chintzes,
Cotton Calicoes,
Buff and white Marseilles
Quilting,
Plain and corded Dimities,
Jeans of different colours, 1
Seven-eight and yard wide ;
cotton Checks,l
French and Iriffi Lirens,,
Jaconet and book Muffins,§
ARTICLES, viz.
Plain and figured Gauzes,
Gauze and Catgut Hand
kerchief,
Printed linen ditto,
Black and white Blond
Laces,
Painted, figured, and
phi n Ribbons,
A Quantity of the belt
white fdk Hose,
Artificial Flowers well as
sorted,
Coarse and fine white
Threads,
Broad and narrow Tapes,
Sad Duck.
With many other Arti
cles, too tedious to enu
merate.