The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-02-13 00:00:00, page 2

Resolved,
That the following extracts from Marchment
Ndham's Treatise on the excellency of a Free
State, be entered in the books of thia Society.
• I need not repeat to your lordthip any advantages
to be reaped from America being dependent on this
crown; you have yourfelf declared, that " the fun of
Great-Britain witHet the moment She is declared in
dependent ;" therefore you surely never will comply
with such a measure.
Mr Lo^d,
I CAN by no means entertain so base and injurious
an opinion of your lordfnip, as to imagine that you
advised or promote d that impolitic and defirudive mea
fare, the dec! ration of American independence. No,
my lord, I have too great an opinion of your wisdom
and integrity, of your political talents and national
virtues, to suppose you guilty of (uch a breach of the
indifpenfible duty of your profeffion.
I think, my lord, nHpy of your associates now in
office, pledged their honour to restore this diflrarted
country to its former glory and prosperity : in coofe
quence of which they were supported and desired by the
people, and approved and accepted by their foverrign:
expecting they would fulfil their declaration, and bring
about the happy event to this diflreffed country. Rut,
has this administration been productive of such giori
ous consequence? have they arted conformable either
to the desires or expectations of the people? No ; on
the contrary, measures that they have promoted, are
the'mo'dpernicious to our prosperity of any that could
be projected : and if they are Suffered to be projected
by popularity, they certainly will prove the bafi s of
our final deftrußion: they will leave a mark of ingra
titude, which will attend our names to the latest ge
neration, and proclaim the violated charade, of Bri
tons to the moftremote parts of the world.
Let th^men who concerted these vile means Hand
forth in vindication of their condud ; let them deny
that they have not brought perpet ual'dilhonour to this
noble and admired nation; and promoted measures
which may work her utter ruin ; let them aflign their
regions for declaring America independent, giving
away the rights of the people, without their confenf
and approbation; and fee if they will assert that we
will not, nor cannot, carry on the war to diminish
tire power of our envious and presuming enemies, and
Crush thetoro he dos imperious rebellion. They can
not, my lord, it is abfoluely impossible for them, to
give a deep colour of juflice to their proceedings.
They have nor the leaf! merit to the appellation of
Engiifhmoi ; they have rejeded that emblem of mer
cy, the ever glorious characteriflic of Englishmen.
Those brave and loyal men in America, who, prompt
ed by a tender affeAion for their Sovereign, and esteem
for their mother-country — relinquished their all, and
risked their life for the prosperity of this nation ; men
who poffefrd the emoluments of charartar peculiar to
Britons, they would expose to the mercy of implaca
ble and malicious villains, who are opposing the laws
of God and nations. Forbid this rath measure, my
lord, —call back that ingratitude, that ignominy now
difcoveringlitfelf to the world ; —impede the Source of
calamities now threatening to overflow Europe, and
gain for your memory, the universal plaudits of pos
terity.
" /When I firfl read fir Guy Carleton's letter, with
the offer of independence to America, 1 immediately
remembered a passage in Fanning's Geography which
has the following Sentence. “ The time may arrive when
" America may b? the feat of mighty empires, and be
" renowned for citie: as extensive as Babylon, and
“ beautiful as Athens and Palmyra." I fear, my lord,
the time is row approaching, when Britain's hostile
fleets no more Shall deck the extensive ocean, and Scat
ter fear todiftant nations; when her thunder Shall no
more roll on India's frighted Shore, and proclaim the
approach of her terrible and irrtfiftable heroes to dis
may multitudes ; when her commerce Shall fall, and
her eternal decline commence ! Even all Europe will feel
the growing power of independent America, and the
unpunished perfidy of ambitious France.— Then will
furroundiog nations regret that they did not lend an
helping hand to the nation, whois the bulwark of their
commerce, and taught them arts, which they so un
juflly withhold from her aAI fiance.
If there really are not resources in this nation, (which
I cannot believe to be the case) to reduce America to
her former obedience, let on y three or four of the
provinces be annexed to Great Britain ; and the other
divided into two diftinrt republics, to pursue different
interests and different alliances : then the liberties of
Europe would not be in danger; but the united pow
er of France and America, in forty and fifty years
time, would be Sufficient to Subdue all Europe; and
we cannot expe& from present appearances, but that
they will continue in ctofe alliance. How will it
found in the ears of poflerity, that it was Britain ! in
glorious Britain ! that Suffered the feeds of the misfor
tunes of Europe, to grow in her dominions?—Will not
future ages most bitterly, most vehemently exclaim a
gainff her? —Way, will they not curse the names of
those men who advised the measures, that brought on
such calamity.
The people, my lord, look up to you for the sup
port of their honours and rights ; — then let not their
just expiration be disappointed,—Art, becoming the
d gnity and duty of your profeffion ; and enrol your
name in the annals of honour with that of Cnatham.
At a meeting of the Society for Con ftitutional Infor
mation, held on Friday, the 18th day of October.
1782
LONDO N, November 11, 1712.
Frantic MORNING HERALD.
To the Earl of Shelburne.
PORTIUS.
AN error in policy, which ought especially to be
prevented in a free slate, hath been, a keeping the
people ignorant of these ways and means that are es
sentially neeeffary fir the preservation of their lib- ,
erty ; for implicit faith and blind obedience, hath
hitherto puffed current, and been equally pressed and
profited by grandees, both Spiritual and temporal,
upon the people; so that they have in all nations
(hired the authority between them. And though ma
ny quarrels have rifeo in times past between kings
and their clergy, touching their (everal jurifdiaions,
yet the myfteri^s of domination have b en Bill kept
under lock and key, so that their prerogative remain
ed entire, ever above the reach and knowledge of the
people . by which means monarchs and other Standing
powers have Seen their own inrereft provided for as
well as the pope's ; in this mysterious maxim, igno
rance is the mother of devotion.
If then right be the way of men, and force of beasts
and great ones, it concerns any nation or people to
Secure themselves, and keep great men from degene
rating into beafls, by holding up of law, liberty, pri
vilege, birthright, elective powers, against the igno
ble, beastly way of [forceful or fraudulent] domina
tion. And fioce it appears, that the right, liberty,
welfare and Safety of a people, consist in freedom of
conscience, [free, full and equal Suffrage] with a due
succession of their Supreme assemblies [and knowledge
in the use of arms, for their common defence] the
right constitution and orderly motion of these affem
bl es, and the avoiding of all military and ecclesiastical
eftabliftiments, as opposed to the free will and detach
ed from the common nterefts of the nation, is of the
greatest consequence. Nothing can be more righteous
and necessary than that a people should be put into
poffeflion of their freedom. However they may abuse
it (which, when it is real and equal, they are in no
danger of doing) it is their right to have it, and the
want of it is a greater inconvenience than any that can
be pretended to arise from the enjoyment. But as
this holds true at all times in all nations, so much
more where freedom, in a successive course of the peo
ples' assemblies, has been once Solemnly acknowledged
and declared to be the interest of the commonwealth ;
for then depriving the people of their due, is a foun
dation for broils and divisions ; [and] if any Shall de
sert a commonwealth in its declared interests, they im
mediately lose the name and honour of patriots, and
become afaaion! THOMAS VEATES, Sec.
But these things ought not to be so, among a peo
ple that have declared themselves a free Bate; for,
they should not only know what freedom is, and have
represented it in all its lovely features, that they may
grow zealous (for) it ; but that ir may be a zal ac
cording to knowledge and good purpose, it is, without
all question, most necessary that they be thoroughly
indrutled in The means of its preservation [againft
fraud and force ]
And d übtlefs this endeavour of mine, in laying
down the rules of preserving a free Rate, will appear
so much the more nereffary, if we confider that a I the
inconvenrencies that in times have happened to em
broil or rum it, have proceeded either from the peo
ples' negled, or rather ignorance of those rules that
mould be committed unto them, both for pradice
and observation.
Because the peoples' care is to be that public
authority be conflituted for public e d. P. 3.
Because they only are Concerned in point of liberty,
whilst tie concernment of kings and grandees lies ei
ther in keeping the people in utter ignorance of what
liberty is, or else in allowing them only the name and
Shadow of liberty. P. 18.
Succession in c ; vil, as motion in bodes natural, is
the grand preventive of corruption. P. 4.
No Bate can preserve its freedom but by maintain
ing the free fuffrage of the people in full vigour, un--
tainted with the influence or mixture of any com
manding power. P. 114}
It is oeceffary that the people be continua'ly train
ed in the exercise of arms, and the militia lodged in
the peoples' hands ; as the only bulwark of their
liberty, both at home and abroad, thereby Securing
against domeflic affronts and foreign invasions, the
majesty of the people. Ditto.
An error in policy hath been, reducing tranfaftions
and the interests of the public into the disposition and
power of a few particular perfous. The ill conse
quences whereof have ever been, that matters were
not wont to be carried by fair, friendly and legal de
bates, but by design and furprifal ; not by freedom
and consent of the people in their open assemblies,
but according to the premeditated resolutions and
foreflalments of crafty projectors in private cabinets
and juntos.
An error in policy, which is indeed epidemical, hath
been the regulation of affairs by reason of state, not
by the Aria rule of honefly. We do not condemn the
equitable results of prudence and right reason (for up
on determinations of this nature, depend the Safety
of all Rates and princes) but that reason of state that
flows from a corrupt principle to an indirert end;
that reason of Bate which is the Statesman's will when
he admits ambition, profit, revenge, opportunity, to
be reasons ; contrary to the law of God, of common
bonefly, and of nations. P. 141.
But we may take notice of a more excellent way in
opposition to this sandy foundation of policy, called
r afon of state. A simple reliance upon God inthe
vigourous and prelent anting of all righteousness, ex
pressed by honefl men in plain language to this effeft,
fiat juftitia et frartus illabatur orbis. Deal uprightly;
walk elofe and real to your promises and principles ;
though the fabric of Heaven should fall, God is able
to Support. In following singly a just and righteous
principle, a man gains this advantage, that he may
go on boldly with a mind free from that torturing So
licitude of success ; he either prospers to the great
good of bis nation, or dies with honour and triumph.
P. 142.
It is an undeniable rule, that the people are the
best keepers of their own liberties, hecaufe they never
think of ufurpiog over other mens' rights, but mind
which way to pieferve their own. P. 2.
A CITIZEN in your paper of last Saturday, haa
thrown out a watch-word to the purchasers of
city lots, which if they leave unregarded, is not his
fault. The vague, lumping way of assessments, have
taken place on these lots as well as in many otherin
flances, convinces every man of the impofirion, and the
people a[ large, who wi(h happiness to the city,fee plains
ly. that the Sums unjustly extorted by these unfair as
sessments, does not in any way balance the injury the
state receives, nor the difeontent it has occasioned.
The tax of three pence a pound upon tea, is full in
the view of every whig of America; against this im
position they made a glorious Hand, and gained their
point ; —the moment they now Submit to one fraction
of an over or unjust tax, then will they deserve that
Slavery which their valour has Snatched them from.
When men over-adiheir parts, by committing unjust
deeds, to recommend themselves to office, or to Keep
themselves there, then farewell order and the dignity
of government. When one part of the community is
to be evaded on, to please and Serve another, then
disorder follows, to this may be imputed many of the
revolutions that has laid the world in blood, our own
it a recent inflance; why then will the men of influence
lay a foundation for another, or is war so desira
ble, as to induce us to contrive a continuation of it
among ourselves, when our bloody foe is worn out.
Days of appeal have been advertised by the com.
miffioneri with great ceremony, where to be Sure of
fice was exhibited in perfedion; had free citizens
gque to ask a boon, lets attention could not have been
paid them; yet let a wheedling tor,, or a trimming
Scoundrel co,ne forward, redress is obtained, and atten
tion is commanded, as though fear was an attendant
on office. From what can this arise? it feemsas if we
weresll diftrafted: why whigs should destroy each other,
is to me of all things the most extraordinary ; how to
account for it is beyond my power. But were they
to confider one moment the conftquences of advancing
timgd, doubtful, whining, neutral characters to places
where their property and lives is to be decided on,
their fouls would Shudder.
Tnere is no decided w rig of this country, who has
not offended both in words and actions, all such men
and their resentment is only reserved until an oppor
tunity offers to put it into exeuction with impunity.
No man in the world ever deserved more of a go
vernment, than the wings of Pennsylvania ; yet obli
vion Seems to have Swallowed up the recolle-ion of
their valiant Services. While Safety is in their pow
er, let them advise each other, to look out and not
lose that influence which their firmnefs has gained.
Let them speak and write freely, decently of the con
duct of public men, as becomes the c tizens of a free
fta e, for Which they have fought and offeredjo bleed
and die.—They ough to despise the idea of being 0-
ver-awed by any officers of government, either in
the state or of coogrtfs. They should always keep in
mind, that their blood and courage made them, and
that the Sweat of their brow at this day supp rts them ;
to you they are accountable when they do amiss, as
much as you are accountable to them.
Uncontrouled power in the hands of men, is danger
ous, therefore put these men in mind, now and then,
that you can unmake them with much more ease than
you unmade the power of the tyrant of England, not
withstanding his proprietary train of blood-hounds
watched every flep you took. I am told they are on
the watch now, and expert the approach of peace will
please you so much, and throw you io much off your
guard, that you will admit them to partake of the ho
nours and advantages which was bought dearly by
you. Be watchful, and determine to let war rage on
from generation to generation before this takes place ;
then the whig interest of America will Hand immove
able, like a rock beaten by the breaking wave.
Now 12 At th- meeting of parliament the two
great leasers lord Shelburne and Mr. Fox will take,
the field, and each will be supported by the interests of
the following noblemen and gentlemen:
Lord Shelburne. , Mr. Fox.
Dukes of Durfet Dukes of Richmond
Northumb rland Grafton
Gordon Portland
Argyle Devonshire
Lords Bute Marlborough
Mansfield (a minor) Bedford
Loughborough Holton
Afhburton Manchefler
Grantham Chandos
Denbigh, &c. Lords Pembroke
and by Hon. W. Put Gower
Ld. ad. of Scotland Carmarthen
Mr. Adam Derby
"Sir A. Ferguson Abingdon
Gov. Johoßone Foley
Cha. Jenkufon. Marlham
Mr. Macdonald Keppel
Mr Mansfield Howe, &c.
Mr. Fraser, &c. and by Sir G. Savile
Mr. Byng
Stand neuter. Sir C. Bunbury
Lords Camden, North Sir C. Turner
and Grantley. Sir J. Rous
Mr. Burke
Gen. Conway, &c.
BASSETERRE (St. Kitt's) January 15.
By accounts from St. Thomas's we are informed,
that lord Hood, with a squadron of British men of
war, is cruizing off Ca pe Francois.
It is said that the Pilgrim privateer, of 26 guns,
was lately taken by some ts his most chriftian ma,
jest) '3 cruisers, and carried into St. Euflauos.
A TRADESMAN or PHILADELPHIA.
February 10, 178'3.
Mr. CLAYPOOLE,
L O N D O N.
A HINT to the WHtGS.