Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1777-05-27 00:00:00, page 4

PHI L A D ELPHI A.
An Additional Address. prefenled te the House of Affem-
Ely J, the Whi, Society.
To the Hob. HOUSE ofASSEMBLY
of the State of Pennsylvania.
Hforabfe Sirs,
IN our l&rJs ^ fequeft of the 12th inst. to this
Hc^fe, we declared our principles refuting the
cause in general, and our attachment tn all its friends
and fupportes. We now proceed to offer some obser
vations on the prefect condition of Pennsylvania in
particular, so far as appears to us to respect the hap
pirefs of your Memorialists and the public welfare.
We have great reason to believe that this State is
became a rendezvous for difaffeded persons, who have
fled from justice in other parts of the continent, and
who, joined with others of the fame hateful chara^er
refining among us, are secretly busy in magnifying and
fermenting every little difference, which has too unfor
tunately crept in among us, receding mode and forms;
and we conceive that, until forme method be determined
ufon and executed, by which the friends to American
independence can be diflinguilhed from thpfe who are
its enemies, it lignifies nothing what our form of go
vernment is, or may be, how many alterations we
make, or how many Conventions we eled.
We observe an Address signed and p^efented by a
certain number of gentlemen to the Board of ^ar, re
questing their interference with this H o ule fur cubing
a Convention. We pe-fe&y agree with those gentle
rues in the necessity of vigorous measures. At the fame
time we are fcnfible that feve< Iwhofe names are there
to fubferibed, have by their own proceedings, public
and private, contributed to create the inconveniences of
which they now complain. We difeant freely on the'e
things, but (ball endeavor to do it wi h candor and
good tender; a id cmnm but take notice of (ome seem
ing iregularities in that performance.
Fhft, The fubferibers, who are but forty two in
number, Rod nearly al! of them resident in this city,
have o' themselves ren, Of d a particular a& to be dire
by this H°ufe, which id is to extend over the whefe
S^te. We conceive tEs oonduA to be a great depar
ture from the pure principles of freedom we firft set out
norm in eftiblihirg rhe glorious system of American
i.<:CT:,dSnce. And we fruld be unmindful of our
cut, to die Stare in general, were we to permit fuel:
&u artemn cd it: ovation on the public rights to pais
iTCoorir-d.
Cecorfy, We conceive there to be great indelicacy
in p+d^ting their request to this Houft through the
rr'iLuv of a Board cf%r, and we apprehend those
irregubMrer to ariiefrr m the promoters of that Address,
not being truly inarmed in the receGuy civilities of foci
r^.-, an I the Rudy of the rights of mankind. A fun
<mmal defect where the ety A they are recommen
dmg is the formation of a government far a free people.
We likewise obferye a Memorial circulating in the
rity, nraym, this Houle to " recommend immediately"
the celling a Convention; as we believe this Memorial
to be put forth by the fame person or perfchs who pro
moted the Addrtfs through the Board of War, we are
therefore at no loss in underfiandinc rhe cause and end
thereof; and we have no doubt but many good people
may be induced to sign it from a hope of remedying the
cvi's there complained of.
That there is a defe& exiting somewhere, is a mat
ter we are as thoroughly convinced of as any of the
gentlemen can be who have signed or may sigh the Ad
dress or Memorial for a new Convention; but whether
the d LA be in the Confthntion kfelr, or in the temper
and conduA of a part of the people, is a matter which
requires to be duly and fericofly weighed, left, by apply
ing a plainer to a wrong part, we rai e an inflammation
v'?ere we intended a cure, We conceive that the
gentlemen, who complin so loudly of the present go
vernment, should, in order to prove their complaints
well ,retried, fvR make it clear to the people where
the defers lie; fzconTy, declare in an open a^d unre
served manner, that they have no hand in producing the
difficulties and inabilities under which, they fay, the
government l,bou f s. And thirdly, that they have
done every thing in their power to put the present form
of government into execu ion, but find it so inconfittent
with itfolfas to need amendment ; for we conceive there
to be something childishly fallacious, and ungenetousin
creating trouble and weakness on purpose to complain
thereof. Such conduct is neither the mark of d found
patriot nor a good citizen, and raises fufpicicn in the
minds of many that femething more is intended there
by, than is at fi ft fuffered to be seen.
We observe there to be a much greater degree of
generous fenriment and freedom in the present conftitu.
tion than in the proceedings of thole gentlemen who
b,ve promoted the opposition. The forty seventh ar
time, page thirty two fays, “ But the articles to be a
mended, and the amendments proposed; and such articles
as are proofed to be ad^ed or aboHfoed, JhaU bepuhlifh
edat leaf fix months before the day appointed for the
eWlion of such Convention, for the previous cmfderation
ofthe people, that they may have an opportunity efinflruc
tina their Delegates on the fubjee."
° '"'1,"" "; P "".°r " J OHN DUNLAP, at the Wty Printing-Office in Market-street where
Subfenptrons at Fifteen Shillings per Annum, Advertisements, &c. are thankfully received for this Paper.
If all the evils which the gentlemen complin of inl
their Address and Memorial, arise from the feebleness
of government in suppressing them, they compel us to
fay that those evils are in part chargeable on themselves,
whs have, by their backwardneis, discouraged, and,
by their opposition, endeavoured to prevent the execu
tion of the wholesome laws now io being. We have
th? happiness to fay that this Houle hath done its duty
to the public, therefore the fault lies not at their door.
We have a law for the punishment and foppreffion of
treason and difaffe&on, and have as just and equitable a
militia law as the wiidom of man, circumdanced as this
House was, could forr . In short, had the objr&irs
done their duty in their frparate capacities as truly as
this House hath, the feebleneis they now complain of
had never exited, for our opinion of thematter is, that
we want nothing but a good disposition among ns to
make us a happy and a prosperous people.
The oath h^s been conParriy held up as affording
grounds for numerous objections, yet many of the gen
tlemen of this city, who complain the most, have, we
think, but little reason so to do, as the Philadelphia
members were elected by those who did not take the
oath, and the members so elected took their feats in
like manner without it*; and, on our part, we never
objected thereto, because it does not appear clear to us,
that the oath is to be con'idered as a neceffiry part of
the Constitution, as we conceive the Constitution wou'd
have been complete without it; and that the oath of
abjuration, which was taken by those who elected the
members of the Convention, and likewise by the Con
vention themselves, was, and is, to a'i intends and pur
p<fes, fully Efficient ; we conceive th?.t the Convent-on
was ch^fen for the express ,? r poe of forming a Con
ftitu ion or Frame of Government ; and %t tire oath
does not come oofi>ive!y within that defcripii n, and is
ra her^o be considered as . n extra nutter; neither do
we thjrk that those w%o h± taken the oath that they
" B'ii not dirediy nor indireßly do any aB or 'tbin^, pre
judicial or injuC-w to the th nfitntmn or frame of Govern
went as e, PH, ed by the Convention, are any ways pre
cluded thereby from concurr; g in or promoting any aft
or thing which may improve and amend the said Consti
tution
We fhnnld be unjust to o%fe!ves as well as others,
were we not 'O declare that we ever admit and will sup
port the right of a majority of the people to call a
Convention when they please; but we apprehend that
so ne explanation is necessary for understanding what
ought to be meant by a majority of the people, as we
cantor fuppole that difaffeded persons who are not in
allegience to the States as an independant country, can
be admitted to make up a part of that majority either on
one lide or the other.
The forty two gentlemen; who have preferred their
address thro' the Hoard of War, have requested this
H<ue to recommend the calling a Convention, and in
the Memorial that you would immediate) recommend
the calling a Convention. We, who presume not to
invade rhe rights of others, requ^f this Hon. Houfeto
take the neceflary steps for collecting the sense of the
Sbre,revious to any such recommendation, besides
which we beg leave to offer our reasons why we conceive
the pefent time to be improper for carrying the said
requ ft into " immediate execution."
First, For the very reason aligned by the gentlemen
in their address, viz. “ that an invafon of the State is
#rebended, therefore the deliberations of a Conven
tion would be fobjed to sudden interruption.
Secondly, Because it would too much impoverish our
military strength, by taking therefrom io great a num
ber of able men as would be necessary for forming a
Convention. We have many reasons to believe that
the discontents, which arose among the militia last
furnmer, were occasioned in a great measure by the ab
lence of the offices, who were then obliged to attend
their duty in Convention.
Thi r diy, Because it would be depriving numbers of
the militia of their votes who have already marched,
and others who are preparing to march for the defence
of the independence of all America.
Fourthly, Because the feience of government doth
not appear to be yet iufficiently understood, and be
cause it is proper the people should have every necefla
ry information on the (abject, and time to deliberate
thereon.
In the mean time, we join heart in hand with the
gentlemen who have already signed or presented their
Address or Memorial, in laboring with the people for
the restoration of union, the reanimation of public vir
tue, and the support of the legislative and executive
powers; and as the Hon. Congress hath appointed a
number from their body to assist the Executive Power
and Board of War in their military operations, in this
time of threatened invasion, we return them cur thanks
* The oath taken by the members forfbffftffffnf,.
nvi/e by foeral from the country, ^bich Efficient) proves
their afcßion to the general eaufe, is—" That I will be
« true andfaithful to the Commonnveafh ofPermfyivania,
" and that I ^iß not, dire^tv or indireß), do any ad
" or thing prejudicial er injurious to the freedom or inde
" pendance thereof."
therefor, end hive no doubt but, by a fiacere eencßr
rence with each other, we shall soon fee a happy end
to our troubles of every kind, and rejoice together in
the good which, by God's especial favor, is preparing
for us. Signed by order of the Society,
CHARLES W. PEALE, Chairs-
Philadelphia, Ma, 19, 1777.
Extract of a letter from Weftfeld, dated May 2, 17^7,
" Mr. Peefe, of Blandford, from Albany, brings us
the following account, That General Gates is in Al
bany, with three regiments of soldiers, bound for Ti
conderoga, but is detained on account of the Tories,
who are very troublesome in that county, and in Berk
(hire.—Mr. Peefe, on his way home, was in at Capt.
M'Kinfbry's, in Nobletown, at which place a court
was held to examine a Tory; the Tory on trial con
feffed him'elf guilty, and produced his inlifting orders
; ven him by E'ijah Williams, of Stockbridge, whois
a Colonel under Mowe. He hath brought out a num
bar of officers engaged in Howe's employ. Williams,
with a. number more, are in irons, in order to be font
to Gen. Gates for trial. Gen Gates hath sworn to
entertain Albany, in a few days, with such a feene as
they never saw before, meaning the execution of the
Tories. We allo have an account that may be depend
ed on, about one hundred Tories appeared at Egre
mont, in arms, yesterday; the Whigs soon assembled,
and went in quest of, and overtook them, and the firft
complement the Whigs received, was a full volley of
fhor, but net one man hurt. The Whigs returned the
fire, and killed three on -the spot, and made a number
of prisoners. By the appearance of things, [ fear we
shall have the trouble of confining our Tories, in a few
days, as there is a call for every fifth man to go to Ti
conderoga; and I believe they will n t march till the
Tories are taken care of, as they are something in
solent." *
To be SOLD by PUBLIC VENDUE;
on Monday, the lecond day of June next, at Ten
o'dock, on the premises in Morris-Town, two miles
from the Court-boufe,
TH E very commodious fear of John Ayres, Efy
deceased, confuting of about 52 acres of lan,;,
whereon is a good dwelling-hcufe ana barn, grid-mill,
iron-works, law-mill, and a good young orchard ; about
half the land is meadow, &c.
SILAS CONDIET,
X BENJAMIN PIERSON,] executors.
TO BE SOLD by Public Vendue,
on 1 hurfday the zpth inffant, (May) at One o'clock in
the afternoon, by the fubtciibcr, at nis dwdling-houfe
on Rock C eck, Montgomery county, Maryland,
A' A. RCEL of LAN D, containing 436 acres, 30
miles from Georgetown, the fame distance from
Bladenfburg, 40 miles from Baltimore, and about 17
from Frederick Town. The farm is in good order, the
fencing chiefly new, and the lots laid out in a manner
very convenient for pasturage es stock. There is on the
premises a large young orchard, a comfortable dwelling
houf?, kitchen, barn, &c. About 100 acres is well situ
ated tor meadow, fonae of which is already cleared ar,l
in graft. Tnemain branch of Rocl< Creek runs through
said land, and affords a valuable mill feat. Continental
or Convention currency will be received in payment, and
two years credit given for one third of the purchase mo
ney, ° n giving bond on interest, with approved security.
* JOHN KENNEDY.
fuft pub ? ifhed and to be fo'd by JOHN DUNLA P,
LAWS enacted in a General Assembly of the State of
Pennfyivania, begun and held at Philadelphia the
zyio day of November, A. D. 1776, and continued by
adjournments to the 21st day of March, A. D. x 77 7.
11^1111^00^1^0^^
Baltimore, May 6, 1777.
To be SOLD by PUBLIC VENDUE,
at the London Coffee-houfe in Philadelphia, on Wed
nesday the 28th in/t. if not fold before by private sale,
FOL R valuable tracts of LA N D, belonging to the
fub^riber, all adjoining each other, containing in
all one thousand acres, lying on the drains ofOpokan, in
Berkdy Cbuntv, Virginia, within one mile of the land
fold by C.d. Hite to his Excellence General Lee, and
within five or fix miles of Generals Gates and Stephen's
land, situate in an excellent neighbourhood ; Middle-
Crock runs nieh a mile through the land, on whi h there
is a good nr II- feat, and there maybe a considerable quan
tity of meadow made. There are three fm h settlements
on said land, to each of which there is feme cleared lard,
and good springs of water. The above lands.are fubjed
to a proprietary ground-rent of Two Shillings fteriing
per hundred acres.
Likewise a valuable FAR M, situate in Deer-Creek
Hundred, Harford County, Maryland, within five miles
of Harford Town, and one mile of the lower Cross Roads,
known by the name of Paca's Enlargement, containing
T 53 acres, about 70 of which are cleared. It is rented
for three years, from the firft of January, 1776, at &.
per year ; the tenant is obligated not to cut or deaden
any of the timber, or clear any mere of the land, to keep
the fences and leave them in good order, and to leave
some wheat sown in the ground when he leaves it. There
is a good tog-house, with out-houses, and an extraordi
nary good faring within fity yards of the house. Any
per,xm inclining to purchase, may apply to Mr. Blair.
M'Clenachan, merchant, in Philadelphia, or the sub
scriber in Baltimore. Continental Loan-Office Notes will
answer as well as calh. f THOMAS EWING.