The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-02-20 00:00:00, page 3

Thirdly, Seme of you must find fuck with tue time, feme
with the place and others with the form of calling the
Convention; h you' cannot convince the people that there
is any impropriety in either of these points, afiure them
that there is more d inger behind th .11 they imagine; that
have it from good authority that it is altogether a To
ry scheme, and that will supply the place of every other
argument.
In the next place-- you will succeed further than you
can imagine, if you call the second branch of the legislature
rt boufe of Lords. You will hardly believe what eh^t this
will have upon the people, and particularly upon the Ger
mans ; they and their ancestors have been tyrannized over
, so much by Lords in the old country that,they reprobate
the very name, and they are such ignorant devils they
will not diLover the difference between men elected by
themselves and them hereditary Lords; the name is all.
Ruricola. I am afraid you are too sanguine in your
expectations from that argument, the people of Penrdyl
vania are second to none on the continent in point of wis
dom, and will reflect at once, that as it is proposed the
second branch is to be chosen by the people as well as their
Assemblymen, and a quick rotation to take place; they
will have no more titleto the appellation of Lords in the
reprobated sense of the word than the Assemblymen or
the Constables of their township has.
Semprowus. lam far from thinking that we have lets
sense than our neighbours, but there is a magic in words
and when we hear them we cannot eauly divest ourselves
of the idea that we had formerly annexed to them. I have
fludied mankind more than your Ration in life has given
you an opportunity of doing. And you may depend upon
it, that in matters of government their prejudices are ea
sily wrought upon, to aufwer the ends of those who know
how to manage them ; it is true;givc them time to reflect,
and if they can only divest themselves of heats and party
views, they can in general form a pretty true judgmentof
men and things. But it muff be our business to prevent
them from having fufficient time to form their judgment.
Ruricola. There is one thing which lam afraid will be
against us. Some of the officers of government have, I
am informed, committed such notorious frauds and vil
lainies, that their conduct would be a reproach to the best
government in the world, if permitted to pass with impu
nity, and muflcertainly bring ours into disesteem araongft
the people, when time and tranquility give them leave to
exercise the feelings of humanity.
Sempronius, You mean in the sale of goods, &c. dif
trained and fold for substitute money, *c. for I don t
know of any other great enormity (or villainy, as you
call it) that has been committed under this government.
I believe in every thing else we have been as careful of the
rights of the people, l^h as to persons and property, as
the difficult situation of our affairs would admit of.
Ruriroa. That is the circumflance I allude to, and
tho' I detest the conduct and principles of most of these
people, yet my heart bleeds at some of the relations! h ve
had. I hope they are not all true, tho' lam afraid some
of them are. Those who took an aftive part againil us
well def wve the most vigorous punishment, but those who
thro' motives of conscience, tho' I think that comcience a
mistaken one, refufed to take up arms and remained en
tirely neuter, I would willingly agree that they fhou^d
have pail pretty highly tu proportion to tbeir ability; yet
it is the glory of any government to watch that its officers
do equal jufiice to all men.
Semprunius. ' Whether these proceedings have been
just or not, is not material in the present instance to us :
it is fufficient if we can turn them to our own advantage,
which I will convince you that we can. I have heard that
a good many of the leaders in the opposition have spoken
very freely upon this matter, and mentioned the injury
done to these people with great indignation; and to tell
you the truth, lam afraid that an enquiry will be made
into it, and if there 14 it will appear very black. Now
our business is to represent all those who take part with
these people to be rank tories, as none but such tvill take
the part of tories, whiciifome of these people undoubtedly
were. There are too many concerned in this abuse of go
vernment, as you call it, to permit an attack to be made
upon them with impuhity---they have more friends in it
than you are aware of.
Ruricola. Well-^-In confidence among ourselves, Do
you really think the present Constitution a good one, and
that it may not be mended in fevered particulars, and be
much better "calculated to secure th@ liberty and promore
the happiness of the people ?
Sempronius. Why to be plain with you, I never tho't
itagood one. I have wrote against it, and turn'd it into
as much ridicule as any of its opponents, before I got an
office under it, but the case is now altered. I believe if it
led been a good one, my merit Would not have been taken
notice of, and perhaps should it be altered and made agree
able to the people in general, I should be obliged to return
to my former way of living. You know there are many
more in my situation, and our anxiety is not to be .ren
dered at.
Ruricola. There are a good many, and some of them
amongst the most distinguished officers of government,
that, lam told, wish for an'amendment in the Constitu
tion. I know many who holi offices under it that would
disdain to hold them at the expence of the happiness and
union of their country; and as it is not proposed by^he
resolves of the Assembly that any of the officers sfgoyern
ment are to b 6 turned out, I cannot fee how the having a
Convention can affed them.
Sempronius. It is true there are some of them who have
nothing to fear, but that is not the case ot all. When the
voice of the people becomes the law of the land, these is
such a thing as an enquiry into ones conduct ; and then in
a republic you know, sometimes he who to-day is the fa
vorite of the people, to-morrow is detested by them.
Ruricola. You will excuse my freedom. I only men
tion these objections in order that we may be the better
prepared to answer them by your advice. The advocates
for ah amendment, in the Constitution fay, that the present
government is monstrously expensive, and that the amend
ment proposed will ease the people of more than half the
expence, and will on many other accounts render them
more lastingly happy.
Semprenius, As the fad cannot be altogether denied,
for ft really (between ourselves) is the most expensive go
vernment on the Continent; you must only roundly assert
that it is the best and most perfect government in the
world ; that Re alteration can he m,de in it but for the
worse ; that none complain of the expenses of it but difaf
feded people. This will in general serve our purpose as
well as the most rational argument; as it will be some
time before the people begin to feel the expences of it,
Thank fortune the public accounts have hitherto been kept
out of their fight, and I hope they will not be published
till after the time of the propos'd election ; at any rate they
cannot be very widely circulated before that time. It
might hurt us if they were, for I am afraid they will open
the eyes of many. We well know there are many people
that warmly support the Constitution because they have
been persuaded to believe it is a good one; the moment
these people find their miflake, they will execrate it and
us too. But I h@pe we will by that time have pretty well
feathered our nests, and then a fig for them.
Ruricola. lam glad the time for taking the sense of the
people draws so near. Had it been at any great diftahce
of time I am afraid we should have fail'd.
Sempronius. In that case some things might have tran
fpireef that would have altered the opinions of many: bur
you may rest assured that a government once established
can only be altered by a revolution, a thing that is not al
ways easily effected; and the people will find themselves
much mistaken who think they can alter their government
when they please. Power is bewitching--These who once
possessed it, find insuperable objections to give it up.
Those who are in favr of an established government have
their interest at stake ; 'and interest, you know, is a very
powerful incentive; it will induce men to go very ^reat
lengths in order to promote it. On ike other hand, in
general these who oppose government lie under great dis
advantages; they are, ge;<rally (peaking, actuated only
by a love of their country and the happiness of mankind;
and however ardent this may be for a while, yet if the ac
complishment of their wishes is often frustrated, they at
length become languid, and give over what appears to them
a fruitlefs pursuit, and lament the blindness of a tbanklefs
people, who are too blind to fee their own happiness, or
feeing it are prevented from pursuing it by those that they
are convinced have no other motive but their own interest,
so thar, my friends, there is, at present but if tie danger of
our fading in our favourite fche&e, as we shall continue
to have all our engines at work, and the other fide I know
will content themselves with leaving the people to them
selves.
Ruricola. Well, Sir, I will do all I can, and follow
the inftruaions you have thought proper to give on this
fubjeft, and hope by these arts and the assistance of the nu
merous officers we have treated all over the Rate, to pre
vent the proposed Convention ; and then I think we may
fairly conclude we may keep the good people hood-wink
ed a great while longer. Farewell.
PHILADELPHIA, February 20.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
Tuesday, February 16, 1779.
The bill intitled "An aft to mcreafe the fees on tavern
" licences, the fines on tippling-houses and the rates of ex
" cife," was read a second time, and being then again
read and debated by paragraphs, was ordered to' be trans
cribed fog a third reading, and printed for public consider
ation.
Extrafl from the Minuter,
JOHN MORRIS, Junior,
Clerk of General Assembly.
An ACT to increase the fees ox tavern-licences, thefaes
on tip, ling boufes, and the rates of excise.
WHE REAS the fees heretofore paid for tavern 3
licences, the 1 nes imposed on such as keep taverns
or tippling houses without licence, and the rates of excise
on spirituous liquors, are altogether inadequate to the ex
igencies ofgovernment and the good purposes of the legif
iature, and as tavern keepers and dealers in spirituous
liquors make much greater profits at this time than they
did when the laws regulating the said fees and excise were
passed, it is but just and reasonable that they should con
tribute proportionably towards the support of government,
and to defray the great debts unavoidably incurred in car
rying on the just and necceffary war in which these United
States are at present engaged for the preservation of their
rights and liberties.
Be it therefore enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by
the Repreferitatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and by the au
thority of the fame, That from and after the publication of
this aa, every person or persons who shall obtain a licence
to keep a tavern or public house of entertainment within
this Commonwealth, according to the directions and in
the manner mentioned and expressed in and by the laws
thereof heretofore puffed, shall pay therefor three times the
fees which such person or persons ought to have paid ac
cording to the directions of the said laws.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That if any person or persons within this Commonwealth,
fliall, after the publication of this ad, have or keep any
public inn, tavern, ale^houfe, tippling house or dram ffiop,
victualling house or public house of entertainment, without
such licence to be obtained as aforefaid, such person shall
for every such offence forfeit and pay inßead of five pounds
the sum of fifteen pounds ; and that every perfori having
obtained such licence who shall fuffer any disorder, such
as drunkenness, or any unlawful games in his, her or their
house, ihall for the firft offence forfeit and pay inßead of
forty shillings the sum of fix pounds, and for every other
offence committed byfuch person against the laws of this
commonwealth heretofore paged, relating to or concern
ing inn-keepers and tavern keepers or retailers of spiritu
ous liquors as such, every such offender or offenders shall
forfeit and pay three times the sum and sums refpeßively
which were imposed by the said laws.
And whereas by rhe laws of th ; s commonwealth here
tofore passed it is enabled that a rate, duty and sum of four
pence per gallon should be imposed and levied on all wine,
rum, brandy and other spirits, bartered, fold or consum
ed within this commonwealth, except as in the said laws
is excepted, and that each and every retailer thereof should
pay therefor the rate and duty of three pounds per an
num.
Be it enabled by the authority aforefaid, That instead
of the said rate, duty and sum of four pence per gallon,
there shall after the publication of this ad, be railed le
vied and collected the rate, duty and sum of one Shilling
per gallon, and so in proportion fer any greater or lefe
quantity, for all wine, rum, brandy and other spirits, bar
tered, fold or confuted within this State, except as afore
faid; and that each and everyfuch retailer thereof as afore
faid, fliall in Read of the sum of three pounds per annum,
pay the sum of nine pounds yearly and every year, all of
which rates, duties, sum and sums of meney ihall be rai
sed, levied and colleHcd in the fame manner and accord
ing to the directions and exceptions, and under threble
the respective penalties in the said laws mentioned, ex-'
pressed and imposed. . f
And be it further crafted by the authority aforefaid.
That all the monies anfing from tavern licences (except
the fees to be paid thereon to the Clerk of the General
Quarter Sessions of thecity of Philadelphia and of eacli
county of this Rate, and except also the fees thereon to
the Secretary of this Rate,) and each and every of the
fines imposed upon and paid by each and every person and
persons who ffiall keep inns or taverns without such licence
as aforefaid, and also all and fihgular the monies arising
and collected from the excise aforefaid after deducing the
Collectors fe^s, shall by the refpeftive officers be paid into
the Treasury of this Rate, for the pfe of the fame, within
three months after the fame has been colle&ed by and paid
unto them respectively from time to time, under the pe
nalty of forfeiting and paying double such fam an I fume
which they or either of them shall have in their hands,
and Riall nepleft or refufe to. pay as aforefaid ; to be reco
vered against them or either of them by a&ion on the case
or of debt, or account render, as the case may require, in
the name of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid.
That all and fingubr the monies heretofore received on
account of the excise by the former or present Colle&ors
thereof in tha different counties of this commonwealth,
and not paid according to the true intent and meaning ot
the said laws, shall be paid by the said Collectors reflec
tively into the Treasury of this commonwealth within
three months from and after the publication of this a&,
under the penalty of forfeiting and paying double the
sum and sums that they or either of them shall neglect or
refufe to pay in manner aforefaid; to be recovered in the
manner herein before directed.
LOT TER Y-O FFI C E,
Saturday Mernin:, February 20, 1779.
THE wheels of the Lottery are now worth 84,670 dollars
more in proportion than when the drawing began.
There are now in the wheels the following prizes---
2 of io, m co dollars.
9 of 5000'
82 of 1000
664. of 500
16112 of 30
PAUL ROOKS, Check Clerk.
ERRATA in the piece of W. H. D. to the King
of Great-Britain, published in our last. In the fifth para
graph, “ In a time of dangerous war," read, "In a time
of a dangerous war." In the sixth paragraph, “ as I shall
moae pointedly shew," read, "as I shall 'more pointedly
ffiew." In the Seventh paragraph, "did not ,r e Juce Fs
alliance," read, did not preface his alliance." In the Se
venth paragraph, "to pronounce to the contrary," read,
"to pronounce the contrary." In the tenth paragraph,
"and actually invade your dominions," read, "and zw
tually invade your dominions." In the last paragraph,
only "in most of its branches," should be marked as a
quotation.
^*±^^*^****^*^*^^
Appamattox, fames. River, Virginia, fan. 1, 1779.
TH E Subscriber hath for sale about eigut thousand
acres of good tobacco land, near the e\J town of
Peytonfburg in Pittfylvania county, on which ^re feve^
sal final! tenements and plantations. Also, eight rhou
fand <Gres on the waters and blanches of 11, co and Dan
rivers in the county of Halif x, on which are several
Small plantations and improvements. Also, fix thou-,
sand acres in the county of Mecklenburg, in different
parts of that county. Likewise, several Small pieces of
land in the county of Dinwiddie, from fix to ten miles
from Petersburg, containing between four ar,d fire lu.
dred acres each cr more. For terms apply to C min
Stephen Coleman near Peytonfburg, for the lands in.
Pittfylvania; to Capt. Peter Rogers on Hyco, for the
lands in Halifax ; to Col. David Garland for those
in Mecklenburg; and for those in Dinwiddie to me
near Pcterfburg. ROGER ATKINSON.'
February 10, 1779.
ITL'" 'ftolen from the French D aoris'door, this
evening at Miles Town, a likely BAY MARE,
about fourteen hands high, with a star and a tail to it,
the off hind foot white up to the fetlock, (he carries
her had lew and her tail well up, and appears to be
with foal, a natural trotter and flack of courage, trots
very hz,, fix years old,next gra s, can pace a flow tra
vel but had to put to it. She may be offered for sale in
the Continental Army, as I fufpe& cne of the soldiers
took her. I request, therefore, all officers belonging to
the Service to try to apprehend said thief and bring him
to jufiice, as it is well known I have been a very great
friend to my country, and they shall receive Fifty-
Dollars reward for the mare, or One Hundred
Dollars for the mare and thief, and all reasonable
charges, paid by S.A V ORYTO Y, living in Phila
delphia county, Lower Dublin township, near Penn^-
pack mill.
One Hundred and Fo^fy Dollars Rewards
RAN AWAY from the fubferiber, at the head of
North-Eatt, Caecil County, Maryland, a Muht;o
Man named STEPHEN, about five feet fix er fevea.
inches high, twenty-three years of age, down lock, a
four countenance, a final! impediment in cne eye, and
is very apt to (wear. Also a Negro Woman named
DINA H, pretty lusty, about forty years of age, has
a down lock and flutters in her fptech. Their eloaths
are uncertain, as the, went to the Britiffi forces wfien in
Wilmington., Whoever hectares the said slaves, &r ei
ther cf them, in any gaol in the States, so that the owner
may gel them again, shall have One Hvndred|Dcl-
Lars for the Man and Forty Dollars for tire Wo#
man, and reasonable charges if brought heme, paid by
Feb 9. 4. EMPSON BIRD.