Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-01-15 00:00:00, page 2

Surely they cannot
fail of animating Englishmen.
We need only recur to the firft principle of our
excellent constitution, and indeed of all cunftitu
tiens in the world, to be convinced of the weight
and power of the people. The grand end and in
tention of all Government, is the welfare of the
people; whatever different means may be used in
d fferent countries, the end remains unvaried in all;
for the attainment of this end, the people consent
to appoint a power in the State, to which they
individually transfer their wills, dress it up in the
insignia of iovereigoty, and arm it with legislative
authority. This Sovereign power is in fa& no more
than the representative of the people declaratory
cf their will, and bound to a& in subservience to
their interest. M hilft this is the measure of its
conduct, the people are bound to pay it obedience,
and the, necessarily will, for in doing so, they
only obey their own will—an obedience which it
is not very difficult to enforce.
This, then, is the original compact, viz. that
Government shall consult the welfare of the peo
ple, and that the people ffiall obey Government
on that condition; when that condition is neglect
ed or violated, the people are no longer bound to
obey; the trust which they had reposed in Go
vernment ceases, and their delegated power reverts
to its original source.
I may be told, that I have over rated the abili
ties of the people, that they have neither under
ftarding to judge, nor strength to execute ; that
the Legislature is omnifeient and omnipotent; that
its proceedings are faired, and not to be questioned
by an insolent faction; that they are holy and mys
terious, uncognizable by the profanum vulgus. I
know that the'e do&rines are maintained by some;
and indeed uniefs I knew it from experience, I
could not have iuppoled that any man wou'd adopt
them ; fo r , underwood in their full extent, they
are fubverfiye not only ofliberty, but of common
sense. Let me, to avoid milconftrudion, take this
opportunity of expressing my veneration for our
admirable fvftem of government; I will, on this
theme, vie with the most servile fla terer—with
thelmootheft court-fyeophant, and his adulation
shall not exceed my sincerity; but let it be remem
bered, that the end of government is the welfare
of the people; let it be understood, that if ever it
legiflatura (hould dire&ly invade the rights of the
people and the principles of the constitution—an
idea ahitoft too monstrous to conceive, it then be
comes the duty of the people, in proportion to
their allegiance to the constitution, to resist inch
invasion. We must destroy all ideas of relation,
Wels we allow the exigence of this reserved right
in the people: Can there be imagined a more
striking absurdity than that the trustee Should be
come independent of the person rep< sing the trust,
and Should violate that trust with impunity ?—
That the effea Should grow more powerful than
the cause ?—The creature Stronger than the c ea
tor ?—Even in other countries, where their defec
tive or erroneous policy has circumscribed the
power of the people, we have Seen the most impor
tant revolutions wrought thro'their means; and I
will maintain, tlat there is not a people under hea
v n who have not the power, if they had the in
ti nation and the fpri to be free. In our own
cu try, we have always Seen the people triumph
ant; we have 'een bigotted king< and ambitious
fytefmen n vain affau't their liberties. Such is
the admiral e texture of our constitution, and Such
the invincible Spirit of the people, that every at
tempt to invade the one, or oppress the other, has
orlj served tn confirm its Security, and to eflablifh
tl err rights. I' what 1 have laid is admitted, if
it be tiue that, under circumftanccs of evident op
peffion,in case of that unnatural conspiracy (which
for ri ke of argument we have fiippofed) of the
whole legislature against the constitution, the peo
ple have a rig^t to refill, and power to redress, the
inference wni be strong and inevitable; it will
f How, that 'hey have a clear right to oppose, and
a certain power to defeat the oppteflive measures
of any part of it.
We have Seen, and God forbid that it Should
be otherwise, that the people can and may assert
and defend their liberties when dire&ly invaded •
tl is power, however, reserved to the people for
the most important parpofes, must be used with
the utmost cantian—only exerted on the most ur
gent emergencies—and in it's exertion must be
guided Solely by the spirit of the constitution.
1 he Spirit of the constitution requires a full and
our representation of the people; on that, and on
that alone, depends the right of axation; if then
the people are unfairly or imperi ^ly represented,
or sot represented at all, that i ?ht falls to the
ground ; the Freeholder may use to acknow-
^th PUBLIC ADVERTISER.
:, th PEOPLE of ENGLAND.
Country men and Friends !
YOUR honour and your interest demand that
you Should k^ow your own importance.
A conkiou'neis of the dignity and power which
you inherently poffeis, as it will serve to Ihew you
the value of your rights, will animate you to vin
dicate them. The sense of injury is not alone
fudicient to excite a strenuous and effectual refill
ance; the circumstances attending it often aggra
vate oppression, and Ihould therefore heighten re
fcotment. I will not wrong either ydhr under
Landings or your feelings, by fuppofrfg you ig
norant of, or insensible to, the oppression which
now prevails; but I with to inspire you with
Something more—to expose to you the weakness
and inferiority of yotr oppressors ; to lay before
you your own comparative greatness, and to dis
play to you your power. If a view of these cir
cumstances, if a conriaion of your own strength
and importance, of the value of your right's, and
of the baseness and infignificance cf thole who
attempt to lubvert them—
If these be motives weak, break off betimes,
And ever, man brace to bis idle home ;
So kt high lighted Tyranny rage on,
'Till each man drop by lottery ; —but if these,
As I am fare they do, bear fire enough
To kindle cowards,
44 +4 —+# 4 —+++++ -! — H —l4+p
Globe Tavern, Fleet Street, Oft. 4, 1775.
LONDON ASSOCIATION.
LIBERTY of the PRESS.
AS, on the part of Administration, some wan
ton exertions of despotic power have justly
spread an alarm throughout the kingdom, the peo
ple cannot with too much vigilance protest their
few remaining rights from violation.
To tie Printer of the Public Advertiser
SI R,
TH E Deputies of the Twelve afTociated Co
lonies have Sent another Petition to his
Majesty, by Mr. Penn, Signed, indeed, by a per
lon whom the Proclamation at Boston had declar
ed a Rebel, and exempted from pardon; so that
perhaps the dignity of Government may be Shock
ed and wounded by the acceptance of a Petition
with such a Signature, especially as that assembly
has been declared illegal by the Ministry here:
But there are times when faife delicacy and even
true dignity must give way to expediency. When
the Emperor of Lilliput's palace was in flamss,
can we forget the indelicate source of water that
Gulliver was obliged to make use of in order to
extinguish them? He applied it in such quantities,
and So pointedly to the proper places, that the
fire was wholly conquered and put out. The
Sequel, indeed, may well deter all persons (not
immediately concerned and paid for such Service)
from imitating poor Gulliver's over officious zeal.
The Prime Minister, jealous of his great merit
upon that occasion, procured his condemnation as
a traitor: But I flatter myfelf, that as our worthy
Ministers have neither jealousy nor revenge in
their conpofition, they will be glad to make use
of any water which may quench our American
conflagration. Let me offer my Scanty fountain
for that purpose ? and whilst so many hot headed
persons are Searching for combustibles to add to
this horrid blaze, let me have the mote Singular
merit of attempting its extinction.
A fufpenfon of Arms seems to be the firft Step
towards this most desirable end. We Shall give
time for Reason and Judgement to come to our
assistance, for Passion and Precipitation to subside.
Nothing can be loft by the experiment; much may
be gained by it; at all events we Shall have the
pleating, heart-felt Satisfaction of our charitable
endeavour. Permit an old man of some Small
reading to quote a precedent; I hope not foreign
to the purpose.
Harry the Fourth, of France, was esteemed
the fineft Gentleman, the bravest Captain, and
the greatest Prince of bis age : He was very nice
in the point of honour; yet he did not thick his
honour wounded by treating with his rebellious
Subjects, who had not only attempted his crown,
but his very life, by open war, by private assas
sination. To restore peace to his bleeding country,
he condescended, when a conqueror, to a personal
interview with the Chief of the league, embrac
ed, and forgave him. 0! great and glorious
conduCt! Surely no Prince Should be ashamed to
follow this bright example: No Statesman Should
b?u(h to copy Henry's wife Minister, the Duke of
Sully. Besides, our civil war is not accompanied
with any of those horrid circumstances which dis
tinguished that of France. The object of the
AfTociated Colonies is not to dethrone our beloved
Sovereign, or attack his most precious life. His
American Subjects do not want to exchange an
amiable Protestant King for a Popifh Tyrant. That
peculiar merit belongs to the present and firft fa
vourites of the Throne, the • .
The Americans have no desire to Shake off their
dependency and connection with these kingdoms,
to which they are so ftriQly united by the endear
ing ties of interest, blood and affection. They
wish only to be reflowed to the Situation they were
in before the year 1763; that is, net to be taxed
internally without their own consent, and have
their money taken from them by the votes of those
who cannot be judges of their circumstances or
necessities. Let us Seize the happy moment of
equality; for if we examine the present state of
the war, we shall find th^t we have no reason,
from the plan or conduct of it, to pretend to a
Superiority. We can derive no arrogance from
our success. We have tried the Americans in our
military balance. Has their weight been found
trifling or contemptible ? Do we not in some mea
sure confess the lightness of our own scale? or
why are Hanoverians, Canadians and Savages in
vited to the field against them ? This base, unhappy
mixture of impotence and rage makes us the laugh
ing-Stock of nations. For fliame, for <hame,
Sheath again your swords: At least do not most
unfairly make use of fafe weights against them.
What an acknowledgment of weakness ! —ls this
your boasted dignity—this your Supremacy? The
dignity of our crown cannot be hurt by a wife re
covery of its former strength. The real weight
of the diamond constitutes the va'ue, not the falfe
glare and imposing brilliancy. Our Colonies are
the truest, the faireft jewels of the British Crown:
Ler us not shake them out. Set them afrefh in a
just and even manner, and they will firing with
redoubled luftre, and be worn to the latest pos
terity.
ledge it ; and may dilute the payment of a tax,
to the imposition of which he has not given his
consent; if the officer appointed to colled it pro
ceeds to violence, and robs the Freeholder of his
property, adnal refinance might perhaps be justi
fiable on the part of rhe Sufferer; but this is a fa
tal, and Should be the last rdfource; the mild and
equitable spirit of our constitution points out a
more definable, and an equally effectual method,
viz. to appeal to Law for a full arid ample com
pensation for the damages sustained from such vi
olence. If the Spirit of Magna Cbarta is not
quite exrind, he will receive full redress: But if
Law and Justice are annihilated—if the British
constitution is destroyed from it's foundation- - if
Liberty is irrecoverably loft —every Englishman
Should join in the Sentiment of Cato,
Indifferent is m, choice to free or die.
VA S A.
Resolved, That any attempt totally to destroy,
or partially to infringe, the liberty of the Press,
is to fruftrate the blessings we, as protestants, enjoy
from the Reformation ; and to violate those privi
leges we, as Englishmen, inherit from the laws
and constitution of our country.
Resolved, That ex officio informations filed by the
Attorney General are unconstitutional Stretches of
arbitrary power, tending as effectually to destroy
the liberty of the Press, as the most arbitrary pro
cess that ever issued from the Star Chamber, dur
ing the reigns of the deteflable Stuarts.
Resolved, That as we are well convinced of the
despotic intentions of ministry, we will endeavour
to defeat their attempts to exercile an improper
jurisdiction over the Press. Should any effort be
made to revive the office of a Licenser, we will
oppose it us unwarrantable; and Should any ex
pounder of the laws (for Judges are no more)
fpert with the sacred charter of our Liberties and
tamper with juries, on questions, relative to the
freedom of the Press, we will never cease our
ft uggles unri! a criminal of such magnitude is
made amenable to parliamentary justice.
Rejeved, That at the lame tim^ as we wish to
cherish the liberty, we would entirely difeounte
noce the licentiousness of the Press. Publicati
ons, therefore, which have a tendency to depre
ciate the revolution, whether they assume the titles
of “ Memoirs," “ Histories," or “ State Com
pilations," are equally to be reprobated, as so ma
ny attrocious Libels on that happy effA/ifhment,
Secured to us by the accession of the iiluftrious
Hou r e of Hanover.
Resolved, That this Association will appropriate
the sum of One Hundred Pounds out of their fund,
to be expended as occasion may require, in the de
fence of the printers of such papers as shall appear
to have the justest claim to public protection.
Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to
every friend of civil and religious liberty through
out the kingdom, to affitt in an undertaking, the
utility of which is felf-evident; for, as to the revi
va! of Letters, we owe our deliverance from Monk
i(h 'upe; ft tion. so to the Freedom of the Press alone
(hall we be indebted, if the liberties of our coun
try survives—the wishes of Administration.
Signed 7 Order of the dffbeiution.
I HOMAS JOEL, Secretary.
BALTIMORE, January p,
C O MMITTEE-CHAMBE R,
January 8, 1776.
Resolved, That no person shall, after the publi
cation hereof, under any pretence or direction
whatsoever, presume to load any vessel, or after
being loaded shall attempt to depart this port with
out proper permits from this Committee, as they
shall answer to the contrary.
DAVID M'MECHEN, Secretary.
C A M B R I D G E, January 4, 1776.
The following if a copy of Dr. Church's much talked
of traitorous letter to a miniferial officer in Boston,
dated July 2,, 1775.
I HOPE this will reach you; three attempts
have I made without success ; in effecting the
last the man was difeovered in attempting his es
cape; but fortunately my letter was sewed in the
waistband of his breeches ; he was confined a few
days, during which time you may gnefs my feel
iags; but a little art and a little ca(h fettled the
matter. 'Tis a month since my return from Phi
ladelphia. I went by way of Providence to visit
mothe r . The Committee for Warlike Stores made
me a formal tender of 12 pieces of cannon, 1$ and
24 pounders. They having to a previous re
solution to make the offer to General Ward. To
make a merit of my services I lent them down;
and when they received hem, they sent them to
Stoughton to be out of danger, even though they
had formed the resolution, as I before hinted, 0+
The Lyerly of the Pref hath ever been esteemed
as one of the choicett blessings a free people can en
joy. Yet we have feea the deftru&ion of that liberty
but too fuccefsiully attempted by the instrument
of despotism. Prosecutions have been commenc
ed by the officers of the crown, apparently for no
other purpose than that of Silencing the Press, by
denouncing ruin to such printers as Shall difeharge
their d'aty to the public with the becoming spirit
of Englishmen. Nor is this all: In the very mode
of prosecution an eye hath been had to StarCbamber
Tyranny. The printers of our news-papers have
not been presented on the Oaths of Jurors, but on
the bare Suggefiion of an officer of the crown,
who, by filing Informations, ex officio, against his
Majesty's innocent fubjeds (to whom no crime
whatever hath been imputed by their peers) there
by supersedes the utility of Grand Juries in di
red Violation of Magna Cbarta-- and to the total
overthrow of the great bulwark of English Li
berties.
Conceiving an opposition to such oppressive mea
sures, to be a duty incumbent on the people at
large—desirous, as well of referring the Frets
from the (hackles of ministerial Slavery, as of af
fording some protection to those printers who may
otherwise fuffer in the cause of liberty, the mem
bers of the London dffr iation have determined to
support the freedom of the Press upon true con
stitutional grounds, and they have therefore agreed
to the following RESOLU RONS.
Refolded, That the Freedom of tha Press is essen
tial to the existence of a free government.
Revolved, That by a judicious exercise of the
freedom of the Press, the minds of men are en
lightned; knowledge, both civil and religious, is
diffufed; and the people are taught to prize, as
inestimable, thufe political rights Secured by the
Revolution.
Resolved, That if those printers, who have
(hewn themselves favourable to the rights of Bri
tish fubje&s (hall be harraffed by expensive prote
cutions (nominally at the suit of the Crown, but
virtually and fubdantially at the instigation of the
Ministry, and certainly at the expence of the peo
ple) we will patronize such printers that the free
dom of the Press may not be\ wounded through
their sides.
II e hear that the Thursday Lenore, which has
been held in Boston for upwards of 130 years,
without any interruption, was closed about a fort
night since, by the Rev Doctor Eliot, who deli
vered a difeourfe well adapted to the occasion.
On Wednesday, the week before faft, Major-
General Lee set out for Rhode-Ifland: He was;
attended from hence by his guard and a parry of
rifle men; and from Providence, by the cadet com.
pany of that place, and a number of minute men.
Lie entered the town of Newport the Monday fol
lowing, preceded by the cadets, his guaid, ^d the
rifle men. While there, he called before him %
number of obnoxious perfans, to whom he tender-,
ed an oath of fidelity to the country, which wa%
taken by all of them, excepting Col. Joseph Wan
ton, jun. Nicholas Lechmere, and Richard Beale s
two custom house officers, who refufed raking it y
upon which they were put under guard, and brought
to Providence. Ihe General, after having viewed
the island, .nd given directions for erecting feme
fortifications, set out for Providence on AVednef
day, from whence he came to town on Saturday
laft.'
We hear that a gentleman is arrived at Bnftcq
from the Mole, who fays, that vast preparations
for war are making there bv the Spaniards; and
that Jamaica is their immediate object.
A gentleman who came passenger in a tran,or%
which arrived at Boston last week from London,
informs, that 26 fail of veffe's laden with florra
and provisions were, when he left England, failed
or fitting out for Boston, for \he support of tha
garrison the prefect winter; bet that no troop,
may be expelled before the spring: And that 110
fine large sheep were brought out in the vessel in
which he came paflenger, hut that only tmo of
them were carried into Boston alive.
Last Saturday abort 120 more of the inhabi
tants of Boston arrived at Chefea, arorrv whorq
were Mr. Peter Edes ((00 ofMr. Benjamin Edes,
Printer) and Mr William Starr, both of whon§
were confined in Boston ga # 1 for federal troths,
by order of the. c^eoable Thu, as
fortifying Thinker's-Hill; which, together vrirh
the cowardice of the clumsy Col. Gejnfh, and C- 1.
Scammon, were the lucky occasion of their defeat.
This affair happened before my return fr.m Phi
ladelphia. We loft 165 men killed then, and since
dead of their wounds: 120 now ay wounded, the
chief will recover. They boast you have 14.00
killed and wounded in that adi m. You fay the
rebels loft 1500, I suppose with equal truth. The
people of Connecticut are raving in the cause cf
liberty. A number from this colony, from the
town of Stamford, robbed the King's Rotes at
New-York, with some small assistance the New-
Yorkers lent them. These were growing turbu
lent. I counted 280 pieces of cannon, from 24:0
3 pounders, at Kingfbridge, which the Committee
had secured for the use of the Colonies. The
Jerfies are not a whit behind Connecticut in zeal ;
the Philadelphians exceed them both. I saw 2200
men in review there by General Lee, consisting of
Quakers and other inhabitants, in uniform, with
1000 rifle men, and 40 horse; who, together,
made a most warlike appearance. I'mingled free
ly, and frequently, with the members of the Con
tinental Congress. They were united, determin
ed in opposition, and appeared affined of success.
Now to come home: The opposition is become
formidable; 18000 men, brave and determined,
with Washington and Lee at their head, are no
contemptible enemy. Adjutant-General Gates is
indefatigable in arranging the army. Provisions
are very plenty. Cloaths are manufacturing io
every town for the soldiers. Twenty tons of pow
der lately arrived at Philadelphia, Connecticut,
and Providence. Upwards cf 20 tors are now in
camp. Salt petre is made in every colony; pow
der mills are erected, and constantly employed in
Philadelphia and New-York. Volunteers of the
firft fortune are daily flocking to the camp; 1000
rifle men in two or three days. Recruits ate now
levying to augment the army to 22,000 men. Ten
thousand militia are appointed in this province to
appear on the firft summons. The bills of all the
Colonies circulate freely, and are readily exchang
ed for caffi. Add to this, that unless some plan
of accommodation takes place immediately, these
harbours will swarm with privateers. An army
will be railed in the middle provinces to take pof
feffibn of anada. For the fake of the miserable
convulsed empire, solicit peace, repeal the a&s, or
Britain is undone. This advice is the result of
warm affection to my King and to rhe realm. Re
member I never deceived you; every article here
sent you is sacredly true. The papers will an
nounce to you, that lam again a member for Bos
ton. You will there fee our motley council. A
genera! arrangement of officers will take place ex
cept the chief, which will be suspends Ibut for *
little while, to fee what part Britain takes in
consequence of the late Continental petition. A
view to independance grows more and more gene
ral. Should Britain declare war against the Co
lonies, they are loft forever. Should Spain declare
against England, the Colonies will declare a neu
trality; which will dcubtlefs produce an offenfiver
and defenfive league between them. For God's
fake, prevent it by a speedy accommodation.
Writing this has employed a day. I have been
to Salem to reconnoitre, but I could not efcapo
the geese of the capitol To-morrow I set out for
New-port, on purpose to fend you this. I write,
you fully, it being Scarcely possible to efcaps difeo
very. lam out of place here by choice, and
therefore out of pay; and determine so to be, un
less something is offered in my way. I wish you&
could contrive to write me freely in cypher, by th^
way of New-port, addressed to Thomas Richards,
merchant, inclofe it in a cover to me, intimating
that I am a perfect flranger to you, but being re
commended to you as a gentleman of honour, yotg
took the liberty of enclosing that letter, intreating;
me to deliver it as directed; the person, as yow.
are informed, being at Cambridge. Sign some fic
titious name. This you may fend to some confi
dential friend at Newport, to be delivered to me
at Watertown. Make use of every precaution, oc
I periffi.