The Connecticut courant and Hartford weekly intelligencer — Hartford, Conn., 1775-05-08 00:00:00, page 1

Mr. Watson,
Pleafe,t) infers the following in your next.
IN this day of darkness to our land, occasioned
by the high claims of sovereignty, and the ex
orbitant challenges of prerogative power; revolving
in my mind, what specious pretenfich there can be
for fueh superb exactions; I adverted to the xiii.
The rights of mankind, viz. to personal securi
ty, liberty, and private property, are derived from
the great firft cause---are holden by a divine tenure,
the great Charter of him that made us, and are
Co-natural to our very exigence, as well as by the
oaths of Kings, and the faith of the public---and
though we may give up some of those things we en
joy in consequence of these rights,---yet the rights
themfelvts are unalienable by iis---otherways, thari
' by forfeiture for crimes :---Nor do we by entering
into civil society, yield up any of these rights; for
every end of civil government is to protest and se
cure to us, the enjoyment of them---though the
mode of exercising them is altered :---The power of
judging and avenging our own injuries, is tranf
ferred to the tribunal of the public, and the sword
of the Magistrate, &c. and to prevent a deprivati
on of these rights, the Almighty has implanted iri
the human breast, the principles of fe!f preservati
on, and reason.---The former to operate infanta-,
neons as the lightning, resistless as the fhafts of
Jove, to ward off and repel impending ills ;---
while the latter like a Ikillful archer directs the fa
tal thrust, and points its vengeance to the obnox
ious cause; the lawless Kings and Prihets are il
lustrious only by delegated greatness, and shine
with borrowed beams:---By their important ap
pointment, they are to be the protestors; preservers,
and guardians of the people's rights and liberties.---
(cn the lame condition that all public offices are
holden,---in that they be duly executed) they hold
their high commifiions the fiira Coroner are Jura
Publican---the rights of the Crown, are the rights
of the Public ;---and none may violate them with
impunity from the public:---And the crime of
Kings in violating those rights, is enormous in pro
portion to obligations they are under to preserve
and protest them.---When therefore they fall to
plundering the sacred deposits the rights of the fob-
chap. Rom. as the supposed warrant for such lofty
pretensions. Let ev'er, foul be fubjeß unto the higher
-powers, for there is no fokuer hut of God; the powers
that be, are ordained of God; whoever therefore, that
reffeth the power, reffletb the ordinance of Ged, ^c.
Turning to the original, I find the Greek word
used, which is translated power, is exoufa, and fig
nifies rightful authority, or power in a moral sense,
--- and stands opposed to the Greek word durtamis,
which lignifies vis active, or naturalis a natural
power.
The text then stands thus, the Authorities that
be, are ordained of God, and he that refifteth such
Authorities, refifteth the ordinance of God.
But those claims of authority, impioully to oppress
and destroy, because it's in the power of their hands,
are not of God; but are sacrilegious usurpations
of rights, both human and divine: Ele therefore,
that refifteth such usurpations, refifteth not, but
cooporateth with the power of God. Of this the
Holy Spirit is its own interpreter---for rulers are
not a terror to good works, but to tVe evil :---do
that which is good, and thou /halt have praise for
the fame;---for he is the minister of God, to thee
for good :-—Butif thou do that which is evil, be a
fraid, for he beareth not the sword in vain, for he
is the minifter.of God, a revenger to execute wrath
upon him that doth evil, wherefore, ye mus be fubjem
rot only for wrath---but for conscience fake.---What
are the evils to which rulers are to be a terror?---
the fame unerring spirit has told us, murders, a
dulteries, injustice, deceit, covetousness, violence,
and oppression, &c. &c.---How they are to be a ter
ror, we are also taught, by their authority, and by
their example---and to suppose that rulers are eloath
ed with authority from God, to perpetrate upon
mankind those evils which they are ordained to pre
vent and suppress, and that they may not be re
lifted therein---(fhocking idea!) is to make God
the author of fin, and of the most palpable absur
dity.---
Containing the Freshest ADVICES,
MONDAY, May 8, 1775,
CONNECTICUT
AND
WEEKLY
je&, betrayed to them for preservation ; they a&
out of character, debase their dignity, fail of the
conditions of royalty,---violate the primary laws
of nature, reason, and humanity; and iftead of be
ing minihera of God for good, become ministers of
Satan, to oppress, rob, a?d plunder the people.---
And will any pretend that the King has a divine au
thority to do evil,---murder, destroy, and oppress
the innocent!---and that it is the people's duty to
fubmit?---God forbid !---that we should go abreaff
to Heaven's high commands- --nature's impulse,
and the dilates of confcience;---and to conceive
that the authority given to prevent, Should be con
strued into a license to commit the mod horridaßs if
violence.
For Dutcbef Cotori,. Col. Morris Graham, Ma
jor Robert R. Livingston, jun. and Egbert Ben
son, Esq.
For King's County. SiiMOn Bcerum, Esq; Ca,t.
Richard Stillwell, Mr. Theodorus Folhemus, Mr.
Denice Denice, arid Mr. John Van Der Belt.
For Suffolk Co^tyi Col. William Floyd, Col.
Nathaniel Woodhull, Cdl. Phineas Fanning, Tho
mas Tredwell, Esq; and John Slofs Hubbard,
Esq.
Frost! thi Towrfoips of Newtown; Flujhing, Ofer
bay, and "Jamaica, in fyeen's Count, ; but as repre
senting only some parts of the county, and in two
towns only a minority of the eledots, they were not
entitled to, and did not claim afiy vote in the con
vention ; but on the behalf of themselves and those
they, represented, they consented to, and approved
of the praridings of the convention. Col. Jacob
For the city ahd county of Allafy.
Col. Philip Schuyler, Col. Abraham Ten Broeck,
Abraham Yates, jun. Esq; and Walter Livin'g
fton, Esq.
For Ulfler County. Charles De Witt, George
Clinton, Levi Pawling Efqrs.
For Orange Couhty. Col. A. Hawkes-Hay, Hen
ry Wifner, Esq; Johh Herring, Esq; Mr. Peter
Clowes, and Mr. Israel Seely.
For Westchester County. C®l. Lewis Morris, Tohn
Thomas, jun. Robert Graham, Esq; Major Philip
Cortlandt, Samuel Drake, Esq; and Mr. Stepheri
Ward.
M a provincial convention held at the city of New-York,
in the colony of New-York, on the 20th, 21f, and
23d days of April, 1775, "' e deputies herein after
named afembled at the Exchange, in the jaid city,
visit.
For the city arid county of New-York.
PHILIP Livingston, Etq; John Alsop, ^fq;
Col. Leonard Lifpenaid, Francis Lewis, Eiq;
Mr. Abraham Walton, Mr. fiaac Roosevelt, Mr.
Alexander M'Dhugall, and Mr. Abraham Eras
er.
Awake then my friends and countrymen !---let
no mans hands wax feeble, or his heart faint, for
more are they that be for us,, than they that are a
gainst us.—lt is the controversy of him who is great
er than the Kings of the earth;-- and he will as
suredly deliver his Church, add redeem America
out of all their troubles, —if ye will be willing ati<l
obedient;---Wherefore let that great fuptrintend
ing power, that all directing mind who fits en
throned at the head of the universe, who inspired
our forefathers, with a holy contempt for the gran
deur, riches and pleasure of their native cohntry---
to brave the dangers of a bellowing ocean ! thegloo
my horrors of American wilds!---and the more
shocking feenes of savage barbarity !---to such, and
to obtain for themselves and for us their defeend
ants, the unmoiefted enjoyment of religion arid li
berty, let him I fay be ye: fear and ynir dread--
and you will soon become the fear and the dread of
your foes---and evince to the world, that the glori
ous spirit which animated the bosoms of our an
cestors is not degenerated in us their sons: - -
Defpifc the tyrartt, revere your maker, trust his
protection---and let your noble struggles for liber
ty—the intrepid and well directed exertions of A
merican valour eclipse the renown of British arms,
and lend your names in triumph through the world
---and transmit your glory unimpaired to ages yet
unborn, through all the distant periods of time.
JURIDICUS.
T JI E
^^^^
%;^l^ illiy
^g^* i^^
e Ordered, That five copies be made of the refold
tions of the convention, appointing the delegates;
as aifo a lift of the deputies who attended thereat:
and that the fame be signed by the President, and
published in the news papers.
Extras from the minutes,
Philip Livingston, President.
N £ W-HA V.E N, ^fc
Extras of a Letter from London, dated March 1.
j" Before this you must have heard that the mi
nistry are hostile towards America.---The additi
onal number of seamen and land forces ordered for
Bolton will embark in about a fortnight.---A bill
has been brought in, committed, and reported,
and will undoubtedly pass into a law, that New-
England will not be allowed to fifr. on the banks
of Newfoundland ---V/hile this bill was going for
ward, a motion was made by Lord North', which
furprized many, and is of h ver, questionable ap
pearance.,--It was in a committee of the whole house
on American affairs; and the purport of it is, that
if the colonies will tax themselves for the purpose of
raiffng a revenue disposable by parliament, for such
time, as such fam so levied fha/1 be approved bv
mafefty in parliament, all ads of this country en
afted for the purpose of a railing a revenue in A
merica shall be suspended.
I do not give you the words of it,becaufe you may
doubtless have it at large in the news-papers ft
is obvious at firft light, that this propofol can
not be acceded to by the colonies j---it would in ef
fe& be giving up the right of taxation, the ground
of the quarrel: but I think some good may be ex
pe^ed from ir,---In the firft place, it evinces that
our unioQ gives the premier uneasy apprehensions
for the ifihe;---doubtful of the effect of arms, he
has recourse to fineffe.- T -In the next place, it
may perhaps authorize and excuse the colonies in.
further proposals than they have as yet donk---The
congress fay only, if I remember right, (and I speak
only from recollection) that they have, and will
grant men and moneyon extraordinary emergen
cies. But I confefs (tho' I would be cautious of
admitting any proposition upon the fubjeft, without
furious deliberation) yet I do not fee, if we (the co-
both FOREIGN and DOMESTIC.
Blau&wei:, Mr. Joan lalman, Zebulon Wiliiaras,
Efy and Mr. Joseph Robinson.
The committee unanimously chose Philip Living
ston, Esq; to be their President.
Refolded unanimously, That this convention, sensi
ble of the services of the delegates from this colony^
who attenedd the continental corgrfefs; in order to
express their approbation of their conduct and /
a mark of the confidence reposed in them, have uX'
animoufly re defied all of them delegates to attend
the next continental congress at Philadelphia, ex
cept Mr. Isaac Low, vho hid previously declared
that the convention was not to.confider him aN
member, and is therefore ineligible.
John Herring, Esq; declined attending at the
next continental congref, as a delegate, and affix
ed his reasons to the convention, which are approv
ed of, and he is therefore excused.
Refolded unanimtufy, That, five gentlemen be ad
ded as delegates to those who attended at the 'hit
continental cOngrefs, .and re-eleded by this conven
tion, and that they be chosen by ballot. And the
following gentlemen were then elected by ballot.
nern. con. viz. ,
.Col. Philip Schuyler, George Clinton,
Col. Lewis Morris, Robert R. Livingston iun
Esq; and Francis LeWis, Esq.
Refolded therefore unduimouflj, That Philip Living
ston, James Duane, John Alsop, John Jay, Simon
Boerum, Wm. Floyd, Henry Wifner, Philip
Schuyler,,George Clinton, Lewis Morris, Francis
le,vis, and Robert R. Livingston, jun. Inquires,
be,delegates to represent tiffs colony at the next cpn
6r?ntal congress, to be held at the city of Phila..
delpbia, 011 dfe tenth day of May next, with full
power to them, or any five of them, to meet the
delegates from the other colonies, and to concert
and determine upon such measures as ffiall be judged
most effectual, for the prefervaricn and re-feftabliffil
merit of American rights and privileges, and for
the restoration of harmony between Great- Britain
and the colonies.
[NU^M 541.)
C OURA N T,
Hartford
INTELLIGENCER.