Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-11-19 00:00:00, page 1

Philadelphia, Oflober 29 1776.
THE Publishers of the several weekly NEWS
PAPERS in this city, are under the difagree
abie necessity of informing their Subferibers, that the
extraordinary advance in the price of paper, and other
materials in the printing business, has obliged them to
raise the price to FIFTEEN SHILLINGS
per annum; and they hope their Customers will not
take it amiss to find that price charged from and after
the firft day of January next.—Those who (hould not
incline to have the papers sent after that time, are de
sired to call and discharge their arrears; such as do
not, we (hall conclude they agree to the advanced
price, and (hall continue to fend them accordingly.—
Persons fubferibing for the papers after this date to be
charged Fifteen Shillings per annum, and to pay
,f 6 entrance. HALL and SELLERS.
W. AND T. BRADFORD.
JAMES HUMPHREYS.
JOHN DUNLAP.
44<>^ f H^+*+*++++*^+ < H v >^
The CONSIDERATE FREEM IN. No.II.
To the PEOPL E.
PREVIOUS to a particular difeufion of the
articles in the frame of government to which ob
jections seem to be made, it appears highly necessary
to lay before you in the plainest manner the danger of
allowing a legislative body, which is the creature of
tire constitution to alter, amend or regulate the fame.
Men, who are in any degree of authority, naturally
thirst for more, and if they have the giving of that
authority, they must be void of ambition indeed, if they
do not increase their own powers, and fhpuld the con
stitution of the State grant them this privilege, there
will be no limits by which they can be confined; nor
can we ever fay, they have aCted unconstitutionally in
accumulating power, feeing agreeable to the fundamen
tal principles of the constitution they have a right to
do it.
This is a point earnestly contended for by these
gentlemen and for good and substantial reasons, be
cause if once adopted, it is in their power at any time
to effect their purpose, even if unfuccefsful at present.
The road will then be open, and what they fail in effed
ing this year, they may gain the next, and we can be
no longer fafe, than we continue to choose men into
the Assembly, who are perfectly devoid of ambition,
and more warmly attached to the public weal than to
their own private interest. For the moment a few
artful, ambitious and designing men get into the Assem
bly, they can grant what powers they please to them
selves. Thus a fuccefsful opposition to tyrannical
encroachments for twenty years together would be no
security for the twenty firft. —Every yearly election
affords them a frefh opportunity of accemplifliing their
purpose, and the people cannot have a moment's se
curity for the enjoyment of their rights.
To fay, that not less than three fourths, five sixths,
fix sevenths, or any other proportion of the Assembly
must be consenting to it before any thing can happen,
will afford but poor fatisfa&ion to a thinking mind.
For it is three fourths of those who are to reap the ad
vantages, and he must be endowed with uncommon vir
tue and felf denial, who would oppose his own elevation.
It would be folly in the extreme to expea always to
find men es this character, and madness to rifque the
liberties of the people in such a bottom. Are you
willing, my countrymen, after all your exertions against
tyranny, to trust your freedom and happiness on such
slender securities, and would not the Representatives,
who ffiould agree to such a measure, be the betrayers
of the liberties of their constituents? If you are wil
ling to admit such a principle and (hould hereafter find
your fatal mistake, you will with regret remember,
that you flighted the admonition of a friend, and how
ever my lot may be, I, (hall still enjoy the happy con
feioufnefs of having warned you of the danger and
prayed you to shun it.
If the plainefs and certainty of the foregoing truths
do not Sufficiently strike you and make you reject the
proportion with horror, and-shudder at such a princi
ple in the constitution, ye: attend to what' follows.
The judgment of a foreign writer, who pointed out the
evil tendency and fatal effects of such a principle long
before our constitution was framed, may have weight
ffl^^ffi^
GENERAL
VOL VI.
OR
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19th, 1776.
D U N L A P's
with you, and juftify the Convention in not admitting
any article, which Should give power to the Assembly
to new model the constitution at their pleasure.
The author of an hiftorica) essay ora the British
constitution, a book written on purpose to point out the
true original cause of our present unhappy diftraflions
and war, traces it exprefsl, to this source, and after
(hewing many of the ruinous consequences of the
principle, he adds, “ There is not a more dangerous
" doctrine can be adopted in our State, than to admit
" that the legislative authority hath any right to alter
" the firft principles of cur constitution. Upon this
" foundation, they may mould it into what shape they
" please; and in the end may raake us Slaves by law."
Upon this ground, our “ constitution may be one thing
" to-day, and another thing to morrow. It is this, or
" that, or any thing that our legislative authority, for
"the time being, (hail think proper to make it. The
" operation ®f this principle has converted our free
" constitution, and mode of government into a down
" right rank aristocracy. Our ancient Parliaments
" were composed of the wise men of England,
" but Since this principle took place, they have been
“ changed into the rich men of England. If
" the principle of government be erroneous, there is
" nothing but error that can proceed from it. And
" if the principle of government be even founded upon
" truth, yet such is the insatiable thirst of power in
'' most men, that they will Sacrifice even Heaven and
" Earth to wrest it from its foundation ; to establish a
'' power in themselves, to tyrannize over the persons
“ and property of others."
It would betray a want of charity fcr gentlemen of
so much reading and erudition even to hint that they
are unacquainted with the evil tendency and effects of
this principle ; and yet we must either fufped their
designs, or believe that they are not well acquainted
with the consequences of such measures.
There is another principle, if we even avoid the former
most dangerous one, of no less evil tendency, and which in
a (hort time will reduce the people of this State to the
most abje& Slavery, if we Suffer it to grow into prece
dent. It is that of a few Gentlemen getting together,
and by the power of their popularity and influence over
turning the constitution, whenever it suits them. The
confufions which such measures must continually occa
fion, will be so great, that the people wearied at length
with their constant repetition will throw themselves into
the arms of any power, which can save them from it.
We were just ready to receive the protection of regu
lar government, which would have been able to relieve
the people from the horrid oppressions under which
they now groan, by reason of monopolies, and the
enormous price of every article of life; but this blessing
is denied us, and we must continue in the fame unhap
py and unsettled state in which we have laboured for
these many months. What will be the end of such
proceedings God only knows ; but every man must
perceive that the people, especially the poor cannot
long contend with such difficulties. Many of them
begin already to think that submission to Lord Howe,
is not attended with half the misery and oppression.
This the Tories perceive, and their countenances bright
en at the profpeC. Though the Gentleman, who is at
the head of the party, which is endeavouring to
establish such principles, has ever since June 18th,
1774, differed greatly in his politics from tho'e, who
have ever been the warmest advocates for the liberty
of this country ; though he opposed the calling of a
Convention, and pledged himfelf to the May Assembly,
that he would oppose Independency, and absented
himfelf from Congress on the day it was declared; and
though the deftrudive delays of most of the measures
which proved abortive, are ascribed to him; yet I
would not charge him with an^vil design in any, or all
of these measures. They may have been very hurtful
to us; but alafs ! all put together have not half the
mifehief in them, that the present man&ivre is big
with. This will produce such diffractions, confufions
and misery, as, I will venture to predict, will (hake the
Continental Union to the centre, aodge nearer to effe&
afubmiffion than all thepaft progrefept Lord Howe and
Bu-goyne.
This principle of overturning constitutions, though
formed with all the authority the people of the whole
State could delegate, being once eftabliihed, a few
^^#3%#^^foi^Y^ ^^=^^^
ADVERTISER.
2>^CL^&6S^
Gentlemen have only to throw cut hints in the public
papers charging the constitution with namelels defers,
make a great stir about religion and seem exceedingly
zealous for some popular tenet, express the necessity
of making that tenet a part of the civil" constitution,
and in the mean time make court to a few people and
attach them to their interest, by stopping them in the
street, Making hands with them and kindly afleing them
how they do; and when they have by such means pre
pared a few to join them, by their own private autho
rity call a Town-meeting, where though few attend
and fewer still assent to their propositions, yet by lively,
religious and animating harangues, they make a fhift
to roule the passions of a majority present, and then,
before they have time coolly to deliberate on what they
are about, get their assent to such measures as serve
the views of the orators, and by pursuing the point
while warm effed their purpose. If.once such doings
are countenanced and grow into precedent, any deno
mination of Christians who comes near to'a majority
may at any time eftlifh their creed as a part of the
civil constitution to the exclusion of all others, flich
will undoubtedly end in persecutions. Let those deno
minations of Christians who wish not to fee the Com
mon-Wealth hereafter deluged in blood by relffious
persecutions, take care how they countenance and give
fandion to such proceedings.
(For the remainder fee the Fourth Page.)
^^fyfy^tyfr^.^^^^Q,^^'^
Middletown Townfoi,, Cumberland County, Noto 4.
ON MONDAY the 2d day of December
next, will be fold at public vendue, by the iub
fcribers, executors of the last will and tvfoment ° f Ro
bert Callender, of the town/hipaforelaid, deceased,
upon the premites—All that valuable plantation and
tra& of about 1200 acres of excellent limestone land,
lately advertised to be fold at private sale, situate in East
Pennfoorough township, in the county aforesaid, about
ten miles eastward of the town of Canifle, on the great
road leading from Harris's Ferry to the laid town, where
on are erected and built one excellent merchant mill, and
saw mill adjacent, both in very good repair, and now in
the tenure of Mr. Francis Silver, at one hundred and
forty pounds per annum, on a never .failing stream of
wa t er j< n °, n by the name of Silver's Spring,"\6e head
of which is not one mile diftaut from the said nmls, and
abounds with the fineft of fruit, is in a plentiful country
for wheat and all kinds of grain : The mill boufe is built
of lime-stone, two stories high, and has in it two pair of
Itones, two boulting-cloths, and hoisting works, the
whole of which go by water. Together with a new two
story stone dwelling house and large'ftone barn, now,
with part of the land, in the tenure of Mr. John M'Cur
dy, who keeps a public house of entertainment, for
which bufintfs it is most advantageously situated. Aho
one other very large two story stone dwrilinghoufe and
frame barn, with other stables and out-houses, which is,
with another part of the said land, in the tenure of ano
ther perfen. This tr<& may be conveniently divided
into three plantations, each getting a fufficiency of water
and timber, and ground to turn into meadow, and is by -
thole who know it deemed as valuable an estate, accord
ing to the quantity of land, as is now to be fold on the
Continent, and will be fold either together or in feparate_
tra&s. A clear and indisputable title will be given for
the fame, and credit for part of the purchase-mopey, on
paying interest for the fame if required, by
FRANCES CALLENDER, Executrix.
WILLIAM NEAL,
WILLIAM IRVINE, ? Executors'
MATTHIAS SLOUGH, J
N. B. Any perion or perlons inclining to view the said
land before the day of sale, will be (hewn the boundaries
b y applying to Mr. Francis Silver on the premises, f
TWO DOLLARS REWARD
STRAYED from the sign of the Ship, in Darby,
on the night of the 12th instant (November) a black
HORSE, with waggon geers upon him: He is about
fourteen and a half hands high, ten years old, has two
white feet, several saddle spots, and a small blaze in his
forehead. Whoever takes up said horse and brings him to
the sign of the Black Bear in Market-rtteet, Philadelphia,
(ball have the above Reward, paid by
t RICHARD DOWNEY.
TH E subscriber takes this method to inform
his brother DENNIS QUIGE, who came in
to. this country about four years ago from the county of
Londonderry and p:.ri(h of Dromacoues in the town of
Dunmore, That he now lives with Mr. Robert Work,
about four miles from Col. Robert M'Pherfon's in York
County, PeuHaivania.
MANES QUI GE,
THE
NUM B. 265.