The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-09-28 00:00:00, page 2

where the worfi of tyrannies often predominate.—ln a
republic where all the citizens are equal, where it is
the spirit of the government which is to dired what is
fit and ufeful, and not the arbitrary will of one, or of
a few, what is wanting but wisdom and virtue'? Wis
dom to underhand the true genius of the government,
to plan the equal and jiaft laws, and virtue to pursue
the path which wisdom points out. Bat with what
reason can we expert that the people will delegate their
power to men worthy of such a trust, unless good mo
rals, a love of just and wife laws, determine their
choice: nor is it more probable, that those who are
elected will ecad such laws, unless the majority, at
least, have that awful regard to the dilates of virtue,
which (he requires.
What is a stronger indication of the corruption of a
state than unjust laws? or what can be a stronger
mark of the folly of a people? they present a misera
ble picture of the depravity both of the electors and
the elected:—ln the firft for promulgating such laws, in
the other for permitting them even a momentary exig
ence. But if wisdom and virtue be thus necessary,
both in the people and in the legislature, it is not less
so in the magistrate. Without those qualities, where
is the capacity, the integrity to adminifler justice and
govern the state? but happy is that state, where the
virtue of the magistrate bears testimony to the wisdom
To the PRINTER.
SIR,
lAMI AM an old man, and vain enough to think, that I
have not lived such a life as to permit my grey hairs
to reproach me. Refleaion is now become almost the
foie pleasure which I can enjoy : I therefore often give
myfelf up to this pleasing employment, this innocent
luxury, so well calculated to mitigate the anxieties of
old age. Few fubje&s, however, pals so frequently in
review before me, as the future happiness of my coun
try. II is true indeed, that as to myfelf, it is of little
consequence what may be its fate at a period not very
diflant. My fun is nearly set; but whilst lam de
fcendmg, 1 behold my children riling in their spheres.
I rejoice that a republic receives them into her bosom,
as it ought ever to be her character, to be equally in
dulgent to all her children. It is this cnain between
parent and child, which now links my heart tomy coun
try ; that chain, by which nature generoußy binds
the separate families of every society together, and
makes them co operate to one great end, the good of
the whole.
But, by what means, this good of the whole is to be
promoted, forms the most important question. The
nature of a republican government, the genius of the
people, or the character which they have displayed du
ring this war, the causes which produced the grandeur
and decadence of antient republics, the wisdom and
virtue which will b- requisite to maintain the confede
rate interests of Virginia, as well as her more private
and particular interefis : a due consideration of these
fubje&B, with many others closely connected with them,
would afford lights to an honest patriot, which might
perhaps, if properly held forth to the public, save his
country from many impendent calamities. But as it
would require rather the compass of a volume, than
of an address of this nature, to place each of them in
that point of view which they merit, I shall confine
the observations I have to make to some of those qua
lities which are essential to the very exigence of are pub
lic, qualities which experience hath convinced me are
but too much wanting amongst us. For were Ito judge
of the iuture administration of our affairs by the pad,
I should have but little reason to console myfelf with
reflexion, that it was to the bosom of a republic, that
I am so soon to leave such of my children as the re-
Jentlefs hand of tyranny hath not yet bereaved me of.
Of five boys, two only, alas! remain. The bloody
Guilford shall bear witness to the bravery of my firft
born. It was there he fed in defence of those rights
which nature gave. Cambden, to my second has giv
en the honourable crutch on the one fide, and my fee
ble arm to the other. A third now counts the daysof
his captivity, hard indeed, but foftened by the reflec
tion of the cause in which he fuffers. The other two
are the children of my country ; it is to her they be
long ; it is my duty to give them an education which
shall render them ufeful and honourable to her, which
shall inspire them with those pure but exalted princi
ples which a republic demands. Full oft (hall they
hear the melancholy tale, at which my heart Hill bleeds,
but as oft shall they be told, that an honourable death
is a thousand times preferable to one aft, which virtue
itfelf would not applaud. It is true, the means which
I formerly had of affording them the most liberal edu
cation, are greatly diminish'd. The tender law, like
a cruel ruffian, has robbed them of that, which afford
ed me fatisfadion, only as it could contribute to this
important end.
But, though injured in a manner, against which eve
ry idea of juflice revolts, though dripped of most of
my fortune, by what were called the laws of my coun
try, I dill retain that high sense for the rights of men,
which death only shall deprive me of : I glory in hav
ing contribut'd my part towards founding a republic;
which, under the guidance of virtuous citizens, promises
every happiness, a well directed government can bestow;
and it is by the proper education of my remaining sons
that I Rill hope to render her the most essential fer
yice.
Happy indeed, should I efleem myfelf could I inspire
my countrymen with similar sentiments. It is here, as
it were from a point, that a republic ought to begin ;
wisdom and virtue are its pillars: It is an education
directed to the great objects in view, which rears those
pillars and gives them liability. As well might the
presumptuous architect attempt to raise the gorgeous
palace upon an insecure foundation, as the politician
his republic, without opening the source for wife and
virtuous laws. Neither of them can long withstand the
dangers which conflantly threaten immediate ruin—
The proud inhabitant of the one will soon prefer the
humble but secure cottage, whilst the fubjed of the o
ther, will only have reason to detest a state, where li
berty is but a name, 'where property is uncertain, and
^rom the VIRGINIA GAZETTE, dated Septem-
ber 7, 1782.
of the people, and where they mutually confer honour
upon each other. I will not recur to Sparta, to Athens
or to Rome, for examples which ought to flimulate
my countrymen to a noble emulation. If they be not
wanting to themselves, the opportunity is theirs, now
to lay the foundation of a republic, from which even
Sparta, Athens or Rome might have learned the most
valuable lessons; we have the advantages of profiting
from their errors as well as their wisdom; we have be
sides an improved knowledge in the theory of govern
ment; we have assemblies which may be collected
from the wisest and most virtuous of our citizens, in
fiead of their tumultuous meetings. We have also
other advantages inestimable in their nature, and es
sentially necessary to every democracy—We know no
diftinHioii of ranks, unless the poorest peasant, who
supplies his wants by the labour of his hands, has a
right to claim it over the haughty tyrant of many mi
serable Raves—Ah! that men knew how to improve
the blessings which Providence presents to them—Ah !
that some enlightened patriot, captivated by the pre
sent as well as future glory of his country, would im
mortalize his name, by Convincing his fellow citizens,
that good morals and true wisdom are the only means
of conducting them to real happiness ; that, fired with
the love of humanity, he would, with the tenfold elo
quence of a Demosthenes, press upon them the great
importance of bestowing upon the rising generation
that culture, that improvement, that turn of mind,
that sacred regard to virtue, to the good of their coun
try, which might render them worthy of the labours,
the toils, or the dangers which their fathers have so
often encountered. Ah! that my eyes, now almost
closed in endleG night, could yet behold such an one
Band forth—could yet hear the thunder of his voice,
exclaiming, fathers, awake, arise from this lethargic
forgetfulnefs ! your children, your country bids you
awake! the ghofis of your departed friends, who have
nobly fallen in the cause of liberty, bids you awake !
It is your's to secure to posterity the blessings of free-
Mr. CLAYPOOLE,
Please to publish the following (taken from a Fish
kill paper) and you will oblige A Cuflomer.
Mr. Loudon,
THE profpea of approaching peace, having reviv
ed a topic that has often been the fubjed of de
bate in legislative assemblies, as well as private compa
nies, 1 mean a future provision for our officers, which
muR be fhorriy determined if that happy event takes
plac^: permit me to trouble you with my sentiments 00
the fubjeff, which I think of importance.
The officers fay they have an undoubted right to half
pay, and found their claim on an express resolve of
Congress, and on their merits and fuffrings : their
zeal and attachment to the cause, which prompted
them to Support a long series of distresses and hard
(hips, beyond what any array ever patiently submitted
to, even the Roman in the most virtuous period of the
republic. That they were for a long time deprived of
their hard earned flipends, when their fellow citizens
in legislative and other civil Rations, received theirs re
gularly.
On the other fide, it has been asserted that half-pay
officers may be considered in t: eI ght of pensioners, who
have generally been prejudicial to the public weal:
that many in the lower station of life cannot submit to
have those, who were a few years since their equals,
supported at the public expe-nce as gentlemen. The
firft of these objections requires particular consideration;
but the second is so illiberal, that though it may be the
sentiment of some illiterate low bred individuals, it can
not, without disgracing human nature, be supposed to
have any weight in such ref peftableaff-mblies as the le
gislative bodies of the confederate Rates: I shall there
fore only aft those who argue thus, how came :hofe per
sons to be candidates for this dißinaion ? Was it by some
lucky hits, by some of the capricious ads of for tune ?
certainly no; but by Repping forth in theday of danger,
as a bulwark between their devoted country and the
hand of oppression, by undergoing for years, hazards
and hardships, lofsof blood, limbs and health, or run
ning the risks of them, by making the love of wife, ch 1-
dren and every other tender connexion, give place to
the love of their country. It might be expe&ed that
those considerations would induce hearts poffefled of
the least tin&ure of gratitude, to rejoice at the right of
their acquaintances enjoying the rewards they merited
by securing to them the invaluable blessings of freedom,
dom ; it is your's to render the present, as well as fu
ture generations, worthy of the glorious name of free
men ; forget not that good morals and true wisdom are
the only barriers arainft licentionfn fc fs, anarchy, and
the whole catalogue of evils into which designing, am
bitious men will sooner or later plunge their unthink
ing fellow citizens; forget not, that the divine Mon
tesquieu has already warned yoj), " that the tyranny
of a prince doth not threaten more certain ruin to a
state, than indifference for the public good." Rouse
then, I beseech you, from those slumbers of ignominy
and digrace. Behold the example of some of your filler
Rates. Catch from them at least the example you ought
to follow.—Confider the loft reputation of the once re
(peeled Virginia. Reflect deeply upon the cause. The
remedy lies at your own doors. Resolve, liberally to
bestow upon your children, that inftrudjon which your
situations will admit, and which the nature of your
government requires. Ignorance and the want of vir
tue will render your country despicable and unhappy,
whilst with the opposite qualities, (he may become the
wonder, the envy of the whole world.
With such rejections I sometimes solace the infirmi
ties of old age. It was the time which induced me to
make them public. I fee that our University is soon
again to renew a course of inßrudion, which, before
the interruptions of the enemy, promised the most so
lid advantages to the country ; and therefore I efleem it
the duty of every citizen to give all possible enequr
agement to so valuable an inflitution. It is with joy
that I am now preparing my remaining sons for that
place, with the anxious hope, that I may yet live to
enjoy the greased of a I rewards—that of feeing them
return, a comfort to myfef, and an ornament to their
country. SEN E X.
I have before observed that officers have an indubi
table right to half pay, Congress has promised it,
and public faith should never be violated ; their merits
and (offerings entitle them to it; therefore, without
great injustice this compensation should be fully pro
portionate to the value of the half pay, and must ba
paid at once, or fufficient fecuri^y with annual interest
given. Here is a certain capital with interest, which
the public cannot be exonerated from, but by dis
charging the principal, without any benefit from the
cafualities of the possessors lives ; bat the half pay is an
annuity, that ceases as soon as the possessors earthly
existence is at an end, besides, the cafuabties to which,
human life is liable, the re is another means of equita
bly reducing the half pay. When a peace is made it
is not to be supposed the united Rates will return to
the condition they were in at the beginning of 1775,
deflitute of every necessary to repel an attack, they
have at mmenfe trouble and expence, procured a con
siderable quantity of artillery and stores requisite for
them; it is not to be presumed they will dispose of
them; or, if so inclined, it is improbable they would
find purchasers in time of peace. Their commerce,
wnich promises to be extensive, may make it necessary
to have some of their harbours secured from insult;
though it is unlikely they will for a long time be at
war with any European power ; yet they have, in their
rear, an enemy, that, though not very formidable,
may be very troublesome to guard again ft ; for which
it may be requisite to have some small polls on our ex
tensive frontiers: all these objects will probably render
it necessary to keep up some military force, small to
what we have, but small as it may be, it will require
officers who <v,||be fubje& to the fame cafualities with
the rest of mankind, these will occasion vacancies that
mud be filled up, and which may and ought to be done
by lessening the half pay lift. It is a general maximinEu
rope than half pay officers are fubjed to be called on
whenever their country wants their services ; or should
they decline, forfeit all right to half pay : the fame
maxim may equitably be observed here. We may rea
sonably (uppofe that feve al of our officers will, for
their own better fapport, or that of their families, and
making a future provision for them, exert their abi
lities and industry, and thereby procure incomes much
preferable to their haT pay ; the last of which they
would choose to relinquish rather than abandon the
former, in which case one vacancy in the (landing ar
my noy Rrike off several from the half pay lift. Juf
ticc requires that great impartiality be here observed,
and none called on but in turn according to seniority;
and none difabl cl by age, infirmities or wounds, should
be compelled 10 refigri, or undertake fatigues they are
no longer equal to
cI vI s.
W^W^&W :yw%w&w
To be Sold at Private Sale,
An! ent^ml noon 'h's Fail, if it suits the Purchaser,
h-iHE STAGE HOUSE .md four aces of Land ad
£ j^m? the Ume, in Elizabeth-town, it is pleaf
puty ht ^t /, <nd iiwT known to he one of the best
(lands m t?wn ; t' eh mfe is v&ry large and convenient
for any kind of public bufioefs, and out-houses fuffi
cirnt. Any prrion or periods inclinning to purchase,
may know 'he t,rns by applying to Mr. JOSEPH
CRANE, on thf premises. S^pt. 37.
W A'NTS A PLACE,
A Middle aged Woman as House-keeper.
Enquire of the Printer,
and property ; if from low flations in life they have ri^
fen to high ones in the army, is it not a proof they have
merited it by their virtues?
In monarchial Rates, placemen and pensioners are
certainly very detrimental, particularly when admitted
into the legislature, as they may justly be deemed crea
tures of that person from whom they receive, and at
whose good will they hold those places and pensions;
but, can this be the case in republics ? are not places
and pensions granted immediately by the people or
their representatives, who are only annual officers,
therefore cannot have any interest in or means to influ
ence such pensioners? I have heard it said, that half
pay officers would have a considerable influence with
their neighbours, and having in the course of their
warfare, imbibed ideas different from what they had
when they entered the field, they will probably infofe
them into those they converse with. I should be
glad to know what those new ideas are, and how
far they can be prejudicial to the public. Men by a
more free intercourse with the world, enlarge their un
derstanding, and acquire a more liberal way of
thinking, besides more experience, have opportunities
of comparing tne customs, manners, and laws of one
country with those of another. Can these acquire
ments be prejudicial to any state ? certainly they can
not ; but rather the contrary.
I beg leave to further ask, even supposing there was
any danger, will the evil be remedied by not granting
half pay to officers? Will their not enjoying it prevent
an intercourse with their neighbours ? But riches gene
rally produce authority. I should be glad to know
what great riches will half pay produce? An ensign
with ten dollars a month, will not be on a level in this
refped wi:h most of his neighbours; even a major ge
neral with a family will not have any thing to expend
in procuring influence in his county or township, of of
ficers of this rank there will not be more than two in
any state ; besides I believe halfpay will not, in several
cases, put the possessors into more affluent circum
flances than they were before the war, in which they
have expended their patrimonies.
It is Eid that some Rates propose giving a pecuniary
compeofation at once, in lieu of annual half pay ; sup
posing this to be really the case, I shall take the'liber
ty to examine how far it would be prudent and confid
ent with the spirit of ceconomy every Rate ought to a
dopt.