The New-England chronicle — Boston [Mass.], 1776-07-04 00:00:00, page 1

From the Pennsylvania Journal.
' ' - following Plan an expedient for
.ag tne present -war, is ft for the public
' m r worthy the notice of that truly honoura
ble body who direct Continental affairs, it is very
much at your service.
By his F cellency George Washington, Esq;
Genual and Commander in Chief of the
Armies of the Thirteen Colonies in North-
America.
A DECLARATIO N.
IT is fufficien,tly known^with what reluctance
many British officers and soldiers enter into
nn odious war, in support of tyranny,againft the
rightsand privileges of their American brethren,
and in direftviolation of the British constitution,
by which allegiance is no longer due, than pro
teftion is afforded ; a war, prosecuted by an
unwise king and implacable ministry, with cir
cumstances of uncommon barbarity, cruelty
and defolatioh, wherein they have dared to em
ploy and tarnish the honour of a soldiery, here
tofore as remarkable for humanity and regard
to the liberties of their country,as renowned for
their valour; most of whom it may well be pre
sumed, would never countenance lb detestable a
business, were they not impelled by the dilates
of necessity, and the fears of not finding in other
resources a support adequate to their wants.
In oeder therefore, that no fit encouragement
m'ay be wanting to all such military men, as are
willing to quit the king's service, and fettle in
this country, rather than imbrue their hands in
the blood of their best friends: And for the
more fpe,edy ending of this unnatural and ruin
ous contest, I do hereby, in the name and by
order of the Honourable Continental Congress,
make the following offerof landsto the officers
and soldiers so quitting the service and fettling
in this country, within one year frora the date
hereof, viz.
To every field officer, 10,000 acres.
To every commissioned officer, 5,000 acres.
Toevery non-commiffi.officer, 500 acres.
To every private, 200 acres.
And I am directed to declare, that the Con
gress do pledge the public Faith, for the punc
tual performance of this promise when the pre
lent troubles are composed, for which end a
large trad of land shall then be purchased from
the Indians, or other fuflicient lands provided ;
and in the mean time the claimant may apply
? me, 01 the Commander in Chief of the
forces for |he time being, or to the Commander
in Chief of any particular department, and re
ceive a certificate under.hand and seal, import
ing, that the bearer thereof, is intituled to de
mand from the United Colonies (so many) acres
ofland to him, liis heirs, and assigns forever,
free and clear from any quit rent or other in
cumbrance,charge or expencewhatfoever; which
certificate shall be aflignable, and shall be utterly
void, if the possessor shall re-enter the British
service, or again bear arms against the Colonies
during this war.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set
my hand and seal, at this day of
in the year of our Lord, 1776.
Firfl. This Proclamation or Notification ope
rates as a two-edged sword, in defence of the
tight cause, for whilst it destroys the strength of
the enemy, it adds that strength to our own—
every foreigner becoming a freeholder here, be
comes oiconrfe a well-wisher to America, and
anxious so. her preservation— a settlement ofin
puftrious Grangers is better than a mine of gold.
Second, fhis is by far the cheapest mode of
Going business, for what will it cost to purchase
an too miles Square beyond the Ohio, of the
natural and rightful proprietors, in conaparifon
of the expences in treasure and biood attending
two or three campaigns. 5
Third. We know, from intercepted letters
.Q at , f ? meof the officers and men htve been
by the miaftry with the premia of forfeits
THE
NEW-ENGLAND CHRONICLE.
BOSTON : Printed by POWARS and WILLIS, at their Office oppofre.the new Court-House, Queen-Street.
Vol. VIII.
THURSDAY, July 4, 1776.
ed lands, the present offer is peculiarly calculat
ed for these adventurers, for here they have ter
ritory without trouble, danger, or expence, there
they cannot have it, without all three.
Fourth. The Declaration, when adopted by
Authority, should be published in every news
paper throughout the Colonies, and also in hand
xhills in the German and English languages, and
drfperfed among the British and other foreign
troops serving in America.
WATERTOWN, July t.
In the rloufe of Representatives, June 26, 1776.
Ordered, That the following Re/olve of Congress
be published in the federal News-Papers in this
Colony. Attejk.
SAMUEL FREEMAN, Clerk.
PHILADELPHIA.
In CONGRESS, June 14, 1776.
WHERE AS it has been represented to this
Congress, that great quantities of salted
Beef and Pork have been purchased for expor
tation, which if not retrained, may render the
Supplies for the army difficult and uncertain.
Refolded therefore, Thatno salted Beef or Pork,
except as much as may be necessary for the use
of the crew, be exported ficin any of the United
Colonies, in any vessel, under any pretence
whatsoever, until the further order of this
Gongrefs.
By order of the Congress,
JOHN HANCOCK, President.
ExtiaU of a letter from Lewiftown, June it.
" I intended to have sent by land, but the
tories have cut off that communication. Last
evening the Kingfifher returned witli a brig,
Capt. Walker, of Wilmington, but before the
pirates boarded her, our brave Capt. Barry had,
in fight of the Kingfifher, taken out some pow
der and arms. This day a brig came into the
road, but cannot learn who she is. You will
please to inform the Congress of the proceed
ings of the tories at the head of our county, as
I think there will be occasion for some troops
from upwards to quiet them. They are break
ing out in a surprising manner."
Extras of a letter from Baltimore, June 8.
" Captain William Barry, who was master of
a Blip belonging to your port, and whohas been
prisoner with Lord Dunmore for some time pall,
has made his escape from on board the Roebuck,
since Lord Dunmore came up to Gwin's Island.
He told me he was on board the Roebuck dur
ing her engagement with the gondolas off Wil
mington, in which he and many other prifouers
were obliged to fight against their friends, and
is of opinion she might have easily been destroy
ed or taken, whilst she was aground in the river,
had the gondolas been fapplied with ammunition.
He fays, she was very much damaged in her rig
ging and spars ; had only one man killed, and
sor 6 wounded. Peter Noble, one ofUolonel
Allen's soldiers, who was sent with him prisoner
to England, came here along with Capt. Barry;
he told me, that Col. Allen, with 32 others of
his men came out in the fleet to Cape-Fear, com
manded by Sir Peter Parker ; that they were
very barbarously used by Capt. Simmonds of the
Solebay, who robbed them of the stores and
cloaths which the gentlemen of Cork had ^e
neroufly provided for them, and diftribufed
them among his own men. This brave young
soldier, about two weeks after the ariival of the
fleet at Cape-Fear, Lvam ashore in the night in
his fhiii, in whicli ti ijn lie was obliged to travel
for 48 hours, before he met any of the inhabi
tants, or got any refreshment.”'
ExtraEt of a letter from New-York, June 17.
" Yesterday a (loop arrived here from ,Caps
Nichola Mole, which brought an account of
the foreign troops being flopped, but that it
was in consequence of a protest (by the King
of France) against their being employed. lam
told the Captain adds, that he saw the protest
in a French Gazette."
Of Civil Liberty, and the principles of Government^
" From what has been said, it is obvious, that
allcivil government, as far as it can be denomi
natedfae, is the creature of the people. It ori
ginates with them. It is conducted under their
direction ; and has in view nothing but their
happiness. All its different forms are no more
than so many different modern which they chufe
to direct their affairs,and to secure the quiet en
joyment oftheir rights.—ln every free Gate every
man is his own legislator.--All faxes are free gifts
for public services.— All laws are particular prove
fions or regulations established by common consent
for gaining protection and fafety.—And all
magifrates are trustees or deputies for carrying
these regulations into execution.
" Liberty, therefore, is too imperfectly defin
ed when it is said to be " a government by laws,
and not by men." If the laws are made by one
man, or a junto of men in a state, and not by
common consent, a government by them does not
differ from slavery. In this case it would be a
contradiction in terms to fay that the state go
verns itfelf.
Messieurs Powars and Willis,
Dr. Price's, observations on the nature of civil li
berty, being a mos excellent pamphlet, and
admirably suited to the present state of the colo
nies, shall pray you to insert a number of ex
tracts from it, which, while they Qkfe know
ledge among all, mus encourage Arfa who love
reading, and ean purchase, to^ :0e the whole.
" rtIVIL Liberty is the pow£i of a v:vilfo
(j ciety orfate to govern itfelf by its own
diferetion ; or by laws ofits own making, with
out being fubjeft to any foreign diferetion, or to
the impositions of any extraneous will orpower.
The community that is governed, not by itfelf,
but by some will independent of it, and ever
which it has no controul, wants Civil Liberty.
" This it is, I think, that marks the limit, or
that lays the line between Liberty and Slavery.
As far as, in any instance, the operation of any
cause comes in to restrain the power of felf-go
vernment, so far slavery is introduced : Nor do
I think that a preciser idea than this of liberty
and slavery can be formed.
" I cannot help wishing I could here fix my
reader's attention, and engage him to confidec
carefully the dignity of that blessing to which
we give the name of Liberty, according to the
representation now made of it. There is not a
word in the whole compass of language which
expresses so much of what is important and ex
cellent. It is, in every view of it, a blessing
truly sacred and invaluable.
" Nothing, therefore, can be of so much con
sequence to us as Liberty. It is the foundation
of all honour, and the chief privilege and glory
of our natures."
" From hence it is obvious that Civil Liberty,
in its most perfect degree, can be enjoyed only in
Imall ft ties, where every member is capable of
giving his luffragein perlon,and of being chosen
into public offices. When a .state becomes so
numerous, or when the different parts of it are
removed to fucli distances from one another, as
to render this impracticable, a diminution of
Liberty neceffirily arises. They are, however,
in these circumstances, methods by which such
near approaches may be made to perfect Liber
ty as shall aufwer all the purposes of govern
ment, and at the fame time secure every right
Qf human nature.
" Though all the members ofa state should
not be capable of giving their fuffrages on pub
lic measures, individually and persona Py, they
may do this by the appointment of Sulfitutes
or Representatives. I hey may en(ruß tht pow
ers of legislation, fubjed to such reftriclions as
they shall think necessary, with any number of
Delegates ; and whatever can be done by such
delegates, within the limits of their trust, may
be confiJered as done by the united voice and
council of the Community —ln this method a
free government may be established in ^ large
(Numb. 411.)