Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-02-12 00:00:00, page 2

Our present contest is imm^feb great, and
every man mud fee that it will affect pofteritj.
bs confeqoences cannot €nd with itfeb ; but
late generations must feel its efcfs, The , teat
Ruler of the univede has permuted it for wife
pmpCes, and has called every one of us to 2d
ear part in it. It becomes us, therefore, laying
aside all former prejudices, partiality and ; uty
attachments, to act upon principts which will
jo hf, us to h m who has assigned us our Cations,
and cattle posterity to bless the memory of their
forefathers. Wtalf agree in this, that Great Bri
trio is urjuC and arbitrary, and we have hitherto
pimcipaly differedtn the mode ofoppofition wh ch
ought to have been pursued. 1 fyeak not to thole
who think one way and talk another. They a&
upon inch bale principles, that it is in vain to at
tempt to rouze in them any just or generous fen
tiraent. We have no instance of the couve.fion
cf avaritious or ambitious hypocrites, and it would
be wafting time to use arguments to convince,
them. I direct myfelf to you who have since
rity Efficient to examine the principles or which
you proceed, and horefty enough to purlue that
course of conduct which appears to be right, and
so much affection for your children as to prefer
thei, interest and happiness to every ether cnfi
deration. For you I mean to throw together a
few hints which may affiit you in finally fixing a
right choice.
'I he PCufh administration began its attacks
on cur libe ties with a Stamp art, but meeting
with thong eppofition they thought fit to repeal
it. 1 his a& threw the colonies into strong cun
vulfrms, and we rejoiced exceedingly on its
rm^l, and fetidly hoped that we would enjoy
fecur? tranquility. But we were mistaken. They
rever intended to relinquish the design, but only
to change their ground, that which they firft
pi ehed upon not iteming tenable. An Ameri
can revenue granted by a British Parliament was
the : bjed, and they never loft fight of it ; for
they loon renewed their attacks upon principles
which they thought more favourable to their in
tenrims; but meeting with as little iuccefs in
that, as in the preceding attempt, they fufpepd
ed rheir roeafu'res for a time, in hopes of Iqllitfg
us into a careless fecurit,. They accordingly"
once more returned to t|:e charge, and endea
touted to effect by cunning and artifice what they
had heretofore attempted in vain on every other
peaceable plan. This not succeeding, they were
reduced to their last fhift of bellying and force -
and this they refolded upon. They levied armies,
appointed Generals of separation to command,
and fert churn amongst us, w e may know their
tommilnm by their conduct ; for after abating,
bro, beating and inciting, after flarving and
tarring and feathering, after offering every pnffi
bfe injury wh.&h a free people could bear, with
To t < TT* " cf th Pennsylvania Packet.
ioar givi 7g the following a fl^e in your next paper
cohi egentw^g )erre the canfteve are engage :in.
To ail P A RENTS in the Thirteek
United Colonies.
By a Friend to Pjleritv and /Mankind.
I°%] A TUR E in/budls the brute creation to
1\ provide f% guard and prated their off
firing u,til they are able to do for thenafelvesA
The dara is never k r own o forfake her young
While her cart is necessary for theii fafety, nor
to do any thing which would involve them io df
tress and difficulty. Man, who has this principle
in common with brutes, is endowed with others
yet more valuable, but which to him are abfo
hitely necessary, v% w eby he is taught to provide
for rhe future welfare of his descendants ard to
guard them from the encroachments of that pow
er which civil fociery constitutes for its own fafe
*y± but which, through the depiatiry of human
nature is often turned against it.' I here are few
parents who do not make it thdr c mflant Rudy
^nd earnest endeavour to leave tome valuable in
heritance to their children: he vhe have been
so loft to the frelir\, of natre and calls of pa
rental affc^i in, as to entail dfficuhy and diftret's
on their children, when it vas in their power to
leave them a fair and cafy^heri ance. And vet
it has so happened, that by an ill timed attach
ment to the present, without paying proper at
tention to the future, tAey have entailed misery
upon them by the very means which were design
ed to preserve them from it.
ft is now in your pswer to bequeath to your
children the one or the other, and it becomes
you to have an eye to them in all your proceed
ings.' it is fufficient/y known to you, that riches
in arbitrary flares' are of en the ruin of their pos
sessors, and that security to property is absolutely
n^ffiry to flamp their true value on wealth end
p sessions. He the-e'ere, who wishes to !e.„ve
-bis children in flourishing ci'cumftanccs eight to
be a zealous fiend to those meafu-es, and that
plan of government winch gives the greatest lecu
rity to property, and .0 active, warm opposer of
thole which leave it to the arbitrary,di p /al of
men, who find d greater advantage in making free
with what dors oot belong to them, than in fru
gally using what is justly their own. \1 hig and
Tory should be out of the question. Private
pique, party faction and animosity ought to fob-,
fide. He who thinks fh<uld think for posterity,
and he who ads fhcold ad for his children.
I^ a great weakness to fuffer our passions to
take place of our rcafon and blindly to follow
their dilates, though to our manifeft hurt, ra
ther than lubjedt them to our better sense. A
falfe pride, which will not acknowledge an error
though ever so evident, gn obdinate perfeveiance
in our own opinion without deigning to hear ad
vice or inftru&oo, and an unreasonable attach
ment to party, have done much mifehief to man
kind, and may yet do more if not carefully avoid
ed. I hive dire6kd this paper to you ia prefer
ence to others, because your parental affection
silo, C form more than a counterpoise to everc
falfe principle, which can influence the human
»^d where the interest of your offspring 1$ at
flake.
There are many 7 doubt not who are denomi
nated Tories by the more zealous Whigs, who
in their hearts wiSh success to cur measures,
though they may be chagrined because those they
proposed did not go down with the people; these
are uniform, open, and not very dangerous ;
but there are others, who under the cloke of
friendfllip for the cause, ha hour the bitter^R
rancour and malice in their hearts. These talk
favourably in general, though their difeourfes
moffly terminate with a doubt, fafticion, or but,
which gives those with whom they converse, rea
son to dread some hidden design, or approach
ing evil, which most men have got properly at
tended to. They artfully recal your attention
to a certain period, when all was peace and qui
etness, and by pathetically lamenting tie unhap
py alteration, endeavour to impress ycur minds
with an'opinion that all our troubles arose from
ourselves. They carc € "!ly avoid mentioning the
iniquitous meaGres of the British government
which produced them, and by keeping those out
of tight, they gradually lead the unwary into the
belief, that the men who have been mart a&ive
on rhe present occasion in oppefing the tyrannical
proceedings of Great Britain, and who have hazard
ed their all in defence of their country, have been
actuated by sinister motives in all they have done.
If every man who hears such insinuations were to
ask those who cast them out, what mealures have
not the men they condemn tried at one time or
another to avoid the present contest, and save
our liberties? What advantages they can reap
by a fuccefsful end of it, which every other free
man on the continent will not reap equally with
them? And in an uofuccefsful close of it, all
will allow they mutt fee the greatest fuffe ers.
Their lives must go, let who will elle escape.
These questions might recal them + o facts, and
theie fafts would enable men to judge aright.
Honesty could not stand the force of a few
pertinent questions, but these men have taken
their leave of it, and like Manaffah of old, have
fold themfeives to do wickedly. Were it not 10,
could it be possible for them in the face of the
fun, to charge ail our troubles on the New Eng
land Prefbytefians, troubles which originally be
gan and have all along been kept up by a winked
adminiftratioD and a venal 'parliament. To nuke
them the hatchets of milchiefs occasioned by
unconstitutional ads of parliament, and the only
fomenters of our just opposition, which a Penn
sylvania Quaker, a Maryland and a Virginia
Churchman did more to effect than all the other
men on the continent put together, is cruelty in
the extreme. Ms heart bleeds when I think of
such men; who would fell the whole continent
and all the blood on it for private advantage,
and with whom a few thousand guineas with a
title would be esteemed an equivalent for the
lives, liberty and property of the freemen of a
colony. May that God who fees how little
they can gain, if fuccefsful, open their eves and
turn their hearts, e'er they be convinced by fa
tal experience, that he who purchases the whole
world at the price of his foul, is a very unwise
dealer, and makes but a poor bargain in the end.
If the calls of virtue, the precepts of religion,
and dilates of patriotism cannot awaken them
to a feofe of their duty, yet Norfolk might open
their eyes. But let them do as they phase, we
ought to ad wifely. If we do not make such a
settlement now as will secure the privileges we
contend for to posterity, we entail either slavery
or a civil war on our children. This is certain,
let what will be doubtful. Look round you
then, view your offspring, and tell me, are you
willing to leave them such a legacy? Do not
trifle on this occasion, all your other legacies
must derive their true value from the pare you
now take in this contest. Think not that the
God who charges him with worse than infidelity
who provides not for his own, and those of his
household, will jußify you in returning to the
state you were in when our troubles began, and
thereby delivering over y< or offspring to the mis
chievous machinations of a power that from the
I will not enquire vlffiat would have been the
efficacy of any heretofore recommended, but un
tried means. The worst that can has happened,
and it is with it we have now to deal ; to relinquish
it on our part, would be to give up the matter, for
however any means might once have done, cow
ardice allene wou'd now desert the field, and Sla
very must be the inevitable conference.
I do not wonder that war fits heavy on us,
and that we are somewhat restless and uoeafy ;
foot I Shall be furprized, if we, who have so long
^nd so fuccefsfully opposed tyranny and oppressi
on Should all on a sudden lose every desire of re
taining our liberties. I am forced into this remark
by the artful, cunning and defigniog manner in
which some men tdk of a reconciliation with
Great Britain, and the bug-beats they conjure
up to frighten the timid, irresolute and ignorant,
from a Ready profecutibn of those means, which
alone can help us in our present circumßances.
Fads hear evidence from the beginning of the
concert that every scheme they ever recommend
ed has, upon trial, proved inadequate to the end
for which it was intended; yet they proceed. Be
ware of such men, they love neither their coun
try, ner their liberties, as much as fomethmg
e!fe.
obt obtaining their ends, and every other mea
lure failing, they drew the sword, and at once
reduced us to the dire alternative of submitting
t)their illegal claims of juri'didlion, or entering
into the bloody contest. Like men determined
to be free we chose the latter. It now rests on
the last argument, an argument which finally
fert es all conrroverfies of a like nature. The
plan cf operation is now opened, and they who
Hand to it with rhe most Ready perseverance must
finally succeed. This is the decree of Providence
in all cases, " he that per evereth unto the end
" shall be laved." We have, by the blessing of
God, effectually baffled all their former atter rpts;
but ihould we fail in this, all our former victo
ries will only serve to make our fall the mo e con
spicuous and terrible.
4^*#*- #ft +4s* H4-04+4$
C A Mbß RIDG E, February i.
The following is the form of Government lately
assumed by the Colony of New - Hampshire.
In CONGRESS, 4/ Exeter,
January §, 1776.
WE the Members of the Congress of the
colony of New-Harnpfhire, chosen and
Appointed by the free faffrages of the People of
laid colony, and authorifed and impowered by
them to meet together, and use such means, and
purine luch measures, as we should judge best for
the public good; and in particular to eltablifh
f,me Form of Government, provided that.mea
gre should be recommended by the Continental
Congress: And a recommendation to-that purpofa
saving been transmitted to us, from the laid Con
grels ; have taken into our serious confederation
the unhappy circumstances into which this colony
is involved, by means of many grievous and oppref
five a^s of the Britilh Parliament ; depriving us of
our native and conftitational rights and privileges;
to enforce obedience to which ads, a powerful
fleet and army have been lent into this country, by
the Minidry of Great Brii^ia, whohave exercised
a wanton and cruel abuse of their power, in de
stroying the lives and properties of the Colonifts'
in many places, with fire and sword, taking the
ships and lading from many of the honest and in
duftrious inhabitants of this colony, employed in
commerce, agreeable to the laws and customs, a
long time used here.
Can any man n bis senses believe, that he who
has so long, and so invariably pursued his point
against the fenle of the best men in the nation , i'l
finally desert his matter's most favourite scheme so
easily ? Has he uttered a single syllable that can
make the most credulous believe that he is con
vinced of the injustice of his conduct? He con
feffes he was deceived ; but wherein lay the decep
tion ? In believing that fewer troops would effe&
a submission than he is now convinced must be
employed. Here lay the deception he complains
of, and he is therefore determined to fend his
terms with such an armed force, as he experts
will frighten you into a compliance. Does this
look like the condud of one who designs to re
linquilh his claims? Were he or his mafler fenfi
ble of the injustice of their proceedings and the
wrongs they have done us, they would both speak
a very different language. Why does he call
you rebels? Why call in foreign troops to his
aid? Why does his master lament so pathetical
ly, that the extensive operations of the war he
means to carry on against you, will exhaust his
funds and increase the public debts, while be has
not a tingle tear to shed, not a groan, nor as
much as a sigh for all the blood he has already
fpilt, and yet means to spill, if he wishes to al
low you security to your privileges ? Oh! George!
The day thou utteredft that sentiment in the face
of the fun, thou gaveft up all title to humanity.
" Among the many unavoidable ill corfequences
" of this rebellion, none afFefts me more fenfi
" bly," fays the King, “ than the extraordinary
" burthen it must create to my faithful sub
" jefls." “ Most humane Prince ! most pious
Sovereign ! most affeßionate father of thy peo
ple ! an addition tb thy British fubjeds burthens
to obtain a most unrighteous purpose of thy own,
affeas thee in order to reconcile them to the bear
ing of it; but to spill the blood of thy oppressed
American fuhje&B disturbs not thy guiltless con-
Icience ! Let me tell thee, OKing, that there is a
God who fees thro' the veil that covers thy deceit,
and who hear> the cry of the needy, ard regards
the prayer of the dilireffed, who will recom
pence vengeance on the wicked, though supported
by the power of Great-Britain. Our weakness
is fufficient in his bands for the purpose. If thy,
and thy ministers intentions are not evil against
us, why didst thou not hearken to the repeated
prayers of thy distressed fubje&s in America?
why dost thou not recal thy troops, repeal the
afls, indemnify us for what we have fullered,
and offer any further security to our rights,
which we may think necessary ? Thou beganeft the
attack and this is thy duty; besides thou haff
an obedient parliament which disputes not thy
will, and all this is in thy power and in no one's
else." Had the King made a speech to the
House recommending these things, he would have
given unequivocal proof of his honest intentions,
and it might justly be termed gracious. But
who can trust a Prince, who while he fpcaks the
language of peace and humanity with his lios,
has nothing but cruelty and war in his conduct
The man who does, may have the innocence pf
the dove, but he cannot be possessed of the wisdom
of the serpent, I conclude by entreating you,
that as you love your children, and their happi
nefs, you never desert your prefect opposition,
until you obtain such a plan of constitutional vi
gour, as ihall put it at all times in your power to
secure ycurlelves, and your defeendants from ty
rannical encroachments. This you never had,
nor never can have on the plan of your former
dependance. Remember, I call the Deity to
witness that 1 have warned you against destroy
ing your offspring, and prayed you to be on
vour guard against the snares of the insidious.
May he who a&s from a principle of humanity
and benevolence to mankind, finally meet with
success, and may ihe schemes of hypocrites be
blasted."
beginning bas set right, justice, and mercy at de
fiance, and in all her deliberations considered no
thing but her abihry to execute.
Look to the year 1763, that happy period,
as many so fondly call it, and fee what fafety
there is to America in such a situation. Lord
North has said, " If that is all they want, we are
agreed," and the faying* pleases many of you.
His Lordship, like others, who have Jearned
wisdom by experience, wishes to have all to
begin again, believing that he could more easily
effect his purpafe by other means than those he
is at present pursuing. Swallow the bait and you
are undone for ever.
Esquires.—County of Cheshire, Hon. Samuelrtf
ly, and Benjamin Giles, Enquires County of
Grafton, Hon. John Hurd, Enquire.
Last Fuefday an express arrived from Cana
da with dispatches for his Excellency the Gene
ral, dated the 15th ult. We have thf plealure
to hear that our army, notwithstanding the h |&
fuftamed in the late unfortunate attack upon (Que
bec, still continues the blockade of that city ; and
that we have good grounds to hope that the re
duction of that capital will be compleated before
Spring, as we have au hentie intelligence that re
inforcements from various quarters have been
poured in to the abidance of our brave little armv„
Latt I hurfday morning, Capt. Manly b iog on
a cruize in the Bay, difeove^d a ship a leagu .1
two S. E. of Boston light hou'e* Heimnediateyr
gave chafe to, and took her within fight of the
(hipsin Button harbour. Hethen Rood fora fno^
which he espied off CohafTet ; and Coon comingum
with her, the ftruc.k to him without hefaation.
Just as C^pt Manly had manned his lad prize, 4
schooner of e ght carriage gems, with many Iwivels,
and full of men, convoying two little proyihoa
veflels from Halifax, cam: np, and began an en
gagement who Capt Manly; but being loin con
vinced of her error, ffie ihe^teu , k f. 1 Boft n.—
Capt. Manly w.-uld I avt undoubtedly takcu hu
The sudden ard abrirr dep^Eteofl/s Excel
lency JOHN WENI WORTH, Esq; our bre
Governor, and several of the Council, leaving i.s
destitute of legislation; and nonexecutive cour s
being open to punish criminal offenders, whereby
the lives and properties / t^Ehoneft people cf this
colony are liable to the machinations and evil J«-
signs of wicked men.
Therefore for the preservation of peace rod
good order, and for the security of the lives and
properties of the inhabitants of this colony, we
c nceive oui selves reduced to the oeceffity of efla
blifhing a form of government, to continue during
the present unhappy and unnatural contest with
Great-Britain; protesting and declaring that we
never fought to throw off our dependance upoo
Great-Britain, but felt ourfelv.es happy under her
protection, while we could enfoy our constitutional
rights and privileges—and that we fhail rejoice if
such a reconciliation between us and our parent-
Rate can be effected as shall be approved by the
Continental Congress, in whole prudence and wis
dom we confide.
Accordingly, purfiranr to the trttft reposed in ns.
We do resolve that this Congress aflame the name,
power and authority of a House of Representa
tives or Assembly, for the colony of New Hamp
(hire. And that the said House then proceed to
choose twelve persons, being reputable freehold
ers and inhabitants within this colony, in the fol
lowing manner: viz. Five in the county of Rock
ingham, two in the county of Stafford, two in the
county of Hilllborough, two in the county of Che
fhiro, and one in the county of Grafton, to be &
diftinft and separate branch of the legislature, by
the name of a Council for this colony, to conti
nue as such until the third Wednesday in Decem
ber next ; any seven of whom to be a quorum to
do business.
That such Council appoint their President ; and
in his absence that the senior Counsellor prefde-
That a Secretary be appointed by both branch
es, who may be a Counfellor, er otherwise as
they ffiall choose.
That no a& or resolve be valid, and nut into
execution, unless agreed to and sassed by both
branches of the legislature.
That all public officers for the said colony, and
each county, for the current year, be appointed
by the Council and Assembly, except the several
Clerks of the executive courts, who (hall be ap
pointed by the Justices of the refpedive courts.
That all bills, resolves or votes for raffing, le
vying and coHeaing money, originate in the House
of Representatives.
That at any feffioTstf the Council and Assem
bly, neither branch shall adjourn for any longer
time than from Saturday till the next Monday,
without consent of the < btr.
And it is further resolved, that if the present
unhappy difputq with Great-Britain should con
tinue longer than this present year, and the
Continental Congress give no inftruflions or di
re&ions to the contrary, the Council be cho
sen by the people of each refpedive county, ia
such manner as the Council and House of Repre
sentatives shall order.
That General and Field Officers of the militia^
on any vacancy, be appointed by the two Houses,
and all interior officers be chosen by the refpeflive
Companies.
That all officers of the army be appointed by
the two Houses, except they should dired other
wise in case of any emergency.
That all civil officers for the colony, and for
each county, be appointed, and the time of
their continuance in office be determined, by
the two Houses, except Clerks of Courts, and
County Treasurers, and Recorders of Deeds.
That a Treasurer, and a Recorder of Deeds,
for each county be annually chosen by the people
of each county, refpeaively; the votes for such
officers to be returned to the refpeffive Courts of
General Sessions ofthe Peace, in the county, the r e
to be afeertained as rhe Council and Assembly
shall hereafter dired.
That precepts in the name of the Council,
and Assembly, signed by the President of the
Council, and the Speaker cf the House of Re
presentatives, shall issue annually, at or before
the firft day of November, for the choice of &
Council, and House of Representatives, to be
returned by the third Wednesday in Decem
ber then next ensuing, in such manner as the
Council and Assembly shall hereafter prescribe.
The following are the Gentlemen chosen Cour
fcllers for the colony of New-Harapfhire, viz
county of Rockingham, Hon. Mefoecb Weare,
Matthew Thornton, IVilliam Whipple, Nathame!
Folfem, and I^Jiah Bartlett, Esquires.—County
of Strafford, Hon. Ebenezer Tirorp/on, and joh#
Wentworth, Esquires.—-County of Hibfborough.
Hon. I!,feman Clagget, and Jonathan Blanche,d.