The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-03-21 00:00:00, page 1

Mr. PRINTER,
lOBSERVEDI OBSERVED some time ago two pieces in your
paper concerning the freedom of Negroes, tend
ing to discourage a proposed law for their manu
mission. The firft fully admits the injustice of
slavery ; the fecorid admits it too, but with some re
luctance, (as I have not the papers by me, I write,
under correction, by memory) and hints, that the ini
quity is so very old, and very common, that in short
it is abnof no iniquity at all. Both however heartily
concur in opinion, that a law for that purpose would
be highly inexpedient at the present time. As all their
arguments are founded on a supposition that a total
and immediate abolition of slavery is intended ; should
the fad appear to be quite otherwise, their reasonings
will lose all their weight, and of course ought like
wise to lose their effed. I had the honour to sign a
petition, as did moR of my neighbours, to the Legi
slature for the freedom of the Negroes ; and I can as
sure those gentlemen, that an immediate and indiferi
minate liberation was 'neither exprefled in, nor in
tended by the petition ; and we fully confided, as we
ought to do, in the wisdom of that Honourable Body,
that they would enaC t a law upon similar principles
with the one then in force in the neighbouring state
of Pennsylvania. We wished indeed it might retro
fpeCt as far as the Declaration of Independence, that
we might convince the world in general, and qven
our enemies, that it was not a partial, interested free
dom we meant to assert and maintain, but that as soon
as we had cast off for ever our Tackles and preßures,
which had too long borne down and obfeured every
generous motive of action, and found ourselves free to
act agreeable to the dignity of human nature, our
conduct should declare that we confidvred liberty as
' inherent and unalienable ; and as far as our influence
should extend, we would communicate it to all our
fallow men. The freedom of those unhappy black
people, induced in so very gradual a manner as it is
La Pennsylvania, must remove every reaibnable appre
hension of danger to the state, or private less to indi
viduals. But ihould some inconleniencies and tm
barraflments aril'c to the public, it is no more than
we have a right to expect, as a punilhment for our
past oppression of them. The danger we have been
in of losing our own liberty; may be a wife ,dispensa
tion of Providence to awaken in us a juftcr sense of
theirs. The national calamity bf war, # we cannot
doubt, is sent asa punilhment for national tins; be
cause only in this life can dates and kingdoms be pu'-
nifhed : And it behoves us ferioully to confider whe
ther the just and merciful maker and father of all man
kind is not now contending with us for the insult of
fered to his image and the workmanlhip of his hands,
in depriving our fellow men of that liberty with which
Chrilt has made them free, and iufolcnUy and impi
ously arrogating this privilege, as peculiar to ourselves
alone, for no better reason but because our thins are
white, when it has pleafeQthe all-wife God to make
much the greater part of mankind of a different com
plexion.
As to the lots of private property upon this plan—
toevery good man it must appear very inconfiderabie.
But were it even greater than proposed, the heartfelt
fatisfaction and inward peace which are evermore the
concomitants of conscious rectitude add juttice, and
the approving and prufpering smiles of that God who
alone giveth increase, will finally much better supply
'deficiencies than ail the sneaking carnal prudence and
interested wisdom in the world. The jult man's chil
dren, fays the good man when old, 1 never saw beg
their bread. But, fay these writers, like Felix of old,
at a more convenient season we will bear you. Accord
ing to the forementioned plan, four or live and twen
ty long years mult claple before it has any effect, and
as much more before it has a general effect ; therefore
there is not a moment to belolt in beginning it. Let
us only place ourselves in their lituation ; or let but a
good man and a conscientious patriot who finds him
.felf wropg, and in fate of luppofed interest, withes
to be right, confider his own lituation, and he would
without hesitation pronounce — NOW IS THE
TIME. Tolerando ndiferis fuccurrere difeo,—by
fuffering myfelf I learn to fuccour the miserable, —
was a Latin maxim I got by heart when a boy at
school, but I never felt the force of it so lenfibly as
firice the present troubles ofmy country began. lam
an old man, arid have had Negroes ever lince I had
property of my own, (it is true I treated them with
humanity and kindness, as is generally the cale in this
part of the world) yet I never doubted they were
chattel property as much as my horses and cattle, till
my neighbour called upon me with the petition, of
which the enclosed is a copy. The proposal at that
time was entirely new to me ; and interest condemn
ed it before I heard it read. In obedience to the firft
[VOL. IV.] , THE , '[Numb, ifyj
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
Wednesday, March 21, 1781.
/mercenary impulse I declined ngnirig it, with the most
plaulible evasion I could find, to save my credit; I
avoided as much as possible talking upon the fubjeft
then, yet I could not get rid of the impression it made,
and in a round-about manner (I acknowledge it with
Ihame) I procured a copy, which I perused with lei
fare and seriousness ; the result was, I cheerfully fign
cd the petition soon after, and as I am informed it
has been presented some considerable time ago to the
Legislature, I presume, Mr. Printer, there would be
no impropriety in printing it; perhaps it may carry
the fame conviction with it to others that it did to
me: For I am convinced it is drom want of thought
and consideration alone that good men can oppole the
measure.
.However, the publication of that, or the scrawl that
inclofes it, is submitted to your better discretion.—
Happen as it may, I Ihall rest the better contented
for having made an honed well meant attempt, altho'
it Ihould be judged an improper one.
HOMO SUM.
The following is a Copy of e - above mentioned R tition.
To the Honourable the Representatives of the Free
men of the date ol New-Jersey in Legislative-Coun
cil and General Assembly convened.
The Petition of sundry Freeholders and Inhabitants
of the county of
Humbly fhewetn,
T H A T your petitioners, inspired by that love of
1 liberty which dilates and purifies the heart, and
is abhorrent of slavery where-ever it is found, beg ,
leave humbly to represent the distress they feel for
their fellow men amongst them, doomed to hereditary
and perpetual bondage.
Your petitioners are humbly of opinion, that the
God of human nature, however he, in his wiidom,<
may think proper to diverlify his own image in exter-i
nal appearance, yet whenever he breathes into it the :
rational and ever living fold, he likewise bestows every
thing that is efTential t( the dignity of man ; —the'
bkffing of reason would ^herwife be its curse. But
should the conduct of lovereign wisdom be in any in
fiance inexplicable to us, he has laid down a rule di
rectory of our conduct; of perpetual obligation; too 1
plain to be doubted; tob positive to be evaded ; — To I
do to others as we would tbey /bould do unto us.]
That, in a political view, there appears an incon- <
fiftency between our principles of liberty and our con- «
dudt in, this particular: And that Providence, who ]
protests the inhabitants of the world, and hath hither-.
to, by its manifeft interpolition, supported us under
pfeffures that otherwise might have funic us into thel
depths of slavery, may Rill longer delay the comple-° 1
tion of our hopes, however happy our profpeCts, while 1
we thus contravene his benevolent purposes to man-<
kind in general: For with little propriety can we ex- I
pect or ask for thole bindings for ourselves, which,<
though able, we are unwilling.to bestow on others. 1
That we feel a degree of mortification that the state
of New-Jersey, which has ever dißinguilhed itfelf a
mongß the foremoß in the union, for its animated
exertions in favour of freedom, ihould be preceded
by any other Rate in aCts of liberality and difintereß- i
ednefs; at the fame time that we venerate the justice
and magnanimity of the state of Pennsylvania in this
inßance.l
That your petitioners are fully assured that argu-<
meats in favour of liberty are unneceßary with the 1
free Representatives of a free People; and thereforei
beg you to confider, what we have said as an apology i
for the urgency with which we would press, and the 1
earnestness with which we expert the total abolition of 1
slavery amongst us : In such manner as you in your
wiidom shall think fnoß consistent with the fafety of 1
the Rate, and the happiness of those who are to be<
emancipated/by it: That from the influence of your I
example, the mild sunshine of freedom may pervade 1
and illumine every part of the continent, and bright- 1
en and animate every countenance of every different ,
fliade of complexion.
And your Petitioners shall continue to pray 1
PHI L A D 4 E L P H I A.
Extract of a letter from his Excellency Thomas Jef
ferfon, Governor of Virginia, dated Richmond, I
February 17, 1781.1
" Our proposition to the Cherokee Chiefs to visit
Congress, for the purpose of preventing or delaying
a rupture with that nation, was too late. The storm
had gathered to ahead when Major Martin got back.
It was determined therefore to carry the war into 1
their country, rather than wait it in ours ; and I have
it in my power to inform you that, thus disagreeably
circumßauccd, the issue has been fuccefsful. I in
clofe the particulars as reported to me/'
Colonel Campbell's report of the expedition again!
the Cherokees, dated Washington county, Janu
ary 15, 17^1.
"S I R,
" Ihe militia of tltis and the two western North,
Carolina counties have been fortunate enough t<
fruftrate the designs of the Cherokees.' On my reach
ing the frontier, I found the Indians meant to anno)
us by small parties', and carry off horses. To refif
them effectually, the apparently belt measure was t<
transfer the war without delay into their own bor.
ders. Turaife a force fufficient, and provide them
with provisions and other neceflaries, teemed to be a
work of time that would be accompanied with un
common difficulties, especially in the winter season,
Our lituation was critical, and nothing but an extra
ordinary effort could save us and disappoint the views
of the enemy. All the raiferies of 1776 came frelh
in remembrance, and to avoid a like feene men flew
to their arms, and went to the field. The Wattage
men, under Lieutenant-Colonel Seveir, firft marched,
to the amount of about 300; the miiitia/of this,
with that of Sullivan, made 400 more. The place
ol rendezous waj to be on this fide the French river.
Colonel Seveir with his men got on the path before
the others, and by means of some discoveries made
by his scouts, he was induced to cross the river, in
pursuit of a party of Indians that were coming to
wards our lettlemcnts. On the 16th of December
he lell in with the party, since found to consist of 70
Indians, mostly from the town of Chote, killed 13
an'dtook all their baggage, &c. in which were some
of Clinton's proclamations, and dther documents
expressive of their hostile designs against us.
After this action the Wattago corps thought pro
perto retreat to an island in the river. The aid I
eroded the French river, and found the Wattago men
in great want of provisions. We gave them a supply
from ourjjnall stock, and the next day made a forced
march towards the Tenaffe. The success of the en
terprize seemed to rest on our fafJy reaching the
further bank of that river, as we had information
that the Indians had opßiUcted the common finding
places, and had a force ready there to oppose our
eroding. The morning of the 24th I made a feint
towards the island town, and with the main body
passed the river at Timothee. We were now dis
covered ; the Indians we saw fecmed to be dying in
conßernation. Here I divided my force, fending a
part to attack the towns below, and with the other
I proceeded towards their principal town Chote.
Just as I passed a defile above Toque, I observed
the Indians in forge, stretching along the hills below
Chote, with an apparent design to attack our van,
then within their view ; but the main body too soon
came in light for me to succeed in decoying them off
the hills, so they quietly let us pass on in order, with
out firing a gun, except a few scattering (hot at our
rear at a great dißance from the cliffs. We soon
were in poßctlion of their beloved town, in which
we found a welcome supply of provisions. The 25th
Major Marti, went with a detachment to difeover
the route the enemy were flying off by. He furprized
a party of Indians, took one scalp, and 17 horses
Idaded with clothing, Reins and houflioid furniture.
He difeovered that most of the fugitives were making
towards Telico and the Hiwaffee. The fame day
Captain Crabtree, of the Virginia regiment, was de
tached with 60 men to burn the town of Chilhowee.
He succeeded in setting fire to that part of it which
is Rtuated on the south fide of the river : Although
he was attacked by a superior force, he made good
his retreat.,
" The 26th, Major Tipton, of the Carolina corps,
was detached with 150 mounted infantry, with or
ders to cross the river, dislodge the enemy on that
fide, and destroy the town of Telaffee. At the fame
time Major Gilbert Christian, with 150 foot, were
to patrole the hills on the south fide of Chilhowee,
and burn the remaining part of that town. This
party did their duty well, killed three Indians, and
took nine prjfoners. The officer of the horse, by
an unmilitary behaviour, failed in crossing the river.
This trip took twodays. In the mean time the fa
mous Indian woman Nancy Ward came to camp.
She gave us various intelligence, and made an over
ture in behalf of some of the chiefs for peace : to
which I then evaded giving an explicit answer, as I
wiftfed firft to visit the vindictive part of the nation,
moßly fettled at Hiwaffee and Chiftowee,. and to dis
tress the whole as much as possible by destroying
their habitations and provisions. The 28th we set
fire to Chote, Sietogo and Little Tufkeego, and
moved our whole force to a town on Telico river,
called Kai-a-tee, where I intend a post, to secure
a retreat and to lay up provisions in. This evening