The Freeman's journal, or, New-Hampshire gazette — Portsmouth, N.H., 1778-06-02 00:00:00, page 1

An Address, of the CONGRESS
To the Inhabitants of the United States of America.
Friends and Countrymen,
THREE years have now palled away, since the
commencement of the present war. A war
without parrelld in the annals of mankind. It hath
displayed a fpi&cle, the most solemn that can pcffi %
bly be exhibited. On one fide, we behold fraud and
violence labouring in -the feivice of despotism ;on the
other, virtu? and fortitude supporting and eflablifhing
the rights of human nature.
~ : • c.-^., ^cf -
dragged into the arduous coflteft ; and how repeatedly,
with the earnestness of humble intreaty, we fupplicat
cd a redress of our grievances from him who ought to
have been the father of his people. In vain did we
implQf&hb protection : In vain appeal to the joftice,
the generosity, of Englishmen—of men, who had been
the guardians, the aflertors and vindicators of liberty,
thro' a succession of ages : Men, who,with their (words
bad eflablifhed the firm barrier of freedom, and ce
mented it with the blood of heroes. Every effort was
vain. For, even whilst we were prostrated at the foot
of the throne, that fatal blow was (truck, which hath
f perated us for ever. Thus fpurned,contemned in
fated thus driven by our enemies into measures,
which our fouls abhorred-^we made a solemn appeal
to the tribunal of unerring wifdem and jaflice ^ To
(hit Almighty Ruler of Princes, whole kingdom is o
v^r all.
We were then quite defenceless. Without arms,
without ammunition, without eloathing, without ships,
without money, without officers (killed in war; with no
other reliance but the bravery of our people, and the
jufticc of our caafe. Wehad to contend with a nation
great in arts and in arms,whofe fleets covered the ocean,
nhofe bannershad waved in triumph thro every quar
ter of the globe. However unequal this conteff, our
weakness was dill farther ir.cmfed by he enemies
which America had aourifhed in her bofoCT Thus
^XP&d- on the one hand, to external force auu foter
na! utvtiiOns ;GO ^^ ^^^v°, ^ ^^ ^ ou :
the bitter cup of slavery, and to go forrawing all our
lives long ; in this fad alternative, we chose the former.
Tg this alternative we were reduced by men, w< o,had
thry been animated by one spark of generofry, would
have disdained to take such mean advantage of
our situation; or, had they paid the Icaft regard to
the rules of joftice, would have confide e.l, with ab
horrence, a propofi ion to injure those, who had faith
fogy fought theirbattles, and induftrloufy contributed
to rear the edifice of their glory.
But, however great the irjuGice of our fees, in com
m^cing this war, it is by no means eq 21 to the cru
elty with which they have conduced it. The course
of their armies js marked by rapine and devaflation.
Theufands, wahour diftinaion of age or sex, have
been driven from their peaceful abodes, to encounter
the rigors of inclement seasons ; and the face of Hea
ven hath been infuhed by the wanton conflagration
of defencelcfs towns. Their victories have been fol
lowed by the cool murder of men, no longer able to
fefig ; and those who escaped from the firft a& of cvr
nage, have been exposed, by cold, hunger and naked
gef; to "ear out a miserable .exigence in the tedious
hours of confinement, or to become the defroyers of
their countrymen, of their friends perhaps, dreadful
Idea !of their parents or children. Nor was this the
outrageous barbarity of an individual, but a fyflem of
deliberate mal ce, damped wfyh the concurrence of
the Bruhn ieg L^ % -^d far&oned wfeh all the for
naßties o/law. Nay, determined to diColvetheelofett
bends of society, they have Simulated (truants to fly
/heir maflersin .he peaceful hour of domeft'c security.
And, as if all this were infufficient to flake th^r third
of blood,the blood of bro hers, of unoffending brothers,
they have excited the Indians agai^ft us ; and a Ge
nera 1 , who calls himfelf a chriftian, a follower of the
merciful Jefas, hath dared to proclaim to all the world
his intention of letting loefe against us whole hosts of
|favage% whose rule of warfare :$ prom fcaons carnage,
'who rejoice to murder the infant smiling in it's mo
ther's arms, to ihfla on the prifonera the most ex
'cruciatin g torment?, and exhibit feenes of horror from
which nature recoils.
Were it possible, they would have added to this ter
rible fiftem, for they have offeredthe inhabitants of
Qf, States to be exported by their merchants, to the
•• >, baneful Times of India, theie to perish. Ao
V O'n'ct accepted of, merely from the impeccability
us carrying it into execution. •»
, Notwithstanding these great ,• vocations, we h^e
treated such of them as fell into out hands, with ten^
[ VOL. 11. ]
New-Hampihire Gazette.
The FREEMAN'S iOURNAL.
TUESDAY JU NE, 2, 1,78.
dernefs, and ftudioc fly endeavoured : alleviate the af
fliaions of their captivity. This can ?uct we have pur
sued so far, as to be by them fliginc; 7 rd with cowar
dice, arid by our friends with folly But our depen
dence was riot upon man. It was <cn him, who'
hath commanded us to love our cn r, and to ren
der good for evil. And what erm b^ more wonderful
than the manner cf (our deliverances , ''rv often ha- e
we been reduced to didrefs, and y :en raised up ?
When the means to prosecute the w have been want
ing to us, have not our foes themfeb ' been rendered
inftrumen^l in providing them TI) ^lh been done
:,:fich 0 ~° m tav o' 'r"^ '''
molt oy the direct inrcrpoiflo^ of'"' > e.-nce,'^: noT
to feel and acknowledge his protc..'on, would be the
heighth of impious ingratitude.
At length that God of battles, C whom was our
trull hash cOr/dcAed us thro' the paths of danger and.
diflrefs,to the threfliolds of security. It hath cow be
come morally certain, that, if wt have courage to
perseve r e, we shall establish our liberties and, indepen
dence. —The naughty Prince, who spurned us from his
feet with conruardy and disdain.—and the parliament
which prescribed us, now defeend to offer terms of ac
commodation. Whilst in the full career of vi&ory,they
pulled off the m<&, and avowed their intended defpo
tifni. But hav ng lavished in vain the blood and trea
sure of their foveas, in pursuit of this execrable pkr
pofe, they now endeavour to enfoare us with the in
fiduous offers of peace. They would seduce ydu into
a dependance, which necessarily, inevitably leads to
the. mod humiliating slavery. And do they believe
that you will accept these fatal terms? Becaufc you
have Offered the deftrefles of war, do they suppose that
you will basely lick the dust before the feet of your de
stroyers ? Can there be an American so loft to the feel
ings which adorn human nature 'To the generous
pride, ths elevation, the dignity of freedom ! Is there
a man who would not abhor a dependance upon those,
who have deluged his country in the blood of it's inha
bitaats ? We cannot suppose this ; neither is it poffibi?
that they thern selves can expea to make many con-
.3U~fe- R ft so &p-i~-..^_ a L..;s rto! .to ]rj|.l
you with tire salacious hopes or p^ e, until they can
assemble new armies, to prosecute :heir nefarious de
signs ? If this is not the case, why do they strain every
nerve to tevy men throughout their Islands ? Why do
they meanly court each little tyrant of Europe to fell
them his unhappy slaves ? Why do they continue to
embitter the minds of the savages againftyou ? Sure y
this is not the way to conciliate the affections of Ame
rica. Be not, therefore, deceived. You have still to
expe& one severe conflid, Your foreign alliance ;
though they secure your independence, cannot secure
your country from desolation, your inhabitants from
plunder, your wives from iofuk er violation, nor your
children from butchery. Foiled in their principal de
sign, you mud exped to feel the rage of difappointeci
ambition. Arise then JTo your entil And girdyou
for"the battle. It is time to turn the headlong current
ofvengence upon the head of the destroyer. They
have filled up the measure of their abominations, and
like ripe fruit, muff (pon drop from the tree. Altho'
much is done, yet much remains t> do. Exp^a not
peace, whilst any corner of America is in possession of
your foes. You must drive them away from this land
of promise, a land flowing indeed with milk and honey.
Your brethren, at the extremities cithe Continent al
ready implore your friendship and protection, It is
your duty to grant their requeff. They hunger and
third after liberty. Beit yours to dispense to them the
heavenly gift. And what is there taw to prevent itr
Aker the unremitted efforts of jc ^e^.i^, we are
Wronger than before. Nor can the wicked emiffaria
who affidooufly labour to promote their cause, point
out any one reafan to suppose that we shall not receive
daily accessions of firength. They tell you, it is true,
thau your money is of no value,; and your debts so
enormous they can never be paid, Butne tell you that
if Britain prosecutes the War another campaign, that
single campaign will ceft her more than we have hither
to expended. And yet these men would prevail .upon
you to take up that immense load, and for it to facri
fice your dearest rights. For, fcrely. there is no man
so absurd as to suppose, that the ieaft fiadow of liber
ty can be preserved in a dependent conneaion with
Great Britain. From the natu^eof the Thingit is evi
dent, that the only security you cpuld obtain, would
be, the justice and modertfon cf & parliament, who
have fold the rights of their owr. crifliuents. Ard
this slender security is Bill farttgweakned, 3, the
Cenfiderarion that it was pledgee &R b?ls (as they un
juflly call <he good people of d® . Sta^s) with whom
they think they arc not bound ^ 1% fai, by any
OR,
law whatsoever. Thus would you be cast bound among
men, whole minds (by year virtuous refinance) have
been ffiarpened to the keenest edge of revenge Thus
would your children, and year childrens children, be
by you forced « ) a participation in all their debts their
wars, their luxuries, and their crimes. And this
mad, this impious fyflem they would lead you to adopt,
because of the derangemer your finances.
I; becomes you deeply to rcAtdcn this fubjeff. Ta
there a country on earth, which has such refourcee
for the payment of her debts as America ? Such an ex
tensive territory ? So fertile, so luffed t; )„ ^,
and nrodufFons ? ^-^ir 'n? ?'? ;Nerh? I
inert asfo^-'T; ' ?r.- v -f,' .c^^;-:. ; (
fide theit property.—What thee are the reasons th.^
your money hath depreciated ? B:caufe no taxes have
been imposed to carry on the war. Because your com
merce has been interrupted by your enemy's fleets.
Because their armies have ravaged and desolated a part:
of your country. Eecaufe their agents have villainous,
ly counterfeited your bills. BeCaufe extortioners among
you, inflamed wi.h the lull of gain, have added to the
price of every article of life. And becaufa weak mert
have been artfully led to believe that it is of no va
lue. How is this dangerous disease to be remedied fc
Let those among you,who have leisure and opportunity
colled the monies which individuals in their neighs
boarheed are desirous of placing in the public funds.
Let the several legislatures fink their refpe&ive emis
sions, that so, there being but cue kind of bills, there
may be less danger of counterfeits. Refrain a little
while from purchasing these things which a:e not ab
solutely necessary, that so those who have engreffed
commodities may fuffer (as they dcfervedly will) the
loss of their ill-gotten hoards, by reason of the com
merce with foreign nations,which their fleets will pro
test. Above all, bring forward your armies into the
field. Trust not to appearances of peace or {^;y a
Be ? flared that, unless you peffevere, you will be ez<
posed to every species of barbarity. But if you exert
the means of defence Which God and nature have
given you, the time will soon £lire, when every min
(hall fit under his own vine, and under his own fig-
The fleets of a free commerce with every part of
the earth will soon raimburfe you for all the losses you
have fuflained. The full tide of wealth will flow la
upon your fh ):<;; free from the arbitrary impofiriona
of those, whose intefeft, and whole declared policy it
was, to Check your growth. Your interests will be
foftered a?d nourished by governments, that derive
their power from your grant, and will therefore be
obliged, by the influence of cogent necessity, to exert
it in your favour.
It is.to obtain these things that we call for your
strenuous, unremitted exertions. Yet do not believe
that you have been or can be saved merely by ycur own
frength. No ! It is by the assistance cf Heaven, and
this you must affidacufly cultivate, by ads which Hea«
ven approves. Thus shall the power and the happinefa
of these sovereign, free and Independent States, found
ed on the virtue of their citizens, increase, extend arc.
endure, until the Almighty fha!l blot opt all empires
of the earth. By orler of Congress,
HENRY LAURENS, president.
In CONGRESS, May 9, 1778,
RESOLVED, That it be recommended to miniflers
of the gospel, cf all denominations,to reaT or caufh
to be read, immediately after divine farvice, he a,ove
addiefs to the inhabitants of the United States of
America, in their refpe&ive Churches and Chapels,and
other places of religious worship.
Published by order of Cohgrefs.^
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.^
From a London Pa,er of Tmember 2, 1777.
On the BRITISH COMMANDERS. r
GAGE nothing did, and went to pot, §
Howe loft one town, another got;'
Guy nothing loft, and nothing won,
Dunmore was homewards forced to run ;
Clinton was beat and got a garter,
And bouncing Burgoyne catch'd a Tartar '
Thus all we've got for millions fpen', ,
Is to be laugh'd at, and repent.w'w're
LONDON, Yrrch 21-7
Yesterday morning his ExtCl^cy - Mercuis /?
Noailles, the French nmixfy'orj.h A ^hi^ ,<C, ^a~
their whole Lit, fa off for Dover, in order : oembark
for France.
Lc:d Vifeeurt Stormerri cur late amh^ft do, at the
cratt of Versailles, arrived ir towa Isft 1^4,1
[ No. 51 j