The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1779-12-01 00:00:00, page 1

YOUR 93d Number has brought the Per
formance of your Correspondent the
True Patriot, who has embellished his
monstrous production with ornaments
of Billingsgate eloquence and Grubftreet
rhetoric, in which poljte improvements
he apppears to have made no incbiifiderable profici
ency : I fh'all therefore not presume to approach his
immensity, with the firft attempt of a young genius
in that way, being no way ambitious of distinguishing
myfelf in that most noble art, the art of calumny. —
His writings, however, must convince the.world,
that he has made a convert of himfelf, and that he is
willing to part with his money according to his own
plan, that is, to retain one fifteenth or one twentieth
of the nominal sum as original value, which fuffici
ently proves that he received his money so, long be
fore a majority of his more virtuous countrymen did;
and if he has no money, he is a very improper person
to dispose of other peoples: he fays my charge against
him is, that lie recommended an unjust and impolitic
plan that depreciated the currency; and as his pow
erful motive to trouble the press is, that he perceived
I had borrowed this charge from the general talk of
persons too much actuated by felf-intereft, finiiter
views, and prejudicing the community against his
favourite plan, which he calls the molt just, equitable
and salutary.
First. As to the depreciation of the currency, the
more virtuous part of the community fold at a much
lower rate than twenty for one, which he imprudently
was at so much pains to prove in the publick papers,
was about the standard at that time ; this being pre
mised, if his writings answered any purpose, it effec
tually answered the purpose of bringing them all up
to it, others refufed to fell at any price, and if the
engrosser and foreftaller were actuated by felf-intereft,
his plan would naturally cause them to ask twenty
times as much as they fold at before, otherwise their
expectations could not be answered. In a word, to
go about to prove his writings to have a tendency to
depreciate our money, is like holding a candle to the
fun; and as to his plan being molt just, equitable
and salutary, the contrary of which is felf-evident. —
Does the Patriot know, that a large majority of the
people, who have opposed the enemy in the field,
fold their property to support our army, and re
ceived their pay in continental money when as good
as specie? No: he appears a stranger to this: I pre
sume he is none of those kind of patriots, who op
pose the enemy in (he field. Does the Patriot know,
that there are still among us a number, who ought
to be denominated Tories, who never opposed the
enemy in the field, and have fold none of their pro
perty to support our army, or otherwise, because
they would take none of our money? who, by his
plan, would remain as rich as they used to be; and
the others, on whom the temporal salvation of the
United States in a great measure under God, depends,
doomed to beggary. Behold the most just, equitable
and salutary plan, recommended by that piddling
politician! Is it a secret to him alone, that the bills
of credit, through the recommendation of Congress,
have been made a lawful tender in payment of money,
equal to silver and gold, by the several Legislatures
in union; and that there are thousands, who have
paid their debts with it, who had received silver and
gold? Is it most just, equitable and salutary, that such
Ihould retain only a twentieth part thereof? I do not
hesitate to pronounce his plan a recommendation of
abominable robbery, notwithflanding his being pos
sessed of so much incoherence and felf-fufficicncy, as
to grace it with the specious name of a tax: and as
the money has been made a lawful tender by the se
veral Legislatures in union, as I have before observed,
and whereas the True Patriot has recommended it
to the different Legislatures to pass seasonable laws,
(in his 6th Number, as published in your Gazette,
Number 74) that no one of the citizens shall be o
bliged to receive payment for debts contrasted before
the year 1777, in this depreciated currency, Quere,
Does he mean that they are to be paid in gold or fib
ver? or that they are to receive twenty times the
sum in this fame depreciated currency? the latter of
which, I suppose to be what he intends. Previous
to such a law, I should be glad if the True Patriot
would also, for the preservation of equity and jus
tice, recommend to the different States other season
able laws, having regard to all those, who received
the money before such seasonable laws were passed,
and all those who fold their lands at moderate prices,
disposed of their property for the use of the army, or
otherwise confiding in the publick faith, and received
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
Mr. COLLINS,
[Vol. ll.]
October 26, 1779.
WEDNESDAY, December i, 1779.
their money when as good as specie; in short, all those
who possess their estates in cash at original value, (not
forgetting those whose original value itfelf is melting,
and melted away) and do not come within the dalles
of his exempts: this indeed appears something diffi
cult, but make no doubt his fruitful invention, fond
nefs for novelty, superior abilities, great wisdom,
and above all his love of justice, will enable him to
fix a plan to do equal justice to every person.
It seems to me, if he had recommended a plan in
favour of such innocent fufterers, instead of the fea
ionable laws for debts contrasted before the year 1777,
and now unpaid, it would have been more just, equi
table and salutary ; it would nave fufficiently served
the purpose of those, who had their money yet to 1
receive, if he had recommended a repeal of those
laws by which the money was made a lawful tender,
which would finilh the whole at once, and no doubt
finally would have answered the design of our True
Patriot: but as I mean not to inflame or exaggerate
matters, but try them by those feelings and affections
which nature juftifies, to have said nothing against a
plan which justice and re/fon forbids, and my affec
tions, wounded through a thousand pores, inltruCt me
to detest, is madness and folly ; a plan big with mil
chief, a burlesque to the name of Patriot, that re
commends not only the most flagrant and wanton
violation of the publick faith, but is deftruCtife to
the primary obligations of nature and fociety.'
From henceforth I mean not to take any notice of
the performance of that banditti, who, I presume,
compose the iniquitous writings of the True Patriot,
who profefs such a disregard to equity, such contempt
of order, such stupid blindness to future consequences,
as must immediately have the molt tragical conclusion,
and must terminate in the deftruCtion of the greater
number, and in a total dilTolution of society to the
rest.
" It is with great regret and reluctance, that we
'' can prevail upon ourselves to take the least notice
" of a question, which involves in it a doubt so inju
" rious to the honour and dignity of America. The
" enemy, aware that the strength of America lay in
" the union of her citizens, and the wisdom and in
" tegrity of those to whom they committed the di
" reCtion of their affairs, have taken unwearied pains
" to disunite and alarm the people, to depreciate the
" abilities and virtue of their rulers, and to impair
" the confidence reposed in them by their conltitu
" ents. To this end, repeated attempts have been
" made to draw an absurd and fanciful line of dif
tindion between the Congress and the people, and
" to create an opinion and a belief, that their interest
" and views were different and opposed. Hence the
" ridiculous tales, the invidious insinuations, and the
" whimsical suspicions that have been forged and pro
" pagated by disguised emissaries, and traitors in the
" garb of patriots. Hence has proceeded that nota
" ble difeovery, that as the Congress made the mo
ney, they also can destroy it; and that it will exist
" no longer than they find it convenient to permit it.
" It is not surprising that, in a free country, where
" the tongues and pens of such people are and must
" be liccni'ed, such political heresies should be incul
" cated and diffufed; but it is really astonishing that
" the mind of a single virtuous citizen in America
" should be influenced by them."
Hence then, my brave fellow-citizens and farmers,
let us rely on the virtue of our rulers; let us cheer
fully comply with the requisitions of Congress; let us
no longer heighten our calamity by furnifhing the
means by which we fufler; the exorbitant prices of
the necessaries of life, &c. my delicacy prevents me
to mention: these matters I leave to the wisdom of
Congress and the Legislatures, hoping they will fee
the necessity of laws to regulate speedily our trade,
and that the most equitable mode of taxation may be
adopted. It is well known that numbers who have
immense sums of money, are paying no tax at all ; to
catch these runaways, will require the attention of
the Legislature ; and in lieu of the more virtuous part
of the community's indemnifying the Tories estates,
I would recommend the mode of Virginia, where
persons who breathe the air of liberty, and do not
deserve pay for it.
That the Congress and Legislatures will interfere
to bring about a happy change in our affairs, is the
cordial prayer of the publick's sincere, well-wishing
friend.
And, finally, to put an end to the evils his or their
writings have or may occasion, I beg my fellow-citi
zens and farmers to read with the attention it deserves
the address from Congress to their constituents, part
of which is as follows:
THE
A FARMER.
BY HIS EXCELLENCY ,
William Livingston, Esq.
Governor, Captain-General, and Commander in
Chief in and over the State of New-Jersey, and
Territories thereunto belonging, Chancellor and
Ordinary in the fame.
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS the Honourable the Congress, by
their resolution of the 20th day of October last,
reciting," That it becomes us humbly to approach
" the throne of Almighty God, with gratitude and
" praise, for the wonders which his goodness has
" wrought in conducting our forefathers to this we
" stern world; for his protection to them and to
" their posterity, amid difficulties and dangers; for
" railing us their children from deep distress, to be
" numbered among the nations of the earth; and for
'' arming the hands of just and mighty Princes in our
" deliverance; and, especially, for that he hath been
" pleased to grant us the enjoyment of health, and so
" to order the revolving fcafons, that the earth hath
" produced her increase in abundance, blessing the
" labour of the husbandman, and spreading plenty
" through the land; that he hath prospered our arms
and those of our Ally; been a shield to our troops
in the hour of danger, pointed their swords to
" victory, and led them in triumph over the bul
" warks of the foe; that he hath gone with those
" who went into the wilderness against the savage
tribes; that he hath stayed the hand of the spoiler,
and turned back his meditated deftrudion; that
" he hath prospered our commerce, and given suc
cess to those who fought the enemy on the face of
" the deep; and, above all, that he hath diffufed the
glorious light of the gospel, whereby, through the
merits of our gracious Redeemer we may become
the heirs of his eternal glory;" did recommend it
to the several States to appoint Thursday the ninth
day of December next, to be observed as a day of
publick thanksgiving and praise; and did further re
commend, that, together with devout thanksgiving,
may be joined an humble supplication for the conti
nuance of his favour and protection to these United
States; to beseech him that he would be graciously
pleased to influence our publick councils, and bless
them with wisdom from on high, with unanimity,
fiimncls and luccefs; that he would go forth with
our hosts, and crown our arms with victory; that he
would grant to his church the.plentiful effufions of
divine grace, and pour out his holy spirit on all mi
nisters of the gospel; that he would bless and prosper
the means ofcducation, and spread the light ofchri
ftian knowledge through the remotest corners of the
earth; that he would smile upon the labours of his
people, and cause 'the earth to bring forth her fruits
in abundance, that we may with gratitude and glad
ness enjoy them; that he would take into his holy
protection our illustrious Ally, give him victory over
his enemies, and render him signally great, as the
father of his people, and the protector of the rights
of mankind; that he would be graciously pleased to
turn^ the hearts ot our enemies, and to dispense the
bleflings ot peace to contending nations; that he
would in mercy look down upon us, pardon all our
fins, and receive us into his favour; and, finally, that
he would cftablifli the Independence of these United
States upon the basis of religion and virtue, and sup
port and protest them in the enjoyment of peace,
liberty and fafety.
I have therefore thought fit, by and with the advice
of the Honourable Privy Council of this State, to
appoint THURSDAY the said ninth day of DECEM
BER next, to be set apart and observed throughout
this State as a day of publick Thanksgiving and
Praise, for the purpoles in the above resolution set
forth; whereof all the inhabitants of this State are
hereby required to take notice and govern themselves
accordingly. And Ido hereby recommend it to the
miniftera of the gospel of every denomination in this
State, to perform divine service, and to the people
committed to their charge, to attend on publick
worship on that day, and to abstain from all servile
labour, and all recreation inconsistent with the so
lemnity of the feltival.
Given under my hand and seal at arms, in Mount
holly, the ninth day of November, in the year of
our Lord one thousand seven hundred and se
venty-nine, and in the fourth year of the Inde
pendence of America.
WIL. LIVINGSTON.
By ' Jlency's command,
' . % L o, Secretary.
D save THE PEOPLE.
[Numb. loi.]