The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1779-04-21 00:00:00, page 2

ers derived any such authority from his Majesty's in
ftrudions.
Humbly to beseech his Majesty, that 4b much of
the said Manifefto as contains the laid Declaration be
forthwith publickly disavowed by his Majesty, as con
taining matter inconfiilent with the humanity and ge
nerous courage, which at all times have distinguished
the British nation, subversive of the maxims which
have been eftablilhed among chriftyn and civilized
communities, derogatory to the dignity of the Crown
of this realm, tending to debase the spirit, and fab
vert the discipline of his Majesty's armies, and to ex
pose jiis Majesty's innocent fubjeds, in all parts of
his dominions, to cruel and ruinous retaliations.
Which being objected to, after long debate, the
question was put thereupon,
It was resolved in the negative.
Contents 34 ?—-
Proxies 3) J
Non Contents 55?
Proxies
„ Diffentient,
ift. Because the public law of nations, in affirmance
of the dilates of nature, and the precepts of reveal
ed religion, forbids us to resort to the extremes of
war upon our own opinion of their expediency, or in
any case to carry on war for the purpose of desolation.
We know that the rights of war are odious, and in
stead of being extended upon loose conftrudions and
(peculations of danger, ought to be bound up and
limited by all the restraints of the most rigorous con
ftrudion. We are Ihocked to fee the firft law of na
ture, felf-prefervation, nerverted and abused into a
principle deftrudive of £4l other laws ; and a rule laid
down; by which our own fafety is rendered incom
patible with the prosperity of mankind. Those ob
jeds of war, which cannot be compassed by fair and
honourable hostility, ought not to be compassed at
all- an end that has no means, but such as are un
lawful, is an unlawful end. The Manifefto exprefly
founds the change it announces from a qualified and
mitigated war, to a war of extremity and desolation,
on the certainty that the provinces must be indepen
dent, and must become an accession to the strength
of an enemy. In the midst of the calamities, by which
cur loss of empire has been preceeded and accompa
nied, in the midst of our apprehensions for the far
ther calamities which impend over us, it is a matter
of ffefh grief and accumulated shame to fee, from a
commission under the Great Seal of this kingdom, a
declaration for desolating a vast continent, solely be
cause we had not the wisdom to retain, or the power
to subdue it. , ,
2 dly. Because the avowal of a deliberate purpole of
violating the law of nations, must give an alarm to
everv state in Europe. All common-wealths have a
concern in that law, and are its natural avengeis. At
this time, surrounded by enemies, and destitute of
all allies, it is not heceffary to Iharpen and embitter
the hostility of declared foes, or to provoke the en
mity of neutral dates. We trust that, by the natu
ral strength of this kingdom, we are lecured from a
foreign conquest, but no nation is fecuied from the
invasion and incursions of enemies. And it seems to
us the height of frenzy, as well as wickedness, to ex
pose this country to cruel depredations, and other
outrages too Shocking to mention (but which are all
contained in the idea of the extremes of war and de
solation) by eftablilhing a falfe, fliameful and perni
cious maxim, that where we have no interest to pre
serve, we are called upon by necessity to destroy.
This kingdom has long enjoyed a profound internal
peace and has flourifhed above all others in the arts
and enjoyments of that happy state. It has been the
admiration of the world for its cultivation and its
plenty, for the comforts of the poor, the splendor of
the rich, and the content and prosperity of all. This
situation of fafety may be attributed to the greatness
of our power. It is more becoming, and more true,
that we ought to attribute thatfafety, and the power
which procured it, to the antient justice, honour, hu
manity and generosity ofthis kingdom, which brought
down the blessing of Providence on a people who made
their prosperity a benefit to the world, and interested
all nations in their fortune, whole example of mild
ness and benignity at once humanized others, and
rendered itfelf inviolable. In departing from thole
solid principles, and vainly trusting to the frailty of
human nature, and to the efficacy of arms, rendered
impotent by their perversion, we lay down principles,
ard furnifh examples of the most atrocious bar barity.
We are to dread that all our power, peace and opu
lence Ihould vaniih like a dream, and that the cruel
ties winch we think fafe to exercile, because their
immediate object is remote, may be brought to the
crafts, perhaps to the bosom of this kingdom.
3 dly. Because, if the explanation given in debate
be expressive of the true sense ofthe article in the Ma
nifefto, such explanation ought to be made, and by
a high authority as that under which the exception
able article "was originally published. Ihe natural
ard obvious sense indicates, that the extremes of war
had hitherto been checked: that his Majesty's Gene
rals had hitherto forborne (upon the principles of be
nignity and policy) to desolate the country ; but that
the whole nature and future conduct of the war must
be changed, in order to render the American acces
sion of as little avail to France as possible. This, in
our apprehenlions, conveys a menace of carrying the
war to extremes, and to desolation, or it means no
thing. And as some speeches in the House (however
palliated) and as some arts of singular cruelty, and
perfectly conformable to the apparent ideas in the
manifefto, have lately been exercised, it becomes the
more necessary, for the honour and fafety of this na
tion, that this explanation should be made. As it is
refufed, we have only to clear ourselves to our con
sciences, to our country, to our neighbours, and to
every individual who may fuffer in consequence of
this atrocious menace, of all part in the guilt, or in
the evils that may become its punilhment. And we
choose to draw ourselves out, and to diftinguilh our
selves to posterity, as not being the firft to renew, to
approve, or to tolerate the return of that ferocity and
barbarism in war, which a beneficent religion, en
lightened manners, and true military honour, had
for a long time banilhed from the Christian world.
Cambden, Abergavenny, Portland,
Abingdon, Coventry, Beaulieu,
Fitzwilliam, De Ferrars, Harcourt,
Fortefcue, Ferrers, Effingham,
Grafton, Stanhope, Wycombe,
Craven, Rockingham, Scarborough,
J. St. Afaph, Tankerville, - Cholmondeley,
Richmond, Ponfonby, Devonshire,
Bolton, Derby, Foley,
Radnor, Manchcfler, Spencer.
Egremont,
By the STATE OF MARYLAND.
A DECLARATION.
WHEREAS the General Assembly of Maryland
hath heretofore resolved, " That the Delegates
of this State should be inftrurted to remonstrate to
the Cbngrefs, that this State esteem it essentially ne
cessary for rendering the union lading, that the United
States in Congress assembled, should have full power
to afeertain and fix the western limits of those States
that claim to the Miflifippi or South Sea.
'' That this State considered themselves justly in
titled to a right in common with the other members
of the union, to that extensive trart of country, which
lies to the westward of the frontiers of the United
States, the property of which was not veiled in, or
granted to individuals at the commencement of the
present war ; that the fame had been, or might there
after be gained from the King of Great-Britain, or
the native Indians, by the blood and treasure of all,
and ought therefore to be a common estate, to be
granted out on terms beneficial to all the United States,
and that they should use their utmost endeavours, that
an article to that effect be made part of the confede
ration.
" That this State would contribute their quota of
men and money, towards carrying on the present war
with Great-Britain, for the purpose of eftablilhing
the freedom and independence of the United States,
according to such rule of proportion as should be
determined by the United States, in Congress assem
bled, and would pay their proportions of all money
issued or borrowed by Congress, or which might there
after be issued or borrowed for the purpose aforefaid.
" And that this State would accede to and faith
fully execute all treaties which had been or should be
made by authority of Congress; arid would be bound
and governed by the determination of the United
States, in Congress assembled, relative to peace or
war.
t" That this State hath, upon all occasions, shewn
her zeal to promote and maintain the general welfare
ofthe United States of America: That upon the fame
principle, they were of opinion, a confederation of
perpetual friendship and union between, the United
States is highly necessary for the benefit of the whole;
and that they are most willing and desirous to enter
into a confederation and union; but at the fame time,
such confederation should, in their opinion, be formed
on the principles of justice and equity."
Which resolves, remonstrance and inftrurtions, were,
by our Delegates, laid before Congress, and the ob
jections therein made to the confederation, were sub
mitted in writing to their confideration,and the several
points fully djfcuffed and debated, and the alterations
and amendments proposed by our Delegates to the
confederation, in consequence ofthe aforefaid inftruc
tiens by us to them given, were rejected, and no fa
tisfartory reasons assigned for the rejection thereof.
We do therefore declare, that we esteem it funda
mentally wrong and repugnant to every principle of
equity and good policy, on which a confederation be
tween free, sovereign, and independent States, ought
to be founded, that this or any other State, entering
into such confederation, should be burdened with hea
vy expences for the subduing and guarantying immense
tracts of country, if they are not to share any part of
the monies arising from the sales of the lands within
those tracts, or be otherwise benefited thereby. In
conformity to this our opinion, the sentiments of our
constituents, in justice to them and ourselves, and left
such conftrurtion should hereafter be put on the unde
fined expressions contained in the third article of the
confederation, and the proviso to the ninth (according
to which,no State is to be deprived of territory for the
benefit of the United St? ts) as may fubjert all to such
guaranty as aforefaid, f° deprive some of the said
States of their right in<, 3 mon to the lands aforefaid.
—We declare, that we""^an not to fubjert ourselves
to such guaranty, nor v 11 we be responsible for any
part of such expence, u cfs the third article and pro
viso aforefaid be explained so as to prevent their being
hereafter construed in a manner injurious to this State.
Willing, however to remove, as far as we can confid
ently with the trust conferred upon us, every other ob
jertion on our part to the confederation, and anxiously
desirous to cement, by the most indissoluble ties, that
union which has hitherto enabled us to refill the arti
fices and the power of Great-Britain, and conceiving
ourfelves,aswe have heretofore declared,juftly intitled
to a right in common with the other members of the
union, to that extensive country lying to the westward
of the frontiers of the United States, the property of
which was not veiled in or granted to individuals at
the commencement of the present war.
We declare, that we will accede to the confederation,
provided an article or articles be added thereto, giving
full power to the United States, in Congress assembled,
to afeertain and fix the western limits of the States
claiming to extend to the Miffifippi or South Sea, and
expressly reserving and securing to the United States
a right in common in and to all the lands lying to the
westward of the frontiers as aforefaid, not granted to,
surveyed for, or purchased by individuals at the com^
mencement of the present war, in such manner that
the said lands be fold out, or otherwise disposed of,
for the common benefit of all the States, and that
the money arising from the falc of those lands, or the
quitrents referred thereon, may be deemed and taken
as part of the monies belonging to the United States,
and as such be appropriated by Congress towards de
fraying the expences of the war, and the payment'of
interest on monies borrowed, or to be borrowed, on
the credit of the United States, from France, or any
other European power, or tor any other joint benefit
of the United States.
We do farther declare, that the exclusive claim set
up by some States to the whole western country, by
extending their limits to the Miffifippi or South Sea,
is, in our judgment, without any solid foundation;
and we religiously believe will, if submitted to, prove
ruinous to this State, and to other States fimilarl,
circumstanced, and in process of time be the means
of subverting the confederation, if it be not explained
by the additional article or articles proposed, so as to
obviate all mifeonftrurtion and misinterpretation of
those parts thereof that are herein before fpecified.
We entered into this just and necessary war to de
fend our rights against the attacks of avarice and am
bition: We have made the most strenuous efforts
during the prosecution of it, and we are resolved to
continue them until our independence is firmly esta
blished. Hitherto we have fuccefsfully refilled, and
we hope, with the blessing of Providence, for final
success. If the enemy, encouraged by the appearance
of divisions among us, and the hope of our not con
federating, should carry on hostilities longer than they
otherwise would have done, let those be responsible for
the prolongation of the war and all its consequent
calamities, who, by refuting to comply with requi
sitions so just and reasonable, have hitherto prevented
the confederation from taking place, and are there
fore justly chargeable with every evil which hath
flowed, and may flow from procrastination.
By the House of Delegates, By the Senate,
December 15, 1778. December 15, 1778.
Read and assented to, Read and assented to.
By order, By order,
JOHN DUCKETT, R. RIDGELY.
Clk. of the House of Delegates. C. S.
WILLIAMSB.U R G, (Virginia,) April 2.
We are informed the Governor of Bermuda has
permitted feveu vessels to load with salt for the conti
nent, to procure provisions; these vessels are protested
from being seized by any of the British cruizers.
PHILADELPHIA, April 17.
Extras of a letter from General Lincoln, dated Puryf
burgh, March 7th, 1779.
" After the enemy left Augusta, Gen. Afhe, who was
stationed on the opposite fide of the river, was order
ed to cross and take poll at or near Briar Creek lower
bridge, as thereby he would cover the upper part of
the country, and as this was considered one of the
strongest posts therein, his left being secured by a deep
swamp and the Savannah, his front by the creek,
which at this place is unfordable, and about sixty
yards wide; besides, he had a party of about 200
horse to cover his right and rear.
" Boats were provided for the troops to re-cross
the Savannah, in case the enemy should move against
them in force, and the baggage was sent over that
they might not be encumbered therewith, in case
they should be obliged to retire into the country.
But, notwithstanding, on the third instant, at three
o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy fell into his rear
(his horse at that time being over Briar Creek in front)
and began the attack so suddenly that the General had
not time to form the whole of his troops, whigh a
mounted to about 1200 exclusive of the horse ; those
which were formed soon gave way, though many of
ficers exerted themselves to prevent it (excepting a
few under General Elbert, and one or two regiments
of North-Carolina militia) some, he informs me with
put firing, they took to the swamp, and escaped ei
ther by swimming the river, or being brought across
in boats.
" His loss of men is very inconsiderable, General
Allie supposes 150 or 200, but since he gave me this
account many have come in ; and I hear from a per
fun just now from Augusta, that fifty of them are at
that place. One brass field-piece is left, and 2 small
iron ones, some ammunition and waggons, and one
baggage waggon, as also many of the men's arms—
General Elbert is among the miffing."
On Thursday lad arrived here from Martinico and
St. Euftatius the following vessels, viz. Frigate Dean,