The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1778-05-27 00:00:00, page 1

An ADDRESS of the CONGRESS to the
Inhabitants of the United States of America.
Friends and Countrymen,
F —I"""! HREE years have now passed away,
' ' since the commencement of the present
war. A war without parallel in the an
nals of mankind. It hath displayed a
foedacle, the most foleinn that can pos
sibly be exhibited. On one fide, we
behold fraud and violence labouring in the service of
despotism; on the other, virtue and fortitude fup
'orting and establishing the rights of human nature.
You cannot but remember how reluctantly we were
dragged into this arduous contest ; and how repeat
edly, with the earnestness of humble intreaty, we
fUpp'licated a redress of our grievances from him who
ought to have been the father of his people. In vain
did we implore his protection: In vain appeal to .the
foftice, the generosity, of Englifhmen —of men, who
had been the guardians, the aflertors and vindicators
of liberty thro' ' a succession of ages : Men, who, with
their swords, had established the firm barrier of free
dom, and cemented 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 struck, which hath separated us for ever. Thus
Spurned, contemned and infulted —thus driven by our
memies'into measures, which our fouls abhorred —
ve made a solemn appeal to the tribunal bf unerring
Wisdom and Justice. To that Almighty Ruler of
Princes, whose kingdom is over all.
We were then quite defencelefs. Without arms,
without ammunition, without eloathing, without
(hips, without money, without officers ikiiled in war;
with.no other reliance but the bravery of our people
and the justice of our cause. We had to contend
with a nation great in arts and in arms, whose fleets
covered the ocean, whose banners had waved in tri
umph thro' every quarter of the globe. However
unequal this contest, our wcaknefs was Hill farther
increased by the enemies which America had nou
rished in her bosom. Thus exposed, on the one hand,
to external force and internal divilions ; on the other,
to be compelled to drink of the bitter cup of slavery,
and to go sorrowing all our lives long; in this fad
alternative, we chose the former. To this alterna
tive we were reduced by men, who, had they been
animated by one spark of generosity, would have dis
dained to take such mean advantage of our situation ;
or, had they paid the least regard to the rules of jus
tice, would have considered with abhorrence a pro
position to injure those, who had faithfully fought
their battles, and industriously contributed to rear
the edifice of their glory.
But, however great the injustice of our foes in
commencing this war, it is by no means equal to the
cruelty with which they have conduced it. The
course of their armies is marked by rapine and dc
vaftation. Thousands, without diftinftion of age or
sex, have been driven from their peaceful abodes, to
encounter the rigours of inclement seasons; and the
face of Heaven hath been insulted by the wanton
conflagration of defencelefs towns. Their victories
have been followed by the cool murder of men, no
longer able to resist ; and those who escaped from the
firft afl of carnage have been exposed, by cold, hun
ger and nakedness, to wear out a miserable existence
in the tedious hours of confinement, or to become
the destroyers of their countrymen, of their friends,
perhaps, dreadful idea! of their parents or children.
Nor was this the outrageous barbarity of an indivi
dual, but a system of deliberate malice, stamped with
the concurrence of the British legislature, and fanc^
tioned with all the formalities of law. Nay, deter
mined to dissolve the closest bonds of society, they
have stimulated servants to flay their matters in the
peaceful hour of domestic security. And, as if all
this were infufficient to flake their thirst of blood,
the blood of brothers, of unoffending brothers, they
have excited the Indians against us; and a General,
who calls himfelf a Christian, a follower of the mer
ciful Jefas, hath dared to proclaim to all the world
his intention of letting loose against us whole hosts
of savages, whose rule of warfare is promifeuous car
nage, who rejoice to murder the infant smiling in its
mother's arms, to inflift on their prisoners the most
excruciating torments, and exhibit feenes of horror
from which nature recoils.
Were it possible, they would have added to this
terrible system, for they have offered the inhabitants
of these States to be exported by their merchants to
the sickly, baneful clime of India, there to pcrifh.
An offer not accepted of, merely from the impracti
cability of carrying it into execution.
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
[Vol. L]
WEDNESDAY, May 27, 1778.
At length that God of battles, in whom was our
trust, hath conducted us taro' the paths of danger
mid distress to the thresholds 'of security. It hath now
become morally certain, that, if we have courage to
persevere, we Ihall eitabliih our Liberties and Inde
pendence. The haughty Prince, who spurned us
from his feet with contumely and disdain, —and the
Parliament which proscribed us, now delcend to of
fer terms of accommodation. Whillt in tne full ca
reer of victory, they pulled off the mafle, and avow
ed their intended despotism. But, having lavished
in vain the blood and treasure of their lubjects in
pursuit of this execrable purpofc, they now endea
vour to ensnare us with the inhdious offers of peace.
They would seduce you into a dependence, which
neceflarily, inevitably leads to the molt humiliating
slavery. And do they believe that you will accept
these fatal terms ? Because you have fullered the dis
tresses of war, do they luppofe that you will basely
lick the dust before the feet of your deitroyers? Can
there be an American so loft to the feelings which
adorn human nature ? To the generous pride, the
elevation, the dignity of freedom! Is there a man
who would not abhor a dependence upon those, who
have deluged his country in the blood of its inhabi
tants ? We cannot suppose this; neither is it poliible
that they themselves can expect to make many con
verts. What then is their intention ?Is it not to lull
you with the fallacious hopes of peace, until they can
assemble new armies to prosecute their nefarious de
signs ? If this is not the case, why do they strain every
nerve to levy men throughout their islands? Why do
they meanly court each little tyrant of Europe to fell
them his unhappy (laves? Why do they continue to
embitter the minds of the savages against you ? Sure
ly this is not the way to conciliate the affedions of
America. Be not, therefore, deceived. You have
Rill to expect one severe conflict. Your foreign al
liances, tho' they secure your independence, cannot
secure your country from etiolation, your habitati
ons from plunder, your wires from inlult or violati
on, nor your children from butchery. Foiled in their
principal design, you mult rxped to feel the rage of
disappointed ambition. Ante then! To your tents!
And gird you for the battle. It is time to turn the
headlong current of vengeance upon the head of the
destroyer. They have hllel up the measure of their
abominations, and like riye fruit mud soon drop
from the tree. Altho' mush is done, yet much re
mains to do. Expert not peace, whilst any corner
of America is in possession of your foes. You niuft
drive them away from this land of promise, a land
flowing indeed with milk and honey. Your bre
thren, at the extremities if the continent, already
implore your friendihip aid protection. It is your
duty to grant their request They hunger and thirst
after liberty. Be it yours to dilpenfe to them the
heavenly gift. And what s there now to prevent it ?
After the unremitted effets of our enemies, we are
ftr.mger than before. Norsan the wicked emiflaries,
who so assiduously labour to promote their cause,
point out any one reafonto suppose that we shall
not receive daily acceffiois of ftrengtli. They tell
you, it is true, that your noney is of no value; and
your debts so enormous thy can never be paid. But
we tell you, that if Britain prosecutes the war an
other campaign, that singe campaign will cost her
more than we have hithert expended. And yet these
men would prevail upon yu to take up that immense
load, and for it to facrificcyour dearest rights. For,
surely, there is no man fcabfurd as to suppose, that
the least ffiadow of liberty can be preserved in a de
pendent connexion with Great-Britain. From the
nature of the thing it is eident, that the only secu
rity you could obtain, rouid be, the justice and
moderation of a Parliamet, who have fold the rights
of their own constituents And this Render security
Notwithstanding these great provocations, we have
treated such of them as fell into our hands with ten
derness, and studiously endeavoured to alleviate the
afflictions of their captivity. Thi^ condu& we have
pursued so far, as to be by them stigmatized with
cowardice, and by our friends with folly. But our
dependence was not upon man. It was upon Him,
who hath commanded us to love our enemies, and to
render good for evil. And what can be more won
derful than the manner of our deliverances? How
often have we been reduced to diftrel's, and yet been
railed up ? When the means to profecutc the war have
been wanting to us, have not our foes themselves
been rendered instrumental in providing them ? This
hath been done in such a variety of instances, so pe
culiarly marked almost by the dire& interpolition of
Providence, that not to feel and acknowledge his
protection, would be the heighth of impious ingra
titude.
THE
In CONGRES S, May 0, 1778.
Resolved,■
T "A 7 ' '' be recommen ded to Ministers of the
I Gospel, of all denominations, to read, or cause
to be read, immediately after Divine Service, the
above Address to the Inhabitants of the United States
of America, in their refpedive Churches and Cha
pels, and other places of religious worship.
Publifoed by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary,
BY virtue of a writ of fer z facias to me dire&ed,
will be exposed to sale by way of public vendue,
the 16th of June next ensuing, at the premises, a va
luable plantation situate in Readington, Hunterdon
county, New-Jersey, whereon the widow Vander
fpeigel now lives, containing about 300 acres. There
is on it a good dwelling house and barn, a good
bearing orchard, good tilable land, a large quantity
of good meadow, and much more n>ay be easily made,
well watered and in a healthy part of the country-
Vendue to begin at 1% o'clock, and the conditions
made known by JOS. INSLEE, Sheriff*
Hunterdon County, April 13, 1778. gw*
is kill farther weakened, by the consideration that it
was pledged to rebels (as they unjustly call the good
people of these States) with whom they think they
are not bound to keep faith by any law whatsoever.
Thus would you be caf tbound among men, whose
minds (by your virtuous refinance) have beeri Sharp
ened to tne keenest edge of revenge. Thus would
your children,, and your children's children, be by
you forced to a participation in all their debts, th@it
wars, their luxuries, and their crimes. And this
mad, this impious fyltem they would lead you to a
dopt, because of the derangement of your finances.
It becomes you deeply to reflect on this fubjedt.
Is there a country on earth, which hath such resources
for the payment of her debts, as America ? Such an
extenlive territory ? So fertile, so blessed in its cli
mate and productions? Surely there is none. Nei
ther is there any, to which the wife Europeans will
looner confide their property. What then are the
reasons that your money hath depreciated ? Because
no taxes have been imposed to carry on the war. Be
cause your commerce hath been interrupted by your
enemy's fleets. Because their armies have ravaged,
and desolated a part of your country. Because their
agents have villainously counterfeited your bills. Be
cause extortioners among you, inflamed with the lust
of gain, have added to the price of every article of
life. And because weak men have been artfully led
to believe that it is of no value. How is this dan
gerous disease to be remedied ? Let those among you,
who have leifurc and opportunity, collect the monies
which individuals in their neighbourhood are desirous
of placing in the public funds. Let the several Legis
latures link their refpedive emissions, that so, there
being but one kind of bills, there may be left danger
of counterfeits. Refrain a little while from purchas
ing those things which are not abfolutel, necessary,
that so those who have engrossed commodities may
fuffer (as they deservedly will) the loss of their ill
gotten hoards, by reason of the commerce with fo
reign nations, which their fleets will protest. Above
all, bring forward your armies into the field. Trust
not to appearances of peace or fafety Be soured
that, unlels you persevere, you will be exposed to
every Ipecies of barbarity. But if you exert the means:
of defence which God and Nature have given you,
the time will soon arrive, when every man shall fit
under his own vine, and under his own fig-tree,
and there shall be none to mike him afraid.'
The sweets of a free commerce with every part of
the earth will soon reimburse you for all the losses
you have sustained. The full tide of wealth will flow
in upon your shores, free from the arbitrary impo
sitions of those, whose interest, and whose declared
policy it was, to check your growth. Your interests
will be foftered and nourished by governments, that
derive their power from your grant, and will there
fore 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. Y^t do not believe
that you have been or can be saved merely by your
own strength. No ! It is by the assistance of Heaven,
and this you must assiduously cultivate, by ads which
Heaven approves. Thus shall the power and the
happiness of these Sovereign, Free and Independent
States, founded on the virtue of their citizens, in
create, extend and endure, until the Almighty Ihall
blot out all the empires of the earth.
B, order of Congress,
' HENRY LAURENS, President.
-Numb, 26.]