The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1778-04-29 00:00:00, page 3

>1 cannot, therefore, in this refped, be prejudicial
to is. Our army and navy are great: our loss can
• n repaired: the necessary supplies can be raised:
one our customs are not diminished. But why was
not concession made before? I am willing that my
rat conduct Should be impeded. I never proposed
any tax. When I was unfortunate enough (for I will
^j use the word, notwithstanding the use made of
to be placed in my prefect office, I thought there
n a ; a gleam of hope, that the colonies would return
xo :heir duty.. My maxim was to fay nothing about
America; neither to propose or repeal taxes; nei
her to advance or secede ; but to remain in total
Teuce. But when it was necessary to give the Eaft
ncia company a power of felling their tea in Ame
t:, I did not think it right to repeal the tax. I
however diminished it. A repeal would have been
10 Service : for America was afraid, that the East
; Tia company would underfel their smugglers. A
monopoly was also urged. They had in fact, the
commodity cheaper than they had it before. If they
seemed this a grievance, they were ready to make
ar thing a grievance. When the war was begun, I
tr r ught it necessary to accompany our forces with a
ps die .commission And the commissioners were
men of abilities, men of honour, men of a pacific
disposition, men trusted by America, who were the
nuft likely to bring about a reconciliation. But this
co nmiffion produced no effect, because She claims of
America were so diffant. Whe^ the sword was drawn,
why did I not make my proportion ? I own I thought
tint the war wou'd foor have ended, and I Should
ha e made it, had America been reduced to uncon
'dhional submission; but misfortunes, mifeondyd, or
a greater natural force in America than was expect
ed. and which no man could forefee, have carried
on the war to its prefect length. I will never own
that administration has deceived the public, in want
lip to delude them into measures, which they thought
were ineffectual. The information laid before par
lia rient was full : Parliament had every paper necef
firy to found its judgment ; no papers were retain
ed, but those only, which, for the fake of the wri
ters, would have been dangerous to have exposed.
Bit the deception is, that Administration said, that
in their opinion, the war would soon be at an end.
Our army and navy were great; Sir W. Howe's ar
my was generally superior to Washington's; and
General Burgoyne's army, when at Fort Edward,
was Stronger than the enemy's force. Parliament
knew the force sent out as well as the Minister. Mi
nistry promised that the army Should be supplied.
The army has been supplied. Ministry promised to
raise the money necessary for the services. The mo
ney has been raised. The public therefore has been
deceived by the event. It may be asked, what is
likely to be the effed of this proposition ? The real
effect I cannot fay, but it is a right thing to endea
^iv to bring about apeace. Ido not fee that any
other concession can be made without admitting the
complete independency of America. But what would
be the effed of that independency ? I cannot fee into
futurity; but it is big with many possible evils. In
dependency, with a cordial love between us, is one
thing ; with an union with our enemies, fatal. From
their independency a danger arises from a great naval
power ; a danger also to our other possessions. Ido
not think that we Should yield to it, till our resources
are much lowered. Independency is not beneficial
to America. She cannot be so happy, so easy, can
not have such personal liberty, as if She remains de
pendent on us. If independent, She must be loaded
with heavy burthens, more heavy than she had ; her
personal liberty will not be so great. Her present
situation, as compared with ours, is ten times more
grievous. Her farmers are ruined ; when all the ne
cessaries of life fell at prices the most high, they are
compelled to fell the produce of their land at a final!
price in comparison. I was assured that at Albany,
tea, a necessary article there, fold at 16 dollars per
pound; and fajt at 30 dollars per bushel. Thinking
that men in this situation will be inclined to peace
upon jult, and reasonable terms, I move the House
for leave to bring in two bills, &c. &c.
DrALIGHT of a Bill for declaring the intentions of the
Parliament of Great-Britain, concerning the exercise
of tbe right of impfing taxes within his Majesty's
colonies, provinces, and plantations in North-America.
°W HEREA * the exercise of the right of taxation
by the Parliament of Great-Britain, for the
pufyofe of railing a revenue in his Majesty's colonies,
provinces, and plantations in North-America, has
been found by experience to occasion great uneasi
nesses and disorders, and has by sundry misrepresen
tations been made the means of misleading many of
1 is Majesty's faithful Subjects, who yet acknowledge
he justice of contributing to the common defence of
the empire, provided such contributions Should be
raised under the authority of the General Court, or
General Assembly, of each refpedive colony, province,
or,antation: And whereas, in order,' as well as
to remove the said uneasinesses, and to quiet the minds
of his Majesty's fubjeds, who may be disposed to re
turn to their allegiance, as toreftore the peace and
welfare of his Majesty's dominions, It is expedient
to declare, that the King and Parliament of Great-
Britain will not impose any duty, tax, or assessment,
for the purpose of railing a revenue within any of the
said colonies, provinces, or plantations:
May it please your Majesty, That it may be
declared and enaded, and it is hereby declared and
enaded, &c. That from and after the palling of this
ad, the King and Parliament of Great-Britain will
not impose ?.ny duty, tax, or assessment whatsoever,
payable within any of his Majesty's colonies, provin
ces, and plantations in North-America, except only
such duties as it may be expedient to impose for the
regulation of commerce, the net-produce of such du
ties to be always paid and applied to, and for, the
use of the colony, province, or plantation, in which
the fame shall be refpedively levied, in such manner
as other duties collected by the authority of the re
fpe&ive General Courts, or General Assemblies, of
such colonies, provinces, or plantations, are ordina
rily paid and applied.
Draught of a Bill to enable his Majefy to appoint
commissioners with fufficient powers to treat, canfalt,
and agree, upon the means of quieting the disorders
nowfubfflmg in certain of the colonies, plantations,
and provinces of North-America.
If' OR the quieting and extinguishing of divers jea
louncs and misapprehensions of danger to their
liberties and legal rights, which have milled many of
his Mgef y'a fubje{ts in the colonies, provinces, and
plantations, pl New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay,
Rhode-Ifiand, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey,
Pennsylvania, the three lower counties on Delaware,
Marylanc, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Caroli
na, and Georgia, and for a fuller manifeftation of the
just and gracious purports of his Majesty and his Par
liament, to maintain and secure all his fubjeds in a
clear and perleft enjoyment of such liberties and
rights; Beit enacted, &c. That persons
to be appointed by his Majesty, under the Great Seal
of Great-Britain, or any of them, ihall by force of
this art, have full power, commission, and authority
to treat, coniurt, and agree, with such body or bo
dies political and corporate, or with such assembly or
alicmbiies or men, or with such person or persons, as
in their wifdnm and diferetion they shall think meet,
of and concerning any grievances, or complaints of
grievances, existing, or supposed to exist, in the
government or any of the said colonies, provinces, or
plantations, refpedively, or in the laws and Ratutes
of this realm receding the fame; and of or concern
ing any aid or contribution to be furniihed by all or
any of the colonies, provinces, or plantations, rc
fpedively, for the common defence of this realm, and
the dominions thereunto belonging ; and of and con
cerning such other regulations, provisions, matters,
and things, as upon mature deliberation of the said
commissioners, or any of them, ihali be
thought necessary or convenient for the honour of
his Majesty, and the common good of all his fub
jeds.
Provided also, and be it further enacted
by the authority aforefaid, That in order to facilitate
the good purports M this ad, it shall and may be law
ful for the said commissioners, or any of them
from time to time, as they fhalljudge it convenient, to
order and proclaim a ceflation of hostilities, on the part
of his Majesty's troops, in any of the said colonies or
plantations, or any part thereof, for any time, and un
der any conditions or reftridions, which they shall
think convenient, and such order and proclamation to
revoke and annul in the fame manner and form, ac
cording to their diferetion.
And be it further enacted, That it shall be
lawful for the said commissioners, or any of
them, by proclamation under their refpedive hands
and seals, from time to time, to suspend the operation
and effects of a certain Ad of Parliament, made and
pallid in the 16th year of the reign of his present Ma
jehy, for prohibiting all trade and intercourse with
certain colonies and plantations therein named, and
for the other purports therein also mentioned, or any
of the provisions or reftridions therein contained, for
such convenient time as the said commissioners ihall
think proper, fpecifying in such proclamation at what
times or places refpedively, and with what excepti
ons and reftridions, the said suspension shall take effect,
and the said suspension and proclamation in the fame
manner and form to annul and revoke according to
their diferetion.
And be it further enacted by the authority
aforefaid, That the said commissioners, or any
of them, may, and they are hereby authorifed and
iinpowered to suspend in such places, and for such
times as they shall think fit, during the Continuance
of this ad, the operation and effect of all or any of
the ad or ads of Parliament which have passed since
the 10th day of February 176^, and which relate to
any of his Majesty's said colonies, provinces, or plan
tations in North-America, so far as the fame docs re
late to them, or the operation and effect of any clause,
or any provision or matter therein contained, so far
as such clauses, provisions, or matters relate to any
of the said colonies, provinces, or plantations.
And it is hereby enacted by the authority
aforefaid, That it shall and may be lawful to and for
the said commissioners, or any of them, and
they are hereby authorifed and impowered to grant
a pardon or pardons to any number or description of
persons within the said colonies, provinces, or plan
tations.
Provided also, and be it further enacted
and declared, That no regulation, provision, mat
ter or thing so proposed, treated, consulted, or agreed,
shall have any other force or effed, or be carried fur
ther into execution, than is hereinafter mentioned and
provided, until the fame ihall have been approved by
Parliament.
And that no left or hindrances may happen from
the vacancy of the office of Governor and Command
er in Chief in any of the said colonies, provinces, or
plantations refpedively, or from the abftnee of such
officer from his government, Be it further en
acted by the authority aforefaid, That the said com
miflioners, or any of them, shall have full
power and authority in any of the said colonies, pro
vinces, or plantations refpedively, wherein his Ma
jesty hath usually heretofore nominated and appoint
ed a Governor,, to nominate and appoint by any in
' ftrument under their hands and seals, a proper per
son to be the Governor and Commander in Chief in,
The following Ads were parted at the last fitting of
the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of this state.
I. An act to divorce Ebenezer Stiles, of the county of
Morris, from his wife.
2. An aid for regulating and limiting the prices of
labour, and of sundry articles of produce, manufacture,
and trade; and to prevent forefalling, regrating, and
engr^ng.
3. An a# for confituting a Council of Safety.
4. An ad for the better regulating the quartering of
soldiers, and fumifing of carriages, horses, and othe r
necefaries for the army.
5. An act to raise a fund by taxation for discharging
the debts, and defraying the necessary expenses of tbe
State ts New-ferfey.'
6. An act to repeal tbe 2d and affections of an a&
intitled, "An aft for completing tbe four battalions of
this State in tbe Continental service," as far as they re
late to tbe hiring of fubjiitutes.
7. An act to repeal an act, Entitled, " An act for e
rectirg salt-works, and manufacturing fait within tbe
State of New-ferfey."
8. An aft to exempt four men to be employed at the
pounder-mill, belonging to Jonas Phillips and Joseph
Lindfiy, in tbe county of Morris.
9. An act to revive and continue the process and pro
ceedings of the Courts of Common Pleas and General
Quarter Seftons of the Peace for the county of Bergen
and to alter tbe place of holding the fame.
10. An ad for fpecd, and effectual recruiting of the
four New-Jerf, regiments in tbe service of the United
States.
11. An act for granting a bounty upon wool, flax,
and hemp, raised and fold in tbe State of New-ferfe,.
12. An act for regulating trainings and arraying of
the militia.
13. An act to empower and direct the Commiffoners
of tbe Loan-Offices, in tbe refpe&ive counties in the
State of New-Jersey, Jo pay certain monies into the
Treasury, and also applying certain monies now therein.
14. An act for taking charge of, and leafing the real
efetes, and for forfeiting tbe personal estates of certain
fugitives and offenders, and for enlarging and continu
ing the powers of Commissioners appointed to seize and
dispose of such personal eflates, and for afeertaining and
difebarging tbe lawful debts and claims thereon.
15. An act further to provide for the cloatbing of tbe
New-Jerfe, regiments, in tbe service of the" United
States.
16. An act to .defray fun dry incidental charges.
We have certain intelligence that General Howe
will tail in a few days for England, and that Henry
Clinton will take the command at Philadelphia during
his absence.
„* New Advertisements and Articles of Intelli
gence omitted this week for want of room, to be in
our next.
and for any such colony, province, or plantation, to
have, hold, and exercise, during his Majesty's plea
fore, the said office of Governor and Commander in
Chief, in and for such colony or plantation respec
tively, with all such powers and authorities as any
Governor of such province heretofore appointed by
his Majesty might or could have exercised, in as full
and complete manner and form, as if such Governor
and Commander in Chief had been nominated and
appointed by his Majesty's letters patent or commis
sion, and for that purpose if need be, to revoke,
annul, and make void any commission or letters pa
tent heretofore granted, for appointing any such Go
vernor and Commander in Chief.
And be it further enacted, That this aft
fliall continue to be in force until the firft day of
June which shall be in the year 1779.
Philadelphia, 14th April, 1778.
Published by order of the Commander in Chief,
ROBERT MACKENZIE, Secretary,
TRENT O N, April 29.
Mr. Collins,
^VHOEVER abuses the glorious intelligence con
tained in Lord North's speech that Britain is
no match for America t: the infernal purpose of re
ducing us to the fame bondage or dependence, whicli
our enemies themselves openly acknowledge we have
extricated ourselves from, ought to be treated as a
traitor to his country. No one, I presume, is against
an honourable peace; but instead of relaxing in
our exertions, now is the critical time for collecting
our utmost force. For if Britain is frill for war, of
which there can be 'no doubt by her straining every
nerve to levy troops, it certainly behoves us to be
prepared. If for peace, our preparations are equally
necessary, as that alone can enable us to treat with
honour, and secure our independence.
I am your humble feriant,
H. I.