The South-Carolina & American general gazette — Charlestown [S.C.], 1777-05-26 00:00:00, page 2

It is to Independence that every Tory owes the present
lafety he lives in ; for by that, and that only, we emerged
from a Rate of dangerous suspense, and became a regular
P e °P' e#
The necessity likewise of being independent, had there
been no rupture between Britain and America, would in a
little time have brought one on. The encreafing importance
of commerce, the weight and perplexity of legislation,and
the entangled state of European politicks, would daily
have Ihewn to the continent the impossibility of continuing
subordinate ; for, after the coolest reflections on the matter,
this must be allowed, that Britain was too jealous of Ame
rica, to govern it iuftly; too ignorant of it, to govern it
well; and too defiant from it, to govern it at all.
But, what weigh most with all men of serious reflection
are the moral advantages arising from independ
ence : War and defo'ation are become the trades of the old
world; and America neither could nor can be under the
government of Britain without becoming a fliarer of her
guilt, and a partner in all the dismal commerce of death.
The spirit of duelling extended on a national scale, is a
proper character for European wars. They have fedom
any other motive than pride, or any other object than fame.
The corquerours and the conquered are generally ruined
alike, and the chief difference at lift is, that the one
marches home with his honours, and the other without
them. 'Tis the natural temper of the English to fight for
2 feather, if they fhppofe that feather to be an affront; and
America, without the right of asking why must have abet
ted in every quarrel and abided by its fate. It is a shocking
filtration to live in, that our country must be brought into
all the wars of another, whether the measures be right or
wrong, or whether file will or not; yet this, jn the fulleft
extent, was, and ever would be, the unavoidable conse
quence of the connexion. Surely ! the Quakers forgot
their own principles, when in their late testimony they cal
led this conn ^ioi with these military and miserable appen
dages hanging to it, " the happy conflitution."
Britain, for centuries past, hath been nearly 50 years
out of evety ico at war with some power or others It
certainly ought to be a confeientious as well as political
consideration with America, not to dip her hands in the
Moody work of Europe. Our situation affords us a retreat
from their cabals, and the present happy union of the States
bids fair for extirpating the future use of arms irom one
quarter of the world ; yet such have been the irreligious
politicks of the present leaders o r the Quakers, that fer tl^
fake of they scarce know what, they would cut off every
hope of such a blessing by tyinc this continent to Britain,
like HeCtor to the chariot wheel of Achi les, to be dragged
through all the miseries of endlefi European wars.
The connexion, viewed from this ground, is distres
sing to every man who has the feelings of humanity. By
hiving Britain for our matter, we became enemies to the
greatest part of Europe, and they to us; and the confer
quence was war inevitable. By being our own matters, in
dependent of any foreign one, we have Europe lor our
friends, and the frofpea o' an endless peace among our
fe^ves. Those who were advocates for the British govern
ment over these colonies, were obliged to limit both their
ar uments and their idea^to the period of an European
peace only: The moment Britain became plunged in war,
every suppose• convenience to us vanished away, and all
we could hope for was not to be ruined. Could this be a
defirab'e condition for a young country to be in ?
Had the French pursued their fortune immediately after
the defeat of Braddock last war, this city and province
had then experienced the woeful calamities o' being a Bri
tish fit je&. A Scene ofthe fame kind might happen ag^o;
for America, considered as a fubje& to the crown of Bri
tain, would ever have been the feat of war, and the bone of
contention between the two powers.
On the whole, if the future excision of arms from one
quarter of the world be a deferable object tc a peaceable
man—if the freedom of trade to every part of it can en
gage the attention of a man ofbufinefs—i- the furport or fall
o' millions o' currency can affect our interest—is the entire
possession of estates, by cutting off the lordly claims of Bri
tain over the foil, deserve the regard of landed property—
and if the right of making our own laws, uncontrolled by
royal or ministerial fries or mandates, be worthy our care
as freemen — then are all men interested in the support of
Independence ; and may he that funports it not, be driven
from the bluffing, and I've u pitied beneath the fa-vile fuf
ferings of Scandalous fubjedion.
We have been amused with the tales of ancient wonders,
we have read and wept over the histories of other nations—
applauded, centred, or pitied, as their esfes affeded us.
The fortitude and patience of the fufferers, the justness of
their cause— the weight of their oppressions and oppressors,
the objeft to be saved or loft—with all the consequences of
a defeat or a corqueft—have, in the hour of Sympathy, be
witched our hearts and chained them to their fate: But
where is the power that ever made war upon petitioners ?
Or where is the war, on which a world was Staked till now ?
w^en we shall have it in our power to set an example of
peace to ail the world. Were the Quakers really impteffed
and influenced by the quiet principles they profefs to hold,
they would, however they might disapprove the means, be
the firft of all men to approve of Independence; be
cause by separating from the cities of Sodom and Gomor
rah, it affords an opportunity, never given to man before,
of carrying their favourite principle of peace into general
practice, by eftabliflrng governments that shall hereafter
exist without wars. O ye fallen, cringing, prieft-and-Pem
berton ridden people, what more can we fay of ye, than
that a religious Quaker is a valuable character, and a poli
tical Quaker a real Jesuit?
Having thus gone over some of the principal points in
support of Independence, I must now request the reader to
return back with me to the period when it firft began to be
a publick doctrine, and examine the progress it has made
among the various classes of men; the sera I mean to bring
at, is the breaking out of boftilities, April 19th, 1775.
Until this event happened, the Continent seemed to view
the dispute as a kind of lawsuit for a matter of right, liti
gating between the old country and the new ; and she felt
the fame kind and degree of horrour, as if she had seen
an oppressive plaintiff, at the head of a band of ruffians,
enter the court, while the cause was before it, and put
the judge, the jury, the defendant and his council to
the sword. Perhaps a more heart-felt convulsion never
reached a country with the fame degree of power and ra
pidity before, and never may again. Pitv for the fufferers,
m'xed with indignation at the violence and heightened with
apprehensions of undergoing the fame fate, made the affair
&f Lexington the affair of the Continent. Every part of it
We may not perhaps be wife enough to make all the ad
vantages we ought of our Independence : but they are ne
vertbelefs marked with every character of great and
good, and worthy the hand of Him who sent them. I
look through the present troubles to , time of tranquillity,
felt the Shock, and all vibrated together. A general pro
motion of sentiment took place: Thole who had drank
deeply into whiggifh principles, tbatis, the right and neces
sity not only of opposing, tut wholly setting aside the
power of the Crown as soon as it became practicably dan
gerous (for in theory it was always so) ftept into the firft
stage or independence; while another class of Whigs,
equally found in pr nciple, but not so sanguine in enter
prise, attached themselves Strongly to the cause, and fell
close in with the rear ot the former: their partition was a
mere point. Numbers of the moderate men, whose chief
fault, at that time, arose from their entertaining a better
opinion of Britain than she deserved, convinced now of
their mistake, gave her up, and publicity declared them
fehes good Whigs. While the Tories, feeing it was no
longer a laughing matter, either flunk into silent obfeurity,
or contented themselves with coming forth and abusing
General Gage; not a single advocate appeared to juftify
the rftion of that day; it seemed to appear to every one
with the fame magnitude, struck every one with the fame
force, and created in every one the fame abhorrence. From
this period we may date the growth of Independence.
If the many circumstances, which happened at this
memorable time be taken in one view, and compared with
each other, they will juftify a conclusion which seems not
to be attended to, I mean a fixt defigh in the King and
ministry, of driving America into arms, in order that they
might be furnished with a pretence for feizng the whole
Continent as the immediate property of the Crown. A
noble plunder for hungry courtiers!
It ought to be remembered, that the firft petition from
the Congress was at this time unanswered on the part of
the British King. That the motion, called Lord North's
motion, of the 20th of February, 1775, arrived in America
the latter end of March. This motion was to be laid by
the Several governors, then in being, before the Assembly
of each province, and the firft Assembly before wh ch it
was laid, was the Assembly of Pennf,ivania in May follow
ing. This being a just state of the case, I then ask, why
where hoftilitics commenced between the time of puffing
the resolve 'ofthe House of Commons, of February the 20th,
and the time of the Assemblies meeting to deliberate upon
it? Degrading and infamous as that motion was, there is,
nevertheless, re-son to believe, that the King and his ad
herents were afraid the Colonies would agree to it, and left
they Should, took effectual care they Should not, by pro
voking them with hostilities in the interim ; they had
not the least doubt at that time of conquering America at
one blow; and what they expe^ed to get by a conquest
being infinitely greater than any thing they could hope to
get either by taxation or accommodation, they seemed de
termined to prevent even the poffibihty of hearing each
other, left America fhou.d disappoint their greedy hopes
of the whole, by liften,ng even to their own terms. On
the one hand they refuted to 1 ear the petition of the Conti
nent, and on the other hand took effectual care the Conti
tinent fhuuld not hear them.
That the motion of the 20th of February, and the
orders for commencing hoftilitics were both concerted by
the fame person or perlons, and not the latter by General
Gage, as was fatfly imagined at firft, is evident from an
extract of a letter of his to Administration, read among
other papers in the House of Commons; in which he in
forms his masters, 7& though their idea of his disarming
certain counties cuas a right one, yet it required him to be
master ofthe country, in order to enable bin to execute it.
This was p ior to the commencement of hoftilitics, ^nd
consequently before the motion of the 20th of February
could at deliberated on by the several Assemblies.
[To be continued.]
^e^^^w^&tw^wew
I AM informed of a vrhice Ge/%, «bont xz years old, and near
13 hands hfeh, has a (hort tail, branded on the n&*r fhculd:r but
not to he described, and on the buttock like IS. Jicob Frzer
gives notice 0! a datfc bay GtUirg, frut < yurs old, Bear 14 hands
hich, pees natural, has a gr^y star in his forehead, and branded on
the near thigh M. A>y pe-fo^s claiming ether of the above Frays,
must prove their property before * JOHN WINN.
mjteve.~ot~ifr—tt—r-c-etmet; »,V^W.<»»T."-W~»~I *»■>?.>» ■f|ri—— •-■*>»»■■■'■'lll*—I BT fr,_
JAmes Fondron informs me of #"6lack Mare, about 12^
hands high, branded on the off buttock H C, with a 'mdl star
in his foreh,a, one white bind fiot, bad os a small bell, a Batu al
trot ter, *od about 14 years old. William Watson informs me of a
blrck and white C&w, m&ked with a half era, under each ear.
Ezekiel Standly informs me of a bbek Horfe, bout 13 hatd> high,
branded 0* the near fh?ulder with a blotched brand, 0, the buttock
C, a natural pwer, about 6 years old, had on a 201. Wl, and no
ofcr brand to be seen. Joh* Miller informs me of a white Horj,
abouTg years old, about 13-^ byils high, a natural pacer, branded
on the <ff butock wi b a blotched b and like I a, aad u$ other
mark to be fcen. The owner or owners mnft prove their property
at Falling Cte-'k before * WILLIAM &RATTOF.
CAPT. Hwz:kiah Mahara informs me of a black Eorfe, 14.
heads high, 6 years old, branded on the mounting Moulder
9, and on the buttock 6. John Leaton informs me of a black
Horfa 13 hands high, branded on the mounting fhculder 10, on the
butock oi, and on the off ftioulder F, trots, pacer and canters.
John Hopkins informs me of a brown bay Horfa 14 hands h ; gh,
branded on the mounting ftiodhr I, and o@ the mounting buttock
B, with a final! fcr is his forehead. Isaac Gurdfre informs me of a
black Horse, rqf hands high, branded on the mounting ihoulder 9,
or famething like h, with a star in his forehead, trots, paces, a^d
canters. Matthew Whitfield Informs me of a bay Horse, 14 hands
high, branded an the mounting fhonlder and buttock JD in one,
with a star it? his forehead, trots paces end canters. Alexander
Hamilton informs me of a black Horse, 14^ hands high, branded
on ths mounting (houlder 1, and on the mounting buttock I, trots,
paces and centers. Whoever owns the said Qrrys must prove their
property btfarc § JOHN FRIERSON, J. P.
rt"%OLLED before me, a black Gelding, about 14 hands high,
branded on the off fficulder W, taken up by William Ta*n
in* Prince William's Parish, near Sakkstcher bridge March 10, 1777.
Whoever owns & said horse must prove his property before
§ JAMES LIGHTWOOD.
RUN away from the fubferiber on Monday the 18th
of October last, a Mulatto Fellow named Sam, about 5 feet
10 inches high, rather elumfy about the feet and legs, with a bushy
bead of hair, and generally tied with a ribbon. This fellow is well
known in town, where he has some years psst used the butcher's
business; he is very artful and may alter his name, or attempt to
pass for a free man; as he is acquainted at Georgia and New-Wind
tor, he may go for cither of theft places. Any person who will
deliver the fiid fellow to me at my plantation on the Cypress, or to
the Warden of the Wjrk-houfe in Charleftown, shall receive a re
ward of FIFTY POUNDS currency and every reasonable charge
allowed ; and I do hereby caution all persons from harbouring cr
entertaining the said fellow, and all mailers of vtffcls from taking
him eff the Stale, as I am determined to prosecute them agreeable
t Qh± % HUMPHREY SOMMERS.
ALEXANDER WRIGHT, Esq; lately gone for Burd,
left Directions to his Attornies to discharge all De
mands againtt him asfaft as poffibe; and for that Purpose
to advertise all Persons indebted to him by Bond or other
wise, to pay their retpeCtive Engagements by the firft of
July: Thole concerned are requested to pay Attention to
this Notice, and to apply to JOHN DAWSON,
§ ALEXANDER INGLIS.
TO be Let, and entered upon immediately, A pleasant
I healthy PLANTATION, within 4 Miles of Charlef
town by Water; on the Prercifes is a commodious large
Dwelling-House, with every necessary Out-house, a very
good Garden, and about 30 Acres of Land planted with
Provisions, &c. and in fine Order. For Terms, which
shall be made easy, apply to Colonel George-Paddon Bond
in Christ Church Parish, or. in Charleftown, to
* Alexander chisolm,
Who has for Sale,,a Parcel ot Boston made COTTON
and WOOL CARDS, a large Parcel of fine Indigo,
Whip Saws, Files, &c. &c. *
qpWO COWS strayed or were stolen from Charleftown,
on Saturday the loth of May; one is a large black
and white Cow, and remarkable lor being blind of one eye,
which, being hurt lately, is yet fore; the other is a young
Cow, and not so large as the former, U red and white
fpotsed, but most white, branded W C on her rump; they
conftahtly kept together, and came home regularly every
afternoon ; and, being in good case, it is probablet hey
may be stolen or killed; in either of which cases,! hereby
offira reward of FIFTY POUNDS for information, to
be paid on conviction of the offenders; but if strayed, I
will pay FIVE POUNDS for each, on their being brought:
to me. § CHARLES ATKINS.
STOLEN or strayed from Hampftead, near the middle
of i^pril hit, two Horses, each about 13^ hands high, with
bo,d marcs and ^art switch tails; cue a bright bay, branded D or
D on the near fboulder a»d buttock ; the other a forrcl, has a
foaze on his face, and branded Jra on the near th wider. Four Dal.
hrs for each horse will be give# to the pedon who delivers them at
Hampftead to § EDMUND HEAD.
STOLEN or strayed from the fubferiber's plantation at
Afh!ey ferry in January last, two Steers, one a red p ad, the
other a black with a crumpled horn, an upper keel in one car, and
three flits in the other, branded on the rump and fide Cp„ alfc a
dak bay Soliton, branded as above; and whereas there has been a
number of cattle and horfiraftolen or strayed from the ,latation of
t,c late Mr. fite^r Porter decetfed, marked and branded as above,
Five Pounds reward wli be given to azy perlon th-.t will deliver
them to the overseer on the plantation a: Beach-Hill, or to the
fubferiber at Afiiley-ferry. EDAV&RD LEGGE.
All Persons to whom the Estate is indebted to, are
desired to bring in their Accounts, pwpetly attested, to Elifetab
Porter or Edward Legge. §
SOUTH CAROLINA, CHARLESTOWN-DISTRICT.
February Assizes, 1777.
ORDERED, That the Names of the Justices of the
Peace for this Diftrift, be forthwith publiihed.
By Order of the Court,
JOHN COLCOCK, C. C. S.
The Honourable Henry Laurens, Eq; VicoPrefident of the
State; the Honourable Hugh Rutledge, Eiq; Speaker of the Legif
btive Council, and Judge of the Ccu't of Admiralty; the Ho
nourable Thomas Shubrick, Thomas Fuller, Brffrmiu Elliott,
Joh^ Parker, Le Roy Hammond, Charles Cauley, Roger Smith,
Wiiliara Thomfo% Alexander Hack ntofh, Tames Farfore, Benja
min Dart, an# Alexander Fraser, Efats. Members of the said Legis
lative Council; the Honourable William-Hentt D ayten, Eq; a
Member of th^Prfvy Council, and Chief Justice cf the State ; the
Hanoi ] able Thomas Ftrgufon and Jshn Edwards, Efars. Members
of the said Privy Council; the Honourable John Mathews, Esq;
Speaker of the General Assembly, and one of ihe Aftiftant Judges;
the Honourable Thomas Bee and Henry Pendleton, Efqrs. Affift^t
Judges; the Honourable John Brayton, Eq; Christopher Gadsden,
Paul Travie , Claudius Pegues, John Chafout, John-James Haig,
Richard Raphy, and Benjamin Garden, Efqrs. Quorum Unut, &c.
James Aki-, Joseph Atkinson, Nathaniel Broughton, Edmund
Bellinger, Richard-Bohn, B ker, Joseph Bee, Eli>sßall, jen.
John Brone, John Brailsford, William Bonne, Capers B^onc,
Paler Bm^etheaw, James Carlon, Andrew Cunningham, Willi
am Cattail, Tfh'rn Clayton, Tames Clark, Gabriel C vers, John
Co'cock, Paul Diuxfaint, Levi Dirand, John - Sandford Dart,
Wiliam Dewitt, John Dr;ke, John Deas, Sprout! Elliott, Thomas
Evanre John Frierfen, Benjamin Folic', Nathaniel Fuller, John
Fullerton, Thomas Fare, Frederick Grimke, Cu'cheth Gibbet, Jo
seph Glover, William G ; bbes, Robert Gibbes, Melchior Garner,
John Gaillard, Gabriel Gignilliatt, Charles Gutiard, Johs-Fau
cheraud Grimke, Thomas Heyward, Thomas Ho'chinlon, John
Huger, William Hopton, Gorge Haig, Richard Hutson, Jr*, r s
Hamilton, William Hort, William Holmes, Edward Jermain. Ralph
Izard, JohnJzatd, Benjamin Jenkins, Joseph Jenkins, jan. William
Jenkins, Th,mas Lynch, Andrew Leitch, Williara Login, Jernes
Lynxh, Jahn Livingston, fames Laroche, Issac Legare, Thomas
Lidfon (as John's Ilbnd) John Lightwood, Gabriel Manigault,
Arthur Middleton, Gabriel Marion, Jacob Motte, John Moore,
Isaac M'zy-k, Hezekiah Mahan, Job Marion, Joseph Maybftk,
Peter Motzov, William Mafco, Willhm Maffay, Benjamin Ma
rlon, jan. Ephraim Mitchell, William Morgau, Robert Murrell
Ephraim Mitchell, James Murray, Richard Mercer, Francis Mari
on, Sampfoß Neyle, William Nifbett, David Oliphant, Ho; kin
Price, John Pamor, Philip Porcher, Iliac Porcher, William Par
ker, John Poaug, Hopfan Pinckney, James Raid, James-Lytton
Richards, James Ravenel, Isaac Rivers, David Reynolds, George
Sheed, Thomas Smith, Jarnos Stobo, James SkirVirg, Jonathan
Scott, William Scott, Henry Smith, Philip Smith, Jeremiah Savage,
Joseph Seabrook, Berjamin Smith, Benjamin Simons, John Syme,
Peter Sinker, James Skii ving, jun. William Swinton, Maurice Si
mons, James Smith, John Scott (Sen of Jonathan) Richard-Park
Stobo, Jofeoh Slant], Charles Shepbeard, William Stanyarne, J<mes
Sickler, Toomas Turner, John Troup, Jofhna Toomer, Edward
Thomas, jun. Paul Townsend, Arnohlus Vandeihorft, Robert Wil^
liams, Sires White, John Wright, Richard Withers, Abraham
Wright, B:rj<min Waring, John Wigfall, Joseph Wigfall, Peter
Witter, Richard Walters, John Wilson (of Wadmehw) John
Ward (>f St Bartholomew's Parish) Thomas Walter and Fran
cis Yonge, Enquires.
MAjor George Ford tolls a bright bay Gelding, 13 hands high,
aged, a star in his forehead, a foip on his nose, branded on
the (boulder and buttock hut not to be uidcAood- The owner of
the above flray mud prove his property in St. George's Farifh,
before 6 WILLIAM DEWITT.
GEorge Johnston informs me of a brown Horse, both
hind lect white, a large star, b ended on the off boulder b,
ana on the buttock ►-,. —Strayed into ray paflure, a yellow bay
More, § yesre old, a bhzr iu her face, and branded on the near
thigh SS. The owners me£ prove th^r ereperty before me at the
Waxhaws. • JAMES SIMPSON, J. P.