The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-10-26 00:00:00, page 4

Orator. Peter, thou art very dull to day. Thou
Should'R make a diftindion between making laws and
executing them. In executing laws there Should be
a great deal of consideration. Therefore the new
Frame in several instances allows of appeals for re
ronf deration. But in making laws there is no need
of such delays. If they are bad, they may be re
peal'd: And if the Assembly will not repeal them,
yet every seven or nine years we may have a Con
vention, and I'll warrant, they will put us to rights.
A government, Peter, take my word for it, Should
be quick, decisive, and dreadful. It Shews energy,
and produces obedience.
Peter. Hiiving such good security, I fay no more.
Orator. It remains, Peter, to take notice of two
or three articles more in order to convince thee, with
how fuccefsful an ingenuity our great Leaders have
contriv'd to render the whole State of Pennsylvania
more dependent upon them, than ever it was on the
King and Parliament of Great-Britain. By the
lith feftion the Delegates of this State in Congress
Shall be chosen, and at any time may be superseded
by the Assembly alone. By the 35th fedion a Re,
gifter's office for the probate of wills, and granting
letters of administration, and an office for record
ing of deeds shall be kept in each county. The
officers are to be appointed by the Afembly alone
who may remove them at pleasure. It is impossi
ble to calculate, how vast, a power this last sec
tion will throw into the hands of our Leaders in
AiTembly. As all mortals must die the proceedings
of these offices relate to the whole property of
Pennsylvania. As the officers hold their offices only
during the pleafare of Assembly, our Leaders in that
houle may acquire an influence on every question
concerning a disputed will, or a disputed account
of executors or administrators. Now, my friend,
confefs candidly to me, if thou art not amazed at
the dexterity of these few brave, modest and enter
prizing Spirits, that without the support of any re
ligious society Among us, have contriv'd to raise
themselves so high on a Sudden, and have struck out
this new plan for Pennsylvania, so entirely different
in every material article from the Constitutions of
the- other States of America, and have nobly and
undauntedly persevered in their resolution of carry
ing it into execution, notwithstanding the ridicule,
contempt, and detestation, with which it was re-
Orator. Then thou art very Hupid. Why, if
the AflNnbly men Should propose a bill to be pafs'd
into a law, and another legislative branch Should
obje& to it, the Afembly would grow angry ; •'pe
tulances and ill will" would arise. Such bodies
dont like to be interrupted or disappointed in their
operations, especially in such grand ones as making
laws for a great State. There would certainly be
deputes, Peter, between two houses.
Peter. And where would be the harm, when the
members of both houses are equally the Servants of
the people, and in those deputes must appeal to
the people. It is pleading the cause of the peo
ple, before the people. The sovereignty and ma
jesty of the people then appear in Splendor. We
Shall have, we can have, no such appeals with one
house.
they plcafc nrr. :1c disturbances if they dare. There
will he Short work c ith them. Sharp's the word.
Pcfr. But what inconvenience or danger would
follow, if the fchr^e legislative power should be
lodgelan two houses, and both elected by the people.
I have been informed by gentlemen who have fat in
Adembiies in this State and in others, that bills have
Sometimes pass'd there, for which in a little time
they would have been much concerned and afanted,
if the\ had not been objected to or amended by an
other branch of the Legislature.
C^cor. Oh, there would be very great danger.
J* or the two houses might 'be influenced by different
interefs. The landed intcred might rule in one,
•and the mercantile intereh in the other; and so they
might iirr and Sparr.
edter. How could that be possible, when the
members of both houses Should be chosen by the
people, that is by tie very fame electors ?
draper. I heard one of my great friends fav it
-might happen. The people might make a very wife
choice of Af'emlly men, and a very ioolifh choice of
Senators or Counsellors. The Proverb lays No
man is wife at all times.
Peter. Well then, to comply with the Proverb,
let the members of both houses, or in other words,
the /trembly men and the Senators or Councillors
"veiled with legislative power, which ever title is
moll liked, be all chosen by the people, that is, by the
very fame electors at the very same time, Then,
according to thy own rule, both choices must be wife
if one is wife.
Orator. Peter, thou beginneft to be troublesome.
Thou preffell a point againd all reason. If thou
doll not give me some latitude, I will take my de
parture. I tell thee that having two houses to agree
in making laws, '' tends in ail cases to embarrass and
prolong business."
Peter. When both houses are eleflcd by the peo
ple, dependent on the people, and accountable to the
people, why Should thole call'd Senators or Coun
cillors " embarrass or prolong bufmefs," unnecef-'
Drily, more than those call'd ffembly men? Will
names make the difference? I cannot fee into this
shatter.
ceiv'd and treated Whenpfinted, as it was said " for
Consideration." So that if they can only get into
the Assembly, of which they have not the lead
doubt, they will have the world in a firing, as the
faying is.
Peter. But was not the plan published for * con
sideration?"—
Orator. Oh! no! That was only to put a face
upon the thing: For the Convention went upon the
confirmation of the article before a fiftieth part of
the people had an opportunity of considering and
converting on So elaborate a piece: tor the commit
tee of the whole Convention never finish'd the draft
of the Frame of Government till Thursday the fifth
of September as appears by the printed minutes.
I hen they ordered it to be publish'd “ for consider
ation whicli could not be done in less than a day
or two; and on Monday the 16th day of September,
the Convention proceeded on the Frame again: so
that the people were not allowed ten days to con
sider it: And as to the consideration of the Mem
bers of Convention, it was never intended as to a
moll material part. For on the 16th day of Sep
tember last, it was mov'd and Seconded, that the
firft and second Sections of the Frame Should be de
bated upon and amended; whereupon it was resol
ved, “ that the farther debate on the Second, feelion is
precluded, because it was fully debated and determi
ned before as appears by the minutes of the firft and
Second of August last: Then it was moved and Se
conded, that the yeas and nays on any question in
the Frame of Government Should be entered on the
minutes when requeued by any four members." But
that was denied too. That's the brilk Short way of
doing business.
Peter. The political exploits of thy hero's are
truly aftonilhing.
Orator. True. But the most astonishing thing
is, from what flight and trifling objects they derive
their hints. Now I dare fay, thou would'ft be
puzzled to guess, from whence the idea of this won
derful Frame of Government was taken.
Peter. lam Sure I cannot guess
Orator. Then I'll inform thee, thou knoweft,
Peter, that Pope, the famous poet fays, men learnt
from Bees to build, and from the Nautilus, to fail.
Great matters, thou obferveft, from Small hints.
In like manner, the ideaof this Frame of Govern
ment was taken from a puppet foow. Our bright
men judged, that as allpeople are so much diverted
with a puppetJhow, they ought to have a Frame of
Government io much resembling it, that they might
be equally diverted with that too. it is true the suc
cess has not answered yet; but that is, because the
people have not yet Seen the political puppetfoow
play'd off. But, what will they fay, when they
fee all the puppets put in motion. There is to be a
Lawyer, a Doctor, a Colonel, a Major &c.
—in the Council, and a - # .
in the supreme court. Our Leaders will be the
puppet Jhow men. Each of them will be as snug as 0
in a corner. They will hardly be perce ; ved. Pre
sently, they touch the secret springs. Oh! what
a buttle there will then be on the public flags! jump
Lawyer dance away Doctor foftly Colonel
briskly Major .&cr it will be an ex
cellent entertainment, ' and all “ for the public
good," as the laying is..
Peter, we shall be as happy as they were in Eng
land, when the twelve judges of the kingdom
kept up rhe good old cuflom of dancing gravely in
their furr'd gowns round a fire in the middle of a
Half—
Peter. I must acknowledge, there will be a great
resemblance between our new Government and a
puppet Shew, tho' I did not attend to it till thou haft
explained it.
(To be Continued)
^HE RECORDER of DEEDS, for
A the City and County of Philadelphia,
hath now in his Possession a Number of old
Deeds, for Premises Situate in several Parts of
the Province of Pennsylvania, the Lower Coun
ties on Delaware and New-Jersey; the Persons
who are entitled thereto may have them, on
producing proper Vouchers and Payment of
Fees.
FIVE POUNDS Reward,
WE NT away yeferda, evening, a young^Negro
woman named B E T, of middling feature,
fat and likely. She had on a blue foalloon jacket and
petticoat, white linen handkerchief and apron, black
leather high heelftoes,Jilver buckles, and blue worsted
flockings with clocks. She took with her a new check
black and yellow fuff jacket and petticoat, a white
jacket and petticoat, a blue and white famped cotton
ditto, with sundry other clothes, and has had her ears
bored for ear-rings. The said Negro belongs to a
gentleman of Maryland, and it is supposed foe is
concealed in this city. Whoever brings her to me, at
the sign of the Blue-Ball in Chefnutfreet, Philadel
phia, shall have the above Reward.
MICHAELCLARKE.
Genuine Keyfer's Pills,
To be had of the Printer,
Port of Philadelphia,) T n ,
Pennfylvania^: , 0 whom ]t ma 7 concern.
Notice is hereby given, that a Court of
Admiralty will be held at the Court-house,
in the city of Philadelphia, on Monday the 28th
day of October ink. at ten o'clock in the forenoon
of the fame day, then and there to try the truth
of the fa&s alledged in the bill of Captain Jones
of the armed sloop called the Providence (who as
well, &c.) against the brigantine or veflel called the
Sea Nymph (her tackle, apparel, furniture and car
go) burthen about fifty tons, lately commanded by
Francis Trimingham, to the end & intent that the
owner or owners of the said brigantine and her car
go, or any person concerned therein may appear
and shew cause, if any they have, why the fame
Should not be condemned according to the prayer
of the said bill. By order of the Judge.
O&ober io. ANDREW ROBESON, Register.
JONAS PHILLIPS
In Market-freet, between Front and Seeond-freefs.
GIVES this public notice, that he is under the
necessity of fettling all his Accounts, with
those he has had any dealings with, in this or the
neighbouring provinces, as he will shortly enter
into a Copartnerfhip; he therefore begs it as a par
ticular favor, that all who have any demands against
him will immediately furnifh their accounts that the,
may be fettled and paid, and those indebted to him,
will discharge their refpe&ive ballances, as soon as
possible, in order that the settlement of his affairs,
may have no delay.
Said Phillips has for sale a neat assortment of
Merchandize, which he will fell exceeding cheap
for cash only, confining of the following articles,
viz. Oznabrigs, checks and Holland stripes, fine
Britannias, Iheetings and other linens, cambricks,
cotton caps, gauzes, silk and oil-cloth umbrelloes,
skeleton wires, girls and boys worked dockings,
fattin quilted petticoats, womens velvet collars, whip
cords and fifhing lines, sheep (hears and shoemakers
hammers, hand and pit saws, from fix feet to seven
feet and a half, writing paper, indigo, florence oil,
Holland geneva in cases, cinnamon, cloves, tent &
frontiniac wines, Mufccvado sugars, Scotch and
Spanilh fnuff, and sundry other Goods too tedious
to mention. He continues the Vendue Business as
usual, any Gentleman who are pleased to fend their
goods either for public or private sale, may depend
on his utmost endeavours for their interest.
N. B. Any perlon who has dry goods to dispose
of, on application to the said Phillips, will find a
ready purchaser, and the Cash paid on the delivery
of the Goods.
A few Copies of the
Military Guide,
FOR
YOUNG OFFICERS,
By THOMAS SIMES, Esquire,
In Two Volumes, large -O&avo, embellished
with a Number of Copperplates,
(Price Three Dollars)
May be had of the PRINTER hereof.
Philadelphia, Sth Month 30, 1776.
ALL Persons that have any demands against
the Estate of ELLIS LEWIS, late of this
City, deceas'd, are requeued to bring in their Ac
counts that they may be adjusted and p%id; and
those that are indebted to said Estate, by bond,
note, or book account, are desired to pay the fame
to the Subferibers.
TO BE S O L D.
Agreeable to the last Will and Testament of said
Ellis Lewis, deceas'd, a MERCHANT MILL and
SAW MILL adjoining, in good repair, together
with 100 acres of land, Situated in the County of
Chester and Township of Rennet, distant from
Chester 20 miles, and from Wilmington 10 miles;
the County of Lancaster lies about 25 miles back of
said Mill, where a fufficient quantity of Wheat may
be procured, the Mill house is bui|t of Stone and
brick, about 40 by 35 fee^, affo a stone addition
adjoining 30 by 25 feet; there,ape in said mill two
pair of mill-stones, one of French burrs the other
Cologn three boulting reels, and hoisting works
that go by water. A two story, hone dwelling-,
house, three rooms on a floor, a stone kitchen, and
apump o l good water in the yard; the barn is one
Story of stone and a frame upon it, with Cabling
underneatli, there are aboutten acres of very good
meadow, that is watered out of the; mill race, and
two apple orchards; the place lias always been,
deem'd a healthy filiation apd in good neighbour
hood. Any person inclining to purchase the above
described premises, by applying to JOSEPH
MUSGRAVE living near the fame, may know
the terms and veiw the place. An indisputable title
will be made to tlie purcliafer l)v tlie Subscribers
MARY LEWIS,? r
JOHN MORTON, ( Executors.
A few Reams of
Writing and Wrapping Paper
To be Sold cheap by the Printer,