The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-05-25 00:00:00, page 1

The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
Tothe Honorable the CONGRESS of the United Co
lonies of North-America, the Memorial of the City and
Liberties ®f Philadelphia, refpedtully ftieweth,
r~f\ HAT they have beheld with great afflidion the
Assembly of the province of Pennsylvania WITH
DRAW from its union with the Congress (in con
sequence of their inftruftions to their Delegates)
upon the Resolve of the Congress of the'^th instant, for sup
pressing all authority derived from the crown of Great-Britain
in the United Colonies.
That they confider the fafefy, liberty and future welfare of
this colony as inseparably connected with its union with the
other colonies.
That they have always esteemed their chief happiness to
consist in the faithful execution of such of the Revives of the
Congress as tended to maintain said union.
That in consequence of the defection of the Delegates
appointed by the Assembly of Pennsylvania, frora a union
with the other colonies, they apprehended an appeal was
made to the people.
That in compliance with the request of a large majority of
the inhabitants of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, on
the 20th instant, they have issued letters (by virtue of a power
given to them in a Provincial Convention held in Philadel
phia, in January 1775) for calling a conference of the Com
mittees of the counties, in order to colled the sense of the in
habitants upon the aforefaid Resolve of Congress, and if pos
sible to bring about a reunion of the province, with the other
colonies, by calling a Provincial Convention, with a view to
form a government for that purpose.
That they have heard, with great surprise, that the Assembly
of this province are about to prefect a Memorial to your Ho
norable Body, in consequence of a Remonstrance delivered to
them from a number of the inhabitants of Philadelphia, in
which it is said they have requeued an explanation of your
resolve of the 15th instant.
Thatthe Remonstrance, on which this Memorial is founded,
strikes diredly at the union of the colonies, by praying for
the continuance of a government in this province which is
supported in its executive parts entirely by a Governor and
officers who hold all their power under the authority of the
King of Britain.
That the said Remonstrance has been obtained by indefati
gable industry and unfair representations, and is signed chiefly
by men who hold offices under the crown, or by people con
neded with them, or by those who have uniformly opposed
every measure adopted by the Congress (petitions to the King
only excepted) or by those who have published testimonies
manifestly injurious to many of those steps that have been
taken in this province in support of the union of the colonies.
That the Committee are determined to comply with the
Resolve of the Congress of the 15th instant, in the manner be
fore mentioned, and they declare that the present Assembly
of the province was not cholen, and is not invelled with powers
eo carry the said resolve into execution.
That their unwillingness to appeal to the voice of the
people, and the pains they have taken to prevail upon the
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SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1776.
261
Congress to interfere in our " domestic police," betrays a
fear that in refuting to comply with the Resolve of the Con
grwfw, they will ad contrary to the inclinations of a majority
of their constituents.
That a majority of the present Assembly do net poflefs the
confidence of the people. That it dees not contain a full and
equal reprefentatiom of the province; that it is composed of
men who hold offices under the crown of Britain ; that they
have deputed the power which was deputed solely to them, to
persons who had not the fandion of the voice of the people
for legislative purposes; and that we have reason to believe
that they have been dragged into a compliance with most of
the Resolutions of the Congress from a fear of a Provincial
Convention.
From a government formed by men marked with such in
confiftences, prejudices, and arbitrary views, we have as
much to fear as from the unlimited exertions of that power
which has declared itfelf possessed of a right to tax us with
out our consent, and to bind us in all cases whatfoerer.
The Committee have too much confidence in the wisdom of
your Body, to believe (when informed cf the true situation of
the province) that you meant to include the Assembly thereof
in your recommendations to “ Assemblies" to form new
governments. The origin and present tenure of your power
can Heyer fuffer you to forget that it was by making names
yield to things, and forms to substantial justice, that you ac
quired the confidence of America, and the admiration of the
world.
They beg that the Congress would not be deceived by mis
representations. They declare solemnly that they have no
design or wish to alter those parts of the charter or laws of the
province which secure to every man the enjoyment of his pro
perty, liberty, and the sacred rights of conscience. They
with only to fee alterations made in such of them as re
late to representation in the province, and such as render the
consent of the King and his Governor neceflary to giveefficacy
and execution to our laws, and these they conceive to be no
less necessary to the “ fafety and happiness of our colony in
particular," than " to America in general."
The situation cf our province, it is true, requires vigor
and harmony in the direction of both civil and military af
fairs, but these can never be obtained when a people no lon
ger confide in their rulers. The Committee fear no calami
ties from a dilunion throughout the province, but thus pub
licly charge the feeblenefs of all our Counsels to our union
with men of narrow and interested views. The strength cf
a country, in the time of war, consists in the number of its
fighting men. The Constituents of this Committee, who
are composed chiefly of men of this class, have declared that
they will support the Union of this province with the other
colonies at " every hazard ;" and they have the pleasure of
informing you that similar determinations prevail in most of
the battalions of the province.
THOMAS M'KEAN, Chairman,
Committee Chamber,
May 24, 1776.
[Num. 210.