The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-10-17 00:00:00, page 1

A DIALOGUE between Orator Puff and
Peter Easy, on the proposed Plan or Frame of
Government. [Continued from page 512.]
HIS innovation is very extraordinary in-
Peter. g deed?
Orat. Now, Peter, I will give thee a most
' remarkable proof of the sagacity and depth
of some of our leading men. Thou obferveft in their plan, it is
said—" The supreme executive power shall be veiled in a Prefi-.
dent and Council" —and that this^Council may “ appointjud
ges, naval officers, judge of the admiralty, attorney general,
and other officers civil and military, and may hear and deter
mine impeachments," &c. &c. &c, &c. This looks as if here was
a difribution of power between the Assembly and the Council.
But it only looks so. Seme shrewd folks knew this would
not answer their purpose. These great men, Peter, know very
well that it would not appear quite proper, that they should
all at once spring up into the highest offices of state. They
thought their being in a House of Assembly, amongst a num
ber, would not be so exceptionable, and knowing their po
pular abilities, by the experience they have had in the Conven
tior, where they have ruled as they pleased, they therefore have
artfully contrived a Frame of Government which will render
the executive power dependant on the legislative, that is on
the Houle of Assembly, where they propoie to fit and dictate
for awhile. The President and Vice-President are to be cho
sen annually by the House of Representatives, for as to the
Council joining in the choice, it is a mere farce, their num
ber being only twelve to seventy-two. And the President, Vice-
President and Council are to be totally dependant on the House
for their pay. If the President and Vice-President expert to
hold their places ; or if the other Counfellors ever exped to
he President or Vice-President ; or if any of them exped to
be paid for their services, let them take care how they dis
oblige their governors, the leading men in Assembly. Let them
have due attention to the recommendations of these leader/,
in the appointment of all officers, and in every part of their con
dud. Again, by the twentieth fedion, every officer of state,
judicial and executive, may be impeached by the Assembly
before the President or Vice-President and Council, thus
defendant on THE Assembly. Wo be to the officer, ju
dicial or executive, that shall dare to disoblige one of our great
leaders in the Assembly. Nay, our very courts of justice, aye
th? judges of the Supreme court itfelf, will be liable at any mo
ment to feel the indignation of these leaders—for by the twenty
.third fe&ion they are to be commissioned for fevenyears only,
and, though it is said they shall have fixed salaries, yet they are
to be removealb.AT any time by the Assembly, for any thing
they please to call " mifeondud." Thus our ingenious and
bold leaders spurn out of our new state the most revered max
ims that have ever been established amongst men—such as this,
that Judges should hold their commissions during good be
haviour. It is true the Continental Congress has expressly
declared it to be a grievance, that " Judges of courts of com
mon law should be dependant on one part of the legislature for
their salaries, as well as for the duration of their commiAions?"
The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
Vol. lI.J
Price Three Coppers. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Evenings.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1776.
517
But what is their opinion ? It is only opinion against opinion ;
and, between us, Peter, I don't believe there ever were in any
Congress )ac^ men as our leaders in the Convention.
Peter. But, neighbour Puff, thou fhmldft not give all the
credit of this invention to the leaders in our Convention.
Does not the New-Jersey Frame of Government dired, that
the Judges of the supreme court shall continue in office for
seven years ?
Orat. Yes, yes, but the Hew-ferfey head-pieces were
not like ours. They foolifhly provided, that for those seven
years the Judges should absolutely hold their commissions, if
they have behaved well ; and should not be difmill, unless they
should be " impeached, tried, and adjudged guilty of mj
behaviour by the Council." But in Pen fy.vania the judges
of the supreme court may be kicked off the Assembly
as easily as old flippers, whenever the Assembly pleases,
WITHOUT ANY TRIAL.
Peter. But what will become of our state when these bright
men have served four years in Assembly ? Theo, according to
the eighth fedion, they can serve no more till three years be
past.
Orat. Poh, Peter, that fe&ion is only made for the com
mon members of the Assembly, not for our leaders ! For after
they have fat four years in Assembly, they will then have ren
dered such important services to their country, that they will be
entitled to rile into feats in Congress and Council, and after
fitting two years in Congress, and one in Council, or three
years in this last (which is the limited time) then they go in
to the Assembly again—How admirably are these things con
trived ? They fit to a notch. —This notion of Jinplicity, with
refpe& to fhifting from place to place, was taken from that
familiar and pleasing recreation of innocent minds. *
Here we go up, up, up,
And there we go down, down, downee.
Here we go backwards and forwards.
And there we go round, round, roundee.
Believe me, Peter, it is indispensably essential to our happi
ness, that our leaders should be perpetually in some office or
other, and should likewise have an influence or control over
all others.
Peter. My last question diverted thee from what thou waft
faying about the courts of justice.
Orat. That puts me in mind of the fuftices of the Peace.
They !—Liften, 0 America, and learn wisdom !—they are to
be elected by the people in every ward, township and diftrid
—.they are to be commissioned for seven years, but REMOVA
BLE by the Assembly for mijeonduc?. There's indulgence
and mildness for thee, Peter ! If there happens to be a great
number of debtors or disorderly people in a ward, township
or diltria, their servants and creatures, the fufices of the
Peace, will have a fine time of it, if they pretend to call their
wafer's and maker's to an account. Oh, Peter, our laws are
to be mild laws, and to be mildly executed. See the 30th
fe&ion—See also, Peter, the 32d fedion—which directs that
elections shall be by ballot, free and voluntary. Well,
there it is ordained, that if any man, in order to procure
himfelf to be elected a Member of Assembly by the people, or
[Num. 271.