The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-10-31 00:00:00, page 2

Mr. Towne,
As mankind in general, and particularly the more confeien
tious, are averse to taking oaths and affirmations which
have any thing in them they do not feel perfectly Satisfied
with, I beg you would give the following concifeobferva
tions a place in your next paper, as I am certain it must
ease the minds of every honest man in the commonwealth,
refpeaing the oath of electors.
fr^HE proceedings of the late Hon. Convention may be
I justly regarded injunctive in their Bill of Rights, and
Frame of Government, as they were instituted for the ex
press purpose of framing and establishing a Constitution,
therefore no man can be innocent, unless a raoft Shameful
ignorance can render him so, who would go about to sub
vert or diferedit any one article of those two chapters. Re
fpeding the several ordinances passed by them, I view them
in the fame light as the ads of the late Assembly, since they
have done business without the Governor, which were (ace
tified by the acquiescence of the people. And notwithstand
ing a certain gentleman told the people at the State-house,
'on the 2iit ieflant, “ that if any part of the oath complain
ed of was dispensed with, it muff overthrow the whole ordi
nance * which prescribed the mode of election, and in con
sequence the election and government altogether."
In this chain of consequences I can by no means agree
with this gentleman. Whatever parts of that resolution are
ipdifpenlable to the establishment of the Government, are as
To the FREEMEN of Pennsylvania.
A Government may be divided into three parts, firft, a
Bill of Rights—Secondly, a Constitution—
Thirdly, Laws. The bril may be compared to the trunk—
the lecond to the branches—and the third to the fruit of a
tree.'
First, The Bill of Rights should always include the na
tural rights of every freeman, and the essential principles of
free government, such as liberty of conscience—annual elec
tions—freedom of the pref.—trial by jury—rotation of offices
—equality of representation, &c. This bill should be un
alterable. The lead violation of any part of it, whether
by the legislature—the courts of law—or the people, should
always be punished as high treason against the date.
Secondly, The constitution should contain the execu
tive part of the Bill of Rights, such as the regulation of rc
prefentation—the institution of courts of jaftice—the limita
tion of the time of offices—the common forms of making and
executing laws, &c. It mull, from its nature and object, be
allowed to fluctuate, butmio changes should ever be mode in it
without the consent of three fourths, or four nths of tae ie
giflature, nor should any change ever affett the Bill oi Rights.
Thirdly, Laws should relate to life and pro^ty. lacy
should never be contrary to the Bill of Rights or the Cons? cu
tion. They are the yearly fruits of both. They should be
enacted by a majority of the legislature.
The late Convention of this itaie have confounded a Bill of
Rights—a Constitution—and laws together Had they a.
dopted the above diminutions, their Connie! of Censors acd
Septennial Convention would have been unnecefftry, and the
Bate of Pennsylvania would not have been disgraced wuh a
Frame of Government full of contradictions and abfuroities.
CASCA.
* As that gentleman, to favefamepurpofe of bis own, was pleafc
cd to call that rejoixtioL
546
Port of Philadelphia, 7 , .
Pennsylvania, ff. f T ° ALL whom ]t may concern.
N'OTICE is hereby given, that a COURT of ADMI
RALTY will be held at the State-house, in the city
of Philadelphia, on Tuesday the 19P? day of Nov. next, at
ten o'clock in the forenoon of the fame day, then and there,
to try the truth of the fads alledged in the bilbof Wingate
Newman (who as well, &c.) againftahe brigantine or vessel
called the POLLY, her tackle, apparel, furniture and cargo,
burthen about fifty tons, lately commanded by Plats Denny,
to the end and intent that the owner or owners of the said
brigantine and her cargo, 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,
0a.31, 1776. ANDREW ROBESON, Register.
'T' HE partnership of WHITE and MONTGOMERY
A, ^ difibived. All perlons that have any demands a
gainst laid partnership, are r^q netted. to, fur.nifh their ac
counts that they may be fettled.^ Apl toofe wh. are in
debted to them, are de%d,o be fpeliy in discharging their
respective acco. u nts „oth.er&ife th. # y will be put into the hands
of an at orney, without refyeftto persons.,
N. B. Char es White has rem^r I in[o Water-street, two,
doors below MarkeMteet, oppofit, Mr Andrew Caldwell's;
where he has for iale,a quantity or MUSCOVADO SU
GARS, in h-gffieads, tierces, and barrels. Also JAMAICA
SPIRITS, Weil-India and Philadelphia RUM, COFFEE™
PEPPER, ALLSPICE, and INDIGO of tae bell quality
&c. &c. &c.•
ON, '"'l?' n€ ^ at ONE: O'CLOCK,, at JOHN.
HA R I s .vendue store, will begin the file of ala et
and neat assortment of MERCHANDIZE, am..ng which
—forty pieces of&znabrag, thirty pieces of RnQUiilp %
twenty pieces cf roan linens, cotton velvets,, plumes, th X"
loons, rf.i^etd, croaacloths, cotton counterpanes, napkns
and tablecidths, sewing fifks, japaned waiters ; and bread
baskets; bombazeens, crapes., indigo, china, window glass,
and gin in cases. Alia household furniture, wearing ap
parel, &c. k
binding as the Constitution itfcK but any article of the
refohruon in q^ftion whkh ... . d l o f fyoute
neceihty, or an article w. ^uc^, ..., : <,) cumene can
not take place, is clearly in a rev 6 . , ,/, and may be
indifferently observed or d ^.^.^aw aman : s consci
ence impels him.
1 will then suppose that n' man will dispute ,he prop riety
of an oath of allegiance to the date in cue ihape or otner;
and finding no better form cf w r s, I wdi repeat after the
Convention :“I —— do iwear (.1 am m) thatl wul be true
and faithful to the commonweal of Pennlylvania ; and
that I will not, directly nor indirectly, do any act or things
prejudicial or injurious to the government thereof, as esta
blished by the Convention." Now I contend that leaving out
the words (Constitution or) is no more injury to the inten
tion of the framers of tael oath, than leaving out the words
((wear or) if I choose 10 affirm.
Ail the Contention couuj mean was to bind those, who were
protected by the government', to defend it ; and if that im
portant point is but well fecund, all possible indulgence q
tender and Crapulous confidences should be given 0/ every,
gwemment. MoN'