The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-09-17 00:00:00, page 2

SKETCH of PROPOSITIONS communicated to
Lord Howe on the 12th of August, 1776.
1. '' 1 hat it Ihali be afeertained, as far as can be deter
mined by calculation, what supply towards the general exi
gency of the state each feparatecolony can furnifh, confident
with its ability.
2. “ When such supply is thus afeertained, that each co
lony shall, by ads of its own Assembly, impose such taxes as
they shall find expedient for the railing of the laid supply.
3. " In consideration of the fluctuating state of all young
countries, that such taxes may not, in their operations, be
come partially or accidentally burthenfome on the one hand,
nor on the other hand gradually become deficient in pro
ducing the aid intended by the colonies towards the general
exigency of the state, such articles shall be chosen as the
objeds of imposition, as they shall deem the most likely to
keep pace with the growth or decline of the said colonies.
4. “ That these taxes, so imposed, shall, as in the customs,
be levied by officers of the appointment of the King; and
that a perpetual grant, of the produce of these taxes, shall be
made by the refpedive Assemblies to the crown of Great-
Britain.
5. “ As the direct means of removing the fatal grounds
of this contention, by establishing a security against the ap
prehended invasion of property by Parliament, a formal re
linquishment shall be made, on the part of Great-Britain,
of all future claim to taxation over these her colonies.
6. " To remove all fu.ure suspicions from the minds of
the Colonists, that under the appearance of regulating com
merce, duties may be imposed for the farther purpgfes of re
venue, an application of the produce of all duties, imposed
on articles ot trade by the British legislature, shall be made
towards defraying the expenses of collection, and the fur
pluffes in each colony,to be paid into their separate treasuries,
and to be fubjedt to the disposal of the respective Houses of
Assembly. DRUMMOND."
" Eagle, off Staten-lfland, August 15, 1776.
“ My Lord,
“ I have received the honor of your Lordihi p's letter of the
12th, .enclosing a fcetch of the proportions mentioned in your
late conversation, which I return herewith.
“ As I think they contain matter that, upon a conference
and cool difeuffion, might be wrought into a plan of perma
nent union, I shall, with great fatisfadion, embrace tne firft
opportunity that may be offered upon those grounds, to pro
mute so desirable an event. I have the honor to be, my
Lord, your Lordship's mod obedient servant,
HOWE.
“ Right Hon. the Lord Drummond."
The following is the purport of the message sent from Lord
Howe to Congress, by General Sullivan.
“ That though he could not at present treat with Congress
as such, yet he was very desirous of having a conference with
" My Lord,
" I take the liberty of fending inclofed the sketch of pro
positions referred to in my late conversation with your Lerd
ihip, which proportions, I b^ve underlined, the colonies were
dilpofed, not many months ago, to make the balls of a recon
ciliation with Great-Britain. I have the honor to be, with
great refpe&, your Lordship's moll obedient humble servant,
, DRUMMOND.
Sloop Polly, August 12, 1776.
To Lord Howe."
460
In CONGRES S, Sept. 5, 1776.
Resolved, That Gen. Sullivan be requeued to inform Lord
Howe that this Congress, being the Representatives of the Free
and Independant States of America, cannot with propriety
end any of its members, to confer with his Lordship in their
private characters, but that, ever desirous of eftablilhing peace
on reasonable terms, they will fend a Committee of their
body to know whether he has any authority to treat with per
sons authorised by Congress for that purpose, in behalf of
America, and.what that authority is, and to hear such proper
fitions as he shall think fit to make reflecting the fame.
Resolved, That tomorrow be assigned for clewing the
Committee.
September 6, 1776.
Resolved, Tint the Committee, to be sent “ to know,
whether I^ord Howe has any authority to treat with persons
auihorifed by Congress for that purpose, in behalf cf Ame
rica, and what that authority is, and to hear such propo
sitions as he shall think fit to make refpeding the fame," con
fill of three.
The members chosen, Mr. Franklin, Mr. John Adams,
and Mr. E. Rutledge.
Extrafl from the minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
The Committee, who were appointed to wait on Lord Howe,
having returned to Congress, made their report in the
following words:
" Inobedience to the order ofCongrefs, we have had a meet
ing with Lord Howe. It was on Wednesday last, upon
Staten-island, opposite to Amboy, where his Lordship re
ceived and entertained us with the utmost politeness.
" His Lordship opened the conversation by acquainting us,
that tho' he could not treat with us as a Committee of Congress,
yet as his powers enabled him to confer and consult with any
private Gentlemen or influence in the colonies, on the means
of reCoring peace between the two countries, he was glad of
this opportunity of conferring with us on that fubjecl, if we
thought ourfelve& at liberty to enter into a conference with
him in that character. We observed to his Lordship, that as our
business was to hear, he might confider us in what light he
pleated, and communicate to us any propositions he might
be authorifed to make for the purpose mentioned ; but that
we could confider ourselves in no other character than that in
which we were placed by the order of Congress. His Lord-
some of the members, whom he would confider for the pre
sent only as private gentlemen, and meet them himfelf as such,
at such place as they should appoint.
" Ihat he, in conjunction with General Howe, had full
powers to compromise the dispute between Great-Britain and
America, upon terms advantageous to both, the obtaining of
which delayed him near two months in England, and pre
vented his arrival at this place before the Declaration of In
dependancy took place.
" I hat he wished a compact might be fettled at this time,
when no decisive blow was struck, and neither party could fay
that they were compelled to enter into such agreement.
“ That in case Congress were disposed to treat, many
things, which they had not as yet asked, might and ought to
be granted them ; and that if, upon the Conference, they found
any probable ground of an accommodation, the authority of
Congress must be afterwards acknowledged, otherwise the
compact could not be complete."
Extract from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.