The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-12-31 00:00:00, page 3

the man that can fitile in trouble,' that can,gather'ftfen^th
ficin diiitefe,mid glow birive by reflexion. "1 is the business
cf little minds tu shrink ; but he whole heart is firm, arid
whole conscience a k proves his conduct, will pursue his princi
p s unto death. My ownlinecf reasoning is to mylelf as strait
aid clear as a ray of light. Not all the treasures of the world, so
far as I believe, could have induced me to fu, port an offenfive
war, for 1 th ; nk it murder; but if a thief break into ary house,
burn and defiroy my property, and kill or threaten to kill me
or those that are in it, and to “ bind me in all cases whatjoroer,
to his absolute will, am 1 to fuffer it ? What figmfies it to
me, whether he who does it, is a King or a common man ;
my countryman or not my countryman ; whether it is done
by an individual villain, or an army of them ? If we reason
to the root of things we iliall find no difference ; neither can
'any just cause be aligned why we should punish in the one case
and pardon in the other. Let them call me rebel, aad wel
come, I feel no concern from it ; but I should fuffer the misery
rif devils, were I to make a whore of my foul by swearing alle
giance to one, whole character is that of a sottish, stupid, stub
born, werthlefs, brutish man. I conceive likewise a horrid
idea in receiving mercy from a being, who at the last day
iha! be shrieking to the rocks and mountains to cover him,
and fleeing with terror from the orphan, the widow and the
Slain of America.
1 here are cases which cannot be overdone by language,,
and this is one. There are peffons too who fee not the full
extent of the evil that threatens them ; they felace themselves
with hopes that the enemy, if they succeed, will be merciful.
It is the madness of folly to exptfl mercy from those who have
refilled to do jafticc, and even mercy, where conqti€ft is the
cbje&, is only a trick of war. The cunning of the fox is
. as murderous as the violence of the wolf; and we ought to
.guard equally against both. Howe's firft objeft is partly by
threats and partly by „omifes; to terrify or seduce the peo
ple to deliver up their arms, arid receive mercy. The miai
ftry recommended the fame plan to Gage, and this is what
the Tories call making their peace ; " ^ peace which fafleth
all underfeeding" indeed! A peace which would be the im
mediate forerunner cf a worse ruin than any we have yet
thought of. Ye men of Pennsylvania, do reason upon those
things ! Were the back counties to give up their arms, they
would fall an easy prey to the. Indians, who are all armed.
This "perhaps is what force Tories would not be ferry for..
Were the home counties to deliver up their arms, they would
be exposed to the resentment of the back counties, who would
then have it in their power to chailife their'defection at plea
sure. And were anyone date to give up its arms, that
fate must be garrisoned by all Howe's army of Britons and
Kenans, to preserve it from the anger cf the rest. Mutual
fear is a principal link in the.chain of mutual love, and woe
be to that state that breaks the compact^ Howe is mercifully
inviting you tc barbarous deftruaion, und men rauft be either
rogues or fools that will not lee it. I dwell not upon the va
pours of imagination, i bring region to your ears, and in
language as plain as A, B, C, hold up truth to your eyes.
I thank Gon that 1 fear not. I lee io real carafe hr fear.
I knew Cur friuaticn well, and can ice the way cut of it.
While our army was collected, frlone dared not rlk a battle,
and it is no credit to 'him that be decamped, from the W hite
Plains, and waited a mean opportunity to ravage^hc defence,
less Jerfies ; but it is great credit to as, that, with an hand
ful of men, we sustained at orderly retreat for near an hun
dred miles, brought off our ammunition, ^li.cui Led frees,
the greater part of our floras, and Had four rivers to pals.
None can fay that our retreat was precipitate, for we were .near
617
PHIL ADELPHI A, Dec. 31.
By the last advices from the Jerfies, we learn the enemy ard§,
every where dying before our army, who frequently take
final! parties of them. Sj^ce the affair at Trenton, it is said.
We have taken four hundred, amongil whom are federal of
ficers.
Yesterday morning upwards of hine hundred Hessians, who
were taken at Trenton, were brought to this city. The
wretched condition of these unhappy men, most of whom, if
not ,11, were dragged from their wives arid families by a de
spotic and avaricious prince, must sensibly affed every .gene*
reus mind with the dreadful effeds of arbitrary power.
Last Monday, seven of the lighthorfe belonging to this city
took nine lighthorfemen. from the enemy, near Princeton,
without firing a gun.
Last Thursday afternoon Col, Rohl died, at Trenton, of
the woundshe received that morning.
College cf Philadelphia, Dec. 31, 1776.
*, The Students and Scholars belonging to the College
are desired to take notice that the-ilhoots will b>tpened again,
or Thursday morning n^xt. WILLIAM SMIT H, Prov.
^•Tiie public are hereby informed that any tick or
wounded fcldiers who come to this city,, are to apply to the
Board of Sick the corner of C.ay's-ailey, or to Mr. William
Coates, tanner, in the Northern Liberties, from nine to
twelve, and from two to five. By order of the Board,
Dec. 31. WILLIAM THORNE.
It+ Wanted immediately, ,NURSLS arid ASSISTANTS
to attend tick foidtem Any perlons, willing to ftrve in
fueb capacity,'by applying to the Bbatd of Sick at the corner
of G;.j s-aney, will receive , good encouragement.
December
three weeks in performing it, that the country might hwe
time to come in. 1 wice &emar< heu back to.meet the enemy,
and remained out till dark. The sigh of fear was not seen
in our camp, and had not feme of the cowardly and difaf
fefted inhabitants spread faiie alarms thro' the country, the
Jerfies had never been ravaged. Once more we are again
collected and colleaiig; chr new aimy at both ends of the
continent is recruiting faft, and we Ilia'll be able to open the
next campaign with sixty thousand meh, well armed and
clothed. This is our situation, "and whonill may know it.
By perseverance and fortitude we have the profped cf a glo
rious issue ; by cowardice and submission, the fad choice of
a variety of evils, a ravaged country, a depopulated city,
habitations without f^fety, and slavery without hope, bur
homes turned into barracks and baudy-houfes for Hefiians,
and a future race to provide for whose fathers we shall doubt
ofl Look on this pi&ure, and weep over it!—And if there
yet remains one thoughtless wretch who believes it not, let
him fuffer it unlamented.
Philadelphia, Dec. 27, 1776.
H E Honorable Congress having appointed a Cum-
J mittce of their body to traniad inch Continental b&fi
pels in this ciry as may be proper and neceflhry, the laid.
Committee give this public notice, that they meet every day,
and fit fr< m ten to three o'clock, at their office in Front
ftreet, where Messrs. Barclay and Mitchell lately dwelt, op
pcfiic to Messrs. Conyngham, Nefbit and Company. All
pertons charged with public letters for the Cengrefs,- Board
of War, Marine, or other Committees, are desired to take
notyce hereof, as such letters will be opened or forwarded ty
the Committee as the case may require.—ROßEßT MORRIS,
GEORGE CLYMER, GEORGE WALTON.