The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-02-29 00:00:00, page 2

plied in the nature of the compact. But the clearest implica
tion does not always relieve tne confidence from fcruplcs. If
sacred history tells truth, Abraham's servant, when about to
swear on a more trivial occasion, would not be content with
any implied release from his oath, but infilled on having the
terms of it particularly and clearly defined, and the clauie of
release fairly and fully Rated, that neither his own conference,
nor the tongue of dander might be able, however falfely, to
accuse him of perjury. 1 also remember a gentleman lately told
me, that he had just been reading the oath of allegiance, and for
his part, he said, he could not, confident with it, oppose the
present proceedings of Great-Britain. I told him the oa<h
was conditional, • but it would not do. Now there may be
many men in our House cf Assembly, who have like confidences
with this man and Eleazer.
I conclude therefore that every degree of inactivity, back
wardness, or inconfiftancy with which they are chargeable,
proceeds wholly from the oaths they have taken.. Their
Situation is in this refpetl very delicate, and ought to be
taken into consideration by every one who takes upon him to
judge of their conduct. lam fare nothing heretofore alledged
can To easily account for the inftrudions given by them to our
Delegates in Congress, and the. unanimity with which they
were agreed to in the House. Their oaths, they might ima
gine, tied them ; and they must tye their Delegates. Letus
fully acquit them of all sinister motives. Here is princi
ple Sufficient to account for the matter, a principle more con
sonant to our ideas of their integrity and virtue, and the pa
triotic part of their proceedings, and therefore more worthy
of credit than the charge of Toryifm. Men of equal in
tegrity, but more confined in their notions, would have re
fused to aft at all, and rather submitted to any terms than
made an opposition." I cannot therefore help hinting, that
if their constituents condemn them for backwardness and in
consistency on the present occasion, they have much greater
reason for accusing their constituents of unieafonabienefs in
expecting such things at their hands, while an oath is in the
way. The Assembly and a Convention are both representa
tives of the people, yet on the present occasion a Convention
ads more to the minds of the people. Why so? Not surely
becawfe the members that compote it are greater friends to
their country, or more warmly attached to the liberties of
America; by no means, but because they have no oaths to
embarrass them. Why then is the Assembly laid under these
difficulties, when they can be avoided ? If people would con
fider this matter properly, and shew that regard to their re
presentatives which they certainly merit, they would not lay
such Rumbling blocks in their way. If no other body of
men would do what is required of them, necessity would
plead on their behalf, and save them from felf-reproach. But
as this is not the case, their backwardness is justifiable, and
they alone are to be blamed who have it in their power to re
move the difficulty, and yet will not do it. For my part, I
was always againit troubling the Assembly with the matter,
were it not for a kind of tacit interfering with their oaths,
who, that has the high esteem of them which is due to up
right Representatives, can doubt but they would have recom
mended rhe calling a Convention before this time? The Com
mittee of Inspection for this city and district, have it in their
power to take the load off their Shoulders ; and if they do
not, blame not your Assembly. I have Shewn fufficient cause
why they cannot enter into the necessary measures. The
Comn^ttee lies under'no such difficulties. Let blame for the
future fall on the deserving.
The APOLOGIST,
104
PH ILA DEL PIII A, February 29.
Major Lewis Nicola is appointed Barrack-Master of the
barracks in this city, instead of Joseph Fox, Esq; who has
resigned.
EXTRACT from the VOTES. Thursday, February
22, 1776, A. M.
A Message from the Governor to the Assembly.
" Gentlemen,
" In consequence of your message of the twenty-fifth of
November last, founded on a letter addressed to you, from
the county of Northumberland, refpeding the Connecticut
Settlers at Wyoming, I took the earliest opportunity of giv
ing orders to the magistrates of that county to put the laws of
this province in execution in their county. The letter I have
Since received from the magistrates and Sheriff, which I have
ordered the Secretary to lay before you, will inform you of
the steps they took in pursuance of my order, and of the un
fortunate event of their proceedings.
" As a considerable expence must have arisen, @n this at
tempt, to execute the laws of the government, I doubt not
you will readily make provision for defraying it.
Feb. 22, 1776. JOHN PENN."
Letter to the Governor from Northumberland.
" Sir, Sunbury, 30th Dec. 1775.
“ In pursuance of your Honor's letter of the 25th ult. the
magistrates of this county delivered into the hands of onr
Sheriff warrants and other legal precedes against a number
of persons residing at Wyoming, in this county, who have
been charged on oath with the moss illegal practices, and
some of them with the greatest crimes. The Sheriff, appre
heafive of refinance, judged it prudent to raise the posse of
the county ; a body of near five hundred men accompanied
him to the neighbourhood of Wyoming, where they were
met by feme people from Wyoming (one of whom was said
to be an officer) — to these men the intention of the Sheriff
and his posse was fufficiently explained, and the Strongest as-
NEW-Y 0 R K, February 26.
By the Albany poll we are informed, that last week a fire
broke out in Albany, and confirmed two or three houses, par
ticularly the house of Mr. Robert Henry, merchant there,
with the chief part of his houlhold furniture, and a large va
riety of merchandize to a considerable value.
Extract of letter from Montreal, dated February 4, 1776.
" Quebec is incl /fed by a considerable body of ftrees tinier
Brigadier General Arnold: They hope to avoid" Storming;
and thereby prevent effufion of blood on both Sides. Tie
garrison c^hfifts of the seamen belonging to two frigates,
and the meichantmen that winter at Quebec, two companies
of wretched emigrants railed from the outskirts of the suburbs,
the dr pendants of government, and a few citizens whole expt fl d
effects obliged their remaining there to preierve them, in the
whole, we eßimate from twelve to thirteen hundred men ca
pable to bear arms; a body not fufficient to do th; daily duty
of guards only. To this may be added the want of wood to
that degree that by a deserter just escaped, without deftrey
ing the houses there remains not fuel for five days. These
circumftauces we flatter ourselves will engage General Carlton
(out of humanity) to offer terms before the feafpn becomes so
advanced as to oblige the Continental army to force their ad
mittance."
Saturday last Col. Ward's regiment arrived here from Con
ne&icut, and the lame day embarked in boats and landed oa
Nassau island.