The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-04-04 00:00:00, page 1

The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
Mr. Towne,„
If the following conversation, together with the observations
annexed, be worthy a place in your paper, your inserting
it will oblige A CUSTOMER.
Towns-^ 7 ELL, how go ye on in Carlifle and
man. I Cumberland counties ? Have you a
VV great number of Associators?
Countryman. Yes, we have nx large battalions.
T. Have they generally signed and agreed to the articles Of
association given out by the Assembly ?
C. No, we greatly disapprove of them, and have peti
tioned the Assembly to make such amendments as will encou
rage the people to sigh them, as we by much prefer being
governed by one general system of rules, than that each bat
talion should make rules for itfelf.
T. But in case the House should not make the amendments
required, will you refufe to associate /
C. No, we will continue to associate, but pay no other at
tention to their regulations than what we have heretofore
done. .
T. What, do you deny the authority of the House of As
sembly, and refufe to submit to their resolves?
C. We will comply with the resolves, and pay the fine,
and, out of regard to the common cause, continue to asso
ciate ; for we, notwithstanding, fee the necessity of comply
ing with and supporting the resolves of the House of Assem
bly, however contrary they may be to Our judgment as indivi
duals. ,
T. But have you seen or heard of the resolve of Congress
requiring the Assembly to disarm all persons who have not
associated?
C. No, but such a resolve cannot affe& us, <we haoe, and
do c'ontinue to associate. It can only affeft difaffeded persons
and non-associators, and the sooner they are disarmed the
better.. f
T. There is a great disadvantage in not being all under one
set of regulations, and we ought to avoid it as much as pos
sible.
C. Very true, Sir, we fee it, but it is not our fault if such
a thing should happen. The House of Assembly has it in
their power to set every thing right, if they do not, blame
not us; besides, if uniformity is absolutely necessary, a Con
vention can do it, or a fele& number of Associators, viz.
Officers and Privates. Our back counties are the most uni
versally hearty in the cause, and as ready to rifque every
thing in its defence, and we think this intitles us to a reason
able redress of grievances, and we are of opinion that we
ask nothing but what is reasonable.
I listened attentively to the conversation, and was anxiously
desirous that the countryman should be convinced of the ne
cessity of signing the articles which was urged on the part of
the citizen, with many just and reasonable arguments; but
as I was soon obliged to leave them, I had not the opportunity
of being a witness to the event. # ,
On my return home, and Tefle&ing on the conversation I
had just heard, I began to confider of -the importance of tbfe
Vol. lI.J
Price on/) T'^wo Coffers. Published every Tuesday, TburJ'day, and Saturday Evenings.
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1776.
169
present Sefiion of Assembly, and the absolute necessity of
their making a material alteration in the resolves for the go
vernment of associators, and levying taxes on non-affociaters,
and am much surprised to hear federal of my neighbours
declare that the Affemby mean n t to make any material al
teration this session. Can it be imagined, said I, that a set
of men who have hitherto acted with such a spirit of patrio
tism, should now leave their work half finished. I would with
to remind that Honorable House of the probability of our
receiving an early attack this spring from that hostile foe
whom we are Well assured is seeking a place in America to fit
down upon. Pennfylvarfia would be a noble acquisition in
deed, could they obtain it. I would have our Reprefcata
tives, therefore, be careful how they either, by doing what
they ought not to do, or by leaving undone what ought to be
done, and what their conftitaeht's have so carneftly requested of
them, contribute in any measure to the weakening of the defence
of this province. It is a well known fa&, that in many parts
of the country very few have associated under the Resolves of
the House of Assembly, and yet they are generally well af
fe&ed to the cause of America, but are jealous of becoming
the dupes and slaves of a certain party, who, under a cloak
of confeience, conveniently screen themselves from the ha
zardous duty which their country calls for. The House of
Assembly, as 1 before observed, heretofore have afted with a
spirit of patriotism that did them honor. A negled of alter
ing and making such amendments as the associators have re
quired, may defeat all their pad exertions, and be the means
of rendering the province an easy conquest to an invader:
And should it be their lot to fall into the hands of our ene
mies, they will view their past condud as exceeding criminal,
and think themselves obliged in duty to that tyrannical So
vereign by whose command they now oppress us, to make ex
amples of some over whom the chance of war may give them the
opportunity of cercifing their cruelty, and who more likely
to fuffer than the Senator who has directed all our operations ?
I believe there never was an iisnce since the world began of
a legislator refilling to do the utmost justice to that part of
the community which is willing to defend its privileges. It is
a p.ew phenomenon not to be accounted for on any virtuous
and honorable principle.
The reason that the people in general give, why the redress
required of the House of Assembly by the associators, will not
be granted is, that the friends to the association have left the
House, and by this means there is a majority of those who
disapprove of defenfive measures. I am astonished that my
fellow citizens should kindly stile such friends to the associa
tion, when in fad they are the associators greatest enemies ;
and I cannot, for my part, conceive how such members will
clear their consciences for a neglect of so great a part of their
duty, especially at this dangerous season, when the House is
in real need of its belt and most able counfellors. It will not
be fufficient to fay that your domestic affairs prevented your
attendance, or that your country called you to take a more
active part in the pfofecuting of meaftires deemed necessary
for its defence. If the former be the case, you ought not tr
have accepted of the station, and if the latter, you would hav§
[Num. 188.