The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-10-31 00:00:00, page 1

A DIALOGUE between Orator Puff and
. Peter Easy on the proposed Plan or Frame of
Government. [Continued from page 530.]
PETER fota.
^ r""{HIS brisk thing of wihd ? because some of the
leading men in Convention admit him to their
private conferences about public affairs, begins to
= •think himfelf a very great ftatcfinan ; and because
I am a quiet man, who have not meddled in public affairs, he
takes it for granted, that I am a tool, who can swallow with
pleasure all the raw notions of him and his great men. He
therefore is continually and very rudely sometimes undertak
ing to " inftrud arid illuminate" me, as he phrases it, with his
“ imperial Secrets." He almost makes me angry ; but lam
more inclined to pity him, for he is f® ravished by the
condefcehfion of his great friends, and by his opinion of their
vast genius, that' he does absolutely and seriously believe in
all the absurdities he has thrown out to me about that darling
idea of'our Convention leaders " Jimplicity," which indeed
is the very wOid they have used in Convention, and before the
Convention met, and by which, as if it were an enchantment,
they have blinded many worthy men, and have led our poor
diffracted state of Pennsylvania into such a wild goose chafe,
that she is become the ridicule and amazement of America.
My neighbour Puff never supposes this to be owing to weak
ness or wickedneis in our leaders, but to the stupidity of all
the rest of the world, who arejealous arid envious because his
political heroes have hit upon the grand mystery of fimplicitj,
which others have miffed. As to his fimilies and allusions,
1 am convinced he has heard his great friends explain their
political notions in that way, from what I have heard some
of them fay: And this is the more credible, because there is
nothing more wild and absurd in supposing the Frame of Go
vernment to have been formed in imitation of the most com
mon games and plays than there is in the very constituent
parts of the Frame itfelf. Oh, here he comes again !
Orator. Peter, when I left thee, we were talking of pro
perty. I have heard some people fay, that several gentlemen,
who have a considerable influence on our public affairs, were
men of small property and learning. These are the proper
men, Peter, to be trusted with power and the management of
our rights and liberties. Their having little or no learning,
and little or no fortune, are the strongest recommendations I
know of in their favor. lam afraid of men of property and
learning. We fee what devililh Frames of Government they
have made in the other states on this continent. Men of no
property are free from embarrassments, and men of no learning
aie free from prejudices. Give me plain nature for politician),
especially in the grand work of cftablifhing a New. Govern
ment and a New Religion in a great state for all ages to
come. Let not the artificers of such mighty buildings
be encumbered with that cursed destroyer of equality called
property, nor perplexed by that vile warper of the undefiland
ing called learning. Then we shall have clear bold lir.kes
in politics. None of your dull dreaming notions and motions
drawn, forfooth from prudence and experiences, and therefore
The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
Vol. lI.J
Price Three Coffers. Published every Puejday, Tburfday, and Saturday Evenings.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1776.
545
Mr. Towne,
IN my attendance last week in the Statehouse yard, upon
the debates held there about the New Frame of Govern
ment, I observed that one of the gentleman mentioned, as a
proof of the excellency of a single legislature, that the Congress
was a body of that kind. I expected to have heard a reply
to this argument, from the gentleman in the opposition, that
would 'effectually have refuted it. It is as follows, the Con
grels are confined in their deliberative and executive powers
to the care of the army—navy-—the poll-office—the regula
tion of trade—and the formation of alliances. They never
invade liberty—property—or life —by their refo
folutions. These, they well know, are of too sacred a na
ture to be touched by any power but a regular well orga
nized government. Hence they always recommend only to
the different states the making laws for this purpose when
they are necessary. The Congress, by these means, has
thirteen checks, each state serving for that purpose, and
to this the people of America owe their fafety and liberty.
A HEARER.
called cautions. A pretty word, truly, for statesmen in
such a tempest as rages n,ow. Between you and me, my
friend Peter, I will venture to predict, that this war will
never be brought to a fuccefsful conclusion, until we have
fewer men of property and learning in the Continental
Congress. I will give thee a proof of what I say—speak
ing of Government in one of their addresses to the Canadians,
they assert, that the federal powers being separated and
DISTRIBUTED into SEVERAL bands for CHECKS UPON ONE
another, is the only effectual mode ever indented by the ewit
of man, to promote their freedom and, profperity.” Ridiculous
idea. One may fay of them as Feftus did of Paul, '.<Too
much learning hath made them mad." Our wiser Conven
tion, going on a more natural and Jimple plan, hath treated
that foolish notion of “ checks," with proper contempt by
utterly rejecting it, from our Frame of Government, rind by
making the whole legislative executive and judi
cial powers depend Jingly and absolutely on one body, to
wit, the House of Affimbly. This one body will lay what TAX
it pleases, leavy them as it pleases, apply them as it pleases,
—without “ check" or controul—and in like manner make
any other LAW it pleases : , execute such law as it pleases
—- —and in the courts of justice have every cause, civil or cri
minal, determined as it pleases. When the whole state is thus
dependant on one body, how vast must be the power and in
fluence of our leaders ? If they can carry their qyeftions by a
majority of a Jingle vote, Pennsylvania " is laid at their
FEET."
Peter. Will not these leaders then be feared, especially by
those vebo happen to offend them, as they will have it in their
power by inflaming the Assembly, to take what vengeance they
please.
Orator. To be sure. Let their enemies tremble, and take
care of themselves.
[ To be continued. ]
[Num'. 2,8.