The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-11-02 00:00:00, page 2

themf h-es by delegating the power of making
Law for them, they have only cut out work for
thendcives. Besides, people not being apt to fuf
ped! their own representatives of doing wrong, will
give themselves very little trouble about* the bill's;
or it they do, it will be to very little purpose; for
in all probability, the iif!ru&ious will be different
according to the various ways of thinking, and de
grees of understanding or knowledge among the
people, to lay nothing ol parties. The proper way
of bringing acts of a public nature before the people
for their consideration, has been pursued in every
other hate on this continent, that is, by establishing
fa'w^lcgrilauve branches. If these bodies differ
in opinion, their mefoges to one another will lay
the whole matter before the people, with all the
reasons for these different opinions. Then the peo
ple may judge and determine on the whole matter,
without being put to the trouble and inconvenience
of collecting information on the fubjed by Studying
the point, or travelling about to hear what others
may fay upon it. Each body will be.careful how
they aft, as they know this Solemn appeal mult be
made to the people, and by another respectable bo
dy too, whom the people have constituted Guardi
ans of their rights. This will have a tendency to
,keep up the attention of the popleto the manage
ment of their affairs. But on the contrary, in
Pcnnflvania, all things are to be carried on in a
hugger mugger manner in one house, retted with
the whole Supreme legislative power. 'lf their con
duel is ever censured it must begone by individuals
in a private capacity. What chance will they ftanil
against the Sovereign house of AfTembly? In Short,
after all the instructions the people can give, the
Assembly may afterwards alter the bills lb publish
ed, as they think proper (fee le&ion 15th) As to
waiting till the next feShon, they are .not obliged to
wait, for if " occafon of friden ncceffy" require
Laws to be puffed, they are to be palled without
waiting, and the ffembly are trifle judges of that
" Hecefty," 'I hete "occasions of sodden neceftf
mull happen in cases where the welfare and happi
ness of the Sate are most highly concern'd; and in
such cases, it is earnestly wished by the bell friends
to Pennsylvania, that a bare majority in a Jingle
house Should not decide—perhaps, for ever. Indeed
the sum of the arguments of Convention-men in
favour of a Jingle house, and the pretended remedies
invented for curing the mifehaiefs th it may be
thereby occasioned, may be comprehended in these
few words —" Pennflvania put the sword into our
" hands; if we cut your throats you Shall observe,
“ provided the vitals are no; hurt, how nicely we
" will ftitcli them up again. It is worth while to
“ make the experiment, though painful to the fldli,
“ in order to regale your minds with noticing our
" dexterity." Are these paltry novelties-,and that
tail to the whole, “ the Council of Censors," the
" checks" meant by the Congress and by Morrtefr
quieu ? No. The condud of other States that have
lately form'd Governments, is the true comment on
the expreftions of those great authorities, dhole
States have not relied on such contemptible whim
lies. Every one of them has established two or
more legislative branches, in order to secure a
double or treble deliberation of different
bodies on their great ads oi Sovereignty; and
have not trusted such grand affairs to the virtue or
wisdom of a bare majority in one Houfe,"a majority,
that may be carried by cabal or error. But it is not
only the "checks" in Legifation, that are requi
red or fought for by thole wife States. They have
endeavoured to establish the execution of t-heir
Laws in general, and the administration of
Justice in particular, upon a solid and perma
nent foundation, not to be Shaken or disturbed by a
mistaken or factious party in Assembly, of which we
have had instances heretofore in Pennsylvania, nor
by the passions of the lowejl class of people, in the
State.
Orator. Why, Peter, thou furprizeft me to hear
thee talk so much on politics, and io freely too.
Take care, how thou talked to others, in the fame
manner. If thou doll, thou wilt be torn to pieces.
Many a keen pen will be drawn against thee and
run thee through and through. Thy person, thy
family, thy character, thy employment, thy whole
life will be attack'd. All thy a&ions words will
be scrutinized for matter of inventive. Thou wilt
draw down on thy head the fiercelt and lading ha
tred of our great men who are so likely to continue
in power. Now they are so near to securing that
point, think how opposition will encourage them.
Beware, I beseech thee.
Peter. I dont pretend to be a politician, but, I
hope, I have some Share of common sense, and I
have a refpeft for the sentiments of the Congress
and other able men, who underhand government
better than I do; and I wifli, the Convention' had
had the fame reipeCt for them. As for the personal
attacks upon me thou mentioned, I fear them not
in such a cause. I attack no man personally. I
know not to whose influence particular proceedings
of our late Convention are owing. This I know,
that there were in it several gentlemen of such worth,
that I highly value the acqndntance I have with
thenar And I am convinced, they have had too little
influence. Again!! the public conduct of men in
public office I make my attack; this attack 1 have
a right to make; and this right all men of sense and
probity will confers. He thal^ppeals to the sense
and probity of Pennfkania, appeals to an awful
tribunal. If he appeals from a principle of duty
in direCt opposition to his private peace and advan
tage, on a fubjeCt of the utmost moment to tlie
people and their posterity, he may be assured of a
fair hearing and candid decision. All the artifices
of these who are provoked into enmity against him,
will not be able to divert them from pursuing and
faying the truth: And that is the only point, fucli
an appellant will regard, if the public character
of the Convention will bear enquiry, they are fafe
from my feeble attempts. If it will not, yet their
characters I will no more injure than the pupils of
my eyes, I will not fay a Angle word, that shall
draw the notice of the people on any particular
person. If any parts of their proceedings indicate
raShnefs, lolly, or evil designs, the authors when
known will discredit themfelvcs by their own actions.
Let them for me remain Sheltered in numbers. In
Sincerity of foul I wilh them individually every kind
of happinels. Men may be very worthy men in
private life, and yet very 'dangerous in public life.
I he want of knowledge in government, owing per
haps Solely to the want of opportunities for acqui
ring it, and improper warmth of passion, may in
high Nations be destructive to a State. As to my
Speaking freely, lam a Freeman lam not yet
terrified into Silence—and though I have had very
little concern in public affairs, I should think myfelf
■an apoflate to my Religion, and a traitor to my
Country, il 1 ihould not now (peak freely and loudly
too, when both are so openly and daringly insulted
and abujed. Here we are to liave a Constitution
cramm'a down our throats, though it is abhorred
by a vast majority of the people of Pen/flvania,
whom I have ever heard mention it, and islaughed
at by all others. —A constitution that by the Decla
ration of Rights, and the ninth lesion of the Frame,
is " never to be added to, altered, abolished or in
fringed in any part," nnlels it be by a Convention
nine years hence, which Convention may never,
and probably will never meet. The Convention in
confirming this Frame, ^ezu (perfectly well the ex
treme aversion of prodigious numbers of worthy
Pennsylvanians to it, men, as zealous in their refin
ance again!! the Britilh tyranny, as any members
in the' Convention—and never did the representa
tives of.a free people take a more arbitrary and op
frefoe method for breaking down the Spirit of their
worthy constituents into a tame fubmiflion, than
the Convention have done. They have ordered by
their ordinance of the 26th of September last, for
holding the next election, that “ every Elector,
before bis vote is received, shall take the following
ohth or affirmation, viz. /do swear Jor affirm) that
l will be Jaithful and true to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania ; and that 1 will not directly or indi
rectly, do any aft or thing prejudicial or injurious to
the Conflitution or Government thereof, as esta
blished by the Convention." Here's aTf
with a vengeance, that compels the Freemen of
Pennsylvania, if we are yet Freemen, to ''fwear"
or 'affirm" to give no opposition, dire&ly or indi
rectly, to the Frame of Government 'eftablilhed
by the Convention," or to forfeit their right of e
le&iDg Ruprefentatives—in other words their right
of having a Share in the government to be exercised
over them. Now, to my certain knowledge there
are great numbers of the warmest friends to our
common cause, Presbyterians, Quakers and others,
without distinction, who have actually been in the,
service of their Country this campaign, that would
rather periSh, than take Such an oath or affirmation;
(For the remainder fee the laji page,)
Captain Coffin in the Favorite privateer, of this
port, has taken a Ship from Jamaica, bound for
London, laden witli Sugar, rum, limes, pimento,
&c. This prize is also arrived in a fafe harbor.
NEWBURY-P.O R TjOCober 18.
Yesterday came in here a prize brig, bound to
White-Haven, laden chiefly with mahogany.—
She was taken about a fortnight ago, by,the Han
cock privateer, Captain Wingate Newman.
B O S T O N, ORober 17.
Monday last was sent into Salem, by Capt. For
rester, a prize brig, with a large quantity of fea
coal and sixteen hundred pieces woollen cloths.
Sunday last Captain Silas Atkins Sent into Cape'
Ann, a Ship with four hundred and fifty quintals
of green filh.
'P ROVIDEN C E, Ofober 12 .
Capt. Arthur Crawford of this place, has taken
and lent into a fafe port, a Ship from London, bound
for Quebec, 4 laden with blankets, woollen cloths.
Irilh linnens, Sheeting, dowlas, flioes, Hockings,
boots, brandy, port wine, bottled porter, chede,
&c. her Cargo, when She failed, was estimated at
fifteen thousand pounds sterling. He has likewise
taken two Ships from Jamaica.
Tuesday last arrived from a cruise, the sloop Pro
vidence, Capt Jones, in the service of the United
States. During her cruise She took 13 prizes, molt
of them fishermen, fix of which She burnt or funk,
after taking out the hands, and ordered others to
different Ports.
NEWPO R T, ORober xr.
We hear, that a few nights past, one of the ene
mies barges went into the harbor of Norwalk, and
cut out a sloop of about 40 tons.
The Lady Washington privateer, Capt. Godfrey,
has sent a brig into a fafe port, loaded with rum.
We hear that last Wednesday, as Capt. Harding,
in a Connecticut brig of war, was going up the
found, from a cruise he was attacked by the Merlin
Ship of war, when a very warm engagement ensued;
but another Ship, supposed to be the Cerberus,
coming up, and endeavouring to cut Capt. Harding
off from the land, he made from them and got fafe
into Stonington. We don't learn what damage
was sustained on either fide. At the fame time a
third Ship was seen near Block-island.
Since our last arrived at fafe ports, a transport
snow of two hundred and fifty tons, loaded with
provisions for New-York, taken by Capt. Jauncy;
a bark of about two hundred tons, from Jamaica,
loaded with sugar, &c. taken by the Cabot, Capt.
Hinman; a ship of three hundred and seventy tons,
loaded with filh and lumber from Nova-Scotia for
Jamaica, taken by Captain Job Pearce; a ship of
about three hundred tons, from Quebec for Lon
don, ballast with coal, &c. taken by Capt. Stacey;
a Schooner from the Weft-Indies for Newfound
land, loaded with rum, &c. taken by Capt. Coffin;
and several others, but by whom taken we have
not learned.
Last Saturday the wife and daughter of one
John Hill, a prisoner confined in Boston jail for be
ing concerned with Crean Brush and others in
lobbing the inhabitants of Boston wlien that place
was evacuated, came to this town from Providence
by water, and were endeavouring to get a passage
to the weft end of Long-Bland,' but were flopped
by the Committee of this town, and, on exami
nation, were found upon them Sundry papers con
taining matters of intelligence re peeing the people
and state of the country, sent from said Hill, and
otliers in Bolton, to Gen Howe. It appears from
the papers found upon them, that they had been
pofF fled of other papers, which they had secured
or destroyed. They were both sent back with the
papers, under a proper convoy, to the place from
whence they came.
1 he Montgomery privateer belonging to Provi
dence, has taken and lent into this port a schooner
from Cape Nichola Mole, bound to Halifax, having
on aboard 9000 gallons, and 6000 weight of sugar?
The privateer had been out but 24 hours when the
took this vessel.
N E W-H AVE N, October 23.
Extiafi of a letter from an Officer at Fort-Stanwix.
I art ol tlie tliird battalion of New Jersey
troops being Rationed here about three weeks ago
it was the t proper to fend a Sergeant and four men
to reconnoitre towards Ofwego; but ensign Isaiah
Younglove, being desirous to go, went in the room
of the Sergeant; liaving travelled about sixty miles,
were filed on early one morning, by a party of ten
Indians, but tlieir guns being wet (it having rained
the preceding night) could not return the fire, the
ensign, and another, who after repeatedly priming
at length discharged tlieir pieces. They were then
directed by the ensign, to fix their bayonets, who
at that instant received a ball in liis lungs, and fell,
notv/itliiianding he ordered liis men to advance,
and lying on his back, loaded and Shot one of the
Indians dead; but two of liis men being killed, lie
desired the others to flee, telling them he could not
hye more than five minutes, and that it was a pity
tliey Should expote tlieir own lives, the surviving
two came on, and gave us the above accounts."
Ilie Ilon. Richard Law, ESq; is appointed a
Delegate, to reprefept this State in the Continental
Congress, in addition to those chosen last year, who
are re-ele&ed to tliat important trull.
I lie Pod, who arrived Siom the north yesterday,
informs that Gen. Waterbury, with one hundred
oi our people wno were taken prisoners, in our un
iuccelsful engagements on the Lake, the nth and
12th ink. are released on giving their parole, and
ate now on tne way to their homes.
OR FSMOU T H, October 14.
Last Sunday arrived at Saco a small prize-fchoo
nei lent in by the Putnam privateer, John Harmon
Commander, having on board 300 bushels of fait
and Some oyl. Next day arrived another schooner,
taken by the fame privateer, having on board 375
Quintals of green hlh, and some oil; She brings an
account of another Small vefTel taken tliat is not yet
arrived, and one that they took, which was after
wards drove alhore by a frigate The vessel loft,
but the people got on board the privateer again;
tile frigace diove tlie privateer into a liarbour, and
came to anchor, with intention of keeping her in;
but Capp Harmon got one of his guns afliore on a
point of land, and tired on the frigate, when She
returned whole broad sides into the woods at them,
but did no damage—Cape. Harmon after a few shot
was so iucky as to cut away her iore-flay, which
obliged her to come to fail, and put to sea.
PHI L A D ELPHI A.
By our Lift accounts from liconderoga we learn,
that on the defeat of out veflels on the Lake under
General Arnold, Crown Point, which was occupied
as an ont poR was evacuated by Col. Hartley, who