The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-10-10 00:00:00, page 2

Now to core to particulars. Prepare tbyfelf to hear wonders.
By this new frame the whole power of making laws for
Pennsylvania is vested in one body called the General Assem
bly, &c. Here's Simplicity for thee! All the other states on
the continent have been puzzling themselves with two or
three legislative bodies, or bodies vested with power to make
laws, who are to be checks upon one another, and prevent
rash, ill digested,/ and imprudent determinations from being
baftily paR into laws—And the great men in other Rates in
sist, that there is no danger but much benefit in having pow
er thus difributed, for all the bodies derive their power from
the people, and are accountable to them, and they pretend to
quote learned men who have written on the fubjedt, and ap
peal to the experience of other countries and ages to prove the
great mifehief of having the whole power of making laws
Judged in one body of men. But our statesmen laugh at all
thole whimsies, and, for very substantial reasons, will have but
one legillative body. Where one person, or one body, or one
any thing, is fufficient to difeharge certain offices, fay they,
why should there be two or three ? Indeed 1 have heard it fur
miled that one of our leaders, and a prodigious bright man
he is, would have thought some of the works of nature might
have been more Simple than they are—as for instance, why
should man have two legs when one would ha\e done—for
then he might have hopped inßead of walking —and I must ac
knowledge, I never heard this notion fuby refuted. Now
dost thou think, Peter, that it is possible for mortals to give a
higher proof of their love of Simplicity than thus totally cas
ing out of our fyßem of government the examples of other
states, and trampling on the judgment of the greatest men
that ever considered the fubjeft.
Peter, No. It is not only a high but a bold proof of their
love of /implicit,, and their resolution to reform mankind.
Orat. 1 thought thou wouldeft answer so. Yet, Peter, I
will produce another instance of their love of Simplicity, and
their boldness too in avowing it, that exceeds that which we
have been speaking of more than the Allegany mountain does
a mole hill in height.
Peter. It is impofiible.
Orat. Liiten and judge, Thou shouldest not be positive,
Peter. '1 nou knowelt that this country is chiefly inhabited
by Christians, and that heretofore no person could be a
member of our Assembly, wnlefs he was % Christian, and
indeed a Protefiant too, 1 believe. Well—when our states
men were conndering this point, and had our book of laws
and proceedings of former Assemblies before them, by which
they found, that no man could be a member unless he so
lemnly " profeffed his faith" in that religion, mentioning
particularly the diftinguifeing articles thereof, they thought
that religion was not Simple enough for a commonwealth with
one legillative body only, and that members of Assembly and
other officers of the state ought not to be hoppled with that
old fafhioned creed of believing in the " THREE that bear
record in heaven," and therefore, by the tenth fetlion of the
plan firft published, members were only to declare in these
words, " I do believe in one the Creator and Governor of the
Universe." But this fedion caused so much noise, that in
the frame that is now fettled, the expression has been a little
altered. However, our leaders have been too cunning for the
narrow minded people who made the racket ; for they have
only added these words " the rewarder of the good and
punisher of the wicked. And Ido acknowledge the Scrip
tures of the Old and New-Teßament to be given by Divine
Inspiration." Now to comprehend the ingenuity of this
management, Peter, I would have thee, in the firft place, cb
ferve, that the Convention has not in any part of the frame
504
ordered any officers whatever to make even this flight deck-'
ration, except members of Assembly ; but have only carefully
provided, that " no farther or other religious test shall ever
hereafter be required of any civil officer or magistrate in this
state." Secondly, the word " holy," which, in the former
qualification by the laws of Pennsylvania, was put next before
the word " Scriptures," is omitted in this new frame,
7 hirdly, the other words in the former qualification describ
ing briefly the Chriflian belief, and " profeffing faith" there
in, are also left out of this frame, and only the foregoing ac
knowledgment, without,any " profeffon of faith," is put in?
Read, which leaves people, who do not believe the Chrifian
religion, to put what conßrudion they please on that " ac
knowledgement." For it is well known, Peter, that those
who do not believe the Chrifian religion, think the books
written against it, are given by “ Divine Inspiration" as
much as the " Scriptures." They can easily reconcile them
selves to that acknowledgment by faying, that the ingenuity
and genius of the authors of the Scriptures were the “ Divine
Infpiration"they meant in taking the acknowledgment, be
cause that ingenuity and that genius were “ given" by their
Creator. Fourthly, this point is made clearly to be the in
tention of the Convention, because, in thefad fedion of the
" Declaration of Rights," itis expressly asserted, that
" no man, who acknowledges the Supreme Being, can hzjufi
deprived or abridged of any civil right as a citizen (that is a£
a member of the Rate) on account of his religious sentiments
or peculiar mode of religious worship." Thus thou feeg,
Peter, that by the express letter of the proceedings of the Con
vention, Deism is made the established religion of
Pennsylvania, without afnglefliable being mentioned through
out the whole, of the Christian religion, but on tire
contrary all tte araufed, which our leaders, bold as they are^
dared to employ, to throw a flight and contempt upon it.;
and now Detfs, Jews, Mahometans, and Indians, toy putting
their own gloss or equivocation on the foregoing " acknew
ledgment," may hold the firft offices of profit and trust in
our free and blessed state. Well, Peter, what layeß thou now?
Does not this instance exceed the other I
Peter. Yes, beyond all comparison, if thou reprefenteft the
matter tight.
Orat. Right—Why, look here at the printed copy !
Peter. Thou art right ! But cannot these strange changes
be corrected and altered when the new Assembly meets?
Orat. No, that is impossible. For no alteration can be
made, according to the new frame, until “ the Council oi
Censors" is chosen Seven years hence, in 1783, and have
called a Convention to meet /quo years afterwards; and such
a Convention may never be called ; for two thirds of the
whole number, called " Censors," must firft agree to call it
[ To be continued. ]
ST R AYED or Rolen, on the 29th of September last, from
the commons in this city, a BAY HORSE about four
teen hands high, eight or nine years old, hogged mane
switch tail, a fear on the near fide of his back made by the
saddle, and a fore right forward also occrfi med by the faddfe,
shod all-round, and has neither brand or other mark. He'
paces and trots. Whoever takes up said horse, and brings
him to the fubferiber, near the New Chapel in Fourth-street,
shall have FIFTEEN SHILLINGS reward, and reasonable
charges. # PHILIP WEINHEIMER.
^ Loft about a fortnight ago, about THREE POUNDS
in cash, whoever has found it, and will return it, shall hav
a dollar rewards