The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-06-18 00:00:00, page 1

The PENNSYLVANIA. EVENING POST.
To the PRIVATES of the several Battalions cf Mili
# tarx A^scciatorsin the province of Pennsylvania.
Gentlemen,
flo'\ H E Honorable Congress having resolved upon a
0 flying camp of ten thousand men for the prote&ion
of our province and Maryland, viz. fix thousand
for this province, fix hundred for the Lower Coun
ties and three thousand four hundred for Maryland, and
that Maryland should appoint one, and this colony two Bri
gadiers General—The Committee of Privates of the Associators
of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, considering that an
appointment made by any body of men besides the Affocta
tor< would not be perfectly fatisfadory, and being further
convinced that it was their right to make the appointment,
and that the security of their liberties depended greatly on the
exercise of this right, and being desirous of having it enjoyed
Dually bv all, have agreed, with the Board of Officers, to
cli a Provincial Meeting of Associators, confiding of 'I wo
Privates and Two Officers from each battalion, elected by
said battalions for the purpose of choosing said Generals, to
meet in Lancafler, on Thursday the fourth of July. We at
tended particularly to the season of the year, and the difficulty
of your attending io near harvest ; but yet, as the matter was
very important, and we were unwilling to do any thing with
out consulting all, and giving them an equal opportunity
with rurfJves cf cxercifin, their right, we adopted th, me:.,
fare We therefore were perfuaced, that freemen, associated
for he defence of their rights, would overlook every difficulty
exerc ^ of iy-o^ Assembly
we mean such of its members as are not quite with us, wished
to have the appointment, but we prepared the following Pro
tek against it, as the whole of our success depends on after
choice. We trust you will fee it in the fame important light
with us and fend the delegation above-mentioned, that every
battalion in the province may have a perkily equal repre
sentation If said conference should unite in some ten to be
taken by the Associators, that we might know who to depend
o-n it might be well. We wish to take nothing upon our
selves ; but,' being the advance guard, our duty requires that
we give the alarm. We are, Gentlemen, &c. #
Signed by order of the Committee of Privates,
SAMUEL SIMPSON, President.
To the Honorable the REPRESENTATIVES of the Freemen
of the province of Pennsylvania.
The PROTEST of the Committee of the Privates of the
Military Association belonging to the city and liberties of
Philadelphia,
Refpeafully fheweth,
THAT this Committee understanding that the Honorable
Congress has recommended to this colony to appoint
two Brigadiers General to command the Associators of this
province, DO PROTEST against any appointment cf said
Brigadiers General to be made by this House:
$ First, Because there is no regular militia law which obliges
the constituents of this House to become Associators, or to
Vol. IL]
Price only Pavo Coppers.
TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1776.
Published every Tutfa'ay, Thursday, and Saturday Evenings.
303
find persons in their room, if they decline associating; and
therefore the Affeciation is not properly provincial, and ct
consequence this House is not properly constituted to be com
petent to the business, nor can the appointment come before
them as a provincial representation. ,
Second, Because many of the Associators have been exclud
ed by this 7% House from voting for the members now com
posing it, though this House was applied to on their behalf,
and therefore they are not represented in this House.
Third, Because the counties which have the greatest num
ber of Associators have not a proportional reprefentatian, and
therefore cannot be considered as having an equal voice in the
nomination.
Fourth, Because the Association has been voluntary, and
this House choosing, by their resolutions fefpe&ing it, that it
should remain so: Therefore cannot interfere, nor in any
wife, confident with decency, attempt to impose officers upon
us not of our own choosing.
Fifth, Because many Members of this House are the Re
presentatives of persons in religious profeffion like themselves,
totally averse to military defence, and therefore cannot be
called the Representatives of Associators ; nor do we wish to
interfere so much with their religious.fentiments as to reduce
them to the necessity of quitting their feats, or joining in the
nomination.
^Stah, Because it is well known that there are men in th : s
House %ho have, ever since our opposition to Great-Britain,
refufed to concur in any measure necessary for defence ; and
we have reason to fear that some are disposed to break the
Union of the Colonies, and submit to the tyranny of Great-
Britain.
Seventh, Because this House is under nooatne of fidelity to
their constituents, by which they would be bound to coufult
their interest ; nor are they proper persons to make the oaths
which are to bind themselves.
Eighth, Because though the Members of this House, who
were under oaths of allegiance to the crown, cenfider them
selves absolved therefrom, and have admitted the new elected
members to their feats without taking oaths, thereby diifolv
ing the old constitution, and finally abolishing the charter,
yet effeaual care is taken to head the several pages of their
refalves, as usual, with " Votes of Assembly, John Penn,
Esq; Governor," without the aftent of the people for thia
purpose. These things wear such a face cf design as renders
the intentions of this H ute suspicious; and we think a
House, kill confeffing the King's Repiefentative their Gover
nor, cannot fafely be trusted with the appointment of Gene
rals to command us, left it would give us such as would ena
ble a certain party to make up witri the enemy at the expence
of our lives and liberties.
Ninth, Because a House, which shewed itfelf so unfriendly
to the association at atime when so much depended upon their
exertions, as after frequent and repeated applications for ju
stice, to impose no more than three (hillings and hxpence
fine on Non-Ufociators for every day of general muster, and
that in so lax a manner, that it is a qaeftion whether it will
ever 'be colloid, is not.-to be trusted with the appointment
[Num. 220.