The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-05-23 00:00:00, page 4

is to be carried on by/^em; and by Conventions, only in those
urgent cases where arbitrary Governors, by prorogations and
.difiblutions, prevent the Representatives of the people from
fitting, to deliberate on their own affairs, or have subverted
the conftituticns, by abdicating their officers, and levying
war againit these colonies. That the Assembly of this pro
vince cannot be prorogued or dissolved ; that they have been
exceeded by no province in their noble exertions in the com
mon cause of liberty ; that by the Resolve of Congress, who
have never interfered in the domestic police of the colonies,
the Representatives of the People are left as the sole judges,
whether their governments be “ fufficient for the exigencies
of their affairs" or not; that our courts of law are open,
juflice has been administered with a due attention to our cir
cumstances, and large funis of money issued, the credit of
which might be shaken, and numberless confufions ensue,
from innovations hastily cr unneceilarily made.
Secondly. We remonstrate againit the said Protef, as set
ting on foot a measure which tends to disunion, and mult
damp the zeal of multitudes of the good people of Pennfyl
vania in the common cause, who having a high veneration
for their civil and religious rights, as secured by our charter,
never conceived, when they engaged, among other things,
for the support of the charter rights of another colony, that
they would be called upon to make a facrifice of their own
charter. —Nor can we now fee any thing in our situation
which requires such an unequal facrifice, while other colonies,
particularly Connecticut and Rhode-lfland, the authority
of whose Assemblies is the fame way derived by charter as
ours, continue their ancient forms of government by these
bodies, without Conventions.
That whatever temporary alteration in forms the urgency
of affairs, or tnecut-horit, of the people, can be conceived to
juftify or render expedient, that authority is fully veiled in
our Representatives in Assembly freely and annually chosen.
Six parts in seven of your body are, by our inestimable
charter, veiled with the power of determining in this matter.
We look to you, as entrusted with the conservation of our
rights, and are firmly of opinion, that your constituents in
general will cheerfully be governed by whatever your wisdom
may ordain in the present exigency, humbly recommending
it to you always to keep in mind, that in times of confufion
every change should be cautiously adopted, and only such made
as are abfolutelyneceffary :—ln which particulars the province
of South-Carolina, when impelled by necessity, has let a
laudable example, regulating themselves with a view towards,
and only until, " an accommodation of the unhappy differ
erences between Great-Britain and America can be obtained,
an event which," though traduced and treated as rebels, they
still profefs earnestly to desire.
To the Honorable the Representatives of the Freemen of
the Province of Pnnnfylvania, in General Assembly met,
The Address of the Committee of Infpe&ion for the County
of Philadelphia.
WE efleem ourselves, in no small degree, happy that
we have the fatisfaftion, in this very critical con
juncture, of expressing our sentiments to the constitutional
representative body of this province.
With the deepest concern, we have lately observed, that
tb e ground, on which our opposition to the arbitrary and op
pressive measures of the British Ministry was firft made, is so
totally ch nged—lnftead of cur joining Land and heart in
forwarding a reconciliation with our parent state, on consti
tutional principles, which is the object we ought ever to have
260
kept in view, as the only termination of our difputes,which
can possibly give us happiness and security, a fykem has been
adopted by tome persons in the city and liberties of Philadel
phia, which tends immediately to the subversion of cur con
stitution.
When we recollect the declaration of Congress, that they
" mean not to destroy the union which has so long happily
" fubfifled, and which they sincerely wilh to be rest red;"
when we think of the known inftru&ions given to the Dele
gates of the several provinces, as well as to those of our own,
we are alarmed at the profped of a disunion, which muff at
tend the prosecution of a scheme, that will, in the end, not
only set province againit province, but (more dreadful to
think) foment civil diicords in each—
Should our inveterate enemies be so loft to all sense of jus
tice and humanity, as to pernft in their infernal plan of des
potism ; should they drive us by their violence to that iaf
fhift, a declaration of independance, every one will then be
convinced of the necessity of such a measure, and we Ihall be
as one man, so united and strengthened by the conviction, as
to bid defiance to all their attempts.
The inhabitants of this county, “ in their own native
land, in defence of the freedom, which is their birthright,
and which they have ever enjoyed, until the late violation of
it, fer the protection of their property, acquired solely by the
industry of their forefathers, and themselves againit violence
actually offered, firft took up arms, and mean not to lay them
down, until hostilities shall cease on the part of the aggressors,
and all danger of their being renewed shall be removed."
'I hey have, with the greatest alacrity, given a considerable
part of their time to qualify themselves in military matters,
and are well assured, they will be behind none, in their : -
deavors, to put an end to the oppression of their country ;
but it was, at the fame time, with a determined refoluuon to
support and-defend their constitution againit all oppreflions
and innovations, whatsoever.
These we know to be the sentiments of the people, un
der whose authority we act, as well as our own ; and, as such,
we should be highly wanting in duty to ourselves and our con
stituents, were we to negleft laying them before you.
We are not insensible of the difficulties, which attend your
situation ; but trust, you will proceed, in the weighty affairs
now under your consideration, with unanimity and firmnefs,
still looking forward to a happy, permanent, termination of
our calamities, in constitutional reconciliation with our anci
ent friends. To forget injuries, and to forgive those who
have offended, is as conducive to happiness as conformable
to the rules of virtue; and, we make no doubt, the most sa
lutary events must result from measures formed and conducted
on such principles.
What we have to offer and advise, is, that you will most
religiously adhere to the inftruftions given to our Delegates
in Congress. We confider them our greatest security. And
we farther most feriouily intreat, that you will, to the utmost
of your power, oppose the changing or altering, in any the
least part, our invaluable constitution, under which we have
experienced every happiness, and in support of which there
is nothing just or reasonable, which we would not willingly un
dertake. Signed by order of the Committee,
W. HAMILTON, Chairman.
Philadelphia County Committee, May 18, 1776.
PHILADELPHIA: Printed by BENJAMIN
TOWNE, in Front-street, near the London
Coffee-Houfe.