The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-07-30 00:00:00, page 4

thither, and consequently both to the present constitutions to
be formed in the several States, to future proceedings therein,
and particularly to the proceedings of the Congress.
" Although it be granted, on all hands, that all power ori
ginates from the people ; yet it is plain, that in those colonies
where the government has, from the beginning, been in the
hands of a very few rich men, the ideas of government both
in the minds of those rich men, and of the common people,
are rather ariftocratical than popular. The rich, having been
tiled to govern, seem to think it is their right; and the poorer
commonalty, having hitherto had little or no hand in govern
ment, seem to think it does not belong to them to have any.
" From this caule, I imagine, it came to pass that the
New-Jersey Convention, in their charter, made it a qualifi
cation for a member of their Lower House of Assembly, that
he be possessed of an estate of five hundred pounds, and of a
Member of their Council, that he have an estate of one
thonfand pound. This 1 esteem a hurtful remnant of the
feudal constitution. Why should these be made qualifica
tions ? Are not many, who have not these qualifications, as
fit to lerye their country in either of these capacities, as any
that are worth the money ? This I think cannot be denied.
The only reason that occurs to my mind, which can be
pleaded in jollification of this regulation, is that it renders
the legislators independant. But according to my observa
tion, many who are not worth so much, are of more inde
pendant spirits, and will not be so soon biaffed by the profpeß
of gain, as those in general who are much richer than them
selves. -
" Befid^s, why should not the fame qualification be in
sisted on for a Judge in any Court, and for any considerable
officer, whether civil or military ? The neceffity,of indepen
dant men in all these cases is much the fame. By these
means the government, in every, part, would be in the hands
of the rich only ; and therefore in all reason ought to be ex
ercised o^er the rich.only, and the poor, and those in moderate
circumftance.s, ought to be entirely excused from bearing any
part of the burden of a government, from the honors of which
they are wholly excluded.
", In short, I cannot fee but that our. maxim in this govern
ment is perfectly right, and that the experience of more than
a century confirms the propriety of it, that any elector hath
a right to be elected into any office of date.
" Another thing I object to the New-Jersey charter, which
appears to me a matter of great importance, is their choosing
their legislators by counties. : Tne practice among us hath
always been, to meet, by towr.fliips, and every township
chooses two Representatives. Hence our House of Represen
tatives is conveniently large. Our smallest county in this
way fends sixteen members, the largest forty, and the whole
House consists of one hundred and forty. This I think is hot
too large a representation for too hundred thousand foub.
But in my opinion, the colonies below us have been very im
perfeaiy represented, by only two or three members from a
county. , Such small Houses are much more easily corrupted
or biaffed, than those which are large.
J" Nor dolthink that the difficulty would be remedied by
fending ever so many, chosen in your county meetings, be
cause the whole body of a county cannot be convened to at
tend elections. A great part of the freemen will not leave
their business, travel twenty or thirty miles, tarry at the place
of the poll perhaps 24 hours, before they can be admitted to
deliver in their fuffrages, and be all this while upon expences,
in order to attend and give their voice at an election; • The
consequence is that the Representatives are chosen by a small
part, or at best by only a part, of the freemen, and especially
378
by those who are Alfred up by some rich men to attend the
election, who bear their expences, supply them with horses,
&c. 'I he sense of the people can never be fully known by
iuch a representative body.
" But the inhabitants of a single township can easily as
semble, choose either one or two Representatives, and return
home again the fame day. I wish this matter was thoroughly
considered in Pennsylvania ; I cannot but flatter myfelf that
the expediency of this mode of election would be seen, and
that it would be adopted by your Convention, and from your
example by other colonies.
. " If your counties be not divided into townfllips or proper'
diftrids, they may easily be thus .divided.
" I cannot but add one more thought on this mode of elec 4
tion ; it in agreat degree destroys the influence of a few design
ing rich men or the elections. Two or three such in a county
meeting may have a prodigious sway. But on this plan their
sway will be chiefly confined to the townships, to which they
themselves belong ; as th,e.elections being all on the fame day,
they cannot be at the rest. ..
" I will beg your patience, while I make one more remark
on the charter of New-Jersey. The appointment of the Go
vernor to be Chancellor fceins to place in him too great a
trust for.any single man. A single man, however honest in.
general, ismuch more liable to biaffes and prejudices than a
body of men, especially if it be fufficiently large. According
to our conditytipp, our whole legislature is our Chief Court
of Chancery.
-" If thele remarks contain any thing to the purpose, I
know you will improve to fubferve the public good, as you
have op portunity. If they do not, I have only to beg you
will excuse my honest intentions.
" Hoping that you in Pennsylvania may be so happy as to
hit upon the most perfeft Constitution, I am, &c."
Extract of a letter from Virginia, dated July 22, 1776.
" On Sunday last I was informed that Lord Dunmore was
landing his troops on Thacker Washington's plantation, a
little below Hoo's ferry. About twelve o'clock the fame
night, the Major of the county came express, to let me know
that the fleet was then at Marlbrough, a few miles above
Boyd's-hole. The alarm was soon spread, and in a very
little time the shores were covered with men. I went over
early yesterday, and discovered four ships and three tenders.
They appeared, as near as I can guess, to be somewhere about
Dumfries. The remainder we supposed to be below, either
coming up, or attempting to land. Some few of us then
pushed down the river, but found the militia dispersing just
before we got to Boyd's Hole. They had received informa
tion that the balance of the fleet was at anchor near the mouth
of the river. This morning early we returned up Potowmack
river, and saw only three ihips and two tenders, and hearing
very diftindly, at the fame time, a heavy cannonade at or
near Alexandria, we concluded the other ship and tender had
made the town a visit, where they will certainly meet with a
warm reception. As yet we have no account. I shall pro
ceed tomorrow morning up the river Potowmack, and conti
nue there till the fleet goes down."
,By another letter, it appears the houses of Mr. Brent on Po
towmack river, of great value, had been burnt by Lord Dun
more; and that he was joined by many Negroes in Maryland.
^ The Menib'ers of the Committee of the county of Phi
ladelphia are requeued to attend at ten o'clock on Saturday
next, being the third day of August, at the house of Jacob
Neff. '
PHILADELPHIA: Printed by B. TOWNE.