The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-03-07 00:00:00, page 1

The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
For the PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
But patriots differ, some may shed their blood,
We STORE our COFFEE for the public good.
Young altered.
ON hearing of the resolution of the Committee of In
fpedtion for the city and liberties of Philadelphia,
to call a Convention of Committees from the feye
ral counties of the province, I was induced to in
quire, amongst other busy bodies, what would be the business
of a Convention when met, and for what particular purpose
were they now called. The answer being mostly given in such
general terms that I profited little or nothing by the inquiry.
Provoked at my disappointment, I determined to search a
large bundle of newspapers I had carefully preserved, and fee
if I could there find the proceedings of any former Conven
tion, in order to enable myfelf to judge of the buiinefs of
the present by the tranfadions of the past. In this search I
was more fuccefsful than in my former inquiry, and I find
the proceedings of the former Convention were as follow:
To approve and recommend a faithful execution of the as
sociation entered into by the Continental Congress, to pro
cure inftrudions to their representatives to prevent the im
portation of Raves into this province, to render every necessary
relief and assistance to the inhabitants who might fatter by
the suspension of trade, to restore harmony and reconciliation
between Great-Britain and her Colonies, and recommend the
providing and manufacturing of such articles as are necessary
for our existence, clothing, and defence; also to prevent
the manufacturers, or venders of goods and merchandize,
from felling the fame at an unusual or extravagant profit.—
Upon this review of the proceedings ^of the lad Convention,
1 became fully reconciled to the calling one at this time.
I am allured men actuated by no sinister motives, and pos
sessed of such principles as these, will not fail of doing their
country every essential service in their power. And who up
on a proper and just survey of the state of this province can
fay their meeting is by no means necessary at this junc
ture ? It has been urged that the Assembly has done and
will do all that a Convention can or may do,
why have they hitherto neglected it? Have the Assem
bly prevented the monoplizing of the necessaries
life? Have the Assembly prevented the immediate rile
es goods, of which there are no scarcity ? Have the Aflem
bly fufficiently encouraged the providing and manufacturing
such articles as are necessary for our existence, clothing and
defence ? lam assured they have not, and lam also lure (if
it be juftifiable to judge from their past conduCt) that they
will not. , , . • ru
Monopolies in all times, though advantageous to individu
als, are considered as hurtful to the community in general,
and they are doubly so to us in our prelent situation, cut oft
from all foreign communication and commerce whatlocver.
Foreign articles used amongst us, although fuperfluities, are
from their great use become absolutely necessary, and to en
gross such is an evil of the blacked dye, as it adds to the
many inconveniences and heavy burdens our enemies hav~
Vol. ll.]
Price only '[''wo Coppers. Published every Tuesday, Phurfday, and Saturday Evenings.
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1776.
117
laid upon us, in expectation that after much fuffering,we
shall be obliged to submit to their pretended right of taxation.
Such are they who do not associate in the defence of their
country, but are foremoft in monopolizing such articles as are
really become not only agreeable, but absolutely necessary,
are they not real enemies to their country, they join not with
their brethren in its defence, but exert their utmost endeavors
to forward its distress. I mean those who have of late pur
chased up all the coffee and other articles now in use amongst
us, which they could lay their hands on, and sent into the
country in order to apologize for their tender conferences at
a future day, when they assert it is become a scarce article in
this city, and the better to enable them to demand an exor
bitant price of their brethren when called for. From fuck
monopolizing, and not from the scarcity or demand, has that
necessary article molasses arisen in a few days one third part
of its value ; from such monopolizers has the public fuffered
greatly in the purchasing deerskins for tlie army, although
none has been permitted to be exported throughout the con
tinent ; to the induftr'y and craft of such monopolizers is ow
ing the present high price of lugar, coffee, cocoa, chocolate,
&c. Is it not time that a speedy remedy should be put to such
growing evils. I think it no breach of charity to &e<lare such
men as these, who monopolize the necessaries of life for the
fake of increasing their own wealth and distressing their bre
thren, monsters unworthy the fellowship of society, and ought
to be driven from amongst those on whom they wish to prey.
For as the monsters of the sea devour the small, so thof#
endeavor to oppress and destroy the poor, and by this means
destroy our noble opposition to tyranny and arbitrary taxa
tion. When I look at the men who have been foremoft in
this mifehief, I am ready to conclude from this and their for
mer conduct, that they are actuated by more than a Specula
tive profit on the articles they have and are now engrossing, and
I query whether or not a commission from North, Howe,
Dunmore, or some other tool of Administration, has not en
couraged them to expert great emoluments of specie for this
their sudden and indultrious endeavor to render that wealth,
which they have acquired amongst us, fatal to our privileges
and liberty. . ,
It may be urged that unless those commodities bear an ad
vanced price from what they formerly had done,, foreigners
would not be encouraged to come and traffic with us, but I
make a material diftindion betwixt him who rifles hrs pro.
perty nay perhaps his all, if caught, to confifcation, m order
to accommodate us, and the man who contributes to our
distress by employing that which he obtained amongst us
to our 'ruin. The former is worthy of encouragement; the
latter to be despised and abhorred by every lover of man
kind. ~
I therefore doubt not but this was one among many other
reasons for calling a Convention, and I sincerely hope, that
on their meeting they will take some effectual measure to put
in execution one of their resolves at their last fitting, which
is as follows, “ Resolved unanimously, That if any manu
fadurer, or venders of goods and merchandizes in this pro
vi? re, shall take advantage of the neceffiucs of his country
[Num. 176.