The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-05-16 00:00:00, page 1

-Serious QUESTIONS proposed to all friends to the
rights of mankind in Pennsylvania, with suitable A N
SWERS.
^ 1 7" '' " g° vernment ?
' A" Certain powers vested by society in
V V public persons for the security, peace, and
happiness of its members.
Q What ought a society to do to secure a good govern
ment ?
A. Any thing. The happiness of man, as an inhabitant of
this world, depends intirely upon it.
Q When ought a new government to be established?
A. When the old becomes impracticable, or dangerous to
the rights of the people.
Q Is that the present ftdte of our government?
A. Every officer of it is bound by oaths cf allegiance
and fidelity to our enemies. The chief magistrate is wholly
independant of the people both in fortune and authority. The
use of our constitution is impracticable in many instances,
and dangerous in all, therefore necessity fays it ought to be
laid aside.
Q Who ought to form a new constitution of government ?
A. The people.
Q From whom ought public persons to derive their au
thority to govern ?
A. From the people whom they are to govern.
Q What ought to be the object of government ?
A. The welfare of the governed.
Q How is such a government to be obtained ?
A. By forming a confutation Which regards men more than
ASSIZE of BREAD.
FINE FLOUR, at fifteen Shillings and Sixpence per Ct.
MIDDLINGS, at thirteen Shillings per Ct.
RYE, at nine Shillings per Ct.
White Bread, The penny loaf to weigh eight ounces and a
quarter.
The twopenny ditto, one pound three quarters of an ounce.
The fourpenny ditto, two pounds one ounce and an half.
The eightpenny ditto, four pounds three ounces.
The twelvepenny ditto, fix pounds four ounces and an half.
Middling ditto, The penny loaf, nine ounces and a half.
The twopenny ditto, one pound three ounces.
The fourpenny ditto, two pounds fix ounces.
The eightpenny ditto, four pounds twelve ounces.
The twelvepenny ditto, seven pounds two ounces.
Rye ditto, The penny loaf, eleven ounces and three quarters.
The twopenny ditto, one pound seven ounces and a half.
The fourpenny ditto, two pounds fifteen ounces.
The eightpenny ditto, five pounds fourteen ounces.
The twelvepenny ditto, eight pounds thirteen ounces.
Set for the township of the™ Northern Liberties, May 15,
1776, by
SAMUEL POWELL,)
GEORGE BRYAN, , Justices.
JAMES YOUNG, )
The .PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
Vol. ILJ
Price only Pavo Coppers. Published every Tuesday, Tburfday, and Saturday Evenings.
TH URSDAY, MAY 16, 1776.
245
Q Ought the constitution which a proper number of such
persons agree upon to be immediately adopted ?
A. No. After agreeing upon a constitution, or form cf
government, they ought to adjourn for fix or nine months,
publish the plan, request every man to examine it with the
utmost seriousness and attention, make remarks upon it, point
out any defects which may appear^in it, and offer amend
ments. Then let the fame body of men who framed it,
joined by an additional number ofnew members, meet at the
time fixed in their adjournment, canvass the whole again,
take the defects pointed out, and the amendments proposed
into their consideration, and finally agree. N. B. This
frame of government, when agreed upon, should be intitled
the Social Compact of the People of &c. and should
be unnalterable in every point, except by a delegation of the
fame kind of that which originally framed it, appointed for
that purpose.
Q What should be done after this compact is finally
agreed upon?
A. The fame, or another body of men, should be ap
pointed to draw up what I should call a charter of delegation,
being a clear and full description of the quantity and degree
of power and authority, with which the society veils the per
sons intrufted with the powers of the society, whether civil
or military, legislative, executive or judicial.
Q Is this all that is necessary to secure a good govern
ment-?
things, by framing it in such a manner that the interest cf
the Governors and governed shall ever be the fame; and by
delegating the powers of government so that the people
may always have it in their power to resume them, when
abused, without tumult or confufion, arid to deliver them to
perlons more worthy of trust.
Q Should the officers of the old constitution be entrufled
with the power of making a new one when it becomes neces
sary ?
A. No. Bodies of men have the fame felfifh attachments
as individuals, and they will be claiming powers and prero
gatives inconsistent with the liberties of the people. Arif
tccracies will by this means be established, and we will ex
change a bad constitution for a worse, or the tyranny of one
for the tyranny of many.
Q Who ought to have such a truil :conferred upon them,
as it is the highest and most important which man can de
legate ?
A. First, Men of the greatest wisdom and integrity, who
have as much if not more natural than acquired sense and
understanding. Secondly, Men who can be under no temp
tations to frame political diftindions in favor of any class er
set of men. Thirdly, Men who the moment the constitution
is framed, must descend into the comm.l paths of life, and
have as great a chance to feel every defed in the constitution
as any man. And lastly, Men who regard not the person of
the rich, nor despise the state of the poor, but who prefer
justice and equity to all things, and would go any lengths to
establish the common rights of mankind on the firmed foun
dation.
[Num. 2c6.