The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-03-02 00:00:00, page 1

For the PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
On fending COMMISSIONERS to treat
with the CONGRESS.
THE man who would penetrate all the designs, and tho
roughly acquaint himfelf with the several manoeuvres
of the British government, ought carefully to attend to
two objects, viz. The prime minister is always considered
as the central wheel of all government movements, and the
eyes of every one are fixed upon him, and his motions alone
attended to., But in the present case, where he is confefledly
ostensible, the affair is quite otherwise, and he who wishes to
distinguish between the measures which proceed from the real
minister, and will be prosecuted, and those which the ostensi
ble is directed to hold out, as barrels to a whale, may perhaps
find the true clue to guide through the labyrinth in the fol
lowing observations.
Great-Britain has steadily and invariably pursued one course
of conduct towards these colonies for the lalt twelve years,
and yet politicians have constantly charged her with ficklenefs
And a want of a regular plan. He who difeerns the true
cause of this incenfiftent consistency, can point out its nature,
end and use, and shew that this ficklenefs demonstrates the
firmeft feadfaftnefs, fees into the bottom of the present
British policy, and comprehends all her measures. This
knowledge I wild every member of the Honorable Conti
nental Congress possessed of, with virtue and spirit fufficient
to withßand all their efforts to destroy our liberties.
In pursuance of the above resolve, the said Com
mittee hereby notify all persons who are disposed
to central ft -the making Mufkers and Bayonets,
ty^ they make known their proposals as loon as
possible to them at' Philadelphia, or to tHv Assem
blies, Conventions, or Committees of Safety in the
l&LLiey Elicit LiiPy iivv, tn ^r^cilU r . tw— . .~.—ri
to the said Committee.
R. T. PAINE, per order.
In C ON GRESS, February 23, 1776.
RESOLVED, .That a Committee of five
be appointed to contrast for the making
MUSKETS and BAYONETS for the
ule of the United Colonies, and to confider of far
ther ways and means of promoting and encouraging
the manufacture of FIRE ARMS in all parts of
the United Colonies. The Members chosen; Mr.
Paine, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Huntington, Mr. Lee,
and Mr, L. Morris.
Extract from the minutes,
• CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
Vol. ll.]
The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
Price only Pivo Coffers. Published every Tuesday, Pburfday, and Saturday Evenings.
SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2776.
107
As soon as the Parliament is called, the King gives certain
intimations of his designs, and applies for the approbation
and support of the Commons. Here we have a final! open
ing of the designs of the Cabinet, no more being communi
cated than is absolutely necessary for obtaining a general con
currence and vote of aids from Parliament. This being once
obtained by way of Addref#, a new plan opens, and that
spirit, which was roused by this difeovery of the real designs
of the government, is laid asleep as quickly as possible, and
the real minifternow retiring behind the curtain, the osten
sible one fuccecds to his place. You may therefore observe,
that as loon as the hands of the secret cabinet are let loose by
loyal addresses, things take a new turn in Parliament imme
diately; and the prime minister, as if totally forfaking the
high ground he had lately taken possession of, begins to open
new plans of a very different nature from that held cut in the
Speech from the throne, and recommended in the addresses of
both Houses of Parliament. The King and his cabal go to work
with all the secrecy and vigour they are matters of, and Lord
North assumes his new character, which is that of the de,
ceiver of America, and amuser of the nation. And he has
hitherto played his part so well, that all has gone on to their
mind. He last year rendered them invisible, even to their
%n party, and had like to lose all by it, so that he was
• forced toA. '^ - r '*,? r ?a& amd partly discover himfelf before
he could carry matters in the House. Any one,, wa^ re
members his motion, will feel the force of what is here re
lated, and he who recollects that said motion arrived but a
few weeks before the order for seizing Meffeurs Hancock and
Adams, which opened the present feene of the war, must per
ceive that he aCted in the capacity I have assigned him. Even
they who entertain the mod indifferent opinion of the admini
stration, were, by this motion, induced to believe, for a time,
that they meant to give up the matter.
He is now playing the fame game over again. Proposals
for a reconciliation, Commissioners, and what not, are now
held out as the motion was last year, and for the fame pur
poses.
The two parties now divide, each going to his own proper
business. The King and his secret Cabinet, to arraying the
greatest military force they can muster, and defpatching
them to butcher us with the utmost expedition; Lord North,
and the Parliament, to amuse the nation, and difiraCt and
divide the colonies by every hypocritical art in their power.
Thus the two plans go hand in hand ; the one to divide, the
other to conquer. Was it not precisely so last year? Is it not
so now ? All ye timid, irresolute, terrified and double faced
Whigs, who have, by one means or other, crept into autho
rity, open your mouths wide, and bawl stoutly against every
vigorous measure until the Commissioners arrive. They will
bring pockets well lined with English guineas; patents for
places, pensions, and titles in abundance will attend them.
Your palms will be firft greased. You are the only men who
can complete the Parliamentary plans for railing an Ameri
can revenue! Common Sense, fays this winter, is worth
an age, rejoice that it is new past, do all in your power to
pass the spring in inactivity, and matters may yet go to your
[Num. 174.