The New York packet, and the American advertiser — New York [N.Y.], 1776-04-04 00:00:00, page 2

M^. Lorrex,
fy inerting in your Pa^r, the follmiug o^ferwa
tiss, you null oblige
An English American.
PLAN o, THE AMERICAN
COMPACT.
Tllli capital fubjert ofconverfition through
out America for these tew weeks pad,
hath been excited by a pamphlet, entitled Com
r^>n Sense; the author of which Endeavours to
° Shew thenecetiity of our final reparation from
, Great-Sritain, as our rights and privileges can
not be properly secured by any mode of recon
ciliation whatever. None of the answers given
to this ingenious pamphlet, have Sketched out
any plan of settlement, by which it might ap
pear that our rights and freedom would be fully
secured, though again united and bwmbnized
with Britain. That such a compart'or settle
ment is practicable, I think, ought to be made
apparent to the people of America, before they
can be convinced of the propriety of reconcilia
tion ; and unless this can be etferted, I never
with to seethe union ; preferring, beyond all
comparison, the toils and dangers of mining a
free and independent fabrick to the deluficc pro
mises of freedom, pregnant with the principles
oi Servitude and oppreffipn. But, I think, such
a compact, or act ot settlement, may be framed,
as will secure to Americans the rights ot rtee
nun, at the fame time that it removes from
them the hen ors of war, and the defoliations with
which even victory mutt be attended. I think
no considerate perlon will deny, that our truly
honourable Congress were of opinion such a
compact could be formed., when they petitioned
the iking, addrefled the people of Britain, and,
prayed to the Father of peace for reconciliation
with Great. Britain, as the greatest blessing these
colonies could enjov. It such a settlement, in
the opinion of the Congress could so lately have
been framed, I,think no good reason can be
given why it cannot now be affected, Since the
fame wife and faluta r y regulations, which iix
. months ago would have secured us against the
inroads ot tyranny, and the designs of a wicked
Ministry, must ?t this day answer the fame in\-
portant purposes.. What were the articles of
this compact, which our Congress mult have
thought wßuld be fufficient to secure our liber
ties, 1 do not know, it is impossible, therefore,
iof me to relate them ; but fufficient it is, for
the purpose of destroying the foundation of in
d^^ndency, to delineate the outlines of a com
pact,. which would reconcile us to Grcat-Britain,
and at the fame time secure and preserve our
rights and privileges : Such a general plan, or
ground work, is here ottered to -the public for
their consideration.;l
~ Th? British Parliamentlhall have no pow
er to tax the colonies. „.
2. The Rrliatoent Shall not intermeddle with
the internal, police at the colonies : Let Britain
provide for her own internal government, and
the colonies tor theirs. By this ciaufe all dis
putes about invasion of charters, rights of trial
by jury, manufactures of the colonies, " &c. will
be rooted up at one Stroke.
3. The Crown Shall appoint the officers of
government in the colonies, during good beha-'
viour, and the people of the colonies pay them;'
• by this means the officers become equally de
pendent upon cown and people, (as they al
ways ou^ht to be.)
4. The Parliament fliall have the regulation
ot our trade ; but lead they may lay heavy du L
ties upon articles ot our trade, under pretence
of regulating it, and so raise a revenue out of
the colonies, they Should have no right to th®
duties, but they ihould go to, and be for the be
nefit of that colony from which they were rail
ed, to contribute in paying that colony's taxes,
&c.
<. As it is necessary there ihould be some ge
neral power to superintend and regulate the m
tereft of rlte colonies, as connected with and in
terfering with each other, which no provincial
legislature is competent to ; and as it would be
dangerous to give the British Parliament, that
power, left tyranny might enter in at so indefi
nite a paflage, there Should be a general Con
vention, consisting ofDeputies fiom the Several
colony Agfemblies, or from the people, whose
business Should be to regulate the polls, the ge
neral currency, and the proportion of the forces
of the colonies, and all other matters in which
the Separate colony legislatures have not fuffici
ent authority, and which are not contrary to the
right herein allowed to the British Parliament.
One Special business of this Convention Should
be to k^ep a vigilant and careful watch over
the designs and translations of the British Mi
nistry and Parliament, that so by an early watch
word, it may prevent tyranny in its embryo!
But as absolute tower might in tirpe I>e Burn
ed by this Congress, were it without any oheck,
its acls therefore Should go home for the Royal
assent; the Crown to have no power to reject
them, or the Provincial arts, unless done with-,
in three years after pairing here."
6. For our security against the introduction
®f British troops to enfhve us in times of tran
quillity, when we had forgot the use of arms, a
perpetual, Standing militia bill Should form part
of the compart, by which means the people of
the colonies would k©ep up their martial spirit,
and always be prepared against the attack of ar
bitrary power: But, as it would be ufeful, in
case of Sudden invasion, to have a final! number
of troops at all times ready to repel such inva
sion, the King Should have a right to fend a
eert iin limited number, for instance 10 or
izoco upon the continent, whose immediate
exertions might be fufficient to prevent an ene
my, until the mifria could be aliimbled and
brought up. Whoever asserts that icor 12,000
folders would be fufficient to controul the mili
tia of this Continent, cenfifting of gon,ooo brave
mm, pays but a despicable compliment to the
spirit and ability of Americans. More than this
Stipulated number the Crown Should not fend
without the content of the general Convention
or Congress.
7. In order to prevent bribery and corrupted,
from sapping the foundation bf this goodly fa
brick, the compart ihould contain these three
claules, , viz. That the colonics Should ehbofv
their Representatives and Convention every two
years : That they Should choose them by ballot;
and that no officer or pensionary of the Crown
fnould be elected.
.8. As these colonies would be protested b
the power of Britain, and would receive all th
duties afifing from the regulation of trade, th
colonies Ihould Stipulate to allow them S per ct.
upon all merchandizes imported from foreign
countries. This would be theeafieft of all me
thods for railing this sum; it would be paid in
visibly, and we Ihould even then be gainers,
Since we Should receive a profit of 12 per cent,
upon such foreign commodities. If the exi
gences of the state Should at any time require a
further grant, the fame Ihould be obtained freely
by way of requisition.
'I hefe are the outlines of the compart of re
conciliation, by which 'it is .apparent our free
dom may be amply secured. No doubt many
additions may be made to it by the wisdom of
our venerable Congress, and the observations of
my countrymen. And Since an honourable and
secure harmony may again be established be
tween Great-Britain and these colonies, who
would prefer the horrors of war, the ruin of
commerce, the destruction of private peace apd
happiness, and the loss of thousands of our
countrymen in battle, to the blessing& of peace
* 1 tranquility, the enjoyment of plenty and
abundance, the preservation of the lives of our
fellow creatures, and all these in the full pof
fefiion of liberty ? And for what are we to en
counter all these evils, and.forego these bene
fits ? For the imaginary good of a republican
independent gove nment, fo^new and untried
ways, which like all novel experiments, must
be attended with innumerable difficulties if they
Should happen to prove fuccefsfu^ and with dif
malxonfequences fiould they mifearrv. ^ 'Tis a
form of government which Baron Montesquieu,
and the bert writers on that fubiert, have thewn
to be attended with many milchiefs and imper
fections, while they pass high encomiums on
the excellency of the British, constitution. But
why fliould I dwell upon the dangers of this
Scheme; the Continental Congr fs have never
lisped the least desire for independency or re
publicanism; all their publications breathe ano
ther spirit, and in their jurtice, wisdom and
virtue I can freely confide, for a refloratwn of
peace and tranquility upon just and honourable
conditions.
Further Intelligence fiA n N.Carolina.
(Continued from our lafl.)-
By his Excellency Brigadier-General Donald
M'Donald,Commanderofhis Majerty's forces,
for the time being, in North-Carolina.
A MANIFESTO.
WHEREAS I have received information,that
many ofhis Majesty's faithful fubjeth have been
so far overcome by apprehensions of danger, as
to fly from before his Majefly's army as from
the most inveterate enemy: To remove which,
as far as lies in my power, I have thought it
proper to publish this manifefto, declaring that
I ffiall take tke proper flops to prevent any in
jury being done either to the persons or proper
ties of his Majesty's fubjerts; and I do further
declare it to be my determined resolution, ihat
no violence Shall be used to women and children,
as viewing such outrages to be inconliftent with
humanity^ and as tending in their confluences
to fully the arms of Britons and soldiers : I there
fore, in his Majesty's name, generally invite
every well-wisher to that Arm of government
under which they have so happily lived; and
which, ifjuftly considered, ought to be esteem
ed the best birth-right of Britons and of Ame
ricans, to repair to his Majesty's Royal Stand
ard, eroded at Cross Creek, where they will
meet w ith every polhble civility, and'be ranked
in the lift of friends and fellow soldiers, engaged
in the bert and most glorious of all causes, Sup
porting the rights and cor^itution of their
country. Those therefore who have been under
the unhappy necefficy of submitting to the man
dates of Congresses and Committees, those law
less, usurped, and arbitrary tribunals, will have
an opportunity (by joining th& King's army)
to restore peace and tranquility to this diftrart
ed land ; to open again the glorious Streams of
commerce; to partake of those blessings inse
parable from a regular administration of justice,
and be again reinstated in the favourable opinion
of their Sovereign. Signed,
DON. MAC DONALD.
By his Excellency's command,
Kenn. M'DoNALb, P. S.
[A true copy from the original.]
By his Excellency Brigadier-General Donald
McDonald, of his Majesty's forces, for the
time being, in North-Carolina.
A MANIFESTO.
WHEREAS powers and authority have been
invented in me, by his Excellency Governor
Martin, to array in arms his Majesty's loyal
fubjerts in this province, I hereby command all
bis Majesty's loyal people to repair to the royal
banner, agreeable to the Governor's royal pro
clamation of date the 10th day of January last.
I do hereby declare, 'tis my intention, that no
violation whatever Shall be offered to women,
children, or private property, to fully the arms
ot Britons or Freemen employed in=the most
glorious and righteous cause of rescuing and de
" Ro,van Comity,
" This day came John Reynolds before me,
one of his Majesty's justices aligned to keep the
peace for said county, and being duly Sworn on'
the holy Evangelists of Almighty Goti, made
oath, that on Tuesday last, in Field's camp at
Dillos, he, this deponent, heard William Spur-•
gin read a paper of the furpe purport, andto the
best of his knowledge, in the fame words of the
within written.
“ JOHN REYNOLDS.
" Sworn and signed this 10th Day of Fe
bruary, anno Domini 1776, before me,
JOHN OLIPHANT."
NORTH-CAROLIN 4.
In Provincial Council, March 6, 1776.
Resolved, That Col. Richard Cafwell fend,
under a fufficien; guard, His Excellency Bri
gadier General Donald McDonald, taken at
the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, to the
town of Halifax, and there to be confinitted
a cfofe prifoncr in the goal ot said town,
until further orders.
CORNELIUS HARNET, President.
By Order, James Green, Jun. Clerk.
A manifefto from Thomas Rutherford, Colo
nel of the Cumberland Militia, who has
been an inhabitant these twenty years, is
brother to John Rutherford, and has been
in the enjoyment of many offices of pro
fit.
advertisement.
To the Lovers of Order and Good Government.
WHEREAS I thought it expedient for
the support of our excellent constitution, which
the rebellious and difaffeaed have of late
endeavoured to overturn ;. to call a general
muster pf the county of Cumberland, at Cross
Creek, on Monday the 12th of this infant;
and as from the idle and wicked reports spread
by wicked and ignorant men, great numbers
ot his Majesty's liege fubjerts have tailed to
attend, and others i ho did give their attend
ance have Shewn themselves influenced by those
unjust apprehensions of danger.
This is therefore to command, enjoin, be
seech and require all his Majesty's faithful
fubjerts within the county of Cumberland,
to repair to the,Kings royal .Standard, at
Cross Creek, on or before the 16th present,
in order to join the King's army, otherwise
they mug expert to fall under the melancholy
confequeneca of a declared rebellion and
expose themselves to the just resentment of
an injured, though gracious Sovereign.
THOMAS RUTHERFORD, Cel.
Cross Creek, 15th Feb. 1776.
'(C o p Y.)
His Excellency jOSIAH MARTIN,
&c. &c. &c.
To Allen M'Don aid, Donald M'Donald, Alex
ander M'Leod, Donnol M'Leod, Alexander
M'Clean, Allen Stewart, William Campbell,
Alexander M+Donnold, and Neal M'Arthur,
Enquires, of the county of Cumberland and
Anion, John Pyle, Enquire, of th^ county
of Chatham, William Fields, James Hunter,
Robert Fields, Jeremiah Fields, and Seymour
York, Esquires, of the county of Guildford,
« Michael Holt and James Munro, Efquiit,
of the county ot Orange, Paul Barringer,
ESquire, of the county of Mecklenl.org,
William Spurgian, William Bryan, Samuel
B-yan, and Matthias Sappingfield; ' Esquires,
of the county of Rowan, Gideon Wright
and James Glvn, Esquires, of the county
of Surry, and Philemon Hawkins, Sen. and
Philemon Hawkins, Jun. Esquires, of the
county of Bute, Greeting :
I, REPOSING efpecral trust and confidence
in your loyalty, courage, prudence and fidelity,
do, by virtue of the powers and authorities in
me vetted by his Majesty, hereby commidionate,
authorife arid impower you whose names are
above written, and each and every es you, to
erert the King's Standard, and to raise, levy,
mufber, and array in arms all his Majesty's loy
al and faithful fubjerts within your refpertive
counties, or in any part or parts of this pro
vince, who are willing and ready to repair to
the royal banner, for the support of the laws
and constitution thereof, against the most horrid
and unnatural rebellion that has been excited
therein by traiterous, wicked and designing men, .
and now threatens the subversion of his Maje
sty's government, and the utter deftrurtion of
the rights and liberties of his Majesty's people;
and I hereby give and grant to you, power and
authority to torm the forces you Shall so raise
into companies of fifty men each, and to ap
point one Captain, one Lieutenant, and one
Ensign, to every company so formed, whose ap
pointment, as well as this commission, Ihall be
good, valid, and effectual, during my pteafure,
aiA I do hereby give to each and every of you,
full power and authority to seize and take what
soever may be necessary, of arms, ammunition,
provisions, horses and carriages, for the fubfift
ance and accommodation of bis Majesty's faith
ful fubje&s whom you fkall ass mble in arms for
the purposes aferefaid, yewgiving receipts for
livering this country Aom the ufur^&tion of re
bellion, and that no cruelty whatever be offered
against the laws of humanity but what resist
ance Shall mak: necessary) and that whatever
provisions and other neceftarics betaken tor the
troops Shall be - paid tor immediately ; sand. in
case any person or persons Shall offer the l^rtt
violence, to the families of such as will join
royal standard; such person or persons may de
pend that retaliation will be made, 'llie horrors
of such proceedings, 'tis hoped, will be avoided
by all true chrihians. Given under my hand
and feal,this rth day of February, 1776.
J DONALD MCDONALD.
th^ fame, or keeping account 'hereof, CnM
fatisrartion mey be mate to the owner or own
ers ir they are hot engaged ' in rebellion : And
I do hereby give to each and every of )ou,
full power and authority to refill and oppose
all rebels and traitors agaibf: bis Majesty
and hi government by force and a .?.-, and
to apprehend,.Feize and detain them, their ac
complices and abettors ; and you are hereby
required immediately, and with uJ polliblc Se
crecy, to concert a "place of general iqUczvoue
tor your forces; thence to march in a body,
by Juel }route as you Shall judge proper, to
Bruafwkk, so ordering yem increments that
you may reachrtbat lQwn on the fifteenth dry
<)1 February next enduing, making prisoners,
in your way, alb inch persons us you know to
be principals or active in rcbeliiin; taking all
pollible care that the wom.l land children are
unhicriefted, that no cruelty whatever be com
mitted to bully the honour and aims ot Britons
.and Freemen, employed in 'be glorious and
righteous cattle of rescuing and delivering their
country from the usurpation of rebellion, and
that nd violence be done againil the laws of
humanity but what resistance shall make neces
sary, to the end that the people who have been
deluded into rebellion, may be made fenlibte it
is . his Majesty's most gracious and royal inten
tion, and my earnest desire, to reclaim them to
a .proper, fez.e of their duty and obedience to
lawful government, without involving the coun
try in the horrors of war, it, ; y timely and du
tiful. Submission, they make such extremities a
voi^able. And whereas there may be many of
his Majesty's loyal.fubjerts in this province,
whose merits and influence may quality them
to take part ill tire execution of this tbmmifficn,
whom 1 have omitted for wantof knowledge of
them and their, principles and their good difyo
fitions, l do hereby give full power and authority
to you who are herein named, to join with you
in the execution of the powers granted to you,
by this commission, tyery fitch person or per
sons as you Shall deem worthy of such high trust
and confidence, he; eby, declaring that each and
every Such person as you (ball think fit so join
with you in the execution of these prefects, Shall
have equal power and authority as if they were
herein, particularly named, in pursuance or the
trust repefed in you- . Given under my h^nd
and seal at arms on board his Majesty's Sloop
Scorpion, in Cape Fear river, this toth day of
January, 1776, and in the Sixteenth year 01 his
Majesty's reign. JO. MARTIN.
North Carolina, &
By his Exo - llency Josiah Martin, his Majesty's
Captain -General, Governor and Commander
in Chief in and over thedaid Pre vace.
a proclamation.
WHEREAS a moil daring, horrid and un
natural rebellion has been exerted in the pro
vince against his Majesty's government, by the
bale and assiduous artifice ot certain traitorous
wicked and designing men, and the same is now
openly avowed and declared, and artually threa
tens the Sole subversion of the laws and consti
tution or the Said province, and the liberties and
privileges of his Majesty's fubjerts, inhabitants
thereof : I.have thought fit to iflue this procla
mation, hereby to Signify to all his Majesty's
liege Subjects within this province, That I find
it neceSlary for the Safety and preservation of the
rights civil and religious, and for the mainte
nance of his Majesty's government against the
said desperate and unnatural rebellion, to erect
his Majtfty'sroyhl Standard, and to collect and
unite the force of his Majesty's people under
the fame, for the purpofc of relifting and sub
duing, with the uffitfance of the Almighty, the
said impious and unnatural rebellion, and to re
store the just rights of his Majesty's crown and
government, and the liberties of bis people :
And I do hereby exlio't, require and command,
in the King's name, all his Majesty's faithful
fubjerts on their duty and allegiance, forthwith
to repair, to the royal Standard, hereby promis
ing every id, encouragement and support to
all Such as fi7.11 come to vindicate and Support
the violated laws and constitution of their coun
try ; at the fame time pronouncing all such re
bels as will not join the royal banner, Rebels
and Traitors, their lives aid properties co be
forfeited. All Such as will join Shall be.forgiven
any pad offences,even admitting they have taken
up arms, not doubting that every man who
knows the value ot freedom, and the blessings of
a British fubjert, will join his heart and hand to
reflore to his country, that mod, glorious, free
and happy constitution and form of government
which the most desperate and abandoned traitors
only can wish to disturb or alter; or in times of
danger, like the present, forbear to hazard eve
ry thing that is dear to support it, Gi+en un
der my hand and seal at arms, on, board his
Majesty's Sloop Scorpion, in Cape Fearriver,hia
tenth day of January, 1776, and in the Sixteenth
year of his Majesty's reign.
JO. MARTIN.
God fare the King.
" Rowan County, £
" This day came John Reynolds before me,
one of his Majesty's justices assigned to keep the
peace for said county, and being duly fwern,
made oath, That he, this deponent, heard pa-„
pers read in the camp of William Field, to be of
the fame import, and to the best of his know
ledge in the ft ;e words of the within, and that
he heard from the officers and men declared free
plunder wherever they went.
" JOHN REYNOLDS.
“ Sworn before me this 10th ofFeK 1776.
, “ JOHN OLIPHANT."
N. B. Brigadin-General Donald M'Donald
was in rebellion in the year I)4^, against his
lawful Sovereign, and headed many of the fame
clan and name, who are now his followers
These emigrants, from the charity and benefr