The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-06-13 00:00:00, page 1

For the PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
Mr. Towne,
SHOULD any one attentively read the annals of the
last, and compare it to the present reign, what a
Briking contrast would appear! Of the former he
might very sincerely have cried out, in the sublime
language of the Jews, O King, live for ever ! And of
the latter with equal truth, How are the mighty fallen !
Had the present lull blooded Nero, and his all-fufficient
Ministry and Parliament, instead of Shedding the blood of
our brethren, been really desirous of reconciliation and peace
on constitutional principles (i. c. charter principles) luch a
peace as would not have derogated from the so much talked
of, and boasted honor and omnipotence of Almighty Britain
(for with such sacred things our unhallowed hands should not
meddle, 'tis not titles we quarrel about, not shadows, but
substances) and luch a pe^ce as would not have call an odium
®n the spirit, dignity, and rising glories of America, and the
righteous cause of liberty by our assenting to it, and had
they taken proper notice of the petitions of the Congress,
when they humbly besought their (what shall I call 'era?)
Graciousnesses, to grant them but liberty, peace and fafety,
they would long ere this have.given us due notice of such a
desire, accompanied with such preliminaries, as would have
put their sincerity beyond a doubt; which preliminaries
would have been a previous recal of all their troops and ships
of war (for nothing lets some people think would have done)
and this even the illustrious Cato mull have thought quite
reafonab|e. Peace then might have been eltablifhed, and
America might then perhaps have joined in cne Grand
Continental Chorus, OKing, live for ever! But, alas,
blood is now shed ! and that blood which was shed through
wantonness, and without provocation, cries aloud for ven
geance. If I forget thee, O Lexington, let my right hand
forget her cunning, yea let my right finger forget to pull
the trigger!
The door is now shut, and while they continue invading,
murdering, plundering, wafting, and daily destroying our
property, who can fay with sincerity of heart, and a clear
coTcience, O King, live for ever!—Who but Caro
and his clan can think of peace ? Who but they can be such
enemies to their country, as to wiffi a temporary, ffiim (ham,
patched up, inglorious peace ? And who but they can be so
sanguine as to suppose a sincere reconciliation can possibly
take place under luch circumstances ? —Cato and his junto
have doubtless their reasons for wishing it, as they are under
the direction of avarice and not of Common Sense.
Be not deceived, my countrymen, peace is not so near at
hand ; I mean a lading, an honorable, and a secure peace ;
ray, even were you to make a voluntary surrender of all your
liberties, claims and property, peace would be still the far
ther from you. Then would soldiers innumerable swarm
around you, and possess your cities ; then farewel liberty.—
You then commence slaves indeed ; you will scarcely then
dare, even at noon-day, to walk the streets. Remember
Befton, insults upon insults will be heaped on your heads;
your spirits will be broken, and the more you complain the
The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST
Vol. lI.J
Price only T<wo Coffers. Published every " ve/day, Thursday, and Saturday Evenings.
THURSDAY, JUi E 13, 1776.
293
more you will be dragooned ; all power on your fide will in
sensibly vanish, and you will become by degrees insensible
Have,, and have none to pity or help you ; you have yet the
ftaff of Union in your hands, let it support you.—l tell you,
and I tell you as a sincere friend to America there is no
peace for Israel, there is no peace for Salem's courts, unless
ye procure it for yourselves. America must work out her own
salvation ; pride, on the part of our enemies, is too predomi
nant ; it bars the door of peace, it mocks the strength of
Britain, and Britain trembles for the consequences ; yet that
cursed pride, that national felf-conceited, vain-glorious import
ance will not fuffer her to give o'er her vile pursuits, but like
Satan still purlue their accursed plan, 'till in the end they
fall, and justly merit their own deftruftion. The feather falls
from off the fool's head, and fixes itfelf on the cap of liberty.
" die swells with angry pride,
" And calls for help from ev'ry fide."
She finds her own strength infufficient to balance her in
justice, therefore amuses us with the found of Commissioners
or Plenipotentiaries, and cries peace, peace, where there is no
peace. While she underhandedly negotiates with foreign
powers, Hessians, Brunfwickers, our dear couhns the Ha
noverians, perhaps Ruffians, and if these should fail, per
haps Turks next, to cram such a peace down our throats as
Cato and his truckling brethren would gladly swallow.
Britain's wings are clipped. We have nothing to fear from
her strength alone, equal to the fear and disgrace of disoblig
ing, and danger of losing our friends in Britain and Ireland,
by a pafilanimous behaviour, and a Catonian surrender of
our liberties; this we should be particularly cautious^of, as we
thereby involve their fate with ours ; they are struggling for
us, and it would be ingratitude in the highest degree to de
sert them, by assenting to a dastardly, a rascally compromise.
We have molt to fear from Catos and Commissioners, frora
Hgh Priests and Judaffes, from their juggling and deception,
and therefore as the son Sirach fays, “ Separate thyfelve,
from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends."
But should their so much talked of Holinesses (as they are
to gi at pardons and dispense the holy oil of Britain) with
then tinue of twelve thousands Hessians, &c. arrive ; don't
let / b intimidated by the pompous parade, or complimented
out of r liberties. Let us hear what they may have to fay
to keep us out of purgatory, don't let us be deficient in p int
of good manners or hospitality th ugh it should appear, as
there can be no doubt they are, pretended peace ma
kers; and not such as St. Matthew speaks of. Yet let
us give them no cause to complain, unless it be on account of
a disagreement in Catholic or political opinions. Convince
them (if they know it not already) that we are as able to treat
as to fight; as good at the council board as in the field;
and, in case we cannot agree, let us dismiss them genteely,
but not as Hanun, the son of Nahafh, did to David's messen
gers, “ Shave their beards and cut their garments down
to their buttocks," left they be ashamed, and tarry at Hali
fax until their beards are grown.
A WATCHMAN.
[Num, 21$.