The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-05-28 00:00:00, page 1

May it please your Excellency,
WE the Leigrflative Council and General Assembly of
South-Carolina, convened under the authority of the
equitable constitution of government established by a free peo
ple in Congress, on the 26th ult. beg leave most refpedttully
to address your Excellency.
Nothing is better known to your Excellency than the una
voidable necessity which induced us, as members of Congress,
on the part of the people, to resume the powers of govern
ment, and to eftablifli some mode for regulating the internal
polity of this colony ; and, as members of the Legislative
Council and General Assembly, to veil you, for a time limited,
with the executive authority. Such constitutional proceedings
on our part, we make no doubt, will be mifeonftrued into adts
ofthe greatest criminality, by that defpotilm, which, loft to ail
sense of juflice and humanity, has already pretended, that we
are in actual rebellion : But, Sir, when ne rtfleA upon the
unprovoked, cruel, and accumulated oppreffioxs, under which
America in general, and this -colony in particular, has long
continued ; oppressions which, gradually inercafing in injul
tice and violence, are now, by the inexorable tyranny, perpe
trated against the Uniteo Colonies, under the various forms
of robbery, conflagrations, maffaci , breach of public faith,
'and open war; confeious of cur natural and unalienable rights,
and determined to make e\cry effort in our power to retain
them, we fee your Excellency's elevation from the midst of us,
to govern this country, as the natural consequence of such
outrages.
Ty the fuffrages of a free people you, Sir, have been cho
sen to hold the reins of government, an event as honorable to
yourfelf as beneficial to the public. We firmly trull that
you will make the constitution the great rule of your condu&.
And, in the most solemn manner, we do assure your Excel
lency, that in the difchar e of your duties, under that con
flituticn, which looks forward to an accommodation with
Great-Britain (an event which, though traduced and treated
as rebels, we still earnestly desire) we will Support you with
our lives and fortunes.
The PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.
CHARLESTOWN, SOUTH-CAROLINA.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY, April 3, 1776.
OR PEERED, That the j@int Address of this House
and the Legifative Council, this day presented to
his Excellency the President and Commander in
Chief, together with his Excellency's Answer, be
forthwith printed and made public.
By order of the House.
PETER TIMOTHY, Clerk.
To his Excellency JOHN RUTLEDGE, Esq; President and
Commander in Chief in and over the colony of South-
Carolina.
The ADDRESS of the Legislative Council and Ge
neral Assembly.
In the Legislative Council, the third of April, 1776.
GEO. GABRIEL POWELL, Speaker.
In the General Assembly, the third of April, 1776.
By order of the House,
JAMES PARSONS, Speaker
Vol. lI.J
Price only Two Coffers. Published every Tuejday, Tburfday, and Saturday Evenings.
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 1776.
265
WHEREAS the Honorable the Continental Congress
hath resolved, " that in the present fitnation of affairs
cc it will be very dangerous to the liberties and welfare of
" America, if any colony should separately petition the
" King or either House of Parliament ;" and whereas no
Pep she uld be left uneffayed to promote the general welfare ;
and whereas the fending Commissioners from Great-Britain,
to treat with the different colonies, is dangerous to the
liability of the liberties of America, therefore resolved.
That it is the opinion of this House, that no measure should
be left uneffayed to eftabliffi the liberties of America, and to
place them, as far as may be, out of the reach of fraudulent
schemes to subvert them by negotiation ; and that this colony
should not enter into any treaty or correspondence with the
court of Great-Britain, or with any person or persons under
that authority, but through the medium of the Continental
Congress.
Resolved also, That it is the opinion of this House, that
if any person or persons sent from Great-Britain, to treat
with the several colonies, shall arrive in this colony by wa
ter, such person or persons, and their retinue or company,
should not, upon any pretence be allowed to land, or to re
main in the colony longer than forty-eight hours, wind
and weather permitting ; or, while so remaining, to hold
any communication with any person in this colony, but
through his Excellency the President; and if any such per
sons shall arrive by land, they should be forthwith care
fully escorted out of the colony, and not be permitted to
hold any intercourse with persons not for that purpose au
thorized by the President, and that for the mere purpose of
accommodation.
His Excellency's ANSWER.
Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, Mr.
Speaker, and Gentlemen of the General Assembly,
MY most cordial thanks are due, and I request that you
will accept them, from this solemn engagement of
support, in difeharging the duty of the honorable station,
to which, by your favor, I have been elected.
Be persuaded, that no man would embrace ajuft and equi
table accommodation with Great-Britain mbre gladly than
myfelf: But, until so definable an object can be obtained,
the defence of my country, and preservation of that consti
tution, which, from a perfect knowledge of the rights, and
a laudable regard to the happiness of the people, you have
so wifely framed, shall engross my whole Attention. .
To this country I owe all that is dear and valuable, and
would, with the greatest pleasure, facrifice every temporal
felicity to establish and perpetuate her freedom.
J.RUTLEDGE.
In the GENERAL ASSEMBLY, April 6, 1776.
Ordered, That the following refolations be forthwith
printed and made public. By order of the House.
PETER TIMOTHY, Cl. G. A.
[Num. 211.