The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-06-08 00:00:00, page 3

to juft+ce all fitch perfons,as dare to offend against
the above necessary and highly ufeful regulations.
June 1. J. B. SMITH, Secretary.
In COMMITTEE for York County, May 30, 1776.
Prelent fifty-five Members.
Colonel Robert M'Pherson in the Chair.
The Resolve of the Hon. Continental Congress
of the 15th instant being read, was molt cordially
agreed, and thankfully accepted; and Resolved,
That a delegation from this body of nine members,
be ordered to attend the conferrence of Committees
at Philadelphia, the ' 18th day of June next, to con
sider of the best and most effe&ual measures lor car
rying into execution, and fettling the preliminary
steps for the election of a Provincial Convention,
to form a constitution founded on " the authority
of the people."
Resolved, That as the former legifl ttive powers of
this province cannot ad without being under oaths
or affirmations of allegiance to the King of Great-
Britain, and dependent on him, which by the cruel
and wicked proceedings of that King and Parliament
of Great-Britain more especially by a late Ad of
Parliament declaring the colonies rebels, and cut
ting them off from the protection of that crown,
the fame has become incapable of Icgiflation, and
in that refpe& totally extinct But Resolved never
thelejs, That the executive powers of government
ought to proceed in the usual channel, and that the
laws heretofore made be put in due execution, until
a government formed on the authority of the people
only, takes place, agreeable to the resolves of Con
gress of the i§th instant.
Resolved, That Mr. James Rankin, lately chosen
a member to represent this county in Assembly, in
fending leven letters and a bundle of remonstrances,
to seven inhabitants of this county, for the_exprefs
purpose of getting those remonftr tnces signed by the
people here, and transmitted to Philadelphia, which
remonstrances can be calculated for no other pur
pose than to draw this province off from the present
Union with the other colonies, or to divide the peo
ple So as to fall an easy prey to our inveterate ene
mies, has violated the trust reposed in him by the
good people of this county.
Reflved. That Should any person or persons be
so lost to all sense of duty to the public, as to attempt
to procure signers to laid poisonous and destructive
remonstrance in this county, that the aid perlon or
persons will be considered as violaters of the Resolves
of Concrefs and inimical co the liberties of America.
ROBERT M'PHERSON Chairman.
To the worthy Inhabitants of YORK COUNTY.
My refteCed Friends,
AS I dud myfelf most injuriously treated by a
resolve of your County Committee, published
in the Several News papers, I mud take the liberty
to do myfelf jutice through the lame channel. As
you were freely pleased to chufe me one of your re
presentatives in Assembly, by so large a majority as
near two to one against the opposite ticket, it would
give me the greatest concern, if I could believe that
the Committee had known and Spoken the senti
ments of my Constituents in their Resolve, or that
they will think I have violated the trust so lately re
posed in me by them. I am conscious in my own
heart, that I intended nothing but what I consider
ed as my bounden duty to the good per,ple I repre
sent, in the circular letter to Some of my friends.
Hid I afted otherwise, or kept back the neceffry
information from them, when they were to delibe
rate upon a matter of the greatest consequence to
them and their posterity, I think I Should then have
flood justly chargeable with " violating the trull
reposed in me." The whole affair pointed at in the
Resolve Stands thus The Committee of the city
®f Philadelphia had taken upon them to determine
two points, in their Protest against the authority of
that house of which you have chosen me a member,
viz. iff. That the Congress ' had absolutely en
joined the taking up and ettablifhing New Govern
ments thro' all the colonies," and, Secondly, That
they (the said Committee) had a right, in exclusi
on of the assembly, to call a conference of Com
mittees. who were not to deliberate what changes
in our government, or whether any, were necessary;
but (taking that for granted) they were to devise
means for chufing a Convention to eftabliih a new
form.
Now the express words of the Congress are these,
viz, “ That the refpe&ive Assemblies and Conventi
" ons, inhere no government fufficient to the exigen
“ cies of their affairs has been efablifed, adopt such
" governments, as shall, in the opinion of the Re
" prejentatives of the people, belt conduce to the
“ happiness of their constituents in particular, and
« America in general." These words, to my best
understanding, left the Assembly of Pennsylvania,
who are the undoubted Representatives of the peo
ple, to judge what changes, or whether any, might
be necessary for the exigencies of affairs. Our char
ter does allo declare that the consent of fix parties
in seven of our Assembly is necessary in this matter.
I likewise found it to be the general sense of the
House, confirmed by our own Delegates, that where
Assemblies could actually fit as the Representatives
of the people, the Congress had them exprefly in
view, in the execution of their Resolve, and did not
point out any particular changes as necessary, ex
cept so far as regards the usual oaths and animati
ons, which they considered , handing in the way
of our just opposition to the oppressive measures of
the British p< rliament; and the Committee of York
might have known that the Houle has dispensed
with the oaths, &c. and is absolved from them, by
the Crown's declaring them out of its protection.
It appeared further to me, that no other provinces
that have considered the Resolve of Congress, have
taken it in the sense of the Philadelphia Committee;
namely, as a positive injunction for altering their
governments, or injuring their charter rights, far
ther than the refpe&ive powers of thole govern
ments Shall think convenient for the public service.
The province of Maryland has exprefly determined
on the matter as follows—
" Resolved unanimoufy, That the people of this
“ province have the jole and exclusive right of re
“ gulating the internal government and police of
“ this province."—New-York has declared to the
fame effect; and the charter governments of Connec
ticut and Rhode-Inland have made no further alter
ations than respecting the oaths, &c. as our Assem
bly have done.
Upon this state of things, having a love for the
charter constitution of Pennsylvania; considering
myfelf as chosen by you to support it, as far as
possible, in the present exigency'; finding that the
public service. has been, and might dill be, carried
on as vigorously by the Assembly of this province,
as by any other public body on the continent; and
observing a Remonfrance co that effe&, Signing by
multitudes * of the moll refpe&able names in the
city of Philadelphia, and the neighbouring counties,
in opposition to the do&iines in the protest of the
Committee of that city, I thought it my duty to
fend you copies of thole papers, that I might know
the Sentiments of the county I represent, in a mat
ter of such consequence. Whether I did wrong in
this, or what censure they may deserve who dared
to keep back the needful information from you, en
deavouring to iurprize you into precipitate mea
sures, which might afterwards be injurious to your
best rights, for which you are now contending, and
sow the feeds of difeord, I leave yonrfclves to de
termine. I confider not only my private r'ghts as
a Freeman,but my public rights as a Representative
in Assembly, together with jour rights from whom
I derive my feat, to be grossly violated in this in
terruption of my correspondence with you, and
the threats thrown out to prevent my obtaining your
sentiments for the direction of my conduct. I know
the weight of the Committee of the town of York,
who firft opened my letters, and I hope I do not
over value my own firmnefs of Spirit, when I fay that
I neither fear their threats, nor regard their cen
sures, while in the honed, discharge el my duty; I
wilh that they who published the Resolves against
me, had also published a copy of the circular Let
ter on which it is founded, that the world might
have judged how far it delerved blame or approba
tion. The foliowing is an exaft copy of the letter
to Henry Wolfe, viz.
" The friends of the present constitution ofPenn
" fylvania think it absolutely necessary, at this time,
" to use their utmost endeavours to prevent the
" attempts that are making in the city of Philadel
<' phia, to destroy the Assembly, and consequently
“ the charter lights of the province; for which
“ purpose it is thought expedient, that as many
« persons as possible Should be procured to sign the
“ Address and Remonstrance to the Representatives
" of the province, which you will fee published in
“ Hall and Sellers news-paper, of the 22d of this
" month, to encounter the prgteft which is insert
" ed in the fame paper—l therefore request that
" you will take a part in this virtuous talk, by get
" ting as many of the rApcdable inhabitants of
" our county to sign their names to it as possible,
" by which you will greatly serve your country,
“ and oblige your Friend. James Rankin.
" P. S. You will have Several copies of the Re
" monstrance sent to you for fining."
I have only to add, that the Committee of
your county have just sent down Infructions, di
rected to two of your Representatives, wherein,
after Several charges against the Assembly in ge
neral, they conclude as follows— • $ ,
" We therefore inftrud you to withdraw from
" such Men and Measures, and in case of a motion
“ for the continuance of the Assembly, you will
" immediately leave the fame. You will fee by
" our Resolves, herewith sent, the sentiments of
" York county, very generally taken, and we trull
" you, Gentlemen, will aft conformable thereto.
Ry Order of the Committee. R. M'Ph £ rson, Chair.
As I have reason to believe that the Committee
have derived no authority from the county in gene
ral, to command their Representatives to desert their
trust, I shall continue to difeharge my duty, till I
obtain your sentiments in some less doubtful way,
and am refpeCtfully, Your Sincere Friend,
James Rankin.
* At the time of writing this, the names to the
Remonstrances, already delivered in from the city and
adjacent counties, amounted to about Six Thousand.
Two privateers belonging to this port have taken
three very valuable ships bound from Jamaica to
London, laden with rum, sugar, molafles, &c. hav
Tobacconists.
HAVE moved from the corner of Spruce and
Water-streets, to the house belonging to,
and lately occupied by Mr. John Wallace, in Se
cond-street, fix doors below Market street, where
they continue to carry on their Scotch fnuff and
tobacco Manufactory in all the several branches
as usual; they have laid in a large flock of the
very best Virginia leaf tobacco, and are confident
of giving the utmost fatisfa^ion to their former
customers and the publick. Orders will be punctu
ally anfwer'd with all possible dispatch; they give
cash for good empty fnuff bottles
RUNAWAY on the 26th of May, 1776, from
the Cambden armed Boat, Richard Eyres. Esq;
Commander, t^o Men viz. JiMES EnVLKNER
a Seaman, about thirty years of age, red face, long
nose, firait hair, about five feet fix inches high ; had
on <when he <went a^av a blue cap, blue out fide jacket,
flriped inf de ditto, firiped troffers, coarse <wax lea.
ther foes ;he is American born fappofed to be gone
to Baltimore, he having a Wife there, and was'feen
going that <vay.
LAURE NCE LANE, a native of Ireland, speaks
lo<w, fort curled hair, near forty years of age, five
feet eight inches high, much marked mith the fjl!
pox, fort nose, had on when he went away a ro^ld
hat, white f urtout coat, much woin, spotted jacket
and trowfers, flriped foirt, old foes, he formerly
followed farming, fuppbfd to be in Chefer county,
Whoever takes up the said two Men and brings them
to the said boat, or secures them so as they may be had
again fall receive FOUR DOLLARS f,r each
and reasonable charges, by
ing also a large quantity of dollars and plate on board
We hear that on board of the above ships, there
were several very fine sea-turtle, intended as a pre
sent to Lord North; one of which witli his Lord
ships name nicely cut in the shell, was yesterday pre
lented by the Captain to the worthy President of
the American Congress.
Port of Philadelphia, in the
Province of Pennsylvania, ft
To ALL all whom it may concern.
NOTICE is hereby given, that a Court of ad
miralty for taking cognizance 01, and trying
the justice of Captures of vessels made in pur nance
of the resolve of the Honorable the Continental
Congress, and brought into this pert of Philadel
phia, will be held at the Court house, in rhe city of
Philadelphia, on Monday, the twenty fourth day of
June, inst. at ten o'clock in the forenoon, of the
lame day; then and there to try the truth of the
faffs alledged in the Bill of George Mrroy,
commander ®f the Private sloop of war, ca led the
Congress, (who as well &c,) against the schooner or
veflel called the TH ISTLE, burthen about seventy
Tons, lately commanded by Charles Roberts, to
gether witli het tackle, apparel, furniture, and Car
go. To the end and intent, that the owner or ow
ners of the said vessel, called the Thistle, <r any
person concerned therein, 'may appear and flaw
cause, if any they have, why the fame should not
be condemned according to the prayer of the laid
Bill. By Crder of the Judge,'
ANDREW ROBESON, Register.
June 7th, 1776.
SIX POU ND s Reward.
Philadelphia June 3, 1776.
RANAWAY from the Subscriber in Market
ftreet, two Dutch servant men; The one named
ALEXANDER OTTO, about 20 years of age,
of a sandy complexion and foort hair is 5 feet 3 or^
Inches high, talks broken Englifo ; bad on a felt hat
cut in the fafoion, whitif double breafed jacket, dril
ling breeches, worfed flockings new fled foes and
small brass buckles. The other named HE NRY
LOES, \Hyears of age, about 5 feet 8 Inches hiH,
dark curled hair, much pock-marked, and thick lifts ,~
had on a felt hat cut in the fafion, a blue broad
cloth jacket, dril.ing breeches, and woollen flockings.
Whoever takes up the said Servants and secures tt'ern
so that the Subscriber may get them again, f ( li re
ceive the above Reward or THREE POUNDS
for each, and reasonable Charges, if brought home,
paid by me, ADAM ECKART. +
THE Copartnership of HAMILTON and LEI
PER, Tobacconists, is dilfolved: Those that
have any demands against that concern, are re
quested to bring in their accounts as loon as pofli
ble to Hamilton and Son, in Second-street, fix
doors below Market-street, in the house lately occu
pied by Mr. John Wallace, or to Thomas Lieper,
Tobacconist, in the house lately occupied by the
Company, at the corner of Spruce and Water
ftreets.
JONAS PHILLIPS has for sale fuperfine French
INDIGO, one hundred and eighty reams of
the best Propatria writing paper, ofo.abrugs and
ticklinburgs, checks and Holland stripes, needles
and pins, skeleton wires, buckrams, umbrellas, and
sundry other dry goods. Likewise Madeira, Tent,
Mamfey, and Frontoniac WINES, &c.
HAMILTON and SON,
FOUR DO LLA R S Reward.
RICHARD EYRES.