The New York packet, and the American advertiser — New York [N.Y.], 1776-06-20 00:00:00, page 4

men's feero dieted at last more by revenue and
ditappfnamem, than any other principle; what
confluence Should be placed in the advice ota
man w ho declares in the cool moments ot com
mit.ing his reflections to paper, that every Ma
chiavefan policy is now to be vindicated to
wards the people of America? I am heie hip
poling chedetters in my hand to be genuine, and
tb^c is little reason to doubt their authenticity,
as they remain uncontradicted. It matters not
to me, as a judge, bow they were procured.
The only rpelboh respecting my opinion on
the conduct of Mr. Hutchirrfun arprefent is,
are the letters genuine or not? dor.i& this I al
ways dibeied from the Lords of the Council,
who determined on the complaint of the pro
vince of Lew-England again# Governor Hut
ohinton on the former letters they difeovered.
The Lords of the Council laid the whole Arefs
on the manner in which the letters had been
obtained. N® man could admire the abiljti s
of the advocate more than I didonthat occahon;
it was his business to inflame the padions, to
cover the turpitude of Governor Hutchinlon's
conduit under crimes of a greater dye; but it
was Shameful in the ' Judges to be led away, it
was unworthy the discrimination so ueceffary to
that character, to mingle the manner of obtain
ing the letters with the fact they were brought,
to prove. I Shall suppose the letters" had been
^obtained as infamously as the Efay on Woman,
and more infamously it is impotable; yes m y
judgment in the conduct of a Governor writing
to men in high authority, on the political af
fairs or his province, and concluding as his ad
vice, that the liberty of British fubjeßs must be
abridged, would not have been altered from
that circumßance. And here I must avow my
Sentiments as freely as Governor Hutchinson
his communicated his, that any officer in go
vernment, much less the Supreme magistrate,
entrusted with the preservation of the rights of
every individual in his province, who could en
tertain such Sentiments, is unfit to be employed
in any office, civil or military, alter a fact, or io
helpous a nature against the confutation being
fully proved. lam confident our.anceilors, in-
Read of giving such a man an enormous pen
sion, would have inflicted the punishment he
deserved, which I think Should have been an
address to the. Crown, that he might never
more have been employed in the Service of the
public.
I know there are many men high in favour,
who are for abridging the liberties of the people
in the colonies. Myfyftem, on the contrary, is
for preserving them sacred and inviolate, ac
cording to their several ancient institutions, the
variety of which forms the harmony and beauty
of the whole. There is no middle institution
as in this country, to balance between the peo
ple and the Crown; the Affembhes are their
only barrier; they are therefore the favourite
institution of the people ; to them they look for
protection against the exactions, oppressions and
extortions of Governors, and are on that ac
count cautious andjealous of any infringement
that Shall diminißi their power. The honourable
Gent enan (Governor Lyttleton) who Seconded
this Address, has been long employed as his
Majedy's representative in the colonies, firft in
Carolina, and laflly in Jamaica. Every thing
be offers to. this House must derive great weight
from these circumstances; his abilities are un
difeuted. I have not the honour of knowing
him, but I have heard his talents univerfiuly
acknowledged. Having been on the Spot in
feme places, it must give him many additional
advantages, for I maintain it is iinpdffible tor
any man, who has not Seen with his own eyes,
aid heard with his own ears, to know equally
well the manners, customs, dispositions and o
ther circumilances necessary to form a true judg
ment on the present contest with the colonies.
But it is also necetfary to know Some leading,
cucumftances reflecting the person who offers
his information and advice, before we hafhly
concur in his opinion. The honourable gentle
man fays, “ it may appear strange, that he, who
was grown grey in the service of America,
Should now appear among the firft to propole
those coercive measures, which by some are
termed cruel and harlh ;" but this he excuies
from his humanity. I fay, it may appear strange
to some, who are not acquainted with the hißo
rv of that Gentleman's administration so well
as I, th#t he should take this forward part.
But here I premise, that I do not enter into the
merit of the dispute which that Gentleman had
with the Assembly of Jamaica, because it is be
yond my present argument. All I aflert is, that
he had an unfortunate dispute with that body,
which laded two years; that during this period,
they could do no business with him, or raise any
money; that be dißolved the Assembly more
than once, and Rill a great majority were found
against his meafufes; that he tty at kft recall
ed, and a successor appointed, who cancelled his
proceedings, upon one of the most unfortunate
representations that ever attended any man upon
leaving his government. I am therefore not
furprized that the honourable gentleman should
be inimical to American Assemblies, or that he
should be ready to join with those who have
found cut a Shorter way of governing them than
by the general sense of the people, feeing they
are so troublesome on many occasions, to the re
pole of a Governor.
The honourable Gentleman has given us
some account of the debilitated date of men in
other provinces he had the honour to command,
and hinted at means for subduing their spirit
in a manner which inclines me to think he has
not left many more friends behind in that colo
ny than in [amaica. Administration has been
so much milled by these partial and illiberal ac
counts of men in the gross, that I dare fay they
Mill be cautious how they trust to such men a
gain. Neither my reading nor observation give
me leave to think the people of Carolina will
be behind any of the colonies in Supporting and
. defending rights which are so cliciiti.il to tccur-.
ing every thing that is dear to them' as Britifli
fidgets. The honourable Gentleman had oc
calion to lead them to war on a certain occasion,
T wilh he would tell the House how they behav
ed. It fouihem climates has fucli strange ct
fc&s in enervating the human frame, give me
leave to hope at lead that the hon. Gentlem n
has escaped this contagion. Ihe other Icherne
he alludes, to of calling forth the Haves, is too
black and horrid to be adopted, neither would it
answer, if Administration Were wicked enough
to make the attempt; the Rate of Slavery cuts
off all the great, magnanimous and inventive
powers of the human mind, but it rather
Strengthens fidelity and attachment; the Ro
man history fully confirms this; amidlUhe mul
tiplied treachery of friends and relations, amioit
the greatest temptations, during the corruption
of that government, the flavewas seldom or ever
unfaithful to his inafter. The principle lives in
human nature. Where mankind are deprived
of the means of getting subsistence, where they
are accustomed to look up to another for food,
raiment and protection, they insensibly forget
the original injury they fußained, and become
attached to their matters. In general, I must
also observe, that matters are kind to their Raves.
It is not he who uses the scourge and the whip,
which the honourable Gentleman has mention
ed, that is the fitft to put the mulket on his
moulders in such glorious confess as these. It is
not he who tortures and frets his fellow-crea
tures; but he who feels that universal benevo
lence which extends his affections to all men in
their several Rations ; who feels the spirit of e
quality, who knows- the principles of liberty,
who understands the consequence of thole
rights, without which we are always worse
men and worse fubjedts, and who is willing, for
the benefit of children yet unboin, to seal the
truth of his doctrine with his blood. It is not
to men of this temper that Slaves will prove un
faithful. I Shall rather expert to fee them flock
round his Standard, though I admit the experi
ment is too dangerous on either fide. I fay a
ga;n, the whole of our blunders, oppressions and
mistakes, in these unfortunate disputes, have a
risen from ignorance in the firft principles of
government: gross ignorance in the several
constitutions of the colonies ; ignorance in the
power we could apply to subdue them, and did
greater ignorance of the end to be obtained by
such an attempt. To each of those! will seve
rally speak.
I fay, it demonstrates a p^rfeft ignorance of
the history of civil society, to assert (which is the
captivating argument uled in this Houle, for
break n rdown all the barriers of liberty in A
merica) that two independent legislatures can
not exid in the fame community, and- therefore
we are to destroy the whole fabric of those go
vernments which have subsisted for so mny
years. Mankind are constantly quoting some
trite maxims, and appealing to their limited
theory in politics, while they reje& edablifhed
fafts. I ty, a free government n^cedardy in
volves mmy clashing juriididtons, it pufned to
the extreme. I maintain, this species of go
vernment mud ever depend more on the spirit
of freedom, that firlt established it, than on all
the pirchment you can cover with words. la
ver, chat in the most active triumphant com
monwealth, which ever appeared on the stage
of the world, two diftind legislative authorises
did exist. The comitia tributa, and the co^itia
centuriata. The whole government, of Athens
would appear as containing so many ridiculous
paradoxes to those wife politicians. The actual
date of Holland, where every town is a distinct
governent, within itfelf. The del beration of the
Stares General, where no money can be railed,
unless the whole are unanimous. No new laws
made, or any old repealed against one differ
ing voice ; all these would appear impossible to
such politicians, who are ever fuppoting ifian
kind ready to destroy themselves ; nevertheless
(he fads are equally certain. Ifthe belt parts
of ourcunftitution were to be Rated to a foreign
er ; the trial by jury, where twelve men must
be unanimous in their opinion, in causes the
most intricate and nice, where even the able#
council differ in opinion, he would be led to i
magine justice might Rand Rill, yet we all know
nothing proves so easy in the execution.
The danger of pushing things to extreme,
makes the good sense of men prevail, while the
power of relifting in every individual juryman
prevents prejudice and injustice from trying
their strength on matters that are not tenable.
The fprin< sos a free government are not obvi
ous to every uaderftanding, while the meanest
soot-soldier knows all the power of deipoti in.
Here the supremacy of the nYagiftrate ibives e
very question. In the fame manner the advan
tages derived from America, in the circle of
commerce, are not so evident to a vulgar under-
Randing, as so much palpable cash paid into rhe
Exchequer. For this reason lam ready to for
give those who differ with me in opinion con
cerning this contest. It demands a process of
reasoning to which common understandings are
not generally accustomed. I should not be fur
prized if half the people in England should at
firft join against the Americans: national pre
judice, pride, falfe glory, and falfe arithmetic,
all contribute to deceive them; but that any
man, affirming the character of a statesman,
should proceed in this mad carreer, to destroy in
a few years that beautiful system of empire our
ancestors have been railing with so much pains
and glory, Rrft, under the falfe pretence of rai
sing a revenue; and next, under a more falfe
pretence, that America wishes to throw off her
just dependance on Great-Britain. This, I con
fefs, does furprize me. For this reason my in
dignation chiefly riles against the noble Lord on
the floor; I am willing to acquit all his col
leagues, and most of his followers, even it they
had not ihe interested motives of places 'and
pensions to bias their judgment; but that the
noble Lord who yearly considers the riches that
come into the public treasury, who knows and
can trace all the circuitous channels, by which
riches flow into this country, that he should
place no more to the credit of America, than the
paltry sum collected by his infignificant Com
midioners and endeavour to miilead others by
such aflertions. This indeed is beyond belief.
When the noble Lord is pleased to take the other
fide or the argument, what abundance of wealth
does he sometimes pour forth in the most copi
ous flow of eloquence. When he supports this
Jugged coercive system, how he labours and
flags, nothing but founding words and unmean
ing phrases. The dignity of Parliament ! Now;
I fay this is bed supported by humanity and just
ice, and maintaining the freedom of the fubje&.
The supremacy of the legislative authority of
Great-Britain! This I call unintelligible jar-'
gon; inßead of running the different privileges,
belonging to the various parts of the empire iri^
to one common mass of power, gentlemen should
confider, that the very firft. principles of jgood
government, in this. wide; .extended dominion,
conlift in subdividing the empire into inany
parts, and giving to each individual an imtinedj,;
ate interest in the community to which he be
longs that it should be well regulated. Thisis,
the principle upon which but ancestors efta
blifEed those different colonies or communities ;
this is the principle on which alone they have
flourished so long and so prosperously ; this is
the principle alone on which they can be well
governed at such a distance from the feat of the
empire.
[To be continued.]
In the debate, which arose in the committee
of supply lad Monday night, on the eßimate of
the army extraordinaries, the death of the gal
lant General MONTGOMERY was lamented
in Strains of the most pathetic eloquence that e
ver were heard in the House of Commons.
Three of the principal orators, Mr. Burke, Mr.
Fox, and Colonel Barre, diftinguilhed thern
felves on the occasion, and vied with each other
in the panegyric of that hero. General Bur
goyne, tho' he expreflfed a Strong zeal against the
American cause, in a very handsome manner,
did justice to his merits; and laid, that all his
virtues were abundantly rewarded, when they
were thus “ praised, wept, and honoured by
the muse he loved." Pope.
Lord North censured the unqualified libera
lity of the praises bestowed on General MONT
GOMERY by the Gentlemen in opposition,
becau'e they were bestowed upon a REBEL;
and laid he could not join in lamenting his
death as a public loss. He admitted indeed,
that he was brave; he was able; he was hu
mane; he was generous; but Rill he was only
a brave, abb, humane, and generous Rebel;
and said, that the verse of the Tragedy of Cato
might he applied to him, " Curse on his vir
tues, they've undone his country."
Mr. Fox rose a Second time, and said, the
term of Rebel, applied by ths noble Lord to
that excellent perlon, was no certain mark of
disgrace, and therefore he was the less earnest to
clear him of the imputation ; for that all the
great affertors of liberty, the fayiours of their
country, the benefactors of mankind, in alleges
had been called REBELS ; that they evenly;
ed the conftiturion, which enabled them to fit
in that House, to a REBELLION.
Lord Irnham said, it was "a Shame to punish
the poor voters of Hindon and ShafteSbury for
bribery, while the names of several members of
Parliament were to be<found in the lift of con
tra&Qrs, amassing sums of money out o( th^ ca
lamities of their country. He moved, that rhe
accounts on the tabl> of all the articles of ex
tras for the army at Boston, four crout arid all,
might be published.
Mr. Tuffnal complained of an extravagant ar
ticle for pickles and vinegar for 6000 men at
Boston for three months and said, that if they
had lived upon nothing else the whole time, it
could not have come to half the money.,
Sir Joseph Mawbey objected to the.war, and
to all the chaises of it; he was bitter against
the Ministry, and said Somebody mull answer in
the long run for this destructive war.
Lord North, Sir Grey Cooper, and Mr. Pow
nal, spoke in support of the measures, theex
pences and the resolutions of the committee of
supply, and on putting the questions they were
carried.
Mr. Burke then made the following motions :
Resolved, that it appears to this House, that
the sum of 849,000 1. 14 s. 8 d. farthing, char
ged as extraordinary expences of the army, was
chiefly incurred for Services within the town of
Boflon, in North America. It passed in the ne
gative.
Resolved, that ample provision for the com
fortable accommodation of our troops at Boffon
having been made by the public, there could be
no pretence to call upon the nation for any far
ther supply. Passed in the negative.
Lord H+ having absolutely the declined
American command, daggers and confounds the
ministry.
It may be depended upon as an absolute sass,
that the Prince of Brunswick positively refufed
to let his regiment go to America; and on its
being inlifted on, religned his commission imme
diately.
•g=l:=^x_j_i.
WILLIAMSBURG, (Virginia) June r§ e
We learn from Gloucefler, that Lord Dun
more has erected hospitals on Gwyn's ifl.md;
that his old friend Andrew Sprawle is dead,
LONDON, March 21.
and that they are inoculating the blacks for the
fraall pox. His Lardßiip, betbr€thedeparture
of the fleet fiom Norfolk.haibhd^ had two 0
those wretches inoculatta-fflid lent ashore, it.
order to spread the iuiev&on, but it Kas happily
prevented. : t - ~ .
The men of'war have made prize of a Spani:
brig that was bound to Philadelphia, reportt
to have on board 12,800 dollars; Some defers
ers from thaFowey, it is laid, give this account
likewise, that they are very weak upon the iflan
as to number, tearful ^of/ being attacked, ar
chiefly depend upon the fleet tor protection.
Mr. Robinfoiylate of York town, who b,
been a prisoner on board the fleet for some tim
past, but escaped trom Gw,n?s island, confirm
the above accounts with refpe&:to ^Andre l
Sprawle's death, and the capture ofthe^Spani
.brig, which was from the Havunnahfadken c
the Capes of Delaware, and sent in by % the L
verpool; but that Captain. Bellow had retaine
the dollars. This Gentleman further fays, th
there, are not now above 200 blacks alive, „;
lead having died within fix days alter they le r
Norfolk, and that the number of whites 0
Shore was very inconfiderable.#
We hear that the Hon. Continental Congre
uhave appointed Col. Hugh Mercer; of the
regin^nt, to the rank of Brigadier General
the service of the United Colonies, and that I
. will, for our immediately for New-York.
One day this week a Small vessel belonging '
the enemy, with five hands on board, ran
ground on the. Gloucester Shore, within mu&
Ihot, and was taken. The crew jumped over
board, two swam to Gwyn's island, one w.
Shot, and the other two drowned.
In Convention, Friday, Ma, fl, 177^
•Resolved unanimously. That the Committee
Safety be directed to write a letter to the Pr<
dent of the Convention of Maryland, in anfv
to his letter of the 2§h instant, expressing ;
deeped concern at the proceedings orthat Co
vention refpeCling Governor Eden, and our re
sons for not becomingaccedbry thereto, by gi
ing him a pallport through this colony, or tl
bay adjoining; that we would, with reluctwe
in any case, intermeddle in the affairs of a 1111
colony, but in. this matter we are much inr
rented, and the Convention of Maryland, 1
fending their proceedings to the Committee
Safety here, have made it the duty of the Coi
vention to declare their sentiments thereon.
That, considering the intercepted letter fro
Lord George Germaine, to Governor Eden,
which his whole conduct and confidential lette
are approved, and he is directed to give facili^
and assistance to the operations of Lord Dux
more against Virginia, we are at a dots to a.
count for the Council of Safety of Marylan
their having neglected to seize him, according
the recommendation of tne General Congrei
and more so for th'e Convention's having pit
moted his passage to aflift in our deftrudtien/.v
der a pretence ofhis retiring to England, whi,
we conceive, from the above letter he is not
liberty to do ; that,, supposing he Should go
Britain, it appears to us that such voyage, wi
the address preferred to him, will,enable him
assume the character of a public agent, land, 1
promoting division, and disunion among th
colonies, produce consequences the most fatal
the American cause ; that as the reasons affig
ed for his departure, that he mull obey the M
nifterial mandates while remaining in his g:
vernment, are very unfati^faaory, when t!
Convention declare, that in his absence, the g<
vernment, in its old form, will devolve on th
President of the council of Rate, who will 1
under equal obligation to perform such ma #
dates. We cannot avoid imputing those pr
ceedings to some undue influence of Govern^
Eden, under the malk of friendship to Americ
and of the proprietary interest in Marylan.
whereby the members of that Convention we
betrayed into a vote of fatal tendency to th
common cause, and we fear to this country:
particular, and feci it an indispensable duty
warn the good people of that province to gua:
against the proprietary influence.
EDMUND PENDLETON, Pref
John Tazewell, Clk. Cony
Copy of a letter addressed to the frontier inh
bitants, by Mr. STUART, the British Stipe
intendant of Indian affairs in the souther
didrift, which was delivered the 1 Sth of Mr
lift, by a messenger lent by him expressly fe
that purpose.
" Sometime ago ME Cameron and myfci
wrote you a letter by Mr. Thomas, and inclo^ .
you the talk we had with the Indians refpe&in
the purchase which it was reported you ha
lately made of them, for the fivers Wattaug
arid Nolachuoky, &c. We are lin.ee informe.,
that you are under great apprehensions of th
Indians doing mifehiuf; but it is not the ch
sign of his Majesty t® let his friends and alii
the Indians, on his liege fubjefts. Therefi
whoever of you are willing to join his Majeftj
forces, as soon as they arrive at the Cheroke
nation, by repairing to the King's flandard, fhU
find protection, and their families and estates b:
secure from all danger whatever. Yet that hit
Majeftv's officers may be certain which of yor
are willing to take uparms in defence of the King
just rights, I have thought fit to recommend iti
you, every one that is delirous of preventin
inevitable iu:,n to himfelf and family, immedi
ately to fubferibe. a written paper, acknowledg
ing their allegiance to his Majesty King George
and that they are ready and willing, whenerc
called upon, to appear in arms in defence ofth
British rights in America; which paper, as for
as it is aligned, fend to me by some fafe harm
Should any of the inhabitants be desirous c
knowing how they are to be kept free from evr
ry kind of ihfult, or danger, inform them, th
his Majefly will immediately land an army'