The New York packet, and the American advertiser — New York [N.Y.], 1776-04-11 00:00:00, page 2

"IV'' ' wcrmCiTtu that sbwefeu ;A
V ciplc xi divinity or mortify-, in law er
bin G r# , low-ecu' h as beencentrecriedl/^^
•ra i^.^ OT-p^ict and that ^Xio^
bit Tl'iitv, we ntted r.<n ^ pead^ fan, Perfitt
rue. that notwithstanding,th?; vt~y general' a ft
ob.tyon'which Coiffir.or. Safe ateludepen-'
<arie'Eave met with in these eckynes, fonie far
iruld rife up and oppose ~ What a plainer
d elate of renfop, thru rime /^ mother and child
are akin ? Yet there hlufH ten learned irg^r
ius Movers, who h:rve myced'Wgahafrthis with
, as much plautiblenefs as &. r<rfuade courts that
they were, not akin, anoto give a'dec/c/ a
• gainft u. M&t is gnory evident in religion,
mXJi^' and polities; than that corruption and
bribery arc not for the good of toe nation, and
rhatir is very deriruytiye for placemen ard pen
%ners to have feats in Parliament : But though
it has been' often attempt&hto exclude them,
vet k4ws Always been negatived. It is the in
teityi'of the court and these court members to
allow them, and therefore reason and good poli
e/oue not regarded. Such Americans as de
pend upon, or have expectations trp.m, the Bri
tish court, most certainly will be against repara
tion, Since, as Demetrius of old, a man who un
deiftoed himself well, observed with great pro-,
pfoy, " by this we have our wealth."
It is supposed, not without teuton, that some
of the melt zca'ous oppofers of Common ty^k,
arc secret enemies to this country, to, res HI d:1-
guife,'who Trading that toryifm is become oo
netious, have choten dependence 'asa mrifead
vanwgcous poll, from which they may with
gre&.A reputation and feccefs promote divihans,
and detect all the measures the colonies have
Concerted. Hence it is observed, that all who
were fufeefted to be tones, are now fierce fen'
reconciliation, and pretend to be dreadfully
geared at rhe mention of independence- They
have changed their ground but not them prifl
triples. Others are influenced by motives not
*o unfriendly to their country, viz. ignorance
and curium; as multitudes in popish countries
we orejudifed againri prottfants and reforma-
tion.
The British constitution has been mightily
•extolled. But by whom? By court bishopspnd
their d pendants; by court lawyers,, and their
dependants; by placemen and pensioners. "For
by this we have our wealth." But notwithfttmd
iny all the praifts which fetch gentry^ the great
leaders of the nation, have lavished upon-the
British constitution, any perlon of candour, who ;
(kill examine it with impartiality, mutt soon be
convinced that, it is far .from deferring any great
commendation. To pais over the great imper
tcHionsot kingly government, and hereditary
luccoflion, and fc enormous expence which |
courts requi e td fapport their extravagance, to
the great oppreffiou of the industrious poor; .
what right from Scripture or reason has the king
to ^fuine the arrogant tide ot Head__oF the'
Church, and to act in that capacity, when it
ott« happens that he is not. qualified to.be a
membet of the church? Was it not the mod
absurd ;hing in the world, that King Jamies If.
a protested pupift, mould be the head 6t the pro
tell .ntchurch CTEngland, to wlricb he was the
ihot't determined enemy? or th,/ an infant or
a woman should be in riled with this preroga
tive ? According to the custom, derived ' not
from reason, but from the feudal tenures, th; .
lands descend to the elded lons, who may in
dulge themselves in the greatest protufion,
-while all the rest of the children are left to Shift
for themselves. God Almighty is no respecter
of perlons : but the British constitution gives to
some to wallow in luxury to deitroy rhemi^lyps,
andHmces the greater part to live in poverty.
And nence innumerable robberies and executi
ons, which have fcarcc imwe ^teir- at'peurawee
in urn colonies, except imported from the Bri
thi constitution.
These raightv landed gentlemen are intitled :
by both.to all generations, be they ever so
worthless, to aftat in the House p„f .Lords.,
When they.ate brought up in.luxury, pride and
amotion, they are excellently qualified, no
doubt, ty bedegiflators. Yet luch is this bpqft
ed . .condicutiou, that legislators th., must be,
though th.v Should know no more about law.
?ud right, than about Arabic or Fluxions. To
th. Lords temporal there are added the Lords
Spiritual or the bid ops. But what rexfon is there
for clergymen to have feats in parliament. Are
there pot Secular gentlemen enough to regulate
the .civil llateof the kingdom, without obliging
the 'clergy to leave their proper tunßions to at
tend upon business incontinent with their pre
pertxilling? The dependence of theiclergy on
the e^own, gives great weight to the King, and
helps to enslave the people, fincetbey have been
known to preach up non-rctircance and passive
obedience fur the fake of preferment.
And as to the Houfe,of Commons, who are
to represent the people, they are chosen by a
fai 11 pitiful handful of the. inhabitants ; much,
the greater part of the men of property have no
Tght to veto for members of parliament. The.
poor beggarly boroughs fend a great part of the
members of the House of Commons. This is
British constitution, but as contrary to reason as
Tight is to darkness, and utterly incontinent with
all good government. Where then is the di
viir excellence of the British constitution.
However,the administration upon the confti
turion is dill worth. The votes of the electors
rue bought by the andidates^ By this the poor
beggary electors, many of the'm have their
principal Support ; they depend upon the fate of
their votes tor/ their subsistence. And as the
members bu" their feats .at a vast expence, they
fell it to the minister for as high a price as they
can. Reason and conscience have had but little
b dineis in ^nEa.nent these fifty years. -Money .
this."'.
Thea; peal has been made from petitions to
arms. This tenders the arguments tor conti
nuing dependent frivolous an 1 indeed ridiculous.'
Whit do arguments avail 'againft plain faffs? r
Upon woom do the continental forces at Bos
ton, New-York, and the Carolinas depend ?"
Upon whom do our a l med veiled depend ? Can.
any jerfon be hardy enough to aflert that they
depend on his Majety, are commissioned or em
ployed by him, or any acting by his authority?
Upon whom do the continental bills that pal's „
current in the country depend ? By whom are
they emitted? Ifwe can be weak enough to be
persuaded out of our senses; and to think that
we arc Bill dependent, would it be possible to
persuade the British ministry pf this, unless we
had the Spanish mines to bribe and blind them ?
They we e jealous of this long ago, and often
declared we were aiming at independency Be
fore there were any thoughts of it among us or
any appearances of it. But they muff be as
foolifh as they arc wicked, if they ftould be
lieve that we are dependent on Great Britain
now,' when we have openly railed fleets and "ar
mies against her. They will never believe emp
ty proteffions: in opposition to such incontiftible
faits. Ne. They look upon us tp be indepen
dent, anti will reduce us to fubjecti&n irAhey
can, just all one as if we had explicitly declared
it. -"So that we have no reason to hope 'for any
kind treatment from them by onr connexion, if
any yet remains. But by declaring indepen
dance, fay the objectors, we Shall lose our friends
in the House of Commons. And what then?
They may be Sincere arid zealous in our cause,
but they have not been able to do us any good,
nor they never will be able to do us anv good,
Since the minister having the disposal or places
and pensions, and the n.itional.purfe,can always
fecure.a majority to vote for and Support his
mcafures. The whole drength of the nation is
exerted as much againll us as if we had not one
friend in Parliament. We shall then at worst
lose the friendship of those who are unable to
help us. We are then obliged to them for their
good-will and wish them well. If they me ge
nerous friends, they will confider our necessity,
and still exert themselves in our favour. But if
they Should forfake us we; shall lose nothing.
Now the great tiring in queflion is, whether we
Shall ruin ourfclve; ~)r the fake of their una
vailing Iriendfhip.
Great Britain cannot find money enough to
ripply her hungry courtiers, and their depend
ants, but has been forced to lay a tax upon us.
She has loft, it is said, twenty-Seven millions by
this unnatural war. Where will she find mil
lions to repair the damages done to Boftow,
Ch..rleftown, Falmouth, Norfolk; wheie a fund
to pay the millions emitted by the Congtefs, on
our teconf illation? Have we any reason to ex
pels She would be able or willing to refund to
ns all these just damages? No' the least. Upon
the scheme of dependence we nauft put up with
our losses, and bear our expences, which mull
ruin the country. But if \te renounce all con-,
nexion with Britain for ever, unless upon the
plan of common trade, as with other nations,
we can then feizc upon the unoccupied lands,
and fell them, which will procure a fufliciert
fund to answer every purpose we can delire,and
set us free from flayery and taxation to ^ll gene
rations. But without this, we have no funds,
and the neeeffiry confcquence muff be, that the
credit of o'ur paper currency will link, and we
shall be beggared and ruined. Independence is
the only thing that can f^ve us.
Other nations, if We prove cowardly, after
all the pretences we have made, will think there
is no danger in attacking us. We may depend
upon ityhey will put in for a Share of the trade
by force, or by planting colonies. They did not
know the importance of America before, but
now it is held up to view to all the courts of
Europe, and carefully fludied. Some c\ them
will be ready to become our allies for a share of
I our trade. But if we flight that offer and ob
dcie'tnu^s all. ihits bribery and w 'ft''f'">r
places and pennons, bare Subverted ''airy good.
principles and deigns of the,coiuiituiiotf, 'arid..
reduced the Slate to an encin;ohs mals of lolly ,
and wickednef, jumbled together, ready fd tail
into dreadful and irrecoverable nurdy
Such as are for reconciliation with Great Bri
tain,perhaps,impofe upon themselves audetherr,
by viewing the protested principles of the con
stitution, or fomebf them,merely in theory, ab
flfa& from the prefect administration. But this
is a mod difmgenious method. They feould
; take a full view ofthe whole fabric, and then
they would find a moss unequal representation
in, the House of Commons, kpteni?! parlia-.
ments, end a House of Lords fit for —-•,-, an d
tha. such principles as are calculated for the
good of the state, are generally Subverted by the
long wicked administration upon therie Now,
it the colonies Should be re-ndtee to Great Bri
tain, it mult be to her as foe is now at present,
where the electors arc bought, and the majority
ot the commons are kept in pay by the minister,
and all places of honour and prelit are confer
red, not according to mens merit, by their wiL
dom and bravery, but as they vote, inhere the
nation's money is expended by millions to per
vert reason and support the minister. Now,what
advantage can it be to America to be united to
such a prodigious mass of corruption, and be
Subject to the will of a p ime miniflef, to learn°
from him the inks of corruption and bribery, of
oppreihon and cruelty, to tie taxed or murdered
according to his whim or caprice? We have
been grievously oppreded ; we have begged and
prayed for relief. To what purpofc? We might,
we Should certainly prevail, if we had'more mo
ney than the minister, and couid Secure more
voces than he ; but no hopes of redress without
this. The experience of twelve years confirms'
B O'S T 0 N.
By his Excellency
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Ety
General and Commander in Chief of the Forces .
of the Thirteen United Colonies..
XX,I^RBAS the Ministerial arnty have"
VV abandoned the tow:aofBoflon ; and the'-
forces of the United Colonies, under my com
mand, are in pofleihon of the fame : I have
therefore thought it recefl'ary, for the preserva
tion of peace, good order, and lifcipline, to
publish the following Orders, that no perlon of- ~
fending therein may plead ignorance as an ex
cafe for their miicondua./
All officers and soldiers are hereby ordered to
live in the flriHed peace and amity with the in
habitants ; mid no inhabitant or other person
employed ip his lawful bulinefs in the town, is
to be mojefted in his person or property on any
pretence whafever.---Ii any officer or soldier
11^11 presume to llrike, imprison or otherwise
ill treat any of the inhabitants, they may de
pend on being punched with the utraoft feve
rirv.---And if any officer or soldier shall receive
any insult from any of the inhabitants, he is to
feck redress, in a legal way, and no other.
Any non-commiflioned officer, soldier, or o-^
' titers under my command, who shall be guilty
of robbing or plundering in the town, arerto be
immediately confined, and will be most .rigidly
punished.- -All officers ;>c therefore ordered to
be very vigilant in thedifeovery of such offend-•
ers, and report their names and crimes to the
commanding officer in the town, as soon as may
be.
The inhabitants and others are called upon
to make known to the Quarter-Mailer-General,
or any of iris Deputies, all fibres belonging to
the Ministerial army, that may be remaining or
secreted in the town : Any person or perlons
whatever that shall be known to conceal any of
the said stores, or appropriate them to his or
their own life, will be confide^d as an enemy
of America, arid treated accordingly.
The Selectmen, and other Magistrates of the
town, are desired to return to the Commander
in Chief, the names of all, or any person or
persons they may Tufyect of being embayed as.
fpics upon the Continent,! army, that they may
be dealt with accordingly.
All officers of the Continental army, are en
joined to afTift the Civil Magilirates in the exe
cution of their duty, and to promote peace and
good order.---They.are to prevent as much ^
polhble, the soldiers from frequenting tipling-.
houses, and drolling from their polls,r—Parti
cular notice will be taken of such officers as.are
. inattentive and remits in their duty; and on
the contrary, such only who are active and vi
gilant, will be entitled to future favour and,
promotion.
Given under my hand, at Head Quarters,
in Cambridge, this twenty-firll day of
March, 1776.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
In COUNCIL, March 2 S, 1776.
ORDERED, That Thomas Cubing and
Moses Gill, E qrs. with such as the Honourable
House shall join, be a Committee to wait on his
Excellency George Washington, Esq; and pie
fent him'with the following Address.
Sent down for Concurrence,
JOHN LOWELL, Dep. Se/y. pro T.
In the HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES,
March 29, 1776.
RYAD and concurred, and Mr. Sullivan,
Col. Orne and Major Hawl?y are joined.
WILLIAM COOPER, Speaker, pro T.
To his Excellency GEORGE WASHING
TON, 'Efq; General and Commander in
Chief of the Forces of the United American
Colonies.
May it pleafc your Excellency,
WHE N the liberties of America were at
tacked by the violent hand of oppreflion, when
troops holtile to the rights es humanity, invad
ed this colony, seized our capital, and spread ha
voc and d.ttru&ion arcund it,---when our virtu
ous sons were murdered, and our houses de
stroyed by the troops of Britain,---the inhabit
tints.of this and the other American colonies, ,
impelled by felt-prefervation and the dove of
freedoiri, forgetting their domeflic concerns, de
teunined fefolutely and unitedly to oppose the
sons of t ranny.
Convinced ot the vast importance of havinga
Gentleman ot great military accomplishments,
to discipline, lead end conduct the forces of the
I colonies, it gave us the greatest fatisfa&ion to"
tear that the Honourable Congress or the Unit
ed Colonies, had made choice of a Gentleman
thus qualified, who, leaving the pleasures of do
mestic and rural lite, was ready ‘to undertake
the arduous talk. And your nobly declining to
accept the pecuniary emoluments annexed to this
high office, fully evidenced to us that a warm
regard to the sacred rights of humanity, and tin
. cere love to your country, solely influenced you
in the acceptance of this important trufl.
From your acknowledged abilities as a foldi
dier, and your virtues in public and private
life, we had rhe most pleating hopes; but the
fortitude and equanimity t o conspicuous in your
Conduct; the wisdom of your councils ; the
mild yet Erie? government of the army; your
ft'm..Hy adhere to Britain," they will doubtless
Irci.cur our conduit, and' put in their claims the
ffini fair o: portunriv. Dependence on Britain
will keep our country in a perpetual state of
war. But let us ^ieft' indcpendance and free
dom withan open and manly bokinels, and we
ihalfbe a Safe and happy state.
HECTOR
attention to the civil confiitation of this cote
ny ; the regardyou h.ve at all times fl ewn for
'the lives and :mahh'.of those under your com
'n^nd; the fatigues you have with chearful
nefs endured ; ..the regard.y.ou•haveJheun for
.the prefervatico of our metroppli. , 'and thb
great address. with which our nulitary operati
ons have been conduced, have exceeded our
mod sanguine expectation; „and' demand the
wannest returns of gratitude.,
The Supreme Ruler of ffie universe During
Boiled on our arms, arid crowned your labours
with remarkable fucctft; weare now, without
that efation of blood we to mach wilhed to a
, void, again in 'the quiet polieffion of our capi
tal; the wisdom and prudence of those move
ments which have obliged the enemy to aban
don bur metropolis will ever be remembered
. by the inhabitants of this colony,
May you ftdl go on approved by Heaven,
revered by all good men, and dreaded by those
tyrants who claim their fellow men as their pro
perty. May the United Colonies be defended
from slavery by your victorious arms. May
they Hill fee their enemies flying before you :
And (the deliverance of your country b ing ef
fected) may you, in retirement, enjoy that peace
and fatisfa&ion of mind, which always attends
the good and great: And pny future generati
ons, in the peaceful .enjoyment of that freedom,-
the exercise of u hich your sword shall have e
ftablilfed, raise the richest and irioft lading mo
numents to the name of WASHINGTON.
A true copy.
Attest. JOHN LOWELL, Dp. See,
" - Pro Temp.
" Gentlemen,
" I return you my mod sincere and hearty
thanks, for your polite address; and feel myfelf
called upon by every principle of gratitude, to
acknowledge -he honour you have done me in
this testimonial of yohr approbation of my^p
pointraent to the exalted station I now fill ; and
what is more pleating, of my conduct in dis
charging its important duties.
" When the councils of the British nation had
formed a plan for enslaving America, and de
priving her sons of their mbit sacred and inva
luable privileges, against the cleared remen
drances of the constitution, of juffice, and of
truth ; and to execute their schemes, had ap
pealed t'o the sword, I esteemed it my duty to
take a part in the conteff, and more especially
when called thereto by -the unfoliched luffrages
of the Repre/ntatives of a free people'; wiih
ing for no other reward, than that ariling from
a conscientious discharge of the important trust,
and that my services might contribute to the e
gablilhment of freedom and peace, upon a per
manent foundation ; and merit the applause of
my countiymen, and every virtuous citizen.
,“ Your proteffions of my attention to the civil
confiitution of this colony, whild anting in the
line of my department, alfo'demand mv vrate
fjfl thanks. A regard to every Provincial infli
ttirion, where not incompatible with the com
mon intered, I hold a principle of duty, and of
policy, , and shall ever form a part of ray con
duct. Had I not learned this before, the happy
experience of the advantages lefulting from a
friendly intercourse with your honourable body
-:-:hcir ready and willing concurrence to aid
and to council whenever called upon in cases
of difficulty and emergency, would have taught
me the ufeful kflon.
" That the metropolis of your colony is now
relieved from the cruel rndoppredive invasion of
those who were sent to erefe the standard of hw
lels domination, and to trample on the righ $ of
humanity, and is again open and free for its
rightful possessors, mud give pNafure to every
virtuous and fympatheric heart, and bemc rei
fedted without the blood of our soldiers and fel
low citizens, must be aferibed to the interpofith
on of that Providence, which has mahifeflly
appeared in our behalf through the wholcof this
important flruggle, as well, as to the meafirres
pursued for bringing about the happy event.
" May thatßeing wools powerful to save, and
in whose hands is the fare of nations, look down
with an eye of tender pity and compassion upon
the whole of the United Colonies---May 'he
continue to smile upon their councils and arms,
and crown them with success, whilst employed
in the; cause of virtue and es mankind-111, ,
this drftrelled colony and its Capital, and every
part of this wide extended continent, through
bis divine favour, be restored to more than their
former luftre, and once happy state, and have
peace, liberty arid fafety secured upon a solid,
permanent and lading foundation.
GEORGE WASHINGTON."'
NOTICE is hereby given to the Public
in general, That thd MORRIS TOWN
STAGE continues, as ufaal, to ft off from
Plackets- 1 own, every Monday morning. Eve
ry Tuesday morning sets off from Captain Die
kerfon's in[Morris-Town, at fun-rife, to Powles
Hook; from thence to return every Thursday
n- wiring at seven o'clock, as usual : And every
Sator lay morning, to set off from the houfeof
Capfain Dicke fon's, at Morris-Town, by the
way of Chatham, and Springfield, to Powh,
Hook; and returns tram thence on Monday
morning, at seven o'clock, the fame road to
Morris-Town, and will be. continued by
DANIEL BURNET,
JOSEPH CONLIFFE, And
SILAS BURNET.
To the Honourable COUNCIL and RE
PRESENTATIVES of the Province of
3 Madachufetts-Bay.
His EXCELLENCY'S ANSWER.