The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-11-16 00:00:00, page 1

Mr. Towne,
I AM a Tory, the son of a Tory, born and bred ii the
principles of absolute submission, and a true friend to the
Hanoverian family; uhom 1 will ever fopport, .right
or wrong, through thick and thin. The King of
Gre^^Bntain hath, in my humble opinion, au hojity, jure
dr-vino, to govern abjcluteb not only that small island with its
appendages, but the bast atd Well Indies ; not only the East
and Welt Indies, but the continent of North-America ; not
only the continent of Nonh-America, but the whole of
this iniignifeant plaret—if be can. For pray, Mr. Towne,
what could this port world, tailed the earth, have been made
for, unless it be to aggrandize rhe aforelaid Hanoverian family.
T he infatuated" people of this vile part of this most vile planet
(the whole of which is indeed unworthy tie acceptance of his
moji gracious Majifo) have been moved by the instigations of the
Ecru to reflit and oppose his royal define of governing them
in ad cases whatever: For my part, I am flruck with horror
artke very thought of this rebellious opposition. His most
gracious M^efy hath, however, to my great consolation, lent
over certain fleets and armies to reduce this abominable coun
try to hisfubjedion. Now it becomes the friends of arbitra
ry government to afford all the assistance to the said fleets and
armies they pc fibly can, and to the worthy Lords and Gene
rals whom the laid gracious King hath appointed to dircT
and manage the fame. Amongst other implements of war,
the,CH and the printing-press are not the lead important. It
is true they break no bones and fhei no blood, but they can
inßigate others to do both. ; and, by influencing the minds of
the multitude, can perhaps do more towards gaining a point
than the best rifle gun cr the ffiarpeft bayonet.
Qn these confederations I have been long anxious to fee a
printing-press in this city fubfervier.t to the purposes of Lord
and General Howe—l am gratified—l am happy in finding the
said great men have, at length, found out a printer to their
mind, and much good may be expeded from it. & I was men
tioning this to a friend, whom I thought a Tory like myfelf—
but I was mistaken in my man. He had the afiurance, Mr.
Towne, to address me in the following manner on the fubjett
I will give it you as near as I can in his own words ; that
you may fee what fort of men we have amongst us.
' “ Sir, fays he, it has been the policy of every government,
from the beginning of time, to this day, when the honor,
fafety and exigence of that government depended on the fate
of war, to use every poflible means to strengthen and support
its own efforts, and counteract the subtleties and force of
these who seek its dettrudion. Fof this purpose many of the
mod sacred rights of the people have been hard preft and
even boldly violated, and that without any danger to the con
stitution itfelf; .provided the exertions of government be
maoifeftly fandified by the,neceiiities of the calc. To prove
this, we need only advert to the constant practice oi the
British court, in pretfing men for supplying the navy in times
of war. A measure rather winked at than authorized by
the constitution, and a high infringement on the liberty of
the fubjed. But the emergencies of war have been ever
deemed a fufficAnt judificatton of this and many other devia
tions from the line ot the constitution.
The PENNSYLVANI A EVENI NG POST.
Vol. 11l
Price Threefence. Published every Tugday, Tburfay, and Saturday Evenings.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1776.
573
“ The liberty of the press hath been justly held up as am
important privilege of the people. It is indeed highly lea
fonable that the channels of information should be kept open
for the benefit of the multitude ; and no man holds this right
in more sacred eflimation than I do. Butwhen this privilege
is manifeftly abused, and the press becomes an engine for
sowing the most dangerous diffentions, for spreading falfe
alarms, and undermining the very foundations ot govern
ment, ought not that government, upon the plain principles
of felf-prefervation, to silence, by its own authority, such
a daring violator of its peace, and tear from its bosom the
serpent that would sting it to death.
" What I have now in view is the Ledger of lad Saturday, in
which is pompously displayed large extracts from the AVezu-
York Mercury; a paper published under the immediate influ
ence of our inveterate enemies; in which fa&s are miftepre
ferted, reason distorted, the power and feats of the enemy
exaggerated, and all the force of falfehood exerted, to do that
by subtlety which they are not able to effect by strength.
The design of the printer in publishing these extracts must be
too evident to admit of a doubt. The printer of the Pena
fflvania Ledger mutt be either a friend to the cause of Ame
rica, cr a cool, indifferent, impartial man, or a well-wisher
to the enemies of his country, commonly called a Tory. In
one or other of these characters he muff appear, and I think
it is impossible to hesitate long in assigning him his proper de
partment, when we confider the general complexion of the
Pennsylvania Ledger. Why then should a fatallenity prote&a
man in the abuse of that very lenity which is bis only security ?,
And would not the Council of Safety of this state be very
juftifiable in silencing a press whose weekly labors manifeftly
tend to diffiearten our troops, to throw disgust on the friends
of America, and hold up in falfe and glaring colours the
characters and performances of those whose only errand is the
total destruction of this country? But if that Honorable
Council should be loth to exert an authority of which they
may have some doubts, the public ought at leaff to drew their
resentment againff such an insidious enemy, by refuting to
take a newspaper fraught with mifehief, and continually
aiming at the demolition of their peace ; I believe there is no
government would fuffer so dangerous a publication to be con
tinued one week, but ours; and I am fatisfied Lord Howe
does not permit extracts from cur papers to appear in the
New-York Mercury, unless they are taken from the Pennsyl
vania Ledger, or are such as may favor the object he has in
view."
This, Mr. Towne, was the purport of his speech. Iw&
docked at his assurance, and determined to have no more
connexion with him. A TORY.
Philadelphia, October 22, 1776.
A PARCEL of exceeding good Carolina SOAL LEA
THER will be Applied to fheemakers, or given in ex
change, iat< d at firit cost, for good ffrong well made men's
Awes, nt for the use of the army, Ty MEASE and CALIX
WELL.
[Num. 285.