The Pennsylvania evening post — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-12-19 00:00:00, page 1

PHILADELPHIA.
-? CONG R^ S 3, November 12, 1776.
W 1 RON reconhd, tug the lel iuuon of toe i6th of
I I September lait, H r^ifi.g eigaiy-eight battalions
g I to serve during the prefer war with Geat-Er^ain,
"—' Congress being of opinion tnat the reacineh of the
inhabitin': of theft states to enter into the Service for limited
times, ni defence of their invaluable privileges on all former
occafuns, gives g%d ground to hope the fame .zeal for the
public good will appear in future, when the necessity calls
for their affiflance, and the uncertain length of time which
forces rhifed during the c- ntinuance of the war may be com
pelled to serve, may prevent many from enlihing who would
cthervife readily maniTft their attachment to the common
caefe, by engaging for a limited tirae :
Therefore relieved, That all non-commissioned officers
and f.ldiers who do not incline to engage.their fervicc dur
ing the coati uance of the present war, and fhail eslid to
fe^ve three years, unless sooner discharged by Congress, shall
be entitled to and receive all luch bounty and pay as are al
lowed to those who enlist during the continuance of the pre
sent war, except the hundred ac.es of land, which land is to
be granted to those only who enlist without limitation of
time, Ayd each recruiting officer is required to provide two
dihinft enlisting rolls, one for such to sign who enlist dur
ing the continuance of the war, and the other for such as en
list for three years, if their service shall be so long required.
November 15.
Pefolved, That a bounty of Twenty Dollars be paid to the
Commander, officers and men of such Continental fliips or
vessels of war as shall make prize of any British ships or ves
sels of war, for every cannon mounted on board each prize
at the time of such capture, and Eight Dollars per head for
every man then on board, and belonging to such prize.
The Representatives of the United States of America, in
Congress assembled, t) the people in general, and parti
cularly to the inhabitants of Pennsylvania and the adjacent
fates.
Friends and Brethren,
WE think it our duty to address a few words of exhor
tation to you in this important crisis. You are not
unacquainted with the hittory of the rife and progress of this
war. A plan was carried on by~the ~Britifh Ministry for seve
ral years,, in A fyfteraatic manner, to enslave you to that
kingdom. After various attempts, in an artful aid insidious
manner, to bring into practice the laying you under tribute,
they at last openly and decisively affertei their right of mak
ing laws to bind you in all ca/esnubatfe^er.
Apportion was made to these encroachments by tarneft
and humble petitions from every legislature on the continent,
and more than once by the Congress representing the whole.
These were treated with the utmost contempt. Acts of th?
most unjust and oppressive nature were palled and carried into
execution, such as exempting the soldiers charged with mar
TEe TEN NSYLVA NjA EVENING POst
Vol ILJ
Price 1 hreepelce. rublilircd every '[utyto~, fi&rjday, and Saturday 1 veningo.
lEURSDAY, DECEMBER 19- 1776:
605
der in America from a legal tr ; al, and ordering them to be
carried to Britain for certain absolution, as alto dired.uf pri
iy,er# t.qpn.at sea to be entered on board' : their 0/,^; and
obliged cither to kill their own friends or falTtherafelves by
their hands. We only mention these from among the in Ay
oppressive a&s of parliament as proofs to what horrid injustice
the~ iU T^t dominion will fametimes carry forties as weiras
men. At the fame time to fhetv how infenhble they will be
to the fullerings of others, you mayfee by the preambles to
the ads and addresses to the King, that they constantly extol
their own lenity in those very proceedings Which filled this
whole continent with resentment and horror.
To crown the whole, they.have waged war with us in th^r
most Cruel and unrelenting manner, employing not only the
face of the British nation but hiring foreign mercenaries,
who, without feeling, indulge themselves in rapine and bloods
shed. 'I he spirit indeed of the army in general is but too
well determined, by their inhuman treatment of those who
have unhappily fallen into their hands.
It is well known to you, that at the universal desire of the
people, and with the hearty approbation of every province,
the Congress declared the United States free and independant;
a measure not only just, but which had become absolutely
necessary. It would have been impossible to have resisted the
formidable force destined against us latt spring, while we con
felled uurfelves the fubjeds of that Rate against which we had
taken arms. Besides, after repeated trials, no terms could
be obtained but pardon, upon absolute submission, which
every public body in America had rejected with disdain.
Refinance has now been made with a spirit and resolution
becoming a free people, and with a degree of success hitherto
which could scarce have been expected. The enemy have
been expelled from the Northern provinces where they at firft
had possession, and have been repulsed in their attempt upon
the Southern by the undaunted valour of the inhabitants. Our
success at sea, in the capture of the enemies ships, has been
astonishing. They have been compelled to retreat before the
Northern army. Notwithstanding the difficulty and uncer
tainty at firft of our being supplied with ammunition and mi
litary stores, those we have now in abundance, and by some
late arrivals and captures there is an immediate profped. of
fufficient clothing for the army.
What we have particularly in view, in this address, is not
only to promote unanimity and vigour through the wholt
states, but to excite the inhabitants of Penefyivania, New-
Jersey, and the adjacent states to an immediate and spirited
exertion in oppolition to the army that now threatens to take
possession of this city. You know that during the whole
campaign they have been checked in their progress, and have
^ot till within these two weeks ventured above ten miles front
their Whipping. Their present advances are owing not to any
capital defeat, or a want of valour in the army that opposed
them, but to a sudden diminution of its numbers from the
expiration of those short enlistments which, to ease the people
were at firft adopted. Many have already joined the army to
supply the deficiency, and we call in the most earnest manner
on ail the friends of liberty to exert themselves without delay
[Nine 293.