The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1782-09-03 00:00:00, page 1

For The CONNECTICUT COURANT.
HUMAN nature is the fame now, that it
ever has been, since the firfl defection of
the human race; nevertheless, bad and corrupt
as it is, all mankind fee the necefhty of govern
ment, laws, magistrates, &c. When a civil con
stitution is good, its laws equitable, and the, exe
cution of them, committed to men of known pro
bity, and integrity, mankind readily acquiefee in
the execution of them.—A total prohibition of
the importation of British manufactures, most
certainly is highly reasonable at this day, and
will be good policy, to continue it to all future
generations.—As a total prohibition of British
manufactures, would bring over to us a fufficient
number of their manufacturers as soon as oppor
tunity to emigrate will admit.—lron and flax we
have in great plenty, and can increase them at
pleasure. If our wool is not at present equal to
our consumption ofwoolen cloaths, Spanjh wool,
may as easily be imported, as British cloaths, and
until our woollen manufactures are equal to our
consumption; our Allies are mold certainly, bet
ter intituled to our trade than our enemies.
That our laws to suppress Illicit Trade have not
been effectual to obtain the end designed is very
evident—while Illicit Trade to Long-IJland has
been ftriCtly prohibited, the importation of Bri
tish goods by the way of Holland was left open
andfree, and large importations have in fad
been made through that channel. Since the
commencement of a Dutch war, a new mode for
their fafe importation has been invented, and no
law now existing to secure against it; indeed the
late law which passed the lall day of our late ses
sions, although it wears aterrible afpe& on trans
gressors, a fine of 10001.--a lodging in Newgate
and only probable evidence necessary forconviCti
on, at the fame time it secures goods captured,
and legally condemned, imported into this State
free from seizure, so that there is no fear but we
fnall have full supplies of British goods suitable
for the season, and by that fame law secured from
seizure, as since the war with Holland, has de
prived us of that channel of importation of Bri
tish goods, our privateers have been surprisingly
fuccefsful and lucky, and frequent captures have
happened some in this, but more in the neigh
bouring States, some of which have been very
large, the circumstances of which, leaves but lit
tle room to doubt, but that they were pre-concert
ed. I dare not fay this door has been left open
of design, I would not suggest it.—But if 160
members of the Lower House had been present,
instead of 25 when that law passed, it is more
than probable, some of them would have seen
that door open, and have endeavoured at least to
have shut it.-—Great tranfgrefbrs ought to be
punished as well as little ones.-—I am for a total
and not a partial fnpprelhon of Illicit Trade, and
by no means countenance juggle, intrigue or
factions. It isforcical to fee some men zealous
ly join the general cry against Illicit Trade, and
figri associations to prevent it, when there are
those who well know, tfieir connections in firmer
importations, their later Smuggling, if not in mo
dern captures. It is really fubflantial wickedness
by such arts to amuse, deceive and diftraCt our
honest well meaning people.—lllicit Trade, I
fear, will forever elude and baffle the legislatures
of these States, and Congress itfelf, as it has
heretofore done all other of the States and King
doms ofthis world, to suppress it, by any other
method than by taxing the wearing of British
manufactures, in such a manner as to prevent
CcWo^MßtOd#^ol^
WEEKLY INTELLIGENT ER.
HARTF6R D: Printed by HUDSON and G OODWIN, near the Great Bridge.
TUESDA Y, September 3, 1782.
future importations, which will oblige all that
wear them, to contribute to ease the burdens, of
the frugal and industrious part of mankind, in a
way as equitable, I conceive, as by the abate
ment of the 20th part of taxes, and oblige all
now eloathed in British manufactures finug
gled since their prohibition took place, to contri
bute to it: And I cannot he why it is not as
reasonable to tax a fuperfine British cloath, on
whose back soever it may b; found, as a wheel
carriage that serves for the .conveniency of the
aged and infirm, and as many in this State have
been looking out for a neif mode of taxation, I
cannot at present fee why taxing the luxuries of
life, by well concerted and well regulated laws,
may not serve that design and answer other salu
tary purposes.—The suppression of Illicit Trade,
as well as every other matter or thing prejudicial
to the State, however, ought to be left'wholly
to the legislature of the State, who are vested
with authority by the constitution, to whom by
the laws of God and man obedience is due, and
ought to be supported in the execution of the
trust reposed in them, as long as they exercise
that power, for the public good. But unconsti
tutional conventions, formed to serve political am
bitious purposes, ought to be difeountenanced by
every good man, who looks at the peace, good
order and due execution of unconflitutional go
vernment of the State ; such conventions are ge
nelally convened at the instance of designing
men, have a tendency rather to increase than al
lay the heats, animosities and ferments already
excited, which seem to take their rife from Illicit
Trade, and threantenour political pc^eand fafe
ty; but whether they are owing to the laws
made to suppress it, or an undue or partial exe
cution of them, it may be well without heat or
perturbation of mind, calmly and deliberately to
confider. I dare not myfelf determine a questi
on of so nice and delicate a nature. That there
is some error somewhere, is pretty certain, for
as I observed before, mankind bad as they are,
will acquiefee in equitable laws, when executed
uprightly, according to their true spirit and
meaning, I will venture however to propose the
following questions, for the resolution of the un
prejudiced part of mankind.—ls it reasonable if
a merchant legally imports goods, to have them
seized and his business ftopt, if on tryal they ap
pear to have been legally imported and acquit
ted, to pay such bills ofcofts as are taxed by some
ofourmaritime courts, and put up with the insult
withoutdarnagesand costs; or if the goods seized,
appear on trial to have been imported by virtue of
a permit, from the highest authority in the
State, to have them condemned and con
fifeated, without liberty of appeal, or any
other remedy, and to pay a bill of coll
of 1121. into the bargain. In either case hath
not the fuflerers just cause to complain, either
of the laws orthe unrighteousexecution of them ?
If the laws will support such proceedings, ought
they not immediately to be repealed or amended?
If those to whom the execution of them is com
mitted judge perverjel, : ought they not to be se
verely reprimanded and cashiered; for my own
part, I must honeflly and uprightly fay, I never
as yet have been so happy, as to difeover any
good ends answered by the laws already made—
fupprefs it they do not---many bad consequences
seem to attend them—the whole continent is in
one continued ferment—jealoufies and fulpicions
of men of irreproachable characters are excited ;
by some low dirtyfellows, who set themselves up ;
as patriots by fuppreTing it, who arepromo/ed for
making ten Long-IJland traders out of one who
has ever pradifed it, and many others still worse,
is to be greatly feared will ensue. The Idle and
difolute are eagerly looking out for booty, by which
they will soon become ikillful in all the arts of
plunder, and posterity left to reap and lament
the consequences. As example is mope power
ful than precept— laws made or affectations signed
by persons who cloath themselves and families
in British manufactures, do not powerfully in
fluence the minds of the thinking part of man
kind, although they should happen to be honeflly
captured, and legally condemned-Let there be
no accafion to fay in this State, tbey that lead us
cause us to err —Letth^fe inauthority be examples
to those under their government, and order all
their domestics, to take away the bravery of the
tinkling ornaments, their cauls, their round tires
like the moon, the mufflers, the bonnets, the changea
ble suits. of apparel, the mantles, the fine linens, the
hoods, the veils, the wimples, the crfping pins, and
the ornaments of the legs, being of British manu
factures, which would i conceive have a more
salutary tffe&, than all the laws hitherto made
to suppress Illicic I rade..
PACIFICUS.
From the St. CHRISTOPHER'S Gazette,
. of July §,
Extract of a letter from Powles-Llook, near
New-York, dated the 12th of May, 1782.
' 'You have heard before now of the crazy
proceedings of the House of Commons, and the
total change of Ministers in consequence of them.
Sir Henry Clinton was recalled by the former
administration with every mark of disgrace, he
was not even permitted to wait for t> successor,
but the command was given to General Rob'ertfon
'till Sir Guy Carleton should arrive. Sir Henry
conceived hopes of retaining his command : but
the present Ministers did pot think proper to
mend his situation; this day week Sir Guy Carle
ton arrived, contrary to expectation, after a very
fliort passage, with powers that never had been
given to any Commander before. He is a sole
Commissioner for peace or war ; but the propo
sals he is to make to Congress are not exactly
known. We all know, or pretend to know, that:
they are short of independence, and on that
ground I believe they will be rejeded withouta
hearing.
" An unlucky affair happened lately, which
has embarrassed us not a little^ and gave the
Commander in Chief much trouble. On an ex
cursion into Jersey by a party of refugees, a
Captain Huddy, a notorious villain, was made
prisoner and lodged in the provost. A Mr.
White a refugee, was taken about the fame time;
and put to death in the cruelest Banner, but it
was not a deliberate. The refugee board order
ed Huddy out of the provost on pretence of ex
changing him, sent him down to Sandy-Hook,
and hanged him in retaliation. The affair has
been taken up by Mr. Washington, who threat
ens to hang a British Captain, if juttice is not
done on the refugee. After much convaffing
and irresolution, it was determined to try the
commanding officer of the refugee party who at
tended the execution, by a general court martial,
but the arrival of Sir Guy Carleton, will most
probably put an end to the business. Unless
there had been a profpe& of the war continuing
in this country, Sir Guy Carleton would not
have come out, and such "is the confidence the
Ministry repose in him, that he has come on his
own term;"
(No. 919.)