The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1778-05-26 00:00:00, page 2

^Abbess of rhe rONGRbSS to tie Inha
bitants of the United States of America.
B R|±>C Jand Countrymen,
"''''' Y °" S have now passed away since
1 ,he Commencement of the present Was. A
War without Parallel in the Aonals'pf Mari
*ind. It hath displayed a Spectacle Themoft solemn
tharcan pohibly b^ exhibited. On one fide we be
hold Fraud and Violence labouring in the Service of.
D^fpotifm ; on the other, Virtueand Fortitude sup
porting and 'establishing the Rights of human . Nature.
You cannot but remember Low reluctantly we
were dragged into this arduous C6nteft; and how
repeatedly with the Earifeftriefs of humble intrea
ty, we supplicated a Redress of our Grievances from
h m who oughtlo have 'been the rather of his Peo
ple. In vain dig we implore his protection ;In vain
appeal to the Justice the Generosity of Englishmen
• of Men, who had been the Guardians, the Af
fertors and Vindicators of Liberty thro'd Suoceffiort
of Ages : Men, who, with their Swords, had esta
blished the firm Barrier of Freedom, and cemented
it with the Blood of Heroes. Every Effort was vain.
For, even whilst we were prostrated at the Foot of
the Throne that fatal Blow was struck, which hath
Separated us for ever. Thus spurned, contemned
and infubed --thus driven by our Enemies into Mea
sures, which our Souls abhorred --we made a Solemn
Appeal to the Tribunal of unerring Wisdom and
Judice. To that Almighty Ruler of Princes, whose
Kingdom is over all.
Wh were then quite defencelefs. Without Arms,
without Ammunition, without Cloathing, without
Ships, without Money without Officers (killed in
War, with no other Reliance but the Bravery of out
People and the Justice of qur Cause. We had to con
tend with a Nation< reat in Artsand in Arms, whose
Fleets covered the Ocean whose Banners had waved
; n Triumph thro' every Quarter of the Globe. How
ever unequal this contest our Weakness was Bill far
ther increated by the Energies which America had
Nourished inker Bofora. Thus exposed on the one
Hand, to external Force and internal Divisions; on
the other, to be Compelled to drink of the bitter Cup
bf Slavery, and to go borrowing all our Lives long ;
in this fad Alternative, we chose the former. To this
Alternative we wefe reduced by Men, who had they
been animated by one Spark of Generosity, would
have disdained to take such mean Advantage of our
Situation ; or, had they paid the least Regard to the
Rules of Justice, would haveconfidered with Abhor
rence a Proportion to injure those, who hadfaithfully
fought their Battles and industriously contributed to
tear the Edifice of their Glory.
But however great the Injustice of our Foes in
commencing this War it is by no Means equal to
the Cruelty with which they have conducted it.
The Course of their Armies is marked by Rapine
and Devastation. Thousands, without Diftin&ion
^' Age or Sex have been driven from their peace
ful Abodes, to encounter the Rigours of inclement
Seasons; and the Face of Heaven hath beerrinfulted
by the wanton Conflagration of defencelefs Towns.
7heir Victories have been followed by the tool
border of Men, jid longer able to resist; andthofe
whaeleaped from the firft aft of Carnage have been
exposed, by cold Hunger and Nakedness. to wear
opt a miserable Exiftenee in the tedious Hours of
Confinement, or to become the Define rs of their
Countrymen: of their Friends„ perhaps, dreadful
Idea ! of their Parents or Children. Nor was this
the outrageousßarbarity ofanlndividual, but a system
of deliberate Malice, damped with the Concurrence
of the British Legislature and fan&ioned with all\
the Formalities of Law. Nay, determined to dis
solve the closed Bonds of Society, they have ftimri-
Tated Servants to flay 4 their Makers in the peaceful
Hour of doftflib Security. And as ifall this were
infu fficient to /lake their Tirrft of Blood the Blood
of Brothers of unoffending Brothers they have ex
cited the Indians against us; and a General who
calls himfelt a Chriflian, a Follower of the merciful
Jesus hath dared to proclaim toall the World his
Intention of letting loose against us whole Hoffs of
Savages whose Rule of Wsrfare~is promiscuous
Cirnage, who rejoice to murder the Infant smiling
in its Mother's Arms, to inflia on Their Prisoners
the mod excruciating Torments, and exhibit Scenes
es Horror from which Nature recoil's.
Were it poilible, they Would liaveadded to this
tetrible System for they have offered the Inhabi
tants of these States to be exported by their Mer
chants to the sickly baneful Climes of Jndia. there
fc/perifh. An Offer not accepted of merely from
she lmpfaaficabirit,of carrying it into Execution,
Notwithstanding thefegreat Provocations, we
Fzve treated such of them as fell into our Hands with
Tenderness and fludioufly endeavoured toalleviate
she Afflictions oftheir Captivity. This Conduct we
h>ve purfuad Sd'tar, a^ to 5? oy thein Stigmatized*
with Coward c?, and by out Friends with Folly
But our Dependance was not upon Men. It was upon
Hm who had commanded us to love our Enemies,
audto render Good for Evil. And what can be
more Wonderful thart'theManner of ouriDelivenncesl
'How often have we been reduced to Diftre%j and
yet been railed up? When th% Means to prosecute
the War have been wanting to us have not our Foes
themfclves been rendered instrumental in providing
them ? This haTh been done in such a Variety of
Initances, so peculiarly marked almost by the direct
Interposition of ProViderice, thatnot to feel and ac
knowledge his Prote&ion, would be the Heighth
of impious ingratitude.
. At length that God of Fatties, in whom was our
Trust, hath conduced us thrd' the Paths of Danger
and Dritrefs to the Thresholds of Security. It hath
now become morally certain, that it we have Cou
rage to perfeVere. we Shall Bftablifh our Liberties and
Independence. -The haughty Prince who Spurned
un from his Peet with Contumely and Disdain --and
the Parliament which proftribed us, now descend
to offer Ferrins ,of Accomodation. Whilst in the
foil Career of ViCTofy, they pulled off the Mask,
and avowed their intended Despotism. But, hav
ing lavished in vain the Blood and Treasure of thdir
Subjects in Purfbit of this execrable Furpofe they
now endeavor to enfaare us with the insidious Of
fers of Peace. They would seduce you into aDe
pendency which necessarily, inevitably leads to
the n!od humiliating Slavery. And do they believe
thet ybu will accept these fatal Terms ? Bediufe
ye'd have inhered the diftreiTes of War, do they tup
pbfe that you will basely lick the Daft before the
Feet of your Destroyers ? Can there be an Ameri
can so loft to the Feelings which adorn human Na
™re :T° ' e generous Pride, the Elevation, the
Dignity of Freedom ! Is there a Man who Would
not abhor a Dependence upon those, who have de
luged his Country in the Blood of its inhabitants?
We cannot suppose thii; neither is it possible that
they themselves can expert to make many Converts,
What then is their Intention ? Is it not to lull you
with the fallacious Hopes of. Peace until they can
ahemble new Armies to prosecute their nefarious
Designs ? If this is not the Case, why do they strain
every Nerve to levy Men throughout their islands ?
Why do they meanly court each little "tyrant of Eu
rope to fell them his unhappy Skives? Why do
they continue to embitter the Minds of the^avages
against you ? Surely this is not the Way to conci
liate the Affections of America, Be+not, therefore,
deceived. You have^ill to expert one severe Con
fli&. Your foreign Alliances, tho' they secure
your Independence, cannot Secure your Country
from Desolation, your Habitations from Plunder,
your Wives from Insult or Violation, nor your Chil
dren from Butchery. Foiled in their principal De
figrt, you must expect to feel the Rage of disappoint
ed Ambition. Arise then hi To your Tents ! And
gird you sot the battle. It is tirrie to turn the head
long Current of Vengeance upon the Head of the
Destroyer. They have filled up the Meafute cf
their Abominations, arid like ripe F^uit must soon
drop from the Tree. Altho' mutch is done, yet
much remains to do. Expert not Peace, whilst any
Corner of America is in Possession cf your Foes.
You muff drive them away from this Land of Pro
mise, a Land flowing indeed with Milk and Ho
ney. Your Brethren at the Extremities of the Con
tinent, already implore your Friendship ' ^nd Pro
tection. It is your Duty to grant their Request.
They hunger and fhirft after Liberty. Be it yours
to dispense to them the heavenly Gift. And what
isthere now to prevent it ?
After the unremitted Efforts of our Enemies we
are Stronger than before. Nor can the wicked Emif
fartes, who so assiduously labour to promote their
Caufe 0 point out any orre Reafonrto fuppofc that we
Shall not receive daily Accessions ts Strength. They
tell you, it istrue, shat your Money is of no Va
lue ; and your Debts so enormous they can never be
paid. But we tell you, that if Britain prosecutes
the War another Campaign, that Single Campaign
will cost her more than we have hitherto expended.
And yet these Men would prevail upon you to take
up that immense Load and for it to Sacrifice your
dearest Rights. For, surely, there is no Man so
absurd as to suppose that the least Shadow of Li
berty can be pteferved in a dependent Connexion
with Great Britain. From the Nature of the Thing
it is evident, that the only Security you could ob
tain, Would be, tire Justice and Moderation of a
Parliament tvho have fold the Rights of theif own
Constituents. Anti tbir fl^nder Security, is still far
ther weakened, by the Consideration that it was
pledged to Rebels (as they unjustly call the good
People ofthefe States) with whom they think they
are not bound to keep Faith by any Law whatfoever.'
Ihus would you ' be cast bound^Tnong Men, whose
Minds (ty your virtuous Refinance) have been
Sharpened to pie beeneft Edge of R^%h, Thus
would your Children, and your Children's Chil.
dren be by you forced to a Participation in all
their Debts their Wars, tier Luxuries and their
Crimea. And this mad this impiotas Syhern they
would lead you to adopt, beetle of the Derange
ment of your Finances. °
IT becomes you deeply to reflect on this Subject.
Is there a Country on Earth, which hath such Re°
Surges sos the Payn&ht of her Debts as America !
Such an extensive Territory ? So fertile so blessed
in its Climate and Prcdu&inns ? Surely there is
none Neither is there any, tb which die wife Eu
ropeans will fooler confide &lr Property. What
then are the Reasons that your Money hath depre
ciated ? Because no taxes have been imposed to car
ry on the War. Because your Commerce hath been
interrupted by your Enemy's Fleets. Because their
Armies have ravaged and defolated,«a Part of your
Country. Because their Agents have villainously
counterfeited your Bills, Because Extortioners
among yob, inflated with the Lust of Gain have
added to the Price of every Article of Life.' And
because weak men have been artfully led to believe
that it is of no Value, How is this dangerous dis.
ea eto be r^midied ? Let those among you who
have Leisure and Opportunity celled the Monies
which Individual in their Neighbourhood are de
fitous of placing in the Public Funds. Let the fe
verd Legislatures fink their refute Emissions,
that so, there being but one Kind J Bills, there
may be less Danger of Counterfeits. . Refrain a little
while from purchasing those Things Which are not
3bfolutely necessary, that so those who have engrof.
fed Commodities may Suffer (as they dcfervedly
will) the Loss of their ill gotten Hoards, by Reason
of the Commerce with foreign Nations which their
Fleets will proted. Abov#all, bring forward your
Armies into the Field. Trust not to Appearances
of Peace or Safety Be assured that, unless you
persevere you will ,be exfofed to every Species of
Barbarity. But if you exert the Means' of Defence
which God and Nature have given you The Time'
will soon arrive when every Man Shall fit under his
own Vine, and under his own Fig-tree, and there
Shall be - none to make him afraid.
1 HE Sweets of a free commerce with every Part
of the Earth will soon reimburse you for all the Lofi
fes you have sustained. The full Tide of Wealths
will flow in , u,on your Shores free from the arbi
trary Impositions of those, whose It
declared Policy it was, to chec'
Your Intereffs will be feftered anc
vernments that derive their Power front your Grant,
and will therefore be obliged, by the Influence of
cogent Necessity, to exert it in your Favour.
IT is to obtain these Things that we call for your
strenuous unremitted Exertions. Yet do not be
lieve that you haxe been or can Ie Saved merely by
yourown Strength. No ! It is by the Assistance
of Heaven, ana this you must assiduously cultivate,
by Ads which Heaven approves. Thus ffiall the
Power and the Happiness of these Sovereign Free
and Independent States, founded on the Virtue of
their Citizens, increase, extend and endure, until
the Almighty Shall blot out all the Empires of the
Earth. By Order of Congress,
Henry lawrens, President.
In C 0 N G R E S S, May n,
Resolved
TH AT it be recommended to Miniflers of th 6
Gospel of all Denominations to read, or cause to
be read, immediately after d,vine Service the above
Address to the Inhabitants of the United States of
America, in their refpe&ive Churches and Chapels,
and other Places of religious Worship.
Published by Order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
Head-Qprteis, Fifr-K 11; May 22d, 'i ,78=
ALL Officers, Non Commissioned Officers, 'and
Soldiers now absent on furlough belonging
to the Northern Department, under the command
of the Hon. Major General Gates', are ordered in
the mod stria and peremptory terms, so join their
refpe&ive regiments immediately.
By the General's Command,
Robert Troop, A. D. Camp.
J^Y^— - -—^ _=_= —
OSIAH BLAKELEY,
HAS ^ received a large supply of HARD and
cutlery ware, which, with what he
bid before on hand, makes its compleat an affott
ment as is to be met with in New Eigland, which
he would be very glad to dispose of as soon as poffi.
bfe at his store Under the Printing Office. Among
which are the following articles, viz Handles and
Escutcheons; Shears; Sciffars; Shoe and Knee
Buckles; Sleve Buttons ; Combs ; Box Irons ; Brushy
Brass Knob Locks, Plain Iron- &-c &c.