The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1778-06-09 00:00:00, page 2

ftituted the 'illegality. It was the money
that Chyles wanted, that he might have
nothing to fay to his Parliament ; and
whether he obtained it by exaction, or by
gift, the danger and the illegality were the
fame.
It is true, thepetition ofright fays, “ that
no man /hall be compelled to make or
yield any gift, loan, benovolence, tax, or
fach like charge, without common con
sent by a&of Parliament, bur, my Lord?,
it is not by the letter of the law that Par
liament is to be directed, but by the mean
ing, and the spirit of the constitution. And,
my Lords, what is the meaning of the law
herein, and the spirit of the conftituti®n ?
It is ffiy Lords, and no Lord of Parlia
ment will venture to deny it,thattheKing
ihall receive no fupplles Lnt through the
medium of Parliament; for this is to make
the King independent of Parliament, and
to make Parliament an useless burden up
on the nation. Money is power; money
produces armies; and against armies the
libe ties of this country cannot contend.
And yer, my Lords, here is mone sub
scribing, in vast sums, for raising armies,
to the use of the crown, without grant of
Parliament.
My Lords, I will repeat and aVer, that
there is no difß rence between this case,
and the case of ship money; for the crown
is dependent on Parliament for every national
iuppl . Let us now fee what the Bill of
Rights fays: : --
The Billof Rights declares, " that the
levying of money for, or to the use of the
Crown, by pretence of prerogative, with
out grant of parliament, for a longer time,
or in any other manner than the fame is,
or shall be granted, is illegal." My
Lords, to levy money is to raise money.
I know no other meaning belonging to
the term; and is not this then raising mo
hey to the use of the crown without grant
of Parliament ? And for the worse pur
pose too—for the purpose of raising men
in arms; not, my Lords, as Qas been sug
gested to mislead this house as recruits for
the army voted by Parliament, but as new
regiments, for the wisdom of the crown to
difpole of.
But now, my Lords, I (ball be told
that this has been done before. I shall
have precedents quoted upon me, and I
ihall ,hear that the fame thing was done
in the last rebellion. But, my Lords, be
sides, that precedent cannot alter the con-"
ftitution, upon what plea was it done? Up
on the tyrant's plea-- the plea of neceJity.
England was invaded by Scotch rebels,
2nd the now loyal county of Lancaster was
in rebellion too§ against his present Ma
jesty's grand-father. ™
This was the necessity, and I hope it will
never exist again ; but even when this ne~
cf/ity urged the measure, what was said
against it'
Iwill tell your Lorpfliids from a speech
ofMr. Humphry Sydenham, in the House
cf Commons in the year 46 ;---he had
said, " I must observe that this way of
raising money for the public service, by
the fubicription of private men, is such an
incroachment upon the privileges of this
House and offuch danßer^usconfeouence
to the liberties of the nation, that, in my
opinion it highly deserves our censure."
This was the language, even in those
days, when we had a rebellion raising
tven in the very heart of the kingdom ;
and if it was then thought anincroachment
upon the priveleges of Parliment, and of
dangerous conftqueuce to the liberties of
the nation, what must it now be, when the
rebellion, if it bea rebellion,s 3000 miles
distant from us.
There is one thing more I will bring to
four Lordships notice,
The only excule, for I will ndt call itan
argument, I have ever heard lor the r;ght
of parliament to ta* the Colonies, and of
course for this nefarious war, was, " that
if the CoJon ies give free grants to the Crown
as has beenculfomary to do upon requisition
the Crown might become independent bn
Parliment for supplies" This was thecry
of Ministers, to hide their worse designs.
This was the doctrine of o~ur pulpets. It
was the terrifying apprehension of Parlia
ment, and therefore fay Parliment, the
Americans ffiall not give and grant their
own money to make the Crown indepen
dent of Parlament, but we will give and
grant their money for them. Let us not
then, my Lords; fuffer that to be done
under our very noses, which was the pre
tence of levying a savage war upon Ame
rica.
Shall thousands and tens of thousands
of pounds be laid at the feet of the Crown,
withouteven the knowledge of Parliament,
and those who do it' receive honours from
the Crown for so doing, whilst we remain
unconcerned fpe&ators 'thereof ? My
Lords, let our example inform the other
House of Parliament of its danger. 1
am alarmed at these proceedings, and I
will tell your Lordships why.
When Tories, Jacobites, and Scotch
men, are the firft addressers for taking
away the liberties of three millions ci his
Majesty's fubje&s in America, and are now
the firft to take up arms in this Country,
common sense then tells me, that there is
something more in this than mere loyalty
to the House of Hanover.
It is my loyalty then to the King, it is
my duty to Parliament, and my zeal for
the liberties of the people, that is the cause
of my alarm. These are the motives,
which, from much loved retirement, has
brought me forth into the busy fccnes of
life : and which nothing could reconcile to
my disposition but a sense of my duty.
My Lords, I will now submit to your
Lordships, twoßefolutions for the adopti
on of this House, without any other re
commendation of them than theirown im
portance.
Resolved, That it be the opinion of this
House, that the giving or granting of rho
ney, as private aids, or benevolences, with
out the fan&ion of Parliament, for the
purpose of raising armies for his Majesty's
service, is against the fpirit,of the constitu
tion, and the letter of the law.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this
House, that the obtainingof money by sub
scription, and under the direction of a com
mittee of the fubferibers, to be applied in
raising men< for his Majefty,s service, in
such manner as his Majeftyfhall think fit,
is not only unconflitutional and illegal,
but a direct infringement of the rights,
and an absolute breach of the privileges of
Parliament.
From the General Advertiser of February 17.
To the Earl of ABINGTON.
rjnHE active part you have takenoflate
I against the most profligate and dettf
tille Adminiftrationiihat ever disgraced
the annals of this country must endear you
to every sensible and honest man. Proc&d
my Lord, be not daunted by the threatsof
power l—Mafle tuis virtatihus eftoJ-.-The
regard that your country bears you,confti
tutes a shield that will protest you from
all assaults. The loss of trade, the fall of
stocks, the disgrace that has putfued the
attempt of lubjugateing the brave Ameri
cans, their humanity, joined to the gross
folly and cruelty of our Ministers, have
opened he eyes of the nation.lfyou propose
an association of the Independent Whigs,
thousands will immediately consult with
you for the preservation of the liberties of
the people. Why should you not do this
to-morrow ? In therameof God, do it, my
Lord and be the Hampden ofour country.
A Difcipletf Locke.
ALL persons indebted to the eftaie of Mr. Jame#
Barret of Wethersfield deceas'd are oncemore
desired to fettle the fame wM: the fubferibers execu
tors to said estate particular a^tendaoee will be given
at the dwelling houie of said deceased, for that pur
^ofe on the each following tuefdays of this month
July and August next all those that do neglefb set
tlement, may-expert to be called u,on in a different
and more difagreable way and those Who have any
just demands against said estate, are desired to exhibit
them for settlement.
APPLETON ROBBINS, ( E^u-
A,NE BARRET. [ tors.
Wethersfield June 6 1778;
Choice rum' LTe exchafeTTfoTw heat
or FLOUR agreeable to the Regulating Act.
Enquire pf the PRINTERS;
BROK^ into the inclofure of the fubferiber a
large Cow with a Calf, dark brindle, some
white on her hind feet no artificial mark. The
owner is desired to pay charges and take them away.
Jacob Richmond.
North- Killingworth, May 25, 1778.
THE fubferiber hereby informs the [public that
he works at the business of setting Wool Cards
in new leather, at his house near the meeting house
in Farmingbury; Ashe is much experienced in the
business doubts not but that he ihall be able to 'ferve
his customers to their fatisfa&ion.
Inoham Clark.
N. B. Three old cdrds wiil make a pair. He
also wishes those that want cards would fend their
old ones soon. June 5, 1778.
Fort Arnold Weft Point 15th May, 1,78}
THE officers and soldiers belonging to the Bri-'
gade under my command, are direded to
repair to this post without the least delay: The time
is now arrived when the honor of the officers is
much concerned to be present with their refpe&ive
corps, Samuel H Parsons Brig. Gen.
HEREAS- Martha Heatly wife of me tht
fubferiber, hath lately eloped from me, ana
left me contrary to my will. I hereby forbid all
persons trusting her on my account as I will pay
no debt contracted by her after this date.
Barnabas Heatley.
Amenia Dutches County, Mav 12, 1778.
LOST tie 20th of May on the read between
New-Marlborough and Salisbury, a large black
leather Pocket Book With between sixty and feven
-ty dollars in continental bills and a number of very
valuable writings which can be of no service to any
body else. Whoever will return the fame to me,
with its contents, ffiall receive twenty dollars re
ward from me, Philip Spencer.
Dutcheß County, Mav 25, 17)8.
WE the fubferibers being app? nted by the court
of probate for the diftri& cf Simfoury, coih
miffioners to examine the claims of the creditors to
the estate of Josiah Clark, late of Simfbury deceas'd,
represented info'yent, hereby give notice that we
ffiall attend said business at the house of Mal An os
Wilcocks on the firft monday pf luly next at t*o
o'clock afternoon. Amos Wilcocks,
Elisha Mos'es
Daniel Graham.-
BL B. This is the last time we ffiall meet.
Simfbury. June 3 1778.
BROKE into the inclofure of the fubferiber a feW
'days Price, a bay MARE, about 14 bands
high a star in her forehead shed before, about sor
6 years old trots and paces. The owner is desired
to pay charges and take her away. Apply to
Job PORT2U
Bast Hartford J'-^c a 1 77^