The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg [Va.], 1776-05-11 00:00:00, page 2

the disobetlient. This plan of promiscuom ra ine (unworthy of
the wisdom and decorum of Govemment) mut complete what yet
; remaim to be completed of the union in North America against
the authority ot Parliament. Parliament, in this bill, seems much
more inclined to distress, than able or wilhng to protect. ln
North America the refractory lnd submissive may be blended to
gether. in the West ladies all are innocent; but all are doomed "
! to : much more severe, and much more certain punishment, than
, falle upon the molt guilty in North America. The whole ac
eommodation, if not the immediate snbsistence, of the West lndio
..itlande, depends on a commcrcial connexion with the eontinent,
from which; by thi- bill, they are exprefily restraineth One of
the chief, and much the most plausible of the complaints, made
' lalt year againshthe North Ameriean colonlet, was a resolution on
si .-.4--——--si. ,
their part to withhold supply from the sugar plantations. But
this year we have made ourselves to adort and sanctitsiy that very
conduct which we had ainted to the war d in such odious colours.
It must appear as if that bill pen purposely made against the West
Indies; and let! the people of the United Colonies mifht return
_ to senti-nenu of fraterna] affection, or from motives of se -interest,
" 'or from impatience of so hard a restraint, shouldsidisobey or elude
the orders of the Congrese, and afford relief mour innocent lant
. ers in the \Vest Indies, it seems as is an act of the British arlia
"tent came in aid of that authority, and provided that no supply
_ whatsoever shall be carried to the Welt Ladies, contrary to the
't'si Mshlution of the Congrefs. ' ss . _
_ 3d1y, BECAUSE this bill greatly exceed: in Violence the pat—
i -tem of injustice which it seems to ullow. In some respect: the
( ' prohibition of the Congress materially dil'ss'ered from the prohibi
'tion at this hill. Their"; was not immediate. Time win ' n
;. tothe VVeR lndies for th ly, bothftorn Athetica and other p aeee.
si siNocossnfiseationn-reeema . We, qntheotsihethand, have yermitted
)- etlte tude from Ameticn ai long at it me nbe to save ourselve
} 91;an {Wine, and to enable the coloniee tery ' debte. ' Thin
ct " ly they have made plentifully, and m ny of these debt: they
3; si'lme dischatged mon honourahly. ln return for thin, to us use—
-\ siful and honourable'beha-viour, MiniRry; 'abusing the bounty of
! si' siProvidence, on the first reftoration of dorjestie plenty, hat fabri
.si, - 'cated a hill for seizinffi Ametsi'ican'veffelt, now tradin'g under the
5 :faith' of an act of Pa lament! no ship of their": being suffered to
\ ' l'
; ;;etdnrn to rt's own cou ntry, either from hence, or fm'm the West
,- n les. * - '
* si 4thly, BECAUSE the bill, not satisfied with making predato
? ry war upon the trade of the coloniei, thinks rt necessary to
_, Kimulate partiefllr avarice aid rapacity to an activity in such
5 service, by renderin captures of North Ameri-"an vessels and
oods the property o the ceptors. This rcguiatiuss-i is now, for
i tte flrihtime, bv any regularauthorrty in titi; kingdom, to be
wssss adopted in a eivii contention. \Ve c-zrctider tius method'ofhold
ing out the lpcil ot their seHss-i .tzizens, for the reward ot'ulacri—
? ty in civi} wars, as :: source at the mottssdangczuua corruption
that can be conceived; in the first instance to our navy, and in
its consequence to our armv. A number of' bold, enterprising
(
,.ss- men, traincd to the ptofesh'on of 3: ms, with fortunes to make, "
Sctfct and promotion to be obtained, are naturafly lovers of viar.'
ss'si .When they have once tasted pf emoluments from sid'omesil'tic
ssss spoil, they will no longer look on the commerce of Ensig—
37 land ae-nn object of protection, 'but of plunder. They wrll
?" see the prosperous state of peaceful domestic indushy, not
t ctwith pleasure, but with envy. They will be tau ht to wish for
.: those lucrative civil commotions, whichthe wi ] alviays have
the-meant of provoking. Our soidiers in the hind service will see
no reason for their being distinguished from the marine; and they
! will call for the pinnderof En lish tracting towne, when they see
that the seamen have been in ul ed in the plunder of English
7 tending miss. It never can be sa e for a (tate to hold out an in
si-ct tlrefi in di urbing tt, to thosevho have the'sword in their hand.
3 The test repubiic of which histo si [filed in any knowledge
ya} ubzerted py this licence of dom c plundef.si We are per
ss
leffl assured that the any of England 'ssn'tssi no such unnatsiursitl
!
:" 'and mpious eneouragement towards thepetfo'rmance of any duty
which their known public lpirit, and yet'uncorrupted honour,
may make itfit for them to perform. And it i: no less on their':,
\',
than on the public account, : matter of the most ibriouo affliflion
to on that ; service always looked upon (and hitherto most jnft
ly not oniy without fear or inlWle but with the molt Partial
se
ion in eve: part of this ite, shouldbe unneceEanly ex
ed to the la ing odium whic must attend those who are en.
riches] from the spoil: of citizent, amongst whom they may be
obliged to spend their live;, and form their eonnexions. Civilsi
. wan (when they must be made) should be rmde in such a man
ner al not to render the return to peace and_ cordiality im racti
' able. it the sssiou ordered by this act had been left in the Crown,
che Crown mi t use it as an eneouragement for a return to obe
dience, and I! a meane of future peace. It is now on] : prove
eation, through despair and resemment, to perpetuar hostih'ty.
v
We cannot tsibly discern how any necessary operation ofwar is
strengthenedpgy this disgrace of lekgiflature. But if the armsit now
used should succeed, so as to en oree a tempoxary and relu'cth'nt
obedience, wesssee but too well that this bin will lea'v'e 'suchsiasi
Ring in the minde of the eolonish, as to render oui- government
there hated and suspected, and therefore for ever precarioussi. . _
gthly, BECAUSE this bill, by anticipatingall legal judgment
of the offences of those whose goods are sorshted, o.vemu'ns one
otsithe most excellent and profoundly considered parts of that tun
damental law, the Declaration of Ri ts,'sswhich declares, " that
all grante of fines and forfe'itures o particular persons, before
convibtion, are illegal and void." This provision is expresily made,
lest rapacious Ministen, scenting confiscation, or rapacious so]
dien, allured by the lust os plnnder, should be induced to forge
o'f Pimrolte Plate lnd rebelliont, in order to enrich themselves out
of the public disorden.
Gthly, BHC U very extenfive commercia] property of Brit
ish subject. -Ei li ted by the nature of commercial intercourse
with that o ssnnocent Englishmen residing here) is to be taken.
out of the equitablejurisdiction of the common law of England,
and from that ineltimable birthrifiht of the subjects of this king
dom, a trial by fury, andss carrie to the Court of Admiralty to
be tried by a sing e judge, on the rule- of an arbitrary soreign law.
7thly, BECAUSE the whole l'cheme of this predntmy war of
private lucre is put under the axbitrary direction of certafurcteom
missionen, to us unknown, even by name; who have-pow'cr to
give such countenance to the ravages auchnril'ed by thit billas their
arbitrary will shall lctuggelt; to pardon, or (except from pardon,
any number or description of persous, and wn'h linehctexcqnions
as they shall see sit, wishout any other rule than theirowctgsiprivate'
opinion, fancy. caprice, favour, or resentment; and; without
any other rule, to open or kee shut any colony, pcovinct, county,
town, disttifl, or place. : are of opinion that thesi-powu lest
do the tommifflonen is perfectly unjultihable and.unconstitntional.
It has, besides, : tcndency to create the most shameful and mis:
chizvoul mono lies. The power given to the Admiralty, and
to the Wdt ln ia Governors, to licence shi :, iswf the same nn. -
cure. lf such monopoliu and 'obs shoul not arise from such "
powere, it it no fault of this bi ], which, as is it had these pus.
pose- in vil,, hat taken especial care to provide as strong a temp
mti-m a; human nature, set above law and restraintsi, and furnished
wnh every. sacih w corruption. can possibly be exposed to. 'si
si gmly,si-BBCA SE we know nothing of the buhncssssof these
u-mmilsi-men, further than the above arhitrnry diseretiun with re
gu-d to pardon}. anout give} out that they are to.}uve a
power to tyat with the Ameneanl for : rednsu of their grievances.
. t .- . .-x ass
Offhis, however, neither the speech from the throne, nor the bill,
have given the lealt intimation. Although, if the commisstonen
treat on this subject at all; acts and power; ofParliamen'being the
matter of complaint, the commidionen ough} to derive some re-- ,
vious authority from Parliament, m order tb give weight an efsi
flcacy to their negotiationa, and to presem lame appearance of *
digntty in ourselves. It is hardly proper that Plrliament should
appear in no other light than as the instrument of penal reflricti
ont, attainder, penalties, and confiscatione; at the maker of
menacing addresses, and the rejector of dutiful petitiom. It ie
hardly decent to shew ourselvesi fierce and inshxible here, but to
be satilsied with permitting unknown personl whom Minitterl
shall choose in future to appoint, to dispose in Ameriea of >owere
and acts of Parliament at their pleasure: Leaving us rlt the
odium of rejecting reasonable requefis, and afterwards the dis
gsace of ratisying shameful concelfions.
9thly, BECAUSE we reject with indignation, that clause of
this bill, which by a reftnement in tyrann , and in asentence werre
than death, oblige: the unhappy men w o shall be made captives
in this predatory war, to bear arms againh their families, kin
dred, friends, and country; _ and after being plundered them
selves, to become accomphces in piunde'ring their brethren. If
there exists a doubt whetherto ullfiy the infliction of cipital
punishment or desertion, it lhqu d necessary to prove that a
seaman was a pressed man or a volunteer. The object of this
clause is to deprive the American Man of the plea of his being
a pressed man, as it declares that he in to_be considered to all in
; tents and purposes, as having'ettered voluptarjjy intothe service._
By this clause, not only contmon 12; ' it, but masters of vessels
are, without regard to a e orsici: _ _ ncea, or eonditi'on, to be
.i 'not'ninioufly turned be o're the ,;th subjected tsiotheausteie -
tsci'pl'me of the boatswain. Peisonisi. in that subordihate h'tion,
nosst bein animated with theiibenl 'a'ndct ingenuousctspin't whiili,
diffln' ' : otlicen in the any, and taughtsissto con'ffldisijthefe
fdrce volunteesire assirebbls, wi]! be but too : t th'hgssig'lctfijss'atei
miseries of captivity by insult and outrage. hete pt'ilvhneisit;
among thecomradessithey'are obliged tb live" andfervewith, ma 'sssiver .
probably be often forced to behold the s iis'ot' their honesh du ;' -
try, and the natural supposssof their sp er t'a-nilies, squandsie'redct.
in riot and p'rofligate debauchefy before 'their'd'aces. T li'tS' we
look upon as the last degree ofssmtehednetsiitsscta'nd indignify, to
which human nature can be siihiefledfgx 'Ict'hctis'ctci-tjelty, ltihknown
to the most savage nations, is to be'praCtisCd'BysEnglishmen on
En lishmen. it has been-said in Parliament that the pa the
signes: are to receive it to be_c_o'nsi_dered asct till compe ation
For the princi let they are'obliged to'v'iolatk. We do.oot envy
any one that tjesintiment. An attein 't'it also mazk't'io justify it by
the supposed right of presiing. e cannotz-sseqnceive that the
burthens of subjection ought ever to be imposed, where the pro
tection belonging tosiit is denied, or that a man can ever be
despoiled 'of his oods'as a foreign enemy, and at the same time
obliged to serve t e state as : citize'n. This compuliion we have
sinevet' heard to be practised on any prisoners m war, or rebelliolr—
"nor do we know any example of it, except among pirates—the
.outlaws and enemies of human society.
nthly, BECAUSE a hill unprecedented in its nature, nnd so
important in its consequences, is brought in at a time of a year,
when by experience it is known, that most of the independent
members of both House: are called away by their domeltic affairsj ss
and when few but those in the immediate plypf the- Court, and
attending on their employm'ents, are in town. 'Thit we conceive
to be done in order to impress thepublic with a delitfive idea, that
these measures are agreeable to greater numbers in both Houses,
than in reality they are. The only part of thil bill which we
approve, it the repeal'of the unjust and improvident acts which
have produced all the evil effects which we had soreseen, and none
of the good Ghich was pretended as the gmund for making them;
acts, at unfit for, as incapable of execution. But to our inex
pressible grief, and to the disgrace,of the public Councils of this
kingdom, Minisiers, untaught by missotsitunes, and unchecked
by disappointments, at the very instant they are obliged to de
molish the old fabric of their expression, as uselest and mis
chievous, are building up another on nearly the same made], and
with the same materials, adding only something more of that in
jultice and violence, which have always proved mischievous, in
proportion as they have been augmentcd. '
RlCHMOND. ROCKlNGHAM.
PONSONBY. CHEDWORT.
FITZWILLlAM ABlNGTON.
ABERGAVENNY. MANCHESTER.
A- .- -— lAA- .A-si. .——. --_l,
BYWWWWWMW
sisi si sisiv—fi—ffiffi—
To the PRI-NTERS.
ssGENTLBMEN.
sisi E pleased to insert the following in your gazette, and oblige
B many of your eustomers.
_ To thefOfficcrs in the Army.
' GENTLBMEN, '
_ ROM thesi duty we owe to God and our country, we'freely
F and cheerfully,,;part with out sone at this time, many of
them the props of "ons old ag-, and'support of our familet. We
send them forth, under your government and direction, to fight
ou'r battles against the cmel invad'erslos our right: and Iibfljtinct—
W'e give them up to you as their parent: and guardians. as well
siasjtheir Captains and commanders. Suffer us then to urge it
it on you to be: careful of their metals. We less dread the loss
of their lives in the field, than we do the loss of their virtue in
the eamp. We are often shoeked, and attanished, with the asic
count: we hear of the profaI'y, and debauehesy which yrevactil
there. 0! Sirs, for God's ' e put a [top to these vices; it .is
ceminl in your power, inasigren degree, and as certainly yon:
mosiin ispensnble duty. To'mentionnootherobli ation, you afl.
profess to follow and be' ruled by the resolves an direction: of _
the Contincmal Congress. Why do you then alldw the execrahle '
sin of profnne cursing and sweeringto be followed with impunity, -
and also the desh'uctive vice of grinding? Shall om- sons (if it
please God to guard them safe through the dangers and perils of
war) return to us so dehauchcd and corrupted as to be the curse
of our samilies, and grief of our hearts, the remaining part of
our lives? Shall they be ever after nuisances to society."3nd sts
in the country their valour helped to save? God forbid! Rather
ie't them die in the field, and he devoured by wild beasts and birds
of prey, then- unburied bones lie whilening in the sun, than that
should be the unhappy case! But, Gentlemen, may we not hope
ctb'etm' thingd'P—Excuse the liberty we have taken, in this short
hint, actfwe are'all greatly interested in so important an assair. -si
, Weare yc'mr most obedient humble servants, ' '
' ' si Tbc Parnm ostbe Yautb in the Any.
silssi CONGRESS, SA'ruloAY, March 16, 1776.
=IN timsi'es os impending calnmity and diflress, when the liberties
hsis-ctA'merica are imminently endangered, by the secret machi
nations and open nsssimlts of an insidious and vintlifiive Admini
sh'ation, it becomes the indispenszblss. duty of these hitherto free
and happ cohmies, with true penitcuu: us hent, and the molt
revercnt dssevotion, pilhliely tu sicknowledgc the over-mling pro
vidcnce of COD, to confess .uni dcpluie <,-n' uffrnces against him,
and to supphcate his inn-tpolition fox IIVFHlng the thsieatened dan
ger, and prospeting our renuous efforts in th: cause of nee—
oom, vntruz. and Po ERlTY. ' -
'The Con ress THER ORE, considering the warlike prepa
ntiom of the British A nilh'y tu snbvcrt uut' int'dluable righte
and rivileges, end to red ce us, by fireund t'vvurd, bythc sav
'of t e wilderness, and : uwn domesticke, tn the molt abefl
end ignominioue hondug ; desirous, at the tinue time, to have
people of all ranks and d rtsies duly impresicd With a solemn sense
ofGOD'a snperintendin ss wsovidencc, and of their duty devoutly
to sely in all their law td clllclpl'iscs on his aid and direction.
do earnestly recommend that l-"lutsity the l7lh d ty ("yf May next he
observed, by the said o'olnnics, 45 a day of H thnA'rlbts,
FASTlNG, and PRAYElt, thatwenlay, th—tlnitcd hearts, con
fess and bewail our mnnifold sins and transgrcfihns, and by I /
lincere repentance, and anxcndment of life, aysiwt}: his righteoul'
displeasnre, and, through the merits and medmtion of ]ESUU
CHRIST, obtain his pardon and for ivt-ness: Humbly implor
ing his aisistance to t'sulh'ate the true ' purposes of our unnaturitl
enemies, and, by inclining their hearts toiuflice and nevolence,
prevent the farther cffuswn us kindred blood; but i , continuing "
dcafss to the vdicc of reason and humanity, and inflexiblvsi hent on
desolation and war, they constrain us' to kepe] their hq ile inn.
fions hy open resitiance, that it may psslcase the Lord qj'Htfflt, lb:
God oj'Armizt, to animate our officers and soldiers with invincible
shrtitude, to guard and protect them in "the day of battle, and loss '
crow'n the cqntinental arms by sin and land with victory and (ucsi sssi_
ccss: - Earnestly beseeching him to bless our civil rulel't, and the 7
represensitatives of the people in their several Assemblies and Cas
ventions, w preserve and strengthen their union, to inspire them _
with an ardent disinterefled love of theirmountry, to giye wisdom *
"lndsi-Itabilit to their councils, andsidircct theln' to the Mjsiesiessactss
-._cstc'ma mnslres for eflablishffmg the rissth of Americasi-"fit the owl
honoumhle and pemtanent bzctsts: but be yrqnlgsihectgeafipcti-n'y
pleat'ed; " fsiblcss all the tpedjjle in these tout;- dgthl-sshealtlssiud
? plcn' -,.j;_'an'd grantthatsia spirit of incdrr "ble Yatuonsm, finde?
purejuhde'siled religion, may universajly revai ; and this conti
inmbe speedily restored to the blessing: PEACE and LlBER—
i-T-Y-ssi, anssd enahled to transmit them inviolate to the laced posterity.
siAnd'istjsis recommended to Chriltianrof'all denominatione to
assenshlefur public worship, and abflain from seryile labour on
thc said-day. , , Bj order ssof COZgfl' . _—
' _ JOHN MNC K, Presidenn'si -
CuAuctlsis Tnouson, Secretary; ' ' ' " si t
HErcolours of the AMERlCAN FLEET to have I snake
with thirteen rattlus, the fourteenth bndding, desefibedzin .
{the attitude of going- to strike, with this mbtto, " DON'T
L" TREAD ON ME!" . ss- "
it it a rule in Hcraldry, that the worthy rein of the ani
mal in the crelt borne shall be considered, an that the Men:
cannot bessintended. The ancient: consideredthe shake, or sen
pent, as an emblem of wisdom, and (in certain attitudn)-df
endless duration. The rattlc- shake is prpperlyaupresentatived' .
America, at this ahimal is found in numberpart of the trodd- ,
The eye of this creature exceh in brightness that of "any other '
animal; she has no eyelidn. and in therefore an emblem of vid- ,
lame;; she never begins an attack, nor ever surmdctu she'fi '
therefore an emblem of magnanimity andsue couragcct thct.
stinted; or in dangat of being injuxed, shewersiwoundc find]
"she has iven notice to. enemicsis-of this dung. no' other of .
her kin shewe such generosity. Whenshc lesi Mflut'bcd, lnd\.
in peace, she does not nppear to be furnished with cum 05
any kind; they areletrnt in the roosof he::monsihhss Man '
when extended for her defence, appeer to'tltose' MWW '
quainted with them, to 'be weak and.cnntemsiptibkz y'et their
wounds, however shall, aredecisivc Msitili fill: is " ct
and zssociates with her kind only when it 50 neeoflery for
preservation. Her poison is alone the necessnry names '
her food, and certain defructionw herenel'lssin Th' , r
fascination attributed .to her (by a generous eonimctien "Ell,
bles America. Those who look ltewdily on her an [&th
and involuntarily advante towardl, be'n and his once lfi- _
proached her, never leave her. She igfrequently NndLK'ith
thirteen rattles, and they increase yearly. She ll beautifull
youth, and her beauty insspnases with her age; her tongue it Hop
and forked as the lightning. _ ss
music, Am masin CAN n—A'. A.
"m-"WWWWUT'W—w ssss,
To be SOLD by the subscriber, at-bt': Stm' ib thu'imn'ulosi, si
lb: fillarwiug Ar-n'cla, joictrcglluq'mb." ct' _,ss_, ,
ROADC LOTHS,- bread and Stlk
' Breeches Pateema, blacksiSilk using; Sefsige Dus , Do
mascus, Loretw, Tobine, IndiaPersim, Luflnngt, gvflim,
Gauzc, Cambrick, Lawn and Gaufe Hmdkeschicfs and A na,
black Minionet and Blood Laee. DMo'l-ced'flats, plain' ttdsi
Women's Hats and Bonnfita, Gloves, Ribmdl, ane, Necklleeo,
Cap Wire, Paste Combe, 'lt Shoe end Knee Bucklea," — hrge
ss Dressing Glasses, black Wafiwt Ten Chesh, Do. Candlefiickl,
ss ]a an Waiters, Paintcd Chimney and Table Coven, Deunterk.
s ine Glassee. dtands and Cattora. 'Tiekleu. Window Gllsl, -
Spanish Brown, redssand white Lead, Slwl, Scythea. Two. Skil
ling Nails, a Variety of China Cups, Sancers, and T (55
Gum and Gun Locks , a large Band: of Grubbing and Hil
ling Hoes, broad and narrow Axes, .teelyardsof ill Dian,
Dutch Ovens, Brass and Iron Skillets, Ten Kitchcns and Kenlesg
Shccp afid "sailors Shcars, Scissurc, Razor Straps, Combs, Fish
Hooks, Cork Screws, Shocmakers and Smidlers Tools, Szddles,
Bridles, and a considerable Number of other Atsiticles too tediou
to cnumcrate. — WlI.LIAl\I PlTT.
To be R E N 'l'_E D,
HE Tenemenc lately occupied by anitb Tale (formerly by
T Fortuna: derm' ) upon Slmd'oe Bill, in the Town of Rid
uumd. to be entered on immediately. For further Particulm in
quire ossi Fo/bua Slorfl, or the Subscn'ber, in Goocblaud.
- ct ' siu -. ' ct _ J-OSEPH WATKINS.
(so be SOLD; aube latect'siDw?!lmg_-.Hou rffANjfl-LONY RonlN
5 N. destasal,1sill tbtlmptr'fiiidos actrctk Couuty, on Wednesday
!] kqt'b ['t/lay! (May.) '{l/Ziir, otlztmbffi ":!er Day, .
ALL-ctcpe Houschold and thchen Fumx
ture, Hd'rses, Cattle, Shee , and Hogs; also a Pair of
Globes, aRiding Chair, alarge ; 'auoe. andl'undry other Articln
toositcdious to mention. Twelve Months Credit will be allowed
to Purchasen for all Suml above ejjs'; on giving Band, with ap
pnsioyed Secucity; the Bonds to' carry .in'tcnett t'rsiom the Dan if
noc'dictfchargedwiritlfln one Month after they become due.
' ' ' i- " -= —M£RR1T'_F MOORE, Executor.
.' ' " '_:'si= B..- si'j'WiLn_1AM;quzc, qun, :776.
ALL Persons to my- Debt, for. Shavusig,
, Dreffing. Ussr. tinitrhcted'befurel entered into Partne ip
with Mr. Ilj'Ii't, aressonce morcssrequcfled to dischnr e their Ac
'cmmts- (same of Which have been standing for Years? that] may
be enablcd- to pay those ch't-sctwhi'gh' [have been under'a Necks!!
1y of contracting for the Suppqnss ofjny Family through 'their
Ncglectsi If this Apphc'ation'pruves ineffectual, and the Law
should not be open to force Comphnncc, those: who are deficient
will have their .Nnmc5_ exposed in the ancnc. Gentlemen who
pay me punctn'aHy mnsiy My on my conRant Attendnnce, and at.
molt l-Lndcavom's to gssw'u Sqr—isssftion; others, can expect no' me::
of my Seswccsss . GEORCE LAFONC."