The Pennsylvania gazette — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-05-01 00:00:00, page 4

CASSAWDft A toC AY&
JU AVE engaged in the present political controversy
with a design to be of service tb my country. On an
impartial enquiry into the present state of the British con
stitution, it appears to me that it is out of the power of
the British legislature to give us fecurtiy for the future
enjoyment of our rights and liberties) and on this ground
1 have opposed a re-Union. I have examined every thing
advanced by you on the fubjedt, and find them wide of
the ihark. "Me point with me has ever been, auhat <will
frcure our liberties ? The question of interest is ever de
termined thereby. National prosperity, and national hap
pr.efs, are incompatible with national slavery. It is of
tmall confluence to America, whether God has granted
a King to the people of Britain or not; or whether the<
constitution of their government answers excellently to
the inhabitants of that idand, if dependence on that ex
cellent form of government is big with slavery and ruin
to America.
If you mean not to hold your countrymen in fufpence
until the day of salvation is past, I call upon you to prove
that Great-Britain can offer any plan of constitutional de
pendence which will not leave the future enjoyment of ouf
liberties to hope, hazard and uncertainty, as the Forester
has finely exprefled it. And that if she can there is a
probability she quill. If the one is impossible, or the
other altogether improbable, yourfelf must acknowledge
it is time to pert, '
By the constitution of Great-Bri(ain the present Par
liament can make no law which shall bind any future one.
For as the author of Le% Parliamentaria or law of Parlia
ment qbferves, page 77, when treating of the power and
authority of Parliaments, " Tho’ it be apparent, what
" transcendent power and authority the Parliament hath,
" and though divers Parliaments have attempted to bar,
" feftrain, tilfpend, qualify, or make void the power of
" subsequent Parliaments, yet could they never effect it:
" For the latter Parliament hath ever power to abrogate,
'' ffpend, qualify, explain, or make void the former in
“ the whole, or in any part thereof, notwithstanding
" any words of restraint, prohibition, or penalty in the
“ former. For it is a maxim in the law of Parliament,
" quod leges pofleriores priores contraries abrogant."
Therefore fliohld any Parliament give up, renounce, and
forever quit claim to the right of making laws to bind us
ir any case Whatever, yet it can coaftitutionally ftipplate
for no longer than that one fitting. They have as full
power and authority to revive and enforce the claim at
their next fitting, as if such renunciation had never taken
place. Is it <wifdom then, or is there fafety in entering
upon terms of accommodation with a power which can
not stipulate for the performance of its engagements ? If
we are foolifh enough to do this, must not our future
fecunty depend entirely on the will of a British Parlia
ment, i. e.'of a British Miniflry ?
This in my opinion must form an insuperable obstacle
to reconciliation in the mind of every noneft man and
sincere lover of liberty on the continent.
A second reason against reconciliation is, that the Bri
tish constitution is so effectually undermined by the influ
ence of the Crown, that the people of Britain have no
Security for the enjoyment of their pnun liberties, and
therefore America can never be fafe in being dependent
on such a state.
The author of " an historical eflay on the Englifn con
" ftitution," printed anno 1771, fays, “ I shall not hefi
,< tate to date the decline of our constitution from the
<< Revolution. William the 3d and his Parliament
" began the practice of retraining the elective power of
" the people, by the legislative authority. A power that
“ might become ten thousand times more dangerous to
" the'ele&ive rights of the people, than the crown could
" ever poflibly be. For whenever the active parts of a
“ government, founded upon the common rights of
“ mankind, shall usurp a power to restrain or destroy
“ those rights, from whence they derive their authority,
“ that /late is not far from deflrufllon.
" Thus the primary law of pur constitution, the firft
“ principle upon which it was founded, which had flood
" the test of tr&eh^ hundred years, and been the admi
ts ration of ages, was now reduced to the common level
« of'a nuisance, to be corrected by ads of Parliament.
" Our legislative authority is, by its own nature, con
^ fined to aft within the line of the constitution, because
<< it is only veiled with a trust by the people, to the end
“ they may protest and defend them in their rights and
“ privileges. And therefore it is a contradiction in
<< terms to fay, they have a right to consent to any that
" may restrain or destroy them. Their consent to this
« law was a notorious violation of the trgft reposed in
“ them." For, ,
« Upon this principle our constitution may be one thing
" to-day, add another thing to-morrows it is this, and
“ that, or an, thing that our legislative authority, for
" the time being, shall think proper to make it," But
“ the prevailing faction of those days" after sowing divi
fioas among the people to destroy their power and weaken
their force, " obtained a law under pretence of providing
7c for the distemper of the times, by which they have
<< loft—^nay what have they not left? They have loft
“ the diftinguilhiag character between freemen and
« slaves? They have loft the diftinguiffiing character of
“ Englishmen ! They have loft, what the most tyrannical
<< of Kings of England could never force from them!
“ They h?ve loft what their forefathers have been spend
“ ing their blood and tfeafure to defend, for these thou
" land years! They have loft the greatest jewel that ever
" any people possessed ! They have loft their constitutional
“ and natural liberty, their birth-right and inheritance,
“ derived, from God and nature ! They have loft their
“ constitutional redress for all their grievances ! They
“ have loft their ail, their every thing, by that damna
« ELE SEPTENNIAL LAW."
To my quotations from this invaluable essay I beg leave
to add the following, as perfectly applicable to America;
and the foregoing extracts will not only jnftify but en
force the doctrine it contains, to every honest heart.
“ To deduce our rights from the principles of equity,
“ justice and the constitution, is very well; but equity
“ and justice are no defence against power. You must
“ take your constitutional rights under your own pro
" tedion, and that quickly too, or they will be loft for
“ ever. Protect and defend them as the apple of your
<< eve from danger, or, as you would your wives and
" children from deftrudion : And never desist from using
“ every remedy" in your power, “ till you have establish
" ed them on a foundation nevey more to be shaken,
" either by King or Parliament." A constitution that
affords no check against its own servants can yield no fe-
Curity to us.
PHILADELPHIA: Printed by HALL and SELLERS, at the New Printing-
Office, near the Market.
tfe who has the nominatidh of the officers of .govern
ment, has the whole power of that government in bis
own hand, and may do with it as he pleases. This is
abundantly proved by the present ruinous state of govern
ment in every colony, where the King or a Proprietor
had the nomination. Liberty Will never flourifh in such
a government. " By the constitution of the Saxon go
“ vernment (fays the author firft quoted) no officer, ei
" ther civil or military, or even ecclesiastical, could be in
" vested in his office, or exercise any jurifdidian or au
" thority over freemen, without the free election of those
“ freemen over whom he was to exercise such authority;
“ ahd it is for this reason, more especially, that the peo
“ ple of England were denominated free; for that by the
" ancient laws and constitution of the kingdom, they
" had this just and natural right, viz. the free election of
“ their magistrates and governors, without which our
<* ancestors thought all our liberties were but a species
“ of bondage. For of what use can liberty be to him,
“ whose perfot lor estate is fubjedt to officers, &c. set
" over him, without his consent." How different from,
and how much Superior to our present form of govern
ment, was the Saxon, or old constitution of England !
These three considerations form in my opinion an in#
surmountable obstacle against a re-union with Great-
Britain. The man who has not thought upon these
points is ill qualified to judge of the necessity of inde
pendence, or the inevitable ruin attendant on re-union.
My objections are radical, reaching to the root of the
evil, and if a radical cure cannot be obtained in one way,
it ought to be obtained in another. To skin over the
Wound would be madness. I therefore once more en
treat you either to point out a compleat remedy for these
defeats, and prove it more ealily attainable than a com
pleat delivery by a declaration of independence; or to
give no further opposition to the measure. He who can
not fee a fair profpeC of removing these defeats, and yet
wishes to fee America return to a state of dependence,
has something else in view than the liberties of his coun
try. CASSANDRA.
N. B. No good man can agree to any terms which will
not give perfed security, and a division must therefore be
intended by every man who attempts to prepare the
minds of the ignorant and unwary to accept of any thing
else. As every writer on the fide of dependence has hi
therto studiously evaded the point, it appears they design
if possible to effect a division. Take care then, ye good
people of America, not to be duped by diftinguiJbed To
ries.
A Lift of L ETTE R S remaining in the Constitutional Post-
Office, Philadelphia, April 5, 1776.
PETER ALLON, James Anderson, Otho Amiell,
Catharine Anderson, Miss Austin; Anne Abbott,
Chester County; Nathan Adams, Kent County.
B. Joseph Baker, John Baxter, James Bruftrum, Cap
tain Bayard, Mr. Broomfield, George Breintnall, Stephen
Blunt, John Brand, John Bryce, Robert Bryce, Nicoll
Bryce (2) Ann Black ; William Brown, Eastland Town
ship; Jacob Baye, George Backoven, Germantown.
C. William Casey, Edward Campbell, Andrew Cal
deleugh, Thomas Cafdorpe, John Chace, Levi Cazier,
Christopher Cox, Dennis Claney, Darling Conrow, Mar
garet Cloy, Peter Cragge; Eliza Clark, Little Egg Har
bour; Rowland Chambers, East Jersey; Richard Carns,
New Jersey; Jonathan Curtis, Kingwood, New Jersey;
James Crow, near Mount Holly; Mary Campbell, Read
ing-town.
D. John Davie, John Douglass M'Dougal (2) Benja
min Dunn, Elizabeth Deverell, Elizabeth Downey.
E. Elizabeth Elton; James Ewing, Darby.
F. Capt. Thomas Fell, Henry Fanns, John Fitzpa
trick.
G. Adam Galer, Isaac Garrett, George Gordon,
Thomas Gordon, John Ghie, Henry Grotz, Joshua Ge
mains, Matthew Game; William Gallup, Weftmore
land; Elizabeth Greenwood, Nova-Scotia.
H. Seymour Hart, Samuel Hastings, Paxton Hatch,
John Hunt, Francis Holton, Matthias Hanby, Damiel
Haines, Jane Herring; Dr. Henry, Glotteefter; Ezekiel
Hickman, Weftmoreland County.
J. Paul Johnston, Michael jordan; John Johnson,
Germantown.
K. Lewis Karcher; George Kiah, Spring-mill; Pru
dence Kenedy, Chester County.
L. Thomas Lee, Thomas Lake, Mr. Land, Rev.
Mr. Lewis, Alexander Livingston, Mary Louttit; Wil
liam Lefhsr, Germantown.
M. Thomas Mackanefs, Walter Marshall, John Mit
chell, Thomas Morton, Phelife Mellon, David M'Cleag,
Archibald M'Tagert, Ann Murdoch; Frederick Meal,
Germantown; John M'llvaine, Ridley Township; Mi
chael Morgan, Yellow Breeches; Neill Murray, Weft,
morefand; Betty M'Qyatters, Cross-Roads.
N. James Norris, Charles Night, Nathaniel Nor
grove#
Q. John O'Bryan; the Overseers of Callop's Inland,
New-Jersey.
P. John Pearce, Robert Pearce, Abner Parrott, Cor
nelius Phenife, Elizabeth Parsons (?) Catherine Baker,
Monficur Pierre.
R. Hugh Robifon, Mary Reeves, John Rankin, Da
vid Rose, Benjamin Ramsey, John Rupp, James Re
verlds, Patrick Rush; Timothy Rifly, Egg Harbour.
S. Captain Peter Scull, Peter Stewart, Jean Stuart,
John Stacy, Thomas Smith, John Smith, Zebulon Sil
vester, Ebenezer Aug. Smith, Douglass Spencer, John
Snowden, Joseph Smith, Samuel Smith; Caspar Snevely,
Lebanon; Nathaniel Semple, Nassau-Hall; Peter Smith,
Pennypack; Nicholas Seidel, Worcester Township.
T. William Tanner (4) Peter Treifler, Jonah Thomp
son, James Taylor; Richard Treat (2) Abington; Sy
denham Thorne, Kent County.
W. Peter Wagoner, Robert Wilcocks, James Wal
lace, John Williams, Henry Winkell; Frantz Wenerich,
Reading Town; John Wright, Paffyunk.
FOU R DOLLARS Reward.
RUN away from the fubferiber, living in Hanover tewnjbip,
Lancafer county, on tie i%tb of March past, a servant Girl,
about 13 or 14 years of age, of a brown complexion, lightijb brown
Jbort bair ; bad on, when fee went away, a fort gown and petticoat,
made of striped lincey, the Jiripes are pale green and white, she petti
coat bat 3 small red stripes in it, they are far asunder ; foe is sup
posed to be taken off by her father and mother, who live in Phila
delphia ; her father's name is John Cogdal, and the girl's name
Sidney Cogdal, which is also her mother's name. This is the second
time of her running away. Whoever takes up said servant, and
brings her home, or secures ber,fo that her master may have her again,
shall have the above reward, and reasonable charges, paid by
April 3, 1776. , James Rippeth.
Philadelphia, Pourth-Mamth 2foif^.
FOUR DO LL ARS Reward.
RUN away from the Subferiber, in Tbird-ftreet, on 'be firft
infant, an Englijb servant man, named George Moore, by
trade a Brush-maker, about ZQyeare of age, about 5 feet 10 inches
high, pitted with the fmalh.pox, and feme marks of„Gunpowder in
bis face, bad on, when be went away, a mixed brown cloth coat,
metal buttons, red jacket, and leather breeches ; wears falfe hair,
cued or clubbed. Whoever apprehends the Jaid servant, and will
secure bim, so that bis master may have him again, shall have tfoe
above reward, paid by John Parrish, q
CAME to.the plantation of the fubferiber, in Eaft-Nant
mill township, Chester county, the 20th day of March
last, a three years old Horse Colt, 14 hands high, a bay, with
a small Lip on his nose, has neither brand nor ear-mark, paces
and trots. The owner is desired to come, prove his property,
pay charges, and take him away.
April 13, 1776. § JOHN NICE, Inn-keeper.
A SEC 0 ND E9ITJON O~F
The WORKS of JOHN WOOLMAN
IS Just PUBLISHED, and to be SOLD by
JOSEPH CRUKSHANK,
At his Printing-Office, in Market-street, between Second and
Third-sires, opposite the White Horse, and near the Middle
of the Butcher's Shambles:
Where also ma, be bad
Pool's Annotations on the Bible, Burkitt on the New.
Testament, the Life of Thomas Elwood, Daniel Stanton's
Journal, Barclay's Catechism and Confeffion of Faith, Hugh
Turford's Grounds of a Holy Life, Memoirs of John Roberts,
Shewen's Counsel to the Christian Traveller, the Works of Fla
vius Josephus, Wesley's Primitive Physic, Bardlet's Collection
of approved Receipts for the Diseases of Horses, Dilworth's
Schoolmaster's Assistant, and Spelling-Book; Bonds, Powers of
Attorney, Indentures, most other Kinds of Blanks, and Variety
of Books and Stationary. § W.
Philadelphia, April 6, 1776.
THE Contributors to the Pennsylvania Hospital are de
sired to attend the Election of Managers and Treasurer
for the ensuing Year, to be held at the said Hospital, on the 6th
of next Month (being the second Day of the Week) between
the Hours of Two and Five o'Clock in the Afternoon.
CT" I HE Annual Election of Directors and a Treasurer for
I the Library Company of Philadelphia, for the ensuing
Year, will be held at the Library Room, on Monday, the 6th
Day of May next ; at which Time and Place the Treasurer will
attend, to receive the yearly Payments.
April 10, 1776. Andrew Robeson, Secretary.
BY virtue of several writs to me dure&e% and according to
adjournment, will be fold by public vendue, on Monday, the
6th day of May next, on the premises, between the hours of 12
and 5 in the afternoon, a valuable tra& of land, containing 425
acres and a half, be the fame more or less, lituate in Upper Penn's
Neck, in the county of Salem, and province of New-Jersey, ad
joining lands of Jacob Wright, Peter Louderback, Qbadiah Lfoyd,
John Helmes, George Catts and others, being divided into two
tra&s, the one contains 294 acres and a half, be the fame more
or less, having thereon ere—ed a two story brick dwelling-house
and brick kitchen, a framed barn, a large apple orchard, and
other improvements, a considerable quantity of cleared land, also
a parcel of good meadow the remainder timber land; the other
traft contains 131 acres, be the fame more or less, having there
on a dwelling-house, a good apple orchard, about 30 or 40 acres
of cleared land, a parcel of meadow, the remainder timber land;
and as the above-described trails adjoin each other, they will ,be
fold together or separate, as may best fait the purchaser, the
whole being late the estate of Samuel Lynch, Efg deceased ;
seized and taken in execution, and fold by
t Edmund Wetherby, Sheriff.
T O BE S D,'
A SMALL stone HOUSE, with a kitchen, the lot that
it fiends on is not quite an acre of ground, it is situated
on the Schuylkill road, g miles from town, and diredly oppo
site to Mr. John Lawrence's place, extreamly well calculated
for an afternoon's retreat, or for children, during the fummet
heats, as it is remarkably cool, tho' its situation is in a valley ;
from it is seen Mr. Keppele's, Mr. Lawrence's, and other im
provements on this fide the river; also a small ffieet of the river,
the hills on the opposite fide, and a full view of the Governor':
house. Enquire of TURBUTT FRANCIS, in Cheftnut
ftreet. /Idarcb 23, 1776. 4 W.
ONE HOGSHEAnS"oF—R-UM *
WA S left in a Store, in the Possession of the Subferiber,
some Months ago, by some Person who, as it is sup
posed, has forgot it. The Owner is desired to come, or fend,
and prove his Property, pay Charges and take it away, within
3 Weeks from this Time, otherwise it will be fold, the Charges
deduced, and the Remainder kept for an Owner, whenever he
may appear, by Thomas Gilpin. § April 2, 1776.
—— 'N T £ d;
A good second-hand CHAISE, with a light Top.
Enquire of the Printers. ff
To be LETT, and may be entered on immediately,
THE PLANTATION on which, the fubferiber now
dwells, situate on the great road .between Chester and
Darby, containing about 80 acres, seven of which are mar/h
meadow, a good house, well, &c. The whole in good repair.
For terms, apply to Sketchley Morton.^
AS COTCH Girl, named Jane Forbes, about 20 frars
age, ran away from the fubferiber, in Arcb-ftreet, Philadel
phia, on the i^tb of February ; foe is fart and thick, has black
bair, a round full face, with high cheek foes, is pitted with the
small-pox, bas black ey es, and a foft inarticulate voice, speaks much
in the Scotch d.aleEl, has the appearance of great good humour, and
affefls a modest downcaf look ; her dress was a cloth coloured pelong
bonnet, lined with pale blue mantua, light coloured cloth claaL wi%
a hood and gimp, broad striped ribbon round her neck, white kent
ing handkerchief, brown and yellow camblettee gown, blue fluff
quiltA petticoat, lined with blue baize, and a pale green and white
striped lincey jacket and petticoat. Twenty Shillings will be paid to
an J person who secures her in any goal, witbin 20 miles cf PbdadeT
pbia, and Forty Shillings if at a greater difance, together with
all reasonable charges. Richard Wells. gW
TWENTY DOLLARS Re^d7=
RUN AWAY from the fubferiber, living in the Borough
Lancaster, on the 17th of February last, an indented ferva%
man, named John Robinson, be is about 22 years of age, 5 feet 4
inches high, a Jhort chunky man, dark complexion, with black bair,
but very fart and a little foretop to it ; bad on, and took with bins,
a pasr of white breeches and a pair of tow trowfers, an afo coloured
jacket, and a bluefriped lincey jacket, with Jleeves, ar. old wool bat.
a pair of feces, with brass buckles ; be also took with him a large
black Dog, with a Jb, re tail. Whoever takes up said ferv ant, and
secures him, so that be may be bad again, shall save the above re
ward, and all reasonable charges, paid by Juhn Creiner
Brass-Founder. (^
To be LETT for the Summer Sealou
AGENTEEL house, about fix Miles from the City
of Philadelphia, a high and pleasant Situation as any ig
the County. Enquire of Peter Ott, on the Premises, or
of John Palmer, at the Falls of Schuylkill.q