The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg [Va.], 1778-05-08 00:00:00, page 3

lnmofore nominand and troduced : Gum. to minate md anoint, by
my infirumem under their and: and lead, : proper person to be the Govsrnu
And Cemmnnder in Chief in and for any such oolony, pravince, or plantixion.
luve, hold, and exercise. during bin Majesiy': pleasure, "che said offiu of
governor md Commldcr in Chies in and sorsuch colony or plantation respec
with [" such power: and authoritiea as any Covernos of such province
dvely.
:] by hi: Majesty might or'could hue excrcised, in a full
herewsore appoinze
and complete mlnnes lnd fonn, as is such Govomor lnd Cdmmnnder in Chicf
Iud beennominned and nppointed by hit szefly's letten pltem or commiffion,
lad for due purpose, if need be, to make, mnul. md make void any com
miffion or letten pnem hmtofon granted, for appoiming Any such Govemor
end Commande- in Chics.
And in it further untied, that thin ad (hall continue to be in force until the
first day of ym which shall be in the year 1179.
Pnbli/bcd by wdlr of the Cm-auder iffi
: 1 :, Sec'ry
Pbiladclpbia, 44in 14, 1778. Ronnsi M
A N
"1" 0 0 )! G R 8 8 5, APRKL zz, r778.
HE Committee to whom Wll referred the Genml't letter of the rSth,
eontziaing ; certain printed pnper sent from Philndelphie, purporting to
10 the dnught of : bill for deelering the intention: of the Perlinment of Great
Dritain it to the amuse of what they are pleased to term their ri [as of impofing
tue: within these United Stetes, and also the draught of : bi to enable the
King of Great Britain to eppoint Commifionert, with power: to treat, con
salt, and agree upon the meant of quieting eemin difordert-within the said
lum, be; leave to observe.
That the ftid paper being induflriouny dreulated by the emimriet of the
enemy, in & partial end secret manner, the fame ought to be forthwith printed
for the public intermediat
Tbe Comrnitne ettmot lfeernin whether the contents of the said peper hue
been fremed in Philedelphid or in Greet Britein, much left whether the some
ete renny end truly intended to be brought into the Plrlizment of thet kingdom,
of whether the bid Minmt will eonfer thereon the ctnfual solemnitiet of their
lnws, but are inclined to believe this will heppen, for the following relsom.
-1. Beenise their Geml hathtmdt divert feeble effort: to set on foot some
kind of treaty during thelefl winter, though, either from : mishhen idea of
hit own dignity end impornnee, the want of informetioo, or some other cause,
he hath not made liution to these whosiare invefled with :proper lothority.
' :. Betusecthey uppose that the falltciout idetss or : eell'ation of honiiitier
trill render these Stnet remist in their preparation: for war.
. Because belicving-tht Americnns wenried with wnr, they fupyofe we will
:eede to their terms for the sake of peace.
a 4. Because they suppose that our negodations my be subject to a like cor
rupt influence with their debatet. .
5. Because they exPect from this step the same effects they did from what
me of their minister: thought proper to call hil rotciliator} motion, viz. that it
trill prevent foreign pcweri from giving aid to these Sntet; that it will lead
their own subjects to continue a little longer the present 'wnr; end that it will
detech some week men in Amerien from the close of freedom and virtue.
6. Because t'teir King, from his own shewing, h-ss th reason to apprehend that
his fleet; and lrmies, instead of being empioyed against the ten-itoriet of these
Stltet, will he necessary for the defence of his own dominions. And
1. Because the impuaicahility of fuhjugltinz this country being every day
there and more nnnifesi, it is their interefi to extrieate themselves ircm the
tur upon any terms.
The Committee heg letve farther to observe, that upon : supposition the
'tnttert eontlined in the said payer will renily go into the British statute book,
they serve to shew, in a clear point of view, the weakneft end wickedness of
deenemy. Tnzn wrlntxlsl.
sit- Because they formerly declared, not only that they had a right to bind
the inhtbitznts of these Stttet in all caset whatsoever, but also that the feid in.
hbiuntt should absduu! and uncauditionall} submit to the exercise o that
right. And thit snhmiffisson they have !ndeavonred to exact by the word.
leading from this claim, therefore, under the present circumnzneet, them:
their imbility to enforce it.
' :. Because their Prince hath heretofore rejected the humblesi petition: of the
tepresentnivet of Ameriea, prn ' to be considered " subjects, and protedcd
the enjoyment of pence, liberty, and safety, and hath waged : most cruel
nglinst them, and employed the savnges to buteher innocent women and
Children; but now the same Prince pretends to treat with those very represen
htivee, end grant to the arm: of Americ: what he refused to her praye".
-_ 3. Becmse they have uniformly laboured to conquer this Continent. reject
Ig every idea of mommodntion proposed to them, from : confldence in their
n strength. Wherefore it it evident, from the change in their mode of lt
k, that they hzve loft thit confidence. And '
4. Because the eminent lnngutge, spoken not only by their Mininen, but
the most public end authentie na: of the nation, hath been, that it it in
pltibie with their dignity to trent with the Americnnt while they have ermt
their binds. Notwithshnding which, en offer it now about to be made for
'I'bc wickedness And insinctrit} of the enemy appear from the !osiliowing con
eratrom.
t. Either the bill: now to be passed contain : direct or indirect cefl'mr) of :
"Os lheir former clanms, or they do not. ]! they do, then it. it lcitnow
ged that they live sncrificed mzny huve men in an unjuft qulrrel. if they
not, then they are cziculatcd to deceive America into terms to which neither
guments before the wnr, nor force since. could procure her assent.
:. The first of these Bill- :ypean, from the title, to be : dechmionds the
intention: of the British P-rliament concerning the exercise of the sight of in
pgstu use: within these Smel. Wheresore,— should these Since teen under
the Eid bill, they would indirectly acknowledge the: right, to obuin which wi
knowiedgment the present war hath been avowediy undertaken end presented
on the pm of Great Briuin.
3. Shoukd such ptetended right be so lequiesced in, then, of consequence,
the same might be exercised whenever the British Parliament should find them
selves in a different temper and disposition, since it musi depend upon those, lad
such like contingencies, how hr_ men will act aceoeding to their former t'u
mniom. '
4. The snid first bin, in the body thereof, conteineth no new metten bvt is
precisely the same with motion before mentioned, end lilbl=_to oll the ob
jections which lay agnin the said motion, excepting the followng particular,
viz. that by the mation actual tention wn to be sufyended so long " Aqenca
should give " much as the hid Pnrliament mssht think p_r0per; Wksfil- 5]
the yraposd bill, it in to be snspended a long as future Parhamenu continue of
the lime mind with the present. _ _ -
5. From the second bill it appears, that the British King my, if he pleases,
appoint Commiffioncn to ma: end agm with those, whom they please, about
: variety of thing: therein mentioned. But such trentiee en_d ngnemenu u
to be of no ulidicy without the concurrence of the hid Pasirlumentct, except so
far :: they relate to the su passion es honilities, end oscertatn of theuefle. the
guming of pardont, an the nppointing Govemon to these sovereign, free,
and independent Stuee. Wherefore, the hid Patlinment have teserved to thei-n
selvei, in uprefi Word], the power of setting lside my such Freatyss sad tzkmg
the advantage of my eireumflaneee which may arise to subject this e )ntinent
to their usurpntions. _ _ _ .
6. The said hill, by holdipg sonh : tender of pardon, im_p : cnmtmhty
in ourjusiifuble retisiznee, and consequently to treat undetsstt ould bcte m_ tuctt
csiied acknowledgmcnt that the inhnhitantl of these Sutet were, what Bnunn
thdeelaredthemtobe,ssnbda. ss _ __ __ _ 'ssusisi
7. The inhabiuott of these ssstatet being claimed by them aesubjeets, they.
mey infer, from the neture of the negocietion now pretended to beset on foot,
that the said inhebiuntl would of right be esnrvlerde bound by such hwe !]
they should make. Wherefore, eny agreement entered into msoeh ["]th
might et eny suwretime be repenled. And -
8. Benuse-the said bill purpom, the the Commid'wnen therein mentioned
may treat with prince individuels; : meesure highly derognory to the dignit,
of nation] character.
From all which it eppeart evident to your Committee, that'the 'said him an
intended to operate upon the ho : and seat: of the good peoflle of these State,,
so at to create divifionl among t , and a deseaion from t e common cause,
now, by th-s blessing ot Divine Providence, drewing near to : (amrehle m
That they are the sequel of that infidious plan, which, from the day: of the
fhmp act down to rhe present time, hath invole this country in contentio
and bloodshed. And that, in other uses so in thin, although circumstan
mzy scrce them at time: to recede from their unjuflifiahle claims. where cap be
no doubt but they will, it heretosore, upon the (sin ftvousehle occasion. and:
display that lust of dominetion, which heth rent io twein the mighty empire c.!
Briuin; "
Upon the whole matter, the Committee beg leave to re it. at their opi
nion, that as the Americans united in thin erduous conte upon principle: of
common interest, for the defence of common right: and privilegee, which union
hath been cemented by common cahmities and by mutull good office: and
affection, so the great cause for which they eonteod, and in which all menkhd
ere interested, molt derive ite succest from the eontinoenot of that union.
Wherefore, any man. or body of men, who shousd pusutneho make lny kepe.
rate or partial convention or agreement with Commissiot'en under the crown
of Great Bn'tain, or any of them, ought to be considered and treated as Open
and avowed enemies of these United Smes.
And farther, your Committee beg leave to report it, as their opinion, that
these United Statet cannot, with propriety, hold ny conference or treaty with
: Commifflonm on the part of Great Britain, unless theysslhali, as a pielL
mnnlry thereto, either withdraw their fleet: and armice. or else, in positivc and
express terms, acknowledge the independence of the said States.
And inasmuch as it appears to be the defign of the enemies of these Stetes to
lull them into a fat.] security, to the end that the may ad with : becoming
weight and importance, it is the opinion of your ommittee, that the seven]
Statee be called upon to use the most flrenucus exertion: to have their respective
quotll of continental troops in the field as soon :: poffiblc, and that sin the
militia of the said States be held in readiness to act es occeston my requzse. '
The report being seed, :tnd debated hy paragrapht, -
Resolmd unanimnflj, that Congtese approve and confirm the said report.
Publish-rd by order of Congnft, '
CHARLES THOMSON, Stcretary.
Lord Norlb': arcilianry pnpq/iliam in rbe House of Common, on the :orb ;!
— Febnmry, 1775.
" THAT .it,il the ppinion of this Commiuee, (but ,when th': Gmcral ('a-m.
cil sond Assembly, ch-si-neral COurt, of my of his ij sty's prbvm-eso- cow
nies in Amevica, shall propose to make prfllifinn. accuvdssm- lo the mndnmn,
circumstance, o: fituation, us such provime m culony. sm- -.,nnu*:1w*mct- rl-e-n
proportion !o Lhe common defence (such proprnlhn to he mad umsi. I'l- ssu.
!hority of the Genenl Court or Assembly at such p'qvmce. :Pd r'xti-Hss-ctbsi- by
Parliament) md !hctH cng-sssse w make pruufion inn {on the; susiss- m of me m.