The Pennsylvania gazette — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-05-15 00:00:00, page 2

^ tie free and i^fyr >v? Electors c, the Ciy of
Philadelphia.
GkxrhEMEN,
I N answer to my last to you it! the Penbfylvania Pac
< kfy No. 236, a Writer in the Gazette, No. 2471, fign
£ng Civis, charges me, among other innovators, of at
tempting to bring about a revolution in the happy confli
tntion of this province—of attempting to take the elec
tion of four members for this city out of the hands of
the lawful electors, atid give to a new ^tt of meh the
ga^ pnr^/^hich fillets can rely on A 3 a security for
'heir liberty. Wh.it I in particular have advanced on
that herd is with him treafou —the word of treafon —
treason against the confutation. A heavy charge indeed !
Had I, a ftrangrr, as Civis supposes, have come td
hennfylvania, and found the confutation of the province,
thougn perhaps not the belt ,ffible, yet in as good date
as it'ever had been, and the 'people all happy and quiet
in the < qual enjoyment oi their common liberty ; and in
inch case I had itirred up home question tending to take
+ he right of election —the only privilege which fubjeds can
rely on as a security for their liberty out of their hands,
3 Should conceive th :t every honest and sensible citizen
would have had just cause to pursue me to Halifax, or
whatever other corner of America the enemies of Ame
rican freedom might be exiled to: But hold friend Civis, ^
thy.charge is boiftercU^ but it is only the tumbling of
empty words at great distance ! What excellence had your
voohrtution in the brighter day that ever palled over it?
Is it, or was it ever a constitution whereby the power
of the hate was f> happily diltnbuted, that the communi
tvmkht be fife from invalion from without, or cpprd
-1.011 within? Where is the wife balance of power, so
i 'ten celebrated in the old English constitution, where
t e three active forces formed a political equilibrium
where each was checked and neither destroyed? Has net
the Governor of Pcnnfylvmia an abfoiute independence
of any other- power in the Bate? Is he obliged to take
notice of any remonstrance from the commons by any
other tie than his own good nature? Would not a house
make a ridiculous figure which would talk to him in the
tile of Chales the Firft's Parliament to him ? Let redrefi
qfgrievances and Applies go hand in hand? Has he not long
firice negatived the proposals made for the common de
fence, miltfs his eHate might be exempted from the
common burden? Where is the intermediate body be
tveen the Governor and the people? Is not the council
made tip of then of his own choosing, whose voice in
a ! l cafes' whatfover stands for just as much as he pleases?
If this be a happy conftitntion, a generous plan of liberty,
Montefquien was a perfed vifonary, as well as Common
Sense, Cafendra and the Eleflor. But defective as the
constitution of Pennsylvania has been from its firft origin,
has it received 110 additional impairment from the present
convulsions of the British Empire? Do the people of
Pennsylvania esteem themselves perfectly fife and happy
in the affeaions of a man who has power to fend, con
tinue, recal and inftrud their Governor at his pleasure,
when the fame man has manifefted his pleasure consists
in their subjugation to tyranny, or their deftrudion ? If
the conftitutioil of this province ever had * 7 reference
to the King of Great Britain, that relation must Bill
continue, otherwise it is already fliaken from its founda
tion, and no man^can be justly accused of unsettling it.
The truth is, fellow citizens, that your constitution al
ways was an imperfeS thing, otherwise so many of your
<wifc/l men had never been led into the treason I have
been accused of, by their efforts to have it altered. They
had indeed no probable alternative but to accept a royal
government, or remain fatisfied with a proprietary one :
the case G widely different now. You have at length
reached t^.t ineftiniable. period, when yen may ilr
the freed choice, and establish a form as perfect as the
founded wisdom ever conceived, and the experience of
ages has Indicated to be the best yet fallen upon by man.
In my former address you will find me so far from im
poling any new things upon you, that I only refer you
to the English constitution in its original purity, before
the Norman invader had abolished as many or the free
customs of the people as he possibly could, and by de
grees introduced that infernal system of ruling by a few
dependent favourites, who would readily agree to divide
the spoils of the lower class between the supreme robber
and his banditti of feudal Lords: hence fays my author *,
whatever is of Saxon establishment is truly constitution
al, but Whatever is Norman is heterogeneous to it, and
partakes of a tyrannical spirit. The Saxons considered
every man alike as he came out of the hands of his
maker —riches With them, constitutionally considered,
gave no power or authority over the poorest person in
the state, but every man who had so far distinguished
himfelf as to become a housekeeper, and as such, liable to
pay his shot and bear his lot, might give his consent to
every law that was made for his obedience, f
Civis is very sensible of the orthodoxy of this funda
mental doctrine, and in the very sentence he rails at
me for attempting to tak° the right of election out of the
Fhnds of lawful electors, he acknowledges it the only pri
vilege which fubjefls can rely on for the security of their
liberty. But Civis, a profeffed enemy to independence,
thinks liberty the peculiar of men of some rank, who by
one means or other can become a party in family corn
pads, and by continuing some thread of the bluffed old
constitutional Pendency, can continue themselves and
favourites in power, and make and execute what laws
they plcafe, frame new expeditions to Wioming, and
finale non AePors and all with the expence.
This^s the fyffem of Lord and Vassal, of principal and
dependent —the party are draining every nerve to establish.
One of them openly protested, that he would take up
arms, and venture his life to support this wretched
wangled constitution against any party that would en
deavour an alteration of it, in favour of independency.
Surely a society, for more than a century distinguished
for their aversion to the effufion of human blood, must
have much fallen from their firft love, if they can in any
wife countenance these proceedings !
But to return ; Civis may be challenged, even by tor
ture, to shew my attempt to take the right of election
but of any hands who can have any reasonable pretence to
be fafely trusted with it. I did not even insinuate that men
of property, because such, ihould by any means be ex
cluded from voting for theTour Burgesses. I am, on the
other hand, much disturbed that f> many votes were re
fufed, where an aversion to be qualified was probably the
greatest lett in the way. I object to the present mutilated
constitution of Pennsylvania, its tendency to defray the
right of election, and render the exercise of it trouble
some, partial and precarious, giving advantage to the
profligate and corrupt, and putting it in the power of in
terested persons to tire and affront the most worthy men
* His. Efldy on the Eng. Corf.,, 9.
, Ibid, p. 4»
so as td Avoid taking their votes. Whereas the true, an
cient, constitutional mode of election is, like every other
honest and natural matter, easy. Every rhan, who has
served his Apprenticeship to a freeman of the cities either
of London or Wettniinfter, and has set up to be a house
keeper for himfelf, is an elector there. The tax book is
an easy reference, and Civis cannot be apprehensive of
finding many fragglers and apprentices enrolled there, un-
Itfs his glorious constitution entitles him to burthen all, and
privilege only foje who fulhis purpose. I propofc no
innovation; 1 iky again, it is the true ancient, Anglo-
Saxon mode of election, enjoyed by the city of Weft
miniter to this day, that I with to eftablilh. It is therefore
a new fort of treason to attempt to restore the fubjedt to
a right, which no Athenian, Spartan or Pennsylvanian
legifiator nor legislature ever had a right to d prive him
of; and a right ( ivis himfelf fferts indifpeniible to the
security of ms liberty. Civis 6 wondrous dilcovery, that
the preciulion of voters I complain of is common to the
country parts of three provinces is of a biece with most of
the smart things offered on that tide of the quedion. He
could not believe I meaned that citizens cG farmers
were expected to have the fame kind of qualification ; he
knows no time when that was the.cafe in England mice
great cities existed in that kingdom. It is gr.u rd that
there is niucli rottennejs and corruption in iL English
boroughs, and to escape defruaion from the contag on of
such noisome carcasses I pantto be difi'evered from term ;
but Civis will hardly bring London and Wenmiader for
examples of extreme corruptibility. In such populou ci
ties as either of these, or in the thriving city of Phila
delphia, it would require a round sum to corrupt every
man who paid foot and lot. Indeed it teems that this
election law was firft framed when Philadelphia was in
conflderable as a commercial or mahufa&uring city, and
for that reason the provision to which its inhabitants are
now entituled as burghers, was passed over as tfo un
worthy of notice; why it has not been reformed since
may be guessed at by observing how Birmingham, Man
chetter, Leeds and Halifax, fare in the fame case.
Civis allows, that at the sirs infitution of boroughs,
they were allowed to fend members to parliament to
represent the trading part of the kingdom. Very graci
ous indeed ! the trading part were at jirf, but the me
chanics never were, and I will affirm never will be ade
quately represented, if some gentlemen may have their
will. )
To keep fritters for dependency on a state in the actual
prosecution of a most barbarous and cruel war againit us
far from our councils is, by Civis, represented an ex
traordinary thing; but if it be so, it is, notwithstanding,
fomewbat difficult to find examples of persons, openly
in the interests of a relentless tyrant, in the councils of a
people who were endeavouring to free themselves of his
domination. If my memory serves me, Lucius Junius
Brutus struck the heads off two of his ozun fans for such
a behaviour.
However impudent Civis may suppose me, I do in
fad take it for granted that all men, whooppofe independ
ance on an absolute tyrant, are advocates for abforite ty
ranny; and I shall always argue from this supposition as
from a found principle, till I find it rationally refuted.
I hope Civis is, however, convinced that hardly, two
thirds of the Eledors of Philadelphia, as matters now
hand, are for dependency, or in plain Englilh forfaverv ;
and, in my turn, I will undertake to fay, that in case the
sense of the men who have a natural, and really can
fitutional right to give their voices in this grand quefron
were taken, that the proportion lately estimated at nine
tenths by Cato, now two thirds by Civis, would appear
still more sensibly upon the wane.
Earn 19 nifhed ar the hdrdinefi of Cb is and b s fellow
addreffor, to endeavour to persuade the Electors that
none but a handful of infigr ificants in Philadelphia fa
vour the whim of independence and a republic, as he is
pleased to call the only rational government that ever was
established among mankind.* On the contrary, I aver
there is more opposition to independence in this Pro
vince, than in all the Continent besides. Whether they
will continue it after they really know that the ambassa
dors are to come, mostly from Hanover and Hesse Caffel,
time will difeover: but I affirm every wife man will ac
knowledge we have been too often duped with the fame
sale trick of pretending pe&c- while war was carrying on
with theutmoft diligence against us. If many who have
been lulling us asleep with 'he salacious pretence of re
conciliation on con/litutional t. rms, do not find they have let
flip a season they were in \ain warned to improve, to
the great detriment of this continent, I shall be content to
be accounted much out in my politicks. Certainly such
delay as has been made argues either want of ap
prebenfion or frmnefs. It c/n hardly be pretended that
the last measure of appointing commissioners was of a
deceptive nature. Every step taken in the business plainly
sets forth their commission !< receive fubmifftons, and grant
pardons with proper exceptions. Will Civis, Cato or any
other of the party point cut other grounds for a recon
ciliation, on conflitutional terms, than these ? If not, are
not these the terms they are driving at you to accept?
If they do not mean this they mean nothing : if they do
they are the bloody minded traitors; the, are the enemies of
311 kind of public faith, who with a perfect fang froid
can fay, " well, if they, the principal oppofers of a bloody
tyrant', have transgressed the laws of their country, why
fliould they not fuffer ?" 0 ! helliJb thirst of power, what
crime so black as to retard th, tour,, if placed in thy
way. AN ELECTOR.
* See thoughts on goverurgent, just published by Mr.
Dunlap.
Hamburgh, Feb. 6. They write from Hanover, that,
at the end of last month, there passed two couriers from
London to Caffel, with difoatches for Col. Faucitt, who
the British court had appointed to order the concerns of
taking into pay a body of troops from Germany. The
Landgrave of Hefle Caffel granted, it is said, iwoo men,
and the Duke of Brunswick 5600; who are to repair to
the Duchy of Bremen, to embark on tfle Wefer, to
wards the end of this month, or beginning of March.
There is also advice from Minorca, that the Hanove
rian troops are fafe arrived, except one transport ship,
which had run alhore near Dunkirk, and which having
afterwards got off, had arrived at Fort Mahos the 26th
December last.
London, Feb. 6. The House of Lords were altogether
engaged in extraordinary affairs the 2d and sth of this
month. The House of Cemm >ns, on theist, did not fit
but about three quarters of an hour: It is ordered, on
the motion of Mr. Grey Cooper, that there shall be
brought before the House the date of the balance found
in the Exchequer the sth of January; after which they
adjourned to yesterday, and were then engaged two
hours on state affairs.' Rhe commiU^e es ways and
In the mean time they continue their warlike prepar
ations. The fleet destined to ad in America will con
lift of 67 vtlDh, viz. 7 of 50 guns, 2 of 44, 7 of 32, 12
of 28, sos 24, sos 20, 2of 18, 6of 16, 2of 14,4 cf
io, ;of 8, arid 12 other armed vessels. But if they did
but give attention, that they have more than 20 degrees
(300 common leagues) of coast to watch, they might
easily judge tha+ their talk will not be very easy. V<f
epunt Howe, Vice-Admiral, is to command ' the sea
forces; the Vice-Admiral Shuldham, who succeeded Ad~
miral Greaves, being recalled. This Viscount, and the
General H we, his only brother, who rep aced General
Gage at Boston, arc brethren to Viscount Howe, who
was slain at the. attack of Ticonderoga, sth of jul#,
1758, and to whose memory the Americans have ereti
e' a superb monument. The land forces, it is said, are
to or divided into three bodies, one of x^coo men, un
der General Carlton, on the River St. Lawrence; the fe
con_ alio of 12,900, under General Howe, at New,
York ; and the third, in Virginia and Carolina, will be
of ir,ooo, and commanded by Generals Clinton and
Co ;v: ;; s. These bodies to be supported and rela
te _d as needful by a refervtd body, whose Ration is
n yet fixed. This armam nt, however, meets with
r.^y obftaclcs, from a difimlination to the service in
America. Many Captains, Lieutenants and Ensigns, on
half-pay, wh 0 re appointed the 14th August to serve
in d^ new corn emirs ; ided to the old regiments, net
having yet prE ted themselves to the war-office, have
been fummo;. .:n<w, >n penalty of being rafed from
the lift. They are not ; t<ic enibaraffed to equip th£
transports destined for diner ^v t the guard-flip^
are obliged to lend t icir hane so do the work, on b§
these vessels.
The Count de Gushes, Ambaff lor frr\ France, has
taken leave of the King to retina to 1 ns- the Prince
de Mafferano, AmbafT dor fr dpn leen very ill
for some days past of an apoplexy, but he begins to
grow better, and is thought t< jeut of mmgcr.
1V I L LIA ^ S: URG, May 3.
Last Sunday fc'imighr 1 te. er came .pab?n
nock. and chafed a Nov ?ngl.nd # choonci, outward
bound, into Hobbs Hole, from v, mce the car, her
off, as low down t'^ w now w sw # 1; uh,umre
file got aground o' m 0; h r an uck the r e till
the Tuesday fotirwhi,; > 0 ,:rited
gentlemen in the : Gfd:. in ': .</ go. :.'.• four fail
ing boats, and manned them, va.o a mov to remke the
prize, and, if possible, to beard ci ten.'er, , hich was
commanded by one of old Goodrich s hns, anti had ou
board a large quantity of fail canvass; &c. &c. As soon
as the tender's people saw our vessels bearing down up
on them ? they set fire to the prize, and quitted her;
upon which some small beats from the shore put off,
and arrived time enough to extinguish the fire, without
its materially damaging the vessel, having only one or
two of her fails burnt. Mr. Hugh Walker, and Mr,
Richard Banks, who commanded two of the vessels,
got quickly up with the tender, and engaged her at dole
quarters for at least 15 or 20 minutes, with small-army,
during which a valuable negro man, a pilot on board
Mr. Walker's vessel, was shot through the head, at
tempting to board, and 3 or 4 of the tender's people
were seen to fall; when, a breeze springing up, Mr.
Goodrich took the advantage of it, and ran off, leaving
his prize behind, which is'now fafely secured. During
the a^ion, Mr. Charles M Carty of Richmond, Mr.
John Edmondfun, and Mr. Nathaniel Crow, of Essex,
Mr. James Montague of Middlesex, with Mr. Walker
and Mr. Banks, greatly distinguished themselves by their
intrepid and gallant behaviour ; and Captain Thomas
Strafhley, and Mr. Thomas Bowler, of Essex, who com
manded the two other vessels, although they did not get
up in time to engage, yet shewed much zeal and ala
crity, and no doubt, had they been present. would have
fignaiized themselves.
Yesterday evening, bis Excellency the General, at
tended by his Aid de camps and Secretary, with Adju
tant-general Bullitt, arrived at head-quarters in this city,
from Suffolk, having visited Portsmouth, the Great-
Bridge, and Kemp's Landing; and we hear, that several
effective regulations for crushing the tory interest in that
quarter have taken place. The town of Portsmouth has
fuffered in no other refpedt than that of demolishing the
lodgings entirely of three noted and difaffeded persons,
and seizing a quantity of ftorcs, the property of tories.
Old Captain Goodrich, and Mr. George Blair, late of
Smithfield, are now in Suffolk goal; sent by the Council
of Safety in North Carolina for trial, having been taken
on that coast in a piratical vessel.
Lord Dunmore is very strongly entrenched at Tucker's
mills, and has a great quantity of cannon mounted, de
fended by about 500 men.
B OSTO N, May 2.
mean's have beer ifuc^ffivefo- adjourned to the 2d, sth,
^d 7th of this month; and will be farther, according to
all appearance, until the Minitter is able tu determine on
the demands and proportions which are to be their ob
jett.
Extrafl of a letter, dated April 22, 1776, from a maser of
a vessel who lately' arrived upon this continent from
France, which he left about the 18th of March.
" Upon my arrival here I was extremely happy to hear
of the good success of this country agaigh her unnatural
enemies, who are collecting all the force possible to make
head against us. The account in Bourdeaux is, that
20,000 Hessians and Hanoverians are at Embden, ready to
embark on board the English Blips, to join 12,000 Eng
lilh, and fail immediately for America. This, however,
you may depend upon, that about 40 fail of transports
failed from Plymouth about the loth of March for Ame
rica, with about 5000 soldiers on board; they had been
some months before as far to the westward as Cape-Fi
nifterre, and all put back by stress of weather, and dif
p^rfed in different ports; one run on shore in Ireland,
and the Captain and almoit all on board perished. I sup
pose by this time they are very near this coast."
We hear that the Marfbficld tores, said in our last to
be arrived off that place, have not been to Halifax, but
have been lurking about the Bay ever since the memora
ble flight of the 17th of March, till, overcome by hunger,
they were Obliged to throw themselves upon the mercy of
their country. It is said they are committed to Plymouth
Two regiments are now railing in this colony for its
immediate defence.-
We are informed that an additional supply of ten tons
of powder was received, a few days since, in this colony
from Europe.
WATER T O W N, May 6.
On the 15th ult. a sloop of about 53 tons burthen, la
den with fiigar, molasses, cocoa, &c. was retaken by a
number of boats in Frenchman's-bay, and lately taken
care of. .She belonged to Mr. John Brown, of Providence,