The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-02-28 00:00:00, page 1

Messrs. Bradfords,
Plcafe to publifo the folio-wing Plain hints, and oblige yours &c. A. B.
NOTHING can be more surprising than the great chain of
events which have taken place in the American Colonies
within the small compass of a few years. Possibly no in
stances occur in the history of mankind in which the univer
sal opinion has been more frequently oppoled. It is no
wonder then that we now find ourfelvcs at a iofs and uncer
tain where to fix. That the King can do no wrong; that the
intcrefts of Great-Britain and the Colonies were the fame,
reciprocal and infeperable; that she could not injure us
without injuring herfelf, and therefore we,were fafe; that ihe
was a tender parent in whom we might confide implicitly ;
that foe was the grand support of freedom and the protestant
religion; that the King was imposed upon by his ministers ;
that a change in administration would rectify evils complained
of; that the abilities and weight of our friends in parliament
would prevent extremities; that'our friends throughout the
nation would return a better parliament than the last ; that the
aft declaring their right to tax us in all cases whatever, would
not be carried into execution, but remain a harmless letter ;
that the several repeals and seeming alterations in their plan
of condudt, proved a relinquishment of any evil intentions ;
that the power of Britain was Inch as we could not oppole
through one single campaign; that our provincial troops
could not face the regularity and discipline of British forces;
that we have no resources to carry on a war; that jealouftes
and opposition of interests would ever prevent a junction of
the Colonies. These and a thousand other opinions in suc
cession have taken full possession of us; and after a little
while we have found ourfelvcs obliged to relinquish them
They were the grafts which might be expedit'd to grow from
that attachment to, and veneration for, the id«a we had been
taught to form of the wisdom, justice, and tendern<f> of Bri
tain. It has also been supposed, that we are so connected
with, and dependant on Great-Britain, that repeated injuries
committed with an avowed intent to do them, & more; & that
plundering, murder, executions, and conflagration, in Ihort,
that all the havock of halters, fire, sword and famine, can
not destroy the debt of gratitude and justice we owe to that
state, or make it our interest to dissolve the connection.
Let us examine this matter; possibly the fadts on which this
opinion is founded may bear the enquiry not much better
than the fa&s referred to above.
February 28, 1776, ^.^ ^ A Numb. 1734.
PENNSYLVANIA JOURNAL;
AND i ^^A^^ THE
AND
WEEKLY (^ ADVERTISER.
WEDNECTr , : FEBRUARY 28, „,6
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It is said we ate indebted to Great-Britain for the fcttle
ments of the Colonies. The truth is, when they were dis
covered it was the effea of accident, concurring with the dis
position of the hardy adventurer. The settlement was made
by peifons who had no great reason to be obliged to King or
parliament; they were persecuted at home, and retired from
mankind to a wilderness: There they fuffered much, and
rifqued all. If they obtained grants from the King, it could
only be of security from further oppressions of his hand ; more
he could not grant; even this was fora while refufed. The
land was inhabited by natives to whom God had given the
property and dominion : Of these natives the property was
bought bv he fettles, who cleared the country, cultivated
the fori, and grew and prospered in the arts and in govern
muc without any expence to the King or parliament of
Britain. It is said we are indebted to Great-Britain for pro
urfben from out foes. 1 should be said we have to charge
Bn with all the foes and wars we ever had. In the in
fancy of the Colonies they were thought of little value, not
-worth contending for. The very fettling of them has been
treated with neglect and contempt. Then they were in no
dn?cr. When their confeqwence afterwards became more
ap arent, and indeed from their firft origin to the prelent
time, they have been so much advanced in population, wealtli
and every advantage, as to be under no apprehensions from
ay of their neighbours : And bad they, at any intermediate
period expended their trade generally to all puts of Europe,
it it peffible that the interest of every part in our commerce,
might have prevented any one power from oppressing or in
juring ns; even Britain herfelf would have found it her in
terest to prote& our peace and trade. But our forefathers were
fond of the pageantry o' a King, and attached to the country
th it gave them birth : They chose the King of England to be
their fuprtme head, and flattered themselves that though they
woe persecuted at home, yet, that he would leave to them
peace, 'iheity, and fafety in the wilderness. Thus we have
been involved in every British war. Even a dispute in Han
over was fufficient to deluge America in blood ; and till the
year 1756, no war had any particular referrence in its prin
ciples to American interests. Nor ought we to be charged
even with that. However, the parliament of Britain has
done ns the justice to acknowledge we then overdid our pro
portion, and they have refunded accordingly. In all in
stances our coa(ls have by them been left unguarded, and our
frontiers defencelefs. When France and Spain scoured our
fhoies, because we were connected with Britain, we have
been left without a single ship of war. When we trafficked
with the Indians back for their land, or for peace, or repelled
their incurlions, it was at our own expeoce, though in many
cases they were set on us by the foes of Britain. Shall any
commercial advantages which we have enjoyed be urged as
a ground of gratitude or retribution ? Let the most zealous
advocate for continual deperjence on Britain, point out a
single iuftance of preference given by that court to the Ame
rican trade if he can; and while he hunts the rusty records
in vain for any such, let him not turn over unnoticed the
pumberlefs arils passed to reftri&our free commerce, to clog
with impositions and duties, to difeourage manufactures and
employments for our poor, and to give advantages, at our
cost, to the Lordly Weft-Indians. In a few words, the Colo
nies have paid more to Britain in a course of trade, by giv
ing a greater price for goods of inferior value, &c. than if
they had gone to other European markets, than any claims
the British partizau can feign.
It is said that under this connection and dependance we
have grown and thriven. That we have thriven amazingly
is true. The present Bate of these Colonies is the admiration
of all who have given attention to the progref. of mankind,
of arts and sciences. But was it because our trade was re
flriclcd? Was it because we have never as men, had the full
improvement of our lands and property in our power ? Was
it because as societies or governments we had not the full
and compleat powers of IcgiHation among ourselves? Let
this account be fairly Bated. Let us only make an experi
ment of an open trade, for half the time we have Tackled
ourselves with confinement to, as it were, one port. Let us
try what improvements we may be drawn into by a general
correspondence with the whole world, with people who will
require from us every different article our lands, our different
climates, can produce; and from whom may be had directly,
at firft hand, every thing requisite for us. Let us have acccfs
to the lowed and belt market for every commodity, Let
this be the case, but for half the time the Colonies have al
ready exilted, and the doubts and druggies too, concerning
independence, will be at an end. Let all those people who
are now groaning tinder opprefiion and poverty, in Europe,
know that America is become an asylum for the injured ; and
is capable of giving encouragement to the industrious and
fkilful in every, art and business of life, and perhaps the most
sanguine expectations would fall vastly Ihort of the multitude
of honest, active, and ingenious citizens who would in a
few years flock into this country. America has been hitherto
little known abroad. Even our brethren in Britain, whom
we left but a few years ago, and with whom we have a con
stant intercourse, know but little of us and. our fixation,
The other parts of Europe mud have been inconceivably
less acquainted with it. The case is now greatly altered,
our late tranfa&ions have attracted the attention even of the
common people of most of the European Rates; the lovers,
of liberty abroad have their eyes turned towards us; even to
the head of the Rhine, it is said, they applaud .our virtuous
efforts, and with us success. , The fruits of our success they
will wish with us to enjoy. _ A free and general intercourse
will throw the doors of information ana opportunity,open.
Possibly it might not totally depopulate the old world but,
without a doubt, it would multiply the millions nowrin this
new one. Let It be granted we have grown ,under the con
nexion and dependance contended for; are we therefore in
volved in a debt even of gratitude? Be it so : .What obliga
tions then is Britain under to us ? Our connexion with them
has been acknowledged to be of the utmost confiquence to
their trade, to their well being. This is the language of
their bed writers on commerce, and of almpft every aft of
parliament in which America is mentioned. Before they had
Colonies what was their fleet ? How great was their depend
ance on other nations for the most necessary articles to Carry
on a war, even for their own defence, and for their manu
factories ? It has beeen said by themselves, that one rerfon
ia America, supported four in Britain Allow one in Britain
to be supported by every person in America, and loltokwg
an instance cannot be named, in which we have received
benefits from her. It is not necessary to depreciate the ad
vantages derived from the connection ; let it only b; under
flood, that they have been reciprocal and at Itaß equal on
the part of Britain : This destroys the idea of am debt.or
any duty. As of inferiors, if a religious fubmiffi n t this
connection has rendered our growth and prol, rity hi, fl u -
illiing, than they would have been in a general connedi ,
it can only be compared to the liquation of a tree in a hole
earth between two rocks, which, though it looks fair, and
grows to a certain size, yet, had it been able to forbad its
roots, and imbibe the nourishment of a^extended foil, might
soon become the largest tree of the forreft.
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Messrs. BRADFORD S,
Enclosed [ fend „u the Sp eech of an bone,4, fenfiUe, a^d fpirit
td Farmer of this court,, addreffid to an tf'utbl, of bis
neighbours, on bis engaging in the Continental Service.—J was
highly ple&fed -with it; and doubt not ,ou will tbink.it -worth, of
a place in your Journal. —
M, Friends and Countrymen,
IHA VE observed that some of you are a little surprised
that I, with so many inducements as I have to remain at
home, should have rcfolved to quit my family, and my
farm for the fatigues and dangers of war.—l mean you
should be perfectly fatisfied as to my motives.—l am an Ame
rican : and am determined to be free. —I was born free—
and have never forfeited my birthright, —nor will I ever, like
the infatuated son of Isaac, fell it for a mess of pottage —
I will part with my life sooner than with my Liberty ; for I
prefer an honourable death to the miferablc and despicable
cxiftance of a Have.
The tyrant who would rob me of my propertv, because he
thinks he has use for it, and is able to take it from me,
would as soon, for the fame reason, rob me *f my hfe, if
it flood in his way : But it is God Almighty who gave me
my life, and my property as a neccfiaiy no ans, among others,
of preserving and enjoying it; and it is He only that
hath an absolute and unlimited right and power to take either
or both away. Being the Creator, the Supporter, t^e p< f'&
Ruler and Judge of all the earth He out, can do no wrong :
Should therefore any creature whatsoever, or numbet of them,
dare to uturp this sole prerogative of Heaven over me, Icould
neither answer it to my Maker, nor my confciencc, nor my
honour, if I did not refill, though it were to the lad drop of
my blood.—lt is in the free enjoyment of those buffings un
controuied by any human powers (except so far as the voice
of the focicty in general, of which we are members, may
have resigned a part for the preservation of the whole) that
civil Liberty fubftandally confifteth.—Let ' no one therefore
wonder, if of all earthly benefits my Creator hath beft'owed
on me, I do moffi efte^nfmy Liberty.— Anarch,, indeed, Ide-
precate, but tyranny infinitely more.—The reason is obvious
—the former, like a common forfeit, occasioned by an irre
gular and intemperate indulgence of the bodily appetites, if
but a little helped by timple medicine, will almost always,
as I may fy, cure itfelf: Whereas the latter, like a devour
ing cancer, the longer it is let alone, without the applica
tion of violent caustics, the fuller and deeper it will root
itfelf into the frame, untill it gnaws out the very life of the
body. Government is neither of these : It is an ordinance
of Heaven to reftraio the usurpations of wicked men, to se
cure us in the enjoyments of our natural rights, and to pro
mote the highest political interests and happiness of fociery.—
The claims therefore of the Britilh Parliament of a power to
bind us in all cases whatsoever; to give away our property
in what mcafure and for what purposes they please, and to
dispose of our lives as they think proper, when we have no
voice in the legislation nor constitutional power allowed us to
check their molt violent proceedings, are not of the nature
of government, but in the true and ftriX sense of the word
Tyranny.. ,
Of the tendency and opperation of this diabolical system,
our country hath already had too deep and affecting experi
euc^not to be fenlible of them; and it requires not th: spi
rit of supernatural prophecy to foretdl the end of them,
mould they not be seasonably controuled ; —confronted, did
I fay ? Bleft be the spirit of American liberty, wisdom and
valour! They have been controuled ; but, my friends, it is
evident we can never have fafety, liberty, and peace, until
by an unremitting and vigorous application of the axe, now
laid to the root of the tree, we have totally overturned in
these Colonies, the power that would demolish as. Not td
speak of the unwearied art and assiduity of the British King
and parliament, these twelve years past, to. fallen on us the
(hackles of slavery, let me only remind you of the bale and
cruel measures to subjugate us, since we have been obliged
to take up arms in our defence ; What stone have they left
unturned ? What device to ruin us, though never so mean,
barbarous, and .bloody, such as no heart, but that of a
Devil and a tyrant can refrain ibudderjßg at, have they not
pursued ? Have not all the powers of Europe been meanly
courted and bribed not to supply us with means of rt finance ?
Hith not the moil barbarous nation in it been applied to, to
assist. them with at least ao,ooo savages to compleat ther in
trended massacre? Have they not attempted to spirit up he
Indian savages to ravage our frontiers, and murder, after their
inhuman manner, our defencclefs wives and children ? Have
not our Negro slaves been inticed to rebel against their mas
ters, and ars put into their hands to murder them ? Have
noy the King of England's own Haves, the Hanoverians, been
employed? And were not the pocr Canadians made Haves,
that they might be made fit io'hu ncns, with other flavefr
and savages, to make Haves and more wretched beings than
savages of u'?
Now, what kind of reconciliation can be reafouably efo
peXd with a power so basely, so cruelly, so induftrit efly,
arid pbftipalely ber + n our dedruaion ?In short we have
no ale. rr<t rive left us, but to Fight or Die; If there be
any medium, it is Slavery—And ever cursed be the man
who will submit to it! I will not. —But who would ever have
imagined, hat a pc. . who a few years ago assisted heir
brethren of Giral-Britain with their blood and treasure,
tn humble the power of Fiance and Spain, and who from
toir fiat exigence as a people, have, by their trade and
indudry, been enriching and exalting, them above all the na
tno of the wot d—who, I fay, would have imagined , that
this very people IhoulA by these their ve/y brethren, be
now rrlucd to so dreadful co alternative :—Yet, hear ye
Hae,; and give car, O Earth, and bear witness, this is
the return we have received for all our love, loyally, in
duftry, treafuc and blood!
Had we ... gun this quarrel, had we demanded forne new
privileges, u>.k wn n the constitution, or forne commercial
licences, incompatible with the general interest of the empire,
had we presumed to legislate tor Great-Britain, or plotted
with the Bourbon family, to reinstate the execrable race of
the Stuarts, and fld to arms unprovoked to accomplish these
designs, there would then be some plaufibic apology for the
fevered hostile treatment we have received.—But, what have
we done? When alarmed, ere we had yet rested from the
toils of the last war, by new unconstitutional demands of
revenue, we asserted out rights and petitioned for justice:
Was this a crime? As unconftitu rionai statutes of different
forms were repeatedly enabled, we repeated our petitions for
redress; was this a crime? We fuffcred ourselves to be inful
cd by the introduction of an armed force to dragoon us into
obedience; we fuffcred hem to take possession of cur towns
and fortifications, Bill waiting with decent and anxious ex
pectation from the wonted justice, humanity, and generality
of Britons ; —Was this a crime? dripofed to try every paci
fic mcafure which might probably procure our relief we
agreed to withhold our commerce from them, in hopes that,
feeling F ^€&&§ of their injustice, they might fee how ru
inous their proceedings were to their own interests, 'and re
turn in time to wisdom and peace : - Was this a crime ? Nor
did we once lift the sword even in our defence, until pro
voked toil by a wanton commencement of hoftilitie, on
their part : What then have we do e to merit such cruel pro
ceedings ? My friends, I am firmly perfuaderi, that no truth
will appear in future history with more glaring evidence,
than that ths whole mass of gu ; 't contrasted by this unna
tural war lieth at the door of the King of Britain, his ^bap,
doned micofters, and corrupted parliament ; and to that not
only all future generations of niQ, but the great judge of
all the earth will finally condemn their measures as a feene
of Tyranny and murder.— I therefore concieve myfelf as ha
ving taken up arms, in defence of innocence, justice, truth,
hcueQy, honour, liberty, property and life; and in opposi
tion, to guilt, injuftic€, fallhood, dilhoaefty, ignominy, fla-