The Gazette of the state of South-Carolina — Charles-town [S.C.], 1784-10-07 00:00:00, page 2

Mrs. Timothy,
You will greatly oblige one of your friends, by
inferring the following address in your Gazette for
one month. Though it appears in a suit of coarse
home-spun, it contains something salutary, if duly
considered. I am,
Madam,
Your very humble servant,
A BACK-COUNTRYMAN.
To the inhabitants of Ninety-Six Diftria.
Friends and Fellow-Citizens,
I TAKE the freedom to address you oh a matter,
which to me appears to be of the mod serious
and important coniequence to all good citizens.
When you confider, that this address comes from
a man who has t equal to any, hazarded his life,
his fortune, and every thing valuable, who ' has
gone before you into battle, and undergone the toil
of offices, both civil and military ; 1 fay, When you
confider all this, you cannot think, but according
to my abilities, I am not an : mproper person to ad
dress you on the following momentous affair. Con
fiding then, in the candour and judgment of you,
my Country-men, I submit the matter entirely to
your diferetion. And oh! my Fellow-citizens! if
I had the eloquence, and oratorial abilities of De
mosthenes or Cicero, I could freely exhaust the
whole for your fakes. I am a plain, unlettered
man, that has not entered into any one of the pre
vailing factions I mean to write on, and now so
much afloat in this Rate; therefore cannot be said
to write in favour of either party. The fa&ions
alluded to, are of too serious consequence to have
escaped your notice : Men of greater abilities than
any 1 pretend to, are embarked on both sides. One
of those parties espouse the fide of government, and
fay, it has done; in all things what is perfectly right:
The others, in opposition, and men not without
great abilities, fay, they revere every branch of
government, but it has done some things, notorious
ly against the most meritorious citizens of this State.
Beth fay a great deal for and in behalf of their own
party, and are again gainfayed by those of the op
pohte fide—They are both 'calling upon you, by
their publications, to join them,, and both tell you
they are right.—Permit me therefore, out of the
purest regard for your welfare, to drop a few sen
tences, in my crude manner, on the fubjed——•
When you cast your eyes abroad in the country,
the grievances you at present labour under, are too
obvious to admit a denial. One of the parties al
luded to, fay, Join us: by that means we shall have
the sure Rrerigth on our fide, to ease you of all youi'
troubles: Join our secret combinations; exclude
the Tories from voting at the next General Ele&i
on : We then will have good men in the House of
Assembly ; and thereby we Ihall obtain the salutary
end, for which we fought and bled, throughout
the war, and have the toiler drove out of the State.
—This, indeed, fedms to carry an appearance at
firft fight, that is pretty. —The 'Others fay, Join us:
We are the true advocates for peate, order, and
government. Those on the other fide are a parcel
of hot-headed fools, brazed by revenge, hatred and
passion, not considering the end for which govern
ment was introduced into the world: they have
not a man of character among them! We are for
midable, and have the reins of government in our
hands: we are the genuine friends to bur country.
The Tories are at our feet; what would they have
more ? They (the Tories) are honest and friendly ;
have been deluded, but now fee their folly; and
may yet make good citizens, if tenderly dealt with.
This, and the like, is the language of the other
party. Both call upon you, my Country-men,
to take part of this narrow-bottomed, ill-concerted
debate, arising from ambition and avarice ; because
the leaders on each fide cannot with as much ease
carry on their sinister ends. Be assured, lam per
sonally acquainted with numbers on each fide the
debate ; and know, that while those on one fide
are grasping all the absolute power into their own
hands, those on the other fide are for engtoffing,
and have made an attempt to engross the whole
commercial interelf of this State in the hands of a
few. Both parties may be said to be right in some
things, but then they are wrong in many. But, my
dear Country-men, take the advice of a friend, who
is somewhat acquainted with government, and the
rife and fall of kingdoms and Rates. Actively join
neither of them a sa party against the other. Choose
good honed men for your members in the next
General Aflcmbly. Let one or two men, in each
militia company, be appointed to meet in Regi
mental Committee, whose particular business, let
it be to draw up a remonstrance or petition to the
General Assembly, at their next meeting, setting
forth the grievances you labour under, and praying
a speedy redress thereof. Let your petitions be
warm, zealous, and modest. When you advert to
any particular grievance, do it with spirit and mo
deration, praying government to do you ampleju-
Rice : —lf the salaries and pensions, referred to in
this year's eßimate of taxes, should seem to be, too
high, request it leffened:—lf you think the last
Assembly did any thing inconfißent with the inter
est of the State at large,—pray that the case may be
amended:—lf taking so many persons off the pro
scribed lifts, arid fuffering the fubje&s thereof to
return among us, —-let" government know by your
petitions—But shun the insinuations of party as the
wiles of a lewd woman, who allures only to de
ceive. Beware how you submit to a momentary
matter, which may end in confufion, if not in ruin.
A great man fays, ^ We hold these truths felfcvi
“ dent; —that ail mgr. ,treated ecaal ; that they
“ arc endowed by the; creator with certain una
“ lienable rights; ll\at among thole are life, 'liber
“ ty, and the pursuit of happiu fs; that to fecufe
“ these rights, governments are instituted among
“ men, deriving thei just powers from the con
“ sent of the governed." Now, if the power of
the governs r arise horn the governed, then cer
tainly they nave an undoubted right to dirg& and
recommend.
One of the parties spoken of above recommend
an oath of h wh ch nay bring upon you a.
r^ceipyofyfoing f 'me things unconstitutional, or
rivet upon you a fuecies of perjury: Therefore I
with you to avoid it.—One party fay, their oppo
nents are for democracy , the other lay, they are
for anarchy and confufion: Therefore Ry advice
is to ROar clear of both parties, as much as possible.
But take care, that, Rearing clear of Charybdis,
you do not r,m upon Sc a, and thereby get amaz
ingly wrecked.-—I am'well aware, my Fellow-ci
tizens, tl at when p yoked, as many of you have
been in the course o he war, it is hard to avoid
being ngry with the < ggreffor. I well know, that
paffy a is very irfeidbnt so Tiuniah nature, and,
wh- 1 once in motion, is difficultly brought to that
c; onefs, ar a solidity of judgment, which distin
guishes th man from the beast. But, on a more
mature deliberation, you, I hope, will think with
me, (hat to forgive is honorable ; and that, when
the inhabitants of any kingdom or Rate are divided
into factions, taking the opposite cxtream, the feene
is truly mortify ng to every thinking, Well inclined
man. Then certainly, the mod honorable arid fafe
way is, to adhere Readily to the laws of your coun
try, when made; and if any are of that complexion,
as to aggrieve you, spiritedly petition their repeal.
Government have never been officially informed
of your grievances: then do what is just and honor
able, before you fink into degradation. Govern
ment N a common father, and we the children :
why then fliall We have a doubt, but that when
they are properly informed of our Rate and condi
tion, they will not hesitate a moment to do us am
ple justice?
But despise those little petty anions of rifinfinto
dishonorable mobs, until something is fifft attempt
ed by petition. If government has done any thing
against your intcreft, then certainly it will do much
more for you when you, give direction.—But, my
dear Countrymen, by all poßible means endeavour
heartily to agree with every thing that government
does, unless you find, on the most mature delibe
ration, they are notoriCuily uriconßitutional, and
against the general intereß of the State at large.
You well know, the Legislature have an undoubt
ed right to make the interest of the State forego that
of individuals, and that our duty is to acquiesce.
These are matters, I hope, worthy your serious at
tention. Nothing but the ease and quiet of this
diftri&, could have called forth my rußic pen;
and I sincerely beg, that the impropriety of my
language may not give it an rintandid consideration.
I told you, when I set out, what my abilities were ;
therefore, I hope, you will in friendfhip pass over
the imperfection of my piece, and believe me
Your sincere
and humble
Servant,
A BACK-COUNTRYMAN.
Sept. 4, 1784;
^^^^:^^^7 ^,^^^^ h^h^
KINGSTON (Jamaica)
JULY 17 , 1784.'
ACCOUNTS have been received from the
north fide, of the pimento-walks having
fuffered very considerable damage by the late rainy
squally weather; many trees being entirely stripped
of their blossoms; which mud neccffarily occaiion
the ensuing crop to fall greatly short of what Was
expected.
Several attempts have been lately made to set
fire to houses in and near Jew-Alley; but difeo
veries being timely made, the iniquitous designs
were happily defeated. Two Jews, and several
negroes, were apprehended on suspicion; but, on
their examination before a magistrate, nothing ap
pearing to criminate them, they Were of course
difeharged.
A correspondent observes, that there seems not
a door left open to detect those black designing
mifereants, who Rill attempt to carry their diaboli
cal schemes into execution, of burning the town,
but the drifted attention 6f the town guard, and
the measure of lighting the streets, which ought to
be carried into execution. Much credit, he remarks,
is due to the author of this ptopofal, the ingenious
Mr. Bartlet, who, if properly* encouraged, will
no doubt become a mod valuable member of so
ciety; and an acquisition to the community at large.
It is also to be hoped, that by the appointment of
a proper person to the command of this ufeful body,
every purpose of its original institution may be
attained.
By late accounts from Antigua we learn, that
several attempts had been made during the lad
month, to set fire to the town of St. John's in that
Inland, by some concealed incendiaries; but they
had all as yetbeen happily frußrated: the inhabi
tants, however, were Rill under dreadful appre
hensions, nightly patrolling the town, in order, if
podible, to difeover the perpetrators of this iniqui
tous piece of bufinefs^
NEW-YOR K, Sffi. so
ON making Port Rofeway, the mariners dis
cover an island, upon which is only a single
inhabitant, named M'Bud. This singular man con
ceived a cffgud at the world, Icveral years ago, and
resolutely determined to seclude liimfelf from it:
to accomplish this, he chose as dreary a retreat as
has been difeovered in this frigid country: for this
purpose he carried a small number of domestic ani
mals, and a suitable assortment of utensils; without
an associate or servant, either male or female, he
lived fifteen years, in perfect contentment and tran
quility. His habitation is situated near the shore,
and when any vessels approach, he invites the peo
ple to his place, where he liberally didributes a
plenty of provisions, which a little industry enables
him to reap from his fertile foil.
Anecdotes of the Empress of Russia.
Her common practice is to rife at five in the
morning, and she N engaged in business till near ten.
She then breakfads, attends prayers, dines at two,
fits in her appartment till five, then she drinks tea,
fees company, goes to some place of public amufe
menty or plays at cards, and retires at ten. In the
morning, between prayers and dinner, she takes
an airing, but wishes not to be noticed or saluted
as Empress.
She is fond of having small parties at her palace^
and attends balls or m'afquerades at the houses of
her nobility. When she retires to her country pa
laces, die lays alide all date and grandeur, and
even fines any of her ladies a rouble (a coin in va
lue only four drillings) if they rife from their feats
when she enters the apartment.
She is generous and humane. Her affability en
gages universal love. But, perhaps, she can smile,
and smile, &c. &c. &c.
CHARLESTO N,
OCTOBER 7, 1784.
A GRAVE correspondent lias favoured us with
a comparilon between the previous circum
dantes and revolt of the ten tribes of Israel from
the house of David, and the late dismemberment of
the British empire.
“ The character df David and that of Georre
the second have been frequently compared, and it
mud be confeffed several circumdances in the lives
of those princes bore considerable refemblance^
David, after suppressing a formidable rebellion,
left his kingdom "happy and victorious over all
foreign and domedic enemies. Such was exactly
the happy fate of George 11. David was fuccecded
by a mod magnificent and wife prince, who was
a poet; philosopher, and example and pattern of
architecture, music, and all the fine arts. Now;
though we do not yet know for certain that the
fucceflor of tire late George is either poet or philo
sopher, we know that he has a mod accompliihed
tade for the fine arts; and though he has not yet
rivalled either the palace of Lebanon, or the tem
ple of Jerusalem, it is not for want of good-will,
for he is the magnificent protector and friend of
the arts,from the sublime researches of the “ Kriight
of the solar Star," down to the fnuff-boxes and
candle-fnuffs of Mr. Pinchbeck. Again, Solomon
was the great patron of navigation, and sent drip
ping to the Indies to bring home Apes and Pea
cocks. The British sovereign sent to the South Seas
to bring home cockle-shells, and dried leaves or
weeds, of equal value; Solomon built and repair
ed many cities, and filled them with chariots and
hcrfcmcn, and silver became so plenty that it was
accounted nothing in the days of Solomon. In the
days of George 111. the Nabobs have brought such
quantities of gold from the EaR-Indies, that silver
is as little cßeemed by them as it was by Solomon's
servants:
" When Saul was nominated king of Israel, that
people were no better than a pai cel of unconnected
herds of gypsies, without any regular government
or commerce, and an easy prey to every band of
roving Philistines that pleased to invade them; but
under the house of David they became a regular
government, and mighty people, and Solomon
poured upoh them all the blessings of a profperou
commerce. In like manner, before the house of
Brunswick afeended the throne of Great-Britain,
the Americans were in little better plight than the
Hebrews in Saul's days, and the Chi&aws, the
Cherokees, &c. played the Philistines upon theni
moR sadly; but under the house of Brunswick they
became a great and commercial people like unto
the Jews under Solomon.
“ But after all this prosperity, the fubjefts of
Solomon began to complain of heavy taxes which
were requisite to support the chariots and equipage
of that magnificent monarch. In like manner,
amidß their fpleridid prosperity the Americans
complain of Oppressions, and the magnificent lift
of pensioners and idle placemen.
" lhe son of David being puffed up with pros
perity deviated from the wife maxims of his fore
fathers, and the Lord raised up against him certain
of his own servants, who caused Israel to fin, who
became thorns in his fide, and tioubled his reign.
In like manner, the devil raised up John Wilkes,
Edmund Burke, Charles Fox, and others, who
troubled the reign ofthe British Solomon. When
the prosperous Tfraelites complained of the weight
of the taxes, Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, con
sulted the young men who had been brought up
with himfelf, and had not flood before his father,
and they persuaded him to tell them, that his little