The Gazette of the state of South-Carolina — Charles-town [S.C.], 1783-08-13 00:00:00, page 3

discharged for inability, in consequence of the reso
lution of Longrefs of the 23d of April, 17 ?, o n
annual pension forLfe; their peculiar Offerings, theif
Singular merits and claims to that picvifion, need
or ly to be known to interest all the feeling of huma
nity in their behalf—nothing but a pu^hnl payment
of their annual allowance can rescue them from the
molt complicated misery —and nothing could be a
more melancholy and diltreffing fight, than to behold
those who have Shed their blood, or loft their limbs
in the Service of their country, without a Shelter,
without a friend, and without the means of obtaining
any of the necelTaries or comforts of life, compelled
to beg their bread from door to door ! Suffer me to
recommend those of this description, belonging to
your State, to the warmest patronage of your Excel
lency and your legislature.
It is necessary to fay but a few words on the third
topic which was p opofed,and which regards parti
cularly the defence of the Republic: as there can be
little doubt but Congre's will recommend a proper
peace establishment for the L rated States, in which
a due attention will be paid to the importance of
placing the militia of the Union upon a regular and
rHpe&able footing— if this foould be the case, I
would beg leave to urge the great advantage ofit in
the Stronger terms: Ihe militia of this country muff
be c^nfidered-as he palladium of our security, and
the tir^ efle&ual resort in case of hostility—it is es
sential, therefore, that the fame system Should per
vade the whole; and that the formation and difei
phne of the militia of the continent Should be abso
lutely Uniterm, and that th ' fame species of arms,
accoutrements, and military apparatus, Should be in
troduced in every part of the United States. No
one who h^s not learnt it from experience, can con
ceive the difficulty, expence and confufion which re
luttfrOm a contrary lyllem, or the vague arrange
ments which have hitherto prevailed.
If, in treating of political points, a greater la
tit de than usual has been taken in the cmrfe of this
adores, tc -importance of the crisis, and the mag
nitude of the objects in difeuffion, muff be my apolo
gy: It is, however, neither my wish or expec-,
t tion that the preceding obferva ions Should claim
any regard, except so far as they Shall appear to be
dictates by a good intention, consonant to the immu
table rules of pfiice, calculated to produce a liberal
fyllem of policy, and founded on whate • er experience
may have been acquired by a long and dote atten
tion to public business : here f might speak with the
more confidence from my aduai observations, and if
it would not fwel this letter (already too prolix)
bet end the bounds 1 had prescribed myfelf, I could
demonflrate to every mind open to conviction, that
in left time, and with much less expence than has
been incurr d, the war might have been brought to
the fame happy conclusion. if the resources of the
continent cobid have been properly brought forth;
that the difheff s and difappoint^ents which have
very often occurred, have, in too many instances,
requited mo,e from a want of energy in the continen
tal government, than a deficiency of means in the
particular States; that the inefficacy of measures,
arifiog from the want of an adequate authority id
the Supreme Power, from a partial compliance with
the requisitions of Congress in some of the States,
and from a failure of punctuality in other's, while it
tended to damp the zeal of those who were more
willing to exert themselves, served also to accumu
late the expences ot the war, add to fruftrate the
belt concerted plans ; and that the discouragement
occasioned by the complicated difficulties and em
barrassments. in which our affairs were by this means
involved, would long ago have produced the diflolu
tion of an^army, less patient less virtuous, and less
perlever ng than that which 1 had the honour to
command. But while I mention these things, which
are notoriou facts, as' the defects of our federal
constitution, particularly in the prosecution of a war,
I beg it may be understood, that as I have ever ta
ken pleasure in gratefully acknowledging the assis
tance and Support I have derived from every cla's of
citizen., so Shall I always be hap y to do justice to
the unparallelled exertions of the individual States
an many interesting occasions.
I have thus freely disclosed what I wished to make
known before I Surrendered up my pubic trust to
thol who committed it to me. The talk is nowac-
Complilhed. 1 now bid adieu to your Excellency as
the chief magistrate of your State; at the fame time
I id a last farewell to the cares of office and all the
employments of public Ife. it remains then to be
n ) final and ( n'y request, that your Excellency will
C ' mmudcate these Sentiments to your legislature at
their next meeting, and that they may be considered
as the legacy of on who has ardently wilhed on all
occasions to b & ufeful to his co ntry, and who, even
th "^e ° f r "^nt, will not fail to implore
the Divine benediction upon it.
T now make it my earnest prayer, that Cod would
^ve y u, auu the State over which you preside, in
his hoy protection ; that he would incline the hearts
of the c^z ns to cultivate a Spirit of Subordination
° be dience to government; to entertain a bro
therly affection and love for, one another, for their
fellow citizens of the United States at large, and
particularly for their brethren who have ferYed in
. the "^d; and finally, thathe would most graciously
be pleased to drfp o f e us all, to do justice, to love
mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity,
humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were
" icks ° f the Divine Author of our
, L '^^^ a ° d without an humble mitigation
of whose example in these things, we can never hope
to be a happy nation.
I have the honour to be,
With esteem and regard, Sir,
Your Excellency's most obedient
Servant,
G. WASHINGTON.
Tlis Excellency Governor Harrison.
BRITISH AFFAIRS.
WHEN we turn our eyes to the political date.
of this country in the present moment, the'
firft reflection that occurs, is a painful comparison of
what it so lately was, with What it now is. In Fe
bruary 1763, a definitive treaty of peace was con
cluded between his Britannic Majefly, the King of
France, and the King es Spain, by which the whole
continertof North-America on this fide the Miffifippi,
together with the adjacent iflands,was ceded and
confirmed to the firft of these powers; and by which
the prosperity and greatness of England seemed to be
secured for ages. In February 1783, another treaty
fe^arates the North-American Colonies from the
Mother Country for ever; and thereby undermines
the foundations of British opulence and grandeur.
Hittory does not afford an instance of such rapid de
clension. In no other empire has humiliation so
quickly fuecceded to glory,
How far a mild exercise of authority, might have
prolonged the connexion between the Colonies and
the Parent state, it is impoffibie to determine. Inter
est, and those various antipathies which gradually
Spring up between the inhabitants of different coun
tries, must have effected a separation sooner or later.
The pride of affluence tco mutt have given birth to
the pride of independence: and the ' high-spirited
Americans, in process of time, would have been as
ready to shake off the slackened reins ®f a feeble and
'diftant government, as they were to take up arms on
the firft appearances of oppression. In reality, there
is not an example of any date that was able to main
tain a lading authority over diflant dependencies,
while it permitted them to enjoy a regular and elh
bhihed system of freedom. The severe jurifdi&ion
of the Romans over their colonies, is recorded and
authenticated beyond a doubt: the jealoufy,fod the
defpotilm of the Spaniards, the Fortuguefe, and even
the Dutch, over their feKkments, are known to all
the world.
The British confutation does not admit of that
Ready, that uniform, and vigorous conduct, which
subdues nations, and maintains conquelts. Different
factions, and different interests, perpetually impede
the wheels of government. If the ambition of the
monarch points to war; the avarice' of merchants
points to peace: and the faction that is not employed
in the administration of government, are load and vio
lent in their censures of every measure that is adopted
and pursued by the ministers of the king Such being
the frame of the Britilh government, its power, tho
great, is rarely brought to one centre of percussion.
However paradoxical it may appear, it may yet be
confidently affirmed, that the glory and liberty of
this nation united, Were the circumflances; which
prepared the way for the revolt of the Americans;
io true is it in politics as well as in morals, that Pride
cemeth before a fall. The glorious successes of a
fortunate war, inspired in the English nation a spirit
of haughty insolence, which appeared in rudeness
abroad, and licentiousness at home. Certain unjufti
fi4ble, because illegal Wretches of prerogative, roused
this spirit into a refinance of government. Ministry
were obliged to recede from their pretentions. The
molt daring libellers escaped with impunity; and the
most profligate of men braved the threats of the court,
in confidence of the favour of the people. This ex
ample of spirit was not without its effects across the
Atlantic. It Was .evident that administration was
unable to oppose the Stream of a popular torrent;
and that a combination of the fubjeCh was able to refill
the encroachments of the crown. The Americans
were as tenacious of their property, as high, Spirited
Englishmen; and they had an equal right to free,
dom. With the example just mentioned before their
eyes, they raolyed to vindicate their rights, and rg.
fufed to be taxed, because they were not represented
in the British frames. But had the power of
Bnrain been exerted in time, with wisdom and vigour
there is not , doubt that the American revolt would
have been crushed in the bud, and the authority of
the mo tier-country over the colonies more firmly
Tutted than ever. If the Britilh government had
been purely monarchical, this undoubtedly would
have happened. The jealousy inherent in all abfo.
lute monarchies, Would have quaffied the firft ten
dency to tmult and mfurre&ioh. The liberty and
independence of North-America have therefore sprung
the liberty of England: and the enlightened
natives of that continent, however they may repro
bate particular measures and particular men, muff ever
constitution whence their forefathers de
n^ju^d:as ° f , ed ^ nit y and privileged human
mature ; that couftitution which cherished in their
t b he a h' a'f" ds ° f resistance; and which reftraiied
° f P °r We L r which would have crus h ed their
State. Is there a doubt that the cabals of fac
'° th f,. lan ^ of some; or the
E b y according to that of others, in the
bv h W,P'" ted u P the Americans to revolt,
f d l d ! f ! ndl .^ their ca use, and calling on them
tef^h th ^ r Wt s , by inflating that fhey were
their hi' ls ' bey did not> and b y encouraging
t err belief that more than two thirds of Englishmen
Z^'R^ ^ American Independence? Iris true,
hat the British Cabinet were Shamefully ignorant
r^n and the dif P ofa ions of the Ame
ricans; add their contempt of So formidable an ene
y, betrayed a total inattention to the nature of the
world" 'r"'^?: and al '° to the hi ^ry ° f the
world. But still they would have a&ed with greater
celerity and promptitude, as well as with 'greater
gour, had they not been apprehensive of the
rv^d" ° f ^'°°' a ° d of Disputation of tyran.
my and oppreffioh. 7
^^^ to ^ PATRI °T Will
CHARLESTOWN, August 9 ;
At a M e s% of the Vestries of St. Philip and
.7 chael , Charleftown, at the Parith Church
°' vrn '™° efda y the 3oth of last Month,
RESOLVED, That all FUNERALS do move
from their refpedive Houses in future, at the fol
lowing Hours, viz.
, Fr ^" ^ lft of A ? ril to th e Ift of OAober, at
0 Clock in the Evening.
From the Ift of Oftober to the Ift of April,
four o Clock in the Evening.'
n The c above Regulation to take Place on the firft
Day of October next.
B) Order of the V^firies,
peter bounetheau, v. c.
On Tuesday last, failed for Philadelphia, the
schooner Gerrard, Capt Strong, in whom went
pafagers, Mr. Andrew Thompson, Merchant
Mr. Robert Coram, and others.
We find by a late New-York paper, that the Ba
hama islands are recommended to the royal refugees
as fit places for forming new Settlements.' The inland
of Albaco, to which a number of those people are
repaired, is mentioned as being particularly fruitful,
and only wanting inhabitants and cultivation to be
come equal to any of the Weft-India Islands.
Town Lots at Port Rofeway, in Nova. Scotia, of
60 by 120 feet, fell from 10 to 2^o guineas-
No foreign vessel can yet be entered at New-
York, neither is the American flag Offered to fly in
that harbour. The few French and others that ar
rived hitherto, have either returned and entered some
other ports, or failed up the North-river, where
13 said, they find sure vent for their cargoes.
~P, ArHS -3 Mr John Raven Matthews, Dog.
Catherine Corde, relid of John
Corde, Efq.'
THE following strays are in poffeG
fion of Mr. Daniel Ligare, jun.
z. A Grey Mare, about 13 1 half
hands high, branded on the mounting
shoulder M. I. both her knees much
hurt; also; a Sorrel Gelding, about 14
hands high, with a small blaze in his
face, has a Roman nose, and branded
something like a stirrup-iron; The
owners of the above must prove their
property before
Wm. SCOTT, Jun;
Ch&leftowA, August iz, i,Bfc