The Pennsylvania gazette — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-06-12 00:00:00, page 2

Slice. The province of Maryland has exprefly deter
mined on the matter as follows —
“ Refolded unanimoufy, That the people of this pro
" Vince have the sole and exclusive right of regulating
c/ the internal government and police of this province."
New York has declared to the fame effeCt ; and the
charter governments of Connecticut, and Rhode-Ifland
have made nd further alterations than fbfpt&ing the
oaths, &c. as our Assembly have done.
Upon this Rate of things, having a love for the char
ter constitution of Pennsylvania ; considering myfelf as
chosen by you to support it, as far as possible, in the pre
sent exigency ; finding that the public service has been,
and might still be, carried on as vigorously by the As
sembly of this province, as by any other public body oh
the continent; and observing a Remonfl rance to that ef
fect, signed by multitudes * of the most respectable names
in the city of Philadelphia, and the neighbouring coun
ties, in opposition to the doctrines in the protest of the
Committee of that city, I thought it my duty to fend
you copies of those papers, that I might know the senti
ments of the county I represent, in a matter of such con-
Sequence. Whether I did wrong in this, or what cen
sure they may defcrve, who dared to keep back the need
ful information from you, endeavouring to furprize you
into precipitate measures, which might afterwards be in
jurious to your belt rights, for which you are now con
tending, and sow the feeds of difeord, I leave yowrfelves
to determine. I confider not only my private rights as a
Freeman, but my public rights as a Representative in
Assembly, together with your rights from whom I derive
my feat, to be grofly violated in this interruption of my
correspondence with you, and the threats thrown out to
prevent my obtaining your sentiments for the direction of
my conduct. I know the weight of the Committee of
the town of York, who firft opened my letters, and I hope
I do not over value my own firmnefs of spirit, when 1 fay
that I neither fear their threats, nor regard their censures,
while in the honest discharge of my duty. I wish that they
who publilhed the Resolves against me, had also pub
lished a copy of the circular letter on which it is found
ed, that the world might have judged how far it deserved
blame or approbation. The following is an exaCt copy
of the letter to Henry Wolfe, viz.
" The friends of the present constitution of Pennfylva
“ nia think it absolutely necessary, at this time, to life
“ their utmost endeavours to prevent the attempts that
" are making in the city of Philadelphia to destroy the
" Assembly, and consequently the charter rights of the
“ province ; for which purpose it is thought expedient,
" that as many persons as possible should be procured to
“ sign the Address and Remonstrance to the Reprefenta
“ tives of the province, which you will fee published in
" Hall and Sellers' paper, of the zzd of this month, to
“ encounter the proted: which is inserted in the fame pa
“ per —I therefore request that you will take a part in
" this virtuous talk, by getting as many of the respectable
“ inhabitants of our county to sign tbeir names co it as
“ possible, by which you will greatly serve your country,
" and oblige your Friend.
JAMES RANKIN.
“ P. S. You will have several copies of the Remon
" ftrance sent to you for signing."
I have only to add, that the Committee of your county
have just sent down Infruitions, directed to two of your
Representatives, wherein, after several charges against the
Assembly in general, they conclude as follows —
“ We therefore inftruCt you to withdraw from such
“ Men and Measures, and in case of a motion for the
" continuance of the Assembly, you will immediately
" leave the fame. You wifi fee by our Resolves, here
" with sent, the sentiments of York county, very gene
“ rally taken, and we trust you, Gentlemen, will aft
" conformable thereto.
By Order of the Committee,
R. M'PHERSON, Chairman.
To fames Ewing, and Samuel Eddy, Efqrs.
As I have reason to believe that the Committee have
derived no authority from the county in general, to com
mand their Representatives to desert their trust, I shall
continue to discharge my duty, till I obtain your senti
ments in fume less doubtful way, and am, refpe&fully,
Your Sincere Friend,
JAMES RANKIN.
* At the time of writing this, the names to the Re
monflrances, already delivered in from the city and adjacent
counties, amounted to about Six Thousand.
WILLIAMSBURG, June I.
Gwin's Island, which contains 2300 acres of land, with
about 500 head of cattle, 1000 sheep, &c. lituate at the
mouth of Piankatank river, is now possessed by the ene
my. Lord Dunmore landed 800 men there on Monday
last, who have thrown up an entrenchment on the land
fide, which is guarded chiefly by the black regiment.
The Gloucester militia were assembled on the opposite
fh®re, and on Tuesday had one man mortally wounded
by a swivel ball; but as the ships of war had taken care
to secure the pass, and our men having no cannon, it
was utterly impossible to interrupt them.
By express from Maryland, we are informed that Go
vernor Eden has obtained a pass to go to England, and
begs he may not be molested.
The following Declaration was reported to the Convention,
by the Committee appointed to prepare the fame, and re
ferred to the confederation of a Committee of the whole
Convention ; and, in the mean time, is ordered to be
printed for the perafal of the members.
A DECLARATION of R IGHTS made by the Repre
sentatives of the good people of Virginia, afembled in
full and free Convention ; which rights do pertain to us
and our poferity, as the bajis and foundation of govern
ment.
I ryHAT all men are born equally free and independ
£ ant, and have certain inherent natural rights, of
which they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their
posterity; am®ng which are the enjoyment of life and
liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing pro
perty, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and fafety.
2. That all power is vetted in, and consequently de
rived from the people; that magistrates are their trustees
and Servants, and at all times amenable to them.
3. That government is, or ought to be, instituted for
. the common benefit, protection, and security of the peo
ple, nation or community. Of all the various modes and
forms of government, that is best, which is capable of
producing the greatest degree of happiness and fafety,
and is most effectually secured against the danger of mal
administration; and that, whenever any government shall
be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a
majority of the community hath an indubitable, unali.
enable and indefeafible right to reform, alter or abolish
it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to
the public w§al.
4. That no man, or sett of men, are intitled to exclusive
or fepafate emoluments or privileges from the communi
ty, but in ednfideration of public Services; which, not
being defcendihle or hereditary, the idea of a man born
a rhagiftrate, a legislator or a judge, is unnatural and ab
surd.
5. That the legislative and executive powers of the
state should be separate and diftind from the judicative;
and that the members of the two firft may be retrained
from oppression, by feeling and participating the burthens
of the people, they should, at fixed periods, be reduced
to a private station, return into that body from which
they were originally taken, and the vacancies be supplied
by frequent, certain and regular elections.
6. That the elections of members to serve as repre
sentatives of the people, in Assembly, ought to be free;
and that all men, having fufficient evidence of permanent
common interest with, and attachment to, the commu
nity, have the right of fuffrage.
7. That no part of a man's property can be taken from
him, or applied to public uses, without his own consent,
or that of his legal representatives ; nor are the people
bound by any laws but such as they have, in like manner,
assented to for their common good.
8. That all power of fofpending laws, or the execution
of laws, by any authority without consent of the repre
sentatives of the people, is injurious to their rights, and
ought not to be exercised.
9. That laws having retrofpeft to crimes, and punishing
offences, committed before the exigence of such laws, are
generally oppressive, and ought to be avoided.
10. That in all capital or criminal prosecutions a man
hath a right to demand the cause and nature of his ac
cusation, to be confronted with the accusers or witnesses,
to call for evidence in his favour, and a speedy trial by an
impartial jury of his vicinage, without whose unanimous
consent he cannot be found guilty, nor can be be com
pelled to give evidence against himfelf; that no man be
deprived of his liberty except .by the law of the land, or
the judgment of his peers.
11. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor
excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punilh
ments inflicted.
12. That warrants unsupported by evidence, whereby
any officer or messenger may be commanded or required
to search fufpeCted places, or to seize any person or per
sons, bis or tbeir property, not particularly described,
are grievous and oppressive, and ought not to be granted.
13. That in controversies refpe&ing property, and in
suits between man and man, the ancient trial by jury is
preferable to any other, and ought to be held sacred.
14. That the freedom of the press is one of the great
bulwarks of liberty, and can never be retrained but by
despotic governments.
15. That a well regulated militia, composed of tha
body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natu
ral, and Safe defence of a free state ; that handing armies,
in time of peace, should be avoided, as dangerous to li
berty ; and that, in all cases, the military should be un
der drift Subordination to, and governed by, the civil
power.
16. That the people have a right to uniform govern
ment ; and therefore, that no government separate from,
or independent of, the government of Virginia, ought,
of right, to be erected or established within the limits
thereof.
17. That no free government, or the blessing of liberty,
can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence
to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue,
and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.
18. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our
Creator, and the manner of difeharging it, can be di
rected only by reason and conviction, not by force or
violence ; and therefore, that all men should enjoy the
fulleft toleration in the exercise of religion, according to
the dictates of coufcience, un-punifhed and unredrained
by the Magistrate, unless, under colour of religion, any
man disturb the peace, the happiness, or fafety of society.
And that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian
forbearance, love and charity, towards each other.
WATERTOWN, June 3.
The beginning of last week arrived in this colony, a
vessel, having on board ten tons of fulphur, and the re
mainder of her cargo fait. The former article will
greatly help in manufacturing the amazing quantity of
34,907|wt. of falt-petre, made in this colony and brought
to the Commissary General's here in this town during
the course of the week past, exclusive of what has been
carried to the powder-mills at Haverhill, Stoughton, &c.
On Tuesday the 21st ult. the continental frigate of
thirty two guns, built at Portsmouth, under the direction
of fohn Langdon, Esq; was launched amidst the accla
mations of many thousand fpeCtators. She is esteemed
by all those who are judges that have seen her, to be one
of the compleateft ships ever built in America.
PROVIDENCE, June 1,
A Gentleman arrived here from France informs, that
25 French ships of the line were ready for scathe 16th of
March last at Brest, to which place 500 fhiprights had
been ordered from Nantz; that men were taking up in
all parts of France for the sea service; that the fortifica
tions of Dunkirk and Belifle were repairing with all ex
pedition; and that as great preparations were making for
war as were ever known in that kingdom.
A letter from Martinico, dated the 12th of April,
mentions, that a general embargo had taken place in
France.
We have authentic advice from Cape Francois, that on
the 7th of May 500 additional troops arrived there from
"NEWPOR T, June 3.
A few days past Messrs. Hubbard and Read, two mil
lers, who were taken by the Swan, Captain Aifcough, as
they were coming down the river last winter in a small
boat, came to town from the Eastward, having made
their efeape from the Swan at Liverpool, near Halifax;
they fay the men of war's people were at three quarters
of an allowance.
N E W-L O ND O N, June].
We learn from the Weft-Indies, that the French Court
have taken off the prohibition on the exportation of gun
powder from France, and that large quantities of that
commodity is almost daily arriving in the Weft-Indies,
so that it is now become an article of great plenty there.
N E W-Y O R K, June 10.
Thursday afternoon his Excellency General Wash
ington arrived in town from Philadelphia.
There now remains at the Hook seven ships and some
small vessels.
The Mercury man of war, and an armed sloop, failed
for Halifax, from Sandy-Hook, last Friday, having five
vessels under convoy.
By sundry letters from St. Euftatia we are informed
that markets are very high, and provisions scarce in all
the Weft-India Islands.
The New-London paper, of June 7, fays, " that a few
days bnce a ship from Jamaica, bound to England, was
taken by a privateer off George's banks, and carried into
Old-town in the Vineyard. She had on board a valuable
cargoe, part of which is two hundred hogflreads of sugar.
The fame privateer was in chafe of another ship at the
time this prize parted with her."
To the Honourable the Representatives of the Province of
New-York, in Provincial Congress convened.
The humble Address of the General Committee of Me
chanics in union, of the city and county of New-YorE,
in behalf of themfelvcs, and their Constituents.
G^NTL&EH,
WE, as a part of your Constituents, and devoted
friends to our bleeding country, beg leave in a #
dutiful manner at this time to approach unto you, our
representatives, and request your kind attention to this
our bumble address.
When we cast a glance upon our beloved continent,
where fair freedom, civil and religious, we have long en
joyed, whole fruitful fields have made the world glad,
and whose trade has filled with plenty of all things, fur
row fills our hearts to behold her now struggling under
the heavy load of oppression, tyranny and death; but
when we extend our fight a little farther, arid view the
iron hand that is lifted up against us, behold it is our
King, he who by his oath and Nation is bound to support
and defend u$ in the qipet enjoyment of all our glorious
rights as freemen, and whose dominions have been flip
ported and made rich by our commerce, shall we any
longer fit silent, and contentedly continue the fubje&s of
f"ch a Prince, wlio is deaf to our petitions for interposing
his royal authority in our behalf, and for redressing our
grievances, but, on the contrary, seems to take pleasure
in our deftrudion. When we fee that one whole year is
not enough to fatisfy the rage of a cruel Ministry, in
burning our towns, seizing our vessels, and murdering
our precious sons of liberty; making weeping widows for
the loss of those who were dearer to them than life, and
helpless orphans to bemoan the death of an affectionate
father; but who are still carrying on the fame blocdy pur
suit, and for no other reason than this, that we will not
become their slaves, and be taxed by them without our
consent.
Therefore, as we would rather cboofe to separate
from, than to continue any longer in connection with
such oppressors, we, the Committee of Mechanics in
union, do, for ourselves and our constituents, hereby
publicly deciare, that should you, gentlemen of our
Honourable Provincial Congress, think proper to inftruCt
our most Honourable Delegates in Continental Congress,
to use their utmost endeavours in that august assembly to
cause these United Colonies to become independent of
Great Britain, it would give ns the highest fitisfaCtion,
and we hereby sincerely promise to endeavour to support
the fame with our lives and,fortunes.
Signed by Order of the Committee,
LEWIS THIBOU, Chairman.
Mechanic Hall, New-York, May 29, 1776.
T^e Answer of the Provincial Congress. 1
In Provincial Congress, New-York, fo^ 4, 1776
Sir,
E confider the Mechanics in Union as a volun
tary association of a number of the inhabitants
of this city, who arc warmly attached to the cause 0:
liberty.^ We flatter ourselves, however, teat neither that
association, nor their committee, claim any antborf^
whatfover in the public tranfa&ions of the present times'
but that, on the contrary, they will ever be re& y tc
submit to that constitutional authority, which, by /tree
election, has been veiled in Congress and Committees.
This Congress is at all times ready and willing to attend
to every request of their constituents, or of any part 0
them. We are of opinion, that the Continental Congress
alone have that enlarged view of our political circura
ftances, which will enable them to decide upon those
measures which are necessary for the general welfare.
We therefore cannot presume to inftru^ the Delegates
of this Colony on the momentous GuGriom.® wbiel
your address refers, until we are informed that it L
brought before the Continental Congress, and the sens
of this colony be required through this Congress. By
order, NATHANIEL WOODHULL, 'Prefident
To Mr. Lewis Thibou.
PHILADELPHIA, June 12.
Last Saturday the Hon. House of Assembly gave the follow
ing INSTRUCTIONS to their Delegates in Con
GRESS.
Gentlemen,
HEN, by our Inftrudions of last November, w
VV ftridly enjoined you, in behalf of this colony, rt
dissent from and utterly reject any proportion, fno^
such be made, that might cause or lead to a feparatio:
from Great-Britain, or a change of the form of th:
government, our reftridions did'not arise from any diff
dence of your ability, prudence or integrity, but from a
earnest desire to serve the good people of Penhfyhani
with fidelity, in times so full of alarming dangers an.
perplexing difficulties.
The situation of public affairs is since so greatly altered
that we now think ourselves juftifiable in removing th
reftrittions laid upon you by those inftrudtions.,
The contempt with which the last petition of the Hm
Congress has been treated; the late aft of parliarm?
declaring the just refinance of the Colonists -againft-ri
lences actually offered to be. rebellion, excluding the
from the protection of the Crown, and even compels
some of them to bear arms against their countrymen
the treaties of the King of Great-Britain with oth
Princes for engaging foreign mercenaries, to aid the fore
of that kingdom, in their hostile enterprises against Arae
rica, and his answer to the petition of the Lord Maye
Aldermen and Commons of the city of Louden, manib
such a determined and implacable resolution to effect tr
utter deftrudion of these Colonies, that all hopes of
reconciliation,on reasonable terms, are extinguished. N^
verthelefs, it is our ardent desire that a civil war, wi
all its attending mifei ies, Should be ended by a secure a.
honourable peace.
We therefore hereby authorize you to concur with th
other Delegates in Congress, in forming such .farta
compacts between the United Colonies, concluding fu
treaties with foreign kingdoms and fates, and in adep:
ing such other measures as shall be judged necessary A
promoting the liberty, fafety and interests of Amerc
reserving to the people of this colony,the sole and exclr
five right of regulating the internal government and po
lice of the fame.
The happiness of these colonies has, during the wbe 1
course of this fatal controversy, been our° firft win
Their reconciliation with Great-Britain pur next. Ar
dently have we prayed for the accomplishment of both
But if we must renounce the one or the other, we hur
bly trust in the mercies of the Supreme Governor of the
Universe, that we Shall not stand condemned before