The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg [Va.], 1778-10-30 00:00:00, page 1

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OCTOBER 30, 1778. T H E NUMBER zm. si
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VIRGINIA GAZETTE.
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The Frmlm of the Pnfl is one of the great Bulwarh of liberty, and can never be rgstraindss &: sib} despair? Govmeuu,
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,sisi WILLIAMSBURG: anrzo BY DlXON AND HUNTER.
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MANIFESTO AND PROCLAMATLON
so the member: of tbt Cougnjss'r, th: member! ostbt Gmral [se-Nia or Cmmtimu
' qftbeg'wnal tolont'u, plataliom, mulpro-w'uuuf New Ham ire, Massachssu
settt zy, Rhode "land, Connecticnt, New York, New ]er ey, Pennsylvahnz,
the three lo-wcr eawm'u ff Delaware, Maryland, Virginin, North Carollha,
South Carolina, mid Geofgit, and ull other:. fix Mind", thtsaid alone;,
qf um] rank and detained". ,
By !Lt Earl osCAnusu, sirflsnnr Cunon, ad thtrnu Lo", Bfsi
mfiaun poiddly bi: Mejestj, i: [tum s . do's Prsiuuuu ned: '
'ndpl ;dianytb \ "W"MM.W"FNss
ss 1: - si_ 'y- M,Jmthdzsorkn
si ct-siesiqu ' We": ( th Mrfladdinx, name:. in North
Ametica. ' ' " ,
"Wax ?" m-
AVING amply and repeatedly made known to the Congrectst, and
having Also prociained to tie inhabitann of North Ameriea in gene
ral, the benevolent overtumof Grvkut Britein toward- : re-union and
coalition with her coloniei, 'we do not think it consistent with the
du we owe to our country; or with : jutt regard by the character:
we deer, to persszsi in holdin out offer- diich in our eflimnion required only to
be known to be most Fntefu ly accepted; end we have :eeordin y, excepting
only the Commlnder in Chief, who will le detained by military utiet, resolted
to return to England a few week. after theiate of this manifeflu md proclamation.
. _ Previon, however, to this decifive flepnveare led. by a jot! anxiety for the
Feet object: osour million, to enlarge on bme points which me not have been
Ncientiy underfiood, to neepitultte to ouifdlow subject: the h efling-t which we
are inpowmdto ecnfer. and to um them 'oftht eontnmd mio of evtil to which
. th are at present blindly and ohfiinztely etpofing themklvn.
o the m-hen of the Congf'es- then wug-in declere, that we are ready to
, concur in all sitiefnflory end just arnngenenu for securing to them and their
respective consshtltnu the re-eflabiilhment ot pence, with the exemption from any
imposition of tue! by the Parliament of Gfm Britain, and the irrevocable en
' nt of ev privilege mile" with thatunion of interests and force on which
Wperity end the setety of our etmmon religion end libertiet depend.
" our mutual
We tgain , thet the member- os the Cmgiese were not euthorised, by their
mfimfion, eithc b rejefi out ofisl without the previous consideration and
:va
consent of the several Alembliu end Conveniom, their eonsiimenu, or to refer
In to ded forcig'n matia. which they hnow were delusively framed in the
fit in ce, and which have never yet been ntisied by the people of this continent.
Andveonee note mind the member- of the Congrest, that they are responsible
to their count: men, to the world, end to God, for the continuenee of thi
si me. and foe ] tl- lniseriu wit]! which it muK be attended.
To the Genenl Afimbliel ud Cuventiont of the different eciouiet, pluma—
, ,sizbww-n-ti-od, Qe n.— seprc-tely-ahe die offert which
in originally tranfmimd to the Congress; and we hereby call upon and ti'rse th'eii
'to meet expuflly for the purpose of considering whether every motive, pollticli n
well at mon], should not decide their reso!utnon to embrace the occasion of cement
lng a free and firm coalition vith' Great Britain. It has 'not been, nor it it, our
'lfll toseek the object! which we are commislictned to pursue hy fumentir.g popular
division: and partie] eebal-z we think such conduct would be ill sailed to the
EWI nature of the offer: unde. and unnecomin the dignity of the King and
since which nuke them. But it il both our wi find our duty to encouuge
and so port nny men, or hodiea of men, in their return of hyllty to our Soveteign,
amid [seEtion to_our_ fellosiw subjects.
ct To all others, free inhabittnttssof thin ohee happy em ' , we also address our
Mvee. Such of them at an actual! in turne, of what never rank or description,
will do well to reeollea, that the gnevancet, whether real or supposed, which led
them into this nebellion, base been for ever removed, and that the just occasion ie
arrived for their returning to the cleft of peaceful eitizem. But if the honour; of
a military lite are become their object, let them seek those honoure under the
banner: of their rightful Sovereign, and in fighting the battle: of the united British
'em ire against our late mutual and natural enemies.
o those whose profesfion it it to exercise the (unction: of religion on thin con.
tinent, it cannot surely be unknown, that the foreign power with which the Con.
so it endeavouring in connect them hat ever been avetse to toleration, and
tnvetetately opposed to the interests and freedom of the place: of worship which
they serve; and that Great Britain, from whom they are for the present separated,
must. both from the principlet of her conflitution and of protefiantism, be at all
timetdthe best guardian of religion: liberty, and most disposed to promote and
exten it. '
To nl] those who can esiimate the blessing of peace, and it: influence over agri.
cultute, art:, and commerce, who can feel a due anxiety for the education and
. eshblishment of their children, or who can place a just value on domeltic security,
nue think it sufficient to observe, that they are made by their leaden to continue
involved in all the calamities of war, without having either a just object to pursue,
or a subsisting grievance which may not insiantiy be redressed.
But if there be any persont who, djvelled of mistaken resssentmcnts, andsiunin
fluenced by seifish interests, real] think that it it for the benesit of the coloniei to
separate themselvee from Great ritain, and that, separatd, they will find acon
Kmition more mild, more free, and better caltulated for their prosperity than that
which they heretot'ore enjoyed, and which we are empowered and disposed to renew
and improve, with sueh person: we (hall not dispute a position which seems to be
sufficientiy contradicted it the experience thev have had. But we thlnk it right to
leave them fully aware or the change which the maintainmg of such a position
muK make in the whole nature and future conduct of thin war, more es cially
when to thin position it added the pretended alliance with the Court of rance.
'The policy as well as the benevolence of Great Britain have thus far checked the
extremes of war when they tended to distress a people niii considered at our fellow
subjras, and to desolate a country shortly to become again :: source of mutual
advantage. But when that t'mmtrv pa-oscssea the unnatural design not only of
eiirung'siing herself from us, but of murrzmging herself and her resoutces to our
ercmics, the whole contest is changssssd; and the quesiiun is, how far Grctt Biitziin
!ssn siy'. by every means in her power, deliros' or render useless a connexion connited
for her ruin, and For the aggr-mmsi-mt-m s-f Funcu. Unjer such circumstances,
"te laws of self—ptefsiervation melt dztcft ti-c conduct o'" Great Biitain; and if the
British coloniet are to become an nccefi'iol to France, will direct her wrcnder'that
acccflion of a: little avail u pdfible to he: enemy.
it however there are any who think, thz, notwithsianding these rusonin e, the
independence of the coloniee will in the result be acknowledged by Gmt ritlin.
to them are answet, without nserve. that " neither possess nor expect power: foe
thzt purpose ; end that is Great Brirein could me have suuk so low is to do}:
such : mezfure, we should not have thoughtourseivu compeillhle tobe the infini
..tg-ffi'si'ctss' "
ments in uniting : concefflon which would in our opinion be elllnitou'e to the
mlonm for whom it it made and dis sacefulns welle- rate _ - -- ss_
'ZZZWsisisiM fiyh_ MW-MWWM. .,
we-hue reguhdy m'frsibin thiuontimnsh Grm'ltimn.
kin
It will no'w become the (olde!!- in general to call to mind their own solemn
appnls w Heaven in the beginning of this comen, that they took am: only for
the redresa of grimut, and that it wouId be their with an well :: their inned
to remain for ever connected with Great Britain. We again :sh them whether all
their rievanees, real or su posed, have not been ampl and fully :edrefl'edg and,
we in tfl'that the offer: we gave made leave nothing to it wished, in point eith
os immediate liberty or permlnent securit , If those dien ere now rejected, we
withdraw from the exercise of : commi ton with which we have in vein been
honoured; the same liberality will no longer be due from Great Britain, not all
it either in justice or polic be expected fro her.
In fine, end for the ful er manifeflation as well of the disposition we belt, a of -
the raeiout and genemut purpose: of the commisiion under which we lct, we
here declare, that wneuAs his Majesty, in pursuznee of in 18 made and_
pasi in the eighteenth seffion of Parliament, emitted " an za'to enable hie Mi-si
];By to appoint commiffionert with sufficient power: to treat, eonsult, end agree
upon the meint of quieting the disorders now subsilting in certain of the eolon
plantatiom, and_provincet of North America," having been pleased to it?
and empower ul to grant : pardon or pardon: to my number or desetip _, &
person: within the coloniet, plantatiom, and rovinces otsi New Hampshiee, Hic
sachufetn Bly, Rhode [fiend, Connecticut, [yew Yorlt, New ]ersey, Peonf lum
nia,ct the three lower countiet on Delawm, Maryland, Vi- " in; North m int.
Somh Carolina, and Geot sin; and When; the ood e of the slid lutho—
ritiu end rs toward: t e people at large would ave long sinne takm yhuif
: due use ed been made of all! first communication: and overtum, lnd hafillu,
fat Been frustnted only by the precipitlte resolution of the dernben of tbectCdi'b
grell not to trut with us, end by their declining to consultwith theimnes' si si,
we ]" in making our appeal to those eonstituentt, and to the tree inhlbitnel
this continent in each], Iuve determined to give them what in our opiniitp should
have been the hrif
object of those who : ared to have taken the management of _ss
Ssi'
theirintereste, and ldopt thin mode carrying the said wtimritisses adown
into execution: Ye aurM 5":de marchi- ctffl' o"? firm d'
alledullnmer tr 'orm' r' (stre on,) ct " lit
a-sifmctWssctZ queint- siumffi ss of:";
.
IZZM . ss*=_ ctmzlzf-L . _M$P si
be, he -__, _
A'nd de farther declare and proclaim, that if any person siot Mps or at
her of dtseription of person: within the said eoloniu, )hntltion'e, a pmffiqm ss
now actually serving either in a civil or military capacity in thi! rebe Pus an. 5 3;
at any une during the eontinuance cfthia manlsesto and proclauiation, 'idldlid ,; 'sisisisisi'sssiss
himselfe: themselves from such civil or military service, and shall continue tctltnec— ; Be,:—
forth paceably as a good and faithful subject of subjects to hisMa to demean " 15.
sits.. fi—
himsetior themselves, such on or pert'ona, or such number an descti tion of :- '
person; shallbeoome, and , fullyentitled to, and hereb obtain all the
of the pardon or pardon; hereby granted, excepting only rout the said [don oa
pardcu every person, and every number or description of persona, w o, after
the due of this manifeflsio and prodamation shall, under the pretezt of authority.
as juttee, jurymen, ministerap and officers of civil juffice, he inflmmental m
exectpng and putting to death any of his Majesty's subjects within the hid cob- ,;
niea, plantationa, and provincea. — .
And we think yroyer farther to declare. that nothing hetein contained in meant, 7.
or shtll be continued to set at liberty any person or persona, now being a ' " _ss
or F'sonert, or who during the continuance of this rebellion shall become a paict- :- ?
sonetor pristknera. th ] lar s ! ral s 'si * .
r'ze' . ,
And we o er to eco bniea at or eparate y, a ene or arau
withthe revival of their ancient govffimesinta seemed agaginfl any sum]! infsil'nge- _.
men:, and protected for ever from taxation by Great Briuin. And with respect ?
to such farther regulations, whether eivil, military, pr commereial, la th m 1
wish to be framed and estabh'shed, we promise all the concunenee and hue
thathis Majesty": commisiion authorises and enablea ua to ive.
And we declare. that this manifesto and proclamation all continue and be in
force FORTY DAYS from the date thereof, that it to say, from the third day of_ ".1-si4
October to the eleventh day of November, both inclufive. ' A ;
And in order that the whole eontenta of this manifefto and proclamatiosiz nay as
be more fully known, we shall direct copiea thereof, both in the English and GpZ '
man language, to be transmitted by flags of truce to the Congresa, the General ss
Assembhes or Conventiona of the colomes, plantationa, and Ltovineea, andctty ' -'
s'xveral person: both in civil and military capacities within the (and eoloniu, plan. . .;
tations, and yrovincet. And for the farther security in time: to come of the seven] . 'ss
persons, ro numbers or description: of persona, who are or tna bethe objfia o may 5 (
manifesto and proclamation, we have set our hand: and I to thinedss '
thereof, and have transmitted the same to the thirteen coloniea, p and
provinces above mentioned; and we are willing to be that the M' this
manifesio and proclamation will be fairly and freely pu lished and cifenla X
the immediate, general, and most serious consideration and benefitos all _.ct ,
jesty'a subject: on this continent. And weearnesily exhort all person \ this. ss_
instrument forthwith receive the benefit of the King: pardon, at the falleth!!! M
they entertain : becoming sense of those lenient anssd affectioun meanin- whereby
they are now freed from many grievous charget Meh m' t have risen in judg
ment or have been brou ht in question against them, to ma e a wise inpwvement
of the situation in whie thia manifeflo and proclamation place. , and not
only to reconect that a perseveranee in the present rebellion, ta- any ss_ humee-w
the tteasonable connexion attempted to be framed with a fofeip power, till. ann
the present grace extended, he considered as crime: of the tye! aggmated kind,
but to vie with each other in eager and cordial endeavour: to seeme that no
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