USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. II > Part 19
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The alacrity of our men to enter into the service, and the great dispatch with which our battalions are completing, must also affect every lover of his country with singular pleasure.
The resolution of Congress of the 19th of March, respecting the raising the quotas of men, and the providing their accoutrements, is herewith laid before you, together with that of the 17th of April, pursuant to which this State is only to compleat three regiments of infantry in the manner recommended by the resolution of the 26th day of February last.
Gentlemen,
As you rose at the last sitting of the Assembly without ratifying the Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the States, I hope they will engage your early attention at the present.
The Congress, by their resolution of the 10th of March, having earnestly requested the Governors and Presidents of the respective States to transmit to them as soon as possible, attested copies of the acts passed by their respective legislatures, in pursuance of recom- mendations of Congress, which they may have received since the first day of November last, and of all acts which they may hereafter pass
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in consequence of future recommendations. You will be pleased to furnish me, for that purpose, with attested copies of the acts first described, with all convenient speed.
I embrace this opportunity farther to communicate to you a resolu- tion of Congress, of the 1st instant, recommending it to the several States to empower the executive authority of such States, from time to time, to grant exemptions from duty in the militia to such persons as may, from time to time, be employed in manufacturing military stores and other articles, for the use of the United States.1
The present condition of our publick accounts renders it indis- pensibly necessary to appoint some person in the character of Auditor, with a sufficient salary to induce a gentleman of adequate skill and abilities to accept of the appointment.
I hope, Gentlemen, it will engage your seasonable consideration what measures ought to be adopted respecting those amphibious in- mates,2 (ever-willing citizens to all the purposes of deriving from the State every legal benefit and protection, but to none of returning reciprocal duty and allegiance) who seem resolved, to the very end of the quarrel, to maintain a kind of shameful and most disingenuous neutrality ; hoping, by not avowedly espousing either side, but occa- sionally and indirectly abetting both, to secure to themselves a favour- able reception with the prevailing party, let that party eventually prove to be the oppressive or oppressed. Such political hypocrites ought, by a general test, to be dragged from their lurking holes, fer- retted out of their duplicity and refuge of lies, and be taught by an act for the purpose, that however willing the legislature may be to imitate the example of the generous householder, who made no differ- ence in his payments between those who went to labour in his vineyard at the first or eleventh hour ; they are determined not to set the first example in the world, of allowing wages to those who never would enter the vineyard at all, 'till the grapes were fully ripe, by the cultivation of others; and came then only with the view of sneak- ingly spunging upon, and regaling themselves with, the wine of other people's expressing.
There are in this State many valuable and conscientious citizens,3 who are scrupulous of taking an oath in the present form, and with the English ceremony of kissing the book; which they consider as superstitious, and a remnant of popery. Amidst that liberality of
1 In 1777 a number of acts were passed exempting men from military duty. These statutes referred to employes in the Pennsylvania and other salt works ; to skilled labor in the iron works at Batsto, Mount Holly. Mount Hope, Hibernia, Sharpsborough ; in the paper mill of William Shafter, Middlesex county, as well as Isaac Collins and four of his printers on the New Jersey Gazette. In 1778 four men employed at the powder mill of Phillips & Lindsley, in Morris county, were exempted. In 1779, however, a general statute repealed all the special acts relating to mili- tary exemptions of those engaged in the salt and iron industries.
2 Reference is here made to a numerous body of New Jerseymen, many of whom profited by secret trade with the enemy, and who laid thereby the bases of family fortunes.
3 Mainly to be found in the membership of the Society of Friends.
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sentiment, and utter abhorrence of infringing upon the rights of con- science, which seems to mark the present æra with peculiar lustre : can it be consistent with sound policy, or the generous spirit of our constitution. to debar an honest man for a religious scruple from the privileges of society, which the most profligate and abandoned are permitted to enjoy in the fullest latitude? I therefore flatter myself that our legislature will be so indulgent to this scrupulosity, which is at least innocent, as to authorize the magistrate in the administra- tion of an oath, to dispense with such part of it as may embarass the conscience, and is beyond question altogether formal, and in no respect essential to its nature or solemnity.
I have farther to lay before you, Gentlemen, a resolution of Con- gress, of the 23d of April, recommending it to the legislatures of the several States to pass laws, or to the executive authority of each State, if invested with sufficient power, to issue proclamations offering pardon, with such exceptions and under such limitations and restric- tions as they shall think expedient, to such of their inhabitants or subjects as have levied war against any of the States, or adhered to. aided or abetted the enemy, and shall surrender themselves to any civil or military officer of any of these States, and shall return to the State to which they may belong, before the tenth day of June next. and recommending it to the good and faithful citizens of those states to receive such returning penitents with compassion and mercy. and to forgive and bury in oblivion their past failings and transgressions.
Tho' I think it my duty to submit this resolution to your serious consideration, because it is recommended by Congress. I do not think it my duty to recommend it to your approbation, because it appears to me both unequal and impolitic. It may, consistently with the profoundest veneration for that august Assembly. be presumed that they are less acquainted with the particular circumstances and internal police of some of the States than those who have had more favourable opportunities for that purpose. There seems. it is true, something so noble and magnanimous in proclaiming an unmerited amnesty to a number of disappointed criminals submitting themselves to the mercy of their country ; and there is in reality something so divine and christian in the forgiveness of injuries, that it may appear rather invidious to offer any thing in obstruction of the intended clemency. But as to the benevolent religion to which we are under the highest obligations to conform our conduct, though it forbids at all times, and in all cases, the indulgence of personal hatred and malevolence. it prohibits not any treatment of national enemies or municipal offenders .. necessary to self-preservation, and the general weal of society. And as to humanity, I could never persuade myself that it consisted in such lenity towards our adversaries. either British or domestic. as was evidently productive of tenfold barbarity on their part; when such barbarity would probably have been prevented by our retaliating upon them the first perpetration ; and consequently our apparent inhumanity, in particular instances, have certainly been humane in the final result. Alas! how many lives had been saved. and what a scene of inexpressible misery prevented, had we, from the beginning, treated
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our bosom-traitors with proper severity, and inflicted the law of re- taliation upon an eneniy too savage to be humanized by any other argument! As both political pardon and punishment. ought to be regulated by political considerations, and must derive their expedience or impropriety from their salutary or pernicious influence upon the community, I cannot conceive what advantages are proposed by in- viting to the embraces of their country a set of beings, from which any country, I should imagine, would esteem it a capital part of its felicity to remain for ever at the remotest distance. It is not probable that those who deserted us to aid the most matchless connoisseurs in the refinements of cruelty, (who have exhausted human ingenuity in their engines of torture) in introducing arbitary power and all the horrors of slavery, and will only return from disappointment not from remorse, will ever make good subjects to a state founded in liberty, and inflexibly determined against every inroad of lawless dominion. The thirty-one criminals lately convicted of the most flagrant treason, and who, by the gracious interposition of government, were, upon very hopeful signs of penitence, generously pardoned, and then, with hypocritical cheerfulness, inlisted in our service, have all, to a man, deserted to the enemy, and are again in arms against their native country, with the accumulated guilt of its being now not only the country that first gave them life, but which hath, after they had most notoriously forfeited it, mercifully rescued them from death. Whence it is probable that a real Tory is by any human means absolutely inconvertible, having so entirely extinguished all the primitive virtue and patriotism natural to man, as not to leave a single spark to rekindle the original flame .- It is indeed against all probability that men, arrived at the highest possible pitch of degeneracy, the preferring of tyranny to a free government, should, except by a miracle of Omnipotence, be ever capable of one single virtuous impression. They have, by a kind of gigantic effort of villany, astonished the whole world, even that of transcending, in the enormities of desolation and blood-shed, a race of murderers before unequalled, and without com- petitor. Were it not for these miscreants, we should have thought that for cool, deliberate cruelty, and unavailing, undecisive havoc, the sons of Britain were without parallel. But considering the education of the latter, which has familiarized them to the shedding of innocent blood, from the meer thirst of lucre, they have been excelled in their own peculiar and distinguishing excellence, by this monstrous birth and off- scouring of America, who, in defiance of nature and of nurture, have not only by a reverst ambition chosen bondage before freedom, but waged an infernal war against their dearest connections, for not mak- ing the like abhorred and abominable election. By them have numbers of our most useful and meritorious citizens been ambushed, hunted down, pillaged, unhoused, stolen or butchered. By them has the present contest on the part of Britain, been encouraged, aided and protracted. They are, therefore, responsible for all the additional blood that lias been split by the addition of their weight in the scale of the enemy. Multitudes of them have superadded perjury to treason. At the com- mencement of our opposition they appeared more sanguine than others,
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and, like the crackling of thorns under a pot, exceeded in blaze and noise, the calm and durable flame of the steady and persevering. They have associated, subscribed and sworn to assist in repelling the hostile attempts of our bowelless oppressors. They have with awful solemnity plighted their faith and honour to stand, with their lives and fortunes, by the Congress and the General, in support of that very liberty which, upon the first opportunity, they perfidiously arm'd to oppose, and have since sacrilegiously sworn utterly to exterminate. This worthy citizen has lost a worthy father; that one a beloved brother ; and a third, a darling son, either immediately by their hands, or by their betraying him to the enemy, who, from a momentary un- intentional relapse into humanity were sometimes inclined to spare, when these pitiless wretches insisted upon slaughter, or threatened to complain of a relenting officer, merely because he was not diabolically cruel .- Nor will such an act of grace prove eventual of restoring to their injured country the most proper objects of pardon. The more ignorant and deluded (if such ignorance and delusion there can be) will not be able to obtain leave from their vigilant task-masters to return to their duty. The most dangerous and influential will be indulged with this privilege, and that only to save their estates, without the least compunction of conscience, alteration of sentiment, or melio- ration of heart. These having already been sworn and forsworn, will, without ceremony, repeat their perjury whenever it appears conducive to the introduction of tyranny. - To screen such characters from popular resentment and personal insult. I presume no prudent man would chuse to become surety. Those of our citizens who have from the very beginning of the illustrious conflict, hazarded their persons and property, will think it iniquitable to receive such malignants into a full participation of all the blessings resulting from that inde- pendence, which, with the smiles of Providence, has by their co-opera- tion been so gloriously contested, and at so great expence and peril, battled out of the very jaws of tyranny. There is, in some of our counties in particular, who have more eminently suffered by their wanton ravages, so rooted an aversion against this kind of gentry, that the more conspicuous Whigs (generally the greatest sufferers) would think it extremely hard to proffer them all the immunities of that happy constitution, which they at infinite risque have been in- strumental in establishing, while those non-naturals were meditating our destruction, spilling our blood, and ardently wishing for our final enthralment. And can they ever expect to regain the confidence of their late fellow-subjects, whose very looks methinks must confound and abash them? Surely their mean spiritedness in brooking to return to their country, circumstanced as they are, is only to be equalled by their guilt in deserting it. Should we not be much happier, together with the abolition of regal mis-rule, to purge the continent also of this political pollution, which must necessarily tarnish the lustre, and may gradually infect some of the still incorrupted sons of America? Will it not be better policy to insist upon a perpetual separation from those whose intercourse with us must constantly revive the most painful ideas, and whose very presence among the genuine sons of freedom, would seem as unnatural as that of Satan among the sons of
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God? The disgrace they have brought upon their native country can never be expunged except by expunging them. Let them, therefore, rather go into voluntary banishment, and settle some uninhabited island, rocky, if they please, as their hearts, and scared as their con- sciences, where, not having one honest man among them, but being all involved in the same atrocious and insuperable crime of parricide, no one traitor can upbraid a brother traitor with his treason ; nor any individual of the whole culprit-fraternity point at a greater scelerat than himself-There let them establish a system of vassalage most suitable to their own slavish dispositions; and erect an infamous monument in putrid memorial of those apostates from reason and converts to despotism, who fled from Justice, for an attempted assas- sination of Liberty .- Or let them take sanctuary in a certain allready- settled island, (probably their favourite spot, because contaminated with every species of infamy) where it is no bar to the royal favour to have embrued one's hands in a brother's blood ; where the massacre and famishing of thousands has been rewarded with a peerage; and where no man need to despair of promotion for being a rascal.
PRINCETON,
May 29, 1778. 5
WIL. LIVINGSTON.
TRENTON, JUNE 3
We are informed that on Wednesday morning last, a party of about seventy of the Greens from Sandy-Hook, landed near Major Kearney's, headed the mill-creek, Mid- dletown-Point, and marched to Mr. John Burrow's, made him prisoner, burnt his mills and both his store-houses, all valuable buildings, beside a great deal of his furniture -Also took Lieut. Col. John Smock, Capt. Christopher Little, Mr. Joseph Wall, Capt. Jacob Covenhoven, and several other persons; killed - Pearce and - Van Brockle, and wounded another man mortally. Having completed these and several other barbarities, they pre- cipitately returned the same morning to give an account of their abominable deeds to their bloody employers. A number of those gentry, we learn, were formerly inhabi- tants of that neighbourhood.
On Monday morning, the 18th of May, to the unspeak- able regret of her friends and relations, died at Shrews- bury, in her 55th year, Mrs. Jane Arthur, widow, after a long and tedious decay of nature, which she suffered
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with exemplary patience and christian resignation .- A liberal hospitality, and universal benevolence, were some of her principal characteristicks; but her life was dis- tinguished by many other amiable virtues, which at once adorn'd her christian profession, and endeared her to all her connections .- In the earliest stage of her disorder she frequently expressed a full apprehension of her approach- ing dissolution; and, accordingly, bidding adieu to all sublunary scenes, she prepared herself without the least apparent dismay to meet the king of terrors; resting all her hopes of eternal felicity on the mercy of God, in and through the merits of the great Redeemer of mankind.
On Thursday last General MAXWELL, with a second detachment of continental troops, and a train of artillery, arrived here from Head-Quarters; a third detachment is now upon their march for this place, to join a number of militia under the command of General DICKINSON.
BRIGADE ORDERS to the CAVALRY.
THAT the cast horses belonging to the first, third and fourth regiments of light-dragoons be collected at Trenton, and sold by publiek sale, on Monday, the 8th instant, at the market-place.
STEPHEN MOYLAN, Commandant of light-dragoons.
Trenton, June 1, 1778.
STRAYED or stolen, out of the pasture about a mile from New-Brunswick, New-Jersey, a dark bay HORSE, about 14 hands and an half high, black mane and tail, a blaze in his forehead, six years old this grass, three white feet, with a horse lock on his right fore foot, with three or four links of chain. Said horse will pace a slow travel, but generally trots or canters. Whoever takes up and secures said horse and thief, if stolen, so that the owner
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may have him again, shall receive fifty dollars reward, and all reasonable charges; if not stolen ten dollars re- ward, and all reasonable charges, paid by the subscriber, living in New-Brunswick.
WILLIAM LAWSON. May 14.
TO BE SOLD,
A HOUSE and LOT in Princeton, next door to the Sign of the College. Any person inclining to purchase, may be made acquainted more particularly with a description of the premises, and also with the terms, by applying to Richard Stockton, Esq. or to the subscriber,
ANDREW HUNTER.
LOST in Philadelphia, before the British troops took possession thereof, a State Lottery Ticket. The sub- scriber's name and number of the ticket may be found in the records of said lottery. If the ticket should be so fortunate as to draw a prize, the managers of the same are requested not to pay any monies to any person on producing said ticket, and they will oblige their very humble servant,
ROBERT EASTBURN.
GRASS SCYTHES, A few dozen of the best sort : ALSO,
FISHING TACKLE, Of all sorts, to be sold Wholesale and Retail, by EDWARD POLE, In BURLINGTON, NEW-JERSEY.
N. B. All orders by Post, with the cash, Post paid, will be immediately attended to.
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Wanted Immediately,
A Good-tempered, active GIRL, about ten years old. Any person having such a one to bind out, may hear of a good place, where she will be well used, taught to read and write, and learned the Mantua-Making business if required, by applying to the Printer of this paper.
THE publick are hereby informed that a GRAMMAR SCHOOL is opened at Raritan, in Somerset county, where decent accomodation for young gentlemen may be had at the moderate price of 301. per annum. particular attention will be given to instruct the youth in writing and reading the English language with propriety. The Faculty of Queen's College having the care and direction of this school, will make it their particular business to attend to the education and conduct of the youth. Those gentlemen who shall chuse to send their sons to this school for in- struction, will apply to John Bogert, A.B. at said place. Raritan, May 17, 1778.
To be sold, a valuable FARM, containing 108 Acres, one fourth of which is mowing ground, and a deal more can readily be made, and the remainder in great measure pasture, pleasantly situated in a village of great resort, and excellent situation for business, called Chatham, in Morris county, New-Jersey; which farm is an excellent one for a grazier, is well watered, has thereon a large barn, and sheds for cattle, and a pretty spot on which a dwelling-house might be built, commanding a fine pros- pect. The land is in good fence, and contains an apple orchard in its prime, capable of producing a large quan- tity of cyder. The dwelling-house, which is a good one, with a store-house and new chair-house and stable, and two acres of land adjoining, will also be sold, if the pur- chaser chuses; to whom possession will be given almost
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immediately, if required. Farther particulars, and the conditions, may be known by applying to JOHN HUNT, the proprietor on the premises.
WAS taken up and delivered to the Gaoler at this place, a negro man named Sambo; about five feet ten inches high and well set; says he belongs to Joseph M'Culloh, living at Great Egg-Harbour. The owner is desired to come, pay charges and take him away, otherwise he will be sold for the same.
JOHN OSBORN, Gaoler. Trenton, June 1, 1778. -New-Jersey Gazette, Vol. 1, No. 27, June 3, 1778.
New-York, June 8. The Ship Alfred, Capt. Bolton, arrived here last Saturday from London, but last from Turkey, which Place she left the 25th of March, came out a single Ship, but has brought no later Papers than what we have already had. Last Wednesday, off Barnegat, she fell in with two Rebel Privateer Brigs, but neither of them thought proper to engage her, when she stood on her Course.
We hear the Indians are beginning to be troublesome to the Inhabitants on the Frontiers of New-Jersey and this Province.
A few Days since a Vessel from Cork for this Port, was taken by Captain Anderson, in an armed Boat and carried into Tom's-River, New Jersey .- New-York Ga- zette and Weekly Mercury, June 8, 1778.
FRIENDLY HINTS TO SUBJECTS, OR THOSE UNDER AUTHORITY.
GOVERNMENT is undoubtedly instituted for the good of the people. And among the vast variety of forms which take place in the world, that government is best by which the greatest happiness of the people, in consistency with the greatest liberty, is promoted. The greatest happiness of a people is protection in their persons and property, and the free enjoyment of the greatest number of privileges consistent with
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the comfortable existence of society. This latter is real liberty, viz. The free enjoyment of the most privileges possible, consistent with a state of society.
Man is a sociable creature : and better be under the worst kind of government, better be in the most absolute slavery, than in a state of entire solitude; but better not to have existed at all. than to live in either of those circumstances .- Anchorites and Hermits may say what they will, but mankind cannot continue to exist without society, or without government : Yea these enemies of human felicity ever found some social connection necessary to their own wretched existence.
As I think proper, through the channel of this useful Gazette to give, with all deference and respect, some hints to those in authority, so I shall with freedom make some observations for the use of my fellow-citizens that are under it.
I. As liberty, liberty! has been the great cry for some years. I wish all to understand wherein it really consists. Liberty is indeed the greatest possible earthly blessing men can enjoy. It implies in it every temporal good. Too much cannot be said in its praises. The climar of culogium cannot transcend the truth. The boldest pencil cannot equal, nor the finest flatter, the original. Yet remember liberty is as really different from licentiousness as it is from slavery ; and licentiousness is ever endeavouring to worm out the former, that it may introduce the latter. It is like hypocrisy ; this is the semblance of religion, and that of liberty ; and however specious both are in their first appearances and high pretences, they will not bear the touchstone of examination, and are equally pernicious and destructive where-ever they are indulged and prevail. A true religion, when it has favoured any part of mankind, is first corrupted by hypocrisy, and then entirely subverted by flagitious iniquity: So liberty is generally first corrupted by licentiousness, and then totally extermi- nated by slavery. As we abhor the latter, let us carefully watch against its delusive, inchanting and diabolical forerunner-And for this purpose, let us consider wherein real liberty consists, and faith- fully adhere to it, and pro aris et focis contend for it. What some whimsical philosophers have termed natural liberty or absolute free- dom, is a mere chimera. There is no such thing, nor possibly can be. For by natural or absolute freedom every man has a right to every thing ; but common property is a solecism, and destroys the very idea of property. And to suppose that absolute liberty gives every man a right to enjoy whatever he can acquire by power. is leaving neither right nor liberty in the world only to the Sampson. who happens to be the strongest. Wherefore what involves such glaring absurdities is never worth supposing, much less wasting time to reason about it .- But "true civil liberty consists in a people's making their own laws, and creating their own magistrates. by representatives freely and frequently chosen from among and by themselves, and living in due obedience, homage and respect to this their own authority." I defy the universe to produce a more perfect idea of liberty than this .- This is the purest, this is the highest liberty that can take place in any nation or community. Here the people chuse a body of rep-
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