USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. III > Part 24
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-The Pennsylvania Evening Post, April 30, 1779.
1 The fullest account of this affair has been published by A. M. Heston, Atlantic City.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
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CHATHAM, (New-Jersey) April 13.
On the 11th ult. four men armed were discovered pass- ing privately through the mountains in the Eastern part of Sussex county: The inhabitants, on receiving intelli- gence of it, immediatly proceeded in pursuit of them, and having a number of excellent dogs for tracking, they pur- sued them different routs upwards of thirty miles, when by the assistance of the dogs they were discovered. Two of them made their escape, and the other two are safely lodged in the provo of the Continental troops stationed at Minisink. They proved to be spies, sent by the British Commander in New-York, with dispatches to those in- famous butchers Butler and Brant. No doubt but the court-martial, which is now trying them, will honour them with a share of Continental hemp.
THE faculty of Queen's College, in New-Jersey, in- forms the public, that the business of said college, is at present carried on at the north branch of Rariton, in the county of Sommerset, a retired and pleasant part of the county, where young gentlemen may be well accomodated, and board had as cheap as the present high prices of provisions will possibly allow. For the encour- agement of education, the Honorable the Legislature of this State, has passed a law exempting all pupils of our colleges from militia duty. The faculty doubts not but such gentlemen as choose to send their sons to this semi- nary, shall meet with due encouragement and satisfaction.
About three weeks ago a gang of robbers stole twenty horses, from the neighbourhood of Pompton, in New- Jersey. Some young men pursued them so closely that they recovered 11 of the horses, the other 9 were carried off to the original den of thieves, at New-York. Four of
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the young men advanced as far as Hobuck, two of them went down a bank on the river side, when one of them proceeded to examine a block-house, in which he saw one of the robbers with a pistol in his hand, and a carbine lying on each side of him coming up speedily to the door, he shot the robber dead, and brought off the carbines and pistol. The report of the firelock, immedi- ately brought the soldiers into view, upon this, our gallant pair of lads, charging their pieces, and the two carbines, prepared to fight them, and when they had got within about 60 yards, they saluted them with a discharge of their 4 pieces, which instantly put them to flight, and the brave youths returned safe home. It is now publickly known, that in New-York, an office is erected for licencing robbers, and conveyers of counterfeit money into the country. Was ever such a species of business and malevo- lence to men, reduced to a system, before the present royal disturber of the peace, introduced it ?- The New-York Journal, and the General Advertiser, Numb. 1823, May 3, 1779.
NEW-YORK, May 3.
A detachment of 650 of the Royal Army under the Command of Col. Hyde, on the 25th inst. fell down to Sandy-Hook, the next morning at 2 o'clock the Col. with one division landing at Shoal Harbour 4 miles east of Middletown, pushed for that place, in which a rebel de- tachment was supposed to be posted, but it had been with- drawn the evening before. The other division, under Capt. Ferguson, landed the same morning 6 miles on the opposite side of Middletown, and advanced to Shrews- bury, where a battalion of continental troops were quar- tered, but as this detachment, from the difficulty of the navigation, could not land before day, the rebel battalion escaped with the loss of between 20 and 30 prisoners, a part of its arms, stores and baggage.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
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In the afternoon the whole assembled under Col. Hyde, who after a march of 5 miles, during which the enemy, as usual, affecting to follow and harrass the rear, reim- barked in the evening with the loss of one man killed, one wounded, and not one missing. The enemy's loss is unknown, but from the distance they kept, it is supposed to be trifling. Several deserters availing themselves of the opportunity of joining the King's troops, and some ob- noxious persecutors of loyal subjects were brought off. -The New-York Gazette: and the Weekly Mercury, No. 1437, May 3, 1779.
For the NEW-JERSEY JOURNAL.
Contracta melius parva cupidine.
Vectigalia porrigam. HOR.
- I T is the privilege and happiness of every citizen of this state that he may freely give his sentiments on public measures, provided he does it with decency and propriety. What I would consider and warmly recommend at present is, that the Representatives should especially attend to the finances of the state; and immediately levy a very large tax as what is most conducive to its interest and emolu- ment. I readily grant, it is not in the power of any individual state, however ample her taxes, either to restrain the exorbitant prices of things or the depreciation of the currency ; this pertains to a superior court, in whose power it is, by recommending a timely and sufficient taxation, such as the Continent can bear, and would pay with chear- fulness, to prescribe hints to both : It is impossible that funding the Continental money, while the quantity is not diminished, but in- creased, and a great share of the tax recommended this year must be expended in the payment of interest, can be of any essential ad- vantage; yea, it is demonstrable, that it has a very different tend- ency, it accumulates our debt, and accelerates the depreciation of our currency. Witness the velocity of the depreciation this winter, by converting the two emissions to stock on interest. No people have ever exerted greater wisdom in difficulties, fortitude in dangers, pa- tience in sufferings, and temper and humanity under injuries, than .
the Americans. I wish their skill in financering was equal to their dexterity in other matters, and they understood the nice and intricate science of money as well as the greater arts of Bellona; but perhaps
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we should then have more understanding and a greater portion of happiness than is alloted to nations in this state of imperfection .- But let the Continent in general take what measures may seem to them expedient, it is our indispensable duty to attend to the circum- stances of our own state, and apply the best remedies in our power against the great evils arising from the want of a general and effectual taxation, and from the plenty and depreciation of money. In my apprehension, the principal method by which we can preserve ourselves from suffering great damage, is to deposit large quantities of money in the continental loan-office, the interest of which may, in some good degree, balance the quota of interest due from this state upon continental certificates. This may be done by throwing in all the monies arising from confiscations, and by hastening on a tax of two or three millions of dollars this year, and as much more the next.
We may mention it freely, as it is too notorious to be concealed, that we have been too inattentive and delatory in this most important . affair of taxation. In the year of 1777, we ought to have raised £100,000 by tax, and at the same time called in all the old money emitted under the authority of the King. This would have been a saving to the state of another £100,000, which would have made its exit in the hands of the enemy, the disaffected and unbelieving .- Last year we ought to have raised £300,000; but instead of this there was only levied a trifle of a tax, and it was assessed in a worse than trifling manner, with gross injustice, and shameful inequality. This year, instead of pidling about £100,000, considering the depreciation and abundance of money, we ought to have raised already at least £600,000 .- In this way we should act like men of enlarged minds, like honest patriots, who understood and had the interest of our country at heart, and would have saved thousands and tens of thou- sands to our state. Hereby we should prevent much idleness, gamb- ling, extorton, and fraud, and encrease agriculture, manufacturing, and all kinds of industry, by extracting the cash from a body of people who will idle and game while they have it.
What is it for a people to pay great founding taxes, when by mere reason of the superabundance of money, they can get six pounds a bushel for wheat, four pounds for indian corn, ten pounds for a barrel of cyder, one hundred pounds for a middling ox, &c. To say it is scarcity makes produce so high, is not a just representation of the fact. The high prices do not bring a grain more into the country; yea, scarcity is so far from being the cause of dearness, that were people called upon for large taxes, so as to be made to feel the want of money, they would instantly sell more produce, whereby this seeming scarcity would in a great measure vanish, and provisions would become both plentier and cheaper ; but now people feel no necessity of money, and therefore will not part with what otherwise they would. Wheat, I believe, is scarcer in America than when the contest began, which will not be the case another year, even if the war continues. Connecticut, which has been the great store-
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house of flesh for the army, it is asserted, has more cattle in it now than ever it had; wherefore there is by no means a want of provi- sions in the country. It may be laid down as a maxim in our case, "Make money important or scarce, and provisions will be plenty." Therefore to be procrastinating taxation, and be involving ourselves in an heavy corroding interest, and wallowing at the same time in more money than heart can wish, is greater folly than moon-struck madness.
The quota which New-Jersey has to pay of the continental debt is, at least, an eighteenth part of the whole, which is near seven millions of dollars. Full half of this we have to pay interest for, which ingulphs above a quarter of our 800,000 dollars, we are to raise this year, and neither helps country nor army, but sinks dead in the awful, the insatiable, and never disgorging vortex of interest payment. We all know that interest is generally deemed a moth to personal estates, but is a devouring monster when attending a na- tional debt. Let us therefore stent its voracious maw, by paying a generous tax, adequate to our ability, to the abundance of money among us, and to the exigencies of our circumstances. Hereby we will diminish the principal, and lessen the accursed appendage .- It is in every view the best policy in this state to tax high at present.
1. We have no trading city in this state. Our money floats off in large cargoes to the neighbouring states, whose ports are open for luxuries, gewgaws, and useless trinkets. Wisdom and interest there- fore dictate that we should make a legal seizure of a large portion of it to pay our share of the national debt. The river which run into the ocean it returns again in a finely adjusted dispersion by the friendly clouds in refreshing and fructifying showers; but not so with the money which flows from hence to the other states; it will require stronger powers than exhalation, rarefaction, and gentle breezes, to bring it back again.
2. Let us attentively consider human nature. A great part of man- kind will neither be industrious nor frugal while they have cash in their pockets. Now it is good policy to draw this money from the people while they have it, and it is justly due. We hereby preserve many families from ruin ; we make multitudes saving and laborious, and render them useful members of society. There are in this state numbers of people who are not landholders, and can now pay a large tax. There are swarms of forestallers, engrossers, monopolizers, sharpers, gamblers, traders, and pedlars, who are rioting upon the bounty of our country ; all these ought to be rated high, and a vast sum of money might be raised from them, whereby the burden of the honest husbandman, and useful mechanic, may be greatly lightened. After the war is over, few of these prowling animals, will be found, and fewer of them still will be able to pay any tax. Their money is drank and gamed away, and they are become drones and nusances, in the community. By taxing properly, some of those people may be saved from ruin, and in every view the highest possible service will be performed to the country.
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3. Remember, if the floods of money in this state ebb out, before the weight of our debt is paid, it will be a difficult task, more arduous than rowing against wind and tide, to restore it, or cause it to return ; wherefore let us pay our debts while the money is. If we fall behind other states, and neglect levying sufficient taxes for the discharge of our quota, the consequence will be, that we shall have to pay interest to them; and hereby we shall certainly weaken and depopulate. People will not choose to settle in, but rather emigrate from a state where money is scarce and taxes high, and pitch their tents where the burden is become lighter.
I shall now take the liberty to conclude this paper in an earnest, brief and respectful address to the fathers, the guardians, the repre- sentatives of this state. I entreat you, gentlemen, to have mercy upon your constituents, to have mercy upon the farmers, and all the worthy part of the community, by blessing the state with large taxes. You cannot give your country an higher pleasure, or do it a more essential service. If you desire (and I know you desire it with great ardor) to have your state free from debt, populous, virtuous, rich, flourishing, contented, and happy, tax away with a generous hand .- If you choose to have it poor, waste, miserable, and uncultivated ; to have it filled with lewd debauchees, idle gamblers, and strolling vagrants, tax very little or none at all .- But you love your country, and account it your highest pleasure to promote its felicity, wherefore, with much fervency, I beseech you by every motive and consideration, by humanity, by justice, by honesty, by patriotic affection, by the dictates of common sense, by sound policy, and by every virtue, to levy large taxes in some rational proportion to the prices of produce, to the superabundance of money with which we are deluged, and to the great debts in which we are involved.
AGRICOLA.
To the PRINTER.
SIR,
T HE resolutions of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, for the relief of their officers and soldiers (published in your ·Journal some time last month) I perused with attention and satisfaction. I was happy also to observe that this was not their first attempt to alleviate the distresses of their soldiery, a considerable supply of West-India goods and other necessary articles being last winter sent to camp, previous to their resolves, to be retailed to their troops at a moderate price. Notwithstanding the provision made, in both instances, falls very short not only of rewarding the services, but even removing the difficulties of a soldier, I was pleased to observe a more general disposition to do something in that way, and especially its making so near an approach to this state. Measures of this nature were early adopted by the Eastern states, the Southern quickly followed their example; and I think, I may with truth
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assert, altho' with a blush for New-Jersey, that there is no other state on the Continent which hath not, in some degree, attended to the wants and distress of their troops.
When Continental money was equal in value to gold and silver, and the price of every article at the lowest rate, the pay of officers and soldiers afforded themselves and their families a very scanty subsist- ance. In the year 1777, the money had been so depreciated and the value of goods so enhanced, that their pay would not purchase even for themselves their own necessaries. Accordingly Congress, some time in that year, convinced not only of the justice, but necessity and policy of the measure, directed the several legislatures to procure cloathing and other articles requisite for the use and convenience of a soldier, and deliver them to their respective troops at a price proportioned to their pay. Almost two years have since elapsed with- out any provision of the kind being made by the State of New-Jersey, during which time the currency hath continued to be depreciated rapidly, and the sufferings of their troops to increase to such a degree, as nothing but a kind of enthusiasm, in the sacred cause of freedom, could have secured their continuance in the army until this time.
The difficulties of the soldiery is a subject of so delicate a nature, as not to permit a full and perfect description of it to the public. We had long realized our sufferings before they were even mentioned amongst ourselves : the load had grown almost intollerable, when we had hardly expressed our complaints to one another; and it is not without pain and reluctance, I publish these few suggestions which, I trust, are inoffensive, and will, at least, be productive of no evil consequences.
Notwithstanding the employment of the soldiery, from the com- mencement of the war, have been of a nature the most distressing to themselves and important to the public, yet they remain the only class of their servants, who are not rewarded for their services; and they are likely to be the only sufferers too, from that glorious revolution which they are the principal instruments of effecting. Those who were possessed of any considerable property in the beginning of the controversy must, inevitably, exhaust it; and those who were poor, are not only loosing the time and opportunity of providing a future easy subsistance, but are involving themselves in debt, and laying the foundation of dependence on those whose liberty and affluence they are struggling hard to establish. Some few, indeed, unwilling to re- main the only victims devoted to public liberty and happiness, have, reluctantly, retired from the service, in order to provide a comfortable support for themselves and their infant families ; and what would be the consequence should every person, equally necessitated, adopt the same resolution? It must be truly mortifying to the virtuous soldier to observe many, at this day, displaying their cash, and sauntering in idleness and luxury, who, at the commencement of the war, would not have been honoured with the rank of a non-commissioned officer
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in any of our corps : and, what is still more aggravating, the gentry of this denomination are amongst the foremost to dispise our poverty and laugh at our distress. I cannot help at the same time complaining of the cruel and ungrateful disposition of the people in general, in withholding from the army even the praise or glory justly due to their merit and services. Altho' our conduct has been generous and patriotic beyond a parallel in history, in serving three active and difficult cam- paigns, without the compensation of pay, and destitute of those enjoy- ments which make life tolerable, yet so unfortunate is our situation, that we do not receive the thanks, and hardly the approbation, of our country.
Since the publication of the Pennsylvania resolves in your paper, I have had an opportunity of discovering the sentiments of men of almost every class or denomination. Some few have pronounced the plan a proper and generous compensation, while others as seriously condemned it, from this principle, that the officers and soldiers were already sufficiently provided for and rewarded. It requires very little pains to demonstrate to the conviction of every man of reflec- tion, the former opinion to be erroneous, and the latter both dangerous and absurd.
Every one must acknowledge the services of the soldiery are of so respectable and important a nature, that thereby both they and their families should be comfortably supported during their continuance in the army. Pennsylvania has only resolved to furnish their officers and soldiers with clothes and other articles necessary for a camp life, at a reasonable rate. On condition they are perfectly sparing in the purchase and consumption of these. necessaries, how far will the residue of their pay extend towards supporting even the smallest families at home? It is certain, after the most frugal economy in his own unavoidable expences, the surplus of an officer's cash will not purchase their flour ; and that of the private soldier's (to make use of an old expression) will not procure even salt for their porridge.
It is not owing to a degeneracy of principle, or want of unanimity in the people at large, that our regiments remain incompleat, and the enemy have a standing on the Continent; but to the distressing situ- ation of those who have hitherto fought their country's battles. Altho' it is a fact, the people in general are far more unanimous and prin- cipled in our cause than ever, yet there are but few so perfectly benevo- lent and disinterested, as to relinquish every reward and enjoyment, and become voluntary sacrifices to public freedom and independence. Let the services of the soldiery be made profitable and respectable, and I will engage an army may be instantly raised sufficient to give a decisive stroke to the present important controversy.
A JERSEY SOLDIER.
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION.
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CHATHAM, MAY 4.
The banditti who lately robbed the Honourable Robert Ogden, Esq; a few nights since plundered the house of Mr. Charles Hoff, at Hibernia iron works, of a very considerable amount.
Saturday last being the anniversary of St. Tamany, the titular St. of America, the same was celebrated at New- Ark by a number of Gentlemen of the army.
Last Friday was hung at New-Ark, pursuant to his sentence, a soldier belonging to General Maxwell's brigade.
On Friday last arrived at Camp, from Philadelphia, his Excellency Mons. Gerard, Ambassador from the Court of France, to review the army, where he was received with the honours due to his high station, and on Sunday last he set out to return again.
FOSTER HORTON
Has for SALE, at his STORE in CHATHAM, the following articles, viz.
W EST-India rum by the barrel or gallon, excellent indigo by the hundred or smaller quantity, bohea tea, combs of different sorts, mohair and mohair button, gimps of different colours, hearth-brushes, &c. &c. &c.
April 1, 1779.
STEPHENSON & CANFIELD
Have for SALE, at their store opposite Mr. Robert Norris's tavern in MORRIS TOWN,
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LUE and brown Bbroad dothe, Coatings,
Sagothy, Camblet, Callico,
Fine muslins,
Sewing silk,
Ribbons of all colours, Crooked combs, Coarse and fine ditto,
Men's thread stockings, royal ribbed,
Tapes, Silk gloves,
Drumcondriff linen,
Buckram,
Stocks ready made,
Men's worsted caps,
Pocket books,
Nutmegs,
Pasteboards,
Silk stay laces,
Women's flowered paper hats,
White wax beads,
Black ditto,
Wool cards,
Watch chains,
Men's shoes,
Ditto keys,
Ditto boots,
Ditto Seals,
Shoe brushes,
Spectacles,
Shoemaker's tacks,
Snuff-boxes,
Women's shoe-heels,
Hatter's bow-strings,
Writing-paper,
Garters,
Ink-powder,
Bohea tea,
Mohair,
Snuff in bottles,
Coat and vest buttons,
Tobacco,
Sleeve ditto,
Alspice and ginger,
Shoe buckles,
Coperas and brimstone,
Clasps for small shoes,
Indigo and allum.
Shoe-knives,
The above articles they will sell as cheap as the times will admit for cash or country produce.
TO BE SOLD,
At public vendue, at the house of Cornelius Miller, deceased, near Elizabeth Town, on Tuesday the 11th instant,
Pocket ditto, Pen ditto,
Black modes, wide and narrow, Ditto peelong plain and spotted, Silk handkerchiefs, Penciled ditto,
Wide and narrow cambricks and lawns, Irish linen,
Leather ditto,
Sewing thread,
Ditto needles by the thousand,
Garnets,
Blond lace,
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NEW JERSEY IN THE REVOLUTION. [1779
A CLOCK, watch, compas-making tools, a diamond to cut glass, blacksmiths tools, wearing apparel, farm- ing utensils, one cow, and household goods too tedious to mention. The vendue to begin at 10 o'clock, when the conditions will be made known by
JONATHAN MILLER, Administrator, SARAH MILLER, Administratrix.
TO BE SOLD,
A LARGE COPPER KETTLE which holds two hun- dred and sixty gallons. For further particulars inquire of James Losey, near Morris Town, or Samuel Miller, jun. in Springfield.
D ROPT in the road near the seventh-day meeting-house, in Piscataque, on the 27th instant, a SURTOUT COAT, supposed to have been taken up by two gentlemen who were seen to pass a few minutes after, riding towards either Piscataque Town or Metuchen: If they will please to inform the owner, by sending to the Half-Moon, near the spot where it was dropt; or, if more convenient, to the Printer of this paper, with what it con- tained in the pockets, shall be handsomely rewarded, with thanks, by their humble servant.
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