USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. IV > Part 48
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delight in sin, and wickedness ; and an utter aversion to, and hatred of that which is truly good and holy.
As the moral law is the transcript of the divine perfections, its precepts are infinitely holy and excellent in themselves, and infinitely worthy to be observed and practised by all the human race: For want of complying heartily with all the divine commands, is owing all the mischiefs and evils of our world. And perhaps no one of the divine commands is of so much importance to man as the knowledge and belief of the truth. But as this idea of truth would lead me beyond my present design, I shall return to the point in hand; which is to say something concerning the excellency of truth between man and man. That it is of great importance to our selves and others to speak the truth and lye not, must be evident to every one who con- siders the end for which speech was first given to man; which was to communicate his thoughts, on any subject, and cause others to receive the same ideas which he had in his own mind ; and correspond- ent feelings and affections answering thereto. Now for persons to contradict the known truth, and utter falsehood with a design or mislead others, must be contrary to every principle of honesty and integrity. I speak with respect to such persons as have a right to the truth; (perhaps there may be some excepted who are unjustly in arms against us, and our clearest rights and priviledges) which leads me to take notice of a method taken by some to promote the cause of liberty, which I think rather injures than promotes it. viz. Forgeries, invented for the sake of encouraging others in times of trouble and danger ; which may perhaps, just for the present answer that end ; but after the truth comes to light, the vain dream vanishes, and sinks the spirits so much the lower in proportion as they were elevated before. Our cause I trust, needs none of those artifices, being the cause of truth, and righteousness; which we have appealed to Heaven for the defence of; and Heaven have hitherto plead our cause, and defended us, and our property, beyond our expectations. Therefore let us not be guilty of breaking the divine commands, in order to promote liberty ; which naturally destroys it; and to the breach thereof may be ascribed all the calamities of our unhappy world. The public will please to excuse imperfections, and accept the well meant aim of their sincere old friend.
A FRIEND TO LIBERTY. -The New-Jersey Journal, Vol. 2, Numb. 83, September 20, 1780.
To the PUBLICK.
Friends and Fellow-Citizens!
W HILST we are spilling our blood and exhausting our Treasure in defence of our own liberty, it would not perhaps be amiss to turn our eyes towards those of our fellow-men who are now groaning in bondage under us. We say "all men are equally entitled to liberty and the persuit of happiness ;" but are we willing
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to grant this liberty to all men? The sentiment no doubt is just as well as generous ; and must ever be read to our praise, provided our actions correspond therewith. But if after we have made such a declaration to the world, we continue to hold our fellow creatures in slavery, our words must rise up in judgement against us, and by the breath of our own mouths we shall stand condemned.
The war has already been prolonged far beyond what we once thought the abilities of Britain would admit of; and how much longer it may please Providence to suffer it to rage, or what the final event of it may be, is to us altogether unknown. The children of Israel, we find, could not conquer their enemies whilst they, the Israelites, had "the accursed thing" amongst them. And as tyrrany is the accursed thing against which we have waged war, how can we hope to prevail against our enemies whilst we ourselves are tyrants, holding thousands of our fellow creatures in slavery under us?
The Lord did not leave it a doubt with Joshua what was the reason they could not succeed ; he told him in plain terms the reason was because they had also transgressed his covenant-they had "the accursed thing" among them. And if the Lord is still the same God, deciding the controversies amongst men upon the same principles, then, although Britain may have transgressed his covenant* in en- deavouring to enslave us, if we are not only also, but equally in the transgression, by holding the Africans and their posterity in slavery, how can we expect he will decide in our favour, unless we recede from such transgression? Unless we abolish tyrrany, "the accursed thing," from amongst us, and do that justice to others which we ask of him for ourselves? Nay, how can we have the face even to ask of him a blessing on our endeavours, however laudable they may be, to defend ourselves against tyrrany and oppression, whilst we are thus acting the part of tyrants and oppressors? Surely we ought rather to blush at our own conduct ;- to acknowledge our own transgres- sions, and, before we presume to solicit a blessing, endeavour, if pos- sible, to obtain forgiveness. Can we imagine our prayers to Al- mighty God will meet with his approbation, or in the least degree tend to procure us relief from the hand of oppression, whilst the groans of our slaves are continually ascending mingled with them? I fear, indeed, that not only our prayers, but our publick fastings, are an abomination in his sight, and will so remain until we have washed our hands from tyranny, and the voice of a slave is not to be heard in our land.
But let me beseech us not to deceive ourselves ; should we under- take to abolish tyranny, and to put an end to that other accursed thing, the gain of oppression hitherto derived from our slaves, as Saul did when he undertook to destroy Amalek. It seems, from what he said to Samuel on meeting with him soon afterwards, that he thought he had done all that was needful-that he had really fulfilled
* As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. Luke vi. 31.
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the will of the Lord. But alas! he was greatly deceived. For he had coveted, and the people had coveted, what they had no right to enjoy ; and by yielding to this evil covetous spirit he drew down the vengeance of Heaven upon him, and his fairest hopes were blasted.
They could not it seems, bear to give up all-the King and the best of the things they saved. And if we keep our present slaves in bondage, and only enact laws that their posterity shall be free, we save that part of our tyranny and gain of oppression, which to us, the present generation, is of the most value-is like the King, and the best of the sheep and the oxen ; and however specious or plausi- ble the preambles of those laws or our pretentions may be, we shall plainly tread in the footsteps of Saul; and I fear our reward, like his, will be the vengeance of Heaven, and the blasting of our fairest hopes. In short, the iniquity of such a measure must be so flagrant, that, to use a trite saying, those who run may read it. It would be plainly telling our slaves, we will not do justice unto you, but our posterity shall do justice unto your posterity. And should such indeed be our language to those who are unfortunately in our power, what can we expect from the just Judge of the universe, but that he will say unto us, I will not deliver you from your tribulation, but your posterity I will deliver.
Let us, my countrymen, derive wisdom from those who have gone before us: Let the people and their rulers beware of an evil covet- ousness.
In our publick and most solemn declarations we say, we are re- solved to die free ;- that slavery is worse than death. He, therefore, who enslaves his fellow-creature must, in our esteem, be worse than he who takes his life ; and yet, surprizing as it may seem, we hold thousands of our fellow-men in slavery, and slumber on under the dreadful load of guilt-Worse than murderers and yet at ease! A melancholy reflection indeed, that habit should be capable of recon- ciling the human mind to the greatest of all crimes-of lulling it to rest in the practice of that which ere long, must cause it to tremble before the great, the awful tribunal; where all deception will be done away, and our transgressions appear in their fullest magnitude and greatest deformity! What shall we then think of the unlawful gain, we now derive from the labour of our innocent, tho' unfortu- nate slaves? Myriads of whom perhaps we shall there behold smiling in the fullest fruition of peace, whilst their late lordly oppressors, conscious of their own guilt, trembling wait the awful sentence.
Let me now entreat us to pause a while, and examine our own hearts. Let us survey our ways with the impartial eye of reason and justice ; and whatsoever shall appear to be out of order, that let us correct. Whilst we are making high pretentions and pompous declarations with regard to our own views and publick virtue, let us take care to act up to those pretentions and declarations ; but above all things, let us candidly, in the sight of Heaven, do that justice to others which we ask for ourselves. This is the way for us to suc-
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ceed in our present contest ; this is the surest way that we can take to obtain PEACE, LIBERTY and SAFETY.
If we are determined not to emancipate our slaves, but to hold them still in bondage, let us alter our language upon the subject of tyranny ; let us no longer speak of it as a thing in its own nature detestable, because in so doing, as hath been observed, we shall con- demn ourselves. But let us rather declare to the world, that tyranny is a thing we are not principled against, but that we are resolved not to be slaves, because we ourselves mean to be tyrants. Such a declaration would certainly be more candid, or at least would better correspond with the conduct I have mentioned, than those we have usually made ; though perhaps it might not be quite so pleasing, for justice is so lovely, and virtue so amiable, that we all love to be deemed their votaries, however estranged we may be from their ways.
Whatever colouring slavekeeping may receive from interested indi- viduals who wish to keep it on foot, there is something in its nature so universally odious, that we meet with but few of the slavekeepers themselves that are willing to be thought tyrants; like unchaste women, they cannot bear to be deemed what they really are; for nothing is more clear, than that he who keeps a slave is a tyrant. Without tyranny, there can be no slavery in the sense here meant. And where slavekeeping is countenanced and upheld by any state or empire, the tyranny becomes national, and the iniquity also; and in such case a national scourge may very well be looked for. If, there- fore, neither the love of justice, nor the feelings of humanity are suffi- cient to induce us to release our slaves from bondage, let the dread of divine retribution-of national calamities-induce us to do it.
I know it is not fashionable for those who write news-paper pieces to risk their names with the pieces they publish; but I shall venture to deviate from the custom in this particular case, because however unpopular it may be, I have a desire to appear one of the testimony . bearers against a practice so unjustifiable as slavekeeping is at all times and in all countries, but more especially in this at the present juncture. I have endeavoured to express my ideas in as few words as possible ; and as the piece is short, so when fully and impartially considered, I hope it will prove offensive to no individual.
JOHN COOPER.
CHATHAM, September 13.
The British Generals Tryon, Mathew and Pattison, are embarked for England, with several other officers.
By a packet arrived at New-York, from Falmouth, the 1st instant, we have the following intelligence: That a . vast number of rioters, men and women, had been tried and condemned; some were executed, the rest would
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share the same fate in small divisions and on different days: That the trial of Lord George Gordon was to come on at Common Law at St. Margaret's Hill in the borough, on the 12th of July; no other than his Grace the Duke of Gordon, his Lordship's brother, Lord Adam Gordon, and the Earl of Aberdeen, his uncle, are permitted to visit his Lordship: That immediate and effectual measures will be taken to establish a reconciliation with America, pre- vious to which a coalition of parties will be established : That Lord Egremont has come entirely round; Lord Rockingham has been at Court and it is commonly said that his party will shift over into the ministerial scale, and that he will have the Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland. Even Wilkes is said to have become respectful to ad- ministration. It is certain that he acted with more spirit and propriety in quelling the riots, than any other city magistrate; and that he broke into a house and seized the papers (tempora mutantur) of a person that plied the men with inflammatory pieces: That in consequence of the late reconciliation between the Royal brothers, the Duke of Gloucester's children paid a visit to their Ma- jesties on the 24th of June, and continued till ten o'clock at night: That Mr. Miller is likely to be hanged for printing two treasonable pieces, viz. England in Blood, and the Thunderer.
TRENTON, SEPTEMBER 20
His Excellency the Chevalier de la Luzerne, passed thro' this place yesterday, on his way to Head-Quarters.
On the 15th instant Congress promoted Brigadier Wil- liam Smallwood, of the Maryland line, to the rank of Major-General in the army of the United States.
We are informed that Adm. Rodney's fleet which ar- rived a few days ago at Sandy-Hook, consists of one ship of 80 guns, eight of 75, one of 64, one frigate and a brig.
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" It is said he sailed several days after a French fleet from the same quarter, of 12 sail of the line, and six frigates, supposed to be bound to Rhode-Island. As Rodney's fleet had a passage of only nineteen days, it is probable they have out-sailed that of the French.
Two days after the arrival of Rodney's fleet, 4 of the ships put out to sea, and stood to the eastward.
Colonel John Neilson is appointed Deputy Quarter- master for this state, in the room of Moore Furman Esq. resigned.
Lately died at Cape-May, in an advanced age, Aaron Leaming, Esq. for many years a Representative in Gen- eral Assembly for that county.
Also died, on Monday morning last, after a short ill- ness, Mrs Reed, consort of His Excellency Joseph Reed, Esq. President of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Last week one hundred and ten recruits for the conti- nental army, passed through town on their way to camp, from Cumberland county in Pennsylvania.
Sunday night last the refugees made an excursion from Staten-Island to Woodbridge, and carried off Mr. Thomas Brown and two other inhabitants.
Several deserters from the enemy came to town since our last.
Extract of a letter from Morristown, Sept. 17.
"News current here is, that the second division of the French fleet is arrived at Rhode-Island-That on their passage they fell in with and took 60 British transports bound for New-York."
We hear that a large prize snow was brought into the Delaware by the Saratoga on Tuesday last. Her cargo is said to be very valuable.
A List of the fortunate numbers in the third class of the United States lottery may be seen at the Printing- Office in Trenton
-
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THE LAST VOTES and PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
of this STATE
Are to be sold at the Printing-Office in Trenton.
ALSO,
BLANK ACCOUNT BOOKS.
WANTED,
TWO experienced Harponiers in the whaling business, to enter the first day of November next, to whom good encouragement will be given by Henry Guest at New-Brunswick.
N. B. None need apply without having proper vouchers of their dexterity in the business.
Monmouth county, Sept. 12, 1780.
Two Hundred Pounds Reward.
D ESERTED from my company, a certain John Brown, about 5 feet 9 inches high, has long brown hair, black complexion, long visage, one of his upper fore teeth broke off; and is a stout, active fellow: He had a note from me for his bounty, of 236L 5s. which all per-
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sons are hereby forbid to purchase. Whoever takes up said deserter, and secures him so that I may get him again, shall have the above reward, paid by
DAVID ANDERSON Capt. State Regt.
Two Hundred Dollars Reward.
Strayed from Princeton, on the 12th or 13th inst.
A SORREL MARE, with white mane and tail, 9 or 10 years old, near 14 and a half hands high, a natural pacer, the fetlocks of her fore feet have been lately trimmed. Any person who will secure said mare, and de- liver her to Captain James Moore in Princeton, shall be entitled to the above reward.
September 15, 1780.
JAMES RIDDLE.
RAN AWAY.
On the evening of the 17th instant,
A NEGRO MAN called NED, a stout fellow about five feet ten or eleven inches high, speaks very low; had on and took with him when he went away, a wool hat with white loops, a brown homespun coat, one woolen check and a tow cloth shirt, and two pair of tow cloth trowsers. Whoever apprehends and secures the said negro, so that his master may have him again, shall be amply rewarded, and all reasonable charges paid by the sub- scriber. J. WINTERS
Rocky-Hill, Sept. 19, 1780.
-- N. J. Gazette, Vol. III., No. 143, Sept. 20, 1780.
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NEW-YORK, Sept. 25.
Last Week a Party of Moyland's Light Horse were at Elizabeth-Town, collecting Cattle for the Use of the Rebel Army. They took a Pair of fat Oxen out of a Team on the Road, and gave the Driver a receipt for them; They then proceeded to the Point Meadows, and took away every Hoof from thence; but were opposed on the Way by the Militia and the Commissioners of the Place, who obliged them to relinquish their Booty. They next began to levy Contributions at Newark, and attempted their fine Flock of Sheep: They were there also obliged to desist. But we are told it was agreed that all the fat Cattle in Newark and its Neighbourhood were to be collected by 150 Light Infantry, and drove to the Mountain Meeting-House near that Place last Saturday, where the honest Farmer was to be convinced the Receipt of a Rebel Commissary would be much better for himself and Family during a long hard Winter, than a Quantity of good fat Beef.
We hear that General Washington and the Marquis de la Fayate, are both gone to Rhode Island, in order to con- sult with the Commander of the French Troops at that Place; and that the Rebel Army crossed the North River last Thursday and Friday.
-The New-York Gazette: and the Weekly Mercury, No. 1510, September 25, 1780.
Cohansey, September 20, 1780.
Run away on the 2d. inst. from the subscriber, living in Bridgetown, Cohansey, an apprentice boy, named James Ruth, about eleven years of age, has short light hair, and fair complexion ; had on and took with him, a coarse white shirt, ravens duck trowsers, and a cocked hat; he stole a
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horse near Bacon's Neck, and was seen riding towards Philadelphia where it is expected he is skulking about the wharves, and may likely want to go out in some vessel, as he has been used to the sea. Whoever takes up said boy, and secures him in any goal, so as his master may have him again, shall have One Dollar reward, paid by
CHARLES CLUNN.
TO BE SOLD,
At PRIVATE SALE, for HARD MONEY,
A certain Lot of Ground, two rods front and ten rods deep, in High-street, Trenton, nearly opposite Mr. Stephen Lowrey's office, on which was lately erected and well finished a neat two story frame dwelling house, 27 feet by 20, with a good cellar under the whole, a chair-house adjoining, and a well of water in the yard, a store has usually been kept in said house, and it is a good stand for that purpose. Any person inclining to purchase may view the premises, and know the terms from the subscriber, living thereon, who will give a good title. The purchaser may have possession before winter.
Trenton, Aug. 10, 1780 James Cumings.
The subscriber, doth hereby inform the public, that he has provided a STAGE WAGGON to accommodate pas- sengers going from Philadelphia, to Trenton; to set off from the Cross Keys tavern, at the corner of Third and Chestnut-streets, on every Tuesday at eight o'clock, and return on Wednesday evening. Those Gentlemen and Ladies that favour him with custom, may depend on quick dispatch and good accommodations, by
JONATHAN SCHOLFIELD. -The Pennsylvania Gazette, September 27, 1780.
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TRENTON, Sept. 20.
Last week one hundred and ten recruits for the conti- nental army, passed through town on their way to camp, from Cumberland county in Pennsylvania.
Sunday night last the refugees made an excursion from Staten Island to Woodbridge and carried off Mr. Thomas Brown and two other inhabitants.
Several deserters from the enemy came to town since our last .- The Pennsylvania Journal, September 27, 1780.
To the Printer of the New-Jersey Gazette
SIR,
I N my letter to you a few weeks ago, I promised a cool and critical examination of an assertion frequently to be met with in the pieces published by Mr. Rivington, in New-York, that humanity is the characteristic of the English nation. I imagine they intend this to render the accounts published of their barbarity to the Ameri- cans incredible. If the English in general are distinguished for humanity, it is natural to suppose that acts of cruelty said to be committed by them, are either false or exaggerated, or perhaps rare and single instances in which individuals have degenerated from the national virtue. So far I cannot help approving the wisdom and penetration of these gentlemen, for such an argument is not only much more plausible in itself, but much more powerful in lessening the odium of base actions, than either attempting to deny the facts or endeavouring to justify them by the guilt or indescretion of the sufferers. To this may be added, that as it is for their countrymen at home that this reasoning is chiefly intended, so upon them it will certainly have an irresistible effect. How can they avoid being will- ing to veil every story of this kind in uncertainty, or bury it in oblivion, upon a principle which must be so grateful, because it brings so much credit to themselves.
These circumstances sufficiently justify me in attempting to bring this assertion to the trial. I have said I would do it coolly and critically, because it cannot otherwise be done fairly ; and this may surely be expected from an emigrant from Great-Britain, as I confess myself to be, who, by impeaching in any particular the national char- acter of the English, cannot be supposed to be doing great honour to himself. We are told then that humanity is the characteristic of the English nation. If this means anything, it carries in it a tacit comparison, and implies that English people in general are more tender-hearted, and treat with greater gentleness enemies who are in
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their power than other nations. In this view of the subject, I shall beg leave to examine very briefly, 1. The probability of it from their known character, and from their own claims in other respects. 2. The witnesses who give testimony in favour of it. 3. How the matter stands in fact, from the most remarkable and most recent examples.
I. As to the probability of it, &c. I think it is admitted by all others, and hardly denied by themselves, that the English are proud and fierce, and have a hatred or contempt of other nations. Their pride they call dignity, and say that it arises from the riches of their country, and the excellence of their constitution. With what self-complacency does the Englishman speak of the avarice of the Dutchman, the levity of the Frenchman, the gravity and solemnity of the Spaniard, the cunning and deceit of the Italian ; and not to go so far from home, of the impudence of the Irishman, and the poverty and lousiness of the Scot. They will perhaps tell me that this is no more than national prejudice, and that it is common to all nations. I do not very well know how it is in this respect in other nations, but supposing it to be pretty much the same, all that my argument requires is, that the English are not free from it, and indeed I am firmly of opinion that they have it in as high perfection as any people under the sun.
Again, when I say the English are fierce, they themselves will admit three-fourths of the character, saying that they are daring and brave. This is their chief excellence and their perpetual boast. But will not other nations add, that with respect to the whole people. it is more a savageness of nature than nobleness of principle, for that their favourite diversions of cockfighting, bullbaiting, horseracing, and even cudgelplaying and prizefighting upon the stage, are a clear proof of their general temper and disposition. These savage amuse- ments are now either .wholly confined to England, or at least more practiced there than in any other country in Europe. We need but read the dissertations of men of reflection and virtue among them- selves, who have made many attempts to banish these. practices, as a reproach to the nation, and particularly inconsistent with humanity. What opinion do moderns form of the humanity of the Roman people, when they hear of their passion for the shews of gladiators? Just the same that I form of an English mob running with the utmost eagerness to see a bull torn in pieces by dogs, or forming a ring with ineffable satisfaction to see two noted bruisers knocking one anothers eyes out, and shouting the praises of the victor, while the vanquished lies before them vomiting blood.
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