USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the revolutionary history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. V > Part 41
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But if the deficiency should be still shorter, it would next fall on the fourth head, the means of remoring the army from place to place; and in this case, the army must either stand still where it can be of no use, or seige on horses, carts, waggons, or any means of trans- portation it can lay hold of; and in this instance the country suffers. In short, every attempt to do a thing for less than it can be done for, is sure to become at last both a loss and a dishonour.
But the country cannot bear it say some. This has been the most expensive doctrine that ever was held out, and cost America millions of money for nothing. Can the country bear to be overrun, ravaged and ruined by an enemy, which will immediately follow where defence is wanting, and defence will ever be wanting where sufficient reve- nues are not provided. But this is only one part of the folly. The second is, that when the danger comes, invited in part by our not preparing against it, we have been obliged, in a number of instances to expend double the sums, to do that which at first might have been done for half the money. But this is not all. A third mischief has been, that grain of all sorts, flour, beef, fodder, horses, carts, waggons, or whatever was absolutely or immediately wanted, have to be taken without pay. Now I ask, why was all this done, but from that extremely weak and expensive doctrine, that the country could not bear it? that is, that she could not bear, in the first instance, that which could have saved her twice as much at last ; or in proverbial language, that she could not bear to pay a penny to save a pound ; the consequence of which has been, that she has
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paid a pound for a penny. Why are there so many unpaid certificates in almost every man's hands, but from the parsimony of not pro- viding sufficient revenues? Besides the doctrine contradicts itself ; because if the whole country cannot bear it, how is it possible that a part should ; and yet this has been the case: For those things have been had, and they must be had; but the misfortune is, they have been had in a very unequal manner, and upon expensive credit, whereas with ready money they might have been purchased for half the price, and no body distressed.
But there is another thought which ought to strike us, which is, - How is the army to bear the want of food, clothing, and other necessaries? The man who is at home can turn himself a thousand ways, and find as many means of ease, convenience or relief : But a soldiers life admits of none of those: Their wants cannot be supplied from themselves: For an army, though it is the defener of a state, is at the same time the child of a country, and must be provided for in every thing.
And lastly, The doctrine is false. There are not three million of people, in any part of the universe, who live so well, or have such a fund of ability as in America. The income of a common labourer, who is industrious, is equal to that of the generality of tradesmen in England. In the mercantile line, I have not heard of one who could be said to be a bankrupt since the war began, and in England they have been without number. In America almost every farmer lives on his own lands, and in England not one in a hundred does. In short, it seems as if the poverty of that country had made them furious, and they were determined to risk all to recover all.
Yet, notwithstanding those advantages on the part of America, true it is, that had it not been for the operation of taxes for our necessary defence, we had sunk into a state of sloth and poverty : For there was more wealth lost by neglecting to till the earth in the years 1776, 77 and 78, than the quota of the tax amounts to, That which is lost by neglect of this kind, is lost forever ; whereas that which is paid, and continues in the country, returns to us again ; and at the same time that it provides us with defence. it operates not only as a spur but as a premium to our industry.
I shall now proceed to the second head, viz. On the sereral quotas, and the nature of a union.
There was a time when America had no other bond of union, than that of common interest and affection. The whole country flew to the relief of Boston, and making her cause their own, participated her cares, and administered to her wants. The fate of war, since that day, has carried the calamity in a ten fold proportion to the southward; but in the mean time, the union has been strengthened by a legal compact of the states, jointly and severally ratified, and that which before was choice, or the duty of affection, is now like- wise the duty of legal obligation.
The union of America is the foundation-stone of her independence ; the rock on which it is built ; and is something so, sacred in her constitution, that we ought to watch every word we speak, and
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every thought we think, that we injure it not, even by mistake. When a multitude, extended, or rather scattered, over a continent, in the manner we are, mutually agree to form one common centre whereon the whole shall move, to accomplish a particular purpose. all parts must act together and alike, or act not at all, and a stop- page in any one is a stoppage of the whole, at least for a time.
Thus the several states have sent Representatives to assemble together in Congress, and they have empowered that body, which thus becomes their centre, and are no other than themselves in representation, to conduct and manage the war, while their con- stituents at home attend to the domestick cares of the country, their internal legislation, their farms, possessions or employments: For it is only by reducing complicated things to method and orderly con- nection that they can be understood with advantage, and pursued with success-Congress, by virtue of this delegation, estimates the expence and apportions it out to the several parts of the empire according to their several abilities; and here the debate must end. because each state has already had its voice, and the matter has undergone its whole portion of argument, and can no more be altered by any particular state, than a law of any state, after it has passed, can be altered by an individual. For with respect to those things which immediately concern the union, and for which the union was purposely established and is intended to secure, each state is to the United States what each individual is to the state he lives in. And it is on this grand point, this movement upon one centre, that our existence as a nation, our happiness as a people, and our safety as individuals, depend.
It may happen that some state or other may be somewhat over or under rated, but this cannot be much. The experience which has been had upon the matter has nearly ascertained their several abilities. . But even in this case, it can only admit of an appeal to the United States, but cannot authorize any state to make the alteration itself, any more than our internal government can admit an individual to do so in the case of an act of assembly : for if one state can do it, then may another do the same, and the instant this is done, the whole is undone.
Neither is it supposable that any single state can be a judge of all the comparative reasons which may influence the collective body in quotaing out the continent. The circumstances of the several states are frequently varying, occasioned by the accidents of war and commerce, and it will often fall upon some to help others, rather beyond what their exact proportion at another time might be; but even this assistance is as naturally and politically included in the idea of a union, as that of any particular. assigned proportion ; be- cause we know not whose turn it may be next to want assistance ; for which reason, that is the wisest state which sets the best example.
Though in matters of bounden duty and reciprocal affection, it is rather a degeneracy from the honesty and ardour of the heart to admit any thing selfish to partake in the government of our conduct,
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yet in cases where our duty, our affections, and our interests all co- incide, it may be of some use to observe their union. The United States will soon become heir to an extensive quantity of vacant land, and their several titles to shares and quotas thereof will naturally be adjusted according to their relative quotas during the war, exclusive of that inability which may unfortunately arise. to any state by the enemy holding possession of a part; but as this is a cold matter of interest, I pass it by, and proceed to my third head, viz.
On the manner of Collection and Expenditure .- It hath been our error as well as our misfortune, to blend the affairs of each state, especially in money matters, with those of the United States ; whereas it is to our ease, convenience and interest to keep them separate. The expences of the United States for carrying on the war, and the expences of each state for its own domestick government are distinct things, and to involve them is a source of perplexity and a cloak for fraud. I love method because I see and am convinced of its beauty and advantage. It is that which makes all business easy and under- stood, and without which everything becomes embarrassed and difficult.
There are certain powers which the people of each state have dele- gated to their legislative and executive bodies, and there are other powers which the people of every state have delegated to Congress, among which is that of conducting the war, and, consequently, of managing the expences attending it; for how else can that be man- aged, which concerns every state, but. by a delegation from each. When a state has furnished its quota, it has an undoubted right to know how it has been applied, and it is as much the duty of Con- gress to inform the state of the same, as it is the duty of the state to provide the other.
In the resolution of Congress already recited, it is recommended to the several states to lay taxes for raising their quotas of money for the United States, separate from those laid for their own particular 11.51.
This is a most necessary point to be observed, and the distinction should follow all the way through. They should be levied, paid and collected separately, and kept separate in every instance. Neither have the civil officers of any state, or the government of that state, the least right to touch that money which the people pay for the support of their army and the war, any more than Congress has to touch that which each state raises for its own use.
This distinction will naturally be followed by another. It will occasion every state to examine nicely into the expences of its civil list, and to regulate, reduce and bring it into better order than it has hitherto been: because the money for that purpose must be raised apart, and accounted for to the publick separately. But while the monies of both were blended, the necessary nicety was observed, and the poor soldier, who ought to have been the first, was the last who was thought of.
Another convenience will be, that the people by paying the taxes separately, will know what they are for; and will likewise know that those which are for the defence of the country will dease with
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the war, or soon after. For although, as I have before observed, the war is their own, and for the support of their own rights and the protection of their own property, yet they have the same right to know what they have to pay, and it is the want of not knowing that is often the cause of dissatisfaction.
The regulation of keeping the taxes separate has given rise to a regulation in the office of finance, by which it is directed.
"That the receivers shall, at the end of every month, make out an exact account of the monies received by them respectively, during such month, specifying therein the names of the persons from whom the same shall have been received, the dates, and the sums, which account they shall respectively cause to be published in one of the news-papers of the state; to the end that every citizen may know how much of the monies collected from him, in taxes, is transmitted to the treasury of the United States for the support of the war; and also, that it may be known what monies have been at the order of the Superintendant of Finance. ,It being proper, and necessary, that in a free country the people should be as fully informed of the admin- istration of affairs as the nature of things will admit."
It is an agreeable thing to see a spirit of order and oeconomy taking place, after such a series of errors and difficulties. A govern- ment or an administration, who means and acts honestly, has nothing to fear, and consequently nothing to conceal, and it would be of use if a monthly or quarterly account was to be published, as well of the expenditures as of the receipts. Eight Millions of Dollars must be husbanded with an exceeding deal of care to make it do, and there- fore, as the management must be reputable, the publication would be serviceable.
I have heard of petitions which have been presented to the Assembly of this state (and probably the same may have happened in other states) praying to have the taxes lowered. Now the only way to keep the taxes low is, for the United States to have ready money to go to market with ; and though the taxes to be raised for the present year will fall heavily, and there will naturally be some difficulty in paying them, yet the difficulty, in proportion as money spreads about the country, will every day grow less, and in the end we shall save some Millions of Dollars by it. We see what a bitter, revengeful enemy we have to deal with, and any expence is cheap compared to their merciless paw.
We have seen the unfortunate Carolinians hunted like partridges on the mountains, and it is only by providing means for our defence that we shall not be in the same condition. When we think or talk about taxes, we ought to recollect that we lie down in peace, and sleep in safety ; that we can follow our farms or stores, or other occupations, in prosperous tranquility ; and that these inestimable blessings are procured to us by the taxes that we pay. In this view, our taxes are properly our insurance-money ; they are what we pay to be made safe, and in strict policy are the best money we can lay out.
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It was my intention to offer some remarks on the impost law of fire per cent. recommended by Congress and to be established as a fund for the payment of the loan-office certificates and other debts of the United States; but I have already extended my piece beyond my intention. And as this fund will make our system of finance complete, and is strictly just, and consequently requires nothing but honesty to do it, there needs but little to be said upon it.
Philad. March 3, 1782.
COMMON SENSE.
TO BE SOLD,
A VALUABLE farm, containing one hundred and thirty-three acres, joining the south branch of Raritan, in the township of Reading, and county of Hunterdon, about three miles from Flemington, there is between thirty and sixty acres cleared, half of which is low land and meadow, and the rest very good timber land, and there is ou said farm a very good grist mill, and a new saw mill, both in very good repair, and in a healthy part of the country, and in a very good place for custom for both mills; it lies in a thick settled neigh- bourhood, and timber plenty, and likewise a new dwelling-house, two stories high, with three rooms on a floor, and good cellar, barn, and other out houses very suitable for a store, as there has been one kept for many years past, and a young bearing orchard of about one hundred and twenty trees, and a well of excellent water by the door. For further particulars enquire of the subscriber, living on the premises, who will give an indisputable title for the same.
PHILIP DILTS. .
March 23.
The subscriber intends leaving the state in a short time, therefore earnestly requests all those who are indebted to him that they come and settle their accounts by the first day of May ensuing, otherwise he will be under the disagreeable necessity to put their accounts in suit. STEPHIEN BURROWS.
N. B. Any person having a Negro Wench for sale between the age of 20 and 35 years, by applying as above, may receive a reason- able price and good pay.
The subscriber being at the house of Isaac Smith, Esq. in Hope- well, Hunterdon county, New-Jersey, was last night about 12 o'clock, by a number of armed men, robbed of a silver watch with a silver seal thereto, that has the letters E. P. thereon in a cypher: the watch runs on diamonds, and the silver on the bottom of the case, pressing to open it, is partly wore off, so that there is the appear- ance of something like red sealing wax. Whoever shall recover and deliver said watch to the said Isaac Smith in Hopewell, or the sub- seriber in Philadelphia, shall have half a Johannes reward.
EDWD. PENNINGTON.
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N. B. The said armed men also took six silver Dollars from the dbscriber, which, if recovered, shall be given in addition to the Award aforesaid, on the delivery of the watch as above.
April 13, 1782.
TO COVER,
The ensuing season,
The well bred horse Young Lofty, at Titus Quick's in Amwell, about half a mile from Henry Mershon's tavern, at Twenty-five Shillings. Lofty is a jet black, with a star, fifteen hands and a half high, four years old this season, full three-quarters blooded, allowed to be a well proportioned colt, and very gay carriage. Ilis sire the imported Od Lofty, his dam a beautiful half blooded Dawson.
TITUS QUICK.
A ROBBERY.
THE house of the subscriber, in Hopewell, township, Hunterdon county, on the night of the 12th instant, was attacked by 8 or more armed men, who robbed from it between the hours of eleven and one of the clock, the following articles :
1 piece of fine French linen of about 20 yards, 1 Just washed and
1 do of do. 22 yards,
rough dryed.
1 do of do . 7 yards,
3 yards of coarse linen, 8 yards of homespun dimity.
6 yards of brown sustian, one stick of hair.
9 do. white jean, 7 yards fine chintz, green ground. 1 yard fine cambrick, 2 pair of white thread stockings.
2 stamped jacket patterns of fine yellow jean.
2 blue stamped handkerchiefs, 2 do. check
5 silver table spoons, much worn marked F. R. B.
6 do tea spoons, marked M. S. 4 do. marked M. P .; a pair of tea-tongs.
A very good plain silver watch, Thomas Stretch, Philadelphia No. 25.
One pair of large silver buckles, one do. smaller, plain. Two pair of silver knee buckles.
A garnet ring, a mourning do. motto Ann Bacon, ob. March 11.
A remarkably neat long fowling piece, upward of 4 feet barrel, marked on the upper side, Wilson, London, with a gold touch- hole, and a water-proof lock, the cock stands far back from the hammer, marked on the Breech.
R. F. Amidst the chance on every plain, The tender thought on thee shall dwell. I. S.
A buck horn handled straight hanger, mounted with solid silver. In cash, 6 guineas and silver coin, amounting in all to about £18.
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A stone broach, and a pair of silver stock clasps, marked I. S. 126 Jersey state dollars of the first emission, with interest. 3 breadths of black sattin, lately dyed.
3 yards brown bengal, a small English artillery fusee, marked No. 18. A case with a silver hoop round, it, containing 6 razors, tip'd with silver, and tortoise-shell handles, mob worn, and 2 plain ones with black horn handles, marked with a star.
With sundry other articles.
The most active villain was a middle sized man about 5 feet ; or 8 inches high, a scratch or blotch on his left cheek, and a crease in the middle of his under lip, had on a spotted velvet jacket and breeches.
Another was somewhat shorter and thicker, full-faced and had a remarkably short chin.
A third was a tall slender man, with a brown great coat on ; These three appeared to be under 30 years of age; as the others did not come into the house, they cannot be described.
Whoever discovers and delivers the above mentioned goods and money, well-conditioned, to the subscriber, shall receive seven Half. Johannesses reward ; and for a part, in proportion to the value.
April 15, 1782.
ISAAC SMITH.
TO COVER The ensuing season,
AT the plantation of the subscriber, in Frechold, and at Anthony Applegate's, at Haight's-Town, the noted young horses Herod and Lofty, at one Guinea, or six bushels of good merchantable wheat the season, the price to be paid the first day of September next ensuing the date hereof, or interest from that date till paid; they both are rising five years old this season, and are seven-eights blooded, and both good bay'; Lofty is fifteen hands high, with a blaze in his face, and both hind feet white, and is to stand at the subscriber's stable in Freehold. Young Herod is fifteens hands and one inch high, and is to stand at Mr. Anthony Applegate's stable, in Haight's-Town, the 15th day of April, and to remain there till Monday the 22d day of April, then to be moved down to the sub- scriber's in Freehold, and to be moved weekly from place to place during the season.
JOSHUA ANDERSON. ANTHONY APPLEGATE.
Freehold, April 12, 1782.
ELIZABETHI-TOWN STAGE.
TIIE subscriber informs the publick that he has a convenient stage-waggon, with 4 good horses, suitable for carrying passengers and their baggage, which will set out from the Bunch of Grapes, in Third street, Philadelphia, every Monday and Wednesday morning at 5 o'clock, breakfast at Bristol, dine at Princeton, and proceed to
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Brunswick that night, there to meet Ichabod Grummond's stage- waggon ; which leaves Dr. Winantz's house at Elizabeth-Town every Monday and Wednesday, at two o'clock in the afternoon, they ex- change passengers at Brunswick, and return the next day; the price for each passenger from Philadelphia to Elizabeth-Town to be Thirty-five Shillings, and the same for 150 lb. baggage.
He has also a genteel coach, which will set out from the Bunch of Grapes every Friday morning at 5 o'clock, and reach Brunswick that night, there to meet a convenient stage to convey the passengers to Elizabeth-Town next morning; the price for the coach is Thirty- seven Shillings and Six pence for each passenger.
GER. JOHNSON.
THREE POUNDS REWARD.
RUN away from the subscriber, in Trenton, a negro man, named Peter, about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high; he had on a blue surtout coat, yellow worsted under coat, brown jacket and breeches, and blue yarn stockings, he plays on the fiddle, and uses the bow with the left hand ; he made his escape the 27th of March last, and is supposed to be gone in the pines, as he formerly lived there. Who- ever takes up said negro, and secures him, so that his master may have him again, shall have the above reward, and reasonable charges, paid by JONA. RICHMOND.
April 16, 1782.
ALI. persons indebted to the estate of Elias Bland, late of Mid- dlesex county, deceased, by mortgage, bond, or otherwise, are desired to discharge the same by the first day of May next, to the sub- seribor; they who neglect this notice may depend on being sued.
WM. CALVERT.
Mountholly, April 17, 1782.
This may certify to whom it may concern,
THIAT the partnership of Bachhouse, Williams and Yamans, at Greenwich Forge, in Sussex county, is dissolved, and said Forge is carried on by said Williams, who will settle all former accounts of said partnership. SAM. WILLIAMS.
March 15, 1782.
THIE members of the New-Jersey medical society are requested to remember, that their next general meeting will be held on the first Tuesday in May next, at Christopher Beekman's, the sign of the College, Princeton.
By order of the society,
THOMAS WIGGINS, SEC'RY.
April 13, 1782.
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From the New Jersey Gazette, Vol. V., No. 226, April 24. 1782.
TRENTON, APRIL 24.
Extract of a letter from Freehold. Monmouth county, dated April 15, 1782.
"Last Saturday was brought to this place the corpse of Capt. Joshua Huddy, who was about ten o'clock the day before most barbarously and unwarantably hanged, at Middletown-Point, by a party of refugees .- This murder was attended with so much deliberate injustice and wanton cruelty, that the circumstances ought to be preserved, and made pub- lick, not only to call upon the vengence of his countrymen to expiate the manes of the sufferer, but as a shocking instance of the blackness of that guilt of which human nature is capable.
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