USA > New Jersey > Extracts from American newspapers relating to New Jersey > Part 9
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tion and candour from them; nor pay more regard to their advice and example. Then should we not be perpetually stunned with the Church is in danger, the Church is in danger; nor with the great importance and necessity of rites and ceremonies; nor the introduction of Bishops into the American plantations .- Whenever therefore, in the course of these papers, I shall say any thing respect- ing the Episcopal Clergy or laity, that appears harsh or invidious, I would always be understood as aiming at the High Church party, the restless and implacable enemies of our liberty civil and sacred. R.
-The New York Gazette and Weekly Post Boy, No. 1317, March 28, 1768.
A WHIP FOR THE AMERICAN WHIG.
By TIMOTHY TICKLE, ESQR. [No. I.
Think on their Rapine, Falshood, Cruelty,
And that what once they were, they still would be. DRYDEN.
WHEN a writer publickly attacks men of good character, with virulence, and endeavors by sophistry, to set truths, which are held sacred by many sincere Christians, in a dis- advantageous light; it may be proper to inquire into his temper and character, and the motives which set him to work.
These circumstances, I confess, do not much affect the intrinsic value of any literary composition : But if this latter has a pernicious tendency-either to sow dissentions, or raise prejudices among honest men-to unhinge reli- gion, or unsettle any of its principles : The shewing what quarter it comes from, will often go a good way to confute it.
Thus-if a man of unmeaning phyz, should think proper to despise every animated countenance,-or, if a man of rueful length of face, should take it into his head to de- claim against round faces, and insist that there is no come-
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liness in any but such as have the same degree of longitude with his own, reviling all who dissented in opinion from him-If a libertine should write against religion, and try to persuade people to throw off all concern about it ;- if a busy factor in dissention, who has long been a hackneyed journeyman in defamation, should begin to scatter his poi- son, in order to set well-meaning people together by the ears; all who know these circumstances, would immedi- ately be on their guard: A knowledge of them would serve as an antidote against the mischief which artful soph- istry might otherwise produce.
Dr. Chandler, and his Appeal to the Public, in behalf of the Church of England in America, have lately been at- tacked with great indecency and fury, by the American Whig. Now it happens that this attack comes from an ambitious, disappointed faction, the members of which are well known to have been always enemies to the Church of England; who have wantonly endeavoured to revile it,- to ridicule many of those truths which its members hold sacred,-and who make religion a political engine to ac- complish their designs; The unprejudiced reader, upon knowing this, will treat it with that neglect and contempt it deserves.
To check the insolence of this faction, is now become necessary for many reasons .. It is high time for the mem- bers of the Churchof England, whose lenity has been much and often abused by them, to vindicate themselves from the false aspersions of these enemies to peace; and admin- ister some wholesome discipline to the author, or authors of the American Whig ;- which paper is to be the future vehicle of their malice. No. I. is stuffed with low, spuri- ous witticisms, misrepresentations, scurrility, buffoonery. falshood, abuse, and slander. But to pass by all these, the author deserves flagellation for his blunders, with which this piece is plentifully begrimed. Take the follow-
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ing sample of these, gentle reader, for the present, which I beg you would carefully observe. He says, the Appeal "so naturally counterfeits the voice of a sheep, that it is not every reader who will discriminate it from that of a wolf." As much as to say,-it sings so like a Nightingale that you can scarce distinguish its voice from that of a · hoarse croaking Raven. Or, a thing is so like an egg, that you can scarce distinguish it from an oyster. This is the mighty man who is to adjust with precision the limits of religious Liberty, and defend it from all encroachment ! And great things, no doubt, are to be expected from him.
What were the motives of the present attack on the Appeal? Not any thing demanded in the Appeal itself. nor the manner in which it is executed. It is written with great moderation, and asks nothing but what every de- nomination of Christians has a right to, and actually en- joys in America, the Church of England only excepted ;- namely, the liberty of having the institutions of our Church, with its forms of discipline and government, to which a Bishop, or Bishops, are essentially necessary. Yet still with this restriction,-"That the Bishops to be "sent to America, shall have no authority, but purely of a "spiritual and ecclesiastical nature, such as is derived alto- "gether from the Church, and not from the state. That his "authority shall operate only upon the Clergy of the "Church, and not upon the Laity, or Dissenters of any "Denomination. That the Bishops shall not interfere with "the property or privileges, whether civil or religious, of "Churchmen or Dissenters. That, in particular, they shall "have no concern with the probate of wills, letters of "guardianship, and administration, or marriage licenses, "nor be judges of any cases relating thereto. But that "they shall only exercise the original powers of their of- "fice, namely, ordain and govern the Clergy, and admin -
"ister Confirmation to those who shall desire it." This
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is the whole of what is desired by the Appcal; nor does the warmest advocates for American Bishops even wish for more .*
The American Whig himself, acknowledges that the Appeal "asks nothing but what is highly reasonable." And the supposed author of this Numb. with others of his fra- ternity, have frequently owned it was just and reasonable. that the Church of England, in America, should have Bishops on these terms; nor does it appear that there was any intention, until very lately, of writing against it in this place.
What could occasion this change of sentiment,-this sudden attack on the Appeal? All these dolefui apprehen- sions, as if it were replete with utter ruin to the colonies? Those who are acquainted with some late transactions in this city, can easily answer these questions. Men who are solely guided by ambition and interest, are never steady in their conduct. While you gratify these, they will be quiet,-but no longer. Thwart them in the least, and they are like so many bears robbed of their whelps. They will indiscriminately wreak their vengeance on all that come in their way. To gratify it ---
Electere si nequeant Superos, Acheronta movebant.
This motto was chose some years ago for a periodical paper in this city, by a writer who was no stranger, I dare say, to our Whig; but as he did not deign to give a trans- lation of it, I will beg leave to do it for him here --
If hap'ly should the pow'rs above, Reject the vow that's paid them;
The pow'rs below they'll try to move, And rouse all hell to aid them.
I wish them joy of their company.
* Appeal to the public, p. 79.
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The Appeal had been read and considered long enough after its publication. If not approved, why was it not then objected to? The reason was, no ambitious attempts were then opposed,-no towering expectations were blast- ed. Matters went on smoothly; and had they gone on in the same manner since, the Appeal might have remained in peace, without any molestation from this quarter, not- withstanding its tremendous consequences.
Our Whig pragmatically assumes to be defender-general of the "religious Privileges of all Denominations of pro- "testants, against the secret or open attempts of their ene- "mies." He must be a cunning fellow indeed to know and counteract those attempts which are secret. But to let this pass. Who assigned him this post? Or, who are these enemies ? If by these he means the author of the Appeal, and his friends, why was this not made appear before? If he had such a regard, as he pretends, for the religious Liberties of others,-if the Appeal had any tendency to infringe those: Surely this magnanimous Champion would not have slumbered and slept so long! The truth is as I have mentioned. The spirit of ambition and self in- terest, had not met with any check 'till very lately. But now that their blooming hopes are withered, the faction is enraged to a degree of phrenzy; and the poor Church, thro' the Appeal, must fall the devoted victim of their vengeance .*
*It is more than probable that the same motives set some Philadelphia engineers to work, in writing a paper called the Centinel; for in No. I. the transactions alluded to above, are mentioned. No other tolerable reason can be assigned for their engaging in this controversy now, and not before. The alarm, I suppose was given from hence; and how widely soever the authors of the American Whig. and Centinel, may disagree in other respects: Yet we see they can unite in abusing the Appeal. No. I. of the Cen .
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Some pretence however was necessary to storm the Ap- pcal; and one was found of an extraordinary kind,-such perhaps as would be the last thought on by a person who possessed the most moderate portion of honesty and char- ity. And what was it? Why this-"It is not a primitive, "Christian Bishop, that the Dr. and the Convention want. "It is a modern, splendid, opulent, Court-favoured, law- "dignified, superb, magnificent, powerful prelate, on which "their heart is so intent."
Now to pass over the defects of this last wonderful period, in point of propriety and style,-the whole of it I aver to be utterly false. There is not a syllable of truth in it. And here I publickly call on this Gentleman to make good his assertion,-to produce some sort of satisfactory evidence, besides his own bare word, which on this occa- sion will not go far, that the Dr. and Convention desire such a Bishop. Until he gives some proof of this, he does nothing at all. He fights with a phantom his own imagi- nation has raised. Like his illustrious predecessor, Don Quixote, he encounters wind-mills instead of giants. He might as well write against introducing the Pope of Rome. or Mufti of Constantinople, and it would be as much to the purpose : As writing against the introduction of such a Bishop into America, as no one member of the CHURCH, either desires, or wishes for. I repeat it again, that unti! the author of the American Whig produces some authentic proof or testimonies, that the Clergy want such a Bishop
tinel, has somewhat more of the appearance of reasoning than the Whig; but breaths the same rancorons, insolent spirit; and plentifully abounds in misrepresentation, im- pertinence, nonsense, &c. &c. As the Church of England has several able advocates in Pennsylvania, I doubt not but some of them will take the Centinel to task, and give him proper castigation. See the Pennsylvania Journal, March 24, 1768.
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as he has specified,-that they want "to involve America "in ecclesiastical bondage," introduce "spiritual courts," &c. as he insinuates : He stands convicted by his own dec- laration, when he says, "the Appeal asks nothing but what "is highly reasonable,-and it were manifest injustice to "deny church-men, what in their opinion, their eternal sal- "vation so greatly depends on." But if he cannot produce any such authentic proof or testimony, which I am fully assured he cannot do, the world, must necessarily look on him as an invidious calumniator, a false accuser of the brethren; and certainly he knows very well what an an- cient, powerful coadjutor he has in this.
This writer disclaims the fetters of order and system in his future productions; and were I to suppose the reason of his doing so, is because his principles are opposite to all order, it would be shewing him full as much, if not more. charity, than he has shewed to Dr. Chandler and the Con- vention. Doubtless the Whig, like his brother-savages, will choose to carry on an irregular war. I may not choose to follow him in all his twistings and windings. How- ever, I shall give him such chastisement, now and then, as he deserves. I shall develope his sophistry, I mean such as I think worthy of notice, and rescue truth from his fal- acies and pervertion. I may sometimes carry the war into the enemy's country, and make reprisals; or, digress to other subjects, as I think will be entertaining to my read- ers. I may not only strip the wolf of his sheep's clothing: but also divest the ass of his lion's skin, and then his bray- ing will have no other effect, than perhaps to frighten women and children .- The New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, No. 857, April 4, 1768.
To the PRINTER,
SIR, I was pleased to see by your Advertisement in last
8
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Thursday's New-York Journal, that you intend to repub- lish in your Paper, the Pieces sign'd An American Whig, together with the Answers, and the best Pieces that come out in the other Papers upon the Subject of that Contro- versy, on both Sides of the Question. The Exhibition of the Arguments on both Sides in the same Paper, is cer- tainly the most likely Means to enable the Reader to form a just and equitable Judgment ;- and if we must needs be forced into this religious Controversy, your Proposal bids the fairest for deciding it according to Truth and Justice. But at the same Time, as a hearty Friend to the British Colonies, I cannot but express my Concern, that this Con- troversy should have been begun at such a Time as this,- when the united Efforts of all the Colonies are so neces- sary for the preservation of their Constitutional Rights and Liberties.
The Introduction of such a Dispute at this Time, I con- ceive to be in many respects extremely injudicious,-as it will tend to take off the public Attention from the Main Chance, to disunite, and set us to quarreling among our selves, and give our Enemies an Advantage over us: Be- side the Time is quite improper for the Discussion of the Subject ;- When our Minds are in a State of anxious Concern,-whether we are henceforth to consider our- selves as having any other Relation to Great-Britain but as being her Slaves,-whether we have any Part or Lot in her beloved Constitution and the Rights of Nature- which have always been our Boast and our Glory ;- wheth- er we are a Nation of generous Freemen, or of abject des- picable Slaves ?- In such a State of dread Suspence, can our Minds be in a proper Frame for determining the subtil Disputes between Arminians and Calvinists, Church Men and Presbyterians? These Matters have of themselves been often found sufficient to set whole Kingdoms in a Flame, and shall we needlessly kindle the Fire of Conten-
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tion among ourselves, when our dearest Interests are in Danger, from false Friends within, and open Enemies without ?
Can we think the Designs of this Author of Dissention, this Sower of Discord among us, are friendly to the Eng- lish Constitution and Government, or the Rights of these Colonies ? When these were in the most imminent Danger of being overturned and torne from us by the Stamp-Act, did this Author, or his Party stir a Finger to prevent it? Or have they done any Thing since, in favour of the Eng- lish Constitution and American Rights, tho' these have been repeatedly attack'd, by the Acts, for Billeting Sol- diers,-for imposing Duties, &c? On the Contrary, has not this Attempt of the American Whig to disunite us, a manifest Tendency to bring upon us all the Evils that threaten us, and reduce us to a State of general Confusion ? And is it not, from a careful Review of every Circum- stance, at least highly probable, that he and his Party would rejoice in a Disunion between Great-Britain and her Colonies, and would be among the first to change a Mon- archical for a Republican Government ? Which may Heaven avert !
A SON OF LIBERTY.
-The New York Journal and General Advertiser. No. 1318, April 7. 1768.
VERDICUS's Verses to the Whig Writer.
Mr. GODDARD,
Please to give the following lines a place in your next weekly paper.
What the deuce is the matter ? What dæmon of late,
Has awaken'd the fury of strife and debate?
Ho! ye Sons of contention, pray whither so fast?
Don't ye know that-"a cobbler should stick to his last ?"
Then why, ye pert Whigs, ye dull Centinels, why
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Do ye fly in a passion and make such a cry About Church-men and Bishops; why make such a-do About other mens matters? What is it to you Whether Bishops are sent us or not ? If we choose To request such a favour, must you fill the news With invectives and scandal? Perhaps you may find That, shou'd we condescend to repay you in kind, There's enough to be said in reply to your spleen; But in such dirty work we disdain to be seen. Yet occasion may happen to call for a sprig Not of laurel, but birch, for a libelling Whig. When a SEABURY therefore stands forth, as the friend Of sincerity, honour and truth, to defend The Convention from slander and groundless abuse, Take the hint, Mr. Whig, you may find it of use; It may serve to convince you, we're not quite so tame As not to repel an attack on our fame,
But that when you assert what is false, we'll reply To your malice, and prove your assertion a lie.
But observe- this is no indiscriminate charge Brought at random against a profession at large: For, of every sect, there are many who merit The praise of a generous catholic spirit, Of probity, candour and truth; and we deem Such a character worthy our love and esteem, Notwithstanding we find it, as often we may, Among those whom we judge to be sheep led astray.
So that if in the present debate you should find We reply with some warmth, do, for once, be so kind, Ye grave Centinels, Whigs, and all other abettors, Of the scurrilous writers of scandalous letters, Once for all, be assur'd what we tell you is true, It is not at Dissenters, as such, but at you, At you only we level our aim, and determine No such insolent, meddling, anonymous vermin
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Shall be suffered among us to sculk, with impunity, To disturb our repose, and infest the community By sowing the seeds of dissention and strife Among those who wou'd fain lead a peaceable life.
Not that we would debar you the use of the quill; Only stick to the truth, and then scribble your fill. But alas! in that case, you'll have nothing to say; For, in truth, 'tis as clear as the Sun at noon-day, That the Church's request for a Bishop or two, And whether she gets them or not, is to you And all other Dissenters, a matter in which You have no more concernment, than whether my Bitch Be a New-found-land Spaniel (and here-to be plain- She comes in for the rhyme) or a pointer from Spain.
Thus you see all the clamour you're making is founded In falshood at last, and the spleen of a Roundhead.
VERIDICUS.
-, in NEW-JERSEY. April 4th, 1768.
-The Pennsylvania Chronicle, No. 66, April II. 1768.
Mr. PRINTER,
When the Church appears to be so deliberately attacked, and a Series of Papers are to be laid before the Public to raise a Party against her, and to prevent her enjoying her ecclesiastical Government, equally with his Majesty's other Subjects,-it may not be improper to shew the Public who they are that oppose her, and to guard against the Insinu- ations of those who are her professed Enemies ;- be pleased therefore to insert the following. Z.
No Protestants have ever given the Government so much Trouble, nor shewn such fixed and Rooted Enmity to the established Church, as that Denomination called Presbyterians :- Whether this arises from real zeal for the
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Cause of Christianity or any other Motive, may be an In- quiry .- At present, I will pass over every Thing that hath happened on the other Side the Atlantic, and only . take a View of them upon, and since their Settlement on this Continent .- in Britain, they were ever calling out for Toleration and claimed it as a Right. Upon their Settle- ment in America, their Spirit of Persecution broke out in full Blaze; and no sooner had they the Power, than every Denomination, particularly the Quakers, very sensibly felt, that this Sect of Men, have little other "Grace than what is founded in Dominion." While other Denominations have contented themselves, with the free Exercise of their Religion, and an equal Share in the Offices of Govern- ment, this Restless Sect has in every Colony either at- tempted, or actually seized all Power, and shewn an equal Disposition to tyrannize over all others; to root out not only the established Religion, but every other Denomina- tion from these Colonies .-- Hardly a Colony on the Continent, but has groaned under their Tyranny, or been agitated by violent Parties fomented by these People, to advance and procure their favourite Point, Dominion .-
The eastern Governments are a Proof of the first, and the Parties in New-York and Pennsylvania, are recent In- stances of the latter .-- But sensible, that their darling Point can never be attained, while the Church, as by law established stands in their Way, they have ever paid their greatest Attention to prevent its Increase .- How have they calumniated her Ministers, and ridiculed her Cere- monies from Time to Time, as best suited their Purposes ? And when she asks, only equal Toleration on this Conti- nent with them, their Pens are employed to alarm the Peo- ple that some Encroachment is intended upon their reii- gious Liberties; and according to the Candor of these Men, every Story, whether true or false, we may expect to see revived, and new ones propagated, to prevent that
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Church from being able to stem them in their Career to Power, and hinder them from assuming Dominion over all others. During a late Administration, the Province of New-Jersey, saw and felt the Effects of Presbyterian Power; her seats of Justice, &c. Commissions of the Peace, were preferably conferred upon them; their Meet- ing houses, which now they affect to call Churches, were every where incorporated, while Charters were denied, not only to Churches, as by Law established, but to other Dis- senters, who had equal Right with Presbyterians .-- The Instances of their Lust for Power, and uncharitable Treat- ment of those who differ from them in Opinion, are noto- rious every where; nor have they ever shewn a Zeal for Religion, or a charitable Disposition to their fellow Chris- tians, but when it suited their Purposes and favoured their darling Scheme .- -At this Time, when Peace and Christian Charity should most abound among us, that Spirit again raises its Head, aims to throw the Continent into Confusion, and "sow the Seeds of Discord," to pre- vent the Church from having its Government fully and freely enjoyed; and that too after the Church has, for many Months laid before all Denominations, in an honest: Appeal, the Difficulties she labours under, and the Means she proposes to procure Redress; which is in a Manner, that can give no one Sect any reasonable Cause of Offence : Nay, it hath been repeatedly acknowledged, by some of the best of them, to be a Measure which they cannot disap- prove of; and what the American Whig owns to be "highly reasonable." But it then suited their Politics to be silent; it now suits their Purpose to kick up a Dust, and inflame and divide all Men as much as possible .- All other Dissenters need not be told, that in the Ruin of the CHURCH will be involved the Ruin of them all, except- ing the Presbyterians: And as they have never experi- enced, nor can from any Thing proposed in the Appeal,
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entertain a Doubt that the Church intends the least Injury to the religious or civil Rights of any Dissenters; so, I hope they will not be led away by the Arts and Insinua- tions of these Men, to join in a Cry raised only to prevent the Professors of the Church of England, from enjoying the like Freedom in Church Government with Dissenters, -but will attend to their Reasonings, if happily any may be found in their Publications, and not permit Witticisms, or Insinuations unsupported by good Authority, to beguile their Understandings; and if then they discover, that the Church meditates any Thing against their civil or religious Liberties, it will be their Duty to prevent it: But, if, on the other Hand, it shall be found, that she hath no such Intentions, Christian Charity must induce them, not to deny her equal Toleration with themselves. Z.
-The New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, No. 858, April 11, 1768.
Four Pounds Reward.
STOLEN out of the stable of the subscriber, living in the township of Manington, county of Salem, and prov- ince of West New-Jersey, on the 13th instant, a straw- berry roan mare, about thirteen hands three inches high, has a white blaze in her face, short switch tail, and is a natural pacer; she is supposed to be stolen by one Law- rence Osborne, alias Tinnamore, who calls himself a Frenchman, but is supposed to be an Hibernian; he had on when he went away, a dark coloured great coat, very long, a light coloured under coat, red plush jacket and buckskin breeches. He took with him his own gelding, which has a short tail, and is nearly of the same colour as the mare. Whoever takes up the above described thief, so that he may be brought to justice, and secures the said mare, so that the owner may have her again, shall have
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