are equal in color and stature, and as well dis- that Joseph would take Benjamin in his arms and cipline. Some of their fathers, grand-fathers, and embrace him, for they are brothers! If Benjamin great-grand-fathers, are to British dust returned, have err'd, let the age and wisdom of Joseph over and in silent repose, while their sons and grand look and obliterate all; let him no longer refrain, sons are struggling for their birth-rights: for they but fall on his neck and kiss him, and let love and traditionally or constitutionally retain the idea of virtue re-unite them. As Joseph embraced and liberty, and with him of old say, "God forbid that owned Benjamin as his brother, and returned his we should sell the inheritance of our fathers!"- money, so let the parent state embrace and own Whether this be believed or not, I don't know; the colonies without fee or reward, and instantly but one thing I know, albeit the king requesteth, the sword on both sides will be sheathed; and then Devertheless, like Naboth, they will resist even Benjamin, as usual, will go and carry corn and unto death.-Blessed be God, we have no Jezebel money to Joseph, and take his superb clothing in to stir up his majesty, for his consort is the best exchange. But if Joseph will yet refrain and not of queens, and as such the Americans extol her be reconciled, Benjamin is determined to clothe majesty daily. Perhaps, my lord, this may be himself with his own wool, and keep his money and viewed as partiality; but I can assure your lord-send his corn to other merchantmen. Let facts, ship, I write from conviction, and not from a my lord, apologize for prolixity; I will conclude 15 partial spirit. If I am charged any where herein now with a few lines. with partiality, as it is most natural and also very fashionable now to act the sycophant where one's interest is, I certainly flatter your lordship (as I fear too many have), for I have no interest nor kindred here, nor hopes of interest for, or reward for any thing of this nature that I have done or can do. But I have immense hopes and views. My time here is very short, and ere long I shall be in a world of spirits, where the most noble, the right bonorable and reverend persons must all appear; "I know not therefore how to give flattering titles unto man: for in so doing my Maker would soon take me away." If, figuratively, two persons may represent both parties in dispute, there is a striking similarity in sacred writ, with which your lordship is perfectly acquainted, and by which I beg permission to mention the following things. The Americans may be led with a hair; but they have too much English blood in them, are too well disciplined, and too numerous to be driven, even by an hundred thousand of the best forces government can raise. Where government can produce one thousand on the continent, America, with as much ease and expense, can produce ten thousand in opposition: for men, women and children are against the proceedings of administration throughout the united colonies to a wounderful majority. The women, both old and young, being greatly irritated at the inflexibility of administration, are not only willing their sons and brothers should turn out in the field, but also declare that they will give them up and theirselves likewise as a sacrifice before they will bow to Pharaoh's task-masters; this makes the raising of troops on the continent very easy. Let a person go into any province, city, town, or county, and ask the females, "Are you and defend their liberties?" they would severally willing your sons or brothers should go for soldiers answer, "Yes, with all my soul, and if they won't go I won't own them as my sons, or brothers; for Pll help myself if there should be any need of mine; if I can't stand in the ranks, I can help forward with powder, balls, and provisions," and presently this will appear more pellucid. Last summer I saw in Philadelphia a company of school-boys, called the Academy company, in their uniforms, with real arms and colors. how many such companies were in the city, an a Upon this, I asked for what they were designed; to which I was answered by a gentlewoman, the mother of two of this company, "there are three companies, and as to the design, they are to learn the art or theory of war; and if there should be any occasion for I view both sides, as to their precious blood, as good old Jacob viewed his sons, Joseph and Benjamin, and am equally with him unwilling that either should be slain. If the British troops must be represented by the elder brother, grieved to my very heart I must be to hear that he is sacrificed; and if the American forces may be compared to the younger, I shall equally lament his death.-May God, of his infinite mercy, save both by a speedy accommodation. Benjamin bath repeatedly petition ed Joseph for redress of grievances; but Joseph would not receive his petitions, but made himself strange, and spake roughly unto him, charging him with having and holding unjustly Pharaoh's cup, of which the poor lad is perfectly innocent.-Oh! *Not rendering unto Cæsar the things which be Casar's. Any non-commissioned officer or soldier or others under my command, who shall be guilty of robbing or plundering in the town, are to be immediately confined, and will be most rigidly punished. All officers are therefore ordered to be very vigilan: in the discovery of such offenders, and report their names and crime to the commanding officer in the town, as soon as may be. them in the field of battle, they will go, for they shall receive any insult from any of the inhabitants, are all volunteers; but I for my part am, I do aver, he is to seek redress in a legal way, and no other. sir, heartily willing to sacrifice my sons, believing that with such sacrifice God is well pleased: for he has hitherto marvellously blessed our arms and conquered our enemies for us, and he who, in the days of his flesh, spoiled principalities and powers, and made a shew of them openly, will in the end, I doubt not, evince to the world that he is conqueror." This, my lord, is the language of the American women; your lordship knows it is generally the reverse with the English, the mother's and sister's lives are bound up in the boys; but I am afraid I shall trespass on your lordship's patience: There. fore, In the great name, and for the sake of the ever blessed Trinity, I now beseech your lordship to weigh thoroughly, and with patience, impartiality, and love, this narrative of facts, and may that ever blessed adorable person, Jesus Christ, the wonderful councellor and prince of peace, give your lordship a right judgment and understanding in all things, and council and influence administration to act-wisely, and repeal the acts in dispute, and so make peace. I am, my lord, your lordship's ready and willing servant, for Christ's sake, Maryland, Dec. 20, 1775. Town of Boston. B. P. The following proclamation was published by gene ral Washington, on his taking possession of the town of Boston: The inhabitants and others, are called upon to make known to the quarter master-general, or any of his deputies, all stores belonging to the ministerial army, that may be remaining or secreted in the town: any person or persons whatever, that shall be known to conceal any of the said stores, or appropriate them to his or their own use, will be considered as an enemy to America, and treated accordingly. The select men and other magistrates of the town, are desired to return to the commander in chief, the names of all or any person or persons, they may suspect of being employed as spies upon the continental army, that they may be dealt with accordingly. All officers of the continental army, are enjoined to assist the civil magistrates in the execution of their duty, and to promote peace and good order. soldiers from frequenting tippling-houses, and They are to prevent, as much as possible, the strolling from their posts. Particular notice will be taken of such officers as are inattentive and By his excellency George Washington, esq. gene-remiss in their duty; and on the contrary, such ral and commander in chief of the thirteen unit-only as are active and vigilant will be entitled to future favor and promotion. ed colonies. "Whereas the ministerial army has abandoned the town of Boston, and the forces of the united colonies, under my command, are in possession of the same: I have therefore thought it necessary for the preservation of peace, good order and discipline, to publish the following orders, that no person offending therein, may plead ignorance as an excuse for their misconduct. All officers and soldiers are hereby ordered to live in the strictest peace and amity with the inhabitants; and no inhabitant, or other person, employed in his lawful business in the town, is to be molested in his person or property, on any pretence whatever, Given under my hand, at head quarters, in Boston, March 29. The address of the honorable council and house of representatives to his excellency George Washington, esq. general and commander in chief of the forces of the united colonies. May it please your excellency— "When the liberties of America were attacked by the violent hand of oppression-when troops, hostile to the rights of humanity, invaded this colony, seized our capital, and spread havoc and If any officer or soldier shall presume to strike, destruction around it; when our virtuous sons were imprison, or otherwise ill-treat any of the inha-murdered, and our houses destroyed by the troops bitants, they may depend on being punished with of Britain, the inhabitants of this and the other the utmost severity; and if any officer or soldier American colonies, impelled by self-preservation and the love of freedom, forgetting their domestic, concerns, determined resolutely and unitedly to oppose the sons of tyranny. His excellency's answer. "Gentlemen-I return you my most sincere and hearty thanks for your polite address; and feel Convinced of the vast importance of having a myself called upon, by every principle of gratitude, gentleman of great military accomplishments to to acknowledge the honor you have done me in discipline, lead, and conduct the forces of the this testimonial of your approbation of my appointcolonies, it gave us the greatest satisfaction to hear ment to the exalted station I now fill; and what is that the honorable congress of the united colonies more pleasing, of my conduct in discharging its had made choice of a gentleman thus qualified; important duties. who, leaving the pleasure of domestic and rural When the councils of the British nation had life, was ready to undertake the arduous task. And formed a plan for enslaving America, and depriv your nobly declining to accept the pecuniary emolu- ing her sons of their most sacred and invaluable ments annexed to this high office, fully evidenced privileges, against the clearest remonstrances of to us that a warm regard to the sacred rights of the constitution, of justice and of truth; and to hnmanity, and sincere love to your country, solely execute their schemes, had appealed to the sword, influenced you in the acceptance of this important I esteemed it my duty to take a part in the contest, trust. From your acknowledged abilities as a soldier, and your virtues in public and private life, we had the most pleasing hopes; but the fortitude and equanimity so conspicuous in your conduct; the wisdom of your councils; the mild, yet strict government of the army; your attention to the civil constitution of this colony, the regard you have at all times shewn for the lives and health of those under your command; the fatigues you have with cheerfulness endured; the regard you have shewn for the preservation of our metropolis, and the great address with which our military operations have been conducted, have exceeded our most sanguine expectations, and demand the warmest returns of gratitude. The Supreme Ruler of the universe having smiled on our arms, and crowned your labors with remarkable success, we are now, without that effu. sion of blood we so much wished to avoid, again in the quiet possession of our capital; the wisdom and prudence of those movements, which have obliged the enemy to abandon our metropolis, will ever be remembered by the inhabitants of this colony. and more especially, on account of my being called thereto by the unsolicited suffrages of the representatives of a free people; wishing for no other reward than that arising from a consciencious discharge of the important trust, and that my services might contribute to the establishment of freedom and peace, upon a permanent foundation, and merit the applause of my countrymen, and every virtuous citizen. Your professions of my attention to the civil constitution of this colony, whilst acting in the line of my department, also demands my grateful thanks. A regard to every provincial institution, where not incompatible with the common interest, I hold a principle of duty, and of policy, and shall ever form a part of my conduct. Had I not learnt this before, the happy experience of the advantages resulting from a friendly intercourse with your honor. able body, their ready and willing concurrence to aid and to counsel, whenever called upon in cases of difficulty and emergency, would have taught me the useful lesson. That the metropolis of your colony is now relieved from the cruel and oppressive invasions of those May you still go on approved by Heaven, revered who were sent to erect the standard of lawless by all good men, and dreaded by those tyrants who domination, and to trample on the rights of huclaim their fellow men as their property. May the manity, and is again open and free for its rightful united colonies be defended from slavery by your possessors, must give pleasure to every virtuous and sympathetic heart, and being effected without victorious arms. May they still see their enemies the blood of our soldiers and fellow-citizens, must flying before you: and (the deliverance of your be ascribed to the interposition of that Providence, country being effected) may you, in retirement, enjoy that peace and satisfaction of mind, which which has manifestly appeared in our behalf through the whole of this important struggle, as well as to always attends the good and great: and may future generations in the peaceful enjoyment of that free. the measures pursued for bringing about the happy dom, the exercise of which your sword shall establish, raise the richest and most lasting monuments to the name of a Washington.” event. May that Being who is powerful to save, and in whose hands is the fate of nations, look down with an eye of tender pity and compassion upon the silent and commander in chief in and over the whole of the united colonies; may he continue to colony of South Carolina, and by the honorable the smile upon their counsels and arms, and crown legislative council and general assembly of this them with success, whilst employed in the cause colony, and by the authority of the same, that if of virtue and mankind.—May this distressed colony any person or persons within this colony do, or and its capital, and every part of this wide extend-shall, from, and immediately after, the passing of ed continent, through his divine favor, be restored this act, take up arms with a hostile intent, and to more than their former lustre and once happy state, and have peace, liberty, and safety secured upon a solid, permanent, and lasting foundation." GEORGE WASHINGTON, South Carolina. by force and violence, or by words, deeds, or writ. ing, or any other means whatsoever, cause, induce, or persuade, or attempt to cause, induce, or per. suade any other person or persons, with such hostile intent, to take up arms, and by force and violence to oppose and subvert the authority of the govern At a general assembly begun and holden at Charles- ment of this colony, established by the constitu ton, on Tuesday the twenty-sixth day of March, tion, agreed on and confirmed in congress at in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun- Charleston, on the twenty-sixth day of March, one dred and seventy-six; and from thence continued, thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, or to by divers adjournments, to Thursday the eleventh wound, maim, or kill any person or persons, or day of April, in the year of our Lord one thou- destroy any of the houses, goods, or chattels of sand seven hundred and seventy-six. any such persons, who shall under, and by virtue An act to prevent sedition, and punish insurgents and of any authority of the said government, be acting disturbers of the public peace. "Whereas a horrid and unnatural war is now in support and defence of the same, or the execution of any power, authority or office derived there from, all and every of such person or persons, and the aider and abettor, or aiders and abettors of such person or persons so offending, in either of the offences aforesaid, shall, on being indicted and convicted of the same, by due course of law, be deemed and adjudged guilty of felony, and suffer death without benefit of clergy. carried on by the ministry and parliament of Great Britain, against the united colonies of North Ame. rica in general, and this colony in particular, with a cruel and oppressive design of robbing the colonies and good people of this colony of their dearest and most valuable rights as freemen, and reducing them to a state of the most abject slavery and oppression: and whereas, also, in order further to And be it further enacted by the authority afore accomplish the said iniquitous and unwarrantable said, That if any persons within this colony shall, designs, every means has been adopted by a wicked immediately after the passing of this act, or at administration to sow civil dissentions and animosi- any time thereafter, by letter, writing, message, or ties, and to create disorder, confusion and blood- other means of intelligence, hold any correspon. shed amongst the good people of this colony, by dence or intercourse, or conspire or concert in any employing secret emissaries to stir up in the minds manner whatever with, or aid or abet any land or of wicked and evil-disposed persons, persuasions naval farce, raised or to be raised, or which shall and principles inimical to the ties of humanity, and be sent by Great Britain, in a hostile manner, the common rights of mankind, and thereby induc against this colony, or any other force or body of ing them not only to disturb the common peace, men within this colony, who shall, in a hostile safety, and good order of this colony, but to take intent or manner, oppose the power and authority up arms and spill the blood of their fellow-citizens, of the present government of this colony, establishwho are only acting in the defence of their lives, ed as aforesaid, with an intent to promote the atliberties, and properties, against the hands of a complishments of any hostile plan of operation, lawless and despotic power: to the intent, there- designed by such force or forces against the lives, fore, and in order the more effectually to preserve liberties and properties of all or any of the inhaand secure the peace, order, and good government bitants and friends to the constitution of this coof this colony, and to deter and prevent such evil-lony, established as aforeseid-every such person minded persons from committing such offences, or persons, so offending in any of the said offences, and all such other offences declared in this act, to shall, on being indicted and convicted thereof the great danger of the lives, liberties, and pro- by due course of law, be deemed and adjudged perties of the inhabitants of this colony: Be it guilty of felony, and suffer death without benefit of enacted by his excellency John Rutledge, esq. pre- clergy. And be it further enacted by the authority afore- against all enemies whatsoever, who shall invade said, That if any person or persons within this co- or attack the same, or endanger the safety thereof. lony shall, immediately after the passing of this act, or at any time thereafter, furnish or supply, or cause or procure to be furnished or supplied, with any bills of exchange, monies, goods, provisions, liquors, or other necessary articles of subsistence, or any military or naval stores whatever, any of the land or naval forces, raised or to be raised, or sent by Great Britain, or any authority derived from that government, against this colony, or shall, in like manner, furnish or supply, or cause to be furnished or supplied, any force or body of men who shall, in a hostile manner, oppose the government of this colony, established as aforesaid-every such person or persons, so offending in either of the offences aforesaid, and the aider or abettor, or aiders and abettors of any of the said offences, shall, on being indicted or convicted thereof, by due course of law, be deemed and adjudged guilty of felony, and suffer death without benefit of clergy. And be it further enacted by the authority aforecolony shall, immediately after the passing of said, That if any person or persons within this this act, or at any time thereafter, collect or assemble with any body or assembly of persons, or cause or procure them to be so collected and assembled, with intent, in a riotous and seditious manner, to disturb the public peace and tranquility, and the good order of the government, and by words or otherwise to create and raise traiterous seditions or discontents in the minds of the good people of this colony, against the authority of the present government established as aforesaid-every such person or persons, so offending in any of the said of law, be deemed and adjudged guilty of felony. offences, shall, on conviction thereof, by due course And be it further enacted by the authority afore. said, That the lands and tenements, goods and chattels, and other real and personal estate of all And be it further enacted by the authority afore. such person or persons, who shall be duly convictsaid, That if any person or persons within this ed, by virtue of this act, of any of the crimes and colony shall, at any time after the passing of this offences thereby made felony, shall, within one act, compel, induce, persuade, or attempt to com-month after such conviction, by the sheriff of each pel, induce, or persuade any white person, or per-district respectively, in which such real and persons, or any free negro, or negroes, mulatto or sonal estate of the person or persons so convicted, mulattoes, Indian or Indians, to desert from their or any part thereof, shall be found, with three freehabitation or habitations, or any negro or other holders of the said district, be appraised upon cath, slave or slaves, to desert from his or their master, and the said appraisement duly returned, by the mistress, or owner, and to join any land or naval said sheriff of such district, to the secretary's offorce, raised or to be raised, or sent by Great Bri- fice in Charleston, within one month after such aptain, or any authority derived from that govern- praisement is made, and the said sheriff of such disment, against the united colonies of America, or trict in which the appraisement is made, as aforethis colony, or to join any person or persons armed said, shall, within one month thereafter, expose in a hostile manner, with intent to oppose or subvert such estate so appraised to public sale, first giving the government of this colony, established as afore twenty-one days public notice of the sale; and shall, said, or with intent of killing any person or persons, within three months after such sale, deposite the er destroying his, her, or their goods or property, who shall be acting, or ready and willing to act in support and defence of such government, or any of the inhabitants of this colony and friends to the same-every such person or persons, so offending in any of the above offences, and all such as shall aid and abet the said offender, or offenders, in the per petration and execution of any of the said offences, And be it further enacted by the authority aforehall, on conviction thereof, by due course of law, said, That if any sheriff' or sheriffs, for any of the be deemed and adjudged guilty of felony, and shall districts in this colony, shall in any wise transgress, suffer death without benefit of clergy. Provided or disobey, or neglect the putting in execution, any always, nevertheless, that nothing in this act con- of the provisions or clauses in this act, respecting tained shall be construed or taken to prevent the their duty and office-every sheriff so offending, good people of this colony from arming of slaves disobeying or neglecting the same, shall forfeit his or negroes, for the better defence of this colony office, and incur the penalty of one thousand pounds 1 amount of the same, deducting legal poundage and charges, in the office of the colony treasury in Charleston, and the commissioners of the colony treasury, or any one of them, on receipt of such monies from the sheriff, as aforesaid, shall give a receipt or voucher for the same. |
