The Freeman's journal, or, New-Hampshire gazette. [volume], June 29, 1776, Image 1

About The Freeman's journal, or, New-Hampshire gazette. [volume] (Portsmouth, N.H.) 1776-1778

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“Q S OO Tl.\
Sreanansjoumal
New-Hampfthire Gazette.
[ Vol. 1. ]
TO THE PUBLIIG
B Fortitudinem [pes generat.
~ Dear CoUNTRYMEN, (
SUFFER me to exhort you to be of good
xJ heart and courage, relying upon the
{miles of Providence on the justice of our
cause; and the bleflings of heaven on our
righteous exertions of the means of defence,
Yo amply placed in our hands, to repel, bas
fle & defeat the wicked ministerial actempts
of Great Britain upon America. |
If any doubt of our power to defend
with tlie sword, those rights we are able to
defend with the pen, let them attead to the
hature and operaticns of the war, carried
on against us, at the distance of a thousand
Jeagues 3 by a people divided in their dispo
sitions of friend (hip arid enmity towards us,
which may sooner or later unsheathe the
sword of civil discord among themselves ;
surrounded by powerful nations, Watching
a lucky moment to make themi a prey, and
rejoycirig for that purpose, in their present
unnatural persecution of their brethren, who
were once their greatest strength and sup
port ; and they must be convinc’d of the ut
ter impraQicability, of executing the unjust
inhumane and impolitick designs of our un
patural foes; replete with folly, wickedness
and desperation ; the most timid may feel
secure in having so clearly demonstrated to
therr, that thie Britifhi troops now in Ame
fica, with all that care reinforce theni, are
fiot able to subdue dnd fubjet to their law
less pleasure, the.united colonies; so strongly
¢ombin’d in defence of their cormor rights,
as they at present be, and are likely to re
main. -
Let us feligioufly exult and retirn tl‘ia‘(s
{o the God of armies, for our various suc
cesses both by sea and land : in particular,
for the recovery of the capital of one of our
principal colones, from thé hands of Bri
toas + who fately so ingloriously fled from
it, to a far distant retreat from our conquer
ing artns ;=—Let us depend for future vic
tory and archievements, on the fame divine
aid and afliftance. :
How conspicuous O Amheficans ! is the
arm of the Lord in our defence and pro
te€tion ? SicDii adjunt s pene Didedntur,—
our grardian angels, the miniftring spirits of
heaven are so present; that we nray almost
fee them.-—Behold ye sons of liberty and re-
Figion, the ¢onftant immediate ifiterpofition
6f Providence, i inspiring with wisdom,
fe&itude and firmnefs the Grand-Continen
¢al Congress ;—with skill, spirit and imte
grity, all the separate councils of the united
¢olonies ;—with courage and conduct our
fleets and armies y=-with martial vigilance
SATURDAY, sane 29, 1776.
and puiflance; our most accomplifh’d Ge
neral ; whose unbounded patriotism, and
other unparalei’d excellencies, both 1o peace
and war, stops the progress of my pen; to
describe which, would surpass the power of
a more able panegyriit. {
Let these considerations lead us confi
dently but humbly, and with modest affu
rance, to hope for success, against the ene
mies of otir hhberties civil and religious; life
property and authority, and ever, just right
of America. ORTHODOXUS>s.
The INTEREST oi AMERICA,
EETTER 1L
THE importarit day is cume, or near at
kand, thiat America is to assume a form
ot governmient for herfelf: We should be
very desirous to know what form is best.—
And that surely is best which is most matural,
easy, cheap, dnd which best secures the rights
of the péop!e. VV‘C should always kecp’ in
mind that great truth, viZ. That the good of
the people 1s the ultimate end of civil Go
verhment: As we mufl, some Provinces at
least, in a fthort time aflunie forme new mode
of Governifient, Znd the maiter cannot be
deferred so long, ds to canvass, deliberately
weigh, and fully adjust every thing that may
hereatter appear neceflary, we should leave
roonti to alter foi the betterin time to come.
Every Province should be viewed as having
a right, either with or without an applica
tion to the Continentdl Congress, to alter
their form of Government in fomie particu
lars; and that without being liable to raise 2
clamour, by some who would be glad to fay
that it was contrary to the conftitutian; that
they firft forred upon ; that it was overturn
ing the original plan, and leaving people at
uncertdinties as to the foundation they are
‘upon, and the like. As the Governmient is
for the people, the people when properly re
presented have a right to alter it for their
advantage. , G ,
The affair ficw in view istke most impor
¢tant that ever was before America. In my
opinion it is the most important that has
been tranfzéted in any nation for some cen
turies past. If our civil Government is well
conftruétéd, and well managed, America
bids fair to be tlie most glorious slate that
has ever been on earth. We fheuld now ax
the beginning lay the fcundation right. Nott
if not all other Goyernments have had a cor
rupt mixture in their very conflitution ; they
have generally been formed in haste, or out
of neceflity, or tyrannically, or in a slate of
ignorance ; and being badly formed, the
management of them hiasbeen with difficul
ty. éut we hive opportunity to form with
some delibetation, with free choice, with
good advantages for knowledge ;we have
opportunity to observe what has been right,
and what wrong in other slates, and to profit
by them. The plan of American Govern
ment, should, as mucli as possible, be formed
to suit all the variety of circumstances that
people may be ins Virtuous, or vicious; a-
greeing or contending, moving reguiliriy; of
convulied by the intrigues ot aipiring men 3}
fdr we may expect a variety of circumstan
ces in 2 courle of time, and we fhéuld be
prepared tor every ecndition. We fhotld
afliime that mode of Government which 18
meft equitable, and adapted to the good of
mankind, and trust Providene for the evetit}
for God who determines the fate of Goverti=
ments, is most like to prosper that which i 3
most equitable, And I think there tan b 8
no doubt thit a well reguiated Democraty
is most equitable. An annual, or trequént
choice of Magifirates; who in a yeér; or aftet
a few years, are again left tipon a level with
their neighbours, 1s imoft likely to prevent
usurpation and tyranny, and most likely o
secure the privileges of the people: 1f rultrs
know that they shall; in a short term of time
be again out of power, and it may be liablé
to be called to 2n account for mifcondtiél; it
will ghiard them againlt maladmipiftratiosi;
A truly popular Government hds I belieV&]
never yet een tried in the world. Thé most
remarkable Government that has éver be#ti]
viz. the Roman Republic was something
near it but not fully so. And the want ofi%
being fully so, kept a continual contest be
tweern the Senate and Plebeians, : e
= America must confit of 2 number of
confederate Provinces, Cantons, Difiriéts, or
whatever they may be called. These must
be united in a General Congress ; but each
Provirce must have a diftin&t Legislature;
and have as much power within itfelf as pos
sible. The General Congress should nos
interfere, or meddle with Provincial Affairs;
moré than needs must. Every Province
should be left to do as much within itfelf as
may be. And every Province should allow
each county, jea and each town, to do as
much within themselves as possible. Small
bodies manage affairs much easier, & chedp+
er than large ones. If every county and
town, manage as much business as may be
within themielves, people will be better fa
tisfied, and the Provincial Congress saved
much trouble. Qur counties and towns have
hetetofore been left to manage many of their
own affairs, and it hasbeen a great privilege,
and their business has been manageéd to great
advantagé. Each county should now choose
their ofiicers, which were heretotore appoin
ted by the crown ; these matters may now be
adjusted with much ease. Lvery Province
thould be allowed such full power within
itfelf, and receive such advantages by 2 ge
neral uniion, or confederation, that it would
choose to continue in that union, The con=
nedtion of the Provinéés should be made ta
be for the interest of each, dnd be agreeable
to each. This will Eeep thiem quiet and
peaceable 5 and nothing will ténd so much
to this, as to let evety Provinée have s much
power and liberty within itfelf 45 will confiit
with the good of the whole; Néither the
Continental Congress, ot any othet Alifbes
of men, thould afiume, orufigér;
or office, for their own {ake, but ot £h ¢ good.
of the whole. Let America incredfe evés
so much, there muff never be ang, poiery
[ No. 6. ]