Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser
1784-11-06
|
Bucks County, Nov. 1,
1784. In consequence of a measure moved and agreed upon by
sundry respectable characters, at Newtown, in the county of
Bucks, on the 13th day of October last, the day after the
general election, and of circular letters thereupon forwarded to
the several townships, of the said county, deputies from sundry
of the said townships (constituting a committee of the county)
this day, convened at the house of William Benner, land
holder, in Buckingham, as follows:
 | Bristol borough and township) Capt.
Robert Patterson
|
| Bensalem)
Mr. Lawrence Johnson
|
| Middletown) James Greeg
|
| Newtown) John Hart and James H???,
Esquire
|
| Warminster) Joseph Hart, esquire
|
| Warrington) Capt. Thomas Craig
|
| Warwick) John Carr, Esquire and Benjamin
Snodgrass
|
| Wrightstown)
Captain John Johnson
|
| Buckingham) Capt Robert Sample and Mr.
William Benner
|
| Soleburry) Mrssieurs Thomas Roland, Jonas
Ingham
|
| Plumsted) Captain William McCalla
|
| New Briton) Mr. James Snodgrass
|
| W(?)illtown) Captain Matthew Gries
|
| Nockamixon)
Messieurs Samuel Wilton(?) and John Clinker
|
| Durham) Richard Backhouse, Esq
|
| Tinicum) Captain Robert Stewart
|
For the more regular discussion and dispatch the (bufinefs)
business to be taken up by the committee Richard Backhouse,
esquire, was nominated to and by unanimous content, assumed the
chair. The business of the day being now opened, was moved by a
member and seconded, that previous to any further act of the
committee, the
16th section of the Bill of Rights which forms a part of the
constitution of the state, should be read, which being agreed
to, the said section was accordingly read by the chairman, as
follows--
That the people have a right to assemble together, to consult
for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to
apply to the legislature for redress of grievances, by added
petition or remonstrance: Thereupon ??mostly resolved, that this
committee chosen by freemen of the county, are a regular body of
men, and have a right , under the said section of the bill of
rights, thus to assemble, bring purpose of instructing their
representative in general assembly, and to consult for their
general good.
It was then moved, that the chairman, together with five other
gentlemen of the committee be appointed a special committee, to
prepare a draught of instructions to our present representatives
in the general assembly, for the direction of their conduct in
the house during the present term of their election; whereupon,
the said chairman, together with John Hart, JHames Happs, Thomas
Ro;s, John Carr and William McCalla were agreed upon as a
special committee for the purpose aforesaid, who being furnished
with the necessary instructions from the committee at large with
directions to report in three hours, ?? drew, the general
committee in the meantime adjourned.
Within the time limited, the gentlemen of the special committee,
returned with the following address, directed to Thomas Long,
Joseph Thomas, John Clark, John Keller and Arthur ??win,
esquires, the representatives in the general assembly of this
commonwealth, for the county of Bucks.
Gentlemen,
After the distinction which we have publicly demonstrated in
your favor, by electing you to represent us in the legislature
of this state do conceive it almost unnecessary to remind you of
the importance of the truth with which you are invested, but we
hope that an honest zeal for the welfare of our country, coupled
with a constitutional right to instruct our representatives in
the assembly, will eraze any idea in your minds how ??which
might be inferred a want of confidence, but inasmuch, as that in
a multiplicity of council there consists more knowledge, we take
the liberty to recommend to your serious attention a firm
opposition to every attempt to infringe or encroach upon the
constitution of this state and particularly to that part of it
wherein the legislature are enjoined to publish their bills for
consideration, before they enact them into law. It is with much
regret that we observe from the proceedings of the honorable the
council of ??, that in a great variety of instances bills have
been enacted into laws in former assemblies, in direct violation
of the constitution in this reip??. we conceive this part of the
constitution, to be founded on truly democratical principles and
not to be deviated from under any pretence whatsoever. It
extends alike to the people at laste, the opportunity of
advising, approving or complaining, and as they have an equal
right from the nature of the government, so it most probable
that laws from an observance of this refer in the legislature,
will be better adapted to the circumstances of the country. For
says the learned Moniesquleu, the laws of the country ought
always be suited to the local circumstances of it.
That the soil, genius and opportunity for commerce ought to be
considered in their constitution. We, therefore, conceive that
the advice of the people at large is the best monitor to a
delivery of the principles on which they ought to be founded.
A supplement to the te??-laws of this state, under a specious
pretence of there being a doubt whether young men who had
arrived to the age of twenty-one years since the passing of the
said te??-law, were entitled to the right of citizenship, ??
been attempted in the late house of assembly. We are happy,
gentlemen, to find that...
|
| |
|
|
