Gazette of the United States, & Philadelphia daily advertiser. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1796-1800, September 20, 1799, Image 2

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Eastqn, Sept. 3, 1799.
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Mr. Ffnno,
THE following truly lingular advertise
ment haying appeared in the Eafton pa
per of Northampton county, (the den of
jacobins) I wish, for the l.itisfaftion of
the public, it was made more generally
known, you will therefore oblige a sub.
i'criber by giving it a place in your uie-
J ful paper:
ADVERTISEMENT.
THE public already know that I have
offered myfelf as a candidate for the office of
Sheriff ot this county. Some of those who
»re my enemies have circulated a report very
industriously, that I have becone a federalifl.
I should have hoped, that twenty-five years
exertions in the cause of republieanifm would
have prevented a 11V person from giving cre
dit'to so improbable a fafchood—As, how
ever, some people may poflibly be induced to
believe it, although evidently circulated for
electioneering purposes, I am induced to
publilh the following certificate.
John Mulhallon.
We certify, that at a conversation which
took place at the office of James Ration,
Esq. on Monday the 29th of July last, it
was mentioned to Judge Mulhallon, by a
gentleman in company, who was a feaeralift,
that if the Judge were to be more moderate
in his opposition to James ftofs, the federal
catiuidate for governer, he (Judge Mulhallon)
would get a great many federal votes : to
■which the Judge varmly^Yeplied," that he
wanted no favors of that kind, that he would
support M'Kean at all rilks, and that he
would dispute the ground for him, inch by
inch, even if j t faould injure his own eleft
ion or words to thatpurpofe.
JACOB ABEL.
J. RALSTON.
GEO. IHRIE. *
ABSALOM REEDER.
I
The fubferiber informs his friends and fel
low Citizens, in addition to the above certi
£ca.e,ythat I can make it appear, that in a
large and general meeting held at the honfe
oi Mixfell's, which has already
appeared, with the ticket annexed, that a
gentleman made the fame observation, that it
would be more prudent for me tr> be mode
rate in refpedt to the eleition of Governor.
I then got up and told them. I would dif
pwte the ground inch by inch for tIA? elec
tion of M'Kean, v it" 1 Ihould lose my own
ele&ior). Therefore, 1 hope, the citizens of
this county will credit no report of any kind
wi.ifch may be circulated with the view to
injure my eieflion, unless thsy publifii it in
the newfjwpers of this county, figpi their
names Jo 'Stand' that so long before the elec
tion that I have time to vindicate my
charafter as I now have.
JOHN MULHALLON.
HOW pleasing is the talk to snatch from
the j.iws of persecution the oaule of federal
ifm, and place it bevsr.d the reach of the low
the groveling wretch, who attempts , to lap
its foundation. To expose in their true co
lors, those who attempt to defame it, is the
duty of every American, and reai friend to
his country. Monsieur Mulhallon having
«ame forward openly in the face of day, he
therefore becomes fair game for every one.
He complains that his enemiee have circu
lated a report, that he has become a fede
ralist. Gracious Heaven! is the govern
ment of the United States so lenitive as to
Foster and protest a wretch who has the ef
frontery t» deelare that he is its enemy !
This hero of Long Island also inform? the
public, that he, should he even lofc his elec
tion, will dispute the ground inch by inch,
for M'Kean. Bold indeed, with the
weapons ef his party, I make no doubt, falfe
hood, chicanery and intrigue. But his eg-
gregious vanity exceeds all: He fays, it is
£alle, lam become afederalift. I be
lie-re, for ever in * multiplicity of lie? there
is fojne ,truth.
despise a chant (Tier so mean and contempti
ble ; he is fit only to be the tool of party,
and jackal! of faftion. Every thinking man
will fee his drift,' and that his declarations
give the lie to his principles, for in attempt
ing to impose upon others he has over
reached himfelf: and I trust, there yet re
mains patriotism fufficient, in the county of
Northampton, not to give their fuffiages
to a man of sentiments so abandoned. M.
Mulhallon, deliberating in his garret, (for
geniufles like his love to soar) on the surest
means of gaining his eleftion, and confide;-
ing, that»perhaps the majority of the county
were anti-fcderalifts, exclaim, I will go and
make some warm expressions before charac
ters, whose refpeftability will not be called
in question, refpefting M'Kean's eleftion ;
this will make his friends mine—the office
of Kalfton afforded a fit opportunity, where
four gentlemen were convened. He there
thundered out his exclamation, and after
considerable trouble, got them to certify the
words of John Mulhallon, the candidate for
the fheriff's offi«e, I fay trouble, for they
were the friends of government, and wilhed
not to meddle in dirty business ; but his
feheme was too shallow, and his plans will
undoubtedly be defeated. It may not be
improper to enquire who and what Monsieur
Mulhallon is, where he Came from, and
what he now follows : Mufhallon is by birth
an Iriffcman, and by principles, as far as I
can understand from his publication, a
united one, that he has spent twenty-five
years in the cause of republicanism, I think
falfe, for. ill 1776, Mulhallbn acted as a
Lieutenant in a company of militia, was
taken at Long Illand—received a parole—
did that which no man of honor would do,
broke it, and never was exchanged. If this
military aft deserves credit, lie is entitled to
The federal party would
it wholly, far my fun pie felf, I will never
court popularity at the ex pence vof honor
and Integrity. This* I must acknowledge,
is the only military atchievement of his I
have eVer heard of, and would stamp with
infamy, any chara£ler but one so debased as
his.
By fortunate events, which too often await
the unworthy, Monsieur Mulhallon now
graces the bench of Northampton, as an
Associate Judge, every Judge prior to his
taking his feat is obliged to swear he will
support the constitution of this state, and
the constitution of .the United States, or "in
plain words (for fear Mulhallon (bould not
understand) the federal constitution. The
man who swears this, were he not a feder
alift before, niuft become one. How far
Monsieur Mulhallon's declarations agree
with this, I leave the world to jodge, for
my part I think it smells confounded strong
of perjury; not that I would accuti his ho
nour for one moment with a crime of this
' magnitude, but attribute it to fjrgetfulneis.
. The citizens of Northampton county will con
fider well what confidence can be placed in
the man who, although twenty years have
elapsed, falfifyed the honour of a soldier, and
mult have been a disgrace to the corps to
which he belonged—and by this a£l expos
ing his brother officers, the companions of
his danger, to the hardships of a solitary
: confinement, was it notf or his effrontery,
I humfcidty would draw a veil over the desd
! and'bury it in eternal oblivion. But you, my
fellow citizens, will shew by your fuffrages,
whether you refpeA most, integrity and the
friends of your country, or give them to a
man devoid of all. ~
A FARMER of '76.
To tbe Electors oj Pennsylvania.
WHEN a candidate for the highelt of
fice in the State is pre fen ted for the public
opinion, his charaiiter, so far as relates to fit
nefs for the ftatipn, becomes an objeft of im
portance, on which every citizen, capable of
throwing light, would be deficient in his
duty to his fellow citizens, if he neglected
the opportunity before the choice was made.
The ensuing election for a governor of the
State of Pennsylvania, is one of the mod
important crises that this State has ever ex
perienced : It is to determine whether we
are to govern ourfclves or be governed by
foreigners ? There are but two candidate*,
one of whom has given fufficient evidence of
his adheience to the principles of liberty,
substantiated in the constitutions of the U.
States and of this State ; the other has given
at pregnant proof that he adheres to nothjng
but what accords with his own interests, nor
. longer than thole interests are fublerved by
his confiltency. So been already
written on the ch'ara&rrs of these candi
dates, that it woulii be unnecefTary to add
to the labors of the press, if the writers hid
brought thrir facts clofat togeti<o>, and
given a concise piiture of Mr. M'Kean's
charafter as it rclults from thenw
1 propose to (hew from what has appear
ed, that Mr. M'Kean has been for above
thirty years, a man incontinent With him
fiflf, varying from opinions openly avowed,
to the contrary, in repeated inttances ; and
that he never has maintained any opinion,
which he has not in some period of his pub
lic life and conduit, direftly. contradicted—
that he has been a whig and tory, a consti
tutionalist, and a republican, a fedcralift and
an anti-frderalifl, as ofttii as his intcreft and
ambition have rendered either of these cha
radters molt fublervient to them.
Attend to the foHowing fafts, known to
ever}' body, and the result will be evident:
The ft amp aft pa (Ted by the British par
liament, wb«rein we 'vere not represented,
and whereby a large revenue was expefted
to be collefted, was to take effeft in 1765.
Mr. M'Kean was among the number of
thofef who after some tcuporifing entered
into an opposition to it; hi was a member
of that congress of delegates from most of
the then Britifli colonies wV.Vh met at New
York, to take raeafures to prtture appeal
of the aft, and his boasts of weig'i.* of influ
ence, and services in that body, aic WeL
known to all who have heard him for the
last twenty years, spout out his own praise.
He was alio an opponent to the declaratory
aft of 1766, wherein after the repeal of the
ffctrno aft, the British parliament aflerted
their right to make laws binding to the
American colonies in all cases whatsoever;
and to the aft palled the next year
to enforce this aflertinn by imposing duties
on tea, paper, glass and painters colors im
ported into America ; and to all the afts
patted for raising revenue in the.'e (then)
colonies by-tbe authority of the Britiib par
liament; these ideas were popular, and he
joined with the people in the opposition,
whereby he raised himfelf to consequence,
and established a charafter as a whig, a
friend to the people, to liberty, and the
rights of man. Thus he continued until
his interest led him t« another view of
things ; in 1772 the colleftor of the cus
toms ot the port of New Castle died, and Mr.
M'Kean saw an office vacant worth from
tool, to 150!. fterl. a-year, which he con
ceived only waited his afking.for it. It was
in "the gift of the governor of the Delaware
counties in the firft instance, of the board of
commissioners of the customs at Bofron in
the second, and lastly, of the King, or ra
ther of the'minifter of Gifeat Britain. Mr.
M'Kean was lawyer enoagh to know that if
he accepted this office, he must take an oath
to carry the revenue laws cf Great Britain
into execution in their fulleft extent, accord
ing to their form andeffeft. This however,
did not prevent him from studying his own
emolument; immediately on the death of the
' colleftor, he sent a mefienger to Philadelphia,
requesting from Mr. James Hamilton, (then
governing as president' of the coun-'
cil ad interim between the departure of
governor John Penn, and the arrival of go
vernor Richard Penn,) a commission, as coli
.
Jecltv of the cattoms of the port of New '
Caltle on Delaware: Mr. prpfident iia (Bil
lon, authority under the crown,
no doubt, thought iie could recommend him
felf to his fuperiars by purchaiing oil" a
flaming patriot with an office, whole salary
paid Uy the King, was but 901. a-year, and
therefore immediately granted the commil
lion, and under it Mr. M'Kean took the
oath of office: By this he became a complete
tory, that is, a person fwurn to carry into
effeft the odious duty of enforcing revenue
from the colonies by a£ts ot a parliament,
in which they were not represented. This
is not nil, Mr. M'Kean received a second
comraifiion from the coinmvffioners of the
customs at Bnflon, who had the general fu
perintendance of the collection ot the Britilh
revenue in t';e colonies, and whom Mr.
M'Kean had often, while he was a whig,
Ujanded as an unconllitutional board ; under
this second' connniffion, he again took the
oatb, and was inft.dled colledlor of the hated
duvies ; and in all probability, he would have
been obliged to have packed up his alls and
j gone off, with the other revenue officers of
the crown, on or before the declaration of
independence, if the king's pleasure notified
through lord North, had not i'upercedfd him
by the appointment of another collector ot
the customs for the port of New Castle, ai d
taken away his salary of 901. a-year and the
! contingent perquilites of 501. or 601. more.
This converted him ; and he became again
a whig, and was appointed a member of the
congress of 1774. ' During that year and
1775, he carefully observed the political
weathercock which was then against the de
claration of independence, until the recep
tion of thf pamphlet under the title ot Com
mon Sen!!', allured hiui that the moon had
changed under a favorable afpe&, and that
the wind was fettled in that direftion, he
then alfob-.came a fettled whig. It is need
less to relate his conduit in Delaware, Jeyj
fey, and Pennsylvania during the peridd of
British invasion ; it will form some curious
paragraphs in a future biftojy of, the revo
lutionary war, when.palty spirit aud party
connexions, shall have so subsided and dil
folved as that historical truth may be told ;
wherefore, having sftablilhed the firft afier
tion, that he has been a whig and a tory,
aire rnately as it suited his views of ambi
tion and emolument, I proceed to the efta
bliftiment of the tecond.
Ttsefirft conOitution of Pennsylvania was
formed by a convention, compol'ed as that
. of Frjnre afterwards wat t of a tew designing
, men, imitators of Cromwell, anc| eac h de
sirous of obtaining the prote&orlhip of the
State ; and the many, the ignorant deluded
. tools of the fa&ion, wjio were ready to give
all p9wer to their leaders; a letter now ex
' ift» in print,st'rom one Cannon, a fchoelmaf
! ter in Philadelphia, a man then governing
the mob, as Marat afterwards did the suburbs
St; Antoine of Paris, which was circularly ad
drefled to the elett«rs of the several counties,
recommending to them to chufe for their
delegates to the convention, men of little
; learning, for that men of general or legal
: knowledge only confownded out- another,
and were unfit ffcr the office of framing a
confiitution; his reepmmendation was so
: well attended to in many of the counties,
i that when thp Convention met, and a coin
vnittee appointed to draft the form of a con
stitution, reported, it was moved to hav«
several copies of it transcribed, that the
members might have an opportunity of read
ing it over at their longings to which an a
mendßient was offered, to fubflitute the word
printed, in (lead of tra, scribed; because a
] majority of them could not read written
band• This motion wa; carried, and the
report was printed, and lence the origin of
printing all things depen ling' before our pub
lic bodies. This leaned convention efta.-
blifhed the firft conftiution of Pennsylvania,
and there was not to be found a lawyer whose
reputation had bee i eftablifked in Pennsylva
nia, who would iccept the office of Chief
Justice unde.- it: Mr. M'Kean, then little
j known he.-e, accepted it against his own de
| cided judgment often exprefied, and became
a conititutional.ft, a term of diftincVion af
fuined by the friends of that form of go
vernment, exercised by a ftnglr legislative
branch, and he served the party who thus
took him by the hand, faithfully, as long as
it suited the purposes of his ambition and
emolument, but no longer. In the course
of a few years it was discovered that a go
vernment of a single branch was equally ty
rannic?!, if not more so, than a despotic
monarchy; that the passions ot the many
hec-ame concentred and operated with as
much consistency and more violence than
those of an individual, and were more into,
lerant than the limited monarchy from which
we had emancipated out country ; the sup
porters of these opinions were ftiled republi
cans, in contradiftin&ion from the coiiflitu
lionalifis; they had waged wordy war in the
newspapers against each other from 1779 to
1786, and in the course of ten years, the
public opinion became decided in favour at
republicanism, which in the public mind bore
the idea of a representative government, di
vided into three branches, ele&ed by and ac
countable at certain to the peo
pie, by periodical elections. In 1786 a pro
jeft originating in Virginia, was hearkened
to by many of the other states, who lent rc
prefentatives to Anjiapolis, in Maryland, to
consider of foine plan to render the federal
government, then weak, from its composi
tion of all power in one branch, more effi
cient in its admiiriftration of the affairs of
Thirteen States ; this meeting could effett
nothing ; their defeflive powers were how
ever enlarged and the-ftates more fully re
presented, at a meetißg the next year (1787)
at Philadelphia ; when the prcfent eopftitu
tion of the United States was framed and
recommended to the people of the several
States for confideratlon, a convention of
each to be called in the manner recom
mended. Mr. M'Kean* clearly perceiving
that the tide of popular opinion was coming
with a full swell i» tavenr of this contYitu
tion, fuff'red himfelf to fee carried like a
feather along with it, and when, i'n the year
following its adoption, the conft.tution of
tiie state was proposed to be rendered more
conformable to that of the Unit "d States,
he deserted his old friends the constitutional
ists, who had railed him to the Chief Juf
ticefliip, who had dubb'd him with (to use
his own expression from tlje Bench) the title
of Docjoi of Laws, the higjjeft dignity at
tainable in the profeffion, and became a re
publican,
The contest about the new constitutions
of the United States and of this iljte, at lilts
time, gave new names to the contending
parties without any alteration in their views.
The C«nftitutionalifts were men who, de
spising all order in government, and ton
tending for an exaft equality among men,
whether rich or poor, learned or unlearned,
whether wife or idiots, inlifled that their re
presentatives should meet in one chamber,
and by majority of persons decide on all
afts of legislation ; while the Republicans
i lfifted that the wiser and better part Ihould
be fele.&ed from the people at large, and be
1 1 iced in two chambers with powers of ne
gative over the a£ts of each other, in order
to prevent that simultaneous effufion of pas
sion which a fi'ngle branch was commonly
aljpefted with by the impulse of tome aipiring
demagogue who would always by popular
flattery be able toinfinuate himfelf into their
good opinion, and become their leader, their
Gronnvell. This difference of opinion gave
new names to the parties, and Federalilts
was substituted for Republicans, Antifede
ralifts for Constitutionalists : while the con
test was doubtful, the latter submitted to the
appellation and even afiumed the title, but
when by the lou-d acclaim of the people the
constitutions were latified, they wished to
change it, and many arts have been tried to
bring about a reform—Newfpapers have been
set up and fallen down.in the attempt, and
yet it has not succeeded but in the jargon ot
the party. The Antifederalifts have a [Tu
rned the na e of Repub'icans, but none be
ficte themselves underltand them as meant by
it, and it is left to the Aurora and a few cf
its followers to designate them by it ; while
the true charadler of Republicans is main
tained the Federalilts, who firlt- assumed
and always deserved the honored name :
during this change of the Shibboleth cf Par
ty it was not difficult for Mr. M'Kean to
turn with the tide; he thought his intertft
to be, to swim with the current, and he lut
fered himfelf to be enrolled in the lift of Fe
deralists : he advocated the cause of the new
fonftitution of this state with energy ; nay,
he exceeded the cxccllesof those of his com
peers who are now called Monarchists, and
advocated principles of inequality among
the people which would be too tedious to
enumerate—here he was a Federalist in the
extreme, but his services soon pasTed into
oblivictj,—he was left to be merely Chief
Justice of a.single (late—he was 110: promo
ted to the bench of the Union—he con
ceived himfelf neglected—he waited the next
change of the moon, the next turn of tide,
in hope that he might met a favorite weed
or straw to attach himtelf to, and flow into
the port of an higher office. The clamours
excited by Genet and the French party, and j
by his Reporter, Dallas, feemcJ to him a fit
opportunity n fcrve his purpose ; he em
braced the occasion, and from a firm fupp<ir v
ter of Fedenlifm, he became an Antif. deral
ift; and ever since he presided at the meeting
in the State-houle Yard, when M'Clenachan
proposed to kick the Britifti treaty ti -Hell,
he has been the moll inveterate enemy to
the people and the government of the Uni
ted States, wholly attached to a foreign na
tion which has nothing to recommend it
but the aflumed names which he hasdifcard
ed of liberty and republic?uifm.
FsLiow-CirizExs,
This is rtie pian recommended to your
fufFrages as Governor of the Rate, and 1 call
upon all who fiiall vote for him to refledt
within their own minds in which of his ch».
rafters they mean to patronize him ; whether
as a Whig before 1772, a Tory and Cuflom
hotlfe officer in 1772 and 1773, * '-imid
member of Congress till 1776, a Constitu
tionalist from thence till 1787, a Federalist
of the highell tons from thence t.ill'i 793, or
an Antifcderalift, a Jacobin, a Foreigner, a
Frenchman from thence to the prefent'time.
Philadelphia, ph Sept. 1799
Mr. Fenno,
loclofed I fend you a letter from the
committee of correspondence for Warning
ton county, covering a certificate from a
number ot the most refpcftable gentlemen
in that county, proving Mr. JAMES
ROSS of Pittsburgh's atta-hmsrt to the i
Christian Religion, in contra liiflion to a ,
folic and scandalous report prorogated and
industriously circulated, by the friends to 1
Mr. M Kcat:'s eledtion, 1 that Mr. Rofs is
an Athei.l), a Deist," Sec. I have known
Mr. Rofs from his youth, and his father
and friends of York comity, where he was
born, and a more religious and virtuous 'a- 1
mily I*3 not to be produced. In my long j
acquaintance «ith him, 1 have never heard
an irreligious or indelicate expression from
him. and believe him to be a moral, wife and
virtuous citizen, a good Christian, and well
qualified to fill the important office of Go
vernor. LEVI HOLLINUSWORTH.
Washington, August 28, 1799.
Sir,
THE committee in this county for pro
moting the election cf Mr. Rofs, hnve le.irnt
■where Mr. Rofs is less known than here, cur
rency is given by the enemies to his eledlion,
(the Lmj conscientious men who supported
the eli ttion of Mr. to a rtpori,
that Mr. Ri>fs is a Deist.
To prevent the e fife ft of this report, or.e
of the committee in this town, where Mr.
Xofs li,ved mcr« than ten years, and until
about five years ago, applied to such elders
and other pexfons, noted for their piety and
regard for religion, as have known Mr. Rofs
during the whole of this time, andaseafily
could be applied to, and they chearfully sig n .
Ed the- enclosed certificate. It was regretted
that the absence of the Rev. John M'MilUui
(who is the minister nearest to this place, is
Ultimately #nd has been about twenty years
wejl acquainted with Mr. Rofs, and is zeal,
ous for his election?) and of the other Pref.
byteria:' ministers in this neighbourhood
who are now fitting in Prelbytery, more than
sixty tnilrs from this toivn, presented the
obtainir.g of tl*sr contradidiion to this falfe
and malicious report. But it was not tho't
prudent for the fake of this, to fuffer the
report to gain force, by the delay of another
• week's poll: especially as those who have
• ! fignecl, are distinguished chara&ers,forgood
, sense, honefly and piety, and refpe&abfe for
their stations in society. Mr. Allifon is
judge of tliis county, Mr. Swearenger, Mr.
Mitchell and/Mr. Ritchie are justices of the
peace, and the la ft has been a member of as,
fembly. Mr. Cott n and Mr. Brice, are
county commiffianers, and the last has been
a member of alTembly. Mr. Cunningham
is a'fubffantial merchant and Mr. Mercer a
substantial farmer. These gentlemen being
all in town nt_the time, were readily applied
to, and you be allured, that the certifi
cate of any one ot them, is fufficient to out
weigh the report. Many more names could
have been obtained, but ca seek numbers was
thought to be giving too much refpett to the
slander, fele£lion of a few unqueftion
abla was thought be(lv
The pretence of the Rev- John Smith, of
Cannonfburgh, a learned and refpeftable Se
cetjer jninifter, who, about three years ago,
removed to this country from O&orara, in
Lancafier county, enabled us to procure his
certificate also, and upon this we are content
to reft the character ef Mr. Rofs and of our-
selves.
We conld with as much cafe have obtain
ed as positive a denial of all the other mal : .
clous reports lately propagated againfl Mr.
Eofs, and we do pledge ©urfclves that they
are folif. But we thought it not of confe
querne to do so, as they are, we trust, ge
nerally known to be fa'.fe; and as fnch re
ports from unprincipled and designing men
are ulually expected on such occasions. But
there are so few means of ifcertaining the
i re.lit due to a repcrt of infidelity and a re
fpe<f\ for religion is of fu»h importance in
public Rations, that we thought it a'duty to
our fellow citizens to disprove the aspersion
of deism.
Leafi, therefore, this aspersion fliouldmif
lend good people, unacquainted with Mr.
Rnfs, the committee here request that you
will piiblifli, if you thirk proper, these do.
cuments in the newspapers or in hand bills,
as you think belt, and in fuck manner as
you think most fit. The original of these
certificates is in the hands of the committee
of Franklin county. A. ADDISON,
Chairman of tbt committee of Washington co.
Wajh'mgton, ( P.) dug. 26th 1799.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
WE the fubferibers, regular member! of
sundry Presbyterian congregations in the
county of Wafliington, have heard with
surprise and regret, that amorg the many
flanderons repoits propagated against the
refpcftable charafler of James Rofs, Esq.
of I'ittfburgh, who has been proposed to be
chofeti governor of Penofylvania, one is
that he is a D ijl.
We trust that we have a sincere regard
for truth and religion, and we feel ourselves
bound by the duties we owe to both, so far
as our testimony can go to remove from eu»
fellow citizens, this < bflru&ion to the free
cxercife of our votes in favour of Mr. Rofs.
God forbid that we/should aflift in plating in
fucii an important a Uation, a man defective
in refpeft fur religion. And we but obey
the diftares of our own consciences in ma
king the following declaration of what we
kifbw of Mr. Rofs, from our own observa
tion and indubitable information.
Mr. Rofs was born of refpeftable and
pions parent?, ps the Presbyterian churc'l in
York county in this (late, and received from
them a religoun education. He is well io
ftrudted in the scriptures and the do&rines
of christianity as held by our church ; and
we are persuaded believes and refpefU
them. He lived long in this town, and long
er in this county, and we hare had good
opportunities of knowing feira. Where he
has lived, there has not been any dated
minister, and only occasional supplies for
public wor(t)ip. But he has contributed to
the support of public worfli'p where he liv
ed, and attended it regularly and there is
nothing known to rs to juftify the imputa
tion that he is an infidel or deist, and we
think this imputation sals • and malicious.
In witness whereof we have hereto fet'our
hands.
RoLTstockton I Elde " of Wafh ' n S ton
J feph Wherry j Congregation.
| ohn Cotton 1 Elders of Bnffaloe Congre-
Jatres Brice j gation.
Jamet Mitchell, Elder of Peters Corgrega.
John Mercer > Elders of Chartiers
James Allifon 5 Congregation.
Craig Richie
Alexander Cunnirgham.
Since I lived iu county, I
have had opportunity at conversing and
being wel! acquainted wiiji James Rofs,Efq.
of Pittsburgh, and of knowing his chara&er
from ferif'Hs and refpedable persona, well
acquainted with his opinions and converfa
t'on, and I am well persuaded that he is fin»
cerely refpe&ful of the Christian Protestant
Religion, and do verily believe lhat the re
port of h'-s being an infidel or deist is alto
gether without foundation.
JOHN SMITH,
Min'tjlcr of AJpic'iat;d Congregation Cl^rtieis.