THOUGHTS ©tf GOVERNMENT, APPLICABLE TO THE PRESENT STATE OF the AMERICAN COLONIES. Written in the Year 1776, By the VICE-PRESIDENT of the Unites St ates, Then a Member of Con rtfs ; In a*LETTER to the Hon. GEORGE WYTHE, oIVIRCINIA. (Concludedfrom our UJt.) TN the present exigency ofAmer.can affairs.when.by an*a of Pa - 1 liament we are pat out of the royal protest, on, and ly discharged from our allegiance ; and it has become necessary to •kmc government for our immediate fecunty, the Gov Lieut. Gov. Secretary, TreaCurer, Comm.ffary, Attorney-Genera]l, Ihould be chosen by joint ballot, ot both Houses. And thee and all other cle£l:ons, especially of Representatives and Councilors, Ihould be annual, there not being in the whole circle of the fc.ences, a max im more infallible than this, « Where annual elea.ons end, there slavery begins." These great men, in this refpeft, should be, once a year " Like bubbles on the sea of matter borne, " They rife, they bunk, and to that sea return." This will teach them the great political virtues of humility, pa tience, and moderation, without which every man in power be comes a rav: nous beast of prey. , , This mode of confuting the great offices of date will answer ■very well for the present ; but if, by experiment, it Ihould be found inconvenient, the legislature may, at its leisure, devise other methods of creating them, by eleaions ot the people at large, as in Omneaicut, or it may enlarge the term for which they (hall be chosen to seven years, or three years, or for life. or make any other alterations which the society (hall find produtlive ot us ea(e, its fafety, its freedom, or in one word, it? happint fs. A rotation of all offices, as well ai of Representatives and Coun sellors has many advocates, and is contended for with many plau sible arguments. It would be attended no doubt with many ad vantages, and if the focicty has a fuffirient number of Tunable cha raOe.s to supply the great nun-'.er of vacancies which would be made by such a rotation, I can fee no objection to it. These per sons mav be allowed to fcrve for three years, and then be excluded three year", or for any longer or (horter term. Any seven or nine of the legidative Council may be made a Quorum, for doing bufincfs as a Privy Council, to advise the Go vernor in the exercifeof the executive branch of power, and in *11 afis of state. The Governor (hould have the command of the militia, and ot *11 your armies. The power of pardons ihould be with the Go 1 \>ernor and Council. Judges, juftiees and all other officer", civil and military, Ihould be nominated and appointed by the Governor, with the advice »nd consent of Council, unless you choose to have a government more popular; if you do, all officers, civil and military, may be chosen by joint ballot of both houses, or in order to preserve the independence and importance ot each house, by ballot of one house, concurred by the other. Sheriffs (hould be chosen by the freeholders of counties- so (hould Registers of Deeds and Clerks of Counties. All officers (hould have commiflions, under the hand of the Go vernor and seal of the Colony. The dignity and (lability of government in all its branches, the morals ot the people and eveiv blcffing of society, depend so mi ch upon an upright and (killful adminiflration otjuftice, that the judicial power ought to be diilina from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, as both (hould be checks upon that. The Judges therefore should always be men of learning md experience in the laws, of exemplary morals, great patience, calmness, cool ness and attention. Their minds (hould not be diftraaed with jarring interefls; they (hould not be dependant upon any man, or bodyof men. To thefeends they (hould hold c'.tates for life in their offices, or in other words their commiflions (hould be during good behavior, and their salines ascertained and eftablilhed by law For misbehavior the grand Inqucll of the Colonv, the House ot Representatives, should impeach them before the Governor and Council, where they (hould have time and opportunity to make their defence, but if conviaed, (hould be removed from their of fices, and fubjeaed to such other punilhmeot as lhall bethought proper. A militia law, requiring all men, or with very few exceptions, liefides cases ol conscience, to be provided with arms aud ammu nition, to be trained at certain seasons, and requiring counties, towns, or other small diftrias, to be provided with public (locks of ammunition and entrenching utensils, and with some fettled plans for transporting provisions atter the militia, when marched to defend their country against sudden invasions, and requiring ceiuin diftritls to be provided with field pieces, companies of tnatroffes, and perhaps some regiments of light horse, is always a wife inlluution, and in the present circuinftanccs of our country, indifpenfible. . Laws for the liberal education of youth, especially of the lower class of pcopie, aie so extremely wife and ufelul, that to a humane and generous mind, no cxpence for this purpose would be thought exiravagant. The very mention of famptuary laws will cxcitc a smile. Wheth er our countrymen have wisdom and virtue enough to submit to them I know not. But the happiness of the pcopie might be greatly promoted by them, and a revenue laved (juicient to carry on this war forever. Frugality is a great revenue, beftdes curing *is of vanities, levities, and fopperies, which are real antidotes to all great, manly and warlike virtues. But mud not all commiflions run in the name of a King ? No. "Why may they npt as well run thus, " The Colony of to A. B. greeting', and be tested by the Governoi ? Why may not writs, instead of running in the name of a King, run thus, " The Colony of to the Sheriff, &c." and be reded by the Chief Tuftice. Why msy not indidtments conclude, " against the peace of the Colony of and the dignity of the fame ?" A Constitution, founded on these principles, introduces know ledge among the people, and mfpirts them w'th a confeious dig nity, becoming Freemen. A general emulation takes place, which causes good humour, sociability, good manners, and good morals to be general. That elevation of sentiment, inspired by such a government, makes the common people brave and enterprizing. That ambition which is inspired by it makes them lober, indust rious and frugal. You will find among them some elegance, per haps, but more solidity ; a little pleasure, but a great deal o) busi ness—some politencfs.'but more civility. If you compare futh a country with the regions ot domination, whether or ariftocratical, you will fancy yourfelf in Arcadia, or ElyTmm. If the Colonies (hould alfume governments separately, they should be left entirely to their own choice of the forms, and if a Continental Constitution (hould be formed, it Ihould be a Con gress, containing a fair and adequate Representation of the Colo nies,'and iis authority (hould sacredly be confined to these cases, viz. war, trade, difputcs between Colony and Colony, the Polt- Officc, and the unappropriated lands of the Crown, as they used to he called. . These Colonies, under such forms of government, and in such a union, would be unconquerable by all the Monarchies of Europe. You and I, my dear friend, have been sent into life, at a time ■when the grcateft lawgivers of antiquity would have wished to have lived. How few of the human race have ever enjoyed an t oportunity of making an eleaion of government tnoie than of air foil or eTiraate. for themselves or their children. Wii?n ! before ihe present f podia, had threc | " , ''' l " nl °' pC °V ft and a fair opportunity to form and establish the wifelt p piefl government that human wisdom can contrive ? I hop. y will avail youifclf and your country of that extensive Icarn.ngand indefatigable industry which you poff fs, to assist her in the forma lions of "the haopieft government!, and thebeft character of a great people—For myfelf, I mult beg you to keep my name out ot Lht, for this feeble attempt, if it should be known to be mine, would oblige me to apply to myfelf those line» of the immortal John Milton, in one ot tiis fonnetj, " I did but teach the age to suit their cloggs, " By the plain rules o) ancient Liberty, •' When h ! a barbarous noise surrounded me, •' Of owls, and cuckoos, ajjtS, apes and dig I." EXTRACT. Dr. Price, in his Resolution Sermon, afterre probating, in pointed terms, adulation to men in power as Jebafing to those who offer, and corrupt ing to those who receive it, observes, " It is a trite observation, that extremes generally beget one another : This is particularly true in the present cafe. Persons justly informed on the fub jecfl ot government, when they lee men dazzled by looking up to high stations, and observe loyal ty carried to a length that implies ignorance and servility ; such persons, in such circumftar.ces, are in danger of Ipurningat all public authority, and throwing off that refpe<stful demeanor to per sons inverted with it, which the order of society requires. There is undoubtedly a particular de ference and homage due to civil magiffrates, on account of their ftationsand offices ; nor can that man be either truly wife, or truly virtuous, who despises government, and wantonly f(eaks evil of his rulers—or who does not by all the means in his power endeavor to strengthen their hands, and to give weight to their exertions in the dis charge of their duty." TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Sept. 28, 1790. NOTICE is hereby given, that proposals will be received at the Office oi the Secretary of the Treasury, until the 3111 day of December next inclusive, for the building of a LIGHT HOUSE, nearly of the dimensions proposed by the late Commiflioneis of Virginia and Maryland, upon the lot of land on Cape Henry, in the County ot PrincefsAnn, and State of Virginia, lately ceded for that purpose to the United States. It is desired, that the proposals mayieave theeleftion, whether the building above the foundation (hall be of brick or stone, and as the cost and charges of those ma terials vary, it is expetted, that a correfpondixig difference will be made in the terms offered. The foundation of the Light-House is to be of Hone, and funk to the depth of thirteen feet below the water table, over the top of which the pavement it to be laid. The diameter thereof is to be twenty seven feet lix inches, with a vacancy of about nine feet in the centre. The diameter of the base isto be twenty fix feet, at which place the thickness of the walls is to be fix feet. The height from the bottom of the water table to the top of the stone work is to be seventy two feet,where the diameter is to be fix feet fix inches, and the thickness of the walls three feet. The form is to be an octagon, having three windows in the east, and four in the weft. If it be built of brick, it is to be faced with the glassy kind, if of ilone, it is to be faced with hewn or hamrnci-dreifcd stone. On the top of the stone work is to be a floor of joists, bedded thereiu, planked over and covered with copper, extending about two feet eight inches beyond the wall, thereby forming an eve, which is to be finifhed wt\h a cornice, the whole having a descent from the centre fufficient to throw off the water. The lanthorn is to be Supported by eight posts of wrought Iron of three inches square arid twenty feet in length, ten feet of which are to be wrought into the (lone wall on the inner part at each corner. The diameter of it is to be ten feet, leaving a platform on the oufide thereof of about fix feet in width. All the work above this is to be of iron and copper. The lanthotn is to be ten feet high, having a fcmicircular roof of five feet more, with iron raft ers covered with copper. The whole space between the posts sup porting the lanthorn, is to be occupied Dy the sashes, which are to be made of iron, each sash is to have twenty-eight panes of glass, twelve by fourteen inches. One of the fafties on the south weft fide is to be hung with hinges for a door to go out upon the platform, from the outer part of which to the roof of the lanthorn is to bca frame of iron covered with a net work of strong brass wire, to prefcrve the glass from injuries by hail and flights of birds in the night. The rafters of the lanthorn are to be well faftened to an iron hoop, over which is a copper funnel, through which the fmokc may pass into a large copper ventilator in the form of a man's head, capable of containing one hundred gallons. This head is to be so placed as to be turned by a large vane on the spire above it, that the hole for venting the smoke may always be to the leeward. Eight dormant ventilators of fix inches diameter are to be fixed in the roof of the lanthorn. A clofc stove is to be provided and fixed in the lanthorn, which is to be furnilhed with eight lamps, each capable of containing fix quarts, hung in two tiers over each other transversely. There are to be fix flights of stairs to ascend to the lanthorn, the entrance to which is to be by a door covered with copper. The building is to be furnifticd with two condu&ors, to secure it from the elfe&s of lightning. A trame house is to be bpilt for the keeper, twenty feet square, two stories high, with a frame kitchen ; the whole to be finilhed with lath and plaifter. A vault for the storage and fafc keeping of the oil is to be built of ftonc at a convenient distance, twelve feet wide, and twenty in length. It is to be arched, and covered with earth m sand, over which a (hed is to be built, and it is to be furnifhed with eight strong cedar citterns with covers, each capable of containing two hundred gallons of oil. The entrance isto be secured by a strong door. Good security for the faithful performance of the contratt will be expetted. Payments on account will be made at proper sta ges of the work, and the balance will be paid on its completion : or, if a suitable difference should be made in the terms, caOi will be advanced for the purchafeof materials and provisions» 03* The Prirters in the several States are requejled to insert this. TO BE LET, On very low terms—and entered upon immediatelyuntil the JirJl of M&y "next. THAT elegant new TWO STORY BRICK HOUSE, in the Bowery-Lane, formerly occupied by Robert Gilbert Livingston, deceased ; it has seven Fire Places with a good Cellar under the whole House—a convenient out-Houfe in the rear, with a Coach-Houfc, and Stables ; for further particulars en quire of MANGLE MINTHORN (2 w. t. f.) 616 Corporation Dock TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Jaff-rj, 179®. NOTICE is hereby given, that Propojals will be received at the office of the Secretary of the Treasury, to the JirJl day of O&ober next in cluhve,for the supply of all rations, which may be requiredfor the ufeof the United States, from the frji dayaf January to the thirty firfl day of December 17911 days indujivat the places, and within the dijlritt* herein after mentioned, viz. At any place or places, betwixt Ycrktowtl in theJlate of Pennfylvania t and Fort Pitt and at Fori Pitt, At any place or places, betwTYt Fort Pitt and Fort M'lntofh, on the River Ohio, and at Fort M Intofh. At any place or places, betwixt Fort M'lntofh and the movth of the Ri ver Mujkingum, and at the mouth of the River Mujkingum. At any place or places, betwixt the mouth of the River Mujkingum, and up the said River to the Tufcarowas, and at the Tufcarowas, and thence over to the Cayoga River, and down the said River to its mouth. At anyplace or places, betwixt the mouth of the river Mujkingum, and the mouth of the Scioto River, and at the mouth of the said River Scioto. At any place or places, betwixt the mouth of Scioto River, and the mouth of the great Miami at the mouth of the great Miami, and from thence to the Rapids, on the Falls of the Ohio, and at the said Rapids. At any place or places, betwixt the mouth of thz great Miami, up the aid Miami, to and at Piquetown, and thence over to the Miami Village f on the river of the fame name which empties into Lake Erie. At any place or places from the rapids of the Ohio, to the mouth of the I JVabafh, thence up the said Wabafh to Poll St. Vincennes. at Po/l St. Vin cennes, and thence up the said river Wabifh, to the Miami Village, be fore described. At any place or places, from the mouth of the Wabafh river to the moutk of the river Ohio. At any place or places, on the eafl jideof the river MiJfiftppi,from the mouth of the Ohio river, to the mouth of the Illinois river. At any place or places, from the mouth of the Miami river to the Miami Village. At any place or places,from the Miami Village to Sandujky, &nd at Sandujky, and from Sandujky to the mouth of Cayoga river. At any place or places, betwixt Fort Pitt aud Venango, and at Venango. At any place or placrs, betwixt Venango and Le Beuf, and at Le Beuf betwixt Le Beuf and and Prefq* JJle, at Prefq' IJle, and betwixt Prefq' Isle and the mouth of Cayoga river. At the mouth of Cayoga river, and at any place or places, on the rout from Fort Pitt, to the mouth of Cayoga river, by the way of Big Beaver creek. At any place or places, on the eafl Jide of the Mijffippi, between the mouth of the Ohio andthe river Margot inclujively. At anyplace or places,from thefaid river Margot, to the river Yazour inclujively At any place 01 places from the mouth of the river Tennefie, toOcochap po or Hear creek, on the [aid river inclujively. Should atiy rations be required at any places, or xvithin other diflrifls, not fpeeified in these propofals,the price of the fume tobe hereafter agreed on, betwixt the public and the contractor. Tie ration tobe fupblird are to confifl of the following articles, viz. One pound of breid or flour, One pound of beef, or j ofa pound of park, Half aJHI of rum y bran ay or whisk y, One quait of felt, Two quarts of vinegar, ( , ca ration,, Two pounds ojjoapt ( * One pound oj Candles t ) the proposals must fpecifythe lowefl price per ration. No credit is re quired. ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Secretary of the Treasury. Treasury Department, Sept. 20, 1790. IT is hereby made known, that the following arrangement has been adopted towards carrying into execution the Ast, mak ing provision for the debt of the United States, viz. Loan-Office Certificates, and those issued by the Commifllon ers for the rdjuftmenl of accounts in the several States, will be re ceivable only at the Treasury and by the refpe£live Commiflioners of Loans within the States in which they were refpettively iffucd The Certificates issued by the Register of the Treasury, by the Pay Master General and Commiflioner of Army Accounts, by the Commiflioners for the adjustment of the Accounts of the Quarter Maker's, Commissary's, Hospital, Cloath ; ng, and Marine Depart pirtments, Indents of Interest, and Bills of Old Emiflion, will be receivable indiscriminately at the Treasury and by the Com miflioners of all the States. The situation of the Checks has dicta ted this arrangement for the greater security of the public again ft impositions by forged or counterfeit paper, and the details which have been adopted from the fame consideration for the execution of the business are such, that it will give facility anddifpatch, if applications from the Holders of Ceitificates of the Register of the Treasury and of the Paymaster General, and Commiflioner of Army Accounts, and of the Commiflioners of the five Depart* ments above mentioned, are made in the firft instance at the Trea sury ; and if applications from the Holders of Loan Office Certi ficates, and Certificates issued by the Commiflioners for the adjust ment of Accounts in the refpe&ive States, are made in like man ner to the Commiflioners of Loans within the States in which they were issued. Transfers can afterwards be made to any Office that the Proprietors of these Certificates may desire. (£T The printers of the fcveral States are requtjied to infer t this. PURSUANT to a Resolve or a6l of Congress of the 10th day of May, 1780, relative to the deftru&ioo of Loan-Office Cer tificates by accident ; notice is hereby given to all whom it may concern, that on the 2d day of January 1780, the house occupied by the fubferiber in Market-Street, Philadelphia, took fire and was consumed, in, which was lodged a number of Loan-Office, certificates as pr. lift below, all which were destroyed by the ftid fire : There r ore if any person, hath any obje&ion why the said Certificates should not be renewed, agreeable to the resolves of Congress, they must make them before the expiration of three months, from the date hereof. Invoke of Loan-Office Certificates defiroyei in the house of John Holktr on the zddiy of January 1780. 1778. No. Dols. March 13. 1636 1 Samuel Cooke, jun. New-York, 6o» 1673 1 ditto. dr.. 6o* Dollars, 1200. 1636 1673 In testimony whereof I have signed the present for pub lication. HOLKER. New-York, July «6tk t 1790. WAR DEPARTMENT, Sept. 9, 1790. INFORMATION is hereby given to all the military Invalids of the United States, that the sums to which they are annually en titled, and which will become due on the fourth day of March ensuing, will be paid on the said day, by the Commissioners of the Loans within the states refpettively, under such regulations as the President of the United States may direst. H. KNOX, Secretary for the Department of War. (The Printers in the refpeftive States are requefled to publijh the above in their newfpapers,Jor the /pace oj two Months./ |Cr* To be let, from IJt November, THE HOUSE in which the Editor now lives :—A good Jituation for a Boarding-House—being formerly octufied in that business.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers