Whereas the weak and defenceless State
of this Province, has long been Matter of just and real Concern to
every thinking Person among us, especially since the Commencement
of the late unjustifiable Encroachments of the French and their
Savage Allies; And whereas a War between the English and French
Nations seems at present unavoidable, which will expose this rich
and flourishing City to Invasions from Sea, and the other Parts of
the Province to cruel Ravages by Land, if proper Measures of
Security are not speedily concerted; And whereas but few of the
People seem inclined to muster under the present Militia Law, and
to put themselves under Officers that propose to act in Pursuance
of that Law; And whereas it is nevertheless absolutely necessary
and expedient that those who are scrupulous in this Respect, should
have an Opportunity of acquiring the Military Exercise, in a Manner
agreeable to themselves, provided it be not repugnant to any
positive Institution of their Country. Wherefore, we the
Subscribers, Freemen of the City and County of Philadelphia,
enter into this Voluntary Association for accomplishing ourselves in Military
Discipline, that we may be ready to appear in the Service of
our Country whenever we are necessarily called thereto. And that
there may be nothing to create Uneasinesses among us, nor to
interrupt our Design of acquiring the Military Exercise, the
following are declared to be the fundamental Articles, and
essential Principles of this Association,
viz.
1. That we will remain entirely independent of the Present Militia Law, in every
Shape and Sense. For, as we cannot believe that the Law will ever
answer the Purposes of Defence, and, if it were carried into
Execution (which we scarce think practicable) would leave the
People of this Province on a very unequal Footing, so we cannot
think it expedient to act under a Law which we must necessarily
disapprove of, especially as every Individual is, by the Law
itself, left to his own free Choice, either to act under it, or
not. And as we do not blame those who think proper to pursue a
different Plan from ours, and charitably believe that many of them
may do so from a very laudable Motive; so we hope they will grant
us the same Indulgence, and allow us an equal Right of following
our own Judgment, in Matters where we are equally concerned and
free.
2. That we will be under such Officers, as we
shall chuse, and his Honour the Governor shall be pleased to
commission, for the Troop or Company to which we respectively set
our Names. That we will associate with Capt. Vanderspeigle’s, and
any other Independent Companies, so as to be
afterwards formed into one or more Regiment, or Regiments, under
such Field Officers as the several Captains, Lieutenants and
Ensigns (thus commissioned and associated) shall chuse, and his
Honour the Governor be pleased to commission, for that Purpose. But
such Officers shall have no Power to lead us to any Duty or Service
without our own Consent, unless a proper Militia Law is first
obtained, equally binding on all his Majesty’s Subjects of this
Province, who being equally free, are therefore intitled to
equal Privileges and Immunities.
Philadelphia, Feb. 28, 1756.
Feb. 25, 1756.
1. Whether when the whole City is invited to a
Meeting on any Project, and scarce Fifty get together to
countenance it, they are more properly called a considerable
than an inconsiderable Number?
2. Whether keeping up a Clamour of the weak
and defenceless State of the Province, after Sixty
Thousand Pounds has been granted and appropriated for its Defence,
and so many Forts built on the Frontier, and Troops taken into Pay;
has any Meaning in it, and what that Meaning can be?
3. Whether representing this City in publick
Papers, as being, at the same time, both rich and
defenceless, is least agreeable to Truth or to
Prudence, the Way to deter, or invite an
Enemy?
4. Whether a Regiment of Militia, well trained,
consisting of near 1000 Men, 50 Pieces of Cannon, and a strong
Battery, are to be looked upon as nothing towards the
Defence of such a Place as this?
5. Whether the Appearance of such a Regiment
under Arms, at three or four Hours Warning, be not a full Proof,
that the Assertion in the above Paper, viz. “few of the
People seem inclined to muster under the present Militia Law,” is
an egregious Mistake?
6. Whether it was not proper to shew our
Military Projectors (since they seemed ignorant of it) that there
was such a Regiment in Being; for so, by knowing how much was done,
they might be better able to judge what was wanting?
7. Whether inviting a Number of People to a
Consultation, and shutting the Doors in their Faces, as soon as
they appear, be a Compliment or an Affront?
8. By whose Order was this done, and what Right
had he to order it?
9. Are not our Laws fram’d by Assemblies of our
own chusing?
10. Did the Governor propose any Amendment to
our Militia Law, before he passed it?
11. Have the People petitioned the Assembly for
any Amendment to that Law, and been refused?
12. Could not these Projectors have met and
exercised themselves in the Use of Arms, without affronting in
express Terms the Laws and Legislature of their Country?
13. May not the Military Exercise as well be
learnt under the Sanction of the Law as without it?
14. Is not making Trial of a Law, by
endeavouring to carry it into Execution, the best Way of
discovering whether the Law is practicable or impracticable, will
or will not answer its Purpose? And if, on such Trial, it be found
defective; would not the actual Experiment made, give more Weight
to an Application for Amendment?
15. And would not that Weight be still greater,
the more generally the Experiment was made?
16. Do those good Men who have generously taken
up Arms for the Defence of their Country, and the Officers that
have taken so much Pains to discipline them, deserve, for so doing,
to be discountenanced, and meet with every King of Discouragement
and Obstacle that Power and Party Views can throw in their Way?
17. If the Projectors intend nothing but the
Use of their own Liberty, in learning the Exercise of Arms, can
they not enjoy that Liberty, without endeavouring to divide
and break the Force already formed under Sanction of the
Law; and without solliciting the People to sign an Engagement,
not to act under the Law; thereby restraining them in the
Liberty they have of acting under the Law if they should chuse
it?
18. Whether Union be not very necessary
to us all at this Juncture?
19. Whether dividing us is the Way to
unite us?
20. Whether an Association and solemn
Agreement, not to be obliged “to do any Duty or Service,” be
not a very droll Kind of an Association; and copied from Poet
Bayes, in the Play called the Rehearsal, viz.
“Bayes, I bring out my Bull, and
my Bear; and what do you think I make them do, Mr.
Johnson?
“Johnson, Do! why, fight, I
suppose.
“Bayes, See how you are mistaken now! I
would as soon make them dance. No, egad, Sir, I make them do——no
earthly Thing.”