The New York Journal, And Weekly Register

MISCELLANY.

CENTINEL NO. XX.

To the Citizens of Philadelphia.

I congratulate my fellow citizens on the dawn of returning independence of sentiment, evinced at the last election: may its ennobling influence stimulate to further and more effectual exertions; may the dictates of the well-born junto be treated, on every occasion, with the contempt they experienced in regard to the late choice of councillor for the city.

Blinded by prejudices industriously fomented, influenced by sordid motives of private interest, or intimidated by apprehensions of being ruined in their professions, a great majority of the citizens of Philadelphia have suffered themselves to be made the scaffold upon which the well-born-junto have ascended to the government of this state, and thereby to a predominancy in that of the United States. For several years past the essential privilege of freemen, that of electing their legislators, has been reduced to unsubstantial form, to a mere farce, the appointment being really made by the junto, previous to the legal election. The situation of this city has been similar to that of Rome, under the Emperors, who artfully gratified the people with the forms of that liberty which they had enjoyed under the republic; continuing their ostensible representatives and officers, although in fact they were the creatures of the Emperors, and entirely subservient to them: thus you have been amused with the show of annual elections, and the name of representatives without the reality.

It may be useful to take a retrospect of the means by which this well-born-junto, who ten years ago could not muster more than 80 devoted adherents in the state of Pennsylvania, have now become so formidable as to threaten the liberties of all America.

The first consideration that this review presents, is the policy by which the junto have attached to this party the weighty interest of the Quakers and tories. In the late arduous contest with Great-Britain, wherein the lives and fortunes of the whigs were dependent upon the uncertain issue of the war, and in the course of which so much barbarity and devastation were committed by the British; it is not to be wondered at that those persons who were disaffected to the common cause, who refused to share the dangers, or contribute to the expenses of the war, and on the contrary were justly suspected to be aiding and assisting a cruel and vindictive foe, should, in consequence thereof, incur the resentment of the whigs, and be treated rather as enemies to their country than as fellow-citizens. Hence the test law, which was made to draw the line of discrimination, and to exclude from our councils those who were inimical to our cause: hence too the violence and severity with which the disaffected were treated; which has laid the foundation of the most implacable resentments and lasting prejudices.

The junto, considering that persons so situated, and under the influence of such feelings, would make zealous adherents, if they could be flattered with hopes of protection from what they deemed oppression and persecution, and still more so if they could be flattered with the pleasing prospect of a repeal of the test law, and thereby having it in their power to assert their rights, and vindicate their sufferings: the junto accordingly made the most liberal offers of their services to the disaffected; and as their dislike and dread of the whigs was the cement of union, the basis upon which the well-born meant to build their meditated schemes of profit and aggrandizement, Galen and other dirty minions were employed to aggravate the feelings and confirm the resentments of the disaffected, by such misrepresentations of the principles and designs of the whigs, as to keep the former under continual apprehension of violence and rapine; this persuasion had the desired effect, it rivetted the disaffected so closely to the interests of the junto, that they zealously and implicitly supported all their measures without attending to their nature or consequences.

At length the liberal whigs seeing the imposition that was practising on the disaffected, that they were made the dupes of a set of interested, designing men, resolved to convince them that their apprehensions were groundless by repealing the test law, which excluded so many of them from the right of suffrage, and thereby putting them in a situation to judge and act for themselves: the junto who had gained so much by the subordinate situation of the disaffected, were alarmed at the proposition, and accordingly opposed it, which so incensed their allies that, at an election which took place soon after for a councillor in the room of Col. Miles, resigned, not one of them could be persuaded to vote, and of course the constitutionalists carried the election; however, the junto retrieved this faux pas afterwards, by the zeal they shewed in procuring the repeal of the test-law.

Another great engine of influence has been the bank, which having the power of controlling the credit of every person concerned in trade, of course governed the mercantile interest, and made it entirely subservient to the views of the well-born junto.

It has been moreover the policy of the junto, from the beginning, to ruin, by every device of calumny and exertion of influence, the character and circumstances of every leading patriot; well knowing that the people are only important and powerful when united under confidential leaders; and as this policy was supported by a numerous and weighty party, and pursued with unremitted perseverance, the ablest and most influential patrons of the people fell victims to it, character after character were successively attacked and hunted down by the dogs of party, with the most unfeeling rancour, even the death of the victim did not allay their gall. In this barbarous game of policy, the infamous Galen bore away the palm, and shone conspicuous beyond all the imps of the well born; he boasted that the superior malignity of his pen had deprived the illustrious and patriotic Reed of his existence, and in his fate had made a signal example to deter others from emulating his virtues, and standing forth the advocates of the privileges of the people, which is so highly criminal in the eyes of the well-born.

By such means have the well-born attained their present power and importance, to a situation which has enabled them to dictate and procure the establishment of a form of government for the United States, which, if not amended, will put the finishing stroke to popular liberty, and confirm the sway of the well born. Whilst the fate of the new constitution was doubtful, great was the assumed moderation, specious were the promises of its advocates. The despotic principles and tendency of this system of government were so powerfully demonstrated as to strike conviction in almost every breast, but this was artfully obviated by urging the pressing necessity of having an energetic government and assurances of subsequent amendments.

The people were moreover told, "you will have the means in your own power to prevent the oppression of government, viz. the choice of your representatives in the federal legislature, who will be the guardians of your rights and property, your shield against the machinations of the well-born." But how changed the language, how different the conduct of these men, since its establishment? they are taking effectual measures as far as in their power to realize the worst predictions of the opponents to the new constitution. Having secured the avenue to offices under the new Congress by the appointment of the senators, they are now exerting all their influence to carry the election of the representatives in the federal legislature, and thereby get the absolute command of the purse-strings to confirm their domination; every artifice is practising to delude the people on this great occasion, which in all probability will be the last opportunity they will have to preserve their liberties, as the new Congress will have it in their power to establish despotism without violating the principles of the constitution. The proposed meeting at Lancaster is a high game of deception; under the appearance of giving the people an opportunity to nominate their representatives, the minions of ambition are to be palmed upon them. Ostensible deputies are to be sent from every county for this purpose, who, if we may judge from those already appointed, will take special care to prevent the nomination of men who have congenial feeling with the people, as such would prove troublesome obstacles in the way of ambition; the intention is to monopolize both branches of the legislature, and make the government harmonize with the aggrandizement of the well born and their minions. The deputies appointed to go from this city characterize the juggle and designate the intention more strikingly than is in the power of language to express, or the ingenuity of artifice to conceal: the man who confessedly has had a principal share in the framing of a constitution that is universally allowed to be dangerously despotic; and therefore to require great amendments; the man who in every stage of its adoption has been its greatest advocate; whose views of aggrandizement are founded upon the unqualified execution of this government, whose aristocratic principles, aspiring ambition, and contempt of the common people, have long distinguished him; I say this man is now elected as one of that body who are to dictate the choice of the people-to point out faithful representatives who are to check ambition and defend their rights and privileges. If the people suffer themselves to be thus fooled upon so momentous an occasion, they will deserve their fate. But I am persuaded they will discern the fraud and act becoming freemen, that they will give their suffrages to real patriots and genuine representatives.

CENTINEL.

Philadelphia, Oct. 22, 1788.