The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

From the PENNSYLVANIA-GAZETTE.

TO the PRINTERS,

GENTLEMEN,

Your giving the following piece a Place in your useful and impartial Paper, will oblige one of your Customers.

As every Thing, tending to promote the Happiness and Satisfaction of my Fellow citizens, gives me a sincere Pleasure, I now congratulate them on the agreeable Alteration of Disposition, that has manifestly appeared of late amongst the Inhabitants of this City.

Not long since there were such treasonable Prejudices against a particular Body of Men, that if one of them did but speak his Sentiments (however proper they might be) he was accounted Self-interested, partial and unfriendly to the Cause of Liberty—but as the Eyes of the people are now opening to see, and their Ears to hear—the Voice of Reason I presume, will be soon attended to. & a view to the Good of all be the Motive to actuate each Individual.

From such a prospect of a truly patriotic Disposition, I take Liberty to mention a few well-known Facts, from which I hope to shew, that the Dry Goods Merchants of this City, notwithstanding the ungenerous Reflections of some of their ill-informed Neighbours, have acted an honourable, and, in general, the most consistent Part of any People on the Continent; and altho' their Private Interest was so materially affected, they have shewn their fixed Determination to support the Credit & Reputation of this respectable Province, even beyond the Hopes of some of the warmest Well-wishers to the American Cause, considering all Circumstances.

When the Boston People and New-Yorkers had entered into the Non-importation Agreement, the same Measures was strongly recommended to the Merchants here—the Matter was deliberated on—it was judged to be premature—many were of opinion, that a different Mode of proceeding would be much more proper, that this Method, if adopted, might probably lead us into the greatest Difficulties, that we had our Choice of a much more eligible one, safer, and equally certain—that if there were two Roads to pursue a Journey, the one plain, regular and good, the other extremely uneven and crooked, a Traveller would misit exceedingly to choose the worst, and leave the best.—It was proposed, that "all the Merchants on the Continent should agree not to import any Goods, on which Duties have been, or should be laid, nor such superfluities as the Community might well subsist without."

This was strongly urged by Numbers, and if this had been adopted, it is my firm Opinion, it would have answered a much better Purpose, than all the Combinations and vague Attempts that have been made thro' this extensive Continent: nay, I do believe, that the Point contended for, would have been effectually settled in our Favour, had this Proposal had due Weight with the Inhabitants in general: --Perhaps some may say—aye, you are very wise indeed to see this now, but why did you not foresee it before a different Experiment was tried? -To this I answer, and repeat it, that many were of this Opinion before the Non-importation Agreement here took Place.—and as long since as the Month of July, 1768, there were a Number of sensible Queries addressed to the Committee of Merchants then sitting, which are a full Proof of what I have just asserted; they are published in the Pennsylvania Chronicle, N°. 80, Volume 2d, from which I have already made one Quotation, and think it not improper to take another, viz.—"Lastly, whether, in order to investigate, and find out the Truth and Reasonableness of any Proposition, it is not necessary maturely to consider, and obviate every Objection thereto?" -Now this Method of proceeding would have been but just and reasonable, and particularly agreeable to the Importers of Goods, if they had been at Liberty to have exercised it;—but, on the contrary, their Mouths were stopped:—No Person must speak or write but on one Side of the Question—if a Merchant said any Thing in Favour of Importation (on any Terms) he must be told, he was no Friend to his Country, or perhaps was an Enemy:—Such was the unhappy disposition of many People at that Time, and as there was no Room for Reasoning—right or wrong—the Non-importation Agreement must be adopted—Thus, in Compliance with the prevailing Opinion, the Merchants, from a Principle of Complaisance, more than a Sense of Propriety, were foolishly led into a Measure unsupportable in its Nature, and ineffectual in its Tendency.

I would choose to avoid Prolixity in these my Observations, but as another Point seems to require a little Attention, I beg leave to remark, that upon hearing of a particular Repeal of the Act complained of, it was the opinion, not only of the Merchants here, but of People in general, that at least a partial Importation would be proper, provided the Northern Colonies agreed to it;—it was proposed and good Reasons were given for the Proposal; however this Matter was overruled, and entirely laid aside.—The Impropriety of the Conduct of many, who undertook to oppose the Measure was very conspicuous; but, as I should be glad to see a general Union of all Parties, I desire not to reflect on any Individuals, especially as it is now believed they are themselves convinced of the imprudent Part they have acted, and perhaps will soon acknowledge, that they have treated the Merchants of this City in a very disrespectful and improper Manner. Thus the Affair of Importation was dropt—the Rising of Parliament was waited for—the New-Yorkers have broken their Agreement—the Parliament has risen—our Agreement still subsists—no Determination to import is precipitately desired—prudent Steps are wished for under present circumstances—and I make no doubt, but the good Conduct of the Dry Goods Merchants of this City, which has been evident heretofore will be continued; and, I hope, the Reason, Prudence, and Justice, will prompt my fellow citizens, in their future undertakings, to adopt the most sensible and proper Measures.

Before I conclude, I shall just make this further Addition.—When we hear from Boston, that the "firm Faith of the ample Territory of Virginia may be depended on," a Person may say (and that without any danger) that these are sounding Words, but have very little Meaning, and may even refer to the Association Agreement, not to import Cambricks of more than 6d. Sterling per Yard, Calicoes of 3d. Sterling, Worsted & Cotton Stuffs of 2d. and 3d. Sterling per Yard, &c.—This is the Colony, if I remember, where the first material Opposition to the Stamp-Act took its Rise.

When we hear of three Vessels being arrived at Quebec, and four at Montreal, from London, & that several more are shortly expected, we may suppose, and that with a moderate Share of Effrontery: that such Numbers of Vessels do not arrive from the Port of London without a cargo of Dry Goods:—Whether they belong to any Body or no Body, is not my Business to determine.—When we hear from New-York, that the non-importing. protecting Importers, are as ready to send their Orders as the most open Professors, we imagine, and that without Offence to our Fellow-Citizens, that the Execution of their Orders will as effectually employ the Manufacturers and Traders in England, as the Orders of any of their defective and disgraced Brethren.

And it is likewise safe to suppose, that even the Carolinians (notwithstanding their patriotic Resolves) have some Regard to their private Interest, as well as others; or else how shall we account for their sending such Quantities of Goods to this City? Is it not for the Sake of Profit at this time of Scarcity with us, and to make Room for more, which the Agreement allows them to import? And may it not be reasonably expected that they will have fresh Supplies as soon as possible, proportioned to their foreign as well as domestic Trade, which it is notorious they, in particular, are so fond of carrying on:—Thirty Pieces of fine Oznabrigs were very lately advertised to be sold at one Vendue Sale in this City, which, exclusive of any other Articles, must amount to £220 and upwards.

Many more such Observations might be made, but as I should be sorry to be thought tedious, I shall now conclude with wishing, that Wisdom may direct our future Steps, and Prudence guide our Counsels.