Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

ADDRESS
TO THE
FREEMEN OF PENNSYLVANIA:

Friends and Fellow Citizens,

WHEN a numerous meeting of our most
respectable fellow citizens assigned to us the
duty of endeavoring, as a committee, to pro-
mote the election of James Ross, it was far
from being the wish of any, or the expecta-
tion of most, of our number, to become in-
volved in the unpleasant task of commenting
on the conduct of the opposite candidate, or
that of his advocates. The sentiments we
entertained on this subject have already been
expressed to you, and we may safely chal-
leng the most inveterate of our opponents,
to point out a single instance in which we
have deviated from our professions, by mak-
ing invidious comments on the character or
conduct of either; we should have beheld
with pleasure, that, in this at least, we had
not been considered unworthy of their imi-
tation.

An artful insinuation will frequently pro-
duce more pernicious effects, in the minds
of the unwary, than a direct charge, while
those by whom it has been made, may con-
sider its ambiguity a sufficient shelter to their
characters, from any imputation of inaccu-
racy and falsehood. These reflections will
naturally arise on a candid perusal of the
second paragraph, of an address to the
Republicans of Pennsylvania, dated the 7th
of August last, and published under the sig-
natures of Messrs. Peter Muhlenberg, Sa-
muel Miles, A. J. Dallas, Michael Leib,
William Penrose, and Tench Coxe, as a com-
mittee on behalf of Mr. M'Kean, in which
it is asserted, that "some of the presses, whe-
ther conducted by foreign emissaries with a
view to influence and control the operation
of our government, or employed by dome-
tic agents with a view to increase the emolu-
ments of certain aristocratical persons, who
deceive and mislead the federal party, have
teemed with the grossest slanders:" the in-
tention of the committee evidently is to im-
press on our minds a belief, that presses of
the above description, and supported for the
purposes stated, exist among us, and are used
and encouraged by the party who support
Mr. Ross, than which nothing is more re-
mote from truth. If there are any presses
among us conducted by foreign emissaries,
those from whom the insinuation originated
must be more intimately acquainted with
their purposes and conductors than we can
justly pretend to be.

The meetings opposed to Mr. M'Kean,
are charged with having assumed to them-
themselves, the exclusive right of thinking and
acting in the politics of our country, and
prescribing as traitors to it all the citizens
who differ from them in relation to public
men or public measures; with respect to
ourselves, we utterly deny the truth of the
charge, and believe it would be difficult to
substantiate it in a single instance; who it
is that has been charged as a traitor, and
what are the proofs of the charge, are so
well known that Mr. M'Kean's committee
will never make any enquiry into them,
whilst they have any regard for the charac-
ter and feelings of a very distinguished mem-
ber of their body.

The general unanimity manifested in fa-
vor of Mr. Ross by the grand juries in dif-
ferent parts of the State, as it affords the
strongest evidence of the public sentiment,
could not fail to excite the deepest chagrin
in his opponents; it is nevertheless some-
what extraordinary in those who have hi-
therto contended, that the exercise of the
rights of the individual should not be sus-
pended or destroyed by his functions as a
public officer, to mention the conduct of the
individuals composing the several grand ju-
ries as a subject of complaint, especially
when it is considered, that they are gene-
rally men the most respectable in their several
counties for virtue and understanding, and
selected by the sheriff--an officer of popular
appointment.

We submit to you the candor manifested
in the general charge of intercepting, treat-
ing with insult, and destroying the letters of
the committee who style themselves republi-
cans, and substituting others teeming with
sedition, disrespect and indecency; we know
of no such transaction-if some solitary in-
stance of this kind has even occurred, it is
not surprising that even among the friends
of the federal government, to whom so ma-
ny of its former opposers have recently at-
tached themselves, some unworthy charac-
ters may be found.

"That arts of detraction, intrigue and
falsehood have been assiduously practised to
expose the republican candidate to odium,
and to bring the republican principle itself
into discredit and contempt with the people,"
is another of the charges, doubtless intended
to apply to some or all of the supporters of
Mr. Ross, as the calumniators, intriguers,
&c. and to Mr. M'Kean as the republican
candidate. We know of no foundation for
any such charge, nor are we acquainted with
any just ground on which these gentlemen
distinguish themselves, and their candidate,
by the exclusive appellation of republicans:
We profess ourselves real republicans, al-
though we have never arranged ourselves
among the supporters of royalty, democracy,
or jacobinisim.

The committee have taken some pains to
exculpate their candidate from the charge of
being a native of Ireland and a member of
the catholic church. We believe him to be
neither; and, had he been both, should have
been far from regarding it as a subject of
censure or reproach: Our excellent consti-
tution affords to the natives of every coun-
try an opportunity to become citizens, and
declares every person, otherwise qualified,
equally eligible to office.

That Mr. M'Kean is a friend to France
is a charge to which we cannot refuse our
assent. We believe him to be so to a de-
gree that, adopted in our public councils, or
sanctioned by the voice of the people, would
have a tendency prejudicial, if not ruinous,
to the honor, independence and interest of
our common country; his friends must ac-
knowledge, that he was privy to the em-
barkation of Dr. Logan, on his assumed
embassy to the Directory, and that he fur-
ni shed him with a letter or certificate, cal-
culated to insure his favorable reception, and
which, from the known character and station
of the writer, gave some color of authority
to his insolent interference in the negotia-
tions of our government.

That Mr. M' Kean is friendly to France,
that he defends and justifies most of her mea-
sures towards this country, and reprobates
those of our own government, is too gene-
rally known to admit of controversy; among
his numerous declarations of sentiments of
this kind, made publicly and without re-
serve, which might be referred to and estab-
lis hed, we shall only lay before the public
the following extract of a letter from Chas.
Smith, Esq. of Lancaster, a gentleman of
character and integrity, who, after stating
the wish expressed by Mr. M·Kean, "that
twenty thousand United Irishmen would
come into this country," goes on in the fol-
lowing words-"These expressions did not
stand alone--his abuse of the federal govern-
ment was repeated and violent, so as to shew
a marked dislike, and decided opposition;
the great characters who conduct it were
branded with the epithet of conspirators,
wishing to introduce a monarchy; and his
approbation of French measures, and their
present ambitious pursuits, was unequivocal."

Few of the citizens of Pennsylvania, are at
this time so uninformed, or so misled, as to
be blind to the projects meditated by France
against the United States to the varied and
unwearied efforts with which she has prose-
cut ed our ruin-to the violence, perfidy,
falsehood and intrigue, by which she has en-
deavored to accomplish her infamous ends,
and sink us into disgrace and misery. How
then can we be willing to receive as our go-
vernor, one who has justified their measures,
applauded their conduct and principles, and
exalted the blessings of their system of
liberty?

You cannot, Fellow Citizens, be igno-
rant, that they have made Liberty and
Equality the pretences, whilst plunder and
dominion have been their objects; that their
philosophic enthusiasm has not been satisfied
with spreading uproar and wretchedness over
a great portion of the globe, and drenching
its surface with blood, but that they have
attempted to change the moral, as well as
the political, state of man; with this view
the Christian Sabbath has been abolished,—
religious obligations treated with ridicule
and contempt, and national rights, alike in-
consistent with the precepts of natural and
revealed religion, have been established. Du-
pont, one of the members of the French
Convention, has thus expressed himself-
"What! Thrones are overturned! Scep-
ters broken! Kings expire! And yet the
Altars of God remain! A single breath of
enlightened reason will now be sufficient to
make them disappear. Nature and Reason,
these ought to be the gods of men! These
are my gods! For myself, I honestly avow
to the Convention, I am an Atheist." Such
have been the sentiments openly promulgated
and adopted by the Representatives of the
nation to whom Mr. M Kean has not hesi-
tated to avow his attachment.

Although our country, has withdrawn a
little from the precipice towards which the
was not long since rushing with wild and
inconsiderate steps, and our government, up-
ported by the rising spirit of the people, has
opposed a more manly attitude to the insult-
ing aggressions of an implacable foe, we must
not yet consider our safety to be insured, or
the hour of danger past, if men who either
are, or are believed to be, attached to
France, and opposed to the system of
energy and defence which has hitherto pre-
served us from the rapacious grasp of her Di-
rectory, should be exalted by the people to
places of trust and power, our danger will
be renewed; a nation ever expert in intrigue,
boasting of her diplomatic skill, will not fail
to avail herself of so unhoped for an advan-
tage.

We know nothing of the charge, that
Mr. M Kean is desirous of provoking a war
with Great Britain. The answer to this
supposed accusation, if not introduced for
the purpose, has at least afforded his com-
mitte an opportunity of pouring forth their
cen sures on the treaty with that nation.
They observe, "that it has been so con stru-
ed and acted upon as to entail upon this
country the payment of two enormous
classes of debts." and speak of the secession
of the American Commissioners—"shrinking
from the task of announcing to the
public the extent of British demands." The
committee certainly was not aware that one
of the most offensive and exorbitant de-
mands which has been made on that Board
is for almost half a million of dollars by the
Agent of the Penn family, who has accom-
panied his memorial with a pamphlet under
the signature of Mr. M'Kean, in which he
defends and justifies the claim. One of the
points of difference in the cases on which
the Commissioners have separated is the date
of our Independence-the General Agent
for the United States contended, that we be-
came a free and independent nation from the
fourth day of July, 1776, the General A.
gent for the British Claimants asserts, that
we were not so until the peace of 1783,
when we received our independence from
the King of Great-Britain.

In the Aurora of February 22, 1798, an
opinion is published with the signature of
Thomas M Kean, agreeing with that now
maintained before the British Commissioners.
It expressly declares, that the civil war
continued until the definitive treaty with
Great Britain in 1783. Americans, if this
doctrine, corroborated by Mr. M·Keans is
true, you have been mistaken in observing
the fourth day of July, 1776, as the birth
day of your Independence-you must have
been (according to Mr. M'Kean's opinion)
in a state of civil war, and; of course, rebels
until King George the third granted you,
in the year 1783, the rights of an indepen-
dent nation. What are we now to say of
the secession of the American Commissioners
to which which they were driven by exorbi-
tant demands justified by Mr. M'Kean's
opinion. If he is right great sums of money
will indeed be necessary.-Many persons,
hitherto considered as deserters, refugees,
and traitors, were in fact (according to Mr.
M'Kean's doctrine) loyal subjects, and must
be paid for all they have suffered by this mi-
take. We pretend not to give any opinion
on these questions, but leave them where the
government has placed them-satisfied that
they will ultimately receive a proper decision
and that what in justice ought to be paid
will be paid, and no more; but surely Mr.
M'Kean's committee should not have told us
of the enormity of British demands.

Mr. M'Kean's committee say, that he
had been "charged with being a Disorgani-
zer, a Jacobin; but that in truth there does
not exist a firmer advocate, a more success-
ful supporter of law, of public tranquility,
of private property and public credit." How
far his conduct respecting the disturbance
that took place on Sunday the tenth of Fe-
bruary last, in the yard of St. Mary's Church
in Philadelphia, corresponds with these asser-
tions of his committee, we submit to the
public on the following statement of the part
Mr. M'Kean took on that occasion. Whilst
Robert Wharton, Esq. Mayor of the city,
was engaged in taking the recognizances of
J. Cummins and Dr. Reynolds, two of the
persons accused as authors of the riot, some
person knocked violently at the door and
demanded admission; the constables refusing
to open it, Mr. M'Kean called out "I am
Chief Justice of the state." The Mayor up-
on hearing that the Chief Justice was there
ordered the constables to open the door and
give Mr. M'Kean admittance. No sooner
had he entered than he called out with a
loud voice, accompanied by a menacing air,
"What is the reason, Mr. Mayor, of all
this fuss that you keep the city in uproar
with a mob marching these gentlemen up one
street and down another, hand-cuffed and
tied, for half the day together."

The Mayor attempted to state the na-
ture of their offence—the evidence of their
having insulted the congregation at the
Church, and that one of them had presented
a loaded pistol to the breast of one of
the Members, that the prisoners had been
treated with all possible attention and ci-
vility-had been neither hand cuffed nor
tied, but, in as polite and tender a manner
as the nature of the case would admit, had
been permitted to walk with the peace of-
ficers in search of bail; to the Mayor's
statement of the manner in which they had
been treated Dr. Reynolds candidly assen-
ted; but Mr. M'Kean would hearken to
nothing from the Mayor or Gentlemen
present, and charged the Members of the
Congregation with having committed an
assault on the prisoners, and said "that they,
and not the prisoners, were the aggressors,
that he would have dismissed the matter in
a quarter of an hour, for the prisoners had
a right to take up their hats and go about
their business." The Mayor proceeded to
take the recognizances and Mr. M'Kean
soon afterwards left the room apparently
in great passion.

Many of the supporters of Mr. M Kean
are men who profess their attachment to an
equality of rights and their abhorrence of
political distinctions founded on wealth or
family; it would be well for these to consi-
der, how far the principles advocated by
their candidate, and opposed by Mr. Ross,
in the Convention that formed the state con-
stitution, are consistent with their opinions
—In page 72 of the minutes of the body,
they will find the following motion made by
Mr. M Kean-"No person shall be capa-
ble of being chosen a Senator who is not
seized, in fee simple, of five hundred acres
of land within this commonwealth, or pos-
sessed of real and personal estate to the value
of five hundred pounds;"—In page 162,
they will find him (Mr. M'Kean) second-
ing a motion, "That the Governor shall
be legally seized and possessed of a clear real
and personal estate, within this common-
wealth, of the value of four thousand dol-
lars, six months before his election; and
in page 171, renewing, at an adjourned
meeting, his first motion, in which it ap-
pears, from the Yeas and Nays, he was op-
posed by Mr. Ross and supported by but
eight members of the Convention. Of the
merits of these several propositions we do
not consider it necessary to express our opi-
nion; but when of two candidates for the
first office in our government, one is
branded with the imputation of aristocracy,
and the other held up to the people, in the
words of his committee, as "a friend of
equal rights, under the freest of govern-
ments," as one who "advocates no dis-
tinction among his fellow-citizens, but the
distinction of the good and the bad." it is
just to measure them by some public and
known standard, established at a time when
it cannot be fairly presumed that either
party had any expectation of becoming a
candidate for the office of Governor.

The committee has thought proper to de-
ny, in positive terms, Mr. M' Kean's hav-
ing ever expressed a wish, "that twenty
thousand United Irishmen would come over
to the United States, for that, in his opi-
nion, they were the only men who under-
stood true liberty." To this we oppose the
letter of Mr. Smith already recited, and the
annexed certificate of Mr, Watts of Carlisle,
both men of known character, indepen-
dence and integrity. If any further proof
of the conversation, stated by Messrs. Smith
and Watts, were necessary several other
Gentlemen, who were present, are ready
to corroborate their testimony. The inac-
curacy of the information on which the
committee ground their denial of the charge,
and the assertion, that Mr. M·Kean "ad-
vo cates no distinction among his fellow citi-
zens, but the distinction of the good and
the bad," is a fair test by which you may
judge what weight is due to the other parts
of their statement.

Several other charges have been stated
and replied to by the committee, some of
them probably unfounded and others of
little importance if true; on these we deem
it superfluous to make a single observation
--to those who made the charges we cheer-
fully resign the task of supporting them.

We have deemed it unworthy of our-
selves, either as a committee or individu-
ally, to make any anonymous attacks on the
public or private character of Mr. M'Kean;
and it may, perhaps, be considered as un-
necessary for us to notice any of the un-
avowed slanders circulated respecting Mr.
Ross. -One accusation, however, has been
so frequently made, so strenuously insisted
on, and, if true, is of so serious a nature.
that we cannot forbear to notice it.-Mr.
Ross is charged with being a Deist. -Some
of us have known him from his outset in
life, and never before heard such a suggestion.
When he was chosen a member of the State
Convention, and when he was elected into
the Senate of the United States, he was
warmly opposed-many objections were
urged by some who had long known him,
but this charge was reserved for the present
occasion.- Believing, as from all these cir-
cumstances we were justified in doing, that
there was no foundation for it, we have been
happy to be able to refer you to the an-
nexed certificates which we have received
from the Rev. John Smith and Messrs. A.
Swearenger, Robert Stockton, Joseph
Wherry, John Cotton, James Brice,
James Mitchell, John Mercer, James Al-
lion, Craig Ritchie, and Alexander Cun-
ningham, pious and devout men--the for-
mer a Minister of the Gospel, and the lat-
ter Elders of the different Presbyterian Con-
gregations in whose neighbourhood he has
for many years last resided, which will be
found to contain a complete refutation of
this malicious calumny.

Thus, fellow-citizens, we have considered
the observations of the adverse committee
in reply to the charges they suggest to have
been made against their candidate; and, in
so doing, have found it necessary to travel
into a more personal enquiry than was agree-
able to us : much of what has been said
would have been avoided had not this task
been imposed on us by our opponents. To
whom the appellation of a defamatory inqui-
sition, which they have politely bestowed
on us, most properly belongs you can de-
termine,-We are now both before you--
judge between us.

With respect to Mr. Ross it is almost su-
perfluous to remind you of his just and un-
iform principles-his unexceptionable de-
portment and unquestionable qualifications,
His manners are simple, but his understand-
ing is profound-his accomplishments plain,
but his talents brilliant. He is not tainted
with the novel philosophy of France, which
alike sets morality and religion at defiance,
but is content with being an upright and
conscientious Christian as his fathers were
before him. His usefulness, integrity and
capacity, in the important public stations to
which he has been called, have placed him
beyond the reach of injury from the shafts
of envy and slander. He is not, he cannot
be, doubted on these points. He is yet in
the prime and vigor of life, with a mind and
constitution capable of encountering every
difficulty and fatigue to which his office may
expose him. It is true he is not a resident
of the city--he is, if you please, a country-
man; but, surely this can in no degree di-
qualify him from being your Governor, or
render him less valuable and respectable.

Fellow Citizens?

We have endeavoured to place before you
the two Candidates as they appear to us up-
on our best knowledge and information.
We have sincerely endeavoured "nothing
to extenuate or aught set down in malice."
We are actuated by a pure and unmixed anx-
iety for the peace and welfare of our country,
which has been, and is even now, struggling
with an inveterate enemy, who can nei-
ther be awed by justice or conciliated by hu-
miliation, Let us, therefore, earnestly u-
nite in this important work-exert all your
influence -call into action all your energies
to bring it to an happy issue ; and bear con-
stantly in mind, that you are striving in the
cause of your constitution--your country
your religion--yourselves and your children;
in a word-or all that is dear to Man.

Levi Hollingsworth.
Samuel Morris.
Robert Wharton.
Benjamin R. Morgan.
Henry Pratt.
Michael Kepple.
Zachariah Poulson, jun.
Daniel Smith.
John Wall.
Lawrence Seckel.

Documents referred to in the preceding
Address.

Certificate of Mr. Watts.

I DO hereby Certify, That I heard Tho-
mas M'Kean, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania,
declare, "That he wished Twenty Thousand
United Irishmen would come into this Coun-
try, that they were a People who understood
true Liberty and the Rights of Man," which
I am willing to attest upon oath, if it
should be necessary.

DAVID WATTS.

August 10, 1799

N. B. A dozen affidavits can be procured
to the above fact, if necessary.

The Letter from the Committee of Corres-
pondence for the County of Washington
which accompanied the Certificates allu-
ded to in the preceding Address.

Washington, August 28, 1799.

SIR,

THE committee in this county for pro-
moting the election of Mr. Ross, have learnt
where Mr. Ross is less known than here, cur-
rency is given by the enemies to his election.
(the same conscientious men who supported
the election of Mr. Jefferson,) to a report,
that Mr. Ross is a Deist.

To prevent the effect of this report, one
of the committee in this town, where Mr.
Ross lived more than ten years and until
about five years ago, applied to such elders
and other persons, noted for their piety and
regard for religion, as have known Mr. Ross
during the whole of this time, and as easily
could be applied to, and they cheerfully sig-
ned the enclosed certificate. It was regretted
that the absence of the Rev. John M'Millan.
(who is the minister nearest to this place, is
intimately and has been about twenty years
well acquainted with Mr. Ross, and is zeal-
ous for his election,) and of the other Pres-
byterian ministers in this neighbourhood,
who are now sitting in Presbytery, more than
sixty miles from this town, prevented the
obtaining of their contradiction to this false
and malicious report. But it was not tho't
prudent for the sake of this, to suffer the
report to gain force, by the delay of another
week's post: especially as those who have
signed, are distinguished characters, for good
sense, honesty and piety, and respectable for
their stations in society. Mr. Allison is
judge of this county, Mr. Swearenger, Mr.
Mitchell and Mr. Ritchie are justices of the
peace, and the last has been a member of as-
sembly. Mr, Cotton and Mr. Brice, are
county commissioners, and the last has been
a member of assembly. Mr. Cunningham
is a substantial merchant and Mr. Mercer a
substantial farmer. These gentlemen being
all in town at the time, were readily applied
to, and you may be assured, that the certifi-
cate of any one of them, is sufficient to out-
weigh the report. Many more names could
have been obtained, but to seek numbers was
thought to be giving too much respect to the
slander, and a selection of a few unquestion-
able characters was thought best.

The presence of the Rev. John Smith, of
Cannonsburgh, a learned and respectable Se-
ceder minister, who, about three years ago,
removed to this country from Octorara, in
Lancaster county, enabled us to procure his
certificate also, and upon this we are content
to rest the character of Mr. Ross and of our-
selves.

We could with as much ease have obtain-
ed as positive a denial of all the other mali-
cious reports lately propagated against Mr.
Ross, and we do pledge ourselves that they
are false. But we thought it not of conse-
quence to do so, as they are, we trust, ge-
nerally known to be false; and as such re-
ports from unprincipled and designing men
are usually expected on such occasions. But
there are so few means of ascertaining the
credit due to a report of infidelity and a re-
spect for religion is of such importance in
public stations, that we thought it a duty to
our fellow citizens to disprove the aspersion
of deism.

Lest, therefore, this aspersion should mi-
lead good people, unacquainted with Mr.
Ross, the committee here request that you
will publish, if you think proper, these do-
cuments in the newspapers or in hand bills,
as you think best, and in such 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 the committee of Washington co-

Washington, (P.)Aug. 26th 1799.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

WE the subscribers, regular members of
sundry Presbyterian congregations in the
county of Washington, have heard with
surprise and regret, that among the many
slanderous reports propagated against the
respectable character of James Ross, Esq.
of Pittsburgh, who has been proposed to be
chosen governor of Pennsylvania, one is
that he is a Deist.

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 our
fellow citizens, this obstruction to the free
exercise of our votes in favour of Mr. Ross.
God forbid that we should assist in placing in
such an important a station, a man defective
in respect for religion. And we but obey
the dictates of our own consciences in ma-
king the following declaration of what we
know of Mr. Ross, from our own observa-
tion and indubitable information.

Mr. Ross was born of respectable and
pious parents, of the Presbyterian church in
York county in this state, and received from
them a religious education, He is well in-
structed in the scriptures and the doctrines
of christianity as held by our church; and
we are persuaded believes and respects
them. He lived long in this town, and long-
er in this county, and we have had good
opportunities of knowing him. Where he
has lived, there has not been any stated
minister, and only occasional supplies for
public worship. But he has contributed to
the support of public worship where he liv-
ed, and attended it regularly and there is
nothing known to us to justify the imputa-
tion that he is an infidel or deist, and we
think this imputation false and malicious.

In witness whereof we have hereto set our
hands.

A Swearenger
Elders of Washington
Rohert Stockton
Congregation.
Jofeph Wherry
john Cotton Elders of Buffaloe Congre-
Jarres Brice
gation.
James Mitchell, Elder of Peters Congregation
John Mercer, Elders of Chartiers
James Allison
Congregation.
Craig Richie
Alexander Cunningham.

Since I lived in Washington county, I have had opportunity of conversing and being well acquainted with James Ross, Esq. of Pittsburgh, and of knowing his character from serious and respectable persons well acquainted with his opinions and conversation, and I am well persuaded that he is sincerely respectful of the Christian Protestant Religion, and do verily believe that the report of his being an infidel or deist is altogether without foundation.

JOHN SMITH
Minister of Associated Congregation Chartiers.