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PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY G. RITCH IE, Jun. SIGN OF FAUST AND FRANKLIN’S HEAD, FERRY-STREET, SCHENECTADY. [ V o l . I . ] T H U R S I J a T , J U N E 2 1 , 1 8 2 4 . [No. I.] M O H s l W K S E N T I N E L , Published e v e r y T h u r s d a y m o r n ing, at th e sign hf Faust and FranklVn’s head, Fei'ry-Street, Schenectady. C o n d i t i o n s . — The Sentinel will he delivered to city subscribers at $2 per annum, payable half-yearly in advance. To companies of twelve or more who take the paper aluthe office §1 50 per annum, payable in advance. Advertisements of not more than one square, inserted three times foi*$l 00 , and 18 cents per week after. No Papers or advertisements will be discon tinued until all arrearages are p a id. Books , Pamphlets , Cards and Handbills , neatly and expeditiously executed. Extracts from a letter , dated Jlugust 2 , 1822, from T. Pick, firing to Jo in Jldams, formerly .President o f the U. States. a As no act of the Congress of the Thirteen United American Colonies was so distinguished as that by which their independence of Great- Britain was declared, the most particular history of that transaction will probably be sought for, not merely as an interesting curiosity, but to do substantial justice to the abilities and energy of the leaders in that great measure-” “ By the public journals, it appears, that on the 7th of June, 1776, ‘certain resolutions res pecting independency were moved and seconded ; and that on the 10 th, the first resolution, “ that the United Colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent States,’ was adopted ; and the next day the committe for preparing the de claration to that effect was chosen, consisting of ‘ Mr. Jefferson, Mr. J. Adams, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. R. R. Livingston.” Mr- Jef ferson, being first on the list, became the chair man .53 “ It wa« in the natural order of proceeding for the committee to meet and discuss the subject; and,after mature deliberation, to decide on the principles or propositions which should consti tute the basis of the declaration ; and to refer the making of the draught to the chairman, or to a sub-committee .55 “ Some years ago, a copy of the declaration,as reported to Congress, was put into my hands, by S which have connected them some one of the Lee family. It was in Mr. Jet- i with another, and to assume ferson5s hand-writing, and enclosed in a short letter from him to R. H. Lee, together with a copy of the declaration as amended in Congress. The amendments consisted chiefly in striking out; and about one fourth part of the whole was struck out.” *‘ To me, the alterations made in Con gress seemed important and substantial amend ments ”— u After all, the declaration does not contain many new ideas. It is rather a compila tion of facts and sentiments stated and expressed during the preceding eleven years, by those who wrote and vindicated the rights of the Colo nies, including the proceedings of the Congress of 1774 ; that is, from the year of the stamp act to the commencement of the war. The great merit of any compilation consists in the lucid and forcible arrangement of the matter. The reported declaration was evidently enfeebled by its redundancies.— “ I have thought it desirable that the facts in this case should be ascertained. You alone can give a full statement of them, to be communicated to whom you think proper To arrive at truth , and to assure to his just portion of applause, are the sole of these remarks.”' , On the ath of August Mr. Adams favoured me * with an answer ; and was pleased to communi cate to me his short history of the Declara tion oflndependence, as it appears in the follow ing extract from his letter of that date. “ Mr. Jefferson came into congress in June 1775, and brought with him a reputation for liter ature, science, and a happy talent at composition. W r it in g s of his were handed about, remarkable for the peculiar felicity of expreasion. Though a silent member in Congress, he was so prompt, frank, explicit and decisive upon committees, not even Samuel Adams was more so, that he soon seized upon my heart; and upon this occasion I gave him my vote, and did all in my power to procure the votes of others. 1 think both sides the Atlantic, and in his official capacity only cruel.5’ “ I thought the expression too passionate and too much like scolding for so grave and solemn a document; but as Franklin and Sherman were to inspect it afterwards, 1 thought it would not become me to strike it out. I consented to report i t ; and do not now remember that I made or suggested a single alteration. We reported it to the Committee of Five. It was read ; and I do not remember that Franldin or Sherman criticised any thing. We were all in haste; Congress was impatient; and the instrument was reported, as 1 believe, in Jefferson’s hand-writing, as he first drew it. Congress cut off a b o u t a q u a r ter pari ofit, as I expected they would ; but they j obliterated some ot the best ofit, and left all that f was exceptionable, if any thing in it was. I have . long wondered that the original draught has n o t ( Not attend. been published. I suppose the reason is, the ve- hetfneut Philippic against Negro Slavery. As you 1 ]e justiy observe, there is not an idea in it but what j bas i-efused for a long 1 had been hackneyed in Congress for two years time after such dissolutions before. The substance of it is contained in the declaration of rights and the violation of those rights, in the Journals ofCongres- in 1774 In deed the essence ofit is contained in a pamphlet voted and printed by the town of Boston before Mr. Jefferson’s Draught. Declaration as Adopted, and when so suspended, when so suspended, be has he has neglected utterly to utterh neglected to attend attend to them. to them, he has refused to pass other laws for the accommoda tion of large districts of people, unless those peo ple would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature ; a right in estimable to them, and for midable to tyrants only, he has called together legis lative bodies at places un usual, uncomfortable, and distant ftom the deposito ry of their public records, for the sole purpose of fa tiguing- them into compli ance with his measures, he lias dissol ed Rep esenta- tive houses repeatedly and tative houses repeatedly, for continually, for opposing opposing’ with manly firm- wbh manly firmness Ivs in- ness his invasions on the vasions on the rights of the rights of the people. ISot altered. He has dissolved represen- £ . th e first Congress met 5 composed by James Otis, as 1 suppose, in one of his lucid intervals, and pruned and polished by Samuel Adams .55 Mr. Jefferson’s Draught of the Declaration o f Independence. This is placed in the left-hand column ; and the Decl.ra tion as amended and adopted by Congress, in the right- hand column, for the com eniencc a f comparing them. Mr. Jefferson’s Draught, as The Declaration,as amended and adopted by Congress. A D eclamation - by the Re presentatives of the U \r- tko S tatks of A mliuca , in Congress assembled. reported by the Commit tee to Congress. A Declaration by the Repre sentatives of the Uxjtki) S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a in Gen- era! Congress assembled. When in the course of hu man events it becomes ne cessary for one people to dis solve the political bands among- the powers of tiie This paragraph o f the earth the separate and equal draught rcmuined unaltered. station to winch the laws of nature and of nature’s god entitle them, a decent res pect to the opinions o f man kind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the se paration . \Ve hold these truths to he that all men W e hold these be self evident: truths to that all to cause others to be elect ed, whereby the legisla tive powers, incapable of annihilation, have return ed to the people at large for the ir exorcise, the state remaining- in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without and convulsions within. he has endeavoured to pre vent the population of these states ; for that pur pose obstructing the laws for naturalization of for- eig-ners ; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither ; and rais ing the conditions of new appropriations of lands. he lias suffered the aclmims- N ot altered. No/ altered. Tie has obstructed the ad- tration of justice totally to ministration of'justice, byre cease in some of these fusing Ins assent to laws for states, refusing his assent establishing judiciary pow- to laws for establishing ju- erSt dietary powers, he has made our judges de- Delias marie judges de pendent or. Ins will alone, pendent on his vv 11 alone, for the tenure of their offi- for the tenure of their offices ces* and the amount anu and the amount and payment paiment of their salaries. 0f their salaries, he has erected a multitude j[e has erected a multi- of new offices by a sek-as- tude of new offices, and sent sumed power, and sent hither swarms o f officers to hither swarms of officers harness our people, and eat toharrass our people, and out their substance, to eat out their substance, he has kept in self-evident; .... ....... , , , are created equal ; that they ™en ure created equal ; that 1 are endowed by their Crea- they are endowed, by then- , tor with inherent and inalien- Creator, with certain unah- * able rights; that among-these enable rights ; that. among are life, liberty and the pur- these are life, liberty, and : suit of happiness ; that to s c the pursuit of happiness ; | cure these rights, govern- that to secure these rights, . governments are instituted mtsi are instituted among governments are instituted men,deriving their just pow- among men, deriving their, ers from the consent of the Just powers from the cpn- | governed ; that whenever a- sent of the governed ; that , ny form of government b e - whenever any form of gov- < comes destructive of these ernment becomes deslruc- j ends, it is the right of the tive of these ends, it is the j people to alter or to abolish rigid ot the people to alter if l l f n institute new e-ov- ov to abolish it, and to msti- J most likelv to effect their Jo them shall seem most safety and' happiness. Pru- hkely to effect their safety t* N ot altered. deuce indeed will dictate and happiness Prudence, | for cutting off our that go ernments long es- indeed, will dictate, that all parts of the 1 tablished should not be governments long estabhsh- ciuinged for light and Iran- ed should not be changed sient causes, and according- forhght and rans.ent causes; ly all experience hath shown and, accordingly, all expe- t'hat mankind are more dis- rience hath shewn, that posed to suffer, while evils mankind are more disposed are sufferable, than to right ^ suffer, while evils are themselves by abolishing the sufferabie, than to light forms to which they are ac- themselves by abolishing customed. but when a long the forms to winch they are train of abuses and usurpa- accustomed. But, when a tions, begun at a distinguish- long’ tram of abuses and ed period, and pursuing in- usurpations, pursuing inya- variably the same object, e- nably the same object evm- vinccs a design to reduce ce.s a design to reduce them tliem under absolute despo- ™ d « absolute-despotism, it tism it is their right, it is is^ieir right, it is their duty, he had one more vote than any other, and that tht.}; duty, to throw off such t ^throw off such govern placed him at the head of the com m i ttee. 1 had ; s \ c T - the next highest number, and that p.aced me the j -[J g,,^, i,as been the 'tty- tuieh has been the sufferance of these ..rHy. such has been the v'ty. I patient sufferance of these patient ! 1 - ’ • colonies and such is now necessity which con- of the i their former *■ stim s of gov met™, ernment. the history of the ment. rhe lnstoiy , present king of reat Brit- present king of Meat Ma li,,, is a history of unremit- Jam is a h.story of repeated , fine injuries and usurpations, injuries and usurpations, all - \ which appears no so- having, in direct object the fact to contradict the establishment of an absolute these states. new guards for their seconl. The committee met, discussed the sub- | i e c t a n d then appointed Mr. Jefferson and me j colonies ; and such is now to make the draught; 1 su p p o s e because ive I ‘o W t h e n / t o .tier were the two highest on the list. 1 he sub-corn- +K j ^ ^ Qtf mR nf rdv- former systems ot govern- mittee met. Jefferson proposed to me to make the draught. I said, I will not, you shall do it .55 [Then follows an amicable altercation on this point; but Mr. Adams persisting in his refusal j ^\“ng w to make the draught,] “ Well ,55 said Jefferson,, [ fitan. fac « if you are decided, Twill do as well as I can .55 | Very w e l l ; when you have drawn it up we will \ JhcnTll, A submitted to a candid world, have a meeting. A meeting we accordingly had, and conned the paper over. 1 was delighted with its high tone, and the flights of oratory with which it abounded, especially that concerning Negro Slavery, which though I knew his Southern * Brethren would never suffer to pass in Congress, I certainly never would oppose. There were other expressions which I would not have inserted if I had drawn it up ; particularly that which called the King a Tyrant. 1 thought this too personal ; for 1 never believed George to be a tyrant in disposition and in nature ; I always believed him to be deceived by his courtiers on establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states.— to prove this let facts be sub mitted to a candid world, for the truth of which we pledge a faith yet unsullied by false hood. He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome and necessary for the pub lic good, he has forbidden his gover- JVo/ altered. He has forbidden his gov- novs to pass laws of irame- ernovs to pass laws of imme diate and pressing impor- diate and pressing im p o r tance, unless suspended ance, unless suspended in in their operation till his their operation till his assent assent should be obtained ; should be obtained; and. among-<vs, m tI-fe has k ept among us, times of peace, Standing times of peace, standing ar armies and ships ofyvar, mies, without the consent of without the consent*of our our legislatures, legislatures, he has affected to render the c military independent of, No/ altered. and superior to the civil power. he has combined with others “as combined with *fcu^SffT5ject us to ajurisdic- others, to subject us to aju- tion foreign to our consti- risdiction foreig-n to our eon- tutions and unacknoleged stitution, andunackncwledg- by our laws ; giving his as- ed hY our laF s 5 giving his . sent to( their acts of pre- assent to their acts of pre tended legi lation tended legis.ation, for quartering large bodies’ of armed troops among us; for protecting them by a mock trial from punish ment for any nruwders which they should commit on the inhaoitants ofthese*i states ; trade with world ; for imposing taxes on us without our consent ; for depriving us of the ben- *for depriving us, in many efits of trial by jury ; cases, of the benefits of trial for transporting us beyond by jury • seas to Ik tried fo r > = - x ot altered. tended oftences; for abolishing the free system for abolishing-the free sys- of E ngl sh laws in a n eigh-tem of English laws in a bouring province, estab- neighbouringprovince,estab- lishingtlit rein an arbitrary fishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarg- government, and enlarging ing it’s boundaries so as to jts boundaries, so as to ren- rende.’ it at once an exam- der it, at once, an example pie and fit instrument for and fit instrument for intro- introducing the same ab- ducing the same absolute solute rule into these ru]e .nto these colonies ; states; for taking away our charters, abolishing our most valua ble laws, and altering fun damentally the forms of oui governments ; for suspending our own le gislatures, and declaring themselves invested^with power to legis ate for us in all'cases whatsoever he has abdicated govern ment his governors. . . ing us out of his allegiance waging war against u and protection. lie has plundered our he h a s ' plundered our seas, seas, ravagi d our coasN . ravae-ed our coasts, burnt burnt our towns and des our towns, and d -slroyed troyed the li es of our pec pie the lives of our people.— He is, at this time, trans- he is at this time transport- porting large armies of for- in g l a r g e armies of foreign eign mercenaries t o com mercenaries, to oomph at plete the works of death, the works of death, de.so- desolat on and tyranny, ah lation and tyranny, alve-a- ready ln-gun vnh circn - dy begun with civemnstan- stuv.cas of cruclt” ami pcrf- ces of cruelty and perfidy dy. scarcely paralleled in ih uruvovtliv the head of a civ- m o st barbarous ages, and to- ilized nation. tally unworthy the head 01 he has endeavoured to bring a civilized oaken. on the inhabitants of our He has constrained our ft 1 - frontiers the merciless I n -low citizens, taken capth * dian savages,whose known on the high seas, to bear rule of warfare is an un- arms against their country, No/ altered. N ot altered. IJe has abdicated govern- here, witlidrawiVig m\nl }u rc- hY declaring us and declar- out protection, aud us. Mr. Jefferson's fraught. Declaration as Adopted. distinguished destruction to become the executioners of all ages, sexes, and con- of their friends and brethren, ditions of existence. or to fall thefnselves by their he has incited treasonable hands, insurrections of our fellow citizens, with the allure-' Ke has excited domestic nir-nts of forfeiture and insurrections amongst us, confiscation of our propel*- and has endeavoured tobring- *T- on the inhabitants of our he lias constrained others, frontiers, the merciless In taken captives on the high clian savages, whose known seas, to bear arms against rule of warfare is an umlis- tlieir country, to become ting-uished destruction, ofal! the executioners of their ages', sexes, and conditions, friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands. he has Waged cruel war a- gainst human nature itself; violating it’s most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people, who never offend ed him, captivating and Carrying them into slavery in anotiier lie mi-pile re, or to in ur miserable death ill then* transportation thither, this piratical war fare. the opprobium of in fidel powers, is the war fare of a Christian king- of Great Mitain. determin ed to keep open a market where MEN should be bought and sold, he lias prostituted his negative b, , i . . • ’■* , hlmck oui. 101 * suppressing e v e r y le gislative attempt to pro hibit or to restrain this e x ecrable commerce, and that this assemblage of heiTois might want no fact of disimguished die, he is no.v exciting- these very people to rise in arms among us, and to purchase that Itbt-rU of which fcc has * deprived them, by mur dering the people upon whom he also obtruded them : thus paying-off for mer crimes committed a- gmnsttlie liberties of one people, with crimes which lie urges tiiem to commit against the lives of another. In every stag-e of these op pressions, \ v e bare peli- In eyery stage of these turned for redress in the °PPressions, we have peti- xnost humble term s; our tl03iecl for redress, in the repeated petitions have mosl humble terms : our been answered oniv by re- 5 ®pcated petitions have been, peatfd injury, a'prince a!p>vvered only by repeated whose character is thus ^jury. A prince whose m irked by everv act cl3ai'acter is thus marked by which may define a tvra-nl, ev eiy act which may'define is unfit to be the ruler of a tyrant, is unfit to be the a people who mc-aii'to be 1 >lller o f a free people, free, future ages will scarce believe that the ' hardiness of one man ad ventured, within the short compass of twelve yea,, s o*ily, to build a founda- c tion so broad and un dis guised, for tyranny over a people fosteied aud fixed in principles of freedom. Nor have we been wanting Nor have we been want- in attentions to our British ing in attentions to our Britsh brethren, we have warned brethren. We have warned them from time to time of them, from time to time of attempts by their leg-sln- attempts by their legisla ture to extend a jum d ic- ture, to extend an unwar- tion o cr those our states, rantahle jurisdiction over we have reminded them US. We hive reminded them of the cu-cumstances of 0f the circumstunces of()ur our emigration and settle- emigration and settlement ment here, no one ot here. W e have appealed Which could warrant so to their native justice and strange a pretension r that magnanimity, and we have these were effected at the conjured them, by the tie* expe»?ce o f our own blood 0f our common kindred, to and treasure, unassist d by* disavow these usurpations, the wealth or the strength which would inevitably ,pf Great-Britain : that in interrupt our conncxtions constituting indeed our and correspondence. They several forms of govern- to0j pave bfc6n deaf ment, we had adopted one the voice of Justice and of common kmg» thereby consanp-u;rijty. W e must, laying a foundation for ther fore, acquiesce in the perpetual leag-ut and ami- necessity, which denounces tyr with them : but that oul, separation, and hold submission to their paih- them, as we hold the rest ament was no pait of our Qf mankind, enemies in war, constitution, nor even mi in e ftiends. idea, if history may be credited : and we ap pealed to their native jus tice and magnanimity, as well as to the tyes of our common kindred, to disa vow these usurpations,- which were likely to in terrupt our connection and correspondence, they too have Veen deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity ; and when occasions have been given them by the regular course of their • r laws, of removing from til -ir councls the distur bers of our harmony, they have by their free election r '-established them in power, at 'his vcr. time too. they' are permitting* their chief niag-,strate to send over not only soldiers of om* common blood, but Scotch and foreign nu reena.iies to invade and destroy us. these facts have gi en the last stab to a. onizing affection ; and manly .'-pint b’ds us to renounce forever these unfeeling brethren, we must endea\ our to forge our formes- love for them
