that when a Congress is met, two or three Committees, taking several parts, might, in one day’s time, form the whole plan so far as would be necessary for one session, some further requisition and alterations being left for future time.

As it is proposed we should form into a free popular Government, we should, as much as possible, guard against the disadvantages and difficulties that attend such a form of Government. We must, from the beginning, take all possible care, come into all proper methods, and use all proper means, to keep the Government pure. The grand difficulty of popular Government lies in election. If elections are free and regular, it will be impossible to shake a popular Government. Corruption and bribery, party spirit and animosities among a people, afford a threatening aspect. Rich and aspiring men there will always be, and these will endeavour to corrupt, bribe, and lead the populace. This will shake the foundation of a free State; and this is known by aspiring and ambitious men; hence they will always pursue this method. There are always a number of men in every State who seek to rise above their fellow-creatures, and would be so much above them as to have them and their estates at their disposal, and use them as their footstool to mount to what height they please. They would treat the rest of mankind as we do our cattle and horses, or as slaves are treated. We feed and take care of our horses, or they cannot do our business; we allow slaves food and raiment, or they cannot labour to advantage; so those rich and oppressive men would allow other people enough to till the country and manage manufactures to advantage, and if they are allowed the name of freedom, it is but a name; for all that can possibly be spared, beside maintaining their families, shall flow in some channel or other till it centres in the collective gulf of riches belonging to these aspiring men. Such men will always endeavour to corrupt, bribe, and influence the populace, too many of whom are often dependant upon them; and if people will not maintain their liberty and act for themselves at elections, without being bought and sold, or influenced by the rich and great, they will soon find themselves engulfed in the arbitrary Government. As the grand thing in popular Governments is to keep elections free and incorrupt, it is of importance that as many electors as possible should be in small bodies. It is not so easy to corrupt a great many small, distinct, distant bodies, as it. is one large one. For this reason, besides some others, I think it would be better that each Town, District, or Precinct, should choose a Provincial Delegate or two, rather than the choice should be made by Counties; and to prevent the bad effects of corrupt elections, they should be often, they should ordinarily be annual; for if people find that they are bit, that they are imposed upon by intriguing, deceitful men, and oppressive measures are pursued, they will be wise enough at the next election to undo what they ignorantly and by imposition were led to do before. People will feel their oppression, and when they have severely felt, they will wake up from their lethargy, and not be so ready to take another sleepy dose. Frequent elections will happily tend to defeat the designs of aspiring men.

To keep elections free, we must have good laws; but this is not enough; it should, if possible, be a disgrace not to act according to law. A good custom will often do more than a good law. If it was thought mean and base for people to be bought and sold, or improperly biased at elections, they would avoid it. Persons of sense, reputation, and true love to their country, can do much to lead people into a manly, rational way of thinking and acting in this matter. It should be a maxim that no man be allowed to thrust himself into office; to seek it, to court it, is selfish and sordid. No one should be in place for his own sake, but for the good of the whole; and it savours too much of pride or covetousness for a man to put himself forward. Time has been in some part of America (I have known it) that a man could not more effectually disappoint himself than by letting it be known that he was desirous of an office or delegacy. No man should be allowed to come into place but such as the people choose, and desire that he would, for the sake of the publick good, take upon him such an arduous task. Government is a weight that will make a good man tremble. Every man that is fit for it will come to it with concern, and if it might be would much rather be excused.

I cannot conclude at present without expostulating with my countrymen on the head of elections. Many of you (many more than I should have expected) suffer yourselves to be imposed upon by evil-designing men. Why will you not act for yourselves at elections? Why will you be bought and sold, as I may say, or be influenced by some of the most dangerous of your fellow-creatures? Too much of it has been seen of late, and there is danger of much more in a short time. Will you be blinded? Will you be beguiled? Will you be overreached, circumvented, and kidnapped by designing men? There are numbers in our land disappointed, sadly disappointed. They were heretofore aspiring, they hoped they were rising, they had their schemes for preferment, they had great expectations; but they have met with a shock; things work contrary to them. What can they now do? They have no way left that they can brook or comply with, but by intriguing and planning specious appearances of friendship, and every art of deceit, to work themselves into place, where they can have influence to accomplish something agreeable to their party. They are, with appearance of friendship, by one means or other, creeping into Offices, Committees, and Congresses. They leave no stone unturned, and the stone which they can turn to most advantage is corrupting and unduly influencing elections. They speak fair, they will join in the country’s cause so far as will be best not to go too fast and run into danger; they appear to mean you great good will, but it is only appearance. Let them have their way, let them have it in their power, and they will soon again subject you to British tyranny, or to a tyranny and oppression among ourselves not much better. They will proceed from step to step until you are under their feet. Their apparent friendship now is in order to get a foot into the stirrup, and when they are once well in the saddle, you may be sure you shall be ridden till you are nothing but skin and bones. Do you ask how you shall know these men? Ask yourselves what these men were three years ago. What were then their views of Government? What were their pursuits? Who were their friends? What party were they of? Whose favour were they seeking? Did they then appear true friends to the country and the common people? Are they not men that are brought to the freedom which this country is coming to, with the greatest reluctance? And will you now believe they are so soon become friends? Can you now trust them to form your Government and make your laws? Can you be so credulous? Can you believe the professions of these men? Open your eyes, act for yourselves, trust men that are well known for a long time to have been friends to their country. Be upon your guard, and take the advice of those that are known to be true friends. Act for yourselves at every election.

SPARTANUS.

New-York, June 20, 1776.

Agreeable to a Resolve of the Provincial Congress, of the 31st of May last, were elected for this City and County the following gentlemen, to serve in Congress the ensuing year, with the additional power of forming a new Government for this Colony. They, with the Deputies of the other Counties, are to meet in Congress here on the second Monday in July next.

NEW-YORK COMMITTEE.

Committee Chamber, New-York, June 20, 1776.

Whereas it has been represented to this Committee that printed tickets are circulating in this City for small change, which, if permitted, in our estimation will have a tendency to depreciate the Paper currency emitted by Congresses, Committees, or Corporated bodies: Therefore, Resolved, That we will not receive in payment any tickets issued by any individual; and we do recommend to the publick not to encourage, by any means, the circulation of any such tickets for the future.

Extract from the Minutes.

Published by order of the Committee:

JOSEPH WINTER, Secretary.