APPENDIX E. 353 



First. We apprehend that, as Freemen and English Subjects, we 

 have an indisputable Title to the same Privileges and Immunities with 

 his Majesty's other Subjects, who reside in the interior Counties of Phila- 

 delphia, Chester, and Bucks, and therefore ought not to be excluded from 

 an equal Share with them in the very important Privilege of Legisla- 

 tion ; — nevertheless, contrary to the Proprietor's Charter, and the 

 acknowledged Principles of common Justice and Equity, our live Coun- 

 ties are restrained from electing more than ten Representatives, tvz., four 

 for Lancaster, two for York, two for Cumberland, one for Berks, and one 

 for Northampton, while the three Counties and City of Philadelphia, 

 Chester, and Bucks elect Twenty-six. This we humbly conceive is 

 oppressive, unequal and unjust, the Cause of many of our Grievances, 

 and an Infringement of our natural Privileges of Freedom and Equality; 

 wherefore we humbly pray that we may be no longer deprived of an 

 equal Number with the three aforesaid Counties to represent us hi 

 Assembly. 



Secondli/. We understand that a Bill is now before the House of As- 

 sembly, wherein it is provided, tliat such Persons as shaU be charged with 

 killing any Indians in Lancaster County, shall not be tried in the County 

 where the Fact was committed, but in the Counties of Philadelphia, 

 Chester, or Bucks. This is manifestly to deprive British Subjects of 

 their known Privileges, to cast an eternal Reproach upon whole Counties, 

 as if they were unfit to serve their Country in the Quality of Jury-men, 

 and to contradict the well known Laws of the British Nation, in a Point 

 whereon Life, Liberty, and Security essentially depend ; namely, that of 

 being tried by their Equals, in the Neighbourhood where their own, tlieir 

 Accusers, and the Witnesses Character and Credit, with the Circum- 

 stances of the Fact, are best known, and instead thereof putting their 

 Lives in the Hands of Strangers, who may as justly be suspected of 

 Partiality to, as the Frontier Counties can be of Prejudices against, In- 

 dians ; and this too, in favour of Indians only, against his Majesty's 

 faithful and loyal Subjects : Besides, it is well known, that the Design of 

 it is to comprehend a Fact committed before such a Law was thought of. 

 And if such Practices were tolerated, no Man could be sectire in his most 

 invaluable Interest. — We are also informed, to our great Surprise, that 

 this Bill has actually received the Assent of a Majority of the House ; 

 which we are persuaded could not have been the Case, had our Frontier 

 Counties been equally represented in Assembly\ — However, we hope 

 that the Legislature of this Province will never enact a Law of so danger- 

 ous a Tendency, or take away from his Majesty's good Subjects a Privi- 

 lege so long esteemed sacred by Englishmen. 



TJdrdly. During the late and present Indian War, the Frontiers of this 

 Province have been repeatedly attacked and ravaged by skulking Parties 

 of t.ie Indians, who have, with the most Savage Cruelty, murdered Men, 

 Women, and Children, without Distinction, and have reduced near a Thou- 

 sand Families to the most extreme Distress. — It grieves us to the very Heart 

 to see such of our Frontier Inhabitants as have escaped Savage Fury, 

 VOL. II. 23 



