Portland gazette, and Maine advertiser — Portland, Me., 1810-12-17 00:00:00, page 2

T*. f’rpfi iff./i M; I’uge « as iU,:vut«1 oi
nvdwrfl v Jiff, v tl mcVd N w \> rk ,
Ify cxjvrcf# io a? h mrs ft w > brcwf hi j
#i i it jrwii hv the Southern inr11!, i
l TufTJaycrcrrr 1 ;1.
fri (t*H tfc* lfit* il JC'iCCT - r* r.
Washing r n City, £»rr. 5.
'f>r Ptrfu4 eat of the United St«<*cs ihit |
d *y crir»Tt,rucVf J by Vr. I.d’.vard
Coles Hit private Secretary^ the follow
ing M iTApi to Congufi : —
f-livw C tit m 'if tl: S:nnte, n> 4
c/Ue Hopfc qfRipre/cattitiwi
Ti e tmbArmffirenti* which have pre
yoCcJ in om foreign nl.itions and Uj much
employed the deliberation* of Congnfs,
irafcc ft a primarv d'dv.in metiwgyou, to
commun catc whatever may h ,ve occur-^
frd in th *t brareh cf ear natio.nl >fiiirg. .
‘ The art of the hit f'-flvwr of Congreis 1
•« concerning the c vnrrercial mtercoiirlc (
betwevn the LTi 'tt ! Matfs arul O.
Aud France and ihvtr diptnv.cn*. se** hiv
ing invited i anew form, a termination
©? their edirts aganffc oar rtcutr.d enm*
trace, copies of the art «tr«- immediate- (
ly f.N warded to cur minifters At London
.aul Paiis, ivilh a vie v that its "bjrrt might
be within the early attention cf tbe French
and British eovrmfnents
By the communication receiver; tnrrmgn
cur m niftcr at Pari«, it appeared, that a
knowledge of the act by the French gov
ernment, was followed by a declaration (
that the Berlin and Milan Decree? were
revoked, and v ou’d ceafeto have ftfeft on
rhe flrft M >nday of November entiling.—
Thefc bei'.y the only known edifts of
prance, witiiin the (Jefcription of the ft,
aod the rt vocation of ihem being fuch that .
they ceah-.l at that date to violate our neu
tral commerce ; the faft, as preLribed by <
Lw, was announced by a proclamation ,
beating date the ad day of Nov.
It would have welt accorded with the ,
conciliatory views, indicated by this pro
ceeding on the part of Franc?, to have ex- ,
tended them to all the grounds of juft .
complaint, which now remain unadjulted
tfith the United State?. It was particular
ly anticipated that, >* further evidence of ,
juft difpofition* tow ards them, reiteration (
would hive been immediately made of the
property of cur citizen* feized under a ,
Btilapplication of the principle of reprifals, ,
combined with a mifeonftruftion of a law .
of the United States. This expedition ,
has not been fulfilled. ,
From the BiititL government no com- |
muutcation on the fubjift of the aft has |
keen received. To a communication from
our minifler at London of the revocation, ,
by the French government, of its Berlin and ,
JVl?i?.n preues, it was anfwered that the (
Uritith fyftem would be rdinquiftied as
laon as the repeal < f the Frencii Decrees
thou Id h"vc actually taken efteft, and the
commerce of neutral nations have bten re
ftored to the conditions in which it flood
prcvicufly to the promulgation of thofe ,
decrees. Th;9 pledge although it does not
jiecefT.nily import, does net exclude the
intention of iclir.quifliing, along with the
Orders in Council, the praftice of thole
novel blockades which have a like efLft
of interrupting our reutral commerce.— ,
And this farther j.mice to the United
States is the rather to he locked fer, inas- ]
fr.uch as the blockades in queftion, being j
net rrorc contrary to the cftabliOied law
of nations, th«n inennfiftent with the rules i
if bhx-kade formerly recognized by G. i
Britain berfelf, could have no alledged ba- i
fis, ether than the pica c.f retaliation, al- <
Jr dged as the bids of the Orders in Coun- <
cti. Under the modification of the origin- 1
at orders rf November 1807, into the or- '
ders of Apnl 1809, thcie is indeed feared y !
a nominal diftinftton between the orders
and the blockades. One of thole illegiti
mate blockades, bearing date in May 1806,
having been exprefaiy avowed to be (till j
tmrefcindeJ, and t© be in effect compre
hended in the orders in council, was too
cidlir.dtly brought within the purview of the
ait of CongrcU, not to be comprehended t
pi the explanation df the requ*lites to a ,
compliance with it. The Britilh govern- .
rnent was accordingly apprized by our ,
rninifter rear it, that i’uch was the hght in ,
which the iubjcA was to be regarded, j i
On thp other important fubje&s depend- y
ing between the United Slate* and th.'t 1
Government, no progrefs has been made, 1
from which any early fatisfaCtory rcfult 1
can be reliv'd on. \
* j
In this new poSure of our relations with i
thoi'e powers, the confideration of Con
jrefs will be properly turned to a removal '
if doubts which may occur in the expoli- 1
lien, and of difBcultiis, in the execution of ;
rhe £& above cited. ! 1
The commerce of the United States with ,
the North of Europe, hercu fore much
vexed by licentious cruifris, particularly 1
under the D midi Bog, has latcrly been j ’
Tiiited wuh Ireth and extenfive dep^tda
tion*. Toe m«jflnw» puifued in Ik halt of
our injured citizens not having obtained'
piltice for them, \further and more far- j
rrtai tnterpofition witn the Dil.ith govern-'
moit is contemplated. The principles )
wh'ch have been maintained by that gov-j
erumr-ut in rd*-;an to ueutra! commerce, j
jsrd the friendly proftdiou of hi* JDandb ,
M^j'ify towards the United States, arcj
Valuable pledges in f*vor ol a lucccLau.
_ j
A'nor.g the event* gnypir^ out of the
Bate of the fipanuh Monarchy, our attvn-i
t. jn was in penunfty attracted to tne:
e-iangCv developing iucif in that portion oil
Weft Florida ; which, though of right
Appertaining to tbe United Stairs, had re
aired in toe pofEfifion of Spain ; await
Y 4 the rcfult of ueg«»ciation*for its adual
tieii-'Cry t,i them. Fhe Spiatlh authority
* i^fomctud ; and a fluiation produced,*'
t*<p.»»i> c the country to ulterior events,!
v iio inight ilf.uliaUy iffcx't the rigiits St j
vrltaie or the Union- In lech a coajunc-1
tore, l dM o<*t iii!iy the mterpufitum rc-1
yured for the occupancy of tne territory
weft of the river Perdido; to which the
0: btitfc* extends, and j
merce,that,iii a national point ot view,th«
change is juftly regarded at of itfelf more
than a recompence for thofe privations and
Jofles refulting from foreign injuftice, which
furnifhed the general impulfe required for
its accomplilhment. How ftr it may b«
expedient to guaid the infancy of this im
provement in the diftribution of labor, by
regulations of commercial tautf. isf a
fubjeCt which cannot fail to fuggeft itfelf
to your patriotic reflections. 1
It wi:l reft with the confederation of
congrefs alfo, whether a provident, as well
as fair encouragement, would not be giv- ]
tn to our navigation, by fuch regulations
as will place it on a level of compel ition
with foreign vetfela, particularly in ,
tranfporting the important and bulky pro
ductions of our own foil. The future of
equality and reciprocity ia the emitting re
gulation on this fubjeCt opciates in our !
ports, as a premium to foreign compeli- I
tors ; and tnc inci*:venien«e mutt incicafe, j
as thefe may be multiplied, under ra *rc j
favorable circumftances, by tnc more than i
countervailing encouragements now given ;
them, by the uws ot their refpective coon- ,
tries. J
Whilft it is urvverAitly admitted that a |
v.eil inftruCtcd people a*one can be pmira- I
r.ently a lice people ; and whilft it i? ev
dent that the means of uitfuAng au<1 im- j
proving ufcful knowledge from io Anal* a !
proportion of the expenditures for nation- 1
al purpi fes, I cannot preiuine it to be uh- \
leafonable, to invite your attention to the I
advantages of fuperaddtng, to the means j
of education provided by the feveral flares
a leminary ol learning, inllitutcd by the
national legifiaturc, within the limits of ;
then excluftve jurisdiction ; the expend: 1
of which might be defrayed, or reimbui led
out of the vacant grounds which have ac
crued to the nation within thole limits.
Such an institution, though local m iU
lc-a! character, would be umVersnl in j
bcmticisl eliect*. By enlighten ng the o
pinion* : by expending the patriotism ; aid
oy aasiiotluti! # the princqies, tii* §cr».1
incn's MO<i the manners ot vuose who n> jut
resort lo tin* temple of science, to be ie
d.atribut j<1, in dut umo, u.r nigu every part
otihe convinity ; sources ot jeal w«y ana
prejudice would oe diminished, the icstu rs
of national chat acter would t>e inuMpbce,
and greater extent given to social harmony.
But above all, * wcu conttituieU Semisai), !
in tin? cent i e of the nation, is recommends t !
by the consideration, that me additional
instruction emanating from it would contri
bute *o le»s vo strengthen the foundations,
titan to adorn the structure, of our f, ee auu
happy system ot goverement.
Avion# the commercial abuses still com
nutted uudar the American Ha#, and tesv.
m# .;i force my former rctcrei.ee to that
subject, it appears that American citizens
aie iusvrumental m carrying vu a traffic in
cfndaved Africans, equally in violation of i
the law* of humanity, *na m drfiaiice of
those ol tlieir own country. Toe same just j
slid benevolent motives which pro out id
ti»c interdiction in tuice against this crimin
al conduct, will doubtless he felt by eon
grass, ni divising further muai.a oi suppress
ing the evil.
In the midst of uncertain'.ie», necessarily
conmcbd with the great interest of the It.
luted butes, prudence requires » continu
ance of cur dctieustve ai.J p.ccsutionu.y a:
rui. gem cuts. The Secret ary of \v Ti-»..J
Secretary i f he N»vy will submit the itale
menls aid eatim&ie* Which may aid Con.
g cs> in ihe»r ensuing provisions for the land
H’.d natal forces. 1 he stateuieiiis ot ti e
latiei u ui include a view of me tram far* of
apprnpriat d is in line naval expenditures,
and the giouuu* oh which they were
m tC.t.
i e f »rtificat!ons for the defence of our
maritime frontier hate oeen prosecuted ao
eordmgtn the plan lit d <iown in lbUct Tf e
w iiks, with some txce tmns, are comple
ted, and mrnivhed with oiuinance. Tnrac
lor the security ot Mew York, tho* far ad
Yaicvd toward!* completion, will require a
further time and appropriation* Tins is are
e»s.- with a few o hers, cutler not com,de
led, or in need oi repairs,
i ie itnpcovement*, 1.1 quality and quanti
ty, m;ulein the msnaJuciin v ut cannon a,id
ul Minali aims, tooth at tin* public armories
ana [ ../ate i&cmrics, vrirniu addition I
con hie nee .n the competency of these ie
* Mircci, for supplying the puoiic exigen
cies.
Toes? preparations fa? araitng the m !:
tia. iuvm# tuii- for pruvidt Jt^r one of the uo
(eci3 couieinpUttd l v the powet* vested in
Cong:**:, wi h respect to il. it great oui
warit of Uic pub ic satety ; it ts tor their
consideration whether lurther provisions
are not requisite, for the other conte -npl»
icd objects, of orgmuation and discipline.
To give to tins grr*t mass of physc .1 and
mor*t fore?, ;h« ney wach it mei.s,
ft> tt* .7; 1* V e li ws, prcv*Jed fir the fcffi it o
ry (.| Organs, are applicable* With this
view, the p'oclamatioti, of which a copy
is la;;l Retire you, was confided to the
governor of that territory, to be carried
into effect. The legality and nrceflify of
the coinfe pinJaed, ,iffur< me of the favor
able light in which »t wall prefeut itfeif to
the Lt gifts', ure ; and of the promptitude
with which they will fuppiy whatever
pruv'fions nay be due to the eflential
rights and equitable iutereft* of the peo
ple thus brought into the boforn of the A
natnean family.
Our amity with the power* of Barbary,
with the exception of a recent occurrence
at Tur ia, ot which an explanation i* jull
received, appears to h*ve been uninter
rupted, and to have become more firmly
eftablifhed.
With the Indian tribes, aflb, the pt*a«e
and friend (hip of the United State* are
found to be lb eligible, that the general
difpolition to prtierve both, continue! to
gain Jtrength.
i fee! particular fatisfaiflion in retinrh
ing that an interior view of our country
prefent* U3 with grateful proof# of it#
[ ibltantia! and incrcafuig profperity. To
s thriving agriculture, and the improve
ments related to it, is added a highly in
teretting extenfion of ufcful manufacture# ;
the combined product of profefRonal oc
cupations, and of houlehold induftry.—
Such, indeed, is the experience of economy
well as or policy, in thvfc fubftitutev for
' ipplies heretofore obtained by foreigncum
■ veu among an ons wiiosb large sisiiumg
trniiet, and frequent wars, afford every op
portunity of instruction, the9e eatublisli
■lent a are found to be indispcnaible, for the
due attainment of the branches of military
science, wiiich require a regular course of
•ludy and experiment. In a government,
happily without the other opportunities,
•esihiarita, where the elementary princi
ples of the art of war can be taught with
out actual war, and without the expense of
extensive and standing armies, have the
precious advantage of uui ing an essential
preparation against external danger, with a
scrupulous regard to internal safety. In no
other wav, pi ibabty, can a provision, oi e
qual efficacy for the public dcftacc, be
made at so little expense, or muie consis
tently with the publ c liberty.
The receipts, into the Treasury, during
the year ending on the 30th of September
i l«.*t, (»nd amounting to eight millions and
a hail ot dollar*,) have exceeded the annual
) expense* government, includi.ig Hit m
i t -.e<t on the public <ieiit. For die purpose
y of reimbursing, at t ie end of the year,
» » fid,0C0 dollars of the pnncipal, « loan, as
authorised b) l*w. hat been negotiated to
that amount, tut hits situs been reduced to
i,7od/JvO doilar.t; the reduction be og per
milted by the 9tate of the Treasury, in
whim there will be a b-lanra remaining, at
the in 1 of the yuan, cs'. mated at i,QUJ,0(X>
dollars. For the probable receipts of the
rit xt year, and odiet detail*, \ reiur to staie
uitnii wiiich vill lie transmuted from ti.e
Treasury, and which will enable you to
judge what Anther provisions may oe ne
i •easai} for tlx: ensuing year.
Hwaciving for future cicasionv, in tho
course bf tuc session, whatever other coni*
j nuntica lions may claim your attention, I
i close the present, by expressing my reli
ance, under the blessing «.f Divine Provi
dence, on tlie judgment and patriotism
wiiich will guide your measures, at a period
particularly calling for united Councils, and
.nflexible r.xer on*, for the welfaie of our
country, and by amu ing yoo of th« fiJehty
and alacrity with which my co-operation
wdt I>« iMolded.
j JAMES MADISON'.
! A]}airs oj IFtst Florida.
' Owing to tike great length f the documents at- t
compatiying the tresiuetus Message, we are
unable to gtoe them enure,- out must offer
to our re iJei* the Jollowing analysis, ft oin
the dtnon Gazette :—
Ills well known that tin* part of
West Florida, extending eastward
from the Miss ssippi to the tiver Per
dido, (being situated between those two
rivets, and bounded on the north by
tiie Mississippi Teritory) lias been in
dispute between Spain aud the U. S.
in consequence of, and ever since the
Louisiana purchase in April, 1303.
bpjtn however, has persisted in refu- ,
sing the justice of our claims under »
that treaty, and the subject has been
icit open lor negotiation, or at least has }
never been settled by the two govern- I
niciua. Whether the right to the ’
country in question has ever been !
fairly conveyed from Spain to Amcri- *
ca, is a question, which, as Anneiicans,
we ought to answer in the affirmative -r
but others scruple not to affirm that the :
right is both doubtful and incomplete.
Neither the divli acted state of the Span
ish monarchy, nor of the colony of '
West Florida, in case the right has not
been absolutely aud justly conveyed,
will justify the Lulled Status in tailing
possession of that country. Circtmi
stauces, however, seem to invite the
occupancy of the territory by the Uni-1
ted States j and where there is no dan
ger, our President is one of the most
valliem souls alive. It stems that the
tonvetrion <f ll c*t Florida on the 26lh
Sept. 1810, declared that country u
t ft unt* litv. fit'lilt /jt in conse-1
quenceoftbc Uiiprotectcd situation in
which they were left by Spain and the
anarchy wan which they were threa
tened among themselves. This de
claration, signed by Jonv Khka Pres
ident, and dxa. Steele, SecVy. was
transmitted to Mr. Madison. \ jon,
memorial oi this Revolutionary C on
veniion ol West Florida, signed b)
t ie President, Was transmitted to Gov
Holme* of the Mississippi Teritory,
anc* by aiin to the Secretary of Nlate.
| u was accompanied by the declaration
V
' and i« capihle of v'-’r ; Tt is :p So
luble that they id.ould be instructed *' d
practised in ihorule® by vtii.vh tlwy are lb
be governed.
Towards *n acc^m >!tshmenl of this irr.1
port ant wmk, I recommend for liter consi
deration of Congress, the c v.i tdiei.cy ot
instituting a system winch shall, in the fi"ft
instance, cull into tUe ft. Id, at the public
ex,>ens**, ^nd for a given tune, certain por
tions of i he commissioned and non.curnum
stnoed officers. The in'tmctitin and disci
pline thus inquired, would gradually diffuse
through the entire body of the Militia, a
p.vactic*! knowledge n»vl promptitude for
active service, which are the great ends to
be pursued. Exj erience has left no doubt,
cithernfor the necessity, or the efficacy of
wvivpelfit military kKiII in those portions of
an army, in fitting it for the final dudes
which t: may have to perform.
The corpa .o•‘Engineer?, with the Mil.tary
Academy, are entitled to the early attention
of Congre**. The building! at the scat,
f it by Uw for the present Academy, are so
tar in decay, as not to afford the necessary
accommodation. Hut a revision of the law
ia recommended, principally with a view to
a morw enlarged cultivation and diffusion ol
the advantages of such institutions, by pro
ruling' f. rote worship* for all the necessary
branev* of military instruction, aud by the
establishment of an additional Academy at
the seal of government, or elsewhere. The
means bv which war, as well for defence ns
for offem ke,ara now carried on,render these
scoovVia of the more scientiflck operations,
an indispensable part of every adequate
•▼stem.
. .. a « I*
done, it remained with our govenment,
either to recognise the Convention as
a new State of tho Union, to incorpor
ate it with the Orleans Territory, or
to remain inactive until the decision of
the Spanish Cortes should be ascer
tained. The government have not
hesitated to consider their right to this !
country, as paramount and mdisputa- !
ble; and accordingly, on the 27th of
October, a Proclamation, signed by the
President was dispatched to Gov. Clai
borne of the Orleans Ter ritcry, author
ising him to take forcible possession of
Florida, as a part of his jurisdiction. 1
The p.oclamation was accompanied ;
by a letter of instructions from me Se« '
cretary of State, directing Gov. Clai- j
borne to proceed hi st to Washington i
in the Mississippi Teritory, theie to
consult with Gov. Holmes, and thew
take possession. Incase of any place,
however small, remaining, occupied by
a Spanish gariisou, he is required not
to use any force against it; but to
make a report respecting it to the de
partment of Mate. A iic Fretident’s
Proclamation is directed to be printed
in the French, English, and Spanish
languages, and extensively eircu'attd, ■
through the territoy of Oi lcans, i r.d \
Flotida, and Copies of the same, with j
conciliatory letters tranauautd 10 tue j
Governors of the Spanish province* j
in the neighborhood !— i he lice, e’^ry j
of Mate has sent a letter, jiiso, to Gov. j
Holmes, stating the unreascnublti tx- j
pectations of the convention, me rigiu* ;
of the United States to the territory, I
and the dctei mi nation to throw the va
cam 1 md ot this tcrtitory into com*
mon aiowk, for th? national uses of all
the inhabitants of these states, i his
letter also refuses to at know ledge the
coavemion to have any power to pro*
pose or form a compact with ittc U.
Stales ; but mentions, at the same
time, that an early and continued at
tention to tueir wants and their situa
tion will always be alfordecl by the f ed
eral Legislature.
15j> tljc fpailg.
CHARLESTON, Njv. 1*
His honor the iniendartt received this
TMormng, a cixttc from the treasury depart
ment ol the United Suits, on the Branch
Bank. in this city, lor Jour thousand jour hun
dred and jjty-six dollars ana eig-uy iej» cenix,
being tlic amount ot General vVadeliamp
ton’* [ay and emolument*, -since he ha.v been
in the service of the United States; whicit
that gentleman had lioeiatiy relinquished m
behaii ot the sulterer* by the late Cal.tm
tou* tire. It wdl be »ecollected, that the
genci.\i had already presented ji\c /muaied
dollars m cash, tow-rd» then, icm.t.
;» —- -
French Sequestration oj Barbary Fc«
l *ch.
| A letter from Sardinia of the 8ih ult Tren
lions, that the following Under luu been re
* eeived, from the Director General at Paris,
by the different Consuls at the por'.s in the
1 Levant •* —
2 The intention of Ins Majesty the Em
. peroi i.* that vessel*, belonging to the iiar
; bary i*uv.e s, .shall be lieu ca m the same
| manner as Ououun vessels, a*, like them,
they may have loaded at Malta, and [. id
ihe duty of 20 per cent to the English.
“You, there lore, will tncnu.au.ety seif.es
iter all the Uurbary vessels whieu are, or »uay
arrive, >u the hat oor» of your division, what
ever goods tneir cargoes may consist ol.
“ You will inloi m me, us soon us possible,
of the sequester* laid, as wed on B.nbaiy
s.iips as un Ottoman ships. Yeuwrilhn
w .nl to me the pioces venal, with uilUic
documen.a you liuy nave collected relative
'.o the cncumsiaiices of their voyage, the
origin and iisiuie of their Cargo, and the,
insurance, it any' as well on ship as ca.go.
“ I enjoin to you the greatest c*.c ~:jd
promptitude in the ciecin ot this Dr
ier.
“ The DIRECTOR IN CHIEF”
s
FRUIT OF D KSPOT1SM.
An ariicu iioiu Tans, dated dept. 21,
4‘ivcs a singular account of ac-ititt wretLu
aiteit a»-d uomTiumti to «ae-dU ay out- oi
of I import Jetrfce passed b\ the On*
vcj tion. In the Memorial* the He'
imionLts of Wt* Florida* p»ay to be
acknowledged and protected by tic
United States, arc? to become inh da
unts of the Union.—The grounds oi |
their request they say are founded on j
the construction which the U. States '
have always given to the treaty of M> t; |
by which construction West 1'lori'G
has been considered as n patt <d the
Louisiana purchase i—that the U-;
States having refu td to accredit toe
Spanish Junta, cannot recognize the
Spanish regency ; that Bonaparte can* j
not complain if VV est Florida becomes ;
part of the U. States, as he has invited
the Spanish colonies to become inde
pendent ; and that Great-Britain, a*
the ally of Spain, cannot complain,
because West Merida is threatened j
with subjugation by the French exiles
from Cuba, and other “ partizans of
Bonaparte, who are the eternal ene
mies of Great-Britain.” The Revo
lutionists claim a liget to all the urdo
cated lands of the “ Commonwealth /”
stipulated for the pardon of all deserters
residing among them ; and solicit a
loan of 100,000 dollars, which they
add,“the Secretary of the Treasury
may make immediately without com
mitting the government, or making it
known to foriegn ministers in Wash
ington.” These acts having been |
Fr.r^irW MiVitS’y n • ir,T*r* I' r~
| wiki is Ui# name, midct* which he
understand, a ;>r: ..*ner for debt for »• n-e
time in Newgale. F »r what precise oh*
fence he IsSs at suffered ia studivuv.y
concealed. Hi# crime is said to have
** tunchtdtipon ireason ;** but nmhing
• of this nature is stated in th^ account new
{ ubiished. The assn-»[ t ,<m of other prr.
r.3ine9 for purposes of fraud if rot t ea
s>>f!.t!de yet, wr believe, under ahv g ive* t*
iTient. There is sotoetliiog adit more ru
rr.a kable than even this in the rr <ie of hU
conviction i the proofs leaving nopri^
hi!tty . / a dejtt.ee to the accused or hit cruiutd,
oariied the horror and convlc i n of tha
Judges to the utumst pitch.” The conric
non of the Judges, then, was made up with
out hearing the accused ! That w;»s unne
ceirary, the proofs being so strong l Fut
whence their horror, too, resulting from Jus
contempUtion of a crime which is not even
mentioned ? What may be meant by t}rist
Oiberilun some attempt made <n n.ed tatel
against the life of flonap.«i te, we cannot ea
sily devise j at all events the wt**id may
hence form a tolerable idea of the mode in
which criminal justice is administered in
France. There are ei ght Ua stiies for per
sons suspected of offences, but for which
they cannot be tried ; here is a culprit tried,
ami convicted without being heard in hi*
defence j and for a crime which is only sa d
to “ tostch u|>rn Iteason,” the prrcist : cl,
commuted never being one* mentioned.
FLORIDA.
It appears, by the President*.* Message,
that he has issued order* for taking jMjsse*- *
■ion ot so much of West Florida, rs i* anil
Mr. J er tbrion have claimed a* a part of
Louisian*, according toll,eii Cursts uction ot
the treaty of purchase. Spain ha* declared
that this was never ceded or fold in the d:»
pnsal of Louisiana ; ami, mi 1ft‘.5, the Uftited
States were on the eve of a war in soppoit
of their opinion and claim, which was pro
bably only prevented by the appalling de
claration of Frame, 14 JJjr,* go tr «'*.- nm
Spam, Franc* can mi:L§r doubt ror kttitaft—t
she must tub* £;zrt a.rb Spain !'* It wdttM
have displayed came «,.irit to have enforced
our pretensions then, than to profit of a mo
ment of Bpinish uaunti y. It is in>po^|. -
bio to calculate the cometpitnets.
It i» said, that *t the trea’y of pence in
1783, when Bfitxm the Flori
da* to Spain, *lie guaranteed them to her in
their then extent ; and it is supposed that
in Uietiuaiyuf alliance which n>»w crisis
between Spam and Bnuin, the latter gum-4
antcesthe uitagmy cfthe Liratras to ft*
American ms well a& £„.„ptaji posses
sion.
When Spain sod France were allies, dr
Administration a«ktd France it she wouitl
interfere if we took, a part of ti.s Florida*,
and were told ah* would, k w Spain anti
England are alii s cur Adminirrr.m, nuke
no such application to the latter, but liiue
tleir orders for the espediuoii.
Letters from »f.c south wafd say, that the
probability thai the United S'ktta will be »n
voived in ’%ar is considered gr*ra«ermnv
ib»n>t has been before ft» long time.
CoL Faster ha# resigned his ccrruini
•i'*n av the army of the UutiCu Si<we?.
Lewie Belch, and AMV~:y v’.: iggic.s, a
ri.i.x jl color, (the !’ -n -r r>; stealing a.
horse the value jf f tO r.-d the latte r f >
the murtfer of Mr j... ,c-> tic= h whom
he had indented itT fir [St,) ve
lu?ng in Bertie County, N. C, on the 16.»
isslant,
*w*-»
A letter from Lisbon, Oticd ^ 19, sms,
“Tbs deser.&rs bum the F<tne'« vrm say,
they have rot t«*.ed t read f©<- 17 days; in
other ; art;«uis--: :,e French were well sup*
t:l The :r.»ir** from the fleet, and
aoir;s sailors have been sent r«i;ore to m«*n
the batteries on the lines- The fleet hu»
moved up the Tagus to aid in the operations
of the hi toy Kvery thing is in motion, and
nothing aeen or heard but the jiorr.p, noisfc
and preparation of war,**
INTERESTING'
It is stated from »n atuhrntic smirce,
the Spanish Minister in vVashington bus de
spatched a cutter to Cad:/, to communicate
to the Spanish Regency and Congress, line
measure* which President Madison ha-* la*
i k**n for the invasion and occupancy of West*
Florida From the spirit which tie SpaniiH
! Congress ha* exhibited on other subjects
it is not improbable they w>i| rake tins in
| ration of their territory in dudgeon, a> i
| will pass act* in retaliation, injurious Jo the
j cummer cud interests of the United State*
in the territories under their jin indict i as.
j l he tarts cn the subject of tills measure ut’
j the government, may be «een in tha Fiat, t
dent’s Proclamation.
USEFUL MEMORANDA.
It will be recollected that Mr. Madron
when Secretary of State, said to Mr. H*n#
dolph, “ Ft ance tr ante snooty and must haos
it.” The observation struck amaxeircnt »t»
the mind of “the American Chatham,” as5
the democrat* were pleased to call Fun.—
He distrusted the eL.icritic of his sense*.#
and thought ms ears deceived hint, but Mid*
tleniy awnkened, as if from s dream, lie per
ceived die fatal extremities to urhioh Mr.
jeiicrsou was pie pared to go, in c«>’ chi cnee
witu French' views,and at ouce r* solved t<»
abandon a faction, by whom he conceived
it a dishonor to be owned as an avsoC’a »-•
Mr. Randolph was still unwilling ie believe,
that muie was intended by Mr. M-eis i#
tbau to sound him and test *V»* pie»< v-'.*#
but in a short time nis charitable <iou<xs
were put to rest, bj an ac tj t.nryrt s, ptao*
nig at the disposal fJ the htccatitve, nto tttn -
Hons rJ tiolla v, ?iW to bz aocuumci Jor tiU i*
Prestucni thought proper. That \itttt h^s not
arrived, and never will, un d French md
ence is overcome. Meantime Jeflcrson .<
his puppet, wilt mke special care, to e-v
among the arcl.ievesi t n‘’ * 0CI*r’£ *
m> sai*."iy suecivvor*^ “>■. ,r i>u,,T*
maueib coiue to extreme#, wcl'e ** 1 v
to plunder t e oflico « f Suu*, »> it was i».
mciiy to tii *5 the WaC-Oim c.
Fe«.,t,« Kepubltcm
Louis rionapancjCX-k'mgofHoM n**
is o.i a journey i‘J > u.c itiupcr j. -.v
Alibi! u