The Rhode-Island American, and general advertiser — Providence [R.I.], 1810-02-02 00:00:00, page 2

Whenever tboce persons, who art append
ed to preside over the destinies of a people,
sufftr th Ho wives to be acted upon by love,
cr hatred, «f foreign powers, that moment
their own independence, and the dignity
and happiness of their country are destroy
ed: For in spite of themselves, in every
momentous question, in which the foreign
relations of the country are concerned, not
only their opinions, but their measures,
will lean to the favourite nation, without
any regard to the manifest injury which it
may do to any other. As justice ipay not
always be on the favoured side, prejudice
may so far have blinded them, as to see
nothing but peace and generosity in the
■ - acts of one, while every proof of friendship
afar! magnanimity given by another, will be
viewed as deceit or hostility. Whil4 this
. unfortunate prejudice continues, Che mea
sures of the government are made to bend
to the partialities qf the individual, so that,
Instead of being, founded on the broad basis
of the general good* they simply emanate
from private feelings and local consider -
-4 tions. But this is not all. Instead of uniting
the wJrid in act* of friendship towards
them, they' divide it; and while they are
arraying the one half in hostility egainst
them, they become a prey tn the iqachina
tions of tha other. When this infafuatiop
hat. seised on the refers of a nati<M* t tpey
are already half subdued, for whether they
be corrupted by the gold of England or thm
friendship of France, they cease to be in
dependent, because, ,as all their measures
are calculated to gratWjr the favourite pow
er, they legislate more for that power than
for themselves. Whatever thia power
zerland seduced out of jheir independence,
and made flefr of the “ Empire of the
West.'* In this way are nations more ef
fectually and completely subdued than by
, the force of arms; for while evcjquflP?
will hesitate to deliver his purse to the reb
ber on the highway, who demands ft with
a pistol in hl* hand, there are few, indeed,
‘ who can refute it to the soft persuasions of
* favourite friend.
The immortal Wa'NlXoton, who saw
* with a prophetick eye the dangers arising
. to his beloved country from foreign par
tialities, and the calumny to which those
patriots would be exposed who should dare
to raise their voice against-them, has left
us the following admirable sentiments on
this subject: Excessive partiality," says
this great and good man, “ for one foreign
pation and excessive dislike to another,
cause those whom they actuate to see dan
ger only on one side, and serve to veil, and
even second the arts of influence on the
ether. Real patriots, who may resist the
intrigues of the favourite, are liable to be
come suspected and odious; while its tools
and dupes' usurp the applause and confi
dence of the people, tq surrender their in*
wrests?’
fer itself to he led into a war with that na
tion ngainst whom they possess such strong
antipathies.
Having thus prepared the way for the
reception of their opinions and policy, the
flouted nation has little to do to subju
gate it to its power, and fo extort from it
fib right, What it before had obtained from
WtiaNty.
In this Way were Italy and Spain sub
dued to the power of France. In this way
were the powers of Holland and of Swit-
my ask will be givenit, because it will
te believed that it would Ac* require what
the other ought not to give. Shutting their
eyes agafl.st the evidence of everyday's
experience, with a blind and implicit con
fidence, they will allow the syren voice of
insiduoas friendship to point out themes*
cures they should pursue in their geperai
policy; the aid which it becomes them to
give to the establishment of certain princi
ples, and a power thwaprejudiced will suf-
A quintupjls alliance is spoken of in
the federal prints as being on the carpet.—
This is said by them to be the object of tht
mission to Russia. If this be true, it wftl.
we presutnf. he bottomed on the principles
of the ARMED 'NEUTRALITY of the
late Empress Catharine, and which Was
attempted to be revived by the Americans
in the early slagaa of the French caapht
tloa. To form this alliance, the parties
we presume will be Sweden, Denmark,
Russia, France and America, and our neu
tral rights formally and reciprocally re
cogntoed and guaranteed by solemn treaty,
by four of the principal powers of the Eu
ropean continent. This idea of a quintuple
alliance seems to give uneasiness to Mr.
Stephen's ’* British party in America," as
it would be a most judicious attempt to re
duce the “ mistress of the ocean" to the
necessity of abandoning her haughty pre
tensions to the domination of a domain
which God and Nature has given nations
for their common use. Balt, .4mer.
The above article was inserted in the
Chronicle of last Thursday, and the plan
it contains seems to be a favourite ope
with the
We have no positive evidence, that topro
tnote, and unite in such a scheme, is the
object of Mr. Adams’s mission to Russia ;
but there is circumstamial proof enough to
persuade us that this is the fact. Of this
Datura is the frequent hints in fat our of
What an awful subject for the consider
ation of Americans!
Charleston Courier.
Fighting, taking rank of Trading, by
the consent and interest of all nations, the
trader must prove his character to the bel
ligerent. What proofs shall be given are
now settled by the usage of. nations; they
are easily furnished by« real neutral, and
if they are wanting or deficient, the bel
ligerent rends in the vessel for trial.
To SEAECH AND BE SATISFIED is'
therefore as much the right of the belligc-
Hpt, as it is the right of the neutral to en
joy hit tjeutral trade. These are consis
tent. But if a neutral arms, and sees his
arms to deny the belligerent that satisfac
tion which is his right, he is no longer a
heutral. The nation authorising such a
tpca»ure» makes upon the bellffierent.
trujy as if it were to order an invasion
bf bis territory- . -
If our government therefore adopt the
measure of an armed neutrality alone, or
by stipulating with the weaker, maritime
powers of Europe, it will in the first place
be a very serious errour in policy * one
which do reasoning can support, no au
thority can be produced to jqstify, and
which no nation in the world has enforced.'
Russia and some others in a fit of 111-nature
against Great-Britain, have given a mo
mentary countenance to such a plan, b i
they abandoned it, and by a solemn stipu
lation, not of a conquered, but a great and
independent nation.
An ARMED NEUTRALITY, we con
fidently assert to be a political solecism;
an absurdity that admits of no definition
consistent with itself. The doctrines ad
vanced and admitted by those writers on
national law, who have been considered
the warmest champions of neutral rights,
even by Azuni, so popular in France, will
not* admit of any such principle. The neu
tral has a right to trade to neutral ports,
and he has a right to trade to the ports of
either belligerent, not blockaded, in goods
not contraband of war, avoiding such trade
as is in its nature, a mere substitution of
the neutral for the belligerent flag. And
while the neutral has a right to enjoy such
trade as we have mentioned above, the
belligerent has a right to satisfactory proof,
when meeting him, on the high seas, that
he IS NEUTRAL. Thjs is so plain that
noargument need be adduced to support
it, but to look at the reverse. If the mere
display of a neutral flag is to prevent a
belligerent cruiser fjom boarding a vessel
at sea, that flag would always be used by
the weaker belligerent, to protect bis com
merce, evade the maritime power of his
enemy, and deprive him of what all the
world has acknowledged to be the rights
of war. The neutral likewise would lose
all the benefits of his neutrality, and suffer
from the assumption of his character, by
those wfio had no right to It
Azuni, therefore, as well as every other
writer on the law of nations, considers the
boarding of merchant vessels by belligerent
cruisers, for the purpose of ascertaining the
real quality of the vessel and cargo, to be
an unquestionable RIGHT of the bellige
rent. • ’ .
And what will be the consequence, if we
pledge ourselves to France, Russia, and
our friendv the Danes, to maintain an
'ti med neutrality ? The contempt of Qnse
’very nations, who will be disappointed oy
our cdhduct. We may make agreements
with the enemies of -England that we will
■ot suffer Great-Britain to enjoy her right
•f search.. Great-Britain will continue to
earch, as usual, and if resisted, the vessel
resisting, unless she conquers, willbe taker
and condemned for her resistance. But
tills will not produce a declaration of war
rxi the part of the United Stater It will
produce a tremendous explosion of news
paper resentment; Congreft Hall wilt
ring with invectives against the tyrants of
the ocean, and France, who had hoped to
have made an efficient tool of us, will find
that our democratick government can sti
pulate- for great things, bat have neither
the courage nor the means to perform.—
This government will abandon its ground
' with respect to Great-Britain, and expose
itself to the charge of national perfidy, by
those to whom it may now be foolishly
about to pledge itself,- if an armed neu
trality be contemplated, and stipulations
relating to it be the object and the result
of Mr. Adams’s mission. Let these predic
tions be remembered. Reflectory.
"I am now about to detail an occur
rence of the most abominable character,
as it will shew that If we have not a
French governour in namt, me have in
fact, and a short time will decide whether
we shall not be a province of Napoleon in
name. , -
thiecoalition. in French papers; the ap
probation of our democVatick prints; th*
known principles of Mr. Adams; and the
impossibility of conceiving what was Iff*
errand to Russia, if it were not thia
We cabnot contemplate the subject with
out the most serious apprehensions, be
cause we sec nothing in .prospect, *s to the
part our country will take in it, but errour
first, and consequent ditgrace.
Extract of a letter to the Editor, dated
JVev>-Orleans, December 15, 1809.
“ Some six or eight weeks since, about
one hundred of the French officers who
were made prisoners of war at St. Domin
go, by the British, arrived in this port;
FROM TUB NBW-YOSK CITIZIN.
under pretence of having sailed from Ja
maica to Philadelphia, they were tompell
••d by adverse winds, ficc. ficc. to come to
New-Orleans. On the arrival of the ves
sel, the captain made a solemn protest
against hia doming here, as well as against
prosecuting bis voyage with his passen
gers, as bis life was frequently menaced
by them, and that-they forced him into this
port. On their arrival, it was found that
they were destitute of money and clothes,
and the French Consul refused, or was
unable to advance them a cent. In this
dileihma, they had recourse to the benevo
lence and hospitality of our citizens. They
were all well clad, and had an allowance
of four dollars per week, for their subsis
tence. Thweonduct of there men, for
some time, was irreproachable—-but the
moment they had. attained their ends, they
began to be a little uncivil.—Yestefday was
fixed for their sailing for New-York—and
the preceding uighi they assembled in con
siderable aambers at a Quartron Ball*
where were Also threw other officers of our
army. Shortly after'the*Hancing com
menced, a Spanish officer entered the
room, with the oockade of Ferdinand VII.
on his h4t.t~*Na sooner the Spaniard en
tered flton-'tfte of the French officers at
tempted M» pfilf «C his tockade. Quo of
the American officers.interierod, and for
bade it The Frenchman became inso
lent, when the told him he should
answer for his conduct in the morning.—
This invitation ( was declined by Monsieur
French, ew the ptoa shat the ship sailed at
sun-rire. it was thought the affair
was at an end,, and the three Americans
retired into the |>av-room, where they were
presently surrounded by those French ruf
fians, and one ef them grossly insulted—
He did not notice the first insult, but on its
being repeated the offender was stretched
his full length, by a blow from the hand of
the American officer. The disagreement
was again thought to be at an end, when
the Americans being unarmed, departed
for their houses* i they were pursued by
about 30 of these ruffians, and when they
had got into the street, the French called
out that they* were going to the Garrison
for a reinforcement. Thia was the signal
for attack, and an-obstinate conflict ensued.
Three Americans, without weapons, had
to contend Against this gpUectfon of des
peradoes, armed with dirks and sticks.—
The battle terminated, as might have been
expected, by the Americana being all bad
ly wounded—one Uis supposed will not re
cover—the other two, although sore, are
not dangewms. The Frenchmen were se
verely handled—About 2fl of them were
knocked dawn, and one stamped almost to
death—but for the djrks, and the victory
«ould h <re terminated in favour of our
' z
“ Notwithstanding thieewsregp, so gross
aadlwg&Xna* ths if authority has taken
no potice of it, afldyesterday at 12 o’clock
the /f. A. 'TYief sailed for New-York, with
these ungratefel miscreants on board. 1
hope j r our police will not suffer the Ameri
can character m be insulted in tha empo
rium of our coentry. I will hot attempt to.
account for the neglect of oar civil officers
in this affair—but had an American insult
ed a Frenchman, he would have been in
prison in less than an hour.
•A Quartron Rail is composed of females,
the daughters of mulatto mothers, and white
fathers, and white males. Coloured meh are
not permitted to attend. These balb are con
sidered as very Ascinating and fasionable ( for
you must know that here it is not considered
dishonourable for a white man to keep pub
lickly a yellow Mistress. So a young gentle
man will be the life of the most brilliant female
circle, and at an. early hour retire to the em
braces Of his yellow night companion—nor is
it unfrequent to see a married man, with a
large family, bring in open prostitution with
these women. - ' ”
f Rli customlry here for every man to wear
his National cockade.
■WSegg—,. Hg--JL—L.l!! ll ? ll ! ,l -R l J.-.8 TH
“ I dread the eopsequences of this ren
counter—lt nrtf here, but 1
much fea? that our places of publick amuse
ment will become scenes of blood and as
sassination. Should such be the fact, we
shall have no person to blame but our poor
miserable thing of a Governour—but as
you know his character, you may judge
what kind of officers he has under him.-r-
Congress cannot surely suffer him to dis
grace the nation, and endanger the peace
of the country, beyond this session.
“ I remain, yours, &c.
AJr. Johnson’s motion for setting apart
Friday of each week for private business,
upon petitions, Bcc. was adopted—BB to 15.
Mr. Newton qu»ved4he following resolu
tion :
Resolved, That the President of the
United States be requested to cause to be
laid before the' House, by the proper .de
partment, a statement of the number of
troops in the regular army of the United
States, the number stationed at each gar
rison, with a particular detail of that por
tion which has been allotted for the defence
of New-Orleans, thb number sent to that
quarter, the different dispositions which
have been made of that farce, the present
state of the same; and such other informa
tion as he may think proper to lay before
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mow war, January 22.
Congreve.
Mr. Mumford moved to postpone the bill
till the third Monday of February. '
This motion Was negatived.
Mr. Gardenier spoke in favour of the
bill, upon the whole, although opposed to
somo-ef its provisions. Great-Britain might
indeed take offence at some of the terms of
the bill, but it was to be hoped she would
not, as she could render this system prac
tically useful to her. All our legislation
upon this subject, hitherto, has been in fa
vour of France, but as this bill -will open
a direct trade with Eagfand, ’’while"' the
British navxcan-iereareM the trarttowith
France,-its operation will be of a dififeren
character.
.The Speaker decided that it was not,
unleu the select committee should first be
discharged.
• Mr. Montgomery moved an amendment,
authorising the President. to. employ, th*
armed vessels to enforce the law.
Mr. Montgomery said, the law was to
operate upon foreign vessels, by excluding
them from our ports.
Mr. Montgomery's amendment was lost,
—47 to 76.
Mr. Dana this day moved the two follow
ing resolutions,’which were adopted:
Resolved, That, the committee of com
merce and manufactures, be instructed to
inquire into the propriety of making any
supplemental or amendatory provision by
law, for completing a survey, in which shall
bq designated the isfands and shoals,, with
the road-steads of the United States, and
the coursea and distances respectively, be
tween head-lands, together with any other
matters proper for an accurate chart of the
coasta, within 20 leagues from the shores
of the United States, as agreed and de
clared by the definitive treaty of peace,
in 1783—and also for making examina
tions and observations with respect to St.
George's Bank, and any other bank or
shoal, and the soundings and currents be
yond the distance aforesaid, to the Gulf-
Stream—and that the committee have
leave to report by bill or otherwise.
NreoZved, "The t the committee of com
merce and manufactures, be instructed to
inquire into the propriety of adopting any
legislative provision respecting the extent
of the maritime precincts of the United
States, and the safeguard of navigation
within the same, and whether, in addition
to the existing provision against captures,
within a maritime league from any part
of the shores of the United States, it would
improper to authorise She Resident of ths
United States, for the benefit of the com
mercial interests or revenue thereof, after
reasonable notification, to prohibit foreign
armed ships or vessels from seising or mo
lesting any vessels employed in the coast
ing trade, or merchant vessels bougd to or
from the United States, whenever the same
may be in any of the road-steads of the
United States, or in any other waters with
in sight of land, and within a line extend
ing from one cape or head-land to another,
along the coasts of the United States'; and
that the committee have leave to report Ly
bill or otherwise.
„ Mr. Burwell moved to refer his resolu
tion respecting convoys and armed mer
chant vessels, to a select committee. Car
ried—loo to 13. h
A Uttlp before 3 o’clock the {louse re
sumed the consideration of thOrUnfinishedj
business of Saturday—ope bill reported by
the committee of foreign refit tioos.
1 Mr. Macon inquired if it were in order
to proceed in the discussion of Mr. Mum
ford’s amendment, when the subject mat
ter of (he same, (Mr, Burwell’s mot loo,)
had this morning been referred to a select"
committee.
Mr. Bacon thought the seizures of vessels
evading or violating the law, ought to be
confined to our own vessels.
Mr. Poindexter moved a-resolution re
questing the President to inform the House
whether any, and if My, what steps have
been taken by the Executive to secure to,
the citizens of the United -States, residing
on the waters of-the Tombigbee and Ala
bama rivers, the free navigation of the
Mobile, what duties are exacted by the
Spanish government, ficc.. Adopted. , .
Mr. Johnson from the committee of claims
on the petition of John Thompson, states,
that tfcey find, his accounts correct, and
his claim just, but that on .account of the
limitation act, they are under the necessi
ty of reporting, very much against their
the Reuse, In relation to the army of the
United States.
Borne small modifications of the language
of the resolution were made upon the sug
gestions of Messrs. Dana, Livermore, and
Talmadge, one of which went to request a
statement of the fiurticular destination
the tufteriour officers. It was observed
that it would be proper to know whether
any of the office re were suffered to attend
to their private business instead of that of
the publick, whether a Colonel wi* suffer
ed to command a subaltern’s guard, fee—
[Can there be any glance at Colonel Duane
in this
Messrs. Dawson and Gholdson opposed
the resolution, but it was adopted by an
immense majority. . v z
A message from the President of the
United States, covering a statement of cer
tain expenditures for the year 1809, was
read and ordered to be printed.
Tubsdat, January 23.
A message was received from the Se
nate, stating that they had passed a bM
authorising the fitting out, officering and
manning the publick vessels of the United
States. ~ . .■ , '
The House then adjourned.
Macon’s bill has not parsed yet, but there
is no doubt but that it will pass, without
any material alteration. It gains support
ers every day—though I cannot say it gains
many friends. But I have no doubt this
there is now a majority to -pqss the bill,
and though they are not very anxious to
come at such An -ill-ahapen thing, when
the question isaaken they will say aye to
it. It is now understood that the Presi
dent is in favour of the bill, and that this -
is all the war measure we shall have thin
session. £v.e Poet.
tnelinatiea, that the prayer of the petition,
er ought hot to be granted. Referred to a
committee of the whole House on Friday
next.
now necessary to maintain the nation’s
honour. He spoke with great judgement
and sound sense. He was against these
big war-talks. In his opinion they were of
but little use beyond these While.
Mr. Pickman spoke at considerable
length against the bill. He was followed bjr
Mr. Key in every able and eoergetick
speech in favour of the Mil generally,
though there were many things in it that
he did not approve- Yet taking the bitter .
with the sweet he thought the sweet pre
dominated, and that we ought totake the
bitter for tha. saksu at it; aa, he had.ee, *
tapes that we should get any thfog better*
Mr, Sheffiry followed Mr. Key in anabla
and argumentative speech io favour of the
hill and against tbe sasr sfteechifieri.
Wednesday, Januabt 24.
Several petitions, memorials, fac. and g
communication from the Treasury Depart
ment of the instructions which had been
given to private armed vesaefe, Were read,
when the House resumed the discussion of
Mr. Macon’s Bill. •
Mr. Desha, (of Georgia,) was also op
posed to the. bill. He was for decisive war
measure*—for calling out the militia; de
claring war; marching into Canada, at
tacking Nova Seeds ; driving every Eng*
Ihhman from the conthtent of AmerttaF *
tatd brenhing the chairik ef her colomat.' .
who would readily psist fa the measure.
Mr. Sawyer also opposed the bill. Hfi
also was for energetick-measures, but not
so warlike as those of the gentleman whft
spoke last. • ,
Mr. Livermore opposed the passage of
’he bill.
Mr.* Anderson »uo a short rah*
Mr. Van Dyke spoke against the bill.
Mr. Troup, after some prefatory obeer»
vations, offered to amend the bill by adopt-
section, to authorise ths Proof* «
.dent to gram, letters of marq— and repri
sal to any Captain of an American vessel
who should be captured under the French
Decrees or English Orders in Council— z
This motion appeared to have few
and after some conversation on the subject,
Mr. Troup withdrew his motion.
Mr. Macon spoke in favour of the bill
and against the foolish idea that a war was
Mr. Johnson advocated the bill. He wae
not averse to war; and he could see noth*
ing in the bill which could hinder us froafi
taking possession of Canada and Novw
Scotia.
Mr. Milnor, though he approved two at*
three sections of the bill, hoped it would ba
rejected.
The House then' adjourned withept
taking any question.
Thursday, January 25.
Mr. M’Kim offered a resolution which,
was adopted, to call on the Secretary of
War to give an account respecting tba
sufficiency of the arms delivered for the
use of the United States.
Mr. Macon’s commercial regulatipn bill
waa then called up. The question to en
gross for a third reading still before tfon
House.
The unfinished business of yesterday was
called far. 4 Mr. Eppes moved to postpone
it until to-morrow.—Lost 50 toil. Ma
con’s bill was therefore before the Hoose.—
iSe question is, shall the bill be engrossed
for a third reading ?
Several triviq) amendments were offered
and passed.
Mr. Hale spoke against the commercial
restrictions of the bill.
Mr. Mumford again opposed the paresgg
of the bill.
Mr. Montgomery then moved to am»d
by adding a new section, the same in sub- .
stance as the one be offered some days ago,
to authorise the President to instruct the
armed vessels of the United States, to
board and bring in for adjudication any
vessel or vessels attempting to evade the
provisions of this act •* within four leagues ■»
of our coast." The words quoted making
the amendment different from the one for
merly offered by the same gentleman, the *
speaker decided it to be in orden
Several gentlemen spoke a few words to ’
this amendment. Mr. Macon was against
it—Mr. Eppes and Mr. Rhea were ia fa
vour of it.
The question on the amendment, was
taken by ayes and new, and cart ied-aayeg
73, uoes 5X
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