The Rhode-Island Republican — Newport, R.I., 1810-05-02 00:00:00, page 2

‘There is another publick mischief which
may cesult fvom the publication of these pri
vite, lewers of Mr. Anes, respecting this
uestion. ‘l'nere ure two remarkable pecu
havitics In the Awmcrican charscter = The
peaple of this country have a more profound
respect for Right and Justicey than any other
nativa upon we face of the curth. They
woukl never contend for any claim, the jus
tice of woich they should not sincerely believe
tdhe on their side. They are also very much
inlugpeed in their opiions by the auchority
ot respgcted kames. I'hese two qualities are,
upon talg whole, much to their honour ; al
though @e Liction, whose principies I have
undertakdp 0 expose, have made this love of
Jusiice, 18 many years, the theme of their
ridicule. r. Jefterson, who was well ac
suaiuted wilh this characterisiick of his coun
trymen, ol very often, appealed to this
strong sens@ of Justice, and expressed his
counfidenc its operation. His reliance up
on it has une of the most copivus foun
t s of ferriment and devision - played Ly
bis antaggists upon him—u meriment and
dernisio waich it appears from this vol
umne, mind of Mv. Ames himself did not
disdaiff to participate. The floods of sarcasm
std ghvecuve which bave gushed upon him,
(o Pis repeated veferences: to this umpirage
of Jeason, are universally known ; and this
saffacious mirth might be indulged as harm
‘BB, were it not in-oparably connected with a
“poiitical system. Ify then, the people of A
mierica could be prevailed upon to think
that they huve no right o claim a free trade
v ith the colonies of Britain’s encmies, in time
of war, they would never assert it ;
toey would, without a struggle, surrender
the trade, whenever it might suit the
purpeses of the British cabinet to take
it from ncuwrals, and give it exclusively
to their own pcople. When this book
was gm»l'uhod, the two countries were on
the beink of war, chicfly upon this very ques
“tion ; and the inwcntion of the publication
manifestly was to stagyer the faith of the na
tion in theiv right, Had the recent triul of
our perseverance and fortitude, continued
much lonjer, the abhorrence of war would
bave giver the Himsiest cobwed of sophistry
the consistency of sound logick, in the minds
there ve a reflecting mun in any ot our sister
states, not infected with the scab of this potii
icul leprosy, who bas uny doubt what the jun
neiples really are, let him attentively
1&»& part of this volume which has never
belovg been published. Here he will find
those puinciples which they heretofore circu-
Joted in winspers among themselves, and de
nicd when charged with them in publick ;
waich in their secret conclaves they profess
as articles of fuithy, and which in thcir pub
lick manilestoes they repel with indignation,
g» sianderous aspersions. Here he will find,
spun trom a degencrate plunt of our uwn soil,
that three-lold corvd of Prostration to Britain,
dirrour of France,and Contempt for America,
which binds togelher the whole political sys
te:n of the faction.
leaps trom the thicket upon the unwary trav
eller, The commerce of America will be
its victim ; and the Canning of the day, with
some surcastick sneery, way rveler us, l{w the
jusuication of British depredations, to the
o; ‘nions of an Awmerican statesman. One
‘of your own jurists, he wiil say, has settled
the question wgainst you., Mr. Ames has
sunctioned the British docteine.
twonatioasywe have ho security that in the ficbt
bour of success, which the chances of war
muy evolve in her favour, she will not assert
it again. Should the temptation of a rich
and delenceless commerce, expanded over
every ocean, and immediately under the fangs
of her naval power, again concur with that
“ envious jealousy and canker’d spite,”” which
sickens 5o many of her mostinfluential states
men at the sight of American prosperity,
that accommodating principle of British law
of natwons, which like the devils of Miiton’s
Pandemoniuin, swells Intg a giunt, or shrinks
into a pigmy, as its occasions re-uire, will
aain make its appearance “in its own di
mensions, like itself.”. The rule of the war
of 1756, puinted with some new sophistical
varnishy, will issue again from the dens of
Docror’s Commons, as an Asiatick panther
But although the pretentions contended for
by Great Britain, has once more been with
drawiyy and willy in all probability, not now
form a subject of controversy between the
L he lust half of this volume might be de
nominated, the political bible of the junto. 1
t it inderorous, at the |
pk was in the most i
summon him from the C
he grave, to bear his testimony n fuvour of
our adversary,
Thanks 1o the good and wise disposer of
all events, that this weapon has also fallen
biunted to the ground ! Thanks to Almigh
ty God, that the nation has been saved from
tiie disgrace and ruin, which submission to
this insolent asd groundless pretention of
Great Britain, would have brovzlt upon
them ! "T'he purpose of breaking down the
sense and sparit of this people, te that level
oi degrodation which would have assented
to the hollow sophistry of the Biiiish claim
hus bLeenr defeated.~—l'he opinions of Mr.
Ames, witl not avail, as an apology for treach
eryto the rights of the country,
Viere is andeet! one point of view, in which
the pubiication of these letters wiil be ser-.
viceanle 1w the publick. They have discovered,
beyond all contradiction snd denial, the real
fundumental principies, of that political sect,
which bas obtuined the control of our stute
administration, and whikh for the last two
years has been driving with such furious zcal
10 & dissolution of (he’ Union—=combined with
an alliance, ofiecnsive and delensive, with
Great Briwin,
SUME person, eitherfrom mistake or froman
over zeul for the cause 1 have espouscd having nade
some mistatements which were mserted in the Wlag
of Baitimore «s a prcface, trom which the Albuny
Register had incorporated a few words supposed 10
be pait of the obscrvations 1 maude on the passge of
My, Giles's resolution, | wm obhiged Lo request you to
publish those remurks as they were taken down by
your reporter, Wygeiher with some retlccuons wlich
are forced from me by the diberal commens that
have been dinaue upon asscruons that hove been fulse.’
ly asciibed w 0 me. ILam a plan man, Sir, wnd not
very well versed in this Kind of conuoversy ; but, us
1 have statea nothang but what 1 kicw, and never
veltuicd L 0 reason but trom sy Owh eapeiience or
what | behieved o be tucs, 1 have some conhuence m
the truth of my wrgunwot. As for my ponucal prn.
ciples 1 got them m the time which Wied mens’ souls.
10 is possibie th y may be out of tashion now, buy 1
am sure that they are aways nght, and | canuot, ot 1
would chiange them.
You know that 1 never made the boastii g assertions
which e chatrged 10 e of having shed 10y blovd
the revoiunionary war. Itis wrue, and the reflection
atlords me a sincere pleasur ¢, that 1 had never shun.
ned any,bu. on be contray Luve courted several situ.
ations n which 1 was exposed,to nake this sucrifice §
but us I never underwent the suficring of & wouerdj
it is not just that 1 should rewpany of the eredia
which such ucircumstance would give. | bhave, Its
true, been made mencr, not in the iudicrous manner
that has been pubiishicd, but inone which was atvénd.
ed with ciccumstances that deserve to be mentioned ;
because this temembrance strongly implanted in my
mmd may account for and excuse a warmth on cer
twn subjucts which scems to have given ofience.
When 1 was very young my father removed from Uls
ter county, were 1 was born, to the Mohawk rivér,
where he purchased a furm neurly adjoining theestate
of Sir Wiliiam Jeunson. On this estate were settled
several hundred wnants warmly attached to their
landlord and the royal cause, which on the bresking
out of the warthey espouscd. My father took part
with lus country and wus a 4 member of the committee
of the district, Hence arose a considerable degree
of personid wnimosity directed towards my family.
The mtiuence of Sir Williuni Johnsen over the sava.
ges was unbounded. On his death it was transferréd
to his son, «nd this-influence was exerted in pursua.
ding them to take u.y the hatchet igrainst the unpro
tecred inhubitants of the fronuers. Placed, as 1 huve
said, in the fronuier adjoining the estate of Johnson,
whare there were several hundred tenunts \urn:z
attached to the cause of Britain, and aided by |
suvage allics, our situation was diflicult, and \Lmt
it inay excite the stupid jests of unprineipled printe
now, it then aflorded no matter ot mirth. From tre
timie 1 wus first enrolled in the militia in the year
1778 wnul the end of the war, we were fr«suem{y -
lurmed with incursions from the enemay, and detach.
ments of militia weve sent to oppose them. On
those occausions 1 did my duty and never have prete.
ed that 1 did more. If every mun could say the sank
we should have more action and fewer words.
the yeusr 1780, a formidable excursion wag made ;p
Sir }uhn Johnson, with his regiment and g lurge bod‘
of Indians, murching through the wildernes, aide
by some wietehes from whoaeillros British gold
wnd British influence had banished all honour and
love of coumtry us well as humanity. In the dead
of might they surprised the inhabitants of the frontier
wheuw 1 lived. Fortunately for my family the party
wus not accompanied by any Indians. Our lives
therefore were spared, but \Kc men were bound
with cords.—My ghcr o mortify him the more,was
amidst the scotis of our brutal enemics tied to a ne,
gro slave, and in this munner we were forced to
march with them and be witness to their further bar.
barties ; butwe did not go before we saw every
thing in flames that the rapacity of the soldiers had
spated—and 1 wish I had words here to express the
anguish my heart felt at that moment when my moth 4
er and sisters were left without a shelter, vi&ont -
protection, exposed to the tusolence of the soldiery
and the savage barbavities of the Indians who were
known to be in the neighbourhood. Fortunately they
cscaped. We lived by the bilessing of God to meet
again, but the remembrance of moments can,
never :e‘ erased l'i;zm nlynhdm i 1 had the'
genius of those who amuse thefuelves in turni
scenes like those into ridicule, | should excite oﬁ"-'
sentiment than those of mirth. 1 will relate anatber
circumstance which occured at this period, and let
them laugh at it if they cas. Driven Bke cate
tle, we were, as | -é. forced to -aq the
march of the enemy. 1t was marked by blood, pluns
der and conflagration. As we ap the
house of Mr. Fonda, a mest me we
heard the dreadful yeli of dwe savag s and presently
saw w large party of them running towards us, brin
ing the m scu'p of aar venerable neighbour. :
*of a greagt portion of the pcbr of New-
Eu especially when the British party
i rung in the ears of exery uem~
bling pat Mr. Ames had declared
himself ag right (o the object im con
test. 1 have bt thutif this viglt sbeuld
aguin be denied by Brituin, und again call for
our cxertions o defend ity the same party.
will resort to the sanie expedicuty an®hat the
authority of Mi. Ames’s opinion wili be vouch
ed to seaul the degredation ol the naticn, and
the surrender cof this great and unguestiona
ble right.
It becomes, therefore, tz to declare,
that from Mr. Ames’s discussion of this ques
tion in these private letters, not a single scin
tilation of new light upon the subject has
been elicited 3 that he pins fuith upon
Sir Wiiliam Scott, and the *#sterial pam
phietcers ; that the two great pillavs of his
argument are frower s necessity——Both
these piliars Mr. Madison had brokes up into
atoms, utterly harmiess and contemptibie, in,
his examination ol the Biitish doctrine, und
even the talisman of Mr. Ames’s cloguence
is not udequate to the recompusition of their’
dust into solid columins. Lhe exposition of
sound priuciple and irrefragabié proot in that'
woik, is a substantial pledge to the nution that
NMir. Madison will never abundon the right
which he so clearly vindieated, and while we
drop & teur of compassion upon the political
weakness of Mr. Ames’s deciining days, let
us rejoice that the maintensnce of cur nation
al rights against Great Britain has been
our ot disglaming the liberties of the u..@
mited to men ol firmer minds. The
wiil noty | believe, soon be contested aguil§st
Mr. Anies, but when wee preténders of friend
ship, fitted with the unhellowed hunds the
deadly night-shade, instead of the laurel, to
his litcless browd, was there not some minis
ter of eternul justice to interpose, and fix it
with the merited dishonour, upon their own ?
+et 0 1 LTI A—e e
MR. SAMMONS’S LETTER,
70 the Editors of the National Intelligencer,
SIRKS,
like manner I saw the scalps of Colovel Fisker® ard i
his iwo Liothers, who fell bravely defending them- -
uniler manner they bad mussacred &
selves. In a suntiar
Mr. Hunson, Putman and others, Whose scilps were
curried to market and sold for British goid. Ihe
militia were soon collecting and “""u““d'
them in their rear. . Ata place where they had halted
on Johnson’s old farm to prepure for their retreut and
take farewell of many of their wives and relutives, 1
made my escape. My father was released wnd my
brothers curried to Cunada, from whence they made
their escape. After this time to the end of the war,
the greater part of the time 1 scrved in the militigor
in enlistments of the levies of our states on the &n
-tier, but always in the ranks, and mever striving . to
give m.:lu-ll' any more credit than 1 deserved for de
ing my duty. .
‘{; was v};dcr circumstances like these | aegqnd
my political principles, and it was the strong similar
ity between the nrgumemu Iheard in the beginning of
the the revolution by the partizans of Great Britin,
and those used on the floor of Congress, that forced
me in spite of myself 1o make known my epinion.
1 confess 1 felt indignant to hear the insults ehiered
to our government by an Enghsh Minister, justificd
by the Representatives of the American people ; and
my blood was wurm when 1 heard the resources of
our country undervalued, and the pwer of Great
Britain mugnified, in order to persuade us to subniis
sion to her unjust decrees. 1 thought and still thank
the question wus the old one of "70—a question of
submission or ngdependence—a (}ucuion of yhng .and
tory ; and perbups I might huve felt some little i »
tation from the known principles of the family uf my
collengne to whom U replied. As to Mr. Gandenier
himscif, he has been perfeetly comsistent ;- he has
generally justified the conduct of Great Britain and
teviled that of his own country. No doubt he thinks
he s right, butl um sure he 1s wrong, or else the
whigs were wrong in revolting from England, and 1
believe the people will tlniui 0 too ; but I never
thouglit it riglnt to abuse and cxlummaie him or any
person, either in Congress orout of it; and when a
number of pupers were sent o me containing my
speech, introduced with some abuse of Mr. Garde
nier, l{ommiue(l them to the flames. 1 did the
same With « nember of haud-Lills, which were sent
to me for distribution in the year 18u8, abusing judge
Herkemer, who was my opponent for member of
Congress, and reflecting on the character of his un
cle, general Herkemer, who received his death
wound in the memorable battle of Orniskana, where
he commanded the Montgomery militia, and havin
with inferiour forces defeated the enemy, remaines
masier of the field. I men of all partics would in
the sume way discountenance ail personal abuse of
their adversaries, the country would be «t peace and
its government respected.
As to the present quesiion of party, 1 think that if
the federalists, as they are catled, had not undertuken
to justify the British minister, and make the shew of
division in our country, ihat every thing would have '
been arranged to our satisfaction. 1 hope it may be
$0 yet; but, whatever happens, it would never have
done us any harw, especially when the English them.
sclves allow Mr Juckson oll{:rcd the msult, which the
federalists say they cannot discover. As to the
French 1 think their conduct has been as unjustifica
ble as that of the British, 1 have constantly voted
for (e same measures us to both, and will be ready to
make an immediate arrangement with the first that
will dous justice These are my sentiments, which
I have never altemrwd to disguise, let those who
are opposed to me lay their hunds on their breasts and
#ay o 0 if they can.
THOMAS SAMMONS.
* He afterwards revived.
“ We have every reason to apprehend that
by means of the intrigue and deception prac
tised at the last elections, and the influence
of delusive reports propagated from the seat
of Government, the Chicf Magistrate of the
Commonwealth will be supfilanted in his of-
JSice.
“ This most unfortunate event does not,
however, in the least degree “diminish our
confidence in the success of proper exertions
to effect the choice of a federzl Legislature.
The Scnators elect give us a majority of 'one,
and a federal house will be enabled to fill the
existing vacancy, so as to secure a decided
majority in that. branch. The returns of
votes from the federal towns, also demonstrate
thst it is in the power of our friends to pro
duce the same preponderance which they
had last year n the house.
- %We soffer much anxiety from the unset
tled state of our dispute with Great Brituin,
and cannot discern the least prospect of a
sincere accommodation.—-Agzinst such an
accommodation the efforts of France will be
most earnestly directed. The latter power,
as we are informed by the latest arrivals, is
daily adding to the number of her captures,
continues to confiscate our property, and to
trample witl: increasing insolence on the
richts of our citizens, and we believe she
will gever be appeased untl we sucrifice ail
our commerce, contract an alliance with her,
and engage in open hostilities with er ene
my.
!‘ Our only hope of escape from this catas
trophe depends upon the torrectness of the
Legislature of Massachusetts. We need not
advert to the misfortunes which threaten our
Commonwealth as inducements to energy
and exertion.
The following Circular has been sent thro’
the State by the friends of #. J. Jackson.
The lueemen of Massachusetts, knowing
the nource from whence it originates, will give
it its merited reply, by sending the ful num
ber of RevusrLtcaAn Representatives, to
which their respective towns are constitution
ally entitled. They will thus complete the
brilliunt victory they have aiready gained, and
give the finishing blow to Juckeon and his
unprincipled Faciion.
« You bhave witnessed under the former
triumplr of democracy, the spirit of intoler
ance which prescribed all who dissented from
the prevailing creed, and the spirit of it o
vation which assailed your judiciary, and all
your mest valuable institutions and principles.
« By activity and exertion the repetition of
these disasters will be prevented, and not a
FROM (HE BOSTON PATRIOT.
e A New PLOT,
Relative to the ensuing election of Refiresen-
ESSEX JUNTO CIRCULAR.
GENTLEMEN,
tatives.
motnent sheuld Le lust, or omitted,
nivst extensive snd thorough ergenization «.
your several towns, and Ihe edopdon of wi
the mewns requisite 10 Jnduce every TEDERAL
town 10 elect and SEND ITS FULL CCM
PLEMENT OF MEMBERS,
We are with great respect,
H. G. 0T15,*
T. H. PERKINS,¢ |
JCHN PHILLIPS 3
. JOHN WELLES.
_ DAN'L SARGLANT,§
W SULLIVAN,
. D.CHANNING ||
* President of that Senate who voted to support
Jackson against the goverrment of the U Statco
Also one of Ihe signers of that disorganizing leuer,
known by the name of * Otie end Bigelow's Corendar.”
1 Lately from New-York, the residerce of ¥, J.
JACKSON.
Moderate Men.—We hope we shall not Le
deceived with the fullacious plea of medery:s
men. ‘These men (falsely thus stilcd% ure
the most mischievous beings in society. Vhey
taik very plausibly to your face.-=They pre
tend to agree with you on all abstruct sub
jects. They will suy yes; or nous they think
will best suit a majority of the persons ' pres
ent. Afifarently, they arethe most injurious.
The federalists alwuys make the greatest use
of these Aermopinradites o aid and assist then:
in their nefarious purposes. During Gov.
Sullivan’s administration, we had on the Dbos
ton scut some of thus mongrel breed. They
would spesk in the highest terms of Gov.
Sullivan-=They would reprobate party, Lus
whenever a question was brought forward iy
the Legislatuve to imficach Lim, they would
g 0 in the greatest snow storm to give their
YEA for the purpose. This Auproerivical mods
eration is the bun¢ of society, as the féderal
ists get such nien to assist them in their mis
chievous projects. To upply the above ob
servutions, J == W —s, has heen consideied
a muderate man, and yet no man goes furthee
in all measures 10 aid federal elections. His
name is attached to many publications, which
as a mcderate man we should tnink would ‘be
avoided. The fuct isyumore mischief is doue
by nomina! moderate men, than by the bighe
est partizans of the Essex Junto. We Lope
hereafter we shall appreciate characterse—und
when a man recommends himself under tle
Jalse colours of a moderate man, or pretends
to depreciale certain uniform Kefiubligans por
their inflexibiiity, we ought to doubt their sin
cerity ; for depend on it, such will eventually
join the friends of Brituin, in opposition tv
their own country. That is, they will become
so far dupied by Briiish art and intrigue, us 10
surrencer the rights of America (under a
pretence of ozposing Zirance) to the absolue
control of Britain |
It is full ime ‘kncw characters. False
Republicanism is more disastrous than resl
Toryism. The dvuble-minded man is us
nuuch the bane of the political, as the religious
community, These go-betweens will ever
mar the best systema that can be adopted.
They will alwoys become afostares when
their interest comes in competition with their
professions. We¢ had better trust Timothy
Pickering, than same who pretend to be of
no flariy==for such men wre Jacks of bglk
stdes—=gevery man’s humble servants, but ne
body’s friends. _
Mr. Randolfih pursues bis plan of gong
back. The first project which he bas come”
out with, is that of reducing the army, and
navy ; the next, we find, is 1o repeal the non
intercourse law ; and, to ‘comvince us of the
propriety of the latter proposition, h: utiers
a b eggarly lamentation—a crocodile k me
tation—an affected lamentation—about ocur
bona fide merchunts. The truth of the case
As this;: by the provisiops of the non-inter
course law, merchants are compelled, if they
will export produce to Europe, 1o go a circui
tous route. \While Macon’s bill was under
discussion, a mumber, of persons were of o
pinion tirt it“would pass. Indeed, thot was
the prevailing opinion with . very great ma
jovity of politiciuns both in and out of coiis
gress 3 and the merchants, under the impres
sion that Macon’s would pass and a direce
trade be thus opened to them, detained thetr
vessels till it shovld puss. The bull bewyg (or
a long time under considcration, the costs
of detaining the vessels became very consic
erable ; und, as these costs increused,
the urgency of the merchants interested be
came more clamerous. Certuin newspapers
in the seaports, ulways influcnced by edvertis.
ing c/ass of citizens, incessantly scolded con
gress lor not precipitating a decision that
would übiogate the non-intercourse law,
But it wus cusy to perceive that the mass
of the nation had no interest in these yelpings ;
for the mass of the nation enjoyed, (as 1 have
already explained in a former communica.
tion) as great an ouglet for their product as if
there existed no non-intercourse law. The
clamour for the repeal of the pon<intercourse
act, und the outcry which probably will he
raised becausc it has not been repe.led,arese,
therefore from a small number of intergsted
individuals, wnd will continue to proceed from
the same source. Mr. Randolph misduking
the elamcur gor the sentivuni of the u‘q
$ Members of the Scnate, who gave their Yeus
for uccepting the * Feport én Foreigu Nelutions™
§ Representative from Busion, who vo od to ar
cept the same Report. The mun 100, who biougl.,
it the Boston town meeting, the Kesolutions, v,
Ing to the violation of the luws of the lund, :I.d tey.
ding to anhililate all sulvidination to the regular Loy -
erhment of the Country, oS -
Il Alsollcpxystlxwli'teb.flom Boston, and suppore
tersof the abovementioned * Nepors” ,
SIR,
From the Ind fiendent Chienicle.
T the Editor of the Virginia Jrgus.