The Mirror — Concord, N.H., 1798-07-24 00:00:00, page 2

time the Ruffian failort had opportunity
to improve their dilcipline and skill in
naval affairs ; an advantage which at a
future day may be turned to the prejudice
of England. For this power has vast
means, and more vast ambition. She
already has footing on the Black Sea, by
expelling 'he Turks from force rich prov
inces, and intends that her fleets fhalj
give the lawin the Mediterranean, when
the Turks are humbled.
Russia has vast territory yet to fettle,
and in that refpea resembles this coun
try ; but the climate is cold and the foil
barren. Still, however, her people in
crease more rapidly than any in Europe,
- though not near so rapidly as the Ameri,
L cans. Should ihe bring her mighty
forces into the field, notwithftandiog
the distance and the scarcity of money in
Russia, (he would give a great check to
the conquering ambition of France.
POLAND,
Alas, phot Poland 1 is no longer in the
lift of independent nations. Austria,
Prussia and Russia, have agreed to swal
low up her dominions. A lesson to us.
It shews how little dependence states can
place on the friendfhip of ambitious pow
era, and how necessary it is to have
hrength and revenues of their own e
nough to take care of themselves. Such
examples indeed are too common. Swit
zerland is no more ; Geneva is no more.
All the republics of Europe are dead, or
worse, that is, alive in chains. As our
Independence is openly threatened, and
may be soon openly invaded by a milita & *
ry force from France or the Weftindies,
the fate of these nations ihould be our
warning. Early and vigorous prepara
tion, union and energy, would have fay
ed all or most of these fallen states.
AUSTRIA,
baffled by France, and dismembered of
rich provinces, is ffill powerful. Venice
with its territory, was treacherously ced
ed by France, to reconcile Austria to the
loss of those provinces which France had
conquered ffom her. ~ -
But the final event of the strength or
weakness of the house of Austria, seems
to depend on the settlement that shall be
agreed upon with refpea to the states of
Germany. France has her ministers at
the
Congress of Rafladt.
Her scheme is to weaken Germany by
dividing it. The king of Prussia is to
be kept in connexion with the Republic,
with strength and power enough to rival
the Emperor, and embarrass the opera
tions of the German Empire ; and yet
care must be taken to prevent his getting
too much, and thereby becoming the ri
<val of France. This negotiation at Ra
ftadt is to produce great events, if it pro
ceeds, and if it should break off, -there
would probably be a renewal of the war
on the continent of Europe.?
FRANCE,
is manifeftly engaged in the attempt to
remove all obstacles out of the way of her
aggrandizement. She looks with un
ceasing jealousy at Russia, Austria, and
above all, at England. England is in
deed her great foe —and
ENGLAND,
though alone, seems confident in her
ftfength and fvarlefs of inv?fion. Should
England be lupdued, or be intimidated,
and give up the struggle, the power of
France would be quite uncontrolable.
SPAIN \
would be rev lutionizedin a week..
PORTUGAL
would beconquereo w th case.
HAMBURG
and the Hanfc Towns have agreed to pay
tribute; and it England should be com
pelled to yield, they would be called up
on for more tribute, for their lad dollar.
Q ' DENMARK
is temporifi g vd irresolute, which, in
Europe, is the Common fympiem before
death.
CT SWEDEN, ' .
alone, is a cypher in European politics.
Necessity may speedily compel her to u
nite with Russia and Denmark, which
would secure them all agaioft France.
The United States of America,
after long apathy and supineness, are
routing their strength and Spirit in public
bodies; and among the citizens, such
spirit and harmony prevail as have not
been witnessed since 1775 —many think
not even then. The rich men are open-/
ing their purses here as in England. A
noble example, above all praise.
, We must not pursue these observa
tions, as our intended limits for them are
already exceeded. On the whole,^
The survey of universal politics cannot
fail to stamp deep and solemn refleaions
on ever, mind. In a feene so vast, how
little is calm ? Os so many nations, how
few are in peace ? fewer still io security.
Os political things, how ihany are vio
lently thrown out of theirbld places, and
how few are solidly fixed in new ones ?—
What violence, rage and bloodshed—
what thirst for conquest—what dread of
plunder, subjugation and maflacre, agi
tate, affiia and alarm the European na
tions ? Will this dreadful state promote
true liberty t Yet many have fcen or
dreamed that they saw liberty in all this.
They fee it, and its triumph in the march
of the French armies, and in their, tri
umphs. What fatal blindness ! What
unheard of infatuation ! enough to make
us dread that as we also are threatened,
we have loft our wits and cannot unite in
felf defence. But happily pur citizens
are uncommonly animated and united by
the danger, and we cannot but hope the
errors of all the mifinformed, honest men
of all parties, will soon yield to troth,
and to the obvious commands of duty.—
It is suggested, that few are now so stub-,
born as to fide with the French.
How all this agitation of jhe wurid is
; to end, it belongs not to man to foretell.
To adopt the noble sentiment of Prefi
dent Adams, we fay it is the great design
of Providence marching to its end, at a
prodigious foperiority over human means
and human forefight.
One further observation is, however,
too material at the present CTifis of Ame
rican affairs to be omitted.
Thatamidft all the miseries and chang
es of European States, those have fuffer
ed the most terribly from French ven
geance who tamely funk under it ; they
have loft not only their independence
but their trade and their wealth.
On the contrary, every one of the
States that has resolutely defended itfelf,
has escaped in proportion to its energy.
Every reader can apply this to the fa's
which he has learned from the newfpa
pers.
Cowardice, mean submission, Appli
cation and entreaties, have loft every
State that has fallen. Courage has far
ed all that yet remain undevoured. —
Americans, note this well.
CONGRESS.
HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES.
JULY 3.
MR. Harper offered the follow
ing refoiotioos to the consi
deration of the House:
, Rejotad, That it is expedient to aug
ment the Provisional Army of the Unit
ed States to 50,000 men.
ReJolvtd, That it is expedient to ena
ble the President of the U S. to proceed,
whenever he shall judge it conducive to
the public welface, to the appointment
of all the officers of the said ^rmy, and
the organization of its Staff: Such offi
cers not to be on pay till called into ac
tual service.
Reffod, That it is expedient to ena
. ble the President of the U. S. to raifeim
mediately, and bring into adual service,
one division of the laid army, to consist
of not more than twelve thousand five
hundred men.
Rt/ofad, That it is expedient to ena
ble the President ot the U S to raise and
bring into actual service, all or any part
of the remaining divisions of the said ar
'my, io case of invasion of any part of the
territory of the United States, or of im
minent danger of such invasion, in his
opinion conceived to exist. *
!Rtjofo, That it is expedient to fa
ble the President of the United States to
raise immediately, and bring into adual
service, a corps of non commissioned of
ficers for those divisions of the laid army
{Which may not be immediately railed :^
rfhe said corps not to exceed the number
pf twelve hundred, and to do duty as al
Separate corps of the army, until their
services in all or any of the said divisions
shall be required.
R#/&d, That ft is expedient to ena
ble the President of the U. S. to obtain
by purchase, loan or other contra&, for
the use of the United States, any number
of vessels of war not exceeding ten, in
addition to those heretofore authorized
by law, and of such force, not less than
thirty-two guns each,,s he may judge
advantageous for the public service, and
to man and equip the fame.J
Rmtoed, That it is expedient to ena
ble the President of the U,S. to eftablilh
One or more dock yards for t).e use of the
United States, with fuitabie buildings
for marine stores, arsenals and maga
zines.
Ordered to lie on the table till to mor
row.
7
MIL Livingston igaio laid the
resolution upon the table, which
he offered and withdrew yefterdqy,
propefing an address to the Presi
dent, requeuing him to inftrud
Mr. Gerry to negotiate a treaty
: # #th the French Minister. He
said he should not himfelt calit
up at present. ; but if any other
gentleman cbofe todo so, he should
not objed to it.
The Speaker said that the gen
tleman most know that when a
proportion is offered to the House,
it is offered for decision.
The question being loudly call
ed for,
Mr. Kittera wished to propose
an amendment to this refolotioo,
in the following words, viz. " and
' is case the said Envoy fall have
been ordered out of the French Re
public, or taken into custody, then
with fab other person or perjons an
the Bench Directory may /cleft."
, Mr. Thatcher seconded the mo
tion.
After a' warm and lengthy de
bate on this amendment, which
was negatived, the yeas and nays
were taken upon Mr. Livingston's
proposition, and were, Yeas go-
Nays 51.
July 5.
BUSINESS DONE.
A refolotioo passed to increase
the four regiments of Infantry of
the prefeot establishment, to ten
companies of 60 men each.
Another Resolution passed, au
thorifing the President to raise 12
additional regiments of Infantry,
and fix troops of Light- Dragoons,
to be enlisted for and during the
continuance of the existing differ
ences between the United States
and the French Republic. \,be/e
reflations were proposed by Mr. S.
Smith.] „ -
A third resolution passed, pro.
posed by Mr. Alien, that the
monthly pay of the non-commis
sioned officers and privates of the
army of the United States should
be augmented.
The Sedition Bill, as it came
from the Hon. Senate, was taken
up. This Bill provides,
" That if any persons shall unlawfully
combine or conspire together, with in
tent to oppole any measure of the gov
ernment of the United States, or to im
pede the operation of any law, or to in
timidate or prevent any person holding
an office under the government, from ex
ercising his trust ; and if apy person
shall by writing, printing or fpeakiog,
threaten such officer with an, damage
to his charader, person or estate, or shall
counsel, advise, or attempt to procure
any infuvreaion, riot, &c. whether such
attempt shall have the desired effe&, or
not, he shall be deemed guilty of a high
misdemeanor, and punished by a fine, bn
conviction, not exceeding 5000 dollars,
and by imprisonment not less than fix
months, nor exceeding five years. And
if any person shall by any libellous or
fcandaloos writing, printing, publishing
or speaking, traduce or defame the legif
raarore of the United States, by seditious
inflammatory declarations of expref-
I fions, with intent to create a belief in
the citizens thereof, that the said legisla
ture in enacting any law, was induced
thereto by motives hostile to the confuta
tion or liberties and happiness of the peo
ple thereof ; or shall, in manner afore
faid, traduce or defame the President of
the United States, or any court or judge
thereof,by declaration tending to crim,
inate their motives in any official transac
tion, the person so offending, being con
viaed, shall be punished by a fine not ex
ceeding zeop dollars, and by imprison
ment not exceeding two years."
Mr, Liviogftoo moved, That
this Bill be rejected / —Debate en
foed—warns and decided. The
motion to reje& wu negatived—
4, to 36. Committed for to
morrow.
L '
JULY 6.7
Mr. Allen's Resolution, [infett
ed left week,] proposing a declara
tion against France, was negatived,
in order to take up the following
Bill from the Senate, to the fame
objed :—
A BILL
To declare the Treaties hitherto con
cluded with France no longer ob
ligatory on the United States.
Whereas the treaties concluded
between the United States and
France, have been repeatedly vio
lated, on the part of the French
government, and the just claims
of the United States; for repara
tion of the injuries to committed,
have been refuted, and their at*
tempts to negotiate an amicable
sejuftment of all complaints be
tween the two nations, have been
repelled with indignity ! «—-ahd
whereat under authority of the
French government, there is vet
pursued, igainft the United States,
a system of predatory violence in
fraaiog the said treaty and hostile
to the rights of a free arid inde
pendent nation.
Sec. i. Be it mHed,&a That
the United States, are of right
freed and exhonerated from the
flipulations of the treaties, and of
the coofolar convention heretofore
concluded between the U. States
and France, and that the fame
shall not henceforth be regarded
as legally obligatory on the gov.
eroment or citizens of the United
States..
This Bill was read a third time,
and the question, fall this bill pass,
was determined in the affirmative.
Yea>47. Na„37.
<fJULY 7.
BUSINESS DONE.
The Naval Appropriation bill
passed. : ^
A bill refpeaing the expendi
ture of the balances of debtor
states, on fortification, read twice
and committed.
Several enrolled bills were figg*
The Army Augmentation bill
was difeoffed and amended, and
ordered to be engroffitd.
The President Informed the
House, by mefftge, that he had
figoed the Alien afl, the Aft for
providing arms for the militia,tend
"as AH to declare the Treaties
heretofore concluded with France no
longer obligator, on the United
States."
JULY 9.
The bill to augment the army *
of the United States, passed.—
Teas 69, Nays 11.
JULY 10.
The Sedition and libel bill, af
ter having been discussed, passed.
Yeas 44. Nays 41.
JULYIt.
A bill suthorifing the President
of the United States to borrow
five millions of dollars for the pub
lic service, was read and passed, as
amended.
The Direct Tax bill, was also
read a third time, amended, and
paffed.7
A Bill for encouraging, by a
bounty, the capture of French
armed vessels, by the private arm
ed vessels cf the United States,
was read twice, and committed.
The question, that Congress
meet again on the firft Monday!
of Oaober, instead of December,
was negatived.,