United States oracle and Portsmouth advertiser — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-04-02 00:00:00, page 1

£E^* Tr-re- - - - -— _ n^ , -, „_nfr t
CIRCULAR LETTER,
FROM THE
Hon. JOHN STANLY,
To his Constituents.
[Concluded.]
BY this bill the titles of persons ac
tually fettled within the territory
under Spanish and British grants, and
under the Georgia Bourbon ad are con
firmed. A right of pre-emption is al
so given to persons who, at the time of
passing the atl, shall be actually fettled
on lands of the United States without
title.
The claims other than those expressly
provided for in the articles of agree
ment, and for the fatisfaftion of which
the right to dispose of 5,000,000 acres
of land were reserved, being very con
siderable in their amount; and extraor
dinary in their nature, a brief account
of them may not be unacceptable. 1
Mr. S. here adverts to the claim of
the South-Carolina Yazoo company,
under an a# of the State of Georgia, of
Dec. 'B9. This claim it will be recol
lected, was attempted to ba supported
before the Supreme Court ofthe U. S,
in a suit against the State of Georgia,
but which was terminated by an amend
ment of the Confutation, relative to the
fuability of States. The tontroverfy
was afterwards referred to the Secreta
ry oft e Treasury, Secretary of State,
and Attorney ^General, as commission
ers on Georgia claims, who reported
that " there - was no equitable claim, ei
ther for the land, or for compensation
, from the United States." The other
class of complainants consists of those
companies which engaged in the cele
brated Georgia {peculation under the
a# of the legislature of that State, of
1795, but whose bright profpeas were
cut off by " the refeinding ad " of the
legislature in the subsequent year,
and who received back the purchase
money. These complaints now apply
to Congress for 8,500,000 dolls, for
which they propose to relinquish all
their claim. .
We are obliged to omit Mr. S's State
ment of these claims—The above we
hope will fuffice — Ed. Gaz.]
Upon these claims the Commissioners
report, " that they feel no hesitation in
declaring that the title of these clai
mants cannot bo supported." But they
add, " that the interest of the United
States—the tranquility of the settlers,
and various equitable considerations
render it expedient to enter into a com
promise on reasonable terms. They
therefore submit a plan of indemnity to
the claimants, viz.
That the residue of the 5,000,000 a
cres reserved for this purpose after fa
tisfying the cHirns of settlers and others
as recognized by the article of agrees
ment with Georgia, Shall b^ granted
the claimants under the ad of Georgia
of 1 795''° be located on lands to which
the Indian title is not yet extinguished
or that the said claimants Shall receive
certificates, bearing interest after the
ift January, 1804, for 2,500,000. dol
lars, or at their option, certificates for
5,000,000 without interest to be paid
out of the files of the land after the
payment Stipulated to be made to Geor
gia. -
Although it cannot he ascertained that
the purchasers from the original com
panies had notice of the fraud in which
the tranfadion was founded, yet there
is Strong reason to presume they were
apprized that the title was qneftionabley
because in the conveyance to them a
special warrantee only is found against
the a&s of the grantors, and a special
covenant “ that the grantors Ihall not
be liable to refund any money in con
sequence ofany defed of title from the
ft^e of Georgia.
A bill is before the House of Repre
sentatives predicated on this project of
the commissioners. Its fate I confider
doubtful —my own impressions are,that
the claimants under the ad of 1795,
have no equitable claim on the United
States. This being also the opinion of
the commissioners, I conceive it impro
per for the United States to fadion a
fraud so vile. The claim under the aft
of 1789 has much equity, because by
the fame kind of testimony which
proves the fraud in the ad of 1795,
there is strong reason to believe the in
tentfon of the ad of 1789 was to re
ceivG the evidences of the debt of the
Wteti^tate^ ®ntle, ana
Portsmouth Advertiser. .
PORTSMOUTH, N. H. Printed and Published every Saturday Morning, by Will'm & Dan'l. Treadwell. /
Ac/. XIII.] SAIURDAY, April 2, iBO3. Price one dollar and fifty cents per ann. [No. 25
Os all the dispositions and habits which lead to POLITICAL)f ^ADVERTISEMENTS reasonably and conspicuously inserted— Commw
prosperity, RELIGION MORALITY are indispensable > ) nicatzons duly attended to —ard every Favor thankfully ACKNOWL«
supports. W/ISHINGTuN's Legacy. )_ t edged. 7
State in payment of the purchase mo
ney : Nor can I believe that " the in
terest of the United States, the tranqui
lity of the future inhabitants or equita-
Ible considerations," Should induce a dif
tindion in favour of the claimants un
der rhe fraudulent aft of 1795, in pre
ference to the honest but perhaps mis
taken purchasers of 1789. lam the
more fatisfied in the decision to vote a-
Igainft this grant, because it is question
lable whether Georgia ever had a right
to grant this land, and if the claimants
( have a good title they car. support it in
the courts of the United States.
Early in the present fellion, a resolu
tion was submitted to abolish the mint :
this has not been a&ed upon, but the
disposition of the House I judge to be
in favour of preserving the establish
ment, an appropriation having been
made in the general appropriation bill
as paffedby the house, for; the support
of the mint, inthe year 1^034 and a
bill being before the house for continu
ing the eftablifhmeht at Philadelphia
two years longer. •
From the report of the diredor of
the mint it appears that there was coin
ed at the mint in the year 1802.
In Gold coins, dolls. 423,350
Silver, 5^343
Copper, 34,422 83
Total amtut of coins issued in
1802, dolls. 516,115 83
That on the coinage of the above
quantity of copper, a profit has arisen
of dolls. 5,644 32, the expenditures of
the year was dolls. 17,462, 65, deduc
ting from which the gain on copper,
theexpenfe is reduced to dlls. 11,828 32.
When this Aim is contrasted with the
advantages of adding dolls 500,000,10
the circulating calh of the country coin
ed principally from bullion which would
otherwise be exported ; when it ap
pears that the result of the' institution
is a national profit, —the saving the
reduced sum of expenditure, cannot
render necessary the destruction of, this
institution.
There are yet some days of the ses
sion to elapse ; Should any thing import
I taut occur in that time, it Shall be com
municated in a subsequent letter.
I have the honor to be,
With much refpeCt,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN STANLEY.
MORE ABOUT ALIENS.
—o—
— The Legislature of 'Pennfylvania, have,
at their present session, passed a law to permit
aliens to exercise the rights of citizenship after
two years, reticence in that State ; the majo
rity of the assembly infilling that each State
possesses the power of enacting naturalization
laws. It will appear by the following docu
ment that Gov. M'Kean difapprovez of the
aft. —o : —
To the Senate and House of Representatives
of the Commonmealtb of Pennsylvania.
Gentlemen,
I HAVE read and considered the bill,
erititled, “ An ad to alter and a
mend the aft, entitled " An ad to re^
gulate the general elections within this
commonwealth ; and, after serious de
liberation, do not approve it. The sec
retary will return it to the House of
Representatives, in which it originated,
with my obje&ions;which are as follow:
t. Because the education, laws,govern
ments and manners of the inhabitants of
most of the European and other foreign
countries, from whence emigrations are
made to the United States, are so dif
ferent from otirs, that it requires a con
siderable time to wean them from their
prejudices ahd habits, as well as from
the natural regard for their native foil ;
and to attach them to the constitution,
laws and manners of their adopted coun
try : what time may be deemed fuffi
cient 'for these purposes, depends upon
opinion, founded on hiftofy, observation
and experience.—The British Parlia
ments, anterior to the American revo
lution, were of opinion, that seven years
residence, even in the colonies, was ne
cefl'ary to qualify an Alien for afubje&;
and he was always under certain disa
bilities, such as fitting in Parliament or
in the Privy Council, and holding of
fices and grants of land from the crown,
&c. within the kingdoms of Great Bri
tain and Ireland. Os the three last
Congresses, who have aded on this fub
jed, two have been of opinion, that five
years residence in the United States Was
necessary for the purpose of naturaliza
tion, the other exaded fourteen. As
Congress have had th^ matter under
consideration during U ir late session,
and have not thought . cdvifeable to
Shorten the period off/ r xdon itappears
to me,that a refpech : " rcrep.ee is due
to the wisdom & p<: such enlight
ened assemblies, ~<th.l, r ^sought
net to be departed from; without very
firiking and cogent reason;.
2. Although, on constitutional prin
ciples, I entertain no doubt, that the
individual States may admit aliens,
with or without residence, to purchase
lands therein, and, after such residence
as they may think proper,to cleft or be
elected into township or county offices,
and to be capable of appointments to
office in the executive or judicial depart
ments of government ; yet I mull hef
itatein faying,they can make them com
plete citizens ; and enable them to cleft
members of Congress, electors of Presi
dent and Vice President of the United
States, or even members of the Rate
Legiilatcre, as they appoint the Sena
tors in Congress ; or that they can ex
empt them from alien duties, or grant
them any immunity in trade to foreign
countries, without conforming to the
uniform rule prescribed by Congress in
their ads of naturalization.
3. Because it is inexpedient to grant
this privilege to aliens at prefent,when
it has not been aped, and when it may
tend to invite other states to grant
them the like priviliges on even a Sor
ter term of probation ; and thereby
create uneasiness, if not danger, to the
Union. THOMAS M'KEAN.
Lancafer, March 16, 1803.
Q 3?" °. .-^ct« 4^q^.\k^ ^ratt^%ra^^
The following proportions were introduced
in the ' latefeffion of the Massachusetts I.e
gifsfaraway of motion, by the bon. Henry
Knox, Ejq. and committed to a joint
committee of both Houjes. As it was
late in thefeffion %s ?,~1 was maJm,
they will therefore remain on the files till
the next Court :
‘IV HEREAS " is tbe duty ° f
VV an enlightened government,
to hold out and facilitate the means of
communication of the different parts
of the commonwealth, to open and sti
mulate the resources established by na
ture—lt is therefore refpedfully fug
gelled,that a committee be raised, to be
joined with a committee of the Hono
rable Senate, for the purpose of consi
dering the propriety and expedency of
the following objeds:
Fifft —What encouragement will
this Legislature hold out to any afloci
ation of refpe&able individuals, who
Shall effeft a practicable navigation for
sea vessels, from the sea on the fouth to
the sea on the north fide of Cape Cod.
Second— What encouragement will
this Legislature afford to any adequate
association of men, for the purpose of
effecting an Inland Canal Navigation,
from the head ofTaunton river (so call
ed) to the head waters of the North ri
ver (so called) so as to render the fame
practicable for vessels drawing not more
than feet of water.
Third —What encouragement will
this Legislature afford,to any adequate
association of individtrals, who will un
dertake to effect a Canal between Mil
ler's river,which empties itfelf into Con
necticut river, and the river Nashua, so
far as the said Nafhaa shall be within
this State,fo ah to conned the fame with
the Middlefen Canalr and to i'ender the
said Nashua and Miller's river naviga
ble for boats.
Fourth —What encouragement will
this Legislature afford to an association
for cutting a navigable canal from the
town of Worcester, to the navigable wa
ter of Charles' or Neponfet river, so as
to open a communication with the town
of Boflon.
Fisth —Will this Legislature offer a
premium of dollars, to any person
who shall difeover and extract from the
earth, one ton weight of good pit coal,
within this Comi^^'J^L^
'kf^^fy—Theßaltimore Anti-Dem
ocrat thus confirms the report we gave
last week refpeding the Kentucky Me
morial;',
" It was reported here last Friday that infor
mation had been received from Kentucky, of
their determination to seize New-Orleans, be
the general government willing or not ; and it
was also said that a great proportion of the in
habitants wore labels on their hats expressive of,
their indignation at 'he pufilanimity of Ctygrefs.
“ This is certain that a very spirited memorial
Was feat to Mr. Davis, and received by him sev
eral days before Congress rose ; but for some
cause, not yet explained,it was never presented."
(N. r. £, m . Pofl.)
^^^v^—^-——-- —— —— I.
Louisiana.
WASHINGTON, MARCH 16.
Letter from Mr. Pichon, Charge des af
faires of the French Republic, to the
Governor of his Catholic Majefly in
Louifana —
(Communicated to the Secretary of State)
George-town, near Wafoington City,
March 11.
Sir,
The Marquis d'Yrujo has communi
cated to me the contents of the dispatch
es, which he has just received from your
Excellency, and from the Intendant of
his Catholic Majesty in the province
under your command, in answer to
those which he wrote to you in relation
to the late suspension of the right of
deposit conceded to the United States
at New-Orleans.
The Marquis d'Yrujo finds himfelf
necessitated again to remonstrate to your
Excellency on that fubjeft. I avail
myfelf of the opportunity, to beg
of you Sir, in the name of the French
government, whose interests are impli
• cated in this &ife, maturely to confider
the alarming consequences which may
result, if the Intendant should persist in
his meafures.' The intelligence which
has been transmitted to tie Marquis
d'Yrujo has, at lad made it appear in
dubitable that the measure alluded to
was executively grounded on the per
sonal opinions of this officer ; and flip
ported by no order from his Catholic
Majelty, or any intimation from the
French government. This information,
while it screens from suspicion the dis
positions bf both governments, and lays
entirely on the Intendant the consequen
ces of the present state of things, does
not however remove the appi ehenfions
which durc&te ifocaleyiated to excite.
These advices, Sir, give an additional
force to the remonstrances, which, for
my part, and in the anticipated convic
tion which I entertained that these mea
sures had a catife merely local, I had
no hesitation, lately, to addreis to the
authorities, hourly expend, of the
French Republic at Ne™.Orleans, un
der cover to the Intendant. Go preffiug
are the circumstances, that I deem it
my duty to renew these remonFrances,
and to intreat your Excellency to exert
your superior authority, to prevent the
: consequences which the prolongation
I of the present order of things may pro
duce.
If will not efezpe your notice, Sir,
that France now being notoriously the
proprietor of Louisiana,and the author
ities of his Catholic Majesty exeicifing
io this colony, at prelent, only an in
termediary power, any measure having
a tendency to commit France, on whom
the odium and the consequences of what
has been done, visibly fall, ought, were
its jtiftice and its lawfulness doubtful
only, to befufpended; otherwise France
may find herfelf committed, and her re
lations with the United States materi
ally changed without her consent.
I enter into no farther details with
your Excellency, being fatisfied that
they would be fuperfiuous ; your Ex
cellency will be aware that the present
is a mod critical moment. In the col
lision of two authorities, one of which
undertakes to initiate a cohftru&ion of
treaties, which may lead to war, ic for
tunately happens, that the paramount
authority, which is eminently entrusted
with the preservation and Safety of the
colony, is of an opinion calculated to
maintain peace. In such an alterna
tive, Sir, your Excellency ought to hesi
tate no longer in using your powers to
preserve this peace ; If itibould be dif
turb^d, the reSponfibility of the event
mud inevitably lie on your Excellency.
His Catholic Majesty, who is in some
measure guarantee to France for Lpu
ifia»a, until France shall have occupied
it, would have to blame you for not
having taken the measures. necessary to
fulfil that guarantee towards his ally.
The contents cf this letter, Sir will,
; lam confident, be fully jufifed to your
Excellency by the exiting circumstanc
es, which the Maiquis d'Yrujo, in be
half of his court, will doubtless make
I knowntoyou more particuia ly. Itonly
I remains, for me, therefore,to pray your
;Excellency to accept the assurance of
Imy refped and high consideration.
I(Signed) L. A.PICHON.
Iffis Excellency tie Governor ")
of bis Catholic Majefy in tie >
\ province of Louifana.)
REMARKS.
So—the business has at length come
before the public. Mr. Pichon, the
French minister, has at last condefeend
ed to inform us, that France is "noto
riously the proprietor of Louisiana,"
and that New-Orleans is included ;—
doubtless with both the Floridas.
While Congress was Sitting, this was a
piece of information not to be obtained ;
the Executive did noi choose to make
any communications then onthefubjed;
no vote that the federalifts. could pro
pole lor this purpose, was fullered to
pals ; every thing was negatived by a
well disciplined majoi ity,and even their
reasons and remonstrances against this
procedure of the majority, were refufed
to be heard—the moment they rose to
speak on a fubjed of all others the mod
interesting to our very existence as a
nation, their adversaries Rifled their
voices from being heard by the public,
byfhutting the doors. A mysterious and
, gloomy fecrefy reigned fur days togeth
er, nor could any thing be known, but
that a triumphant majority tyrannical
ly carried all their measures, laughing
their opponents to scorn.
Was a motion made on the floor afc'
, ing only for the fight of a document ?
a postponement was sure to follow, that
the majority might firft have a conful
<ration among themselves as to the pol
icy cf granting it. Was a word inti
mated refpeding any measures of the
Executive ? the doors were closed.—
Was even an allusion made to the mo
ney which they were voting to take
, from the people,to the tune of more than
2,000,000? the gentleman wascalledto
order, and reprimanded. We only won
der they had not voted to postpone the
Printing of the laws for the present —and
while they were fairly mounted on their
high horte, they might just as well have
gone through with it.
But to return to the French minis
ter's letter. It has placed the affair
just where we have always said it would
at lall be placed. Monheur Pichon for
. France, and rhe Marquis de Yrujo for
Spain, have very cleverly managed so
as to fhift all the blame from their re
fpedive Governments, on to the shoul
ders of the Intendant of the province.
France difayows his condud; Spain has
nothing to do with it. But we think
this would have come from them both
with a better grace five months ago.—,
We have then left us but to ask Ms. In
tendant if he will have the goodness to
indemnify us for the losses we have sus
tained ; to which he will answer, that
he aded from the best cf his judgment,
and is not answerable for a mistaken
opinion. As to the obtaining the place,
and thereby securing ourfeives against
the repetition of similar injury and out
rage, the-ppportuuity has now gone by,
and we have nothing farther to do than
to wait quietly till the French have ac
quired fufficient (Irength to adopt what
course they pleafe,and.fet us at defiance.
In the mean time, patriot Munroe is
i gone with two millions of money in his
I hand, to buy some partial privilege,with
I which money the Emperor of the Gauls
' will build a fort at New-Orleans.
And here we beg leave to turn to
I our Chief Magistrate ; the man who
has so kindly undertaken to manage
the concerns of this " rising nation,
spread over a wide and fruitful land,"
and to lead them to " destinies beyond
;the reach of mortal eye," and who de
-Iclared, " he felt a sincere confeioufnefs
I that the talk was above his talents, and
I that he approached it with those awful
land anxious presentiments which the
I greatness of the charge, and the weak
|nefs of his powers so justly inspire" —
f pray fir, do you sleep as composedly,
I eat and drink as heartily, and enjoy
j yourfejf with as much tranquillity as
I you used to do, now that you are affur-'
I ed that the Floridas are to be annexed
:to the poffeffians of France ?Do you
; know that it is not in the power of two
nations to treat with each other refpee
ing any dillri# of country lying contig
uous to th^ territory of a third nation,
and to convey it from one to the other
without firft consulting this third na
tion ? And if they do, that it is just
cause of war ? Do you not know, that
unless this principle had been fully a
dopted and pra^ifed upon among na
tions, that the balance of power in Eu
rope would long lincehaye been destroy
ed, and the whole, probably, before
'this time, fallen a facritice to some pow-