The constitutionalist — Exeter, N.H., 1810-07-16 00:00:00, page 2

With regard to our foreign relations,
.sir,(though the interests and welfare of
the country are not so closely con.
cerned in them, as in our affairs at
home) there is hardly any man in the
country of unprejudiced mind, and
strong can:mon sense, who does not
perfectly well know, that our negoti
ations for the last four years with
Great Britain and France, have been
marked with the utmost indecision and
impolicy on our part ; witn a most
rash and ill-tempered zeal for the cause
of France in the one instance, and
with a coolness and indifference in
the other; which has been in.the
]ast degree injurious to our best inte
rests at home, as well as derogatory to
our dignity abroad. It is perfectly
unaccountable), that you, who are an
I experienced and profound politician
should suffer your prejudices against the
English nation, so far to get the better
of you. 1 am Afraid it is altogether
a constitutional weakness and timidity
(brought on when you left the path of
duty and integrity to run the race of
popularity) and not by any means, a
deficiency of political talents, which
has made you act with so little ener
gy and wisdom'.
The course of policy which you and
IMr. Jefferson have pursued towards
France, has been exceedingly injurious
to this country ; in the first place, by
Iforcing us to submit to the violent and
oppressive decrees of that government
by which otit commerce has been half
annihilated, and the enterprise and
prosperity of our citizens been damped
—and, in the second place, by afford-
L i#g encouragement to the sect of jac
obins among us,to persevere in all their
, views and projects to destroy the
Igovernment. He who can suffer such
calamities as these to fall upon his coun
try, would hardly seem to deserve
, the name of a great andablestates man.
Energy, sir, (the want of which has
been the source of all the follies and
weakness of your adroinistratibn) is as
absolutely necessary as speculative
talents, to those who are concerned in
directing the publick affairs of mcp.
The front gallery, at the East end
of the building, exhibited an interesting
display of elegance and taste. In the
centre, a ship, full rigged, and well
armed bore the American Naval En
signs. On her right, the emblems of
the Arts and Sciences were displayed
—the Globe, the Press, the Compass,
the Palette, the Viol, and various other
SoMers, Wadsworth, arid Preble
^-Manly, Little, Barry, Mvck-
Eord. On the left—a Civil and Mili
tary column, of height with the other
bearing the names of Ames, Sumner,
Bowdoin, Trumbull, Wayne,Mer
ger, Montgomery, Putnam, SulLi
van,Morgan,Gates, Ward, Woos
ter. —The fine full length portraits of
the immortal Washington, by Stew
art, land of the venerable Fanuiel, by
Sargent, occupied the spaces between
this columner group, and the galleries
on each side of the Hall.
of Society,were arranged so as to form a
beautiful trophy. On the left, at the
stern of the ship, a trophy of Agri
culture, and the Naval Arts, was ex
hibited—Here we observed the plough,
the sickle, the harrow, the rake, the
spade, the scythe and many other im
plements of husbandry. The pillars
of the Hall were cncircled uith ever
greens, and the spaces between them
connected by festoons of spruce and
pine, with which were interwoven the
? the pendants and flags of our Confed
eracy. At the pedestal of ever pillar,
a military trophy was formed with
musquets and other instruments of war.
Military standards and flags of various
descriptions Were distributed around
the room, and the banners of our me
chanical brethren were arranged in such
a manner, as to add both to the beauty
and interest of the scene. From the
centre of the roof, a pyramid formed
of evergreens.was suspended—around
its circular base, the names of the States
composing the Union, were written in
letters of gold.—ln the front of the
ship was placed a tablet, bearing this
inscription :—
Restrain'd by Legislative ties.
Discourag'd COMMERCE droops ayd dies ;
Uncag'd andfrom Embargo free,'
Elies -with glad icings from sea to sea.
In front of those which bore the em
blems of the Mechanic and Polite Arts,
was the following :—
inhere Independence cheers the incentive mind,
Science and Arts their high perfection find;
Mechanic Power her giant hand applies,
Fleets ride the ocean—mighty cities rise.
And those of Agriculture, the fol
lowing : —
£m, of New-England venerate the Plough
So -with superior boon shall your rich soil,
Become the exhaustless granary of a -world.
articles illustrative of the refinement
From the Federal Republican.
REFLECTIONS
On the present State of our Country,
ADDRESSED TO HIS EXCELLENCY
JAMES MADISON.
« No. V.
It is one of the foundations of human
greatness too. The energy and deci
sion of the emperour Napoleon, co
operating with the gigantick diplomat
ick talents of Talleyrand, have com
passed wonders within thelast ten years.
Without a large share of firmness & en
ergy,on the part of the Executive magis
trate, the dignity of the government a
broad,& its interests at home, cannot be
preseved as they ought. Prussia, sir, was
ruined by the want of energy in Fred
erick and his minister. The military
spirit Which Frederick the Great had in
spired, was still living in Prussia in the
year 1803 ; and would if well manag
ed, have been made a most formidable
barrier against the progress of French
arms. The French politicks and phi
losophy had not corrupted the people
there, half as much as in most of the
other countries on the continent of
Europe ; so that Prussia might, to this
day, have maintained her vast prepon
derating influence among the European
States. Now, she has gone along with
Italy and Holland and Swizerland, to
swell the aggrandizement of France.
I have a much higher opinion, sir,
(in every point of view) of the Amer,
ican people, than of the Prussian no
tion at any time of its existence; but
the fate of Prussia may be considered
as furnishing us with a very excellent
train of analogical reasoning on the
present subject. The want of energy
in our councils, together with the
extraordinary prevalence of the French
politics among us, will effectually
prepare the country to be subjugat
ed by E|Q£e. We have physical
and mor^Tnergies enough, to ena
ble us to oppose the exorbitant pow
er and ambition of France, under her
present circumstances at any rate, cir
cumscribed as she is within the conti
nent of Europe. We might make a
bold stand against the invasions of our
enemies—France, sir, has injured us
exceedingly—she has trampled on all
our neutral rights ; she has framed a
new code of national law, which is to
justify her aggrandisement, by the de
gradation or destruction of all other
nations ; and what can be said in jus
tification of her cruel and oppressive
measures ? She is not fighting for her
existence or her liberty; no, she is
fighting for dominion ; especially to
subjugate Great Britain, and to hum
ble in the dust the glories of that great
nation. But the wisdom and energy
of the British cabinet ; and the valour
of the British armies, will J suppose,
be engines too powerful for the Empe
rour Napoleon to cope with.
h The prejudices which you haveimbi
bed in favour of the cause of France,
will do your country an immense deal
of injury. It is difficult to see what
there is in the genius and temper of the
French nation, or in the nature of their
government, which is worthy ofimita
tion. The man who can bf so weak
as to pronounce, as you did on the
floor of congress, that France had
improved on all known form^ of gov
ernment, must be considered a very
dangerous enemy to the liberties of
this country. Your violent prejudi
ces have persuaded you to bear up un
der all the cruel and violent measures
of that government : when it was your
duty and the duty of Mr. Jefferson
long ago, to have openly opposed all
its usurpations. France, sir, will do
us infinitely more injury by a ten years
peace, than she could possibly, under
her present circumstances, by a fifty
years war. I consider it, as one of
the most fortunate events for the liber
ties of G. Britain, that ever took place,
that the war between her and the regi
cide, France, broke out so soon after
the French revolution. Had the
French politics continued to this time
to delude and corrupt the people there
(which would have been the case to a
vastly greater extent were it not for'
the war) it is difficult to say whether
the English government would now be
in existence, and whether the British
would now be a free people. Democ
racy would not have been afraid to
show its head at this day in England.
It would long ago have been armed
witn power to destroy the government,
and to drag the family of Brunswick
to the scaffold.'
Great Britain, sir, is an enlightened
and free nation, and therefore, deserves
better of the civilized world than
France: and she is the only barrier
between us and the emperour Napole
on. Do not, therefore let feeling and
party spirit drive us to extremities, and
make us give a death blow to the lib
erties of our country. Unfortunately
we are often led away by our passions
and prejudices on political subjects.
We are hardly ever satisfied with rea
soning coply and calmly, to discover
what would be best for our country.
I hppe the train of investigation, which
I have been pnrsuing, is not tinctured
with any illiberality. I have endeav
oured to be as calm as I could ; and
to build all my arguments in my own
observation.
The prince of Benevento, in his
Memoir concerning the commercial
relations between England Aid the
United States, tells us, that “ whoev
er has well observed America, cannot
doubt, that she still remains altogether
English in the greater parts of her hab
its. Inclination and interests inces
santly attract the Americans towards
the English." These observations
would do very well for the times when
Talleyrand travelled through this coun
try. At present, although our manners
are English, the jacobin principles of
France predominate. In short, a
gradual revolution seems to be taking
place, by which theminds of men will
be prepared for somewhat such a state
of things as that in France ten years
ago. I do not suppose,sir,that exactly
such a state of things can take place
within the compass of a few years.
It would require a miracle to destroy
as soon as that the small portion of
good principles and/habits which are to
be found among us. But the influ
ence of jacobin principles is to the last
degree, dangerous and fatal to the lib
erty of our country.
(To be Continued.)
yield to the requisition of any foreign
er! Her sons will repel force by force,
and dispute inch by inch rather than
bow to the yoke of tyranny ! Who
ever therefore shall be the invaders shall
bite the dust at our feet. But I fear
uo outward force against us. The in
terposition of the English navy—and
therefore, the impractibility of open
conquest quiet ail our fears on that
head.
There are among us, who lay claim
to the name of Americans, who profit
by the protection of the American
government, and bask in the sunshine
of American liberality, like ungrateful
vipers, seek every opportunity to e
vince their natural temper.
der our seamen, insult and degrade
our minister, threaten and command
our government, he can have no hon
orable design in sending us a minister !
Nay, it is an insult to American hos
pitality, and deserves our severe and
just reprobation.
Give to Napoleon the naval superi
ty of England—then seek for indepen
dent America, not upon the map of
nature, but among the musty records
of geographies. Alas ! America would
then be annexed to the imperial terri
tories of France ! or, like Spain, con
trolled by one of the imperial family.
0 ! my country, art thou prepared
for the event ? No—America will not
REFLECTIONS ON THE TIMES.
An Extract from the Tickler.
I ask those whom we may suppose
in the secrets of government—nay, ask
the government itself, what is the de
sign of the great Napoleon, in relation
to America? Has he not yet matured
in his great and comprehensive mind
the high destiny with which America
shall be honored among the great na
tions ?
. If these unprincipled demagogues
were confined to the station of com
mon citizens, and prevented from par
ticipation in the government, we might
still hope to escape their cruelty. But
we have them—(o ! shame to native
Americans! shame to republican rep
resentation !) We have them in our
councils and assemblies, mingling
their clamours with the voice of my
country!
The petty tyrants of slaves tyran
nize over freemen, and direct their
footsteps by rule and measure. The
profligacy of a G rules the forum
and the senate! The declamatory ig
norance of a — contracts the
energy of the house. To combat their
tyrannical assumptions ; to repel their
sophistry is insult. 0 liberty! once
the pride and boast of my happy coun
try—but now the scourge of tyrants !
How long wilt thou subserve the exi
gencies of the wick'ed, and confound
the eloquence of virtue.
Doth my country plead in vain ?
In vain solicit to be heard in her own
defence ?—And who opposes her de
mand? Look at the congressional
journal ; look at them, my country
men, and tell me who they are.
If, therefore, America would be
free ; if she covets the restoration of
her former splendor, her lost wealth,
her respectability, her political health
and strength, if these are desirable and
• I^,
Why is a new imperial minister se
lected to represent his government?
and at a time too, which seems to
promise nothing favourable! He is
sent, perhaps, to dazzle the eyes of
plain republicans with the display of
Parisian magnificence! To excite awe
and veneration for the imperial virtues
of his master, and prepare the minds
of Americans for some new scheme,
matured between * * * *** J,
perhaps, am too credulous, too easily
influenced by sanguine expectations ;
but I had rather fear too much than
too little! We know not that any
good purpose is to arise out of our af
fairs with France, and we ought to be
upon our guard. He, who could
take bur property, imprison and mur-
dear to her, restrain the lawless impo
sitions of foreign influence, by foreign
agents and placemen—Destroy their
popularity, and with it their property,
by cutting off the sources of corrup
tion, curtail and weaken their energy,
and their pretended patriotism, by di
vesting them of office. Assume a new
position of internal relations; restore
the wise, the discreet and virtuous lov
ers of their country, native Ameri
cans ! to the conduct of the govern
ment. Destroy and annul the parsi
monious, vulgarly called ' Economical
laws' of Finance equip and man
your navy —publish to the world your
determination to maintain your neu
trality and defend your rights—en
courage the extension of your com
merce, and give new energy to your
agricultural pursuits. Let the genius,
the native genius of America vibrate
freely—and then Americans, reap the
benefit of the new order of things !—.
I conjure you by the warmth of my
affection for my country's happiness
inseparable with my own—by the in
terests of Americans and their duty
to themselves—by all that is sacred &
dear in a republic, to improve the
placed in our power—to re-assume our
station among the nations of the earth,
and be a bright example of, virtue,
LIBERTY AND INDEPENDENCE.
PAILO AMERICANUS.
Extracts from the Papers.
? LONDON, MAY 17.—The loss of the
enemy during the siege of Astorga, is
computed at 3000 men: that of the
Spaniards is represented as compara
tively inconsiderable. A great part of
the garison, which never exceeded
2500 men, is said to have escaped dis
guised as peasants. —The governor was
offered to be continued in the com
mand of the town if he would swear
allegiance to king Joseph; which he
refused, and was consequently sent to
France, with about a thousand of his
troops. Those who escaped in the
manner we have stated, proceeded to
join Porliec (the Marquisitto) in As
turias. The- walls of Astorga, were
ordered to be destroyed ; and General
Junot, after leaving a post of about
300 men there, proceeded with the re
mainder of his army in the direction of
Cindad Rodrigo.
The latest accounts from Portugal
mention that the British army had tak
en a position nearer the Spanish fron
tier than it occupied for some time
back. Should the French be serious
in their intention of reducing Cindad
Rodrigo, a battle is inevitable. That
fortress is too important to be left sole
ly to its own strength. The enemy
are said to have been repulsed in an
other attack on Badajos, with very
considerable loss.
Letters received from Frankfort,
not only speak of the restoration of
peace between France and Great Brit
ain as certain, but which mention also
that the stipulations have been already
signed. This general opinion on the
continent, must have arisen from the
industry of the agents of Bonaparte,
means which Divine Providence has
The brig Caesar, from Liverpool,
arrived at Philadelphia, brings Lon
don dhtes to the 21st of May, four
days latest, in point of time ; although
the accounts by this vessel have been
anticipated ^y a passenger in the Cae
sar arrived at New Bedford, June 29th.
In England no events of interest or
magnitude were agitated, the exchange
of prisoner between that country and
France, had commenced. Four cartels
with 800 had sailed from Plymouth
for Morlaix —which were to be follow
ed with many others.
Sir Francis Burdett and John Gale
Jones, remained quiet in their respec
tive prisons, until the trials of the
Speaker of the House of Commons,
and Sergeant at Arms, shall revive the
slumbering passions of the jnultitude.
A motion for a Parliamentary re
form, was to be brought immediatly
forward by Mr. Brand.
Accounts from Spain and Portugal
from England, though not so late as
are generally received directly from
thence, are always more minute, and
founded upon better authority than
ours —Massena is advancing upon Por
tugal, with a large army; and since
the capitulation of Astorga in Leon,
the French have pushed forward to
Cindad Rodrigo, which strong and
defensive place is immediately to be
invested. Lord Wellington's force
(British) amounts to 30,000 men, and
3,000 more are marching from Lisbon,
to reinforce him ; and General Craw
ford has been despatched to cover
Cindad Rodrigo.
Ney now commands the French
with Junot tinder him, who have about
30,000 men, under them. Romana
has repulsed an attack upon Badajos.
Late Foreign Intelligence.
Extracted from the Boston Gazette
who have had some insidious inotive
for promoting its circulation.
Letters have been received from the
Dutch coast, to the 12th inst. stating
that Bonaparte and his empress were
expected to visit all the principal towns
in Holland. Great preparations were
making for their reception at Rotter
dam.—These letters say nothing of the
decree reported to have been issued a
gainst the Americans, and which if re
ally adopted, is likely to be extended
to the Dutch ports.
Bonaparte has been treating his
young Empress with the sight of the
launch of an 80 gun-ship, at Antwerp.
The Bishop of Malines attended upon
this occasion, and, after presenting the
Imperial pair with holy water, pro
nounced a benediction upon the new
ship of the line. This however, may
be considered as only a sort of half
baptism preparatory to the completion
of the ceren^py in a British port.
Lillet Colcord-Robert Dtice--Clerk
of the District Court—Jeremiah Ea
ton—Noah Emerv—Margaret Ged
dings 2 —kinsley Jail —David Moo
ers 2 Benjamin Norris—-Samuel
Philbrick—CesarPaul—Danielßober
son—Samuel Rust—Truworthy Rob
inson Merril Scarlet Samuel G.
Smith 3 —Josiah C. Smith—John San
born—Mary Swazey—Joseph Tilton
—Simon Wiggin, Exeter.
Thomas Currier—Jacob Gale, New
ton. 1
Jeremiah Eaton—Catherine Fogg,
Kensington.'
Josiah Colcord or James Thing—
James Gilman—Jabez Smith—Sall,
Things—Jonathan Veazey Daniel
Woodman 3, Brentwood.
David Lucy 2—Simeon Rundlet—
Abraham Tilton-— Levi Wiggin, Strat
ham.
Joseph Melcher —Ephraim Moul
ton, HamptonfaUs.
Robert M'Quillin, East Kingston.
Jacob Smith, Raymond.
J. W. GILMAN, P. M.
A letter from Cadiz, of the date of
May 4, states as follows :—" The de
sertions from the French Are very nu
merous, and many of them enter this
town, who give accounts of the situa
tion and state of the enemy very satis
factory to us. They state the force
of Joseph not to amount to 20,000,and
the whole of these, in their hearts, en
tertain the greatest dislike to him.
Provisions are scarce, and their eloath
ing at present independent of what
they took in Seville, is very bad. We
are sorry to hear that their treatment
of the peaceable inhabitants of the
province is cruel in the extreme. The
whole of the mountains are cover
ed with armed peasantry. Hostile
operations on our part is talked of:
but I doubt if it will be wise to move
from our present situation ; it will be
a very hazardous enterprise to take
Matagorda. The French are nowim
proving and repairing the fortifications
with the utmost celerity. The intel
ligence we obtain from Madrid, only
confirms us in the opinion we enter
tained, and which indeed wanted no
confirmation, of the barbarity of the
French to the conquered people. The
Spanish prisoners taken are frequently
openly butchered; and even quiet in
habitants, who refrain from all offence,
are made often, severely to pay for
what are called the crimes of their
countrymen."
A Splendid car is building, forth,
reception of Sir Francis Burdett, who,
it seems is to ascend this triumphal ve
hicle at the gate of the Tower, on the
day of his deliverance, which will be
that of course on which parliament is
prorogued.
The reduction of the Danish island
of Bornholm, in the Baltic, it was un
derstood, was the first object of the
fleet under Sir J. Sumarez, and from
the state of its defences, it is supposed
by this time to have fallen an easy con
quest.
LIST OF LETTERS
Remaining in the Post-Office, at Ex-
may 22.—At a common hall held
yesterday at Guildhall, several resolu
tions were passed expressing the se
verest disapprobation of the rejection
of the city petition by the House of
Commons, and of the conduct of the
liverymen who signed the counter ad
dress. A new petition was then pro
posed by Mr. Quinn, assented to with
great acclamations, and ordered to be
presented by Mr. Alderman Combe-
Mr. Dixon and Mr. Kemble, were per
mitted to declare their sentiments un
interrupted. The horses were taken
from the carriages of the Lord Mayfir
and Sheriff Wood, and these gentle
men were escorted to their respective
homes by an immense concourse of
people.
LIVERPOOL may 23. —The distur
bance in the Tyrol, mentioned in one
of our late numbers, had their origin in
the attempt to enforce the conscription
system among those brave people.
eter, June 30, 1810.