The United States oracle of the day — Portsmouth, N.H., 1800-02-08 00:00:00, page 1

On his proposition, the council passed
• a decree, the purport of which was, that
the commander in chief Buonaparte,
Generals Lefebyre, Murat, Berthier,
Serrurier, Leclerc, Boarnonville, Mo
ney, Samte, Remy, Andreoffi, Solignac ;
Adm. Bruix ; Louis Buonaparte, com
mander of a squadron ; Eugene Beu
harnais, Aid de Camb ; the superior ad
jutant Beranger,; Sparre, officer of the
Polish Legion, &c. &c. the Grenadiers
of the Legislative Body and of the Ex
ecutive Directory ; the 6th, 79th, and
96th of the Line, the Bth and 9th of
Dragoons, & the Grenadiers who made
a buckler of their bodies and their arms
for Buonaparte, have deferred well of
their country, by saving the majority of
the Legislative Body and the Republic,
attacked by aminority composed of assas
sins.
Article ffi There is no longer any Execu
tive Directory; and the following persons are no
longer Members of the National Representa
tion, on account of the exccffes and the violent
attempts which they have uniformly made, and
particularly the greater part of them in the Sit
tings of this miming :—Joubert, Jouanne, Tab
et, Duplantjer, Arena, Garaud, Quirot, Leclerc,
ChappeYs, Briche, Poulain, Grand-Pre, Bert
raud, Goupilleau, Daubermefnil, Marqucfi,
Guefdon, Grandmaifon, Crocaffand, Dorimond,
Frifon,Deffaix, Bergaffe, Laziroul, Montpellier,
Constant, Briot, Deftrom, Carrcre, Lagarriere,
Gorraud, Legot, Blin, Boulay Paty, Souilhe,
Demoor, Rigonct, Mentor, Boiffier,Bailly, Bou
rier, Prichet, Honore, Declerc, Bouffet, Gaftin,
Laurent, Reitz, 'rudhon, Porte, Truck, Del
bret, Leyris, Doche;Dehille, ^cvenotte, Lefage,
Senault, Chalemcla, Andre, Demartelle, Colom
bel, Phillippe, Moreau, Jourdan, Letourneur
Citadella, Jourdan, Bordas-——Sixty ope Mem
bers.
zd. The Legislative Body creates
provifionall, an Executive Con Alar
Committee, composed of citizens Sieyes
and Roger Ducos, Ex Diredors, and
Buonaparte, General. They gall bear
“ The Council of Elders," said he,
" in ordering the removal of the Legisla
tive Body to St. Cloud, had for its ob
jed to arrive at a favourable goal for
the maintenance of their Liberty.
They have been convinced that there
existed great vices in the organization
of the Confiftution. The Representa
tives ofthe People must candidly avow
what experience has itfelf proved, that
there exist in our organization, vices,
which from its eftablilhment have nev
er ceased to produce diftradions in the
Republic, and with refped to the secu
rity of the Constitution, it has hitherto
failed in its objed. Fads have proved
this. Some months after it was put in
to execution, the Diredory were obli
ged to make the 18th Frudidor, and
soon after the 2zd Floreal, which .was
also made necefiary by the nature of the
choices made at the elections. Thus
there was a necessity of proceeding from
violation, to violation, as it were by
ffiocks. It is time to confider of im
provement, which produces the necessi
ty of a provisional and immediate state,
which will prepare the means of mak
ing the People enjoy their rights in their
full extent-
Villetard, Reporter from the com
mittee, proposed the following resolu
tion:.
The Corneil ofFivc Hundred, considering the
situation 6f the Republic, declares that the busi
ness is urgent, and adopts the following Resolu
tions:
Chazel proposed divers measures of
public fafety, which were deferred to a
committee of five members, of which
he himfelf was one, as well as Villetard,
and Boulay de la Meurthe.
Lucien Buonaparte pronounced a
difeourfe cm the events of the day. He
described the perpetual efforts made by
the seditious members of the Council to
smother the constitution, and to substi
tute in its dead, a regimenof blood and
of profefiption.
Boulay de la Meurthe made in the
name of the "committee of five, a report
on the plan which had been referred to
them.
Beringer retraced the events of the
day. He praised the conduct of the
troops, and the prudence of the officers,
the dangers which Buonaparte had run,
those ofthe Legislative Body itfelf, the
wisdom of the General, as well as the
courage ofthe two grenadiers who cov
ered the General with their bodies and
their arms.
Evening Sitting at St. Cloud, lOtb Nov.
ABOU r fix o'clock the council of
Five Hundred constituted them
selves, the majority of the members hav
ing repaired to the hall of the fitting.
" Lucien Buonaparte took the chair,
and invited the Council to resume their
deliberations.
PARIS, NOV. 13.
COUNCIL of FINE HUNDRED.
Important NEWS,
[Continued from last Saturday's Oracle.]
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AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, TWENTY.FOURTH YEAR. # FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ELEVENTH YEAR.
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OPo&U THE DISPOSITIONS AND HABITS WHICH LEAD TO POLITICAL PROSPERITY, RELIGION AND MORALITY ARE INDISPEN SI BLE SUPPORTS. 'WASHINGTON'S LEGACY.
' / e '/
« The Council of Ancients the de
pository of the national wisdom, has
just issued the following decree, which is
authorized by the iozd and 103 arti
cles of the constitutional a&s.
"It has charged me to take measures
for the fafety of the National Represen
tation. Its translation is neceflary, but
only momentary. The Legislative Bo
dy will also concur in rescuing the Re
presentation from the eminent danger
into which thediforganization of all parts
of the admiaiftration has sondi&d us.|
12th. These changes can haveno other
object, but that 01 consolidating, and
guaranteeing inviolably the Sovereign
ty of the people, the Republic, one and
mdivifible, the representative system,
the division of power, liberty, equality,
and the fafety of property.
13th. The Executive Consulate Com
mittee may lay before the other Com
mittees their views upon these fu bjeds.
14th. The two Committees are
charged to prepare a Civil Code.
15th. Their fittings will be held at
Paris in the Palace of the Legislative
Body, and they may be convoked ex
traordinarily for the ratification of
peace, or in case of great public danger.
16th. These resolutions Shall be prin
ted, and sent by extraordinary couriers
to the departments, and foiemnly pub
lished and Stuck up in all the communes
of the Republic,
Cabaris made a speech in which he
traced the labors of the different Le
gislative bodies, and of the convention,
and also the faults of these different as
semblies, as well as those of the present
Councils. He Shewed that the present
constitution opened the door to contin
ual revolutions which would end in an
archy, which was always followed by
royalty. He afterwards proposed an
address to the French people upon the
dangers which the National Represen
tatives incurred, and upon the measures
of public fafety which were to be taken.
At one o'clock the three consuls
came and took the following oath :
"Fidelity to the Republic, one and
mdivifible, to liberty and equality, and
to the Yeprefentative system."
At three o'clock they proceeded to the
scrutiny of the nomination of the inter
mediate committee. It is to be com
posed of the following members.
Cabaris^ Boulay de la Meurthe, Cbazal, Lucien
Buonaparte, Matchieu, Chenier, Creuze Latouebe,
Berenger, Daunou,Gaudin de la Lozere, ^anquemc
not, Beauvais, Arnould de la Seine, Tbieffa, Villetard
Girad Pouzol, Goulay, Caffenave, Cbollet de la
Gronde, Ludet, Devenck Thierry, Fregeville, Tbi
bault, Chabot du Gard, and Barrades Ardennes.
The President then adjourned the
Council to the zoth of February at the
ordinary place of meeting.
Buonaparte, General in chief, to the Citizens com
,°f n g ^ Stationary National Guard of Paris,
I&b Brumaire (gib Nov.) Sth year of the Re
public, one and indiviftble.
CITIZENS,
Bth b Before their separation, and du
ring the time of their fitting,each coun
cil shall name from among their mem
bers a Committee of 25 members.
9th. The committee appointed by
the two councils, will in conjunction
with the committee of the Executive
Consulate, determine upon all urgent
objects relative to the Police, Legislation
and Finance.
10th. To the committee of the Coun
cil of Five Hundred, will belong the
right of proposing, and td that of the
Council of Elders that of functioning
them.
the name of Consuls of the French Re
public.
3d. This committee is inverted with
the full powers of the Directory, and
Specially commissioned to Organize or
der in all parts of the Administration,
to re-establish internal tranquility, and
to procure an honorable & solid Peace.
4th. It is authorized to fend Dele
gates with a power limited according
to its own power.
sth. The Legislative Body is adjourn
ed to the zoth of February. Itis to
meet at that period in full power at Paris.
6th. During the adjournment of the
Legislative Body, the Members fliall
preserve their indemnity and their con
stitutional security.
7th They may without losing their
equality, as Representatives of the Peo
ple, be employed as Ministers, Diplo
matic Agents, Delegates of the* Execu
tive Consular Committee, and in all o
ther Civil Functions. They are evert
invited in the name of the public good
to accept them.
I ith. The two committees will also,
in the order above mentioned, regulate
the changes in those parts of the Con
stitution which experience may have
shewn to be inconvenient or vicious.
OFFICIAL PAPERS.
" In transmitting toyou, Citizen, the
Law which the Legislative Body passed
in its last fitting of the 10th of Novem
ber, I announce to you that the confuls'
of the French Republic took at the
fame time into their hands the reins of
the Government of the Republic.—
The Constitution ofthe year Three, the
work of an incomplete experience, and
of the influence of some unimportant
circumstances, went to decay by its
own peculiar imperfections and by the
passions of individuals ; too often bro
ken in upon by the firft authorities, by
turns invoked by all the passions, inces
santly violated by them all, it no longer
obtained.the refpe& ofthe French Peo
ple ; it had ceased to be an instrument
of the fafety of the Republic. There
was a necessity of preventing the prin
ciples on which it was founded from
perilling with it. A great impulse giv
en to all dispositions could alone rally
round the fame Standard ; the wishes
and the hopes of the Citizens, could put
into concord all the powers, could ani
mate the springs of the public force,
and assure an uniform energy, at once
vigorous and truly Republican, to its
direction. The impulse has been given,
and all the authorities, to-day re-at
tempered, powerful from the union
and confidence which the Nation gives
them, are going effectually to atchieve
the great work which the destinies of
the Republic iinpofe upon them, to or
ganize order in all the parts of the Ad
ministration, to eftabliSh tranquillity
within, and to procure an honorable
and solid Peace. The Oath, Citizens,
which is prescribed to you, is a proof
that the foundations, on which the
hopes of Frenchmen, and the happiness
of future generations repose, have re
mained unimpaired. Those placed at
the head of the government, have given
ample pledges for the liberty of their
country ; their very names command a
fufficient degree of reipeT and confi
dence, to convince France and Europe,
that those foundations will be guarded
both from the attacks of Enemies from
abroad, and from the ffiocks of Fac
tions at home."
Several plans of a Constitution are circulated.
The following form the principal basis of that
which we are assured will be immediately sub
mitted to difeuffion:
A Representative Government is preferred.
The number of active citizens is to be very
much reduced. To entitle them to exercise
their functions, they mutt immediately pay a
contribution to the amount of twelve days pay.
The whole French Republic will be divided
into twentyfive grand divisions, to be called pre
fe&ures, each of which will be sub-divided into
a certain number of cantons or diftri&s. All
the citizens in employment ffiall meet in the
chief place of their canton, and there reduce
themfelvcs to too. Each of these centimes is
to reduce itfclf to to.
The total amount of these tenths by a late
estimate will be 5000 citizens, who shall alone
be eligible to the places to which the people
have hitherto appointed.
But who will make these elections ? There
will be a constitutional jury, composed of 80
places, of which 20 will remain vacant, for the
purpose herein after mentioned. It is this jury
that will make all popular elections, and have
power to depose for mifcondudl. It will have
another fundlion. Should one of the citizens
ele&ed by it, or any other person filling an
employment of influctice, become dangerous to
liberty, whether from his great talents or his
Cur/ory Articles refpefling the nro
fate of Affairs in France.
“ The Extraordinary Decree of the
Council of Antients is conformable to
the load Article of the Constitutional
Ad. It places in methe command of
the city and the army.
" I have accepted the appointment,
to second the measures which the Coun
cil is about to take, and which are all
in favour of die people.
" The Republic has been badly gov
erned these two years. You have hoped
that my return would put an end to so
many evils. You have celebrated it
with an union which imposes upon me
the duties I fulfil. You will fulfil
yours, and second your General with
the energy, the firmnefs and the confi
dence I have always beheld in you.
Buonaparte, Gen, in Chief, to the Soldiers, Nav, ft
" In this important crisis it requires
the union and confidence of the patri
ots. Rally around it, that is the only
means of placing the Republic upon
the basis of civil liberty, internal hap
piness, victory and peace. Vive la
Republique.
" BUONAPARTE.
(A true copy) " BERTHIER."
A Circular Letter from tbs Minder for foreign af
fairs, to the Foreign Agents of the Republic.
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
PART, DEC. I.
" SOLDIERS,
“BUONAPAR TE.
(A true copy/ “ BERTHIER
LONDON, NOV. 16.
COMMERCIAL.
Yesterday, it is said, the Privy Council
came to a refolutlon to recal the Order
in Council, and withdraw the notifica
tion to the Neutral Powers which were
issued a few month; since for placing 1
all the ports of the United Provinces
in a Rate of blockade. As this reftramt
had principally in view the objects 0
the late Expedition, we are unable to
fay whether it has been repealed as a
matter of course, or has been the fub
ied of any particular convention.—
The revocation of the Order will as-v
ford a great relief to the Weft India
merchants, and Wed-India produce wdl
again find its way into the Dutch ports,
and from thence into other parts of the
Continent.
The embargo which was laid upon
neutral ships at Bourdeaux has been
taken off. ', .
A proposition is now under the con
sideration of our Government for al
lowing the exportation of Wed-India
produce to France, and to receive corn
in return. ..
We understand that a communication
has been made to this country, from
Holland, that the Batavian Govern
ment would permit the importation of
every kind of W^fclndia producer
Paris papers to the 9th Dec. was re
ceived last night :—if we except an or
der ofthe consulate for felting at liber
ty or recalling from deportation, the
Priests, who have at different periods
of the Revolution complied with the
Oaths exacted of them, or who a^ mar
ried, the French Government have
done nothing really important with re
fped to the Civil or Political condition
of the French. Tift fittings of the In
termediate commissions, of,which,how
ever, some have not been made public,
have been principally occupied by meas
ures of Finance. The most remarkable of
them is an indulgence granted to the pur
chasers of National Demefnes,and some
regulations for the mode of their pay
ments, by means of which the govern
ment is in hope's of bringing some mil
lions of specie into the Public Treasury.
Nothing authentic,nor even decided, has
yet been circulated, refpeding the New
constitution, which we think we can dis
cover amid the servility and the cau
tious language of the french Papers,
to have already become the bone of
contention between the two heads of
the New Revolution, Sieyes and Buona
parte. It is supposed that the latter
does not approve the creation of a great
Elector, or at least not for life. That
Office is, it is said, to be reduced in the
duration of the supreme power to ten
years. Our Readers will find in our
columns, the different conjectures which
have been formed at Paris refpeCting
the new political composition, which is
at present merely an the docks. It is
according to the last accounts, to be
launched in a few days.
The new Constitution will appear in com
plete organization, and will contain the names
of all the public functionaries whom it puts in
adivity. ^
great successes, the jury is to pronounce agauiß
him a fpeeies of ostracism, and, according to an
erprefiion which is going to be consecrated to
use, absorb him in deposing him and calling him
to one ofthe 20 places which we said were to re
main vacant in the jury itfelf; and each of the
citizens thus absorbed fliall rife by seniority as
one ofthe 60 places becomes vacant. Betides
this, the Constitutional Jury has no iufldenae in
the Government thus composed.
At its head shall be placed one citizen, to be
called Grand Elector. Immediately under him
will be two Consuls, one for the interior,
the other for the exterior. .They are to
be Governors in fa&, but depofable at the
will of the Grand Elector. Under the Grand
Elector and the two Consuls will be a Council
of State, composed of fir members and fevea
ministers. Such is the Government.
The Tribunate shall alone possess the initia
tive of the laws. It will difeufs them in pre
sence of the Senate, who shall judge when the
discussion ought to be closed, and decide in a
secret scrutiny on their adoption or rejection.
The members of these two Chambers shall con
tinue five years in their fun&ions, and be renew
ed a third at a time.
The following is the compofcion and orga
nization of the Legislative Body:
There will be two Chambers one of azomem
bers, to be, called the Senate ; the other of 80,
to be called the Tribunate.
The Constitutional jury is alone to appoint
to places, but will be confined in its choice to
the five thousand citizens, declared eligible by
the people.
The twenty-five Prefedurers, into which we
have already said France is to be divided, fliall
be prefixed over, each by a single Prefect, who
fliall have under him Vice Prefers in each prin
cipal place of the Canton.
In the judicial arrangement, each principal
place of Prefecture will be the feat of a Su
preme Tribunal, from which there will be no
appeal, and there will be akd an inferior Tribu
nal in each Canton.
LONDON, DEC 14.
The ^Council of Five Hundred presented a
very agitated feene. The Sitting opened with
a motion for a Report upon the State of the Re
public. Without entering into a discussion of
this motion, it was proposed that all the Mem
bers should take an oath of fidelity to the Con
ftithtion. The proposition was received with
loud plaudits, interrupted by frequent exclama
tions of Dbwn with the Dilators ! After each
Member had taken the oath, the Council puf
fed a Declaration, that they were constituted
to the number of a majority required by the
Constitution.—A letter from Barras was then
read, giving in his resignation. While the
Council wete deliberating, Buonaparte, ac
companied by 20 grenadiers, entered the Hall,
and walked up towards the President, his brother.
Several of the Members immediately darted to
wards him, and pulhed him back. Some pro
posed to out-law him. One Member, Arena,
his countryman, attempted to Slab him, The
blow, however, was warded off by a grenadier,
who received it in his arm. Buonaparte then
drew back, ordered the grenadiers to withdraw,
and left the Hall himfelf. His conduct was
then vehemently reprobated, his appointment
of General of the Legislative Guard was propos
ed to be annulled, and the Council of Ancient,
was complained of as having violated the Con
stitution. The President interrupted this debate
by quitting the Prefident'® Chair and throwing
off his scars. The doors were immediately 0-
pened, and a file of grenadiers entered and took
away Lucian Buonaparte. A strong detach
ment of soldiers followed, and an officer ordered
the Hall to be cleared in Gen. Buonaparte's
name. This order was immediately carried in .
to execution. Meanwhile the Council of An
cients resolved, in a Secret Committee, to abol
ifh the Directory, and to appoint a Legislative
Commission of twenty-five Members, and an
Executive Commission of three Members, who
were charged to procure a solid and honourable
peace. In the evening, they appointed the per
sons to fill these Commissions, and then adjourn
ed to the 20th of February. The remains of
the Council of Five Hundred also met in the
evening, and having passed a decree Similar to
the Council of Ancients, adjourned also to the
zoth of February.
Nov, T,.
The language of Buonaparte, since the late
Revolution, is pacific. One of his charges a
gainst the Old Directory, is, having plunged
France into a new war with Austria. The
Councils charge the Consuls tonegociate a Peace.
Pruflia it is said, by the intercession of Sieye, has
consented to be the mediator.—The Consulate
fits at the Luxemburg. Gen. Murat command
ed the Grenadiers, who drove the Council of
500 from their place of fitting.
NOV. 20.
Buonaparte was saved from any wound in
his body by an impenetrable waistcoat.
Nov. 23.
The Secretary of the French Consulate, is the
person who attempted to negociate a peace with
this country at the commencement of the war.
Le Garde retains bis place as Sec. Cen. but di
vides its duties. It is said the Consuls will wear
a military dress. Nov. 28.
On the 18th inst. the French fleet at Brefe
were dressed in their colors, in confequerce of
the late Revolution. The Spanish ffiips appear
ed in no preparation for fca.
DEC. 4.
It is said, that at a dinner given^by Berthier
to Gen. Knox, the former asked, “ Wh- her he
thought the British Ministry were disposed to
treat with the Consuls for peace, upon such
terms as France, in her present position, had a
right to expea ?" The latter replied, “If the
French Government would slate this demand
upon paper, and authorife him to tranfniit it to
London, he ihould think it his duty to do so and
inform them of the refult."—Madame Buona
parte put the fame queftiou to Capt. Swinburne,
who tupped with her.
dec. 14.
Paris papers to Dec. 9, mention, that the Con
suls have recalled from exile the Priests, who
have complied with the oaths exuded of them,
or who are married.
Louis XVII, sou to the late King, is still alive,
preserved by Sieves, from the fury of the Re
volutionists.
PARIS, nov. 15. Lord Nelson i<
uniting all the English forces in the
Mediterranean, to attack Malta.
Buonaparte finds time for every thing. He
assisted yesterday three hours at the institute.
The Consulate called to the fittings of yester
day, Talleyrand, Volney, and Rcederer. Bu
onaparte thanked them, in the name of the
Consulate, for their devotion and importan;
services. He added, it was the intention of
Government to employ their talents soon, and
to name them to a Coufulatite Cornmiffion, or
fort ofsCouncil of State.
Buonaparte has quittedhis small house in Rue
de Vidoire to live in the Luxembourg.
LONDON, NOV- IO-
It is said theTrifli Parliament will po
sitively meet on the loth of next month,
when the question of Union will be
brought forward.
By the capture of the two Spanish
prizes, Lord Bridport receives an addi
tion to his income of 125,0001. And
captains, Gore, Digby, Young, and
Pierreport^ receive 50.000 each.
The following is afummary of fa&s relative
td the late overturn m France :—On the morn
ing of the 9th of Nov. the Committee of infpec
tots of the Council of Antients presented a Re
port, in which they said that there were alarm
ing Tymptoms, and that the country was in dan-,
ger ; the, proposed therefore to remove the fit
tings of the Legislature to St. Cloud, and to eo
truft the fafety of the National Representation
to Gen. Buonaparte. The proposition was in
ftantl, adopted. By the Constitution, the Coun
cil of Antients possess the power of removing
the Sittings of the Legislature from Paris. On
the xdth both Councils met at St. Cloud.
Summary of the Revolution
LONDON, NOV. 18.