The Rhode-Island American, and general advertiser — Providence [R.I.], 1810-06-05 00:00:00, page 2

Hie around the miniature of man in minia
■ ture, are each the representative of the
richly laden ship of some of our merchants,
sequestered, confiscated, and sold through
his inordifitte rapacity! What has real*
]y been the conduct of our Executive
through the whole of this barefaced aban
donment of even the appearance* of legal
ity ; fronts the time, when our quondam
President first ordered Congress to lay ao
embargo to the present moment, when the
predominating party are forced to relin
quish all their boasted alternativet, after
having broken the constitution and ruined
feepfe resort; W*Q ef thought 1
that no person of your Bxcelfency** igde
pendent senfimrwt* would cwn the favour
cr further the interest* of his moat inve
terate enemies; but, Sir, the discerning
were moat egregiyipsly mistaken for once,
i After much intereat had been excited by
she reporta circulated tlmt your Excellen
cy Intended afsublick recantation, the ptib
, ..Bek were at left surprised by the nppear
antq of a letter in the Phenix signed by
your Excellency, in which you abjure the
name' of federatlsra, which wad saying no
more than every one knew before. “ Par
turiunt monies; naacetur ridiculus mus.”
Yoe may rest assured, Sir, that thisde
gradiitg recantation, like that of Cranmer,
you nothing—that your enemies
will repay you for thus propping their
rotten chose, by immolating you on the
Altmrof revenge ; and, that the day which
completes your triennial reign, will be your
political Auto de Fe. The election came,
Sir, end through the fraud of Robert Smith,
the tpiiljhMag, pettifogging Secretary, the
people wetw made to believe that the Brit-
Sb gtjfcyrtrnent hfod censured its minister,
MrJoCktoe y by this and manyauch tricks
democracy succeeded by a majority of two
hundred. And who, Sir, Were the men
which the Wigwam caucus put into the
print f Your noble Lieutenant, Sir, showed
himself worthy the patronage of your pre
decessor, by mobbing the town-meeting
Moderator of hit own town of Little-Comp
ton. He bad the impudence to tell a re-
Vtdvtiaiiry patriot, who once commanded
fan Rhode-bland during the war, that he
was 100 old to vote, and for some time de
fused to receive hia suffrage ; and the Xs
eembh d Representation of the State, wit
taessed.the lass session, an oath for which he
may have to answer before an impartial
tribunal.
Your .Excellency's prime counsellor, for
abilities is thought by judges of men, to be
below mediocrity ; with all the advantages
Of an acad<mick education, and the con
versation of the first literary and forensick
characters in NeW-Engiand, he possesses
not that prominence of character requisite
to attract applause, or even censure.—
Cjhxwurs like these. Sir, are generally
selected by designing men, to fill the blanks
<of office; they are mere political ciphers,
And as neotssary in the circle of political
necrfenancy as is Ihe passive naught to
raise the degree of tile potential figure.—
A certain politician in this State, to Verve
liis own policy, made a Lieutenant-Gov
ernour out of notlunf: he afterwards made
him Chief Justice j and when enaction
for defamation was pending against him,
(the Goveintair,) he converted him into a
<U»V Justice V the County Court, before
wham the case was to be tried. But, Sir,
there is one action of yours which the so
ber, thinking part'of the community cannot
soon fotget—l mean, Sir, your manifest
Subserviency to party in advocating the
pretensimu for office of a mno who car
ries', as a damniug mark of infamy, the
stripes of the beadle upon his back I Your
Excellency mast add, if possible, to the
infamy of the State, by raising an incen
diary to the Judicial bench ; if, Sir, tlje
ffenner dynasty, should continue to rule
this State fur centuries ; the last ruler of
the name will have cause to blush for his
jpmgenilor, for this open desertion of prin
ciple. 11 for nothing else. But, Sir, it is
time to ctoae toy epistle; the workings of
Jour own conscience must be infinitely mote
dreadful than any thing 1 Can say. I shall.
Sir, trespass a little more upon your time
and patience with a few rcfl.ciioos upon
the present state of publick opinion in our
Country, and some of a less general nature
Our cpuniry. Sir, presents a prospect of the
deepest gloom to every patriot; to every
•no who feels.an interest in the welfare u»
himself and of posterity. Who, Sir, would
have ventured to predict, thirty year ago,
When every heart, warmed by the vital
heat, beat high in the cause of liberty, aim I
every body, freed from the leading string*
t education, was opposed to the foes ot
independence, that in the space oi
thirty years, the sun of our glory would g<
down, nnd be succeeded by a more than
Egyptian darkness! adaeketess whlcheb felt
indeed! the terrifick darkness of,. French
domination,! The crimson blush of ahaine
•nd indignation mantles in my cheek while
fpea thus repeats what the docuptents
the State Department so blackly testi
fy. Our country is chained te the car of
the Corsican usurper! The gaudy gem
that scintillates upon hia finger, or adorns
the hilt of his ruthless sword, spreads its
thousand beams around the prodigality of
<n unprincipled upstart, at the expense of
the labour of thousands of fanners and of
the enterprise of thousands of our mer
chants. The costly diamonds which spar-
To the PEOFt.I of the United StjTks.
Having established the point (hat the
President of the United States has no con
stitutional right to impose an Injunction cF
secrecy upon the two Houses of Congress,
or either of them, in any case whatever, it
is now proper to inquire into.the power of
these Houses to lay such an injunction np*
on their own members.
The only power vested in the two
branches of the National Legislature, b\
the constitution, which hears upon this
subject, is contained in the third paragraph
the fifth section of the first article of
the constitution, which article establishes
and defines the legislative functions.—
*' Each House shall keep a journal of Its
proceedings: and, from time to time, pub
lish the same, excepting such fiarta as
may in their judgement require secrecy :
and the yeas and nays of the members of
either House, on any question, Shall, at the
desire of one fifth of those present, be en
tered on the journal.** This paragraph is
naturally connected with that which goes
before it. ” Each House may determine
the rules 6f its proceedings; punish its
members for disorderly behaviour; and,
with the concurrence of two thirds, expel
a member.** The provision in the pre
sent constitution respecting a secret Jour
nal, appeys tojptve bden in some measure
derived “Trom the seventh section of the
ninth article of the old Confederation of the
States. “ The Congress of the United
States shall have power to adjourn at any
time within the year, and to any place
within the Unitrd States, so that no period
of adjournment be for a longer duration
than the space of six months, and shall
publish the journal of their proceedings
monthly, except sueh fiarta thereqf re
lating to treaties, alliances, or military
perations, as-iit their judgement require
secrecy ; ami the yeas and nays of the de
legates of each state on any question shall
be entered on the journal, when it is de
sired by any delegate ; and the delegates
vf a state, or any of them, at his or their
request, shall be furnished with a tran
script of the snid journal, except such
partst as are above excepted, to lay before
the legislatures of the several states.”
As the old Congress possessed the pow
ers of pence and war, with only h mere
shadowv>f legislative powers generally, and
the power of making treaties, now vested
in the President and Senate exclusively,
the provision which has just been quoted
from the Articles of Confederation, ap
pear* to have been adopted with a view to
the exeiciseof those powers upon the sub
jects of •• treaties, alliances, and military
operation*,” and upon no other subjects
A* it waptfte object of •• The People,” in.
establishing the new Constitution, to •* form
a more perfect union,” by the organisation
.of a more enereettek system of govern
ment, a power Was given to each House tv
withhold from publication such parts uf all
their proceedings as they should deem
proper. But when we consider that the
power* in’reference to the exercise of
which, under the Confederation secrecy*
was allowed, were divided in th* new Con
stitution, the power of making treaties and
ailiaiict* being vested in the Seiiste (i<>
gether with the Presidetti) the power ot |
r
Mtajgmtmeree of the cerntpr ? Have net
tmrWqffinUkncej of our resident Ambaa
sadour ft Paris been studiously concealed,
and have We evyr teen H gf|frvhe than
in mutilated paragraphs? Weliaveindeed,
seen the two insulting letters of the French
foreign minister;' one of ftiem commanded
our governmeuflgo go to war with Britain!
For three years have the French continued
rd plunder our commerce which went to
their dominions, and to burn, de
stroy our ships on the high se t. One hun
tired millions of dollars are already taken
from us, and the accursed work is still
going on. Who then, Sir, can deny that
our President is a mere political automa*
ten, whose hidden springs are touched by
Napoleon ? When We review, and compare
events and measures, the cdurse of ratioci
nation becomes plainer at every point of
view, and the truth bursts upon us in the
broad glare of conviction. 1 enter not, Sir,
into details upon this subject, the docu
menta that have been stifTcrcd to pass be
fore the publick view appear so many
records of our political degradation. To
your Excellency I would say a few words
tnore. You have, Sir, lost (lie good opinion
of all men of principle, by gaining that of
a political trimmer; despised by all par
ties, trusted by none, ynur popularity must,
Sir, from this moment be problematical ;
you can never expect, Sir, to reach that
enviable stability of publick approbation.
“ ut vel in negotio sine perieulo, vel in ntio
cum dignitate esse." You can never expect
that consideration, which is only the Well
earned meed of inflexible integrity of hound
principle and. consistent action. Retire,
Sir, from the bewildering elevation which
you can never hope to keep with safety;
seek, Sir, that recess from publick em
ployment, from which I fear the rites of
Bacchus will ever banish dignity.
FROM THU FREEMAN’S JOURNAL.
Letters upon French Influence.
J® iscdlflllll.
No. IV.
TULLIUS.
The following Biographical Sketch isex
tracted from "Atke+mann'a Repository qf
Arts and Sricners” for the month of Janu
ary ; printed in Loudon,
HOFFER. V
Biographical account of Andrkas Hor
rnn, the brave and loyal commander qf
the Tyrolese.
Anube as Hoffkr is a native of Sand,
the principal town in the valley of Passeur,
and, from the place of hi* residence has
received the appellation of' Sandwich,
which is as much as to say, the inn keeper
of Sand. He is 38 year* of age, tall and
robust, and has from hie youth worn a lr»ng
beard, according to the custom of that part
of the country.
His religion deportment, his virtuous
example, the uncommon acuteness abd
depth of hl* understanding, fur a man who
has not enjoyed the advantages of a liberal
education, together with his modesty and
integrity, early procured him the esteem
all the inhabitants of bi* valley, abou:
12,000 in number, among whom he was
aj>|»ointed to fill an office, which nearly
answer* tn yhat of a magistrate or country
justice. In thia situation ha acquired, in
Eaah House of then, ha* pow
•r to conceal from the people such a por
tion of its proceeding* aq It deems impro
per for promulgation. But this power
tan only be exercised by first exercising
mother that of •• determining the rules of
ts pr.>cee(ling*,” unless, indeed, th* HoUsi
shall take the trouble, from day today, of
taking a distinct vote upon every part of
ihe journal which it means tu keep eon
healed. Mo such thing exists in practice.
I'he Houseof Representatives has estab
iished particular rule* upon this subject.—
It irprovided that wheu a member slyit)
«nnounce to the House that he ha* a mo
tion to make, the proceedings upon which.
•» hi* opinion, ought to be kept secret < tfie
■)oor* shall be closed, and th* House shah
determine, by a vote, whether thoue pro
ceedings shall be secret or not. The Houst
sometimes immediately determines that
the proceedings shall not be kept secret,
is in the case of * motion which was made
for the sequestration of debts dueby the
citizens of the United State* to British
subject*. But no instance is recollected in
which the House literally pursued its own
rule, and determined, by a formal vote,
that proceedings upon a motion made with
closed doors should be kept Secret. The*
Hmm, therefore, dees not, h M the cases
mentioned, pursue the letter of the Consti
tution and of its own rule which is intended
to carry that provision of the Constitution
into effect. How far, then, is the rule ob
ligatory upon the member*!
Another rule provides that when a con
fidential message is received from the Pre
sident, the proceedings upon such mdssage
-tliali be secret, until the House shall other
wise determine. But nothing is said re
specting documents which may be commu
nicated with the message. These form, in
fact, no part of the “ proceedings** of the
House, being merely matter of information
to bear, upon those proceedings. They are
never recorded in the “journal of its pro
ceedings,” and it is only •• such parts'* of
the “journal of its proceedings” as ” may
in their judgement require secrecy,” that
they have a right to conceal. 1 . This will
lead us to the investigation of a ‘ v deep
question?’
the opinion of borne that’ a written Consti
tution affords no security to the rights of
the people. Let ot hope that this opinion
is unfounded. It is dangerous to adopt
constructions of the spirit of the Constilu
tian. It it much safer to adhere to the let
ter. If this be generally done, and the
Constitution be at once correct in princi
ple and intelligible in expression, how cai>
it be otherwise than that it should secure
our rightsand privileges? Could a lex
non script a, it collection of “ shred* anti
patches” of legislative, executive, and ju
dicial opinions and decisions, accumulated
gradually in the progress of ages, secure
them belter than this lex scripta, thix
plainly recorded law, to which all can re-
Cur, and which all can comprehend ?
: < ■
making vgr ted providing for. military
operations, in bulb Houses conjointly, it is
fislrly jgesumable that the framers of the
Constitution did not contemplate seert'
proceedings in, any other eases. And in
what other ease* can they be necessary, pr
consistcnt with the principle* of our insti
lutlon/f Our political system is essential
ly a system of publicity. The genius of it
is at war with' the course so commonly
pursued by monarchical cabinots and des
potick divans. So far as our Congress have
departed from this original principle of our
system, they are justly liable to the cen
suge involved in Lurd Chatham** speech on
a motion for the dissolution of Parliament,
in 1771. “ For a publick assembly to be
afraid of having their deliberations pub
lished, is monstrous and speaks for itself.— .
No mortal can construe such a procedure
to their advantage. It, and the practice
of locking the doors, are sufficient to open
the eyes of the blind ; they must see that
all is not well within.” If this be good
doctrine in a monarchy, how much more
so in a repubtick ?
The question is not, however, whit ought
to lie the pooler* of Congress, in this re
spect, but what are those powers. It is
A new fraud or species of counterfeiting
ha* lately been detected. The persons who
commit it tear out of six, seven or eight
note* a* many piece* a* will make an ad
ditional note, and the pieces which are de
signed to make the additional note, being
pasted on a pkee of thin paper and well
matched, form apparently a complete
NEW-YORK, May 30.
During the last four days, we have suf
fered considerably from the warmth and
dryness of the weather. We do not recol
lect, at any former period, so great a de
gree of heat, and such a drought. Yester
day the mercury in Fahrenheit was up
to 90 in the shade; and it is about five
weeki since we have had any rain of con
sequence. The heAt and dust, render the
city unusually disagreeable.
In thi* affair, a* well a* in several other
victories and engagements, especially that
near Inspruck, when the enemy sustained
a total defeat; and also th* taking of
Trent, of which the brave Imperial Colo
nel Count Von would not have
wen able to make himself matter, without
the assistance of Hoffer, and hi* compan
ions in arm*; the latter acquired the con
fidence of his countrymen in such a degree,
that he wxi not ou’y acknowledged as com
mander of Pasteur, as he was then culled,
»nd subscribed himse}f, but a* th* com
mander in chief of the whole country.
Hoffer keeps hi* head-quarter* In the
centre of Tyrol: and, according to circum
stance*.'occasionally dismisses his com
rade* tc their houses; confident that when
he ha* occasion for them, they will return
at the slightest notice. He always has
ten* with them, wherever the danger I*
most pressing, to opposeztnd as usual, to
conquer the enemy. In short, not a single
engagement in which Hoffer has commaad
ed, has yet terminated to th* disadvantage
of the Tyrolese; and he seem* destined
by Providence to check the destructive ca
reer of a blood thirsty enemy.
Had not Hoffer** achievements exhibited
him to the world a* a character worthy of
admiration, still the gold medal of hon
our, and the cross of ihe Order of Marin
Theresa, conferred on him by his-Majesty
tfie Emperour of Austria, at different pe
riods, would sufficiently attest his merits;
m those honourable distinctions are given
only to such as have particularly signal
ised themselves or rendered eminent ser
vices to the state.— [By the last Eu
ropean accounts, this brave man has been
shot by order of Bonaparte, at Mantua.}
Captain Budd, who arrived here this
day, from Port Tobacco, informs, that yes
terday morning the frigate John Adams
entered the Poiomack,|>ound up, and fired
a salute of 16 guns. Captain H. was close
aboard the frigate, and is certain it was
the John Adams, being well acquainted
with, the vessel. If the messenger went
ashore at St. Mary's, as it is probable he
did, he might reach Washington early thii
morning.
Hoffer, as a man who loved and esteemed
religion, his country, its laws, and the pri
vileges obtained by victory, perceived but
too clearly, that his already impoverished
country, could not possibly exist under the
yoke of France and Bavaria, and repaired
three time* to Vienna, to the Emperour of
Austria, and the Prince Charles and John,
to seek assistance, and ascertain whether
Austria was not again disposed to go to war
with it* tyrant* ; in hopes that on this oc
casion, the oppressed Tyrolese, who were
still warmly attached to the House of Aus
tria, might be able to shake off the yoke.
Neither were these hopes entirely disap
pointed ; he returned, and waited with
anxiety for th* commencement of a new
war. The long expected d*y at length
approached; and Holler, with two of his
most intimate friends, and companions in
arms, concerted a plan for attacking the
French and Bavarian troops, who then
occupied the country. It was agreed, that
th* signal for a general attack on the ene
my, amounting in number to 97,000, should
oe given by saw dust, thrown into the Inn,
the principal river which runs through a
great part of the country of Tyrol. In all
'he places along lite Inn, where there were
l>ersons to whom the secret had been con
fided, the meaning of the saw-dust was
perfectly understood ; they instantly has
ened to ring the alarm-bells, in order to
collect the inhabitants of the district* and
rallies, situated at a greater distance from
the Inn, to form them into corps, and to
attack and cut in piece* the enemy,
wherever he appeared. Complete success
crowned thisjheroick enterprise.
the highest degree, the love and respect
•f hl* country men. Whenever the danger
of hostile incursion* threatened his native
land, Hoffer was always at the head of the
brave inhabitants of hi* valley, a* their*
commander; and in all the actions that
took place, he signalised himself equally
by hi* courage and sagacity. lie is besides,
accounted one of the best riflemen In the
Tyrol; and ; n every engagement, whether
he be on foot, or on horseback, he is sure
to carry with him his favoui ite weapon.
Fraud' ftractited with Bank Kotet.
25p the .mail#.
BALTIMORE, May 29.
A message was received from the Se
nate, informing that the Hon, Messrs. King,
Sprague, Kendall. Welle* and Ashmun,
with such a* the House may join, be a com
mittee to examine the return* of votes for
Governour and Lieutehant-GoVernour.—.
The House added, Messrs. Smith, of W. S.
Russell, of Boston, Greene, of Berwick,
Holman, Sprague, of & and Lincoln,
The Howw assigned Saturday, 4 O’clock,
for coming to the choice of a Chaplain.
June 9.
VOTES FOR GOVERNOUR, & c .
The committee Of both Hauses appoint
ed to examine the votes for Governour and
Lieutenant-Governour for the ensuing year
reported, that they found the whole num
ber of votes returned, agreeably to the
pro visions 6f the constitution,
For Goranaoait, to be 90,813
Necessary to a choice,
And that the Hon. Elbridge Gerry had
46,541, and was elected
TUe whole number «f votes for X/kv- ’’’
r/wxjrr Gor/>xoirj», were M.9IF
Necessary to a choice, 44,959
And' that the Hon. William Gray had
46,516. and wa* elected. This report was
accepted in bath House* without debate,
and a joint committee, consisting of the
,Hon. Messrs. Brigham, King *nd Heard;
Messrs. Smith, of W. 8. Levis, of G.
Crovnings/deld and Dean, of R. were ap
pointed to wait on the Hon. Messrs. Gerry
and Gray, and acquaint them of their elec
tion to the above offices.
A committee of the Senate appointed to
examine the returns of votes for Senators
for the several districts, reported, that
Thirty-Nine were duly elected, and that
there was one vacancy in Bristol district.
That the votes necessary to make a choice
in that district were 2362, that the Hon.
Samuel Fates, had 2357, Aid the Hon. Ab- ‘ ‘
thaniehhfor/un, had 2345 votey; and
that they were th* candidates to fill the
vacancy The two House* met in con
vention to supply the vacancy; the whole
number of votes collected was 639—0 f
which the Hon. Nathaniel Morton, jao.
had 346, and was chosen. >Th* two House*
then separated.
Hi* Excellency Francis JanJl Jedtm,
hi* Brltaaoick Majesty’aMlqbter.andXae
f ■
GENERAL ELECTION.
On Wednesday the gentlemen chosen to
compose the Legislature of Massachusetts
the current year, assembled at the State-
House in this town. In the Senate 20 fed
eral republicans were present, and 19 of
the democratick party. In consequence
of these relative numbers it was in the
power of the minority to prevent the ma
jority from electing a President, nnlasa the •
federal candidate had voted for himself.—
This power the minority exercised in all
the attempts bn Wednesday. Me. Otic
was the federal candidate, and Mr. Dan*
the tlcmocratipk. The former gentleman
did not vote at all, except at the first bal
lotir*. the latter voted on every trial.
In the House, Mr. Morton was chosen.
Speaker by a plurality of 21 votes; Mr.
C. P. Sumner, Clerk, by a plurality of 20.
His Excellency the Governour, hie Hon
our the Lieutenant-Governour, the Hon
ourable Council, and the Honourable th»
Senators and Representatives, escorted by *
the Independent Cadets, proceeded to th*
First Church in Summer-street, where th*
Election Sermon was delivered by the Rev.
Dr. Parish. u
After divine service the Legislature again
assembled, and in the House the usual mo
tion was made to thaak -the Rev. Clergy
man for his sermon, and request a copy lot
the press. This was opposed by persona
of the prevailing party, and the decisloft
postponed to Monday.
Yesterday the Senate made choice of
Hon. Harrison G. Otis, as President. Mr.
OtU had 19 Mt-. Dana 18. Na
thaniel Coffin, Esq. was re-elected Clerk.
In the House, a remonstrance against
the election of Mr. Hobbp, of Weston,Was
committed. Also a remonstrance against
the election in Gloucester.
new chan much worn. It is certain that
the perpetrators of this fraud live or carry
on thtir villainous business tn this city* and
that such of our citizens as are least at*
quainted with Bank Notes, such as market
people and retailers, suffer .the most se
verely by it. If every persin tendering
such a note in payment, except those
whose characters place them above suspi
cion, was apprehended and taken before
the Police for examination, it hi probable
the pei petrators would be discovered, and
it is probable likewise that the Banks
would reward in a suitable manner, those
who had given their time and labour in
bringing the guilty to punishment.
BOSTON, June 1. ,
note. The notes from'whenep UiepieM* «
are taken are. with the exception of those
notes which furnish the margins, in tw*
pieces, and these being pinned, sewed, wa
tered or pasted together, form a note
which appears to have been injured by ac
cident, (torn in two, or a piece torn either
from the right nr left band margin,) but ,
sufficiently complete to entitle the holder
to demand Payment from Lite Bank which
issued it. The notes used for this fraud *
hitherto are of the denominations of one,
two, three, five and ten dollars, and rather