The constitutionalist — Exeter, N.H., 1810-05-28 00:00:00, page 1

THE CONSTITUTIONALIST.
{ CT • P ~'. # ^' r > J^ ^ ,1
Literary.
From the Anthology.
REVIEW.
[continued.]
The picture of the Hudson and its
Scenery exhibits a taste, a freshness, an
effect, in some of the parts, that rivals
the poetic painting of Walter Scott.
" Now did the soft breezes of the
south steal sweetly over the beauteous
face of nature, tempering the panting
heats of summer into genial and pro
lific warmth : when that miracle of
hardihood and chivalrick virtue, the
dauntless Peter Stuyvesant, spread his
canvass to the wind, and departed
from the fair island of Mana-hata.—
The galley in which he embarked was
sumptuously adorned with pendants
and streamers of gorgeous dyes, which
fluttered gaily in the wind, or droop
ed their ends into the bosom of the
stream. The bow and poop of this
majestic vessel were gallantly bedight,
after the rarest dutch fashion, with
naked figures of little pursy cupids
with periwigs on their heads, and bear
ing in their hands garlands of flowers,
the like of which are not to be found
in any book of botany ; being the
matchless flowers which flourished in
the golden age, and exist no longer,
unless it be in the imaginations of in
genious carvers of wood and discol
ourers of canvass.
" Thus rarely decorated, in style
befitting the state of the puissant po
tentate of the Manhattoes, did the gal
ley of Peter Stuyvesant launch forth
upon the bosom of the lordly Hudson,
which as it rolled its broad waves to
the ocean, seemed to pause for a while,
and swell with pride, as if conscious
of the illustrious burthen it sustained.
" But trust me, gentlefolk, far oth
er was the scene presented to the con
templation of the crew, from that
which may be witnessed at this degen
erate day. Wildness and, savage majes
ty reigned on the borders of this mighty
river—the hand of cultivation had not
as yet laid low the dark forests, and
tamed the features of the landscape—
nor had the frequent sail of commerce
yet broken in upon the profound and
awful solitude of ages. Here and
there might be seen a rude wigwam
perched among the cliffs of the moun
tains, with its curling column of smoke
mounting in the transparent atmosphere
—but so loftily situated that the
whoopings of the savage (children,
gambolling on the margin of the dizzy
heights, fell almost as faintly on the
ear, as do the notes of the lark when
Jost in the azure vault of heaven.—
Now and then from the beetling brow
of some rocky precipice, the wild deer
would look timidly down upon the
splendid pageant as it passed below ;
and then tossing his branching antlers
in the air, would bound away into the
thickest of the forest.
“ Through such scenes did the state
ly vessel of Peter Stuyvesant pass.—'
Now did they skirt the bases of the
rocky heights of Jersey, which spring
up like everlasting walls, reaching from
the waves unto the heavens ; and were
.fashioned, if tradition may be believed,
•in times long past, by the mighty spirit
Manctho, to protect his favourite
abodes from the unhallowed eyes of
mortals. Now did they career it gaily
across the vast expanse of Tappan bay,
whose wide extended shores present a
vast variety of delectable scenery—
here the bold promontory, crowned
with embowering trees advancing into
the bay—there the long woodland
slope, sweeping up from the shore in
rich luxuriance, and terminating in the
rude upland precipice—while at d dis
tance a long waving line of rocky
heights threw th?ir gigantick shades
across the water. Now would they
pass where some modest little interval,
opening among these stupendous scenes
yet retreating as it were for protection
into the embraces of the neighbouring
mountains, displayed a rural paradise,
fraught with sweet and pastoral beau
ties ; the velvet tufted lawn —the bushy
copse—the tinkling rivulet, stealing
^ through the fresh and vivid verdure —
on whose banks was situated some
little Indian village, or peradventure,
the rude cabin of some solitary hunter.
" The diflerent periods of the re
volving day'seemed each with cunning
<' magick, to diffuse a different charm
over the scene. Now would the jovial
sun break gloriously from the east,
blazing from the summits of the eastern
hills and sparkling the landscape with
a thousand dewy gems ; while along
Vol. I.]
AGAINST THE INSIDIOUS WILES OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE, THE JEALOUSY OF A FREE PEOPLE, OUGHT TO BE CONSTANTLY AWAKE Washington.
the borders of the river were seen heavy
masses of mist, which like midnight
caitiffs, disturbed at his approach, made
a sluggish retreat, rolling in sullen re
, luctance up the mountains. At such
times all was brightness and. life and
gaiety —the atmosphere seemed of an
indescribable pureness and transparen
cy —the birds broke forth in wanton
madrigals, and the freshening breezes
wafted the vessel merrily on her course.
But when the sun sunk amid a flood of
glory in the west, mantling the heavens
and the earth with a thousand gorgeous
dyes—then all was calm and silent and
magnificent. The late swelling saii
hung lifelessly against the mast—the
simple seaman with folded arms, lean
ed against the shrouds, lost in that in
voluntary musing which the sober
grandeur of nature commands in the
rudest of her children. The vast
bosom of the Hudson was like an un
ruffled mirrour, reflecting the golden
splendour of the heavens, excepting
that now and then a bark canoe would
steal across its surface, filled with paint
ed savages, whose gay feathers glared
brightly, as perchance a lingering ray
of the setting sun gleamed upon them
from the western mountains.
" But when the fairy hour of twi
light spread its magick mists around,
then did the face of nature assume a
thousand fugitive charms, which to the
worthy heart that seeks enjoyment in
the glorious works of its maker, are
inexpressibly captivating. The mel
low dubious light that prevailed, just
served to tinge with illusive colours,
the softened features of the scenery.
The deceived but delighted eye sought
vainly to discern in the broad masses of
shade, the separating line between the
land and water ; or to distinguish the
fading objects that seemed sinking into
chaos. Now did the busy fancy sup
ply the feebleness 'of vision, producing
with industrious craft a fairy creation
of her own.-—Under her plastick
wand the barren rocks frowned upon
the watery waste, in the semblance of
lofty towers and high embattled castles
—trees assumed the direful forms of
mighty giants, and the inaccessible sum
mits of the mountains seemed peopled
with a thousand shadowy beings.
" Now broke,orth from the shores
the notes of an innumerable variety of
insects, who filled the air with a strange
but not inharmonious concert—while
ever and anon was heard the melan
choly plaint of the Whip-poor-will,
who, perched on some lone tree,
wearied the ear of night with his in
cessant moanings. The mind, sooth
ed into a hallowed melancholy by the
solemn mystery of the scene, listened
with pensive stillness to catch and dis
tinguish each sound, that vaguely
echoed from the shore—now and then
startled perchance by the whoop of
some straggling savage, or the dreary
howl of some caitiff wolf, stealing
forth upon his nightly prowlings.
" Thus happily did they pursue
' their course, until the, entered upon
those awful, defiles denominated THE
highlands, where it would seem that
the gigantick Titans had erst waged
their impious war with heaven, piling
np cliffs on cliffs, and hurling vast
masses of rock in wild confusion. But
in sooth very different is the history
of these cloudcapt mountains. —These
in ancient days, before the Hudson
poured his waters from the lakes,
formed one vast prison, within whose
rocky bosom the omnipotent Manetho
confined the rebellious spirits who re
pined at his control. Here, bound
in adamantine chains, or jammed in
rifted pines, or crushed by ponderous
rocks, they groaned for many an age.
At length the lordly Hudson, in his
irresistible career towards the ocean,
burst open their prison house, rolling
his tide triumphantly through its stu
pendous ruins."
From the Spirit of Seventy-Six.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
[concluded.]
When the hopes which the friends of
freedom once entertained from the
French revolution were quenched, for
ever /—-When in Great Britain we be
held the freest government in Europe,
connected with us not more by lan
guage than by commerce ; sentiments
as well as policy would seem to dictate
a preference for her cause in the mind
of every genuine friend of liberty. I
speak not of that spurious liberty,
whose votaries are enrolled in the code
of the conscription ; who rejoice in the
MONDAY, MAY 28, 1810.
+ Captain Weasel—a redoubtable
hero of Smollett's Roderic Random,
lately lugged into a speech in the. h&use
of representatives, with as little cere
mony as he was lugged from under
the seat of the stage waggon, to the
great amazement and admiration of
Hugh Strap, the shaver !
§ Another great modern authority
—See Tristram Shandy.
* And yet these men call themselves
republicans ! The holy fathers of the
inquisition called themselves christians.
+ There can be no difficulty in filling
the blanks without going into a com
mittee of the whole house.
An irritable Virginian gentleman
arrived, one dark and cold winters'
night, at a ferry on James's river. The
boat was kept on the other side, and
our impatient squire vociferated most
loudly for the ferryman. Unluckily
it was Saturday night, and Charon had
gone about a mile 'off to the next plan
tation, to assist at a dance. A boy,
however, was despatched for him, but
the very circumstance which aggravated
the gentleman's impatience, viz. the
darkness and coldness of the night—
served but to retard, instead of accele
rating the movements of poor Charon.
At last, however, with slow and re
luctant steps, he came: when, as he
was loosing the boat from her moor
ings, our unfortunate traveller saluted
him with a volley of curses as choice
as Ernulphus himself could have coin
ed, threatening him with instant chas
tisement as soon as he should reach the
opposite shore. Our hero was a jus
tice of the peace: he well knew what
were the rights of a Virginia colonel,
and what the rights of a poor black
Without pretending to instruct,much
less to dictate or prescribe to you, sir,
may I be permitted to suggest whether
the most lofty language and pretensions
compart with the resources of second,
and third rate powers , whether .cir
cumstances ought not, and will not
(in spite of all we can do) govern us,
instead of our governing them ; wheth
er there are, or can be any rights so
absolute as not to be limited and mod
ified by the posture of affairs and the
existing state of things? In other words,
sir, whether in the " gestion" of our
concerns with the other nations of the
earth, We should look to our own re
sources and to theirs : to the actual
situation of the world; or turn to the
statute book ; or to the musty author
ities on national law, for our,rule of
conduct? And on this subject, sir, if
you will pardon the liberty, I will re
late one other anecdote.
subjugation bfswitz^rlaud and the Ty
rol, who exult in the overthrow of the
Spanish patriots and offer up their daily
vows at the shrine of the grim Moloch
of French ambition
besmeared with blood?
“ Os human sacrifice, and parents' tears ?" *
It were devoutly to be wished that
the terrific power of the modern Zingis
rested on no firmer bas^ than the
prayers of his Gallo American votaries ;
but the talents which he has embodied
in his service are not less appalling
than the tremendous physical force
which he wields. When he employs
blockheads, it is not tfo his own coun
cils, but in those of other nations. He
would spurn with- contempt from his
presence forever the spirit less creatures,
with their absurd, imbecile measures,
who have so long figured as leaders in
our legislative councils. The blunt,
untameable honesty of Macon, would
as soon find employmentin his service,
as the pert loquacity of , the
empty garrulity of , the frothy
nonsence of , or the impenetra
ble stupidity of .+ And yet, these
are the statesmen on whom we are
to rely to cope with Bonaparte, when
every obstacle to his power shall have
been removed ! Alas! Sir, his Talley
rands, and Champagnys, and Berthicrs,
and Lefebvres, and Neys, and Soults,
opposed to our Doctor Slops'll coun
cil, and Captain Weasels + in the field
are fearful odds! Although in the
" curses— loud but not deep, which
our patriotic legislators have impre
cated on the belligerents, they seem to
have availed themselves of the famous
precedent of the sage and pious Ernul
phus ;§ yet, to their astonishment and
dismay, neither words nor proclama
tions, nor resolutions however angry,
or undignified, or scurrilous, have
brought those great offenders to a just
sense of their transgressions. What
then remains to be done?
NOTES.
ferryman. Like some of our mem-i
bers of congress, he was too magnan
imous to consider the real state of
things. Like Sterne's judicious critic,
he thought only of the stop watch.
Mean while it occurred to poor Charon
(for even slaves will sometimes reason)
that if he was to get a severe drubbing
—the cudgel should come to him ;
that he would not go to the cudgel ;
and this determination he announced
in the most positive terms to his enraged
" mas^a." Our traveller now began
to perceive that he had not managed
this matter quite so well ; that there
are circumstances which have no res peer
for the rights and the menaces even of
a Virginia colonel ; that it would have
been prudent to husband his threats
until he was in some condition to exe
cute them. He began therefore to
give Charon fairer words. On the faith
of a gentleman “ and the honor of a
soldier" he promised the poor object
of his rage, oblivion for the past and
security for the future. Charon was
as inexorable as his namesake, the old
ferryman of Styx. Our gentleman
now began to be alarmed lest he should
perish with cold before he could reach
the next house. He opened his budget
of indemnities : he offered Charon an
extra half-bitt, a bitt, a pistareen, a
half dollar ! a dollar ! ! and a bottle of
rum!!! Charon, who thought the
terms of this arrangement too liberal
to be adherd to with good faith on the
part of the high contracting power on
the other side of the water, had reject
ed, all these splendid pecuniary offers
under a suspicion of " a disavowal of
the arrangement," when the state of
things should be changed : but he could
not resist the bottle of rum. He thought
it impossible that ill faith could exist
in shape so alluring. After much time
spent in the negociation, in repeating,
in distinct terms the articles of agree
ment and exchanging ratifications,
Charon pushed off; wafted our un
happy wight over the river; took him
on his back (for by this time he was
unable to walk) to his miserable hut,
and laid him by the fire, where he left
the poor unhappy frostbitten traveller
(whilst he set out to the next store for
his bottle of rum) to ruminate on the
converse of a famous precept, and
silently resolving, never again " to feel
right, and forget power."
Nothing could have induced me to
address a personage of your dignity in
a style thus familiar, & as I had thought
unbecoming, but my having perceived
that Roderick Random and Tristram
Shandy and Shakspeat's motley Fool,
with his " lie circumstantial and coun
tercheck quarrelsome," are at the top
of the fashion, in the first political circle
in the country—standard authorities
on the floor of congress.
At length, too, I perceive it has
been discovered by some of those who
do not talk always^ but thirtk some
times, that, even in national affairs,
circumstances ought to be taken into
account, and that the United States are
not irretrievably disgraced, because
their gunboats are not a match for the
British navy, and Gen. Wilkinson
and his army not quite equal to Bona
parte at the head of his legions. This
was reckoned a damnable heresy a few
years ago; but like other heresies it
appears to begin to thrive by persecu
tion, and it Seems now to be agreed
that we may, and ought to pursue our
interest, in the most practicable way,
and that really there is no absolute
necessity for hanging ourselves (like
Jack in the-tale of a tub) out of spite,
because we are thwarted in argument.
But I have been too long diverted
from the subject which first prompted
me to address you —the immediate ob
ject of my solicitude ; on which I have
bestowed many an anxious thought ;
to which (with the blessing of God !)
it is my firm, unalterable purpose
to devote many an hour of labour: 1
mean the history, character, and con
nexions, of the " family compact."
These I shall endeavour to trace through
all the ramifications, and I shall pre
sent you with such a body of evidence
in relation to these people and theirs
designs, as no man claiming the char
acter of common prudence,or foresight,
ever ventured to resist.
MUCIUS.
NOTE.
By a late treasury statement it ap
pears that since the commencement of
the government, the army and navy
have cost fifty four millions of dollars,
twenty five of which have been expend
ed since Mr. Jefferson's election to
the presidency.
, From the Connecticut Mirror.
SCIENCE OF DRAWING MONEY FROM
THE TREASURY.
A statement exhibiting the gross art
nual amount of expenditure, in re^ ,
lation to the military and naval
establishments, from 4th March,
1789, to the end of the year 1809.
i'ears. I Military es- I Maval estab- | Total.
\ tablishment. | lishment |
From 4th March, 1789, to 31st Dec. 1791,
632,80403 - - - I 632,80403
1792, 1,103,04847 - - - 1,103,048 47
1793. 1,132,443 91 - - - 032,443 91
1794, 2,589,097 59 61,40897 2,650,506 56
1795, 2,422,385 81 413,562 03 2,332,947 84
1796, 1,246,327 82 274,78404 1,521,111 86
1797, 1,002,29904 382,631 89 1,381,933 93
1698, 1,939,692 39 1,381,34776 3,321,040 15
1799, 2,405,669 17 2,858,081 84 5,263,751 01
1800, 2,517,409 99 3.448,16 03 5,966,126 02
1801, 1,600,944 08 2,111,424 3,712,368 08
1802, 1,179,148 20 915,811 87 2,094,960 12
1803, 822,055 85 1,246,317 89 2,068,373 74.
1804, 875,923 93 1,273,865 25 2,149,784 18
1805. 712,781 28 1,597,500 2,310,281 28
1806.1,224,355 38 1,649.641 44 2,873,996 82
1807, 1,288,68591 1,722,064 47 3,10,750 38
1808, 2,900,834 40 1,884,067 80 4784,902 20
1809, 3,345,772 17^,427,758 80 5,773,530 97
30941669 47 23645979 03 54587648 55
Treasury Department,
Register's Office, 3d April, 1810.
JOSEPH NO URSE, Register.
We beg our readers carefully to ex
amine the above interresting treasury
document. It is an official account of
the expenditure for the military and
naval establishments, from March 4th
1789, to the end of the year 1809;
twelve years of the Washington and
Adams administrations, and nearly nine
years of the Jefferson and Madison ad
ministrations. In the times of the for
mer, we remember an uproar through
out the country, about " armies, na
vies, loans and taxes." Every demo
cratic leader, from Mr. Giles in the.
house of representatives, down to
the then latest imported patriot in the
beer houses and grog shops of large
cities, and the orator in the bar-rooms
of country taverns, set up an outcry
against those enormities. Armies arid
navies cost money. No nation can do
well without them, at times; and it
is difficult so to manage, when wemuskl
have them, as not to waste the public (
treasure in profuse expenditure, andl
endanger the public liberty. Armies
and navies can be justified cnly on the
ground of their absolute necessity, for
the security of the nation at home, or'
abroad. In the time of Washington I
and Adams it must be confessed, that :
the army and navy cost great sums of I
money ; and at the outset of our sys-I
tern, and in hard times as those were,l
it was not easy to raise money.—Then |
we had not, as since we have had, sixteen
millions of dollars in a year coming in- ;
to the treasury, only from imposts, j
We ought also in these days of politi- ,
cal light and reform, to make chari-f
table allowances for our predecessors,j
and the darkness of the times in which /
they acted.
It was Washington's lot, every where
through his public life, to struggle
with difficulties. He did not flourish
on the splendid inheritance acquired by
the wisdom and toils of illustrious an
cestors. He aided in achieving a revo-'
lution, forming a constitution of gov-|
ernment, and in establishing a free, in
dependent, and great empire. Among U
other difficulties, at the threshold of I
administration, the exasperated re- m
sentments and hostility of the numer-1
ous and powerful Indian tribes, on our I
extended borders, were to be encoun-|
tered and controuled. At first, he tri- d
ed negociation—he held out the calu- |
met of peace. His benevolent attempts I
proved fruitless, and war become ne-]
cessary for the protection of the peo-]
plc on the frontiers. We remember ,
the successive, bloody, and expensive I
campaigns, under Harmer, St. Clair,
and Wayne. At length the red people I
were taught to fear, and respect their
white brethren. Peace was made, hud 1
Washington took effectual measures]
to preserve it by restraining the intru-■
sions and aggressions of the whites oral
the Indian territory, by establishing;
trading houses, and treating the Indians!
as a branch of the American family—-
Since that period they have remainedl
in peace. Soon after the close of the I
Indian war, depredations were com
mitted on our trade, by the piraticaf I
corsairs of the Dey of Algiers, and our
countrymen were carried into slavery- 1
On no occasion, has the public sym-fl
pathy been more deeply interested. Ar
universal cry for the deliverance wasp
heard. They were redeemed by an ex-1
pensive and burtheusome treaty, forced.
[No. 2.