The Rhode-Island American, and general advertiser — Providence [R.I.], 1810-08-07 00:00:00, page 2

that even that little had been suffered to
slumber in concealment/ Of the other, it
has long been discovered that the love of
DwHßMnmole term of t w o
whidLtbry have publish ly served
cnu n try»«k. Pottkm and Mr,JACK
HKn have reasdh to be prdud that their con
|Hpersations, thejfM&es, and their speeches
can furnish tMHbpponents with no other
v accusation of too undauntedly
' supporting those principles which the good
atojfr™ rr| y ,he ba<l ’ hypocritically, pro*
k UffiU to admire. Why then are they to be
K,displaced ? Mark the reply. Because they
hOt l he*lMcs nf a revolutionary party.
No ether ruWMt under heaven can be as
gV Signed. But have things advanced so far ?
f In our country shall it be said that the
* . name of a party, ami not correctness of
principle, constitutes the only qualification
for office ? Can party alone confer capaci
ty and competency ? Shall the unjust dis
, place the just, the ignorant and weak over
, potpeUhe wise and strong by the influence
a name—a necromantick charm, raised
Kr the black arts of night, that shrinks into
. *WnKfKMenoy and insignificance when search
ed by the sunshineiof day ? Such, indeed,
. appears to be the case ; for as there is no
real objection produced against these gen
tlemen, but their federalism, so the sole
recommendation of theft adversaries is that
. they awe democrats.
, But allowing that an alteration were
, tbougbtexpedieut; still 1 conceive it would
be necessary to consider the question,
whether those who are to succeed will pro
bahiy support the duties of their station
with more ability and faithfulness than
-their predecessors. A general observation
presento'ltself, that, however Irreproacha
ble might, be the characters of those ap
pointed to wcccrd the present Representa
tive*, they would not be, likely to produce
any new advantages, flor if they should
. support with ability the -constitution, and
tfiose feeding interests of their country that
.bare .been mentioned, they would be pur
suing the same measures which the others
iMsve pursued ; and whM would be .gained
by the change t But if they should abandon
those for different and opposite measures,
.they would be subverting those loading
interests, together with the constitution,
and what should we then have gained t
Who are the men that the call of faction
.ha*, at the present period, summoned upon
the area of opposition i Concerning one of
* ' 1 these person tges very little is known ; but
office, legitimate or usurped, is the ruling
passion; *ndthat subservient to this, is par
ty spirit, in all its virulence and violence.
Judge between these candidates; and
judge as men who feel that the most im
puytant interests of their country, as well
as the eternal peace of their consciences,
are hanging upon their decision. Is there
any thing in the phrensy of Hazard that
-will compensite you for the temperate
force of Potter f Is there any thing in
<h«%low craft and ignorant presumption of
Brown that will outweigh the solid judge-,
otrnt, the pi actical inform- tioh, and the
modest firmness nf Jackson ? If such
be your opinion, by all means make the
change. Remove from your confidence
those who, whether in a private or a pub
lick station, have ever served their countiy
with honour to themselves, tyid to the State
.which produced them ; and elect, in their
stead, men who seem never to have thought
of their country, save when some emolu
ment in its gift has awakened their avidity.
But 1 will not suppose such blindness and
injustice amongst my fellow-citizens. I will
.not imagine them incapable of perceiving
, that the contest now raised by the demo
, era tick party, originates solely in factious
views. There is art extended system form
ed by the leaders of that party, professedly
for altering aur modes of government. The
grand object oftheir attack, is the constitu
tion. la demolishing thnt nestle fortress, the
men whom they now offer for the represen
tative station, are to serve as their instru
ments ; the one is the combustible shell
. that will be sent blazing amongst the ram
parts ; th> other is the mining drag, to be
driven to end-fro under ground, for clear
ing away obstructions. \
Since, then, an attack is rfieditated, nay,
already In-gun and advanced, it becbmi-s
vs, fellow-ci'isi ns, to be guarded and in
dustrious. The constitution is our citadel,
our Roman capitol; let us man it with our
firmest and most faithful watchmen, if
treachery or negligence harbour there, it
may that no gvese will again interpose to
rescue from the Gauls.
Exertion is the virtue we most emphati
cally want. Indolence was the weight that
' bote down the federal aause ; is it a weight
to jh-css forever ? The approaching •• lec
tion will decide. Be present at the poll. Let
no man say the vote of one or two will make
Itn difference ; the votes of two men, at the
last pruxing, carried a Repyesentative to
the Assembly.* It is known from accut ate
estimates, that the majority of the State is
fcueral; all that is necessary is exertion.—
Q t day’s attention may save a Bute ; may
St. ve a-nation ; duty requires that d«y. It is
a duty wet winch conscience will not sleep.
If you regard your own honour; the hon
our xad welfare nf your stale, the fouppi
di-* -tfimurcountry, and the preservation
of as cunstifatiMi, as piksknt at thk
roiu VALERIUS.
charity would breathe a benevolent wish
TBX BBBBMAN’S JOVBVAI/
Letters, upon French Influence,
No. IX
To the qf the UtursD Sr Ates.
. Tib secret mesaage of the President of
the 6th of Decern t>r, 1805, which was an
nexed to the last number, opens an ample
field for investigation and criticism. It is
not probable that all history can product
an instance of conduct |t once so unprinci
pled and undignified, in the ruler of a free
people, as of Jefferson upon'this occa
sion will appear to have been, when fairly
and fully developed.
Acknowledging the duty incumbent up
on the Executive of the United States to
require from the government of Spain in
demnification for our injured citizens, the
message announces that a convention was
accordingly entered into between the Min
ister of the United States at Madrid, and
the M inister of that" government for foreign
affairs, by Which It was agreed that spolia
tions, committed by Spanish subjects, and
carried into ports of Spain, should be paid
for by that nation, and that those commit
ted by French and carried into
Spanish ports, should remain for further
lt would seem to appear that
the transfer of Louisiana by France to the
United States occasioned the ’ rejection of
this convention on the part of Spain. But
it is believed that this was not the case.—
In this, as in all other instances, Spain was
bound to know what the comm >nds of
France were, and to obey them. France
would not suffer Spain to make an arrange
■tent with us, unless we would give out
discharge in full for what France peremp
torily pronounced an unfounded claim on
nur part, that of payment for French spo
liations carried into Spanish ports. And
why f Because, as happens to leak out,
towards the conclusion of the message.
“ France was prompt and decided in her
declarations, that our demands on Spain
for French spoliations, carried into Spanish
ports, Were Included in the settlement be
tween the United States and France.”—
That France, in ceding Louisiana to th<-
United States, looked forward to all th.
difficulties which the omission of boundaries
must naturally produce, and that she even
then intended to take that advantage of
her own wrong in this respect which she has
since done,by preventing an adjustment be
tween us and Spain, except upon term.
which would replenish the French treasury,
there can now be no doubt in the mind of
any man of common apprehension. It was
one object, indeed, to have a plausible pre
text for evading payment for French spo
liations in Spain, the existence of which
proved that, politically speaking, then
waj no Spain,' But it was another and a
greater object to keep the boundaries ct
Louisiana unsettled, as the instrument of
establishing a strong French influence over
the United States, whether in expectation
of obtaining more money from us or not, is
quite immaterial. Yet facts abundantly
and conclusively shew that such an ex
pectation must have been entertained. M.
Talleyrand was then chief counsellor to
his Imperial Majesty; and had he not been,
Napoleon would have known the true cha
racier and situation of our country. He
knew our extreme love of peace ; our deep
animosities against England ; the ill con
duct of England towards us; our ardent
attachment, from revolutionary recollec
tions, to the French nation ; nur consequent
indisposition to view the wrongs of France
in so strong a light as those of England ;
our deficiency in military and naval power;
the unpopularity which would attend the
creation of armies and navies ; the idola
try of the people for the existing admin
istration ; the probability that idolatry
would continue while the people should be
lieve the administration to be devoted to
economy and peace ; and the certainty
that, should we be impelled to war with a
foreign power, every disposition would ex
ist among us to go to war with England
rather than France. He was also ac
quainted with Jefferson’s philosophising,
theorizing, and timid disposition ; with his
1 total want of nerve ; and with his ardent
hatred of England, and profound devotion
to France. He knew that the same Pi evi
dent J'-flerson, excessively ambitious of lite
rary fame, had staked his reputation as a
wntei upon a prediction that the Sun of
Britain’s glory was about to set forever,
and of course that he was deeply interest
ed to turn his own prediction into prophe
sy. Under all these circumstances he
must have been a fool to doubt that the
American President was ripe so far as de
pended on himself alone, for the great and
good work of completing the destruction of
Old England. He could not therefore but
expect with confidence a perfect submis
sion to his dictates in regard to our relations
with Spain.
> There were several statements in the
• message, which, if not in fact false, were
t extremely deceptive. After the President
• had spoken of Spain as the efficient powet
' in refeience to the contested boundaries «'
• Louisiana, he incautiously admitted, in the
very same paper, that France was ma
naging the business to promote het own
purpoM-, as appears by the singtfiar
i :.ioi>, Whatever direction shk might mean
to give to theee difference!— that is, what
ever direction France might mcau to give
to the differences between the United
States and Spain. He was sensible, indeed
he bad been informed by his egents In Eu
rope, that France intended to give some
direction to those differences, and he affect
ed to be ignorant what it would be. Yet
he perfectly knew what it was. and was at
that moment secretly labouring to give
thoee •• differences’* the very same “ di
rection” which his friend Napoleon con
templated, This may be considered a
high charge, but it will be amply supported
fiy unquestionable facts. The direction
which France meant to give, and had in
fact given, was, that several millions of
dollars should be paid out of the treasury
of the United States into that of France.—
We could prove the fact to the satisfaction
of any independent court or jury in the
United States. But as Jefferson knows
that we can prove it, we shall not be called
on for the proof. We cannot exhibit in
these letters the same sort of evidence,
either as to this point, dr as to a presumed
particular correspondence between Jeffer
son and Napoleon, which It would be in our
power to command in a court of law.
Will give you satisfaction, you shall have it.
There is no hesitation, in asserting that
Jefferson, more perhaps through fear than
from corruption, had made up his mind to
carry into effect the “ direction” which
France ” might mean to give to the differ
ences” between the United States -and
Spain, He will not deny it. The publick
may 'expect the proof.
Thr publication of the secret documents,
“IN extknso,” is suspended for the pre
sent. . When the Publick reflect upon the
importance of those parts of them which
were disclosed in the seventh number, and
which completely proved the fact of the
subjection of Jefferson’s administration to
'he influence of France, and reflect also
that documenta of such importance had
been known, for four or five years, to exist,
ny 50 or 60 inflexible opponents of the ad
ministration in Congress, they must have
some idea of the power of that charm
which binds the members of the National
Legislature to secrecy in certain cases.—
It appears now to be universally admitted
hat there is no constitutional or legal ob
stacle to the publication of those docu
ments. But the writer finds that some of
those whose judgement he cannot but high
ly respect, are not quite so clear as to the
perfect propriety of such a step. All the
members of Congress have uniformly agreed
in opinion that some parts of the papers
which were laid before them ought not to
be given to the world. More, much more
genera) inform r.tion upon the subject, how
ever, the Publick are entitled to and shall
receive.
ble length in No. X. to which will be added
an appendik, very much to the point, in
which two great statesmen will be cut to
pieces with their own favourite edge tools.
It augurs well that those gentlemen treat
this t><w>ject so seriously, and it would put
to the blush, if any thing could, the few
wretched French paragraph makers who
affect to ridicule a developement, which
their masters feel to be fraught with death
to all'their hopes.
P. S. The defence set up by Mr. Jeffer
son and Mr. Madison, in the National In
telligencer, against the charges contained
in Na VII, will be examined at considera-
From an account of the administration of
Refinances, for 1809, laid before the Em
perour Napoleon, by his Minister of Fi
nances, a Paris paper particularly remarks
die following paragraphs:—
“ The expenditure of 1809 is too near
us for me to be able now to state to your
Majesty the precise results of the receipt
and expenditure; but it can be foreseen
ihat the expenses of the war this year will
be no less than 640 millions, only 350 oi
which will be supported by the publick
treasury.
•* Hdsrever, your Majesty has not neg
lected any means of introducing the most
rigid economy into every branch of the
war administration; you have suppressed
enterprises which consumed the finances,
and you have replaced them by establish
ments at the head of which you have ap
pointed Counsellors of State, who are dis
tinguished both by their probity and talents.
'* But people are no longer astonished at
the greatness of the expenditure, when
they consider that besides an immense
staff, your Majesty has this year in arms
900,000 infantry, 100,000 cavalry, and
50,000 horses for the artillery and equi
pages ; this is a developement of power and
force which your Majesty never had at
any former period.
“It is to that spirit of order which it
has pleased nature to add to so many emi*
1 went qualities with which it his endowed
I your Majesty; it is to your indefatigable
I Vigilance, to your persevering ardour in
inreatigating-the causes of abuses, to your
firfoeets ia preventing the renewal of them,
that you are indebted for being able in such
cifoinistaaces, to supply at once the trea
-1
That lead directly to the door of truth,
But yet 1 say,
If imputation and strong circumstances,
Foreign intelligence.
LONDON, June 1.
FRENCH FINANCES, Uc.
sury* with tip necessary supplamenta for
the army; to grant noble rewards to the
generals, officers and privates, and to agri
culture and trade, useful encouragements.
Such is in effl-ct, the power of order that
fertilizes and multiplies resources.
“ If the expenditure of the year 1809
was great, every thing lead* to believe,
that great savings will be mad*, io 1810—
Your Majesty raised 300,000 men in 1809,
and it appears to be your intention nut te
raise any in 1810.
In 1809,60,000 horses were bought and
equipped ; it appears that you do not mean
to purchase any in 1810.
*’ Your Majesty is in expectation of be
ing able to reduce yqur military establish
ment 300,000 men, and to circumscribe it
UiFOO.OOO, half for the operation in Spain,
and half for the defence of the Coast and
maritime expeditious.
“ Thus Well founded hopes may be en
tertained of a perceptible saving in the ex
penditures of >810; 1 say hopes, for the
best established calculation may be de
ranged by events which apt upon the hu
man passions. Your Majesty will, at any
rate always find resources in the energy of
your people, and in the excellent situation
of your financed.
•• I have yet, taken notice to your Majes
ty only of the grandeur of your military es
tablishments ; why should I not mention hi
this place, that at the same’ time that
the treasury was providing for the main
tenance and equipment of 200,000 men
and 50,000 horses; yqur Majesty allotted
80,000,000 for the expenses of canals, of
high roads, qf internal improvements of all
kinds, and that you gave io one year, for
important works, as much as Kings could
with difficulty grant during a whole reig<. !•
“ How is it possible not to be astonished
upon beholding at the same time the works
of the fortifications carried on with more
activity than in the glorious days of Vau
ban, when the conquest of Flanders and
Alsace was to be secured ? of beholding
works carried on at the same time at Alex
andria, at Kehl, at Cassel, atWesel, at
Jnliers, at Venloo, at Belle Isle, at Isle
D’Aiy, at Boulougne, at Antwerp, and upon
the. banks of the Scheldt ? every thing is in
movement in the ports from Antwerp as
far as Spezia; and before two years are
elapsfed the wet docks of Cherbourg and of
Antwerp will contain each 30 ships of the
line.
“ Your Majesty has found means of pro
viding for the expense of' these immense
works, without taking any thing from what
was necessary for the supplies commanded
by foresight. The artillery has every year
augmented ; upwards of 100,000 new mus
kets are in the arsenals, besides the foreign
muskets which the fate of war has put into
our bands; and your Majesty has 40,000
pieces of cannon, together with all the ne
cessary ammunition.”
• “ The tpirit of order, vigilance," and ° firm
nett," are the only means by which Napoleon
has been enabled to support his grand military
establishments, Bcc. &.c. and to expend as
“ much in one year, as Kings could with diffi
culty grant during a vshole reign If" What a
truly “ eupereminent" statesman ? He never re
sorted to the plundering eyetem : Hi never laid
contribution! on any place or country ; H a never
robbed churches of their plate and ornaments ;
h a never rapaciously seized on anv neutral ves
sel in the ports of his own “ dear France,”
nor in those of his Vassal States, and sold them
and their cargoes, in aid of uis Treasury !—.
No, no—hz is a paragon not only of
but of Justice —Added to this, hi is Humanity
personified! he never occasioned the death of
any human being, either by polton, torture, or
ehot ,• and what is still nearer proof, in point of
his benevolent disposition, i* that he never im
pritoned any American seamen in loathsome
dungeons, but treats them, as he does our Am.
bassadour and government, with the most per
fect respect. Surely then the democrats are
correct in chauntinr the hosannahs to the “ tu
fiereminent" Napoleon! and the Federalists, in
not joining the chorus, shew that they have no
principle of gratitude or love! Ctntinel.
Wi learn, with pleasure, from l New-
Orleans, that the acting Governour will
undertake to wot k a radical reform of the
abuses that have unfortunately crept into
the government of that territory. The in
tegrity, talents and firmness of Mr. Robert
son, pre-eminently qualify him for such an
undertaking. With the assistance of an
able Superiour Court, we hope, that in a
short time, under the administration of Mr>
Robertson, to see our sister territory enjoy
the blessings of an American government.
REVOLUTIONARY SYMPTOMS.
Letters have been received to day from
Bayou Sarah, and B ..on Rouge, stating that
the people of those Distric.s in West-Flo
rida, had it in contem|.’....ion to form a gov
ernment for themselves; that they had
been for some time without law, or the
semblance of government, and that self
preservation drove them to the measure
they were about to take. We are pro
mised extracts of the letters, which if hand
ed to us, shall appear to-morrow.
A report hai just reached town, and Is
very generally believed, that the inhabi-
ALEXANDRIA, July 27.
Extract of a letter from New-Or leant, to
a gentleman in thie place, dated June
3Wh, 1810.
NEW-ORLEANS, June 27.
25p the jfeaiUr.
NATCHES, June 27.
tapts of that part of West-Florida com
posing the settlement of Baton Riugexnd
Bayou Sarah, have come to a determina
tion to declare themselves independent off
the 4th of July, and ask protection of the
American government.” [The American
government cannot interfere.]
“ With respect to the Portuguese troops,
all will agree in expressing their surprise
at the improvement made in their appear
ance, between the time we left their coun
try and our return to it. There are few '
battalions in this army, in point of outward
show, superiour to them, and they are daily
improving. How far they can be brought
to fight, as they are naturally not over cour
ageous, remains to be seen. A battalion of
•them is added to two English ones in a
great number of our brigades.
“ It has been thought, by some wise peo
ple that our difference of religion would be
the greatest bane to us here, and that we
should every day be more detested by this
bigottedi people. Now it has turned out
quitoibg contrary. At first they were sad
ly afraid of us, and used to run away from
us as from triad dogs, but latterly they have
become quite reconciled, and look at the
ceretnooito of our church, which by the
way are not forced very Mtnisively upon
cheir notice, with curlAsity and even satis
faction, at finding something like Chris
tianity among the Heathens. They are
uniformly kind to us, and like our soldiers,
who, disgukteff, wttfithe treatment they
met with in Spaing ate*gratefal for the dif
fertence, and behave remarkably well to
them. ‘ '
“We hive qt number of Spaniards at
tached to our Commissariat, with mules,
&c. They are a very different race from
the Portuguese—in appearance wonderful
ly superiour; and, if ’they had a leader,
equal to any thing as soldiers. The very
first glanceßoHs you whether a peasant you
meet it flpin ish or Portuguese.” »
NEW-YORK, August 2.
From Exglahd.
Arrived, yesterday, the brigTamash
maah, Captain Storey, from Liverpool,
from which port she sailed the 24th of June.
This vessel sailed in ballast, with George
W. Erving, Esq. (late Charge des Affair* '
of the United States, in Spain,) as passen
ger, who has important despatches for gov
ernment. Mr. Erving wi’’. leave town this*
day for Washington. She brought London
papers and letters to the owners only. We
have not been favoured with a perusal of
these papers, but have received the follow
ing few articles, which we understand are
extracted from them.
Beside these extracts, we are informed
that the papers contain a new decree of Bo
naparte’s, ordering his cruisers to captuak
and bring in all American vessel* wherever
they may be found; and also ordering th®
condemnation of all American property in
the ports of France or countries under her
control.
This infornyation is said to have been
communicated to Mr. Pinkney, by General
Armstrong at Paris.
Parliament was prorogued on the 19th of
June, on which day,Sir Francis Burdett waa
released from the Tower, amidst the ac
clamations of the populace.
Captain Story, of the Tamaahmaah, in
forms us that the British frigate Venus,
with Mr. Morier, (the new Charge des
Affaires to America,) on board, was to sail
from Portsmouth on the 24th of June ; and
that Mr. Jackson is to returnlo England in
the frigate Venus.
Extract qf a letter from Liverpool, dated
9th June.
” The news of the repeal of the non-in
tercourse bill, was brought by the Pacifiok
on the 6th instant.
” The brig Tamaahmaah and the PaeiE
ick, both took pilots at the same time; the
Hercules, Vose, arrived on the Bth.”
London, June 20.
Accounts from Gottenburg of the 15th
June, state that the whole Baltick fleet has
passed the Belt with a fine wind, witbout
making a single prise. ,
By a private ship, we have a communi
cation from Hamburg, dated the Ist inkt.
mentioning the capture of a French priva
teer and her prise an American ship, cut
out of tife port of Rostock.
Globe Office, two o'clock.
The town is now all bustle. It has been
increasing since 12 o’clock, and promises
an immense crowd in the course of the
day. The people in the line through which
the procession is to pass, are shutting their
shops, and the company already assembling
to take their stations on the balconies and
at the window* Bands, with marrowbones
and cleavers, with blue cockades, and mot
tos complimentary to the Baronet, are pa
rading the streets. About 1 o’clock, a par
ty of about 500, from Soho, with blue cock
ades and colours flying, proceeded down
and the Strand, for the
city. They marched two and two, and in
vited every passenger whom they met to
join them. At Catherine-strect they were
met by the 12th Light Dragoons, on their
way to Hyde-Park Corner. The musick
' of the former was playing St. Patrick’s
PHILADELPHIA, July 31.
Extract of a letter from a Brilith Officer
in Portugal.