The Rhode-Island American, and general advertiser — Providence [R.I.], 1810-11-16 00:00:00, page 2

idea that the supreme power is wholly In
their'hands, is no fictioh. You wogdtr.’
perhaps, at (he freedom with which.you
arc addressed. You a»Jr, where is Qye r#
spcct which is of rIXhT due Id the 1 * power
that be i” The moment, fair, that a rule 1
jy in a free government attempts to exerta
power which his official capacity does no< ’
confer upon him, and shews a disposition
to become a tyrant,* Hie allegiance of re
spect which we owe to those whose sta
tioo* should make them the fathers of the
people, is at an end. The officer of gov
ernment, in the execution of his official du
ties, we are bound to obey, but it would be
worse than madness to suppose that rank
could confer infallibility of judgement, or
, that we were under any obligation to re
ceive the partial and inconsistent opinions
even of the Governour, as correct.
•'Are debauchees in morals to preside )
•• Is faith to take sn Atheist for her guide I
“ Is science by a blockhead to be lead I
•' Are States to totter on a drunkard's head I”
No, Sir, freemen scorn the degrading
doettine of passive obedience i they will
not loi.gtcouKent to be made the tools of fa mi
ly aggrandizement; they will rise against
you, Sir, and till the chaj| with a charac
ter which will render that chair respected ;
but they will do it only by exerting their le
gul, their unalienable rights of suffrage. |
AN ELECTOR.
They assert him to be their political high
.priest, that he has ministered in thair sanc
tuary, that he adopted them into his family,
and that they, and they alone , are tenants
in common of hj* virtues and his principles.
Thvy would in fact represent that the man
tle 01 ha* fell upon them,
but, fellow-citizens, be not thos deceived ;
examine lor yourselves. Let us inquire
what were their sentiments while they
were in the minority; by what means did
the y get the power,and does their measures
accord with their present professions. To
examine then their measures. If they ap
prove them, we would ask, why do they
nut pu' sue them. Their conduct gives the
lie to their assertions; it speak* in a lap
gu..gt- too plain to be misunderstood—that
they disapprove his administration, but are
willing, for present/larlp purposes, to as
sume the g trb of dectption, and palm them
selves upon the untlimkiug as his admirers.
Fellow-citizens, the fact is, the Tammanies
are the real, the determmed enemies of him,
whose principle* and measure* proclaim
4 the statesman; whose every act of a meri
tonous lift announces the hero; whose eve
ry thought was that of the patriot; whom
the ft deralists ever honoured when'living,
and whose memory to them is ever sacred
and de »r, for he was his country’s Saviour,
he their political father.
But, s »y our opponents again, Washing
ton was the friend Tammanies; we re
spect him as our great Grand Sachem.
presumption indeed, to cast so
vite a stigma on his lair name. Convince
me thatthe meridian splendour of the sun
involves the world in midnight gloom; that
the waters of the ocean have quitted their
™ confines, and are now laving the top of
Anarat; that the civilised American is
equally ignorant, base andbai barous as the
savage tenant of the wilderness ; make it
appear that what is not i», and I will then
believe that Washington was a Tammany,
and the friend of Tammanies. But let us
investigate the fact, that we may convince
the deluded. Our opponents must either j
agree that he was their enemy, mid there
foie they reviled him; or he was their
friend, and that they have been guilty of
this baseness. They are very welcome to
Assent to which of these they please. That
he has been slandered, basely slandered,
by some of thejr great men, we think can
not be doubted. Yes, the Duke of Monti
cello, that paragon of depravity, Thomas
Jvfft rson, the idol of the Tammanies, ap
plauded, encouraged, nay, rewarded James
Callender, a demon of the basest make,
for his notorious libel on our most distin
guished chief. The proof of this you have
in the fact that Jefferson perused the proof
sheet of pamphlet, and in a
letter, in “ hi* well known hand writing,”
declared “hie opinion that such Rafters
cannot Jail oj having the beet effects''
1 hi* letter is in the possession of a gentle
man in Virginia, and is dated at Monti
cello, the head quarters of American in
gratitude, cringing hypocrisy and French
influence. Fellow-citisrns, rememberthat
Jefferson knew the contents of this pam
phlet, and might have discouraged its pub
l.cation; that he did not is another proof, J
roa thi'mhodm-hlanb AMCMICAN.
Desire ye to know the truth: Verily I say
unto you the Tammany party are the
revilcrs and fnemies tf our immortal
Washington.
To every true American the name of
Washington must ever be dear. As he
was emphatically the saviour and Father of
his country, gratitude alone commands us to
respect his memory, and his ex
•l ed character from the reproach of ene
mies. There are but few, we hope, who
would not withdraw their confidence and
support from a party Which is opposed to
. bis measures, or which has ever manifest
ed a desire to tarnish his good name. The
Tammany party declare they are his friends
and supporters; that they reverence bis
name, and applaud his administration.—
Providsnoe, November 8, 1810.
Is it not astonishing, my friend, that the
different ages of the world exhibit man
kind in so different states of character } Al
one time we see man encircled with almost
celestial dignity. His mind is cultivated,
his manners are polished, bis heart is hu
manized, and his sentiments are proudly
refined. He walks forth a man, firm and
undaunted. He is conscious of his oWn
worth, aid therefore has no thought but the
thought of unsullied honour. But viewing
him a moment after, “ how is the gold be
cnme dim !” The “ lean kine” of a dark
age sweep away every relick of richness
and beauty. Not contented with their own
meagreness, they voraciously prey on ail
that was noble in the preceding age. Man
now is an inferiour animal. The mighty
energies of his genius are bowed down to
sullen stupidity. His manners are coarse
and savage. The tender feelings of hu
manity—those feelings that' were once the
boast and the exquisite felicity of his na
tore—are now extinct in his breast. And
those noble, those elevated sentiments that j
be remembered, the Reading meaauresni
that administration were not only privately,
but publickly, and, in instance, officially
approved by Washington himself. The
sentiments of the one wwe in unison with
those of the other, however unwilling thy
wavering Mr. Adams may be toconfefs that
at that time he was an honest man. And
if more than this is required, you have only
to refer to the same pamphlet, where this
revolutionary patriot, but now pitiable old
man, is equally anathematized; and by way
(f compliment, if he and they please, is de
dared to be an “ hoary headedincendiary."
My countrymen, the undeniable fact is this,
the enemies of Washington were deter
mined to have a change of administration.
They selected one of their own number to
promote to the Presidency, and taught the
people but too faithfully to believe, that
great was Jefferson, the son of Tammany
Their nuntbers and their audacity has in
creased since our Washington’s ashes have
slumbered in the tomb.. His enemies iu
his life-time, they now despise those who
loved him ; and we may not doubt but that
the real sons of Tammany will ever be the
enemies of all Washingtonians.
exclusive of the express approbation given
to it by him, that the were en
tirely conformaßfe to his vieWs.But per
mit me to call y«>ur‘ attention to what was
•bus written, and thus approved, concern
ing him whb was A merica’s pride and boast;
hen say if you think the Tamtnaaiee mani
fest a regard to hitn in thus promoting to
iffice Thomas J. fferson, his enemy and hfe
. calumniator. James Callender, than whom
a greater villain ne£r walked the earth,
thus sgpaks of our oHuved Washington:—
Under the old confederation matters
never were nor could have been conducted
so wretchedly as they are, and have been,
under the successive monabchs of Brain
tree {alluding to John Mams) and Mount-
Vernon by which ail know was meant its
rugust inhabitant. But facts give the lie
direct to this assertion. Previous to our
first President’s taking the cbair were
we not distressed almost beyond endu
rance ? Were we not without system ?
Where were our finances, where our name,
where our power ? By his exertions did
not these distresses vanish ? Yes, an up
right, independent administration waa es
tablished, provision was made for the extin
guishment of an oppressive national debt;
our finances became flourishing, our name
honourably and even our infant power
taught the haughty despot to respect our
rights. Say, then, my countrymen, think
you those golden days .of our good President
were wretched. As well might you thinly
son promoted to office I Was it not because
’his sentiments were diametrically opposed
to Mr. Adams, the then President ? Let it
late divinity of Mount-Vernon, approved
and subscribed every one of their blackest
measures. This speech completely un
masks the scandalous hypocrisy of Wash
ington, and shows in what way he was
likely to assert the privileges of his coun
try. Mr. Adams has only completed the
sconce of ignominy which Washington be
gun. By his own account Mr. Washington
has been twice a traitor.” Thus Mr. Jef
feraon, and his friend Callender, would
represent that most excellent character as
base and unprincipled'; would.make him a
scandalous hypocrite. But this is not all,
he to whom our country is indebted, under
God, for her very independence, is openly,
and with unheard of impudence, denounced
as a TRAITOB.
TO A FRIEND IN THE COUNTRY.
•Vo. ZF*
■a fruitful season would produce no harvest.
But listen further to savage baseness, listen
to the sentiments <f Jefferson, for you bave
seen he has approved them. This execra
ble writer, speaking of the Ambasaadours
of Washington’s appointment, says, “For
years together the United States resounded
with curses against them, while the grand
Lama of Federal adoration, the immacu-
FOR I“HE RHODRISLAND AMERICAN.
LETTERS
Now, let us inquire, why was Mr. Jaffer
IDitfcellanp.
MOUNT VERNON.
LONDON, October I—s
AFFAIRS Iff TURKEY.
r p
J n» Grand Srgnior ’••*, with the usual
ceremonies, placed himself at the head of
his troops, and bis presence has excited
the sufferings of mankind in ■ thousand
shapes, we fisei still deeper the pang of un
availing sympathy. If we go still further,
and look at the sooty thousands of Africa,
or the crowded millions of Asia—if we con
template their bondage, their wants, their
gloomy ignorance, their unfeeling barbari
ty, their destitution of all that gives digni
ty to life, we shall indeed be pained at the
view—we shall be ready to exclaim—
“ Why has man bees made to be shrouded
in such accumulated misery ? Why has be
been endowed with iuch*illustrious capaca
ties, if these capacities must be forever
smothered in hopeless inaction?" The
ways of heaven, my friend, are inscrutable.,
We must acquiesce. But acquiescence i*
not all. When we reflect on the wretched
ness of so many millions, and then turn out
view to oui own situation, acquiescence, is
not all. The bosom of feeling will burn
with gratitude It will be generously in
fl.«me<L It will thank heaven that we are
Americans. Adien. PHILO.
r»OM THI BOSTON REPERTORY.
Tux step of issuing a proclamation, an
nouncing the French Decrees to be re
voked, opening our ports to French armed
vessels, and preparing the way for a re
vival of the n<*-intercourse with Great-
Britain—a step, concerning which a varie
ty of expectations have been anxiously en
tertained, has been takes, and the procla
mation, with a Circular relating to the sub-
published.
The act of Congress was so explicit as
to the conditions on which the President
was authorised to issue such M proclama
tion, we should feel perfectly competent to
judge of the regularity of the measure, it
goverdMent had condescended. to make
known the cotntauolcations it has received
tn ln the dark, as to this point,
our*K;manK must necessarily be proble
matical.
We shall not' contend that the word of
the French government, officially pledged,
is not to be taken. In this we agree with
some of our administration writers, that if
we respect a government's faith so much
as to negotiate with it at all, we are bouhd,
in consistency, to take its word when given
in due form, which was not the case in the
instance of Erskine’s arrangement.
The question is, was the letter from the
Due de Cadore to General Armstrong a
real communication, or a forgery ? If that
letter was authentkk, and if it has been
transmitted to our government, Mr. Madi
son has most, certainly, a second time,
stepped out of the limits prescribed for his
diiection by Congress.
That letter declared the Decrees of Ber
lin and Milan revoked, and that they would
cease to have effect after the first of No
vember. Had the letter terminated here,
the French government would have left the
act of Congress to take its natural course,
and the proclamation, now issued, would
have been the necessary consequence
BUT, in the Due de Cadore *s letter, this
positive declaration is immediately quali
fied by conditions, which make an essential
part of the document, and are not contem
plated in the act of Congress. If that let
ter, as published, was autkentick, we re
peat it, the /totitive utterance that the
French Decree* were revoked, on which
atone the President could issue his procla
mation, conformable to the act of Congress,
hat never been given. The revocation
was conditional, and Congress authorised
the President to predicate hie proclama
tion on a filain Unconditional fact.
A burnt child dreads the fire, says the
Proverb, but we much fear that Mr. Madi
son, from an ardent seal to bring his inter
dictions of our trade with England in force
a ß“in, has exceeded bis powers, and taken
upon himself a responsibility which he may
hereafter, as well as his countrymen gene
rally, have reason to regret.
f orelflii intelligence.
pt
formerly gave an awful majesty to his chh
facter, have bceii by Op
pression and ignorance to Jhe meet de
grading servility. Nor is he alone affect-*
cd. AM nature droops at his degradation.
Science stands by neglecteA The pulse
of commercial intercourse ceases to beat*
Agriculture forgets to yield its hundred
fold. The useful arts of life are unnerved.
And the delicate tints of the pencil fade,
and are forgotten. The whole world seems
to have suffered disorganisation.' O my
friend, how afflicting is it to view such a
picture of man, and to recollect that its
foundation is net mere fancy. We live in
a country where the means of happiness
are probably more generally diffused than
in any other. Yet do we see nothing that
excites the sigh of humanity ? Do we see
no ignorance—no indigence—no brutal fe
rocity—no abject degradation of the human
character ? Indeed, my friend, enough of
these calamities we discover on every side.
Even here, in this land of privileges,
enough is observable to make the heart of
sensibility mourn over human wretched
ness. But if we look further, if we cast an
eye over the countries of Europe, and see
“ Lucien, unwilling to repudiate his wife,
and desert his children, and at the same
time well aware of the impetuous over
bearing character of Napoleon, instantly
adopted the only means that were lent to
him to escape the vengeance and dishon
our with Which he found himself threaten
ed, embarked with his family, and what
valuables he had at hand, on board an
American vessel, and effected his escape to
Satdinia, for the purpose of claming British
protection against the lawless and unprin
cipled tyranny of his own brother.
“Of course this protection has not been
denied to him. For the greater security of
•hese voluntary exiles, Mr. Hill gave di
rections that they should immediately pro
eed to Malta, under convoy of the Pomona
frigate; and there they are to remain Gil
I ” This singular event, as might be ex
pected, occasioned much speculation at
Cagliari, as to the motives and courses of so
| singular an occurrence. From .a source
which you may rely upon as authentick, 1
am enabled to put you in possession of the
facts, which are briefly these:
•' Not long ago his Imperial brother, who
is extremely anxious that afll his relatives
should be matrimonially allied to such of
the old Roy al Stock as can be induced to
second his views, sent peremptory order
to Lucien, immediately to divorce his pre
sent wife, as he had selected for him anoth
er of a rank suited to the dignity of the
Imperial Family. In the same message, he I
ordered him to take upon himself the gov
eminent of the ancient capital of the world ;
and, to crown the whole, accompanied his
orders with a threat that Lucien should be
conveyed a prisoner to France, in the event
of the Emperour’s orders not being instant
ly obeyed. j
LUCIEN BONAPARTE.
A private letter from Gibraltar, dated
September 7, says—•• The event which I
have now to communicate cannot fail to ex
cite as much surprise in London as it has
this morning spread through the garrison.
“ 7 he Salcette frigate has just arrived
herefrom Cagliari, with Mr. Adair, the
British Minister to the Ottoman Porte, nn
board. The Salcettg brings intelligence
that Lucien Bonaparte has arrived at Cag
liari, with his wife and children, and a
number of his relations, from home, for the
express purpose of claming the protection
of Mr. Hill, the British Minister.
FRRjVCH ELERTS.
The Gazette of Saturday contains de
spatches relative to a proud exploit of a
small British squadron off the harbour of
Toulon. A division of the enemy's fleet,
consisting of six sail of the line and four
frigates, availed itselfof (he temporary ab
sence of the main body of the British fleet
to attempt to put to sea, and bad nearly
cut off two of our frigates, when Captain
tyhckwood.ofthe Warspite, with not more
th<*n one half the enemy’s force, complete
ly frustrated their object. This gallant af
fair affords another proud illustration bf the
superiority of our naval tacticks, while the
fact of the enemy declining an engagement
i hough out numbering us by two to one, even
at their own threshold, is the highest com
pliment that could be paid to the irresisti
ble courage of our countrymen in arms.
In another letter we are told, the plot in
cluded the blowing up of all the powder in
the English magazines, and taking posses
sion of the works in the rear of the British
army, with the view of placing Lord Wel
lington between two fires, and depriving
him of the means of defence. The explo
sion of the magazine at Almeida is said to
have been a part of this plot.
the greatojf 9»tbus|astp. JJn&bpyple
in the dfontry hp»e sent more fflerAt to
the army required by the PoCh
as; and flhany of them take the fidll Kher
son. With this spirit, and the natural en
thusiasm of the country, the Russians will
find it difficult to subdue them.
PORTUGAL.
Letters from Lisbon state that"* moor
alarming conspiracy had been discovered
there. A French Colonel had been arrest
ed, froth whom was learnt that 200 of the
Portuguese Noblesse had entered into an
agreement to blow up all the arsenals and
do other mischief—-We understand their
I scheme was entirely frustrated by their be-
I ing secretly arrested, and, by order of Lord I
I Wellington, to be banished to the coast of
p'Africa. They were to sail io a vessel pro-
I vided for the purpose, for Africa, under
coyoy of a British frigate.
/ THE PLOT.
I ♦The mystery of the late conspiracy has I
been thus explained t Lord Wellington had
Epted a correspondence carrying on
« the enemy and a party io Portu
oical to the English, in consequence I
of which about 200 persons (principally
Nobility and persons in the higher classes)
had been arrested in Lisbon, and embark- i
ed on ship-board. It is also understood that I
a quantity of concealed arms have been I
found. Report states that their plan was,
to cause Lisbon to be set on fire io several
places at once, and in the confusion to mas
sacre all the English and their friends, at
the same time that Massena was to make a
general attack on Lord Wellington’s army.
Besides those arrested in Lisbon, there had
been a number taken up in the interiour. I
Lucien Bonaparte has placed himself, his
family, and immense wealth, under the
protection of Great-Britain ; that is, he
had applied to Mr. Hill, the British Am
bassador at Sardinia, who had him con-,
ducted te Malta, where the determination
It is evident that the French now expe
rience great difficulties in prosecuting tha
war in Spain and Portugal, with their usual
vigour ; the reasons are two fold we ima
gine, first a waifi of pecuniary rescources,
second the great distance over which the
reinforcements are to be marched and their
supplies forwarded; add to which, the
harassing warfare of the Spaniards, and
the provoking destruction of provisions by
Lord Wellington together with his Fabian
policy. These circumstances must con
tribute to render the present campaign the
most costly and destructive, because tha
most prolonged in which the modern French,
have been engaged.
Lord Wellington considered a battle as
inevitable; and reinforcements and sup
plies had arrived. Seven regiments, the
7th, 50th, 71st, 92d, 94th, and part of the
95th. and a division of the Duke of Bruns
wick Oel’s corps, had joined him; this
will increase his army of English troops to
I about 40,000 men; the Portuguese army
amounts to the same number. We do no*
believe Massena has many more, if so a
battle may be every day expected. Spain
was still inarms. In Catalonia, General .
O’Donnel was still harrassing the French
under Macdonald, near Vjlla-franca; his
communication with Barcelona was sut oflf.
In'Murcia, in consequence of Sehastiani's
retrogade movement towards Grenada, the
l»eople had granted the most liberal aup
plies to General Blake; and in Arragoda.
Romana’s adyaoced posts were four leagues -
from Seville.
The investment of Cadis was by no
means progressive er formidable; the pro
visions of the besiegers became straighten
ed daily; and the works thrown up were
more calculated to protect themselves
agamat a sortie than to undertake offensive
operations.
certained. Upon investigating the ground
of the report at Lisbon, it was found to
have been circulated without any authori
ty ; besides, despatches from Lord Wel
lington ha<n>een received in London as late
as the 24th of September, when it was not
expected that a battle would take place for
some days; Massops’* army not being suf,
ficiently concentrated* It appears that aft
ter the fall of Altbmda, the French fell
back upon Pinhel from which place Masse
na advanced rap|dly along the Crus, by
the way of Lamegal, in the hopes of tun*
ing the left flank of the English; but Wel
lington promptly retreated along the banks
of the Mondya Lord Wellington’s head
quarters on the 24th were at Burguco, and
die army occupied a strong position on the
Sierra de Alcoba, in the vicinity of Gaarda: I
the French advanced guards were South of
the Crus, and the army was concentrated
between that river and Tordella.
The articles of intelligence are not very
prominent in interest or extensive in varie
ty; the particulars will be found under
their respective heads. A report prevail- •
ed in London, through the medium of Ha
vre of the 28th September, and of Lisbon
of the 25th, that a battle had been fought
between Lord Wellington and Massena ;
but of which the ultimate fate was not as-
The ship Mary-Jane, and brig Hector,
from Liverpool, have supplied us with
London intelligence to the sth ultima Ac
counts from Paris were as late as the 27th
September, and dates from the armies in
Portugal to the 24th of the same month.—
NEW-YORK, November IX
Philadelphia, Sunday noon.
Arrived, brig Squirrel, Wing, 32 days
from Corunna. Sailed October ft. Captain
confirms nor invalidates the
report famished by Captain Miller, if your
port. He says, information of a victory
over the French had been received by the
British Consul, And illuminations had taken
place in consequence. But on the day of
his departure he was informed the account
was not so favourable as had been expected.
the ftleasurecf Government is known as ts
theirFutdre disposal.
** As the vessel phich carries this letter
Is on the point of sailing, 1 have only time
to add, that upwards of eleven hundred *
French deserters have proved in this gar*
gpMejQaaaiig,
NEW-ORLEANS, October 18.
| WEST-FLORIDA.
A lkttkr from Baton Rouge, dated the
11th instant, says, “ the Convention ad
journed yesterday; they entrusted their
concerns to a committee of publick safety;
and appointed a committee to draft a con*
stitution. They meet agiio on the first
Monday in November. Before they ad
journed they authorised a regular force of
104 men, to whom the fort is given up, and
the militia discharged; always holding
themselves to march at a moment's warn
ing. This I believe is the substance of
what has been done.**
BOSTON, November 12.
EUROPEAN ACCOUNTS.