The Rhode-Island Republican — Newport, R.I., 1810-12-21 00:00:00, page 2

¢S o
.« dexvonr~d to dismember the Union. The
federal faction evince by cheir conduct, that
- because they cannot have heveditary titles to
w 0 wdomn thelr names, and coronets o gild their
¥ ?",!g@w_s, they wre willing to subjugate these
L Stuter Lo any foreign potentete whatever,who
h VO wiu please their childish fancies with theve
_ vaip henours, The busioes of this federal
perty, is. to slander the best of men—wit
pess, their defwoation of Hancock, Wash
invton, rankling Adams, Jefferson, Madison,
Gerry, Sullivan, Langdon, and in fact, nearly
every good man that these States have produ
| ced, But it will be but a few years, belore
i the carcases of these traitors will be covered
R with dusty, and the children will enjoy this
l goodly land, which their fathers bated and
B duspised.
sin,
THE Convention of the State of Florida have
already twonsmivted i official copy of thair Act ot
Ind pendeice, Lrough His Excellency Gov, Holmes
to the Progident of the United Suutes, accompanicd
with the expression of their hope and desire that
this Commonwe!th may be immediately wcknowled.
«d wndd protected, by the goveinment of the Wnited
g:.ues. wd a4l nlegral part of the Amcrican Union,
On a subject #o mteresuny 1o the community repre
sented by us, itis wecessary that we should have
the mos. divect and unequivocal assurances of the
views and wishes of the American government with.
out deluy, since our weak and unprorected situation
will oblige us (o look to some (oreign government for
suppory, shouid it be refused w 0 us by the counury
winch we have constdered as our parent stace.
We theretore make (nis direet appeal through yvou
to the President und General Government of the A
menican Stuics, to solicit that immcediate protecuon,
to whicu we consider ourseives entitied ; and to ob
tan o speedy and fuvourable decision, we offe: the
following considerations :—llst. Tie governmoent of
the United States, m their instructions 10 the Fonvoys
Extraordinary at Paris, 1806, authorized the pur
chase of Kust-Florida, direcung them at the same
tine 10 engage France to intercede with the cabinet
of Spain, to rehuquish any claim to the Territory
which now furms this Commonweaith, 2d. In all
dipiomuiick correspondence with Amcrican ministers
avro.d, the government of the Unied states have
spoken of Wesi Flovida us a part of the Louisiana
cession. They have legislated for toe country as a
part of thewr own FPerinory, and have deferred 0
take posscssion of it, W expectation that 3pan
night be induced o relingush her clum by amica
bie negeciation. * 3d. The American government has
already cefused to accredit any mmisier from he
Spanish Junty, which body was certanly more le
guily orﬁ.minml, as the representive of the sover
cigaty, than that now ealied the regency of span ;
Wherctore the Unied States cannot but regavd any
force or authority einuncang from them, with an .
tention 10 subjugate us, as they would wn invasion ot
thoir tercitory by a foreign encemy. 4ih. Lhe Ea.
poiour of France has myited the Spanish Americans
1o declare thewr mdependence, rather than remain in
.uhj Agation to the old Spanish governmend ; there.
fore an weknowicdgemment of our 'ndependence by
tie Unied Siates could not be compldined of by
Foance, orimvolve the Amencan gavernment in any
contest with that power. sth. Neither ean i aford
any just cause of complaint to Great B iain, alino’
sic be he ally of Span, thet the Unitcd stuies
shouwid weknowledge and support our ndepondence ;
as (his meanure was necessary to save the country
from fulbing 1o e hands of’ the Freach exiles from
the Jsiand of Cuba, and other partizans of Bonapaite
who ure the ¢ ernal encimies of Great-Britain,
Should the Uniied 3.ates be induced, by these or
any otiaer consideration, to acknowiedge our claim
to thew protecuion, as an integral pat nt" thewr Terrie
tory, or otherwise, we feel it our duty to claim for
our constituents an immediate admission into the
wnion as an independent state, o 1 as a territory of
the Umited States, with permission to estabiish our
own form of government, or o be umited with one
of' the neighbouring U'eeriorics or a part of one of
them, insuch manner as to form a state.~Should i
be thouight properto unnex us to one of the neigh
bouring terrioes, ora part of one of them, the In
hubitants of this commonwealth would poefer being
annexed to the Island of Ooeans, and i the mean
while, uniil a state government shold be establishe
e, thut they sh'mlxr be governed by the ordinances
already enacted by this Convention, and by their fue
thier regulations hercealier.
WE, the Dclegates of the people of this State,
Lave ‘L honour to enclose to you un official copy of
« their uer of independence, requesting that it m.y be
forthwith transmined by you to the President of the
Un'ied Siates, with the expression of their mos
eonfident und ardent hope, that it may accord wi'h
the policy of the government, as it does with the
galety and huppincss of the people of the U. States,
to take the present government and people of this
Stute wder their immediate and special protec’ion
a 8 un antegral and unalienable poction of the U, States.
The Convention and other constituents of Florida,
rest in the firm persuation, that the blood which Hows
from their veins will remind the government and the
poopie of the United States, thut they are their chil
dren, that they have been acknowiedged as such, by
the most solemm acis of the Congross of the Unied
States ; und, tha wo long as Independence and e
rights of man shall be muintuined and cherished by
the American Union, the good people of this Siute
cannot, and will nat, be abandoned or exposed to
the invasion, violcnee or furce of any forgign or do
mestick foe.
The Convention beg you to receive for yourself,
Bir, and 1o assuee the President, of their high respect,
and consideraion. By order of the Convention,
(Sipied) JOUN RHEA, Preds.
Baton Rooye, Sep*. 26, 1810,
The clam wiica we have to the soil or unlogated
lands, witiun this commonwealth, will not, it is pre
games, be contested by the Umted Siates, as they
have taucitly cequicsced in the claim of France or
Spun for seven yeurs, and the restreictions of the
several embargo and noncintercourse laws might far
ly be emscracted, if not as s relinquisnment of therr
claim, vet at least sufficient o enuitle the people of
L. s commonwealthy (who bhave wrested the govern
mene and coantey from Spain, at the visk of their 'ives
aal frranes) W oall the mnlocated tants. It will
steke the Ameriean government that the wonids uei
sing from tae sales of thewe lands, applicd, us they
wi'l b, loimpm;'r( the tnermat eommameiinng of
the conatry, opeuiigcanals, we. willin fuct be adding
w e proapery and streng b of the federal union,
T 3 tulfi! with gno‘ faith our promises and engage.
menis 0 the inlwbitants of IAL countey, it wili be ar
dusy 10 Biipuiase for an wayganiified pardon tor all de-
To the Hon. Kobert Smith, Secretary of State for the
Unmtted States. .
To His Eacellency the Governour of the Mississippi
Terrstery.
Sir, ’ ¥ radd -
DOCUMIEN TS,
Accompanying the Presideni’s Message,
THE CONVEATION OF FLORIDA,
THE COXVENTION OF FLORIDA,
These observations will apprize you, sir, of the
sentiments of the president, as o he propos jons in
the memoriul in relation to the vaent tands i Wests
Florida, and will enable you to maxe, when necessary
and proper, suitable explanstions o b peo lsof 1w
tervitory. You will, howevey, koep o mind the the
president cannot recognize in the conyo wion of Wost.
Florida, uny independant puthorits oaiever
propose or to form a compect with o 0 United
States. Tam,sir, with the highes respont,
Your most obedient hunbic sci i
. (signed) I sMITIL
His Excellency David Holmes, Fag
Governour of Missisn hpi. }
Stit—l hiuve received your letter of he 17th of
Oct. enclosing the memorisl of the convention of
West-Florda, To repress the unreascieble expecs
tutions, thevein indicated, in reistion to the vieant
fand in that territory, it is decmed proper to lose Bo
e in communicating 1o you and to Gov Claiborne
the sentiments of the presicent on the sulject
The right of the United Stutes 1o the rerrinry of
West-Florida, as fur as the river Perdiao, was f.irly
acquired by puichaging,und bas been forimutly ratilcd
by treaty. ‘T'he delivery of possession has indeed been
deferred, and the procrasunation his hitherto gbeen
acquicsced m by this gove nuent from a hope, pa
tiently indolged,that amicable negociaton would ae
complish the equitable purpose of the United States.
But this delay, which procseded only from the for
bearance of the United States 1o enforce a legitimate
and well known claim, conld not impuir the legalty
of their title, nor couid any change i the interaal
sinie of things without (beir sanction, howsoever
brouy bt about,vary their right. Itremians, of course,
as perfect 43 it was betore the interpesition of the
convention, And the people of West-Florida must
not for . moment be misled by expeciation that the
United States will surrender for their exclusive ben
cfic what hud been purehased with the tressure and
for the benefic of the whole, The vacant land of
this territory thrown into comimon stock with ali the
other vacunt lands of the Unwon, wil be o property
in common for the nutional uses of il the people of
the Unired States, I'oe communily of inters sts upon
which this goveinn ent invaninbly acts, the hberal
policyswhich it has v oiormly displayed towairds the
people of the territorics (s purt of” which policy has
cver been a just rozard (o honest settiers) wilinever.
theless, be a sufficient pledge tothe whabitans of
West Flonda, for the eariy and continned artention
of tne federal icgislature 1o their situsiion and their
wiants,
As the district, the possession of which you wre i
rectod to tuke, is considercd a 8 making p e of the
tervitory of Orvlewns, you wiilafier tuking yOSSCSsION,
lose no time, in procecding 1o orgunize the militia, to
prescribe the bounds of parishes, to est blish parish
courts, «nd finaliy to do whatever your ez | powers
upplicable to the case will warrant, and muy be cal
culated to maintuin order, to secure ‘o the inhubis
tunts the peacible enjoyment of their iboity, propers
ty, and religion, and place them, as fir as m wv be,
on the same footing with the inhabitanta of the oth.
er distiicts under your authosty. A far as your pow
ers may be inudeguate to these and othier requisite oh-
Jects, the legislature of Ovicans,wiich itis understood
will soon be in session, will have an opportunity of
making further provisions for them, more capecially
for giving by luw, to the inhubitants of swid rerritory,
just share in the representation of the gencral as
scmbly ; it being desivable that the interval of this pri
vition, should not be prolonged beyond the unavoid
able neecessity of the c.ose.
If, comtrary to expeciation, the oecupation of this
teirory on the part of the Uaited 3tites should be
opposcd by force, the e ommanding o Ticer of the regs
ular sroops on the Mississippi, will have ardess from
the scerctary of war o atibed you, upon your appli
cation, the requisite aid ; shouid an additional xnte
be necessary, you will draw from the Oricans teirite.
ry, as will governour Homies from the Mississippi ter.
ritory,militia, in such numbers,and in such proporiions
from your respective territories, ae you snd gov.
Holmes may decm proper. Shoullhowever,any pur.
deular pla o, however small, remain in possesion of &
Spanish torce,you will proce.d to employ force a.
gainst it ; but you will make immediate report thereof*
to tus Jdepartment ¥349% k :
You wiid aviil yourself of the first favoum.
ble opportunitics that may occur, to transmit
to the several governours of the Spanish
provinces in the neiyhbourhood, copies of the
president’s proclamation, with accompanying
letters of conciliatory tendency,
To delray any reasonable expenditures
which may necessarily attend the execution
of thesc instructions, the president autherig.
“s you,having due regard 10 econcmy.to deaw
for asum, not exceeding in any eveut, twenty
thousand doliars
Srr—From the encloscl proclam ton ot the pres.
ident of the United States, you will perccive Lis de
termination to take posscssion of the territm y theve
in specificd, in the name and on behait of the United
Stutes ; the considerntions which have constriined
lum to resort to chis necessary me sure, and his di
rection that you, «s goveitour of New-Orleuns terri.
tory, shall exeeute the sume. Of this proclamation,
upon your arrival st Natchez, you will, without de
lay cause to be printed s many copics, in the Bog
lish, French, and Spavish langusges, os may be deem.
ed necessary, and you will couse the Bame to be ex
tensively circnlaed throughout the said territory,
You will immediatniy proceed by the nearest and
bes route to the townof Wushimgton, in the Miss'p
piternitory. From the secretary of war, vou will re.
ceive an ocder to the officers commanding the several
fronider posts, 1o wfiord you such assistance in passing
the wilderness, and in descendiog the western waters
as you may require. And, as despateh s very desir
abie, you are authorized, in case your horses should
fuil, 10 procure others at the publick expense, After
having riade st Washington the necessury arrange.
ments with governour Holines and with the command.
my officer ot the regular troops, you will, without
delay, procecd into the territory, and, in viitue of the
president’s proclumauion, take possession of the same
i the name, and on behalt of the United States of
AMerica.
serters now residing within this commenwealth, to.
gether with an excmption from further scrviee in (he
army or navy of the United biates,
A loan of $lOO,OOO is solicited of the American
government, 1o be reimbursed at 3, 6 and 9 years,
from the sules of publick lunds. This lown may be
made by the Sceretaryofthe Treasury inmediately,
without committing the government, or making it
known to foreign ministers at Washington.
In order not to embarrass the Cibmet of the U.
Stutes, and 10 receive first, through their own confi
dential agents, theirwishes and views with respect 1o
us, itis deemed prudent to defer the departure of our
Fovow, already numed, who will be despatched im
mediately on receiving information that sweh a mea
surc will meet the approbation of the United States
We pray you 1o accept the yssurances of cur res
pect and high eonsideration,
By order of the Convention,
(Signed) JOUN RHEA, President.
Baton-Rouge, Oct. 10, 1810.
From the ¢onfidence which the pr. siden:
DEPARTMENT OF SIAIR. ooCcr 27. 1810
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Nov, 15, 1810
Mr. Smith to Geverneur Cliborne,
Mr. Smith te Governour Holmea,
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.
A PRCCLANIATION,
WHIREAS the Territory South of the
Missisippi Territory, and E. of the River
Missisipply, of which possession was not de
livered to the United States in pursuance of
he treniy concluded at Paiis on the 30th of
Aprily, 1803, has atall times, as ils well known,
becn considered and claimed by them, as be
ing within the Colony of Louisiung, conveyed
Ly the said treaty in the ssme extent that it
bud in the hands of Spain, and that it bad
when France originally possessed it : And
whercas the acauiescence of the U, States in
the temporary continuance of the sad Terri
thry wpder the Spanish authority was not the
result of eny distrust of their tile, as has
been particularly evincea by the general ten
or of their laws, and by the disunction meade
in the applicaiion of these laws between that
Territory and foreigh countries ; but wus oc
cavioned by their conciliatory views, and by a
confidence in the justice of their cauvse, and
in the success of candid discussion and ami
cable negociation with a just and f{ricndly
power : Aud whereas a satisfuctory adjust
ment, too long deluyeds without the fauit of
the United States, has for some time been
entirely suspended by events over which they
had no control 3 And whereas a crisis has at
lenuth arrived, subversive of the order of
things under the Spenish authorities, where
b, a futiure of the United States to take the
said Terrrory into its possession mey lcad to
evenis uwltimately contravening the views of
both parties. whilst in the mean time the
truncuility and security ol our adjoining Ter
riortes are epdangered, and new fucilities
iven to violstions ef our revenue and com
mercial lawsy and ol those prolitbiiing the in
troduction of slaves : Consiuering, moreover,
thot under these pecuiiar and imperative cire
cumstances, a forbearance on ti.e part ol the
United States to occupy the Tertitory in
question, and thereby guard against the ton
fusions and comtingencies which threaten 1t
might be construed ine a dereliction of their
titie, or un wsensibility to the twportance of
the stake : Considertng that in the hauds of
the Umited States it will not ccase to be a
subject of fuir and friendly negociation and
ac justiment @ considering finally that the acts
of Congress, though contemplating a present
possession of a foreign autliority, have con
templated wlso an eventual possession of the
said Territory of the United States, and are
accordingly so framed as in that case to ex
tend in their operation to the same : Now be
it known, that I, JAMES MADISON, Pre
sident of the United States of America, in
pursuance of those weighty and urgent con
siderations, have deemed it right amd requi
.site, that possession should he taken of the
said Territory, in the name and on behulf of
the United States. Wm. C. Ciaiborne, Gov
ernour of the Ovleans Territory of which the
suid Territery is to be taken as part, will ac
cordingly prcceed to execute the same ; and
to exercise over the said Territory the au
thorities and funetions legally «ppertaining to
his olice. And the good people inhubiting the
same are invited and enjoined to pay due rese
pect to bim in that character ; to be vbedient
to the laws ; to maintain order ;to cherish
harmony ;3 and in every manner to conduct
themseives as peaceable citizens, under full
assurance, that they will be protected in the
enjoyment of their liberty, property and
reitgion,
IN testimony whereof, I have caused the
seal of the United Stutes to be hereunto
affixed und signed the same with my
hand. Done at the City of Washington
the twenty-seventh day of October,A.D.
1810, and n the thivty-fifth year of the
Independence of the saad United States.
(Sigoed) JAMES MADISON.
By the President,
R. SMITH, Secretary of State.
bas in your judgment and discretion, he is
persuaded, that in the execution of this trust,
as delicate as it s imiportant, your deportment
will be temperate and concilistory. Such
line of conduct towards the inhabitants is pre
sciibed as weli by policy as Ly justice.
You will, it is expected, be {uily sensible of
the necessity, not only of your communicat
ing every important event that may occur in
the progress of this business, but of transmit.
ting a letter, whatever may be its contents,
Ly everg mail, to this city.
I have the honour to be, &e.
(Signed) R. SMITH.
His Exc tlency Wm. C. C. Claiborne, Esy.
Governour of Orlrana, z
“ Department of State, Nov. 15 1810.
“ sin~-From aview of the conduct of the British
government, in relation tos Plenipotentiary succes
soi 1o Mr. Juekeon, as pre:ented in your several com
munications, including even those brought by the Hor.
net, at which date and on which inviting occasionthe
snbject does not appear to have been witiun the atten
tionof government, the President thinks it improper,
that the United States shanld continue to be repre.
scnted at London by a Minister Plenipotentisry —ln
case therefore, noappointment of asuecessor 1o Mr.
Jackson, of that grade, should have taken place at
the receipt of this ietter you will consider your func.-
tions as suspended, and you will accordingly tuke
your leave of absence, Lharging a fit person with the
affairs of the Legution,
Considering the scason at which this instruction
may bave its cifeet, and the possibility of a satisfucto
ry change in the posiure of our relations with Great
Britan, the time of your return to the U. Stutes, is
left to your discretion and convemience.
( Signed) R. SMITH.
5
Gen. Haxrron left Columbia, S, C. Nov.
21, for the Natchez, to resume the command
of the U. S. troops in the vicinity of that place.
T his officer will, under Gov.CLAIRORNE, €X
ecute the oirder of taking possessiva of West
Fiorida.
Letter from Mr. SM/TH to My. PINKAET.
HAVING been urged to lay before the
publick, threugh the medium of youy paper,
the * Keflections of JEREY McGooskin, Laq,
ﬁ'l?. S. on the unfortunate events of cighicen
idred tern,” 1 herewith tramsniit you the
first poetical effusion of that truly eccentrick
genius, with explanatory annotations.
As he has excited the curiosity ol the peo
ple at large by his singular extruvagances
for two or three years past, both in fublick
broils and private quarrels, it may not be im
proper to offer a few remurks on his condnct
and character. It would be necdiess tor me
to endeavour to confute the insinuaticus which
are daily thrown out respecting his insanity ;
nor can I consistently deny that he is subject
to visitations of the hype-cogniac, Scilice it
to say, that Jerry MeGooskin was formerly a
very peaceable good sort of a man, and ncever
meddled with politicks, except on sonie mo
mentous vecasion 3 such as 4th of July cele
brations, or elections for members of Con
gress, seicctmen and hog constubies Altho’
at such times, he never fuiled 1o electionece
ior his fuvourite candidate, he was notwith
standing, alwuys cousidered a firm republican,
until after a violent shock of the embargs foe
ver rendered him completely insane, sume
time in 1808. 'T'he disordered state of Jerr: 'y
inicilects, sgon induced his friends to conjec
ture thut he bad turned foderalist ; of which
they were soon after convinced, by the stren
uous manner in which he advocated cert.in
resoluiions, disspproving the emburgo. «nd
evely other measure adopt»d by government
lor the satety of our country. He now ut
tended federal caucuses, voted in fuvour of
lederal resolutions, and spouied for hours to
getherin federal town-meetiugs. “I'his course
of conduct soon brought Jerry into notice ;
and the frequency of his horseeshed confers
ences, increased bis popularity so much -
mong the tory party, tuet they uppointed Lim
a jus'ice of the ficace, and condescended o .-
mit ¥m into heir most secret concluves,
Here Jerry picked up considerable intormu
tion : But having never learned to write, w.s
obliged to load hils memeory with such of their
schemes as he decmed worthy of notice, and
after returning home empioy his son Jedediak
(wiois about my age) to commit thcn: to pa
per, as he dictated.
Disuppeinted in his most sangnine expee.
tations—crossed and perplexed in o} his ¢x
eitions te support the decliniug cative mf 2.
ftsmy Jerry at lengih became melapcholy, to o
degree bovdering on madoess, 1t i only 2
these gloomy periods; when his Laror iy lot
by discordant passicns, that he now deigos 10,
employ his faithful Jedrdiah 10 arvvnge s
“ melancholy riflec §ma” n pectick crdor.
Jedediah baving heen a great cr o of nins
while we were school boys togeitier, I (vind
tittie difficulty in geutiug a peep at the oid
mun’s extraordinary productions ; which [
ook care 7o transcribe and preserve, thinking
they might be of use to me at some future
period, |
The year 1810, which seems most to have
occupied Jerry's attention, baving now neariy
expired, friendship induces me to give
publicity to his reflections, together with ex
planatory notes—=leaving the publick to draw
what conclusions they please, of the pro
priety or impropriecty o. the insinuations
which have operatec so much against him.
I shall not consider myself amenable, either
to the criticising rabble ev his poliiical oppo
nents, for any incorrectness in Jerry’s com
position—having copied it verdasim from the
original manuscript, now in Jedediah’s pos
session.
A WOEFUL recontre, it sce ms, hag
taken pluce between two writers for ¢ e
Khode-Isiand American.” It is un adventupe
to Aonest men for rogues to fall out ; but the
guarrelling of fools benefits none. 1t is like
the cattle’s hocking, or the swine’s tushing
each other. My nature always revolied 'a
gainst such spectacles of horrour. Even
when a boy, I run away from the fghiing of
d.ge. With a view to put a stop o this dan
gerous affray, and to induce the combarante
to settle it, either by reference to some of
their own leng-cared animals, or by tossing
up 4 cent to decide which of them shill ink
no more paper, I recommend to their perusal
the following lines from Hudibras :
“*[is setting BROTHFR against BROTHER;
« To claw and curry one another.
¢ [Have we not enemiese—slus satis,
“ Thate—cane et angue pejus—hate us ?
We have great pic.sure in lcarning, by letters
from a respeciatie source at St. Pelersburg, that not
withstunding the interloping trade can 'ml' on under
the Jmerican flag, and the many frauds which are
duily discovered to he perpetrated under the same
cover, there isthe & rongest reason (o believe that ev
ery thouglht and act of the Russian government g
in a peculiar degree favourable, wnot only to the sup
port and encouragement, bix to the cxiension, of the
commercial relations between that country and the
United Stutes. Tt is as honourable to Russia as it
must be grateful to the United States, that she, al
though almost alone in the path of justice, uninfuen
ced by the eontagion of example, tr by any other im
pulse, affords to real Zmerican vessels and cargues
a liberal uicrcourse on teruss of reciprocity.
{Nat b,
MR. FDITOR,
A MENMPFER OF THE QUIZZICAL SOCIRTY.
Mouni-tope, Dec, 13th, 1810.
[For Jerry's “ reflections” see last page.] /
“ And should we turn our fanes and ciaws
“ Upon OURSELVES, without a cause ?
“ For what design, what #nterest,
“C€un BEAST have to encounter nzast
A Pxace Maxir.
G T
FOR THE RHUDE-ISLAAMD RLPUBLICAN.
From the Providence Gazctie,
A’l llSCtﬁ I, J'. 4q 1\")’.