United States oracle and Portsmouth advertiser — Portsmouth, N.H., 1802-03-06 00:00:00, page 1

r AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, TWENTY-SIXTH YEAR.
i Bitrd States
I Portsmouth
■ PORTSMOUTH, N.H. Printed and Published every
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[ n/.X/f.] SATURDAY,MARCH 6, 1802.
L O, ALL TFU DISPOSITIONS AND HABITS WHICH LEAD TO POLITICAL"
rPROSPERITY, RELIGION and MORALITY are INDISPENSABLE>
Isupports.—— -WASHINGTON'S Legacy.„
■ h feet
„ e trees Trent forth on a time to anoint a king
over tiros, and they fed unto the olive tree, Reign
thou over us. And f&e olive treefoid unto tbem,
Should I leave m, fatnty wtorwitb by me the,
banour Gad and man, and go to be praneted wer
th trees ? And the trees fail to the fig-tree. Come
> thou, and reign over us. But thefig-treefaid un
to them. Should I jerfaxe my fyeetnefs, and m,
good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees ?
Then said the trees unto the vine, Core thou, end
, reign over us. And the vine said unto then.
Should I leave no, nuine, ^bic4 cbeeretb God and
man and go to be promoted over the trees ? Then
said all the trees to fa bramble, Come tlou, and
reign over us. And the bramblefaid unto the trees.
If in,truth ye anoint one ling ov-r you, then corns
and put your trust in my Jbaliow ; and if not, let
foe come out of the bramble and devour the cedars
ts Lebanon. Judges ix. B—ls.
THE SERMON.
GIDEON was a wife add valiant
man in Israel, and "wrought a
great deliverance for his nation, at a
time when their very exigence was in
i imminent danger. But, as is too often
; the case, the people toon forgot the
blessings he had been the instrument of
conferring upon them, and fullered A
iiMELECH,his fen by a maid-fervant,to
Tnfinuate himfelf into their favor to the
obtaining of the crown, by which his
three fcofe ar^ ten brethren were ex
cluded, whom they also assisted him in
, flaying. Jotham, however, Gideon's
youngest fpn, made his escape, and gat
him to the top of mount Gerezzim,
where, lifting up his voice, he delivered
' the above very inftrudive, applicable,
and prophetic parable in the ears of the
Sheche.nites,who had been the foremoft
in aiding and crowding Abim^lech.
The moral, or rather political instruc
tions, which this parable carries on the
very face of it, are fuch ¥ as follow ;,
1. Men of capacity,merit and worth,
are disposed rather no decline,than push
themselves into places of power & trull
The olive, the fig-tree, and the vine
were, as such, trees of value and Ready
ufefulnefs ; and for this reason they
were contented in their refpedive spheres
and chose to decline the higher, but
more laborious, uncertain, and respon
sible Ration of ruling over the trees—
So men of real ufefulnefs and solid
worth find fufficient bufiuefs in their
present fpheres,without fecking employ
ment in those that are higher. They
are not anxious to leave feenes oftried
land acknowledged ufefulnefs, for those
in which they might not be able to per
form so well. And the pains it costs
them to be faithful in fmal'er matters
forbids them to covet more difficult and
important charges. Such characters
never ascend, but by the judgment and
fequeft of others.
But 2. It is the most useless and
Worthless, who eagerly feel political ex
altation. The firmer characters wish
to deserve promotion, but these are the
most anxious to obtain it. The bramble
is the fmalle&and moR worthless of all
the tree kind, and by its nature incapa
ble of being otherwise. But it was very
ready and forward to undertake the
government of the trees, even of the
Lately fofreft of Lebanon. Worthless
men are indisposed towards their pro
per and lawful callings, and therefore
are at leisure to covet and Strive after
what is above their capacity. They
wish for honour, without obtaining it
b, ufefulnefs, and money, without the
pains of industry. They know nothing
about faithfulnefs, so are ignorant of
the labours and anxieties of high offices,
" and care nothing about filling them to
the advantage of the nation. They
defile them only for felfifh purposes.—✓
Their felfißmefs, which unqualifies
them for public ufefulnefs,iswbat causes
them to crowd themselves forward—
Their confeious worthlessness is the very
thing, which causes them to seek ad
vancement from others, for real worth
contains promotion in itfelf.
And , Jotham's parable teaches us,
that those, who are the most forward
to obtain high offices, and to promise
public ufefulnefs, are the most likely to
: destroy the nation. The bramble was
forward to take a government upon it
rfdf, which it was Utterly incapable of
executing. But it was just calculated
1 kindle a fire with, and was fit for BO
fflffl^
from she PALLADIUM.
A POLITICAL- SERMON.
From Gotham's Parable.
other use. It was, therefore, more like
ly, than any thing else, to be the means
of spreading a deiku&ve flame through
die whole sorest. And it made it a
part of its ete^oneering buGnefs to
threaten,' that if the trees did not pro
mote it to rule them, it would issue a
flame to burn them. This {lowed the
nature of its patriotism and love for the
multitude, of which it had just been
boasting, by calling the lofty trees to
put their trust under its Shadow. And
hidory affords many instances of those
who have been the most eager to ob
tain the reins of government, "proving
the speedy ruin ot the nation. Nor arc
I instances wanting of those, -who have
courted promotion, by promises, that
their administration Should be most hap
py for the people,whofe disappointment
has made them most active and perse
vering in Seeking the ration's destruc
tion. Abimelech fulfilled this very
threatening of the bramble upon -the
men of Shechem, to whom he had a
little before profeffed the greatest friend
ship. '
In applying Jotha m's parable to the
people of these United States, let it
teach us:
1 ft. To take great pains in (electing
men to fill our important offices of gov
ernment. Able and suitable charac
ters we doubtless have, but they must
be carefully and impartially fought out.
Such will not take much pains to court
our fuffrages, for they are always mod
est and unafluming. They will not run
after us, nor urge themselves upon us ;
but we must look after them, and dis
cern them by their information, integ
rity, modesty, ufefuflives. Your felf
extolling patriots and statesmen, who
are ever finding fault with all public
measures which they have not a hand
in, and endeavoring to insinuate them
selves into the people's favor, are al
ways worthless or designing men, and
, utterly unfit for any important office of
trust. Such are the very brambles of
fotiety. And those are empatically so,
whp, laying aside all appearance of
modesty and* decency, will solicit your
votes themselves, or do it by the exer
tions of their near relations arid friends.
Such condud is the fulleft reason for
rejecting them ; for by it they show
you, that they are confeious of not
meriting your choice, or they would
not seek it by such arts.
2. We learn that those who are so
zealously promoting the new order of
things, as it is called, have marks
of not being the most worthy characters.
For, have they riot been unwearied in
seeking advancement to office ? and, to
obtain this most desired objed, have
they not made it their great business to
Bander the administrations of their pre
deceifors? And how eagerly have they
in a number of instances crowded men
acknowledged good out of offices, pre
tending no other reason for it, but that
they might have their places? And
have they not employed wicked news
writers to affaffinkte the characters of
men, who have Rood in their way, as
Abimelech hired vain peifons to help
him Bay his better born brethren, that
he might secure himfelf the crown.
Agair 3 Have we not reason to fear
the ruin of our happy form of govern
ment, which was founded by the wis
dom, labors, perils, and prayers of our
pious arid benevolent anceftots, has
been defended hitherto by the valor
and blood of our ever memorable he
roes, and which has, under heaven con
ferred upon us the greatest national
profpcri'ty ? This is certainly threatened
us, by the fuccefsful exertions of felfifh
and worthless men, towards placing'
themselves in all high offices of power
and trust. Unleg the people become
more deaf to the malicious complaints
and flattering felicitations of such
characters, farewel to the liberty, pro
perty, moral regulations, and religions
privileges of American citizens. The
Shechemites thrust a dagger into their
own hearts, when they gave ear to the
ambitious and worthless Abimelech,
and placed him on the throne. And
what miseries of almmft ever, kind
have the French nation fuffered, by in
cautiously promoting the bramble to
rule over them ? WUn the vilest of men
arc exalted, the kicked Dalk on every fide,
and the People mourn.
Finally, Let fell promoters and difor
ganizers learn wisdom from Jotham'#
bramble. It would burn the sorest of
Lebanon, only by giving fcfelf to the
The fight of this strange phenome
non excited very unpleasant sensations
in the minds.of a large part of the con,
gregation; insomuch that, what with
Raring and wriggling and Scowling and
frowning and whispering, but ver, little
notice was taken of theParfon's sermon.
The next day the aggrieved party re
paired to the dwelling hpufe of Par, n
M ,to Rate their grievance and de
mand redress. Now thefburden of their
complaint appears to nave been, that
he Ihould wear a wig of the Boflon cut,
adjusted and finifhed in high taste. The
Parson, being a mild, milky kind of a
man (as all Parish Parsons thauld be)
brought forth his wig, and bade them
fafhion it to their own Jiking. Where
upon they formed a circle composed of
all ages, grades and genders, and, tak
ing a. pair of feiffars , they cropped off
one lock of the wig, and then another
and another, till at length all declared
that it might be lawfully worn upon a
chriftian's head—excepting one Single
diffeutient, who started a new objeftion
by alledging that wearing a wig was a
violation of the decalogue, which fays,
“ Thou ffialt not make unto thee any
graven image, or any likeness of any
thing that is in heaven above, or that
is in the earth beneath." The Parson
who hitherto had been silent, made the
following cogent reply: “ Neighbour
(said he) when the wig came from the
barber, your objection might have been
valid ; but in its present Rate, I defy
the niceß caufuift to show, that it is in
the likeness of any thing in heaven a
bove, or in the earth beneath.",—Here
upon the objeftor, after having viewed
the wig with some suitable attention,
candidly withdrew his objection.
Thus it will fare with the Federal
Constitution of Government. It was
formed by a body of sages, with Wash
ington at their head ; and after a long
and patient deliberation, it was adjur
ed and finifhed in exaft and comely pro
portions. But people are not 'willing
to give it a fair trial. Innovation is the
rage of the day. Indeed, there is no
Conjiitution-maker in this country, so
famous as the Abbe Sieges; but Con.
ftitution Coblers are almost as plenty as
Sboe-Coblers, especially in Virginia.
The Legislature of that State has
very lately resolved to recommend it
to all the States to amend the Federal
Constitution in fucha manner as would
essentially alter its nature, by diminish
ing the weight of the Senate and pto
portionally increasing that of the House
of Representatives in Congress.
If the Federal Constitution is Suffered
Rill to be clipped and new moulded,
from time to time, by the rude hand
and dull Shears of innovators, finally, and
very fan too, as the Parson's wig, it will
exhibit the likeness of nothing that is in
heaven above, or that is in the earth
beneath.'
= , —=— octiQtotte—=
ANY person having a demand
on the Eft?toof /'
COTTON PALMER,
decegfed, is desired to exhibit the fame
without delay to PETER PEARSE,
faawniflrattf;
flame. And by grafptag at a govern
ment, which yon haviaUther wisdom
nor virtue to manage, yen are bringing
fwift ruin upon yourfelfcßy decry
ing & reftriaiom ofrt+4 g morality,
and good government and promoting
infidelity and disorder, that you may
either obtain exaltation, or live as you
please ; you are teaching the multitude
to despise all wholesome, necessary re
straints, and preparing . them to treat
you as lawlessly, as you are now en
deavoring to treat others. The multi
tude you are now tampering with and
diforgani^ing will prefent], rush upon
you to your deftruAion, as the several
successions or revolutionzers in France
have experienced. So Abimelech, with
all his boasted ability to govern and pro
test the nation, left his life and honor
even by the hand of a Shechemite wo
man, a fate very- similar to Marat's
in modern times. Remember, there
fore, that in proportion as your am
bitious and wicked purposes succeed,
your own deftrudion havens on, which
you will not be able to escape.
THE PARJUN'S WIG.
ABOUT a century ago, Parson
M—, of the town of ,{N. England)
bought him a wig at Boston, and, re
turning home, wore it the next Sabbath
at Church.
THE "
;Priceof French Laurels.
;The battle of Marengo is faidto bate formed owe o,
I thefHeft feathers in the cap of French vißorte,
That ear riders may fee fa mi# ..'yirefifui
feenes, and feat of blood the Laurels of mar bji
fonrijb, ice publft an extras from a-work writ
ten lately by a Mr. Petit, a Frenchman giving
an account of that celebrated engagement.
THE clock at Marengo struck ten,
when we were returning slowly
towards San Juliano. Numbers, har
raffed with fatigue, but more for want
of sleep, dose upon their horses backs,
but were every instant roused by the
painful cries of<hofe who were terne
across firelocks or temporary hand bar
i rows ; or of those who, abandoned and
Iflattered in the fields, implored our aid.
I Thus every humane and sensitive heart
was penetrated with that melancholy to
which the true, soldier is no Granger,
and which does him so much honor.—
Horses, limping here and there upon
three legs, calling to our own by their
instinctive neighings ; at every Rep too'
it was neceflary to turn out of our way
so as to avoid treading upon the wound
ed. The ditches and the road often
presented the feene of ciffaons and other
carriages, as well as cannon overturn
ed. Further off we beheld houses de
voured by flames, and tumbling upqn
the heads of the wretched owners, half
dead by the fears which had driven
them to the expedient of hiding them
selves in cellars and other fubterrane
ous places. The total darkness which
surrounded us, made the pidure addi
tionally frightful. Frifoners not know
ing where to go but With the hope of
escaping, wandering at random. If
they were met by French foldiers,bend
ing under the weight of their comrades
they were forced to turn back, & bear on
their Shoulders those refpedable burdens.
At length arrived at head-quarters,
which served as the Ambulence of the
army, every one Rowed himfelf as he
could, among the dying and the dead,
without the piercing cries of the former
being able any longer to surmount the
violence of deep. The next morning,
hunger taking its turn to prevail, I in
a melancholy condition, entered the
great court yard to look for fomenting
for myfelfand horse to eat. I was there
struck With a fight so horrible that I
Juddered all over. More than three
: tboufand Frenchmen and Außrians,
heaped one upon another in the yard,
in the granaries, in the Rabies and out
houses, even to the very cellars and
vaults, were uttering the most lamen
table cries, blended with the severest
curses against the surgeons, there being
too few to dress all their wounds at onece.
Every where I heard the languishing
voices of comrades, or of my particu
lar friends,who begged of me Something
to eat or drink. All that I could do
was to fetch them some water. In truth
forgetting my own wants, and those of
my horfe,l Raid more than two hours,
running backwards and forwards, per
forming, by turns, the part of furgeori
and an hospital attendant.
Frifoners were brought in from every,
part which increased the number of the
famifhed. In short, this was a day that
appeared of an unsupportable length to
all of us, However, an event which
gave birth to a great many conjectures,
moderated in some degree, our endless
inquietudes. An Austrian officer came
to parley, and a French aid-de-camp,
set out immediately to Alexandria.—
No one knew any thing of this business,&
yet every one made a gazettee of it, af
ter his own manner. Berthier went
off to that place abeut noon, leaving us
all in the greatest expectation, for no
one dared to hope for that which we
learnt the next day to have been ob
tained. We were early in the morn-,
ing informed of the news of the armis
tice, which filled the French army
with a joy never before experienced ;
while that of the Außrian, ftofming
with rage, filed off the next and suc
ceeding days before us, on the field
of battle, ftjll reeking with their and
our blood, and where thedcad carcases
began to taint the air with their putrid
exhalations.
And now a ftipply of subsistence and
other nectaries began to arrive, as
well at carriages for the conveyance of
041 lick. A fraternal partition of these
comforts Was made among all the vic
tims of that bloody day. Without any
inquietude or jealousy the Austrian was
fcen with the Frenchman who,two days
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THIRTEENTH YEAR.
Advertiser.
PRICE I DOLLAR 50 CENTS Per Annum. [:%. 23.
Saturday Morning, by WILLIAM TREADWELL, & C^
^^ADVERTISEMENTS reasonably ^conspicuously inserted—COMMU
{ NICATIONS duly attended to—and er , FAVOR. THANKFULLY
I ACKNOWLEDGED..
©Macle anti
before, would have cut one another's
throats. ,They were seen to receive
from the fame hands, under the fame
roof, in the fame chamber, the requir
ed help and the urgent care of fuccour^
ting huraaraty..^
From the Balance.
—o— .
Lo, wizzard envy from his firpent eye
Darts fwift deftrudion in each baleful glante.
Beattie,
Doctor MOORE, in his travels in
Italy, relates, that the Monks of that
country whenahey are about to add a
new faint to their callendcr, fammoried
a folemi itribunal,Tor the purpose of
examining the merits and demerits of
the candidate ; and that, on one hand,
the miracles and virtues of the candi
date for faiatihip, were eloquently dis
played by a person appointed for that
end ; while, on the other, and in order
to give the devil fair play, there was an
attorney, called fe devil's advocate, who
denied the merits of the candidate, vili
fied his character and endeavored to
prove that his foul had not really as
cended to heaven, but was held in the
dominion and under the jurifdidion of
the prince of darkness.
Now this whimsical hißory of mon
kiih foperdition has a very ufeful me
ral.
The office of advocate to hit infernal
ma j e sty has by no means, been an exclu
sive privilege of popith countries. In
republican Governments where promo
tion and power depend on the favor of
the people, ther^ has always been a
plenty of such advocates, who have em
ployed themselves in defaming the most
able and virtuous Statesmen and Ru
lers. Aristides, the Grecian General
and Statesman, had molt deservedly
"obtained the name of the just. His wis
dom, heroism, inflexible integrity and
disinterested patriotism, had diffufed a
glorious Splendor around his character,
which the tanking o^b of that age,
could not behold without pain ; and
therefore by inventing and Spreading
artful calumnies against him, they
blackened his reputation and procured
his disgrace and bauifament.
Many instances of this kind arc to
be seen in the histories of the ancient
Republics of Greece and Rome.
But in no age or country of the world
has the devil ever had more zealous and
faithful advocates than in this. The.
pure charader of Washington has been
Rigmatized, and there have been im
puted to him the basest of motives. Jay,
has been accused of having been bribed
with Britifl }gold ; and the vileß Re
proaches upon him have been poured
forth, by a certain defreiption of men,
from one end of the States to the
other. Adams has been upbraided with
the traitorous designs of overturning
the Confutation and introducing mon
archy, ^Picketing has been represented
as an embezzler of public money. The
horrid report has been Spread over the
whole country, that Wolcott, and Dex
ter were concerned in burning the pub
lic buildings at the city of Walhington.
Men who have fought and bled to' ob
tain and secure our national indepen
dence, have been called by the apptQ
brious name of tori&s. The whole bo
dy of federalifts, though the warm and
fteadfaft friends of our republican con-
Ritution of Government, to which,
from the begminfyjhey have clung, as
to the nation's arte of fafaty, have been
denounced as anglo monarchic 1 The
New-England yeomanry, whose hands
are hardned with daily labor,.and who
carry their wives and daughters a
broad and to church on a. pillion, are
called aristocrats, while the f<@hern
Nabob, that rides in his gilded chariot,
attended with a retinue of Raves, or
tolls on his couch, Surrounded and fan
ned by half a score of fable vafals, is
forfooth, a precious republican, a
fta,unch friend of liberty and equality !
White the whole country was in a
condition of unexampled prpfp&rity,
the people were made to believe that
they were oppreiled.
When wheat was felling for two doL
iars a buthel,theignorant part of Ducefr
farmers were bribed of their votes, by
being told that the oppreflive arißocrats
prevented its rising still higher, and
thatademocraric adminittfation would
raise their wheat to three dollars.
When, by men, who 66 feel power
and forget right," the; war worn fol
displaced from the office that,
gave him bread, it has been usual, at