The Rhode-Island American, and general advertiser — Providence [R.I.], 1810-04-13 00:00:00, page 2

evidence that the n p’dtude art at* to en-
at hat alwayi been our boast
ai proving that it is to the power un
principled by personal abase
and by propagating suclt misrepresents
ti<ms as a vrm and uninformed people
would be likely to relish, to bring men in
to publick offices, who are either Incom
petent to discern the true interests of th*
republick, or disposed knowingly and wil
lfully to sacrifice them.
It is enough to say that such ungenerous
and illiberal conclusions can enter the
tniods of none but proud aristocrats, tories
or traitors to their country. The change
of popular opinion in Massachusetts is
honourable to the discernment of her citi
sens. It can lx proved to a demonstration,
that by favouring the party who support
the present national administration, and
turning our backs upon those who opposed
tit* leading measures of our federal rulers,
we have only yielded to the irresistible tes
timony of their wisdom which experience
has afforded.
But least this be said to be declamation,
let u* appeal to well known facts.
The anti-com merci a I edicts of our na
tional by arresting the pros
perity of our country, have prevented the
enterprising and wealthy, from accumu
lating immoderate gains. They have been
taught this useful lesson ; that their profits
do nut depend on industrious habits, and
judicious calculations; but they are at
the mercy of a government, which has the.
ptfwer and will exercise it at pleasure, of
blasting their hopes, frustrating their pur
poses, and compelling them to submit to
the most perplexing embarrassments. —
This certainly is a great point—it will pre
■' vent the self-sufficiency of indh iduals—it
will cramp that spirit and sense of inde
pendence which so naturally take place
among the citizens of a free republick.
The poorer classes tot have had a lesson
of Instruction. By beingcompellcd, many
of them, to abandon their accustomed oc
cupations, they have been taught to know
that they may support life, more ways
than one; and that the hope ni growing
ric£, is a foolish and uncertain notion,
while's poor man can be thrown out of
business, or reduced to the necessity of re
sorting to that which be neither pt efers
nor understands, to keep himself and fami
ly bom absolute want.
The suspension of commerce lias kept
our farmers from profiting by that ready
market, which had induced them to in
dulge undue expectations of advantageous
settlements for their children. It has
brought to their reflections the prospect of
having to pay direct taxes, against which
they had entertained some prejudices;
and we see that many of them have recon
ciled themselves to that system of revenue,
by supporting those who must have it, or
national bankruptcy, in contemplation.
The warfare against commerce, which
our administration have carried on, in dif
ferent forms, for years, has likewise pro
duced other good effects. It has prevent
ed the receipt of fifteen or twenty millions
of money in the national.treasury; which
might have offered an irresistible tempta
tion to domcstlck plunderers, or further
demands from Bonaparte, with which it
would have dhgrnced our country to com
ply. ‘The Emprrour may now fret as he
pleases—he can have no more of the cat
than her skin.
The milli'»ns which our accustomed and
always practicable trade would have intro
duced into the country, in the mean time,
and diffused among the people of all de
scriptions, might have been abused, and
have rendered people ungovernable. It Is
a maxim of tyrants, and seems to have,
been adopted by our rulers, that a people
should if possible be kept poor.
If we have had these and many more
proofs of yie wisdom of our administration,
as to the domestick tendency of their mea
sures, we have certainly not less reason to
approve of them, as we do, if we look at
the eff-ct on our foreign relations.
By suffering France to burn, sink and de
stroy at sea : seise, plunder and confiscate
on shore, nt pleasure, and all without ex
hibiting a symptom of resentment, we hav*
convinced Bonaparte that the opinion once
entertained, that wa were a proud spirit
cd, independent, brave people was all a
mistake. We have prevented his endan
gering our attachment to him, by formally
declaring war against sis, when he can
have all and more than the advantages of
war, without ever agitating our feelings,
by declaring us openly his enemies.
But above all, we have most reason to
apostatize from our political faith, and
** pledge our lives, our fortunes and our
sacred honour'* to the present administra
tion, the wisdom of their measures towards
Great-Britain being proved out. This
Country always entertained an ermurof
serious importance, which is now com
pletely eradicated, and for this illumina
tion we are indebted to our national gov
ernment. It was always supposed by most
people, that the happiness, the prosperi
ty, and almost the existence of Great-Bri
tain depended on our trade with her. We
have stopped it, at a loss of many millions
to ourselves* and she has gone on, in high
prosperity ; her commerce flourishing—
her revenue flowing in from all quarters,
and other nations, in all parti of the world
acquiring the habit of depending exclusive
iy on her. Now honest and intelligent
statesmen might have preached this doc
trine for centuries, yet the American peo
ple would probably have remained ia er
rour, if our administration had not given
us an experimental lesson, which we shall
never forget. This is certainly one ground
of securing the love and thanks of the clti
sens of the United States, which could
never have been exacted if federalistthad
held the reins of governmei *. or the ex
periment been frowned upon by the peo
ple. We have now seen our impotence
and insignificance, and having paid dear
enough for our knowledge, it may do us
good.
Another point, on which we may ac
count rationally for the increasing popu
larity of the present administration, is,
that we are at last free from any danger of
an arrangement with Great-Britain, which
would have exposed us to the wrath of
Napoleon. If government had met the
British cabinet, in repeated instances, with
any spirit of friendship, or honest inten
tions to accommodate, all differences might
long ago have subsided, and our inter
course with them have proceeded on the
most amicable footing. They have suc
ceeded in convincing Great-Britain that
tfhbassies to us are futile—that we will
not be friends—and our government has
finally received from them what must be a
great satisfaction— official notice that they
underotand thio fiolicty and will trouble uo
no more ; but pursue the high interests of
that nation and of mankind, and leave us
to manifest our resentments in such mode,
as in our accustomed wisdom we shall
think proper.
What has become of Mr. Pope’s reso
lution in the Senate for altering the consti
tution so as to render the Jt'Jges incapable
of further continuance on the bench after
they are sixty-five years of age? It is
hn|>ed that this resolution has also gone to
the great tomb of dead bills and t esolves
like “ hidden untimely births, like children
that never saw the light ;” defunct before
paturition. The psnst active and useful
part of Franklin’s life was between 65 and
82. Some men retain their faculties with
out any appearance of being defective, till
the age of 80. Some are early ripe; but
this precocity is usually indicative of brevity
of life. Some show specks of unsoundness
at 50, some at 60, kc. Some are always
rotten, yet hang on the tree of existence as
long as the noblest fruit.
But the rule ought not to be confined to
Judges. Let it embrace Senators, Repre
sentatives and other officers. The consti
tion bounds the age pf a Senator to 30;
a Representative to 25. Yet there is no
wisdom in this limiting of the age of either.
There are many, who at the age,of 20 are
in every respect mpre fit to be a Senator
nr Representative than many who are
elected at the age of 40 or 45. Let this
limitation of age be abandoned; and the
constitution altered in this manner.—Let
there be in each state five censors to hold
their office during life, the wisest men to be
found, and to be elected by the legislature
of each state; whose duty it shall be to
examine the candidates, whether they hold
themselves up, or are held up by others foi
the Senate or the House, touching their
qualifications. If they can neither read,
spell nor write, the possession of any or ever
so many accomplishments shall not entitle
them to a seat. This rule would exclude
some from each of the present Houses.
Such as nnc of the Senators who in a bill
of his own drafting reported to the Senate,
writes neoeoate for necessity, and most of
his words with equal accuracy ; and such
as the member of the House who wrote u<
the Postmaster in Washington thus, Cur
(Sir) I’ve been tolde that the oignatur tf
tach member io rekvrired I otn yu my oig
nitur.
FROM THI INDKPENDKNT AMKRICAN
It is needless, however, to enter into a
consideration of all the properties necessa
ry. Those ought to be excluded, who have
been indicted for and proved guilty of great
crimes ; those who are addicted to gamb
ling, drinking, night-walking, to the neg
lect of their duty in Congress ; those who
mean no iH, but for the want of judgement,
always are governed by certain leaders ;
those who have no independence and are
studious only of popularity ; those whose
motives are only immense speculations,
however the country may be injured ; 6tc.
Dec. It is true that if such an alteration in
the constitution should take place, and the
censors should examine the present mem
bers, and exclude ail the unfit, neither
House would ever again make a quorum ;
but this loss wouln in reality be a great
gain ; and at the next session, the vacan
cies in the Senate being filled bv the state
legislatures, the legislative body of the
United States would be the first in the
world.
But the intention of Mr. Pope appear* to
be to remove from office certain aged
Judge* on account.of their politicks, rather
than their age. Will never this virulent
democratick enmity to the Judge* cease to
prevail ? Sixteen were once removed to
gether ; inutility waathen the plea. More
must be removed; and age is now the
plea. But age i* no just criterion. The
very mover of this resolution must have
mhi Md foM aacttgl ip tha capital Jo be
satisfied that many persons pasa frqp the
intellectual childhood of youth to that of
old age, yet never touch the manhood of
the mind.
• There ivas a mistake in the name of
the froftoser of the amendment in ou r fia
fier of Tuesday—it was Mr. Montgomery,
not Mr. Mumford.
Tuksoay, Apul 3.
Mr. Pierson called up hi* resolution to
inquire into the conduct of General Wil
kinson. •
The question on the consideration of the
resolution was taken by ayes and noes and
carried—<yes 84, noes 16.
Mr. Love called for a division of the re
solution so as to take the question on an in
quiry into the conduct of General Wilkin
son with respect to his Spanish pension and
hi* conduct in Burr’s affair, in the first
place.
Mr. Pierson spoke a few word* respect*
iug the resolution, its importance and his
motives fur bringing it forward. '
Mr. Pitkin spoke at great length, and
with his usuahprecision and soundness of
argument, in favour of the resolution. Ht
went over the evidence which had been
formerly before this House against Gene
ral Wilkirtson, and touched upon his late
notorious conduct with respect to the army
He insisted that it was a duty that the
Members of the House owed themselves,
the nation, and General Wilkinson, to go
immediately into an inquiry.
Mr. RheafTux buz)—My Lord Hol
land and Democracy's father Srnilie were
lecidedly against the -resolution. They
contended that the House had no power to
do any thing on the subject [One would
think from their argument that the Hguse
had no power at all to do any thing.' And,
in fact were we to judge from what is done,
the opinion would be confirmed.}
Messrs. Key and Sheffey spoke with great
eloquence in favour of the resolution.
* Mr. Bibb moved to postpone the further
coosideratioii of the resolution indefinitely.
Messrs. Lyon and Macon spoke against
the postponement, and in favour of the re
solution.
The question on postponement was taken
by ayes and noes and lost—ayes 33 noes 79
The question then recurred on the first
Member of the resolution. The question
was taken by ayes and noes and carried—
but before the clerk had read the names,
Mr. M Kim rose and demanded to alter hi*
vote, as he said he had voted contrary to
his resolution. The Speaker ordered the
clerk to call Mr. M’Kim again, which he
did but before Mr. M’Kim had answered,
Mr. Randol|4t rose and objected to the
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Monday, April 2.
Mb. Quincy, from the committee co the
subject of preserving the ancient publick
records of the United States, reported a
bill “-providing for the better accommoda
tion of the general poet-office, the patent
office, and for other purposes.** Referred
to a committee of the whole on Wednes
day next.
Mr. Love, from the committee to whom
was referred the subject of a national bank,
reported “ A bill to establish a national
bank.” Referred to a committee of thr
whole on Thursday, and ordered to be
printed.
The batture bill was read a third time
and passed—-ayes 89, noes 16.
MWIMTffRCO URSR.
The unfinished business of Saturday-
Mr. Randolph’s resolution to repeal the
non-intercourse was called up.—Mr. Mont -
gomery’s* amendment before the House.
Mr. Rhea, fo/rfs/Jfnning wheel,) moved’
to postporie’tKe further consideration of the
subject until to-morrow.
After a long debate the question on post
ponement, was taken by ayes and noes, and
lost—ayes 57, noes 59.
The vote to consider was carried—ss to
49. o
Mr. Randolph adopted Mr. Montgo
mery’s amendment, and moved a division,
so os to take the sense nf the House on the
subject of the repeal first.
The debate was continued for some time,
when Mr. M’Kim moved another amend
ment, ’* and that provisions be also made
by law to prohibit all importations from
Great-Britain and France.” Mr. Ran
dolph also adopted this amendment, and
still insisted on a division of the question
as before, so as to determine the question
of the repeal in the first instance.
Mr. Root then moved to strike out cer
tain words and insert others, so as to make
the resolution read “ that the non-inter
course law should be repealed when pro.
visions is made by law,” &c.
The debate continued until a late hour,
when the House adjourned without taking
any question on the subject.
The contrivance of the non-intercourse
party, to embarrass Mr. Randolph’s reso
lution will not do—they must meet the
question, or debate out the remainder of
the session—they are so averse to com
ing fairly to the question, I think the last
course will be the one they will take—
They will debate out the session, and do
nothing I
Congttejf
Slates as reported by Mr. Meigs-s-which
was read the third time, and passed the Se
nate.
gentieman’s voting a second
the unanimous aunsept of the House. This
produced a queatito of ordee, which kept’
th 3 House In debate until a late hour, and
an adjournment was finally called for, and
carried to get rid of the embarrassment—
The vote on the resolution was not declared
by the Speaker, but It was well known to
be Carried in the affirmative.
IN SENATE,
Friday, March 30. >
The Senate resumed the consideration of
the bill to extend the time for making pay
ment for the publick lands of the United
On motion of Mr. Anderson,
. Reootved, That a committee be appoint
ed to inquire whether any. And if any,
what alterations are necessary to be made
in the act establishing trading-house* with
the Indian tribes, and the several acts sup
plementary thereto ; and that the commit
tee have leave to report by bill or Otherwise-
Ordered, that Messrs. Anderson, Craw
ford and Gregg be the committee.
The further consideration of the bill au
thorizing the sale and grant of a certain
quantity of land to the proprietors of the
Middlesex Canal Company was postponed,
on motion of Mr. Goodrich to Monday next
On motion of Mr. Turner,’ the bill au
thorizing the discharge of John Kerr from
his imprisonment was recommitted.
Mr. Crawford, from the committee to
whom was committed Mr. Reed’s resolution,
for amending the constitution, (respecting
tides of nobility,) reported the same with
amendments.
The bill supplementary to the act to re
gulate trade and intercourse with the Indian
tribes and to preserve peace on the frontiers
was read the second time, and-referred to
Messrs. Clay, Anderson and Meigs.
Mr. Bradley reported a bill fixing the
compensation of publick ‘Ministers and o<
Consuls residing on the coast of Barban
and for other purposes. Read and passed
to a second reading.
The bill to amend the laws within tht
District of Columbia was ordered’to be en
grossed Tor a third reading.
The engrossed bill authorizing the sale
and grant of a certain quantity of publick
land to the proprietors of the Middlesex
Canal in the state of Massachusetts,
read the third time.
The bill making appropriations for car
rying into effect certain Indian treaties was
passed with an amendment.
Mr. German gave notice that on Monday
he should ask leave to bring in a bill t<-
appropriate a certain tract of land for open
ing and improving the water communica
tion between the tide waters of the Hudson
river and Lakes Ontario and Erie.
The bill for the relief of Tristram Hus
sey was passed to a third reading.
Senate adjourned to Monday.
Monday, April 2.
On motion, by Mr. Lloyd,
It was unanimously agreed to amend the
bill by striking out the words ** and extend
ing the same to Connecticut river, by such
waters or canals, as may be fixed by the
board of directors,” and inserting the words
“ pursuant to the act or acts of incorpora
tion that have been or may be obtained by
said company.”
The bill was then passed.
On motion of Mr. Smith of Maryland,
. Reoolved, That the Secretary of tht
Treasury be directed to report to the Sen
ite, whether any, and what dividends have
been made by the Bank of the United
States other than those publickly declared
of eight per cent, per annum; and whethet
any surplus, and what amount remained tv
the credit of the Bank, after payment of
the last dividend had been made; and also,
the profit or loss that has resulted to thr
Hank from its offices of Discount and De
posit specifying the profit uf the loss on each
< ffice separately, and the amount of capital
supplied le each.
A message was received from the Presi
dent of the United States, transmitting a
report of the Secretary of State in compli
ance with the resolution of the Senate of
the 22d of March, which together with the
bill for the relief of Jared Shattuck, was
referred to Messrs. Bradley, Gregg and
Bayard.
The bill for the relief of Tristyam Hus
sey was read a third time and passed.
Mr. German introduced a bill to appro
priate tract of land for opening
and improving the water communication
between the tide waters of the Hudson
river and Lakes Ontario- and Erie. Read
and passed to a second reading.
The bill from the House of Representa
tives providing the means to ascertain the
title to the batture in front of the suburb
St. Mary, was read and passed to a second
reading.
The bill to amend the laws within the
District of Columbia was read a.third time
and passed.
The bill authorising the discharge of
Phineas Varney from his imprisonment
was ordered to be engrossed for a third
reading.
Th* bill yesterday reported by Mr. Ger
man was read a second time; a* ajso was
Tvf.bday, April 3.
the bill fdpqHed by the
compensation otMtaisters and Consuls, ficc.
Thcbitl wpw'inr'he Batture was read
a second thpa «*d eemmittod to Meters.
Whiteside, Crawfm d, Gregg. Bradley and.
HUUiouse.
Mr. Brent reported a bill to incorporate
the trustees ef Washington College—Head
tnd passed to a second tending.
The SemUe proceeded ip theeonsldera
ion of the Vk from the House of Represen
tatives for regulating the Fosi-Office es
tablishment ; end adjourned after making
amendments to the same.- •
25p tlje JBall.o.
WASHINGTON, April 4.
From, the Intelligencer.
w x understand, that a letter from Gen.
Armstrong tp the Secretary of State, dated
January 20, has been received by the
Fame, arrived at Norfolk, which state*,
that our affairs with the French govern
ment had at that time assumed-a more fa
vourable aspect. General Armstrong bad
oidered the John Adams to repair to Effl»-
land, to receive Mr. Pinkney's despatches,
and to return to prance for Lieutenant
Fenwick, who would be charged with the
French despatches.
April 6. 1
An article from Constantinople stntes,
that after the battle of Silistria the Rus
sians applied for an armistice for two
months, which was refused by the victor!-.
>us Turks. The Ex-King and Queen of
Sweden had arrived at Stralsund, on their
way to Switzerland—French papers had
been received at London to the 19th Janu
ary. The Star says,
“ We mentioned on Tuesday the arrival
of an American gentleman from Calata,
with despatches for tyfr, Pinkney. His
name is Caldwell, and the rumour in the
political circles is, that be has brought in
telligence that the French Em per our has
ordered the confiscation and sale of all
American property in the ports of Spain,
Italy and France; that General Armstrong
was in great alarm in consequrtice of the
state of affairs; besides which, report adds,
that an order had been issued to prevent
any Americans from leaving France. . »
“ The gentleman alluded to states, that
ne had been very ill used at Calais by the
officers of the government, who Jooß from
him all his private letters, and were even
proceeding to seize his despatches, which
he saved only by saying, that they must
first make him'ftriooner."
Captain Jones, of the Anu, from New-
Orleans, informs, that General Wilkin
son had taken his passage in the brig
Dart, Captain Driscol, to sail in 10 days
f>r this port. It is hoped he may arrive
before Congress adjourn; that Messrs.
Randolph and Pierson may do their duty,
and the truth, the whole truth, be brought
to light.
PHILADELPHIA, April 5.
We are authorized to stat?, for the in
fortoation of our commercial friends, that
the Danish Charge des Affairs, has re
ceived from the -Minister cf that country
at Paris, the most satisfactory assurances
nf the friendly disposition of the King of
ilenmark, towards this country, and of a
determination to cultivate a friendly Inter
course with it—that such explanations had
been made to General Armstrong, of the
measures which may have Created a dif
f< rent opinion as would remove all appre
hensions on that account.
The United States* frigate President,
Captain Bainbridge, is at Chester.
Yesterday arrived schooner Hound, Cap
twin Gamble, 45 days from Lisbon.—By
nim we received the following verbal in
formation—that the British army were at
Coimbra, and the French at Badajos, hav
ing the river Tagus between them. That
the British transports and many vessels
were lying in teadiness, should the British
meet with any disaster, the transports so
take off the troths, and the Amerwano and
others to take off the inhabitants that wish
to fly. That he saw London papers as late
as the 29th of January, in which was the
King's speech, delivered on the 23d to the
Parliament, the contents of which as far aa
he remembers was so conciliatory towards
America, that a number uf British agents
that had come out to Lisbon to purchase
cotton and other American produce, stop
ped sny further contracts fur those articles.
A letter from Balti more received m this
city, the information contained in which is
said to be derived from the highest author
ity, states that General'Armstrong had
written to the Captain of the John Adams,
that he had progressed very far in a treaty
with France. The return of the frigate
to France, it is expected, was ordered for
the purpose of being the bearer to this
country of the result of his negotiations.
NEW-YORK, April 4.
Extract of a letter from Washington ts
the editor, dated March 31, it JO.
” It turn* out that Cook’s Information
given to the House of the arrival of the
John Adams at Norfolk. Is a pir—
BALTIMORE, April 4.
April 7.
Gazette of the U. S.