The Rhode-Island American, and general advertiser — Providence [R.I.], 1810-05-15 00:00:00, page 2

L w
Lr were >9hqlmatjpffrdU. buckler, M
I .word, knee, Svelte, 4>oW mH Mrrtro; •*
but foeir aranicsWtra composed, notot th
F mereeMiics* but ef men who knew the ci
-* blessings q* freedom, end who fought for Io
the wrirteeflon of thgir property, th * ir «’
Wives, their helpless children; for their p<
country and for fame; 41
*. Engaged in continual Wars, stimulated pi
F by embHion, burning With martial ardttir. ci
the Various improvements oi tv
’ *.’ foeit aueudes, the Romans spread over fot V
World the resplendence of their glory, anil w
swayed the sceptre of their power. Jfot «
their military know very Itasited u
•nd scarcely ■»» passed foot of foe Gre- ri
r ' clans, Their'armour would have been ex p
Vemefr cumbersome, Ss it weighed M leu ol
x than sixty pounds, if constant ewfacise had tl
£>t given nW rtrength and vigour to they c<
dmMdtutioa. Fyrrus lm.truct«d them in
foe arc of encan^dog; and Hannibal at w
foo head of Ms vietrfrious legions 00 the «
pminsif Italy, taught them lessons of mill- fi
L ' tasy science > but tlirir martial enthusi- ti
4*m contribute?! tn Vender them invincible, a
r "There is noflftng so powerful,” »ys Mon- a
tesqulra, “aS a republick where the laws «
£ ptnabeyef, Mt from fear, or from reason d
l*g. b»»t from passion as was the case at g
Rome and Sparta ; for at that time all the al
/ seal which Lotion could inspire was added ti
L to foe prudence of nn excellent govern H
R A constant enthusiasm, an ardent ai
If patriotism, for* life to all the enterprises a
and p6wer < foe republick ; and so long al
F MB these powerful Incentives to glory ex- n
feted, her enterprises were -
S Bat When wealth was preferred to honour, t |
when vice had sullied ths purity and usurp- it
ed the d<waininn pf virtue, that enthusiasm ti
vanished, her power was palsied,and Rome n.
*kh In conquest and gkwious in fame, felt ei
fot poison of corruption infesting her vitals,
I . nod the paleness of death overspread hrr
Countenance. In the phrertsy <rf madness in t |
foa confusion of anarchy, and Impurity of j
[- guilt, convulsed and agonised, she exhibit- t|
Md a spectacle appalling and tertiflek, as c
L. .1 ."When lightning Ares V
K * The arch of heav’n, and thunders rock the j
mound) o
k " When forious whiriwinds rend the howling tl
i ’ * air, ,■ r
« And oceen groaning from his fewest bed, 0
w Heaves bis tempestuous billow, tothe sky.” j
A nation disciplined, patriotick and uni- c
ltd, is Invincible. The conquests of Setos- t
Wfc, fomiramis and Alexander, of all the
ear Wat and modem batchers of the human
tacc, resulted from the superkmr disci- (
plinc of their armfoe, and the divisions of ,
fo«lr enemies. ’ 1 .
Since the Invention of gunpowder in the
foirteenth century, and its application ti. <
Wartikc purposes io the fourteenth. the 1 t
«rt dt war has received great improve •
meats, and assumed sn aspect for more ,
sublime and terriflek. Instead of clubs I,
and Mones, darts, Javelins and arrows, the ,
rude arms of Grecian and Roman valour, I,
now behold armies employing to their ,
mutual deotraotton “ the perfect ion of gun- (
«rry, bombarding, eannoneering, mining ]
foe peals of cannon, like those of love's
founder, shake the Armament of Heaven ;
and like his lightning spread instant de
traction soldiery. When I
Mapoteon and'Charles of Austria, uniting
their own persons, the varied and dis*
tingriahed abilities of Marlborough and*
Saxe; of Eugene, Coode and Turenne,
mix their WoU in conflict, the sanguinary
hatcheries,'and rude discipline of ancient
times shrink Into insignificance. Former
ly, in the language of Homer,
WMdtid With shield, helmet with helmet
dos'd, ,r / I
W To armour, armour, lance to lance oppos'd
*Hort sgaiart hmt with shadowy Mpudrons
drew*’. > <’
• The wtmdfog darts in iron temperts Aew,
■«VfoUC. and vanquished join promiscuous
erfo., .m>
"Triumphant shouts fod dying groans aria*
• With streaming Hood foe foppery Add. are
d/d, ; (.
"And slaughteredfotrvea swell the dreadful
tide"
New, foe fooits of foe victors* and the ■
groans of foe vanquished are fifowned in
founder—the Vivid lightning of the can
n<w's mouth—tbe tita»endousMa«e of ar
tillery, obscure foe mangled and ghastly
fespa* ®f daughtered heroes. The con
qverour moves untarrifidd across the gory
field,
■m. -r-»-"Airt She a comet 1
•fbu lees foe length of Ophiuchus huge,
4* la the arvtifo sky, from his horrid hair
* Shskee<pMtilence and war”— 0 with fear
}*Of cbfoge perpfeua monarchs."
Our country, fellow-cßisens, finds itself
gfofowlia a situation no less critical than
•forming. Hitherto we have escaped the
-vertex «f European politicks, the grave of
F; freedom. But our rights bate been fo-
Mnged, our remonstrances disregarded,
foe laws of eating violated, and injories
f Inflicted <• eut country almost beyend foe
2 . bounds of the moat patient forbearance.
* 4 The heart of S freeman te Mt formed for
, 4egrAdattou; and a crisis la evidently ap-
pmeefong that will require the exercise of
•II one fafoßude. Thus situated, patriot*
totn requires of us something more than
wnion. wewething tmhter than aa obllvfon of
wnwtithal d’dfcreMce, foe div Wens and
- V.' ’
foLflvMtaM 4f fiMty* Ifr ♦ *®* ee
our shorts,'echoes from <m
■Hounlaink and moms to gather strength a
the tombn of <mr revefutkrnery heroes, r
calls for military still and discipltae va
lour for that martial enthusiasm which
glory awakens and liberty inspiree. Ou>
political principles are our own; our swords
are our country’s. Io fob moment of ap
ptwhended danger, let ua to a man ton*
crate them to its defence, to the preserva
tion of liberty, to the holy cause of freedom*
Vet US magnanimously consign to oblivion
whatever may divide os. Let us remem-
If there are iq our country any who
would rejoice in an opportunity to subvert
our republican Institutions ; to destroy the
free constitution which Wasojwgtom con
tributed to form and establish ; to consume,
with impious fires this ark of our safety,
and efitail on this nation foe complicated
evils of disunion, imbecility, slavery and
under whatever namea they dis
guise their treachery, perpetual infamy
shall blast their fame, and publick execra
tion crush foe criminals by its weight.—
It is an animating truth that the hardy
and brave yeomanry of our country posses*
a real, an honest attachment to constitution
al freedom; they know its value, and are
ready to die in its defence. They and we
are conscious of this truth ; it presses upon
the mind with the force of conviction that io
its preservation are involved the preserva
tion and security, foe prospci ity and happi
ness, foe rights and liberties, the glory, pow-
ncr ouly that we are all citisens of the
same country; that we have the same
rights to maintain, the same liberties tr,
pt eserve. Let us rally round the standard
of liberty end untoo, and swear to clbg with
the latch gta*p of life to the pillars of foe
constitution. f
er grandeur of this flourishing empire.
Our path hitherto strewed with flowers,
is encompassed with danger. The lion and
the tiger prowl around our dwellings. Wis
dom with prophetick glance foresees* and
humanity with bleeding heart deplores the
calnmiitea by* which we are threatenetb—
When a people will not behold the danger
.hat nor be made sensible of the
necessity of preparation to avert it; when
tuey cannot be aroused from a false secu
rity, even by the approach of the conquer-
our's footsteps and foe fires that mark the
deaolatioo of bis way, their doom is irre
coverably fixed. Sudden as a thuoder-bok,
terrible as the the lightning's glare, de
traction will burst upon their heads, and
the first mement of their alarm will be the
glitter of the exterminating faulchion in
its descept. Within foe short term of our
>em«mbrance, events have occurred the
most astonishing that have ilhimined or
darkened the varied page of history in all
the records of man. Events that ’ give
“ dreadful note of preparation” to nations
yet free ami who value freedom. Within
this short term flourishing empires have
j ulten ; long established and powerful iM
narchies been subverted, and their sove
reigns sunk from the splendours of a forpne
to dungeons and to chains. Nur has a hap
pier fate awaited their subjects. The heart
strings of whole nations have been torn
ssunder, and the gndearing mlations of life
destroyed., The heart sickens at tbe spec-
I taele of misery and desolation, of atrocity,
guilt and horruur, which the' finest coun-
tries of Europe now obtrude upon the re
coiling vision of humanity. The blood cur
dles, the mind desponds while it contem
plates the atrocity and success of perverted
imbition, Wisdom, prudence, patriotism,
bid us prepare to resist the encroachments
of ambition so successful, power so over
whelming, atrocity so unparalleled. They
I bid us arouse from the confidence of false
security, the sleep iu which, like Samp
son, we may be thorn of our strength, and
with an holy ardour unite to preserve and
I perpetuate the inestimable blessibgs of free
dom. People of America! to the purity
of ancient patriotism unite the perfection
of modern discipline, and youf liberties
shall endure forever. But if you suffer
y our love of country to be absorbed in lo
cal attachments, end extinguished in par
-1 t y distensions, intrigue then may fatally
divide, arms may conquer you. Then will
i he moat frteTthe most peifect system of
government be subverted, the happiness of
milltons, the glory <rf ages be destroyed, 1
blasted, ruined forever. By what means i 1
Shall I say it ? By your indolence, your I
apathy, your avarice, your negligence,
your political jealousies and dissenttons.—
The hope of patriots, the offspring of gio- (
I rjous achievements and consummate wis
| dom, the last ray ol freedom that ema-«
I naling from the Divine glory illumines the
1 world, shell It vanish and leave to reihem-
I brance cashing but the painful recollection
of so enrapturing a vision ? No. If the
illustrious example »f Wasuiwoton be
not lost upon bis countrymen; if glory glit
tering upon the warrior's plume, and con-
II secreting to immortality his fame, can still
|| fire the soul, or liberty. •
" Like a Bash ft«n Heave* ** -
* fill all Us faculties with glorious joy >*
11 If truth with soul di light, and eye of light-
P ning, can rouse to action, if virtue or pa
II triocism, dr valour, oaa nerve the ares, or
I animate the heart, the pillars 6f our eon-
I stHutk* shell stahd like Atlas fiiwi, 4
"When storms and tempests thunder™ its brow
II TTiMM break their bilowe at its feet*
wberp fa m> holy *r *****
JMr neaamon liberties. Thn shall pa
triots, with glittering arms •»* valiant
lsom from every part ofow «*•
ry, like a torrent of flaming Uva from
.Vtna or Vesuvius, to overwhelm and an
lihilate the first invading tegfan that shall
dare u> polhfae oar shorts, or menace the
sone of freemen with the galling yoke of
foreign servitude. Palsied be the arm,
lifeless the heart, and blasted the fame of
that man, who will not at every hazard till
the last pulse of life has ceased to beat,
vindicate the honour and Independence «f
his country!
«If ever hostile banners wave,
“ Or hostile cannon roar**
“ Or footstep of invader rude,
* With rapine foul, and red with blood,
" Pollute our happy shore-*
“ Then farewell home I and farewell friends I
“Adieu each tender tie t
** Resolved, we mingle fa the tide
« Where charging squadrons furious ride
** To conquer, |r to dip.”
,
Fob The Rhoi»*-4slakd AMBBICAW.
" Thlnk’at tbou Ujat duty shall have dread to
speak
“ When power to flattery bows! To plainness
honours bound
** When majesty stoops to folly.
M Check now this hideous rashness."
I'M* fangs of 'faction are upon us, and
the desolating spirit of democracy has
commenced its career of proscription—
Virtue, talents and political probity are
levelled with the dust—integrity shrinks
appalled from the scene, and patriotism
hovers in her robes and cries |o freemen to
beware. The intrigue of pdyty was never
more clearly pcwrtrayed than in the late
election within " ; our State. That spirit
which is the life-string of a republick, and
the guardian of the people’s rights, has un
fortunately acquired an ascendancy no
longer to be controlled, and reared her
crest of steel against the fairest, and most
honest portion of society. This is not the
vain chimera of fancy, but the serious re
flection of . one, who will speak though
“power to flattery bows’*—though false
hood and artifice have deluded many, and
the majesty ef the people has stooped low
to folly* To the fote election in this Stair
and its consequent misfortune, we would
for * moment call the attention of the peo
ple of Rhedo-laland, and humbly attempt
to expose the fallacy of jacobinick as
surances. Tor the last two years we have
been governed by a ipild and honest Legis
lature, whoed aim haa been to advance the
publick peace and promote the general
good. The federalists possessing a majo
rity, small, though true. Were able to direct
the government of the Slate in such a man
ner as principle and integrity should dic
tate, though trammelled by an execu
tive for whom they entertained no shadow
of respect, and whose private as well as
political life was but little calculated to
attract esteem. Far wopld it have been
from us to invade the blessed retreat of
gubernatorial dignity, had his Excellency
not have launched hia weak bark on the
political waters, he might have reeled hu
thread of life in peace, unmolested by his
enemies—a mere roof for his/Wend*. It
has long been said that when the head i»
corrupt the body must be disordered and
impure. We did hope that Rhode-islanu
though democratick at the bead, was at
least, pure and patrktick at heart. Tht
last election has in some degree damped
this hope, yet we trust It proceeded from
an honest indigni'tten of freemen, that an
association so unnatural and impolitic! as
was the Union Prost should be so long offer
ed for their support. Democracy haa gain
ed a momentary triumph, but It to hoped
the good sense of our people will return
end Shew a spirit of boneit patriotism to
“check this hideous rashness." During
the last year the judiciary in this State
has by far exceeded, for Strength and so
lidity of judgement,and legal science, any
Court with which we have been Nested
for many years. The importance ef an in
dependent Court, to felt by aU classes of
the Community, as MtentM to the prescr
iption of the rights of the people, and as S
Keck on the corruption and designs of tn
■ential men. It to much to bo regretted
■t the electton of our Judges should be
Kject to the revohrttoue of party, and
K they, instead of being elevated to of-
merit and talents, should be only
the instrumsnt* cd predominant ambition.
In the change which the last election
has produced, we have seen those who are
stranger* to the. common honesty of Hfe*
raised from that degradation, which was
their “letterplace,” to the bench of jte
tiee, th* seat ante of integrity ans learn
ing. Can It be the Interest of a vlrtuoua
party to elevate those to office/ whooo cha
racter Is beneath th* rank of ordinary hon
esty, or to support such as bear the Indeli
ble stripes of their own disgrace? We
have evidence, plenary and satisfactory to
every candid mind, to shew that, during
'he legislative force, acted at Newport th<
last session” tie /lowers that be” were
actuated by motives incompatible with onr
THE EXAMINER...]**. L
safety, and ajßre to the rights wd
lnstead of miH per
suasion, Mild argument, am) suhatandal
truth, nothing *“ hoard from the leaders
pf oar ill-fctcd government but the whoop
of the savage, yelling for his hungry whelp,
or the diMordant cries of disappointed men,
offering their infernal orgies to the fiend
they wonhip. and demoralising the boast,
the pride and the ornament ed the judicial
and ministerial functions of the State.—
Thanks to heaven we know them. Neither
private feeling nor delicacy shall prevent
an exposure of crimes so flagitious, nor
prostitution so base.
“ For whilst I ean vent clamour from my throat,
“ I’ll tell thee, thou dost evjl”
documents
accoMJ’>tjrrj*c r« /xs/aejrr’a M£>*
sags, mat 1, 1810.
ii. ■< irr— p— ' 1 t—t — —y——-
(A)
Extract of a Utter from General Arm
strong to M. Chamfiagny.
PAXIS, September 8, IMP.
I bad the honour of receiving your Ex
cellency’s tetter of the 22d of August last,
in exposition of the principles adopted by
his Majesty with regard to neutral com
merce. I shall hasten to transmit a copy
of this note to my government."
December 1, 1809.
Sil—Enclosed five copies of
the President’s message, and of its accom
panying documents. They will afford you
a view of the existing state of things here,
and particularly of the ground taken in the
correspondence with the British minister.
You will perceive that the deliberations of
Congress at the preseht session, cannot but
be embarrassed by the painful considera
tion that the two principal belligerents
have been for some time alike regardless
of our netetrai rights, and that they mani
fest no disposition to relinquish, in any de
gree, their unreasonable pretensions.
You will also herewith receive a copy of
a letter to Mr. Pinkney, which will shew
the light In which M, Champagny’s tetter
is viewed by the President, and at the same
lime the course of proceeding prescribed
io our minister at London. You will ot
.ourue understand it tube wished that you
should ascertain the meaning of the French
government as to the condition on which k
has been proposed to revoke the Berlin de
cree. On the principle which seems to be
.ssumed by M. Champpgny, nothing more
ought to be required than a recall by Great-
Britaiq of her proclamation or illegal block
ades which are of a date prior to that of
the Berlin decree, or formal declaration
that they are not now in force. Should
this be done, and be followed by an annul
ment of all the decrees and in
chronological order, and Great-Britain
should afterwards pm in force old, or pro
claim new blockades, contrary to the law
of nations, it would produce questions be
tween her and the United States, which
the French government is bound to leave
io the United States, at least until it shall
find it necessary to bring forward com
plaints of an acquiescence on our part, not
consistent with the neutrality professed by
us.
(B)
77ie Secretary <f State to General Arm-
You will yourself, and if necessary you
ill lot the French government understand |
ihat we do not consider ourselves bound to I
contest the legality of a blockade which I
may be comformable to the- definitions I
heretofore maintained by the United States I
md particularly to the definition contain
ed in the treaty of June and October, 1801,
between Great-Britain and Russia. How
ever founded the definition of M. Chato
pagny may be in reason and general utility,
lud consequently however desirable to be |
made the established law on the subject of
blockades, a different practice has too long
prevailed among all nations, France as weH
as others, and is too strongly authenticated
by the writers of admitted authority, to be
combatted by the United States.
If you should receive from the French
government explanations prope r to bo com
muntoeted to Mr, Pinkney, yus wiilno* jpii
to transmit the as me to him without delay.
And should they bo such as to make it im
portant that Mr. Pinkaey shahid immedi
ately found thereon an application to the
British government to prepare the way fer
a repeal of the Berlin dewee, yon will be
pleased to hssten tbn jHpn»unlcatic» to
him by a special mttMpf. Whatever
the explanation may be,fto will uf Morse
transmit them to this department, with
such other information as may be inte
resting.
„ Withgoeatreopochko *
(Signed) R. SMITH.
General /odn Armetrong, IFc. IFr. Wc.
Sin—From the enclosed copy of a letter
from M. Chsmpagny to General Arm
strong, it appears that the French govern
ment has taker a ground in relation to the
British violation of our neutral righto, net
strong.
DxraxTMKNT or Statx,
(C)
Mr. SmitA f Mr. Pinkney.
DaoarrmaßT of Stat ß,
November 11,1**.
theuiMWkMhMbaretufoMUken. and
whigh it b proper you Aoulrt be acquaint- ♦
edwhh. You wiU observe that the terms
stating the oafoHtion on wbieh tba Berlin
decree will be revoked are not free front
obsfurity. They admit the construction
however, that if Great-Britain will annul
her illegal blockades as distinct from her
(Orders in Council, such as the blockade
from the Elbe to Brest, &c. prior to the
Berlin decree, and perhaps of - subsequent
date, but still distinct from her Orders .in
Council, that France will put an end.to her
Berlin decree, or at least the illegal part
of it. Whilst therefore it becomes impor
tant to take proper steps, m will be done,
through General Armstrong, to ascertain
the real and precise meaning of Mr; Cham
pegny’s letter, U is important also.that
your interposition should be used to ascer
tain the actual state of the British, block
ades distinct from the Orders in Council,
whither merely oo paper or otherwise Ik'
legal, and ‘ whether prior or opbaequent to
the Berlin decree, and to feel the pulse of
the British government on the propriety of ■
putting them oat of the way inorder to
give force to our call on France, to prat ( ,
pare the way for a repeal of that decree.
In the execution of this tank I rely an
the judgement and deiioncy by which I am
persuaded you win be guided, and on you?
keeping in mind the desire of this govem.-
ment to entangle itself as little Mpoaaible
io the question of-priority in the violation
of our neutral rights, and to commit itself
as little as possible to cither *
us to the course to be taken with the other.
If it should be found that no illegal,
blockades are now in force, and so declared
by Great-Britain, or that the BrMah gov
ernment is ready to jevojte and withdraw"
all such aa. may not be conaiatoot with th*
definition of blockade in the Rnasian treaty
of June, 1801, it will be desirable that yost
lose no time in giving the Informasbto to
General Armstrong, and whatever may ba '
the result of your inquiries, that yon
hasten a communication of it to me. ( *
Writing on abort notice of the present
conveyance, I have only to add th* am.
surance of my esteem and free* consider •
atioo, Bcc. .
(Signed) JL SMITH.
, (D) £. ♦
Extract a fetter/hoes TJcnerat/ Jtnm
aTrofqr deerehsry qf State.
Pania, January M, 1810.
“ In conformity to the suggestions con- #
tained in year letter of the Ist Doeomber, . V
1809, I inquired whether if Greot-BritaUa
revoked her blockades of • data MMetioac
to the decree commonly called the Berlin #
decree, his Majesty tha Fmpsnenr would
consent to revoke the said decree. Ta «>
which the Minister answered, thae “ th*
only condition required for tbs tavecatiad
by his Majesty, of the decree of Berlin,
will be a previous revocation by the Bri
tish government of her blockades of France
or part'of Trance, (such as that from th*
Elbe to Brest, foe.) of date anterkmn to
that of the aforesaid decree; and that if
the British government would then recaf*
the Orders In Council which had occa
sioned the decree of Milan, that decree
should also be annulled.**
Exrrocf o/e/effrr Mr.RinSneyto
the Secretary of Suite. y ,
Lon non, February 28,181*.
' ” I have received from General Arm-
strong q letter 1 of which a copy is enclosed,
and have, in consequence. foade t a written «,
inquiry of Lord Wellesley (with whom t
had before communicated personally «* th*
subject) as to the inexistence of the Mocb«
ades to which it alludes. lam not wi)b*
out hopes that the reply to my inquiry WfH
amount to a declaration (satisfying te «*b-
, stance the condition mentioned fas Gene
ral Armstrong’s letter) that these block
ades are not in force—and if it should, I
will send immediate notice to* General .
Armstrong. I have prepaqad an ofocial f
letter to you on this head, which, wph
. such additions .as Circumstances may en
able me to make, will by the ooA
vette. (The John Adams.) , ’*
(F?
Cofiy qf a letter firm General Amutrong
to Mr % RiaJtney.
Pania, January 25, KK
Si a—A letter from Mr. Secretary fength
of the let of December loot, made W asy •
duty to inquire nf his Excellency the Deb*
of Cadore, what were the edadithns an
which hie Majesty tba Emperanr woaM
annul his decree, cnmasqaly called the.
Berlin decree, and wbetberif Greal-Bri*
(am revoked her blockades of a date an
terfoar to that decree, his Majettfr Would
consent to revoke the said decrow I—Tn
theft questions I have this day received
the following answer, which I haste* tn
convey to yon by a special meseqnger. •
ANSWER.
“The only condition ret [uhmd for the f
revocation by his Majesty tba Bmperoar of
the decree of Berlin, will be the previa*
revocation by the British government of
her blockades of France, or part of France,
(such as that from the Elbe to Brest, foe.)
of date anteriear tn that df the aforedap
decree.**
X have the hofeur to be, fee.
(Signed) JOHN ARMSTRONG.