The Mirrour — Concord, N.H., 1794-03-24 00:00:00, page 1

CONCORD.—
LOn GOVERNMENT.
I^ is the privilege of all free coun
tries, and one that Americans en
joy in its full extent, that the citizens
of every town and diftrift may meet
and express their opinions on any fub
jed which concerns their publick
happiness, During the present crisis,
their privilege is of no small conse
quence to our government. The nu
merous refolutioris on the fubjed of
neutrality, which flowed spontaneous
ly from all parts of the union, the
last summer, have contributed not a
little to strengthen the hands of our
chief magistrate in the execution of
his office. They have given stabili
ty, and energy to our government
amidst the insidious attempts of a fac
tion to draw this country into a war.
Os the resolutions of our citzens
in various quarters none more pacif
ick, impartial and judicious have ap
peared, than those from Savannah.
They are short, but expressive of that
temper, moderation, good sense and
patriotism, which charaderife true re
publicans. They approve of the pa
afick system purfoed by our execu-f
live; they reprobate the attempt of
the French pinifa to raise an armed
forcerin the United States ; yet while
they detest such a violation of our
Jaws and the laws ofnations by that
minister, they manifeft a sincere re-,
gard for the French nation. These
Sentiments probably inspire the breads
so great majority of the republican 1
-&r^m^
POPULAR SOCIETIES.
But while we lee with pleafare such
fair, open, honourable proceedings in
the great body of citizens, we must
express a pointed disapprobation of
the dark and myQerious proceedings
of certain popular societies, as they
are called. When the citizens of a
town are all requeued to meet on
(objects of publick concern, even,
man enjoys an equal right With hit
neighbour, to attend and debate—
every man has a chance to be heard
—every man has liberty. But
when a select number of persons
aff^ciare ; meet in private ; bar the
doors against their fellow citizens;
and debate on political fubjeds ; ev
ery man will perceive that there must
be some secret motive for such cau
tious proceedings. The society may
publickly profefs what motives they
°pleafe, and boast of their patriotism ;
but they will not be believed. It is a
contradiction to fay, that a private
mysterious association can be patriot
ick. Patriotism is a loveof the public
weal, which is a matter in which every
citizen has an equal concern. A club
therefore that attempts to advance the
publick weal by private deliberations,
is a monster in Society. It is an ah
fordity—it is a contradiaion. Such
a club must have partial private views
to answer, or they would open their
doors to all their fellow citizens. Pri
vate clubs may meet, with propriety,
on private business or pleasure. ; But
where do private societies obtain, the
right to take meafutes, that concern
my happiness, without my consent?
My fellow citizens, it is wrong.
Such societies are the children of fac
tion and dangerous intrigue. Nay,
they are ariftocraciesofthe word species
[Vol. ll.— Num. 74.]
"^^/§/ /v/%ill I V|£L
ty, in a close room, attempts to take from ml
a portion of my rights. This is the very me
ture of aristocracy ; and of the worst fpecQfr
of that worst kind of government, oligarchy. *
Oligarchy, or government by a few individ-,
uals, has ever been deemed the most tyranni
cal kind of aristocracy. It matters not whe
ther the persons who compose this club are
rich or poor. One vote g6es as far as anoth
er in the right of election. But any number
of persons who associate for the purpose of
strengthening a party, for uniting particular
opinions, for carryihg particular points, for
giving system to particular measures, in op
;petition to the regular constitutional mod^df"
governing the state, forms this oligarchy, fc
have described ; the most dangerous species
of aristocracy.
The French Minifler is the father of these
democratical societies in America, and by the-
Jaft accounts from France, we learn that he is
denounced in the National Convention. We
deem this afortunate circumstance ; and still
more so, as one crime alledged against him is,
his being the chief of a club. If the French
nation charge it as a crime against Genet,
that he has attempted to govern or perplex
America by a club, we presume his friends
have no longer a pretext for such ariftocrati
cal associations.
It was unquestionably Genet's intentioo-^,
establish such clubs in all parts of America'!
But as he must leave this country soon, to an
swer for his condu& before the Revolutionary
Tribunal, " that bourne from which np
traveller returns," we hope such dangerous
! conspiracies will be restrained, and the good
sense of Americans left to operate, without
the undue influence of party, intrigue and
populate cabal.•
From Thomas's Massachusetts SpR), %.
the NEIGHBOUR.
f '' If a man has a right to be proud of anything,
it is tfa good aaien, done as it ought to %,
without an, bast iritweft lurking at tht bot
tom of it."
I Nl° """" w "° was 'he "'^ll
1 AamTon, or Fielding, or Goldfmitn ;'
since, to imbible, carellifh, and to ad
mire tfe fenrimenf,and to be influ
:enced by it in our conduct, is of much
greater confequehce ; and in fact, lis
an advantage really worth our wishes
and endeavours to obtain. It would
mate all our anions virtuous and
good ; and render us all good neigh
bours and good men. “ Every man,"
in such case, if he ought not to have
pride, " would have rejoicing in him
ielf, and notin another."
I (hill not critically difeufs the ques
tion, whether a man has a right to be
proud of any thing, or, whether all
pride be not criminal. Arrogance
and felf conceit ire undoubtedly un
becoming, and offenfive in such im
perfect beings as we are. Such
" pride was not made for man; nor a
haughty spirit for him that is born
of a woman.— But in modern phra
seology, pride is often used to fignify.
and often intend! no more than a fell
esteem in proportion to our merit § a
confeious dignity and fatirfaaion in
proportion to our virtuous exertions ;
tb our having afted agreeably to the
benevolent & noble principles, which
are ornamental to humanity. If a
man has a right to be proud of any
thing, it * of an adion done as it
Ought to be, without apy base incereft
lurking at the- bottom of it t None,
but a metiphyfical head, or a corrupt
Iheart can find any perplexity in the
;fentence ; or any difficulty in.undfrA
(landing it ; or make any pedion Q
Igainft adopting it in practice. Com
mon sense, and an honeftdirpdfitjon,
: are foffictojo admit itinteour ftote
houfe of maxims,to welcome it to our
hearts, and to give it a currency in
our daily commerce with mankind.
[Common sense cannot but compre
hend it, and common honesty will
not aft inconfiftencly with it, hit
Zft G .
,_„t«rfpCTrffc^^ C-rt _-_
MOND arch 24, 1794:
Foot difficult to fee, that an a^ion may
I be good in icfelf, and yet not done as
^itought to be ; that an action may
_be good in the view of the world,
and in its influence upon others, and
yet some base interest may lurk at the
bottom of it. If I lend my neigh
bour a fum* of money which fives
him from jail, I do a good a&ion.
But if that a&ion be accompanied
with evident marks of reluctance, or
* with reproaches for his poverty, or
negligence, it was not done as it
ought to be. Or, if I readily lent
him the money, not so much with a
- view to relieve him, as to get some
advantage against him, and by and
by to distress him, it is evident, that
some base interest lurked at the bot
toty of it. The polite and the be
nevolent know how to do good turns
in away that doubtless the kindness ;
and even when they are forced to de
ny a reqaeft, to do it in a manner
- that (hall rather give pleasure than of
fence. But every body knows, that
there is such a thing, as doing things
with an ill grace ; granting favours
.in an unkind manner ; and conferring
obligations in away that difobiiges.
I once heard a girl ask her mother in
law for a pocket handkerchief, of
which (he knew (he flood in need.
The mother in law (applied her want;
but instead of preferring it with ma
ternal benignity, (he threw it in her
face with looks abd expreffipns of ill a
nature.
^-ri te^v^ ic-tc Divines @fotro hew
the hypocritical and the felfi/h, lose
all the credit and the reward of their
good actions, in the divine estimation
and decision, because of the bale and
wicked interests which lurk at the
bottom of them. But however Arid
we Ihould be in examining and weigh
ing our own actions, with a view to
the approbation of Heaven, and of
our own hearts, and to determine the
real worth of our apparently good
deeds, according to the principles and
-views with which we are actuated,
we should exercise candour and chari
ty towards the conduct of our neigh
bour,. We who have no right, nor
capacity to judge men's hearts, should
not impute their good aßions, when
to appearance they are done as they
ought to be, to any base interest lurk
ing at the bottom.: r
In the ftridnefs of moral disquisi
tion, and in the view of fopreme rec
titude, every adion, in order to be
completely good, should be rightly
performed, and have no corrupt prin
ciple, nor sinister design fa tarnish its
beauty. This is the flandard by
which bur actions are now measured
by the eye of him, who rcq^fetbxruth
io the inward pares, and the rule by
which we fhffl hqeata befedged,
when the secrets of all hearts (hall be
laid open. This therefore, is the
r standard by which we should examine
our actions, and to which we should
reduce them; b order to know their
true value, arid whether we are to be
^tisfied with them, and much more,
whether we are to be proud of them.
Perhaps upon a severe scrutiny, few
ofour actions would have all the qual
ifications necessary to coriftitute them
virtuous and praiseworthy. Some
deleft io principle, in design, in mo
tive, or in manner, diminishes the
worth of most of our good deeds, tod
gives us cause, rather of shame than
of pride, indeed, perfect, unallayed,
unsullied virtue is not within the com
pass of human abilities in this imper
ieft date. Stiil we should place the
copy of perfection before ur, and
drive to reach it. Our good fruits
should be ripening, and growing up
to maturity. Our piety should be
without partiality and without hypoc
risy. Our virtue should be uncor
rupted at the core. Our love, if not
wholly difioterefted, should be with
out diffimulatioru In short, a pure
hearty an .upright intention, a warm
benevolence, should incite, invigorate
and dired all our aaionr. Bring
conscious of such a disposition, we
may rejoice in the hope, that he, whp
knows all the inherent imperfections
of bur nature, and all the disadvan
tages of our probationary state, will
not be stria to mark iniquity, but re
ward us according to the good we
have sincerely wished, and designed,
and exerted ourselves, to do.
How happy, even in this world, is
the good man, the man of an hooeft
mind, and a generous heart! Happy
in himfelf, in the rectitude of his prin
ciples and designs, and in the fym
path, and kindly warmth of his feel
ings! Happy in the gratitude and
good will of his fellow creatures !
Happy io the approbation of hqpveti!
In fine, if it be true, that if a man has
a right to be proud of any thing, it is
of an adion done as it ought to be,
^^M-L^' intere^ft lurking at
the bottom of it, how^great m-offor
his happiness, when he is confeious
of a series of such adioos, with which
his life is filled up and adorned.
STATE of NEWHAMPSHIRE.
In the Honfe of Representatives, Feb. 21, 1794.
R ESOLVED, That the Treasurer
be, and he hereby is direAed to
colka the outstanding Taxes—The
debts due on the Excite and Impost
Bonds, and the debts due on the bonds
of the Mafonian proprietors, as soon
as it can be done conducive to the
publick good of the State, any form
er Resolve to the contrary notwith
standing.
Anh it is farther refolded. That the
Treasurer receive State Notes, Certif
icates and bills of the New Emission,
in payment of either of said demands
at the following rates, viz. Twenty
(hillings in State Notes or Certificates
in lieu of fifteen (hillings in Specie,
and twenty (hillings of laid Bills of the
New Emission, in lieu of five (hillings .
in Specie, calculating the interest on
said Notes and Bills of the New E
mission. Sent up far concurrence,
John Prentice, Speaker, pro teart
In Senate, Feb. zzd. 1794.
Read and concurred,
Abiel Foster, PreJident of the Senate.
Approved 22d Feb. 1794.
JOSIAH BARTLETT.
,^h^te^ A " rob 5' '794.
THE Treasurer being of opinion
that “ the publick good of the
State, will be best promoted by an
immediate colleaion of the debts a
bovementioned, Requests all concern
ed not to delay payment any longer,
and thereby save the trouble and ft
penfe of multiplicity of Extents.
;:<J. T. GILMAN.
' ^^Je^eral Printers of Nrafepers in this .J
State, are requeued to infat the abtroe in their
rfyaive Papers for two weefo
VHAM;
[?n ^ 7; per ann.)