The Mirror — Concord, N.H., 1798-04-10 00:00:00, page 2

man from Maryland (Mr. S. Smith)
that the vote of the majority upon the
call tor papers, (hewed the opinion of
the House with reaped to the right of
refuting an appropriation ; the contrary
inference was certainly more just, from
the decision upon the main queffion, on
which some of that fame majority voted
in favor of granting the money, and did
aaually grant it.—He should, therefore,
persist in his assertion, flhat the friends
to the amendment ought to have demon-
Crated the inconveniences refusing from
our foreign intercourse with Lifb)n and
Berlin, instead of defcantiog upon the
dangers attendant on Executive patron
age ; for, if these inconveniences were
lerioufly alarming, and if they hada right
to interpose, the Ministers ought to be
recalled, be the patroage ever so incom
fiderable; but if advantages had result
ed from their mission, they ought to be
amtinued without regard to the patron
age ; and if it were uncertain whether
they would promote the public welfare
or not, time thould be allowed to them
to make the experiment under the direc
, tion of the proper department. In this
fift and most proper view of the ques
tion, he would inquire what evils had
arisen from the prefect establishment of
oar foreign intercourse ? The answer
was plain and conclusive. None from
our intercourse with Liibon and Berlin,
the only countries implicated in the a
mendment ; we were in perfect harmo
ny with them. Great- Britain, Spain &
France, are the three countries from
which our embarrassments have arisen,
and these, in the two firft instances, can
not be imputed to our stationary Minis.
ters, or our treaties ; and in the last,
gentlemen themselves will be unwilling
to admit that the public interest has fuf
fered injury. The British depredations
had never, ashe underfl" >d, been imput
§ed to our treaty with France ; it was
more natural to ascribe them to a spirit
of violence and injustice, which is too
common to powerful nations engaged in
war, and to apprehensions of out making
a common cause with France ; apprehen
sions that were unfortunately counte
nanced by the conduct ofFrench Minis
ters and citizens ; by the enthusiasm of
clubs, by the equipment of privateers,;
by civic feafts, and by loud and unequiv
ocal demonstrations of joy upon every
fortunate event that betel their arms,
which rebounded from one extreme of
the continent to the other.
If from Greatbritain we went to Spain,
it would not be pretended that our late
misunderstanding with that nation was
to be imputed to our Ministers residing
there ; but entirely to her ministers and
officers in this country.
With refped to the agency of eur late
minister to the French Republic, in our
present controversy, he was aware that a
great difference of opinion prevailed.—
There were those who believed that he
had betrayed the interests of his country,
and that he was either the dupe or the
tool of that nation*; that he had bad de
signs or weak nerve;, that he was dazzled
by the splendor of their viapries, or ca
joled by the ardor of the fraternal em
brace ; that he suppressed communica
tions which i. was his duty to have made,
and contraded obligations which he
was not authorifed to fulfil.—There were
those who thought that the disclosure of
his inftruaions was not only injurious to
his country, but a measure for which a
minister in Europe would be hooted by
all parties, and io France would loose his
head ; that it wa, a measure which even
the most unjust accusation should not
have promoted, and for which injured
innocence could claim no excuse. But
there are others who contend that he has
'afted a part becoming the minister of a
free country; that a Republic should
have no ferrets, except such as might be
disclosed to our magnanimous ally, with
the confidence that a lover whispers his
, tale in the ear of his miftref,. It was of
no moment, which of these opinions he
espoused. Gentlemen who supported
the amendment did not believe in the
former. But if his private (entiments
were required, he was ready to profefs
his sincere persuasion that our difficul
ties with France were not to be imputed
to any one man, but to a desperate and
misguided party, exiting in the bosom
ofoqr own country, who were in league
with other bad citizens resident in Fran.
,and with the French nation ; and he
, had no doubt that regular information
fa and inft,ufti<>ns were conveyed from this
country to influence the measures of
the Directory, and impede our attempts
to negotiate with success.
The British treaty was not the cause of
the measures adopted by the French in
relation to our commerce, but an apol
:ogy for those measures. They had cap.
tured our vessels and laid embargoes ufr- ;
on them, prior to the ratification of that
instrument, nor was this treaty deemed
a juftification of their condud until ma
ny months after they were acquainted
with its contents.l
But we are challenged to shew any ad
vantages gained by our treaties and in
tercourse with foreign nations. Hi tho't
it easy to fpecify many, and to fty/w the
probability of others, which might Bill
be expected.
And &ft, France Hill continued to
manifeft a dilpofition so hostile and in
jurious, that he could not rely at present
upon any instance in our connection
with that nation to aid his general posi
tion.
Secondly, Great Britain—He did not
feel it incumbent on him to become the
encomiaft of the British treaty, 'nor was
he to be detered from exprelfing his opin
ion upon it, through fe,r of giving of
fence to its warm and numerous adversa
ries. Had the provisions of' that treaty
been more beneficial to the country, had
we been able to make a treaty to foit
our own wishes and circumstances, he
should have been more happy, but this
was to fiy nothing that would not ap
ply to every treaty. But had no advan
tages resulted from that compact / Had
we not obtained the wetlern ports! Has
not at least a partial compensation been
made for the fpoilations upon our com
merce I Is it not probable that we have
been saved from a war with that nation,
whose powerful navy would have proved
more formidable to our commerce than
the whole force of ahy other nation*?Or
if gentlemen now believe that we thould
not hare been at open war, will they
maintain that the British depredations
would not have swept off the greater
part of our navigation ? On the contrary,
we have gained three years time, in the
course of which ' our commerce has prof
pered under all disadvantages, and i^
the last of which our revenue has increas
ed by nearly two millions of dollars
These advantages were not flight or con
temptible ; but a more important ac
quisition had been secured by means of
thattreaty. It has been instrumental
in corroding our unfriendly prejudices
against one nation, and our blind admi
ration and affedion for another. It has
restored the equilibrium of sober judg
ment. It has given (cope for the Ameri
can character to unfold itfelf, and taught
us the value of our own rights, in pre
ference to those of any other nation.
^ Thirdly, Spain—He believed that the
advantages secured to us by the Spanish
treaty had never been doubted or denied.
It had been said, that for this we are in
debted to an envoy extraordinary, ,and
not toa stationary minister ; but who
can fay, that the talents and address of
his refpettable friend from S Carolina,
who was not then in his place could have
accomplished this object with the fame
facility, had not the good will of the
Spanish cabinet been conciliated by fa
miliar difcuilions of the controverted
points with out minister tefident ! Or
who will pretend that our interest does
not require us to preserve the beneficial
relations of that treaty, at the expense
of supporting a minister conftantiy at
that court ? This is now contemplated
by the amendment, as new modelled,
but the arguments originally applied a
gainst this eftahlifhment in common with
others.
Fourthly, Portugal—Lisbon is theob
fervatory from which we must watch the
variable afpeds of the Barbary powers,
and proved our ingeafing commerce to
the Mediterranean ; by our connexion
with that country, We had procured the
advantage of pacifying those powe's. —
She also afforded an asylum to our vessels
in time of war with those Bates, and not
unfre^uently the protection of a convoy.
Fitthly, Prussia—What employment
can we' have for a minister at Berlin ? He
would mention some of the ufetul provi
sions to be found in our treaty with Prus
sia ; it stipulates to grant convoy in cer
tain cases ; jt contains no lift ol contra
band articles ; it agrees that the effects
of our merchants dying in that country
(hall not be confifeated. And this trea
ty, in common with the treaty of Sweden,
recognizes the great apdimportant prin
ciples that “ Free bottoms make free
goods," a principle which is allowed to
be of the highest importance to the com
merce of this country, and the dirclic
tion of which in another case, had drawn
forth the heaviest censures. But other
reasons for renewing these treaties had
been assigned by the President, in his
message ar the last leffion, which he con
sidered deferring the highest attention.
But the gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. Gallatin) had asserted that this
message was at variance with the valcdte
4 tory address of the late PrtfiJenf, anxhol
prove his assertion, he had grossly per
verted the meaning of the message.—
The President had never intimated that
we should interfere in the adjustment of
the political balance of Europe ; but that
caution was proper to prevent our being
thrown into the Cale of either of the Eu
ropean powers. A sentiment perfectly
in unifun with the whole tenor of tie ad
dress, and with the lyftem of his p.eJe
ceftor, in whose time the grade of the
minister at Lifoon was advanced, and
whose advice was, that in extending wur
commercial connections, we Ihbuld be
ware of political compzas.
It is for the public to decide upon the
motives of that gentleman, in attempt
ing prove the existence of a different pol
icy under the late and present adminis
tration.
The fame gentleman had allowed that
it might be necessary to maintain minis
ters at all the courts, with which we
have commercial treaties, but that con
suls are adequate to all purposes in other
countries. We have treaties of com
merce, or of frichdfhip, with all the coun
tries to which we have sent ministers,
except only with Prussia, (the treaty
with which has lately expired, and ought
to be renewed) and Portugal, where the
gentleman himfelf would met feriufly
contend that a eonful would be compe
tent to the business. It is well known,
that consuls are intended merely to ac
commodate private disputes, and are not
under the protection of the law of na
tions. Whenever they receive creden
tials for tranfaaing public business, they
are ministers and not consuls.
But, fay gentlemen, ministers resident,
or ministers with reduced falarie-, will be
adequate to the management of our af
fairs at Lisbon and Berlin. He wished
to know from what source the gentleman
from Maryland derived this informa
tion ? Did he corrcfpond wiih the Prince?
of Peace, or the Cardinals or Grandees
of those countries ? Or did he acquire
his knowledge from the captains of his
own vessels or any of the passengers /
He wished, at least for more precise in
formation on this fubjed, and tho't the
change ought not to be made upon flight
foggeftibns, or on account of personal
prejudices against either of the persons
now in office ; he added that ministers
resident were going out offtlhion. Hol
land alone gave commissions of that
grade, The lowest diplomatic rank now
usual, is that of ministers plenipotentia
ry ; and if we mean to preserve any for
eign intercctirfe, it must be done by such
agents as are accredited at the courts near
whichthey tefide, who can have ready
access to the fountains of power in those
countries, and be placed on a footing in
rank and confluence with their afloci
ates.
The prcjed of totally abolishing our
foreign intercourse, he conflicted us
perfectly chimerical, and when a resolu
tion should be offered to that tff &, it
should be accompanied by a propcfal to
encompass our fe bord with a magic cir
cle, and to build a Chinese wall on our
frontier. We are a member of the great
family of nations, and our comfort and
— convenience, no less
, than the genius of our people, require an
extensive commercial intercourse with
other countries ; and this gives rife to
rights, regulations and controversies,
which must be explained and adjusted by
such Ministers, as by the customs cf
those countries, have a claim to atten
tion and refpea. It has already been
shewn, that our Ministers sent for the
purpose of commerce, and of acquiring
information, would not increase our po
litical connexions wjth Europe; but
said the gentleman from Pennsylvania,
" if is natural for man to ad in wahtevef
sphere he is placed, and if they cannot
do good they will do harm ;" Mr. O.
believed that this principle might be
more applicable to individuals in a Legis
lature, where responsibility was divided,
than to a public and responsible minis
ter. (To be continutd.)
By the President of the United State; of
America,
A PROCLAMATION.
AS the fafecy and prosperity of
nations ultimately and effen
tiaily depend on the protedipn
and bleffiog of Almighty Gcd ;
and the national acknowledgment
of this troih it not only an iodif
penfible duty which the people
owe co Him, but a duty whole
natural influence is favorable co
I the prd&cton of that rno^iy
and piety, <nhoti( which Social
happinch cannot exist, nor the
bhffi ?gs ol a free government be
enjoyed ; tod ^ai this duty, at all
times incumbent, it so especially
in fafons of difficulty or of danger,
when exiftiog or threatening ca
lamities, the just judgment! of
God against prevalent irquiry, are
a loud call to repentance and rc t'or
mation ; —and as the United State#
of America are at present placed
in a hazardous and iffi^tive fi na
tion, by the unfriendly dilpofirion,
condud and demands of a foreign
power, evinced by repeated ttfufa^
to receive our meffeogeri of recon
ciliation ar^ peace, by depreda
tions on our commerce, ard the io
fliaion of injuries on very many
of our fellow-citizens, whie en
gaged in their Jawful bufrefi on
the feat :—Under these cor fidera
(ions it has appeared to me that
the duty of imploring the mercy
tod benediction us Heaven on our
country, demands ac this time a
special attention from its inhabit
ants.
I have therefore thought fit to
recommend, and 1 do hereby re
commend, that Wednesday the।
ph day ol May next be obferv.
cd/hioughoat the United States,
as a ddy of Solemn Humiliation,
Falling and Prayer: That the
citizens of these Rates, abstaining
on that day from their cuflomary
worldly occupations, offer their
devout addrefa to the father of
mercies, agreeably to tKofe forms
or methods which they have sev
erally adopted as the most fuita- ^
ble and becoming : That all reli
gious congregations do, with the
deepest humility, acknowledge be
fore God the manifold fins and
transgressions with which we are
justly chargeable as individuals &
at a nation; befcecniog him, at
the fame time, of his infinite
grace, through the redeemer of
the world freely to remit all our
offences, and to incline us, by hit
holy spirit, to that sincere repen
tance and reformation which may
afford us re-foo to hope for has
ineftimsble favor and heavenly
benediction: That it be made the
fubjeft of particular and eatneft
(application, that our country may
be protested from all the dangers
which threaten it ; that our civil
and religious privileges may be
preferred inviolate, and perpetuate
ed to the latest generations ; that
our public councils and magistrates
may be especially enlightened &
directed at this critical period ;
that the American people may bt
united in those bonds of amity &
mutual confidence, and inspired
with that vigor and fortitude by
which they have io times pift been
so highly diffioguifhed, aou by
which they have obtained such
invaluable advantages : That the
health of the inhabitants of our
land may be preserved, and their
agriculture, commerce, fifheriei,
arts, and tnanuhaures be blessed
and prospered ; that the princi
ples of genuine piety and found
morality may influence the minds
and govern the lives of every de
scription of our citizens ; and that
the blt ffings of peace, freedom,
and pure religion; may be fpeedi-
I, extended to all the nations of
the earth.
^And finally I recommend, chat
on the said day, the duties of hu
miliation and prayer be accompa-