United States oracle and Portsmouth advertiser — Portsmouth, N.H., 1802-07-17 00:00:00, page 1

N From the Balance.
0 person bows with more reverence
before the majesty of the people than
does the writer of this. The will of
the people, constitutionally expressed,
is, and I hope, ever will be, the supreme
law of the United State,. But there
is a kind of popular phrenzy which is
more to be dreaded than the sword of
a tyrant ; and a species of fawning ad
ulation at the fnrine of popularity,
which is more to be despised than ser
vile cringing at the footßool of royalty.
When a third for popularity so far
gains the ascendancy in a free and in
dependent nation, as to pervade every
branch of its government, there is great
danger that the constitution of such
nation will fall a prey to party spirit
and contention. That this is at pre
lent the case in America, will clearly
appear, on examining some of the re
cent measures of our administration.
The question with our rulers of late
has not been, Is this or that measure
right, just or reafinable ? but, Will this
or that measure gain us popularity ? has
been the only enquiry. The bed in
terests of the people have been facrific
ed, while the popular ear has been tick
led with the fascinating founds. — The
conduct of our ftatcifnen, has resembled
that of a dashing retailer, whole win
dows are filled with goods, while his
(helves are totally empty.
Mr. Jefferson's inaugural speech
was well calculated to gain popularity,
because the sentiments contained in it,
were such as to extort applause even
from his enemies : But would not Mr.
Jefferfon have done himfelf more hon
or by candidly marking out a line of
condu& which he meant to pwfue, than
by making promises which he had no
disposition to fulfil ? Had he frankly
declared,at his firft setting out, that one
half of tne people of the United States,
were a set of political heretics, over
whose heads he intended to brandish
die rod of persecution, he might, per
haps have fuffered the loss of a little
fleeting popularity ; but he would not
thereby have endangered his veracity.
The ruling fed in Congress could
have had no other objed in view in de
stroying the old judiciary system, than
popularity; for they were not ignorant
that a system equally good could not
be adopted without as great expence :
Yet while some few had the candor to
acknowledge that the expence of the
system was of no consequence, the im
prudent and designing pretended that
their only aim was to rid the people of
their burthens. Fearing that the mea
fare, if left to itfelf, would have a ten
dency rather to diminish than increase
their popularity, certain members of
Congress wrote delusive addresses to
their constituents, in which the salaries
of the difphced judges were set down
as clear favings,while the extra expenc
es attending the new judiciary fyllem,
were totally omitted.
The repealing of the internal taxes,
carried with it a faicinating found.
The measure, in name, was a charming
trap to catch popularity. But could
the advocates of thatm^afure have been
sincere in their profeffions of regard for
the people, when they abolished the tax
on coaches, and permitted the duty on
fait to remain ?
To mention every instance in which
our rulers have attempted to purchase
popularity at the expence of principle,
would detain me too long from my
plough. But there is one more, which
is too glaring and barefaced to be omit
ted.—A law passed during the late ses
sion of Congress, entitled, “An aft
making provision for the payment of
the whole public debt." —Now, my fel
low-farmers, what opinion would you
naturally form of a law bearing such a
delightful title? Sould you not expert to
find in it some means provided for the
payment of the public debt ? Most cer
tainly. What, then must be your fin
prize, when you find not a syllable in
the law which conforms in the least de
gree with the title? What must be your
indignation,when you difeover that the
framers of the law aimed, by means of
a falfe title, to impose upon your cre
dulity ?—ln what manner does the law
provide for the difeharge of the WHOLE
debt ? It merely authorizes a re-loan of
money for its payment !—Alas ! alas !
to what despicable ffiifts haveour /o,^-
larity-loving rulers been driven.
A PLOUGHMAN. M bis Deft.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. Printed and Published every #
^.XIL] SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1802.
Os ALL THE DISPOSITIONS AND HABITS WHICH LEAD TO POLITICAL^
prosperity, RELIGION and MORALITY are indispensible /
supports.. — WASHINGTON'S Legacy.'
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, TWENTY-SEVENTH YEAR
MISCELLANY.
Portsmouth
Witty States
"T F the risk arising from the wars of
I other nations : if the depredations
which belligerent powers are prone to
commit on the unprotected commerce
of a neutral state ; if the spoliations, I
speak not, here of the indignities, to
which we have so patiently submitted
for more than fix years, are to be de
precated, on an extensive view of po
litical economy, when contrasted with
the price of commercial security, and I
insist that they are, yet more deplora
ble would be the calamities of a com
mercial war, to which without the
meins of defence, we should be our
felvesaparty. Let themnotbe estimated
by the events of a period when the
world contributed by the most destruc
tive havoc, to encourage our industry
and the misfortunes of other nations,
gave to our feamcn, the navigation of
the richest commerce. Nor should
they be measured by the feeble efforts
of the crippled marine of France during
the last three years of that period. It
had been previously humbled by the
naval power of Great-Britain. Her
numerous squadrons deterred its Shat
tered remnant from tempting the ocean
—lt will be deemed candid by those
who differ from me in opinion to esti
mate them from the tranfadions of the
revolutionary war, mingled, as they
then were, with peculiar and compli
cated misfortunes. Let it be recollect
ed, however, that our population has
since progressed more rapidly than our
arts : That our tonnage has been trip
pled ; our exports quadrupled. That
vaR forefts have been opened to the
light of cultivation, by an industry
which is cheered by the profpeft of dis
tant markets. That the arts which we
possess, are intimately connected with,
and have in some instances grown out
of, our foreign commerce, which sup
plies their basis, or furnifhes a demand
for their products : That our hardy
and enterprising countrymen of the
north, have converted the Banks of
Newfoundland into a mine of wealth,
of population, and, if rightly used, a
formidable Safeguard of independence :
That we have, moreover, incurred an
immense debt, the price of political bles
sings procured by that war, and which
all these resources are to difeharge,—
On these fountains of opulence, of en
joyment, of independence, what would
be the operation of a commercial war,
in which we Should oppose our imbecili
ty to the naval strength of a powerful
enemy ? How are our harbours, our
maritime cities to be defended ? Many
of our rivers present no other obstacle
to a foe, from their mouths to their
sources, than the rocks which terminate
'their navigation# A fleet of twenty
fail properly distributed, would block
up every harbour in the United States.
Half that number would Shut up the
Narrows of New-York, the entrance of
the Sound, the ports of Boston and
Charleston, and the mouths ofthe Del
aware and Chesapeake. A Single arm
ed Ship would intercept every bark that
is carried down the Mississippi. A
Stroke is aimed at our industry, whose
paralitic powers would be felt through
every department of the community.
The Sinews of labor are withered. The
bufbandman neglects the harveft-field :
his plough Share lulls in the furrow -
The disconsolate mariner beholds the
Sails of his velfel idly flapping in the
wind, or indignantly fees her led away
by a rapacious enemy. The fisherman
of the north no longer frequents the
Banks of Newfoundland, or courses the
whale in the Southern ocean. He turns
to the Atlantic, and with hopeless de
jection, beholds the avenues of an em
ployment, to which nature had con
duced him in childhood, which She had
made the honor and Support of his ma
turity, closed up. The silence of deso
lation reigns in our cities. Perhaps
even the flames of war fill them with
the cries of their defencelefs inhabi
tants. Flying from their paternal a
bode, they curse the wealth which in
vited the rapacity of their enemy, and
their government which Surrenders
them a hapless prey to his power. Pub
lic credit calls in vain upon the empty
treasury for the sums defined far the
national debt."
AN ADDRESS
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
ON THE POLICY OF MAINTAINING
BY AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.—
A PERMANENT NAVY.
The Citizen has undertaken to greet
us on the Anniversary of our Indepen
dence, as ifhe really rejoiced in it, or
had any thing at all to do with it. He
begins with a fervent wish that Bona
parte may soon find an assassin who will
take him off. Now he ought to know
that we Americans are not yet accus
tomed to this business of taking off men,
fans ceremonie, whom we may not exactly
like. Had he been an American born
he would understand our sentiments,
manners and morals better. He speaks
of " that illustrious convention which
adopted and promulgated the declara
tion of independence." —lt is to " these
sages and heroes, fays he, we are princi
pally indebted for the blessings we now
enjoy"—" They fought, they bled,they
conquered. We owe to the revolution
ary patriot gratitude," &c. How does
this man suppose we can forget the tor
rents of slander he and his alien coad
jutor, Duane, have been perpetually
pouring out against these "revolutionary
patriots?" And did not his heart smite
him, when he wrote down the name of
John Adams among the number of rev
olutionary patriots who signed the Dec
laration of Independence ? Does he
suppose that we can forget, though he,
may if indeed he ever knew it, (for he
was then a citizen in the enemy-coun
try) that Washington, that Hamilton,
that Jay, and others, whom he now at
tacks on all occafions,were revolutionary
patriots? No ; nor can we forget that
these are the men whom he has never
ceased to revile and calumniate with
every approbrious epithet the language
can supply, till they have been slandered
out of the confidence of their fellow
citizens. The fubjef twould be endless
did we give way to our indignant feel
ings on this occasion. Who can feel
other than indignant when they fee a
public print so Ihamefully prostituted,
and yet openly encouraged.
" Bonaparte is to be named First
Consul for life: —To be nominated by the
people, viz. apaper or book is to be o
pened in every department, and all
those who are of opiQn that such a
Rep will be for the good of the country
to sign yes and the others no —as if any
man dare fay, No.
" Report fays a conspiracy was late
ly formed against him by fifteen Gene
rals, who are at present under arrest —
Maffena and Angereau are among the
number. Duroc his Aid du camp, is
said to have difeovered it, and inform
ed him that he was to be affafiinated in
descending the flairs of the Thuilleries
when going to the review. He was at
the head of the stair-case when Duroc
told him this, but he bade him give his
arm, defeend immediately, and beware
to betray the least symptoms of fear or
suspicion. It is said the conspirators,
unadvised of his descending so quick,
forbore the attack, but waited for his
return. He took however another
stair-case—such is the Rory, as report
tells it—and supposed to be true.
" For my part I do not calculate on
the present posture of affairs being of
long duration—God kaows however,
how it may end."
A letter received in this town from
Savanna, informs, that a duel had been
lately fought there between Mr. Wat
kins, a gentleman of the firft refpeda.
bility in that State, and the well known
General Jackson ; and that after five
foots a-piece, Jackson was wounded,
which put an end to the affair for that
me. N.r.&Pfl
Extrafl of a letter ft om an American gen
tlcman, reJident at Havre, to bis friend
in Philadelphia, dated th twentieth of
May, 1802.
“ Things in this country are going
Strangely—all back again to the old
system. Priests lead the van —and the
order of the day is the institution of a
Legion D'hon neur,as it is styled, which
in something like the old order of St.
Louis. Those who are to compose it
are to bear titled for ///},though not he
reditary, and to receive certain annual
Salaries. It is intended to be a recom
pense to those who have exerted them
selves during the revolution, and every
one who has gained a fibre of honor is
a member. There are, however, differ
ent grades and different salaries ; and,
you will, no doubt, agree with me, that
if it is not nobilit,, it is the ladder to
it.
From the New-York Herald.
A remarkable instance of L?np, evitv.
From the American Daily Advertiser
DIED lately at Brittol, in Pennsyl
vania, a female Slave named ALICE,
aged 116 years. She was born in Phi
ladelphia, of parents who came front
Barbadoes, and lived in that city until
She was ten years old, when her matter
removed her to Dunks' Ferry, in which
neighbourhood She continued to the
end of her days.
She remembered the ground on which
Philadelphia Hands when it was a wil
derness, and when the Indians(its chief
inhabitants) hunted wild game in the
woods ; while the panther, the wolf,
and beads of the sorest, were prowling
about the wigwams 3c cabins in which
they lived.
Being a sensible intelligent woman,
and having a good memory, which She
retained to the last, She would often
make judicious remarks on the popula
tion and improvement of the city and
country : hence her conversation be
came peculiarly interesting, especially
to the immediate defeendants of the
firft settlers, of whose ancestors She of
ten related acceptable anecdotes.
She remembered William Penn, the
proprietor of Pennsylvania; Thomas
Story, James Logan, and Several other
distinguished characters of that day.
During a Short visit which She paid
to Philadelphia last fall, many refpeda
ble persons called to fee her, who were
all pleased with her innocent cheerful
nefs; and that dignified deportment,
for which (though a Slave) She was ev
er remarkable.
\Being habituated from her childhood
to conftint employment,her last matter
kindly excused her from her usual la
bour, but flie could not be idle, for fh6
afterwards devoted her time to fifhing,
at which she was very expert, and even'
arthis late period, when her fight had
so entirely left her the would frequent
ly row herfelf out into the middle of
the stream, from which she seldom re
turned without a handsome supply of
filh for her maker's table.
She was a worthy member of the
Episcopal society, and attended their
public worship as long as she lived. In
deed she was so zealous to perform
this duty in proper season, that she has
often been met on horseback in full gal
lop to church, at the age of 95 years.
The veneration the had for the Bi
ble, induced her to lament that she was
not able to read it ; but the deficiency
was in part supplied by the kindnefsof
many of her friends, who at her re
quest, would read it to her when Rie
would listen with great attention, and
make pertinent remarks.
She was temperate in her living, and
so careful was she to keep to the truth,
that her veracity was never questioned
—her honesty was also unimpeached,
for such was her maftety confidence in
it, that she was trufteaat all times to
receive the ferriage money,for upwards
of forty years.
This extraordinary woman retained
fight to the end of her life, but her
fight began to fail gradually in her
,6th year, without any other visible
cause, than from old age.—At 100 she
became blind, so that she could not fee
the fun at noon day.
Five persons have been identified and im
prifined in England,for breaking the min
dews of Mr. Cobbett's (Peter Porcupine)
house, on tbe night of the illumination in
London. Tbe French Minister, at the time
of the illumination, having put up tbe merd
" Concord," the London mob read it con
quered, mere offended, and compelled Mr.
Otto, to remove it. Mr. Otto's illumina
tion cost him Sool, enough to frighten X
merican Democratic Econcmifts into fits !
In observing the increase of the city,
she pointed out the house next to the
Episcopal Church to the southward, in
second-street, as the firft brick building
that was erected in it, and it is more
than probable she was right,for it bears
evident marks of antiquity. The firft
church file said was a final! frame that
flood where the present building Rands,
the celling of which she could reach
with her hand from the floor.
About the load year of her age, her
fight gradually returned, and improv
ed so far,that she could perceive objeds
moving before her, though she could
not distinguish persons.
Before she died, her hair became per
fedly white, and the last of her teeth
dropt found from her head at the age
of 116 years.
^—ott___ .
Saturday Mornings by WILLIAM TREADWELL,&C„?
f r,ADVER I'ISEATEN PS reasonably & cor.fievnJ; inserted—COMMU
< NICATIONS duly attended to—and every FA^OR.THANKFULLY
( ACKNOWLEDGED.
PRICE I DOLLAR 50 CENTS Per Annum. [No. 4%
FEDERAL GOVERNMENI, FOURILEXIH 1E
Advertiser.
®Ma€^, anb
THE registers which have been
opened in France, for deciding
whether Bonaparte /ball be Corfolfa
life, are said to be filling very fall ; and
thatthe vote will be almost unanimous.
It has been proposed to add the further
question "foall Bonaparte have the right
of NOMINATING HIS SUCCES--
SQR ? I'his too, would probably pass
in the affirmative, and almost any thing
elie, among French freemen. Carnot
voted against Bonaparte, and added
" I have Jigged by own proscription." He
was urged by some friends to erase this
addition but firmly refufed. Fearing
the consequence, they opened a new re
gister, and omitted his name.
o -
" On, step by step, he went" —
The trarifition from appointing Bo
naparte Chief Consul for life, to the
giving him the privilege of nominating
his faceeffor, was not difficult. Few,
therefore, will be furprized to hear,
that a proportion has been made to add
this privilege to the vote now under
the consideration of the people. This
propofitioq has not originated with the
Tribunate, the Legislative body or the
Senate, but has been made to the Pre
fed of the Department of the Seine, by
the twelve Mayors of Paris The Pre
fed has adroitly answered that, though
he can only order the literal execution
®f the orders given by government, yet
" that nothing prevents the Citizens
from spontaneously exprefling their wilh
on this fubjed, at the fame time that
they decide on the question proposed by
the decree of the Consuls." He adds,
that amongst the votes received, since
the 22d, at the Secretaries ofPrefedure,
a great number have been given in with the
amendment which forms the objed of
your proposition. The fame freedom
may be left to the voters who Shall pre
sent themselves at the Secretaries of the
several Mayoralties."
may 21. Translation of a Hand
bill distributed 13th May, throughout
France :—
" My opinion upon the Recompence due to
> Bonaparte."
" It is proposed to the French peo
ple to nominate Bonaparte Consul for
life? Has the importance of the services
which he has rendered us been well
considered, and is this recompense faf
ficient? Is it not the intereftof every
Frenchman to prevent the return of
Revolutionary Sufferings, to annihilate
anarchy forever, and to avoid, in fu
ture, the intrigues of those partisans
who promote and excite re-elections ?
When a State without a Constitution
is only governed by the caprices of its
Kings, hereditary right may be dan
gerous; but when a Government, e
qually wife and powerful, is organiz
ed ; when a man equally extraordina
ry and furpfifing, compels it to be re
fpeCted and esteemed ; when the whole
world unanimously acknowledges his
right to the Sovereign Power, is not:
the right of inheritance necessary, and
oughtnot the gratitude of the French to
fix it in the family of their Hero ? In
Short, is not France upon recovering
its antient limits, Sufficiently extensive
to honor herfelf with the title of Em
pire ? And where, in the pages of hif
tory, Shall we find an Emperor fuf
ficiently magnanimous to be compared
with the Titus who governs her ? I sub
mit these questions to my countrymen
—they induce me to express my own
wifli. I desire that the French people
may proclaim Napoleon Bonaparte firft
Emperor of the Gauls, and fix in his
family the hereditary power, upon re
eftablifning the Salic Law.
(Signed) " Bonneville Ayral,
Chief of Battalion ofthe 14th of theLim/
F.xtraa of a letter. PARIS.
" The business of voting, in conse
quence of the appeal to the people,goes
on with great alacrity. From the in
formation which, I have cohered and
compart— I think I may fairly fay,
that seven out of ten votes for the Con
sulate for life, have also voted as an a
mendment, " that Bonaparte shall be
empowered to chufe bis forcefor." There
s t only one abatement which prefems it
LONDON, MAT 20.
FRENCH REPUBLICANISM/
Foreign News.
From London Papers to May 21.