United States oracle and Portsmouth advertiser — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-07-23 00:00:00, page 2

^.n^r^— -^- -<M.=±= e
be purebred, the wh< ^ profit of th
French manufaaurer will not a*
mount to more than thirty livres for
each negro, every year. Now, as
each Gave will cost the nation 1000
livres, and as this capital would have
produced, in France, at least ten per
cent, in every other commerce or
manufacture, the difference between
Too livres French produce and 30 li
vres, produce of the Louifi^na cloth
ings gives the real loss to be sus
tained by France in the firft ten
years, during which, they can only,
as I have said before, Supply their
Yirft wants, if so much ; and as a cer
tain number muff die by the change
of climate, and a number will run
away, the real loss of France on
every Save imported in Louisiana,
must be too livres in every year.
But if we add to this, the profit
which this very slave codid have fur-
Tiifhed, if transported to the Islands
(and it is certain that all the slaves
carried to Louisiana are so many
hands taken from the islands) we
shall find that the actual loss of the
nation, in the interruption of labor,
will amount to upwards of 600 li
vres per annum ; To that the firft
loss for the nation,in the introduction
of iooo slaves to Louisiana, will be
600,000 livres. It is true, that if
peace continue, and if, in oppofi
tiori to expectation, the colony ffiould
prosper, the rich planters will make
a great consumption of French goods
but that of the slaves will ever be ve
ry [mail, or their labor without,pro
fit, because, as I have already ob
served, being employed to cultivate
articles which the islands can more
tafily supply for every demand, and
the file of which is confined, by in
creasing the quantity, they will on
ly lessen the prices ofthofe commo
dities which it is eflential for France
tb keep high, because ffie possesses
the most fertile islands. I know
that there i§ an opinion entertained
by many, viz. That French goods,
in their Way to the Mifliflippi, will
find a market in the weftern part or
the United States. The mod com
plete ignorance of the navigation
of th^t fiver could alone have given
rife to such an opinion, which is
tikewife grounded on the ignorance
of the wants of the inhabitants. It
is certain that the wines of France
are riot fit for climates as hot as
those they muff cross before they ar
rive in the Weftern Rates ; that
they are dill less fitted to the means
and Rate of the inhabitants, whoare
most accuflorhed to their own liquors
such as cyder, beer, whiskey and
peach brandy, the latter, with time,
becomes Giphrior to the bell French
brandy ; so that in receiving those
articles thro' Loufiana, they might
ihemfelves supply the colony with
them. As to the Artiic'e of glass
and eafthen ware, they are made in
every part of the weflern Rates,
where the raw materials are every
Where found. The demands for
china ware are small, but if they
were large, French ware is too dear
to hurt the fate of china.
Large iron works are alio wrought
on the spot, and English hard-ware
has so well-known a superiority 0-
ver the French that the latter would
certainly remain ufold, if both were
eXpofed at market. The only ar
ticle which might perhaps be intro
duced into the country; would be
silks, cambricks, and a few articles
of luxury. But even all these can
never pass through the river. The
dangerous navigation of the gulph,
the long and expensive distance to go
agaihft the current, the large capitals
of the English and American mer
chants at Philadelphia, and the great
improvements which are made every
day in the .folds and inland navi
gation will cause land carriage to
be preferred as far as the Ohio, and
other rivers, whence they are carri
ed to the settlements eafilj & cheap
ly. It is a known fad, that dry
goods are carried from Philadelphia
to N. Orleans by land, by that route
in preference to sea carriage. It
is, therefore, vifionafy to believe
that goods from France will be car
ried in that way ; whilst the enter
prising English, who have the right
of navigating that river, and the
prejudices of the Americans in fa
vor of theif manufactures, never
attempted to introduce their goods
that way, because they well know
that they are more entity brought to
Philadelphia and Baltimore. But
fhouldFrance be desirous of introduc
ing, that way,more bulky articles in
to the weftern States, and accustom
the inhabitants to theif wines and
manufactures, it Could only be by
putting New-Orleans into their hands,
with th, rejerve, that it /ball ever be
a free port for French vessels & goods,
Without beingjubjefled to any other du-
The experience of the pafl 13 wholly
in fuppprt of tbefe observations. Though
fettled for one century, Louisiana has ne.
ver prospered under either the French
or the Spanish government—and one half
of the commerce of New-Orleans is now
carried on with American capitals, under
the guarantee of their treaty with Spain.
As soon as the French will plant a rival
colony, that commerce will be carried on
in any othef place in the United States,
which the policy of their government
may judge proper to encourage.
If the settlement of Louisiana is
not advantageous toFrarce in a com
mercial view because it diverts capi
tals from a much mere important
channel, it is flill more contrary to
her interests in a political point of
view. America is of the utmoff
importance to France, whether con
sidered as a commercial or mafa
time power. I have explained my
opinion fully in this firff relation, on
another occasion ; as to the other,
there is no question that an agricul
tural nation, which by her industry
and her raw materials, is able to
procure all the luperfluous luxuries
of Europe, and whose habits and
occupations prevent them from man
ufaauring for themselves, there can
be no question that such a nation
must afford a very important market
to the inhabitants of the old world.
In this view, the commerce of the
United States i,s considered as very
profitable to England but when
French manufaaures ffiall have ob
tained all the improvements of which
they are capable ; when commerce
(hall be established upon a suitable
basis, it will present a much greater
variety of articles upon which to
support itfef than the commerce of
England. Woolen articles and hard
ware are the only articles which A
merica receives from England ; but
France (hall furnifh not only all
thefe/but her agriculture will gain
ties, than those paid by the Americans.
By this means the American mer
chants, fettled at New-Orleans, may
be interested in their commerce, in-
Read of going to England, their cap
itals will go to France; the latter
will have all the advantages of a
colony without the expence of fop
porting it, and the money, which A
merican activity obtained, from the
Spaniards, would go to France, for
England, which has not the fame
means and which pays higher duties,
could not supply those goods at so
low a rate.
The boundaries edablilhed between
Spain and the United States, and very
lately between the English and Spaniffi
possessions, have deprived the inhabitants
of Louisiana of their share of the fur
trade, which it fault be confefled was
not, nor could ever be, very important,
As the peltry of the fontti are of but little
vaiue, the few Orins are of no impor
tance to commerce, as may be seen in the
tables of importation of New Orleans.
—Goods are ever to be transported from
the Miffilippi in the United States, that
way;
But should France on the other
hand, resolve to keep the island, a
great proportion of the capitals of
the commerce of New-Orleans,
which are especially in the hands of
the English and Americans, will
naturally take the course which the
United States (hall fix, and that must
be a rival place of commerce with
New-Orleans, which being rid of
the vexations consequent upon a mil
itary government, at a distance from
the sovereign, will draw, in Spite of
all the disadvantages of Situation, the
Whole commerce of which the other
is at this day the centre.
Then it will be.that A great part of the
capitals brought h om F ^nce to Louisa
na, will pass into the United States,
where are found farms already cleared,
for one half of what it would have cost a
French planter to clear his; because an
American, familiarized from his infancy
to the ofe of the axe, has acquired a dex
terity and a mufeular strength which are
never obtained by a man used to other
bufaiefs.
In these tonfideratlons I have kept no
account of the pains,expences, and loss of
men, which are inseparable from new set
tlements in ^ marffiy country and a burn
ing climate; the invafiori of Indians ; the
infurreftica of slaves ; the insubordina
tion of the troops; the abides committed
by officers remote from the Sovereign's
vigilant eye. All these inconveniences
united, or only a few of theni,afe enough
to Hop an undertaking, and ruin Settle
ments. A very important observation is,
however, to de marie, arid that is cf some
weight. Many df those who will carry
their families to Louisiana, observing
that the larids are as cheap on the Ameri
can fide, will prefer fettling there, even
in time of peace : some because they will
prefer the government of that country,
others, by caprice, others through spite,
or to rid themselves from a military gov.
ernment, such as that of Louifiaha must
neceffhrily be. That wifo mull be general
in the case of a new war between France
and England, for admitting that the lat
ter maintains her naval Superiority (as 1
have already proved in another place flie
mult, unless France changes her com
mercial fyffeni in order to eftablrfh it
upon more liberal principles,) the month
of the Miflhippi will be blocked up
and the planters in the French colonies
will be reduced to the grfyteft dFftre fs,
while those of the United States, will de
rive from the war the greaieft time p
Experience has proved; that two
nations could not be neighbours
without being rivals ; and if this be
true, of two neighbouring nations,
it may be said with Bill more truth
of a colony formed by a great and
powerful nation removed from the
metropolis, and of a people border
ing on the territory of the other.
The reason of this is platfible ; —
where two nations are neighbors ev
try thing passes under, the iif,cation
of the sovereign ; the quarrels are as
soon extinguished as kindled ; but
when the governor of a colony,
calculating Upon the proteaion of
the metropolis, is guilty of an a& of
hostility, the wound gets gangrened
before a physician can be called. The
offended Sovereign, who also thinks
that the offender will be so much the
more strongly supported, as his na
tion is more powerful, tries every
means, in order to anticipate on
the hostilities which he dreads, uses
reprisals, and both nations are at
uar before any explanation has tak
en place.,
If th re be affirmation in the world
which may be attended with these
consequences, it certainly is that of
France when (he is in posse ffion of
New Orleans. It is situated in
Inch a manner as to block up the
great passage towards she sea, from
a great number of States, and a ve
ry extensive population which in
creases rapidly.
A military government is about tobeef
tablifhed on the island. The General,
proud with reason of the glory of his
nation, will r ^f! „„ £ver y thing char
what rapidity this consumption in
creases, the means which Ameri
ca has of creating a navy when her
political situation shall render it ne
ceflary, we /ball be obligated too^n
that France inuft have very strong
motives & very powerful, to induce
her to abandon these advantages,
and change a natural ally from a
warm friend into a suspicious and
jealous neighbour and perhaps here
after into a declared enemv.
by the file of her wines, her bran
dies, and her oils. These advan
tages added to the relative situation
of France and the United States,
which removes every suspicion of ri
valry between them, both by sea &
land; have exhibited France as the na
tional ally cf the U. States to the eye
of those who have considered, in the
extent of her power, a new pledge
of the Security of their commerce and
their future tranquillity. They have
done homage to the wisdom of those
statesmen who, at the conclusion of
advantageous war have thought that
France Would gain more by Securing
the solid ftiendffiip of the United
States, than by acquiring a territory
which would be for them an object
of jealousy, and might again force
them under the domination of a peo
ple whose yoke they had just assisted
them to ffiake off.
I am not ignorant how delicate it
is to fbretel political misfortunes,
which might result to France and
the United Spates from the. poßef
fion of Louisiana and ,the Floridas
by the former. 1 muR either con
ceal that which truth would have
me fay, or on the other hand, fright
en certain querulous minds, who
may fancy they fee a threat in my
franknefs. Nevertheless a citizen
of one of the two nations,and Wrong
ly attached to the other, 1 hope that
those to whom this memorial may
be delivered, will be able to set a
just value on the motives of my
conduct, and will fee in it, nothing
hut my exertions so remove every
fubjea of dilute between two peo
ple formed to assist one another, and
aliho' I am too well acquainted with
the refourbes of my own country to
dread the power of any of the Euro
pean nations, it will easily be seen,
that I am incapable of conceiving
batted with fucceU, until the other
powers, by uniting, will abridge her
means, by transferring to nations
more moderate a part of her com
merce ; and asthere are no nations
on the globe whose consumption of
fers to foreign manufaanres re
fonrecs as vast as those offered by the
United States, if we confider with
the ridiculous idea of threatening a
government which has seen all Eu
rope berd the knbe before its pow
er.
I have observed, that France and
the United States are in a refpeaive
situation, so fortunate as to have no
point of collilion. They riiay aflift,
without being tempted to hurt one
another in ^ny manner. This com
merce is iifefnl to Both nations ; this
unibn of sentiments and interests rests
upon principles which ought to form
the maritime code, and deliver the
uniyerfe from the tyranny founded
by Great Britain, which she main
tains, & which never will be com-
New-Orleans, June 11, 1803 — Bowies
is in prison here in irons. He will be fat
to the Havannab for trial.—He swears
vengeance against the Americans, as inffi.
gators of bis capture.
, A letter from an American gentleman in
Havre, dated the 21st May, mentions the fob
Ipwing :—", The news of the War has been
very alarming; and by the news received from
Paris this day is more than ever. The Englifa
refufe the mediation of Russia, and nothing But
their last terms to the French Government will
be accepted. The armies in France are on
movement towards the Rhine, and a.general
embargoon the French shipping took place a
few days ago. Our minister Mr. Munroe, has
made a purchase of Louisiana of the French for,
44,000,c00 livres, [or 8,241,146 dollars] so that
New-Orleans and the whole province belongs
to the United States"
But it is chiefly because Upper Can
ada is inhabited by American emi
grants, who, in case ofa rupture, would
join according to all appearances, with
the United States, had not the spirit of
their government been to prevent the
extending of their limits.
But after all, what political or com
mercial advantage can France receive
from the possession of New-Orleans,
and of the East Bank of the Miffifip
pi, that may balance the loss, uhich in
these two points of view, she will sus
tain in the rivalry with §he United
States ' The Floridas are a narrow strip
of barren land, incapable of defence in
case of a rupture, and which will cost
more than it is worth to guard, garri
son, and the preferits to the Indian
tribes. However advantageous New-
Orleans might be for the United States,
it will be of very inconsiderable value
for France, when the foreign capitals
shall be taken from it, or a rival city
(hall be established on the American
fide. From th; heft information, I find
that one third of the best commercial
houses employed in New-Orleans are
American.—No sooner will a military
government be cßablifhed in the coun
try than all these commercial houses, or
the capitals which support them, will
pass into the United States, to that
place affigped them by the treaty with
Spain, or to Natchez, where every ves
sel which may go to New-Orleans may
be received. Large vessels from France,
have already arrived there, and unload
ed their cargoes without difficulty and
as the foil is so much the more advan
tageous as we penetrate further, there
is very little doubt this will soon rival
that ofNeW-Orleans,when the American
capitals shall have been taken out of it.
When the United States fliall have de
clared the Natches a sea port, New-
Orleans will be very little as a place
of commerce, and only an object of
useless expence for France, and an in
exhaustible source, of jealousy. between
Franceand the United States."
surrounds him a look of Superiority',
commerce will be degraded ; and mer
chants Subjected to the despotism of
men who will seek in the laying up of
riches,a recompense for their privations
in the remote 2nd irifalubrious country
whither they are sent. The colony pre
sents no lawful means of growing rich,
Except these (flow and progressive) of
commerce and agriculture; ill Suited
means for folders,however vigilant the
mother country, die will not prevent at
that distance, the vexations which may
be ekercifed. On the other hand, the
government of the United States will
not be able, in a thousand instances, to
retrain the petulance of the near inhab
itants bordering on the Miffifippi ; to
confine their vengeance wholly, and
compel them to exped from diplomatic
representation a flow justice. Hatred
will take place between the two people;
the bonds of friendship will be destroy
ed, and the government of the United
States, which ever ffiare the Sentiments
of the people, will be forced by its fit
nation, to alter its political relation.
Then for the fake of guarding them
selves agairift their old ally, for a pre
tended a& of hostility, they will form
a cautionary connection with England
which will be Sedulous in obtaining her
alliance, arid will excite her resentment
against France ; because in that alli
ance the will fee the means of preserv
ing her commerce with America,which
She now possesses almost exclusively Se
curing her colonies, to be able in case of
war, to invade the French colonies, and
especially of preventing the union of
the commerce and navy of France and
the United States, uponokvhich alone
France can engraft Her naval superior-
It ma) be arced; why those jealoti
f:es which I seem so much to dread for
Franco, have not taken place for En
gland in possession of Canada ? First,
becaiiSeGreat Britain has prudently Sep
arated the territory by a natural limit
which prevents the contrast of the two
nations. While (he occupied the wef
tern polls, the Unted States saw her
with jealousy, and it is beyond doubt,
that hostilities and national hatred
would have been the consequence when
the increase of American population in
that part had taken place ; when those
forts were given up, numerous Symp
toms had already manifefted themselves.
Secondly,becaufe the ufualroad of the
exports of the United States, being
made, through their own rivers, there
is no important communication be
tween them and Canada.
. He Excellency Lord Han kefhury, rete
mitted, on the 24th Ventofe to Genera!
Andreoffi, a vague, aggreffve,and imperi
ous Note. This Note, far from throw
ing any light on the tubjeft of the discus.
fion, on the contrary, involved it, in addi,
tioual obfcnrity. It fcar.cely held out the
lead hope of the possibility of arriving at ri
difeuffion, and kill lets, the hope cf feeing
it terminate in an auspicious manner.
Ibe reply of the French Government;
under dale of the Bth Germinal, was e
qually as pacific and moderate,as the note
of the Britilh Minifiry had been hoflile. &
The First Consul declared (hat he should
not bring in quellion the defiance of War
thrown out bv England, that be abstained
from laying any flrefs upon expressions;
the meaning of which rouhr bear an ag,
greflive character ; and that, finally he
could not bring bimfelf to believe, that
His Britannic Majesty wished to violate;
the lacrednefs of a Treaty, upon which
reposed the fafety of all Nations.
_This declaration, made by order of the
rirft Consul produced on the 17th Ger
minal,a newNotejn which the French go,
vernment did not fee a ithout furprife,tba:
an indeterminate demand cf farsfactions
was addressed to it. The atrdity of
this demand, expressed without motives
and without objects leaves nothing m be
didin&ly perceived, but the incoufidency
of its ex preffions. ~
The intention of violating the treaty of
Ameins was manifested in this Mote, by
refuting to evacuate Malta. It should feera
the English government flattered itfelf;
that the French people would consent to
give fitislaßion upon two supposed a&s
on the allegation of which they, perhaps;
had equally the tame right to demand fa
tisfaaion themselves.
In waving for me present this office;
Lord Whitworth demanded tha,t an ar
rangement Should be immediately made,
upon the basis, which' is going to be ex-,
poled to view,& at the fame time he gave
it to be understood, that in case of a re-,
fufal, he feared he Should be obliged, b{
the orders of his government to quit Pari's
instantly, and to put a termination to bis
mission,.
Wirt reply could the French Govern
ment give to overtures so abrupt and
Grange ? Nothing but a ttrong and ardenc
delire for peace, could have gained the
ascendency, over indignation.
To confine one's fe|f to a cool and calm
decision which leaves to reason and to jus
tice time to triumph over the passions, jt
is neceflary to be deeply penetrated with,
the idea that the nymberlefs victims of
the difeords of governments have nothing
whatever to do with the intuits which'
irdenfe them ; that so many millions of
brave citizens who in the ardour of their
heroic attachment to their country died
their blood solely for its good, never har
bour the with to artront a neighboring &
With refpett to the Englifo GoverrZ
ment ; it ought to be believed, that, it
by frlfe reports.,it bad been led into an er
ror with refpeef to the exigence ot arma*
ments, it could not have been equally so
with refpedl to the exigence of Negotia
tions.
The AmbafTader of the Republic at
London, was no sooner informed of the
Message of his Britannic Mjetty, than;
astonished that it announced a Negotia
tion, of which he was unacquainted, h^
immediately waited upon his Exceilercf
Lord Hawk-esbury, and before, at (nac
time, expecting that an appeal to arms,
founded upon falfe supposition«, could
cover the project to violate the Treaty of
Amiens, with, refpeft to the clauses,
which were ne'yet carried into execution;
he preferred to the Minister of his Bri
tannic Majesty, on the 19th Vented, a
Note, demanding of him explanations.
At the fame period, the underpinned bad
orders to address bis Excellency, Lord,
Whitworth, relative to the motives whicS
could have induced the English Govern
ment to authorize, in his Message, two o'-
fertions, both equally falfe, in ®rde< to
call its Nation to Arms, and to break th^
bond of Peace which united the two
States. , 1
This extraordinary and unexpefte^
Declaration, excited a general altonilh,
ment; but the maritime situation ,
France was obvious, England, Europe
knew that there were no lormidable Ar
rangementi either in the ports of France;
or in the ports of Hcllaid.
The undersigned will not call to the re
collection of bis Excellency, Lord Whit
worth, every thing w hich was laid at that
time. It was demanded from what source
could spring miormation so ill-founded ?
The perfoqnl oifcernment of Lord Whit,
worth the loyalty of his character could
not be for a moment fufpefted.
The aflertion that France was making
boliile armaments wasmanifeftly a fupp< -
fition, and one which could not, impose
on any jerfon. Its natural eftft,.frnq
tend to create a belief,that it was a means
of which men signalized bytheir turbulent
opinions, wished to avail Ihem selves, anti
who fought with eagerness a pretext for
exciting troubles, for enframing the pas
sions of the Eritifh Nation, for exciting
defence, hatred,and alarm.
Counter Declaration of the French
Goves nment.
—X
PARIS, Mier 21.
CONSERVATIVE SENATE.
Sitting of the 24th Floreal.
THE Counfellors of State,Bigot-Pre
smeneau, Deffeiles and Fleurieu, Oratofi
of the Government, made a Communica
tion to the Senate, of the Note, addressed
on the 23d of the month, to the Ambassa
dor of Ins Britannic Majefly by the Minify
ter for Foreign Affairs. 23 Floreal,an Xx.
In the important and serious circum
stances, in which the two Nations find
themfelVes, the undersigned Mjpifler for
Foreign Affairs of the French Republic,
has received an Order to place under the
eyes of the British Government, the fol
lowing Note.
The 17 Ventofe, his Britannic Majefy
caused to be communicated to his Parlia
ment, by a special Message, that formida
ble Armaments were preparing in the
ports of France and Holland,and that im
portant Negociauons, the result of whicS
were doubtful, divided the two Govern
ments.