National gazette. — Philadelphia [Pa.], 1793-05-15 00:00:00, page 2

Intion ; many other arbitrary proceedings,
even to (I ach, might be produced in this
country during the revolution, both on the
part oi' t ie Britilh and A uerica.is ; yet you
would ftin palm on the popu.ace, and one
another, an opinion, that the execution of
Louis Cap t was t.ie only arbitrary pro
ceeding ever hear 1 of. Americans, exe
crators of the French Republic—were you
for the American R volution or not?—li
you were, con.emptibie are your iilferii
ons, inconsistent your conduct; you have
punished with severity, even where tilt
culpability was doubtful; you nave threat
ened vith great inflexibility tile life of the
innocent ; and yo < hive pursued with the
rage a id li ltred of a iirui. igham mob, and
burnt i i effigy a man oecaufe he deserted
yourciufe; and yet you exclaim againlt
the Fren. h for executing a nr n whom they
conceived to be fairly accused of treaion
agai ilt the ll.ite.
Of all the cases reco ded in history, per
haps there is none so ex.i Hy limila. to ill it
of Louis XVI. as one which has happened
in our own time a id country; similar in
almost ev.'i'v thing except that Louis was
ltop'd at V irennes, a.rtl is dead, but his
prototy. escaped to the enemy and is pro
bably lti.i living. Borh did in real.ty, con
tribute to the progress of iiberty ; both had
honors a id office conferred upon them by
their country ; bo:h made pretences of tin -
cerity in clie ciufe of freedom, whilst tlie'y
secretly held conferences with and favour
ed the e.iemy , both attempted b> flight to
cfcape to the invaders of their con. tr_v ;
a id both pleaded inviolability on account
of their offi e. By the remar . ble liniili
amy of this lad circumftaiice, you will per
ceive, that this apoltate from freedom,
this traitor to his country, this p, ototvpe
of Louis Capet, i» B. ncdict Arnold. i tr
h.ip . time has cha tged your sentiments With
relpe:t to the henioufnefs of his behaviour,
bu you ought to measure the proceedings
o the French republic by the op lions
•which p. evailed in this country at that pe
riod. Remaps some of you were then in
arms against this country, and appro ed of
his co ljlucl—it to, speak out ; it' not, be
comi 'rent ; jtiftice is inflex ble. mercy is
impartial, truth is eternal, and right piin
ciples change not either with time or cir
cumttances. If you execrate the judges of
Lonis, you mud juitify Benedict—ll you
abhor the conduit of Arnold, you mud ex
cuse tiie execuiion of Capet.
Fellow Citizens, can you yet be blind to
your own severities, and eagle eye'd to
those of your friends ? Are you acqu linted
with the history of the American revo.u
tion? Did you ever learn the history of
Andre.' Were yin ever informed of the
story of Afgil ? Was Lonis more amiab e
th i i A ldre, whom a 1 his enemies admired?
Was Louis more i nnoce.it than Afgil. >\ ho
was not even accused of a crime ? and yet
th- ft. ere t i nee of a court martial was
th->light uecellary, and executed in the cafe
of Ancjre, and the rigid spirit of retaliation
eve ■ upon the innocent, was deliberately
pursued i i the cafe of Afgil—yes, it was
deliberately pursued by the man who i 3 now
the President of the United States, and it
would no doubt have been put in exeiti
tion had it not been for the humane inter
position of some of the very p uple whom
you no ,v blacken with vill linou , names for
exerciling judgment upon a real culprit —
To conclude,! am ot for fhedd ng of blood,
but on the contrary, my object it-the de
fence of tile viftiin. of arilto ratic fury,
and to recad to the memory of Americans
their own actions in time past. It is true
indeed, that I have always favoured the
purity of republican or democratic senti
ments ; and do believe that if the French
republic :hould continue to exist, it wiil
be i idebted so fnecefi to Heaven, and to
men of the mod rigid principles only.—
Grip all. lose all, is a caut : o lary proverb
much to be recommended in many pu, suit
in c>mno i life; but is by no means fuita
lile to fleet .» great revolution. Do no
thing hy h lives, ihould be the motto of
every .nan who engages in a work of such
a nature and in tgnitude ; to win the horse
or lose thafaddle, a common faying of the
fame fmport, seems to be the resolution of
the French nation ; a resolution juftifiable,
not only as it affects poflerity, but alio by
the powerful, the all-fobduing motive of
felf-prefervation. Had the king been left
ti ion- the throne, I have no doubt but that
iu a (hort time we should have seen without
aly violent concussion, a long and rigid
proscription of all the inoft active friends
of lib rty. Without such men as those
who conder- 1 Andre, we should now be
a province the Bririlh empire ; without
such men i those who condemned Capet,
France would have been as Poland.
I am not of a sanguinary disposition, but
of the contrary. None but kings, or persons
of great influence, Should be judged to
death for any crime whatever. It seems
to me that the infliction of death should not
be an indication of the enormity of a crime
—neither mould the molt henious crimes
be pnnilhed in that way ; becaufj a better
mode of pumihing the offender, of pre
ve iting by example, the line offence in an
other; of making restitution to the inju
red ; and of securing the peace of focietv,
is generally w'thin the power of the com
munity.
In fine, to deprive any martal of that life
which God alone has given, is certainly an
act which very few transgressions can jufii
ty ; perhaps i,i the eyes of the truly religi
ous and philosophic there are none, but if
there be, doubtiefs tliey are only Inch as no
other human contrivance c;m punilli or in
future prevent; or such, against which no
thing but the death of a certain object can
ere it a b.irrier fufficient to le'cure the peace
of the (late. Such are the invalion of our
ciearefl tre'afures by an armed forte j fuc.ii
are the eliorts of a.l oppofs-r of his coun
try, when aided by so many powerful abet
tors that he cannot be otherwise secured—■
Su h were the conduit and situation oi
Louis Capet.
A Citizen of the United States.
May ioth, i • 93.
iwtmi > ■ w
For the National Gazette-
TO THE PUBLIC.
|T HAVE lately received a letter from :
I person of extensive information at Paris
imparting much good advice, in reflect t<
the conduct the American governmeni
fllould observe at this crilis ; a governmeni
to which 1 f eel myfelf highly attached, ;>nt
wifli all poflible profperiiy and fiiccefs. —1
extract a few of the leading ideas, anc
every impartial man to judge what
effect they ought to have ujton us at thi:
time.
The Americans cannot be too circnm
fjie-t in their reception of Citizen Genet,
minister from tlie republic of France ; a
republic that has not yet been acknowledg
ed a fnch bv the great maritime powers o
Europe ; the 1 annexions now forminc
with France, might be attended with the
molt fatal corifequences to this country
particularly if we should give umbrage t<
thole powers by 100 oitentatious marks 01
preference shewn to M. Genet The alli
ance of Americ a with France, would b;
no means excule such partiality, or coun
tenance an attention tnal was not paid tc
Irrs predecefior, or other ministers.
It is very poflible that t'<e government oj
France is already changed since the depar
ture of citizen Genet, and even that the
royil government is re ellablifhed. Ii
fucli cafe 1 would ask, in what light the;
would view such a glaring m inif'eitation oi
opinions in America. 10 contrary to even
expectation? Can it be thoug it that the
great maritime powers would not unite tc
pjnilh this country by compelling her tc
hear her part of the expences of the war
I will leave every ration.-l mind to judge
whether this would not probably be the
cafe.
It is my fincerehnpe that thepublicaiior
of these hints, wiil set our official character:
a thinking on the fubjeft. I would have
waited on them perfunally to communicate
these ideas, but urgent business has pre
vented me. My political religion is known
to many in this country, and altho' m\
opinions may not be precisely the fame wit'
the greater part of your republicans, yet I
can allure the public I am a friend to theii
government, and to the happiness of ever)
individual.
HONES rus.
Philad. May 14.
FOREIGN ADVICES.
LONDON, March 12 —23
" 1 he fpirii oi the people (fays Hume]
inuft irequently be rot-fed, in order to curl
the ambition oi the court : and the dreaci
at rouling this spirit, 1 nil it be employed t
prevent that ambition. Nothing, is' so ef
e&ual to this purpose as the liberty of the
press, by e.hichall tlie learning, wit. anc
genius of the nation may be employed on
thfc fide of freedom, and every one be ani
mated to it* defence. As long, therefore,
is the republican part of our government
:an maintain itfelf igiinft the monarchical,
t will naturally be careful to keep the
press open, as of importance to its own
preservation."
Upwards of 600 persons aflembled on
Saturday hit at the Crown and Anchor
raveru, to support tiie liberty of the press.
Previous to the dinner,
Richard Brinfley Sheridan, Esq. the
chairman, read an addrefsfrom the friend*
:>f the people 111 Southwark, in which that
ocieiy highly applauded the principles anc!
practice of the friends to the liberty of
the press, conjuring them to proceed wit!
lirmnefs and with temperance, until their
great object should be accomplished.
With regard to entering into a fubferip
tion for supporting the • ppi efled, Mr. She
ridan said, it was not intended that the
fubferiptior. should take place, on this day,
but immediately afterwards.
Mr. Courtney, M. P. trnfted, that the
focjety would support rhofe whom govern
ment had oppressed, on account of their
having dared to exen ife the freedom of opi
nion : he mentioned the following circuni
(tance, to prove the extreme ignorance of
b Jlad fingers as well as bill flickers : "P:if
ling thro' a street. he heard a ballad fing
er abusing Mr. Thomas Paine in a long.
He told iiim he was acting in atreafonable
manner." The man replied, " that he
thought he had a right to abuse Mr
Paine." '• Not at all," rejoined Mr Court
ney, '-government has declared, that hi
name shall not be mentioned, and if you
tig that song again, I will fe ;d for a con
{table; ami take you up." f lie man pvo
mifecl never tomention-tlie na:,.e ot Paine
again.
Mr. Grey (P. 51.) informed the meeting,
that he had received a petition from Mr
Thomp on, a'bookfeller at Birmingham,
who. before the fecoiid part of tiie Rights of
Jvlan was declared a libel, was taken up
for felling it, and directed to give bad for
.'oool. his friends ottered unexceptionable
ba 1 for 1500!. Being 11.able to procure
t'nis bail,'he was sent to the felon's iide of
Warwick jail, \\ here he iio.v remains.—
(A general shout of indignation pervaded
the wlioie meeting.)
After dinner, Mr. Sheridan gave as a
toast, " the liberry of the press,'' which
was received with loud plaudits, and ac
c<.mpanied with three times three. He
then proposed the health of Mr. Erfkine,
which was also drank with three times
three.
Mr. Erfkine immediately nddrefTed the
'.flembly. tie congratulated them 011 the
arninef* and temperance of their conduit,
and exprefled hisfr.risfaction at feeing such
a number of persons, so refpe£table for
their talents and their characters. He de
clared that he did not expect that half the
numner would liave been present, for he
knew that artifices and menaces had been
used to keep persons away. The minister
was d with the present meeting.
He reprob '.ted it, and therefore they might
reft allured, that they herein the right."
Mr. Sheridan then gave the health of
Mr. Fox, the author of the libel bill.
It was drank with much applause, and
three times three. He then pro: ofed that
the friends of the liberty ot the press fhoulci
meet'ngain on the 20th o: April, and that
Mr. Grey Ihoukt be requeued to take the
chair. Ihe proposal was received with
loud plaudits.
Mr. Grey returned thanks to the com
pany for the Junior they had conerred on
him. He adored them, that he li.ould stu
dy to deserve their favor, and to merit
their approbation Having mentioned the
cafeotMr. fhompfon before dinner, he
proceeded to state another cafe, which he
liad begun to mention when the companj
were summoned to dinner . It was that lii
Thomas Handifide, a day laborer, who.
because in a public house he merely f ok
out of his pocket Mr. Paine'sktter to Mr.
Dundas, was immediately carried before a
jliltlce of peace, and ordered to give bail
tor 200 c] Being, as was expetted* unable
to give fucii bail, he was actually hand
cuffed like a common criminal, carried tc
1 loathsome jail, and chained by the leg as
:lioughhe had been a murderer : his hands
were swelled and rendered useless by the
areHure of the irons, r figics, he said,
lad been prepared at Dunley in Worcef
erlhire, of Mr Priefllv and Mr. Paine,
Tl.ey were filled .with blood and Iheep' 1 !
learts were aflually placed within. At
:er undergoing the usual fiifpenfion, thev
were taken down, 3nd the rabble, armec
a ith daggers, wtre indrufted to plunge
:hem in the hearts, and to exult in the
'l"rious deed they had at. hieved, while
he blood was iffning from the wount
liich they had inflicted. Theyafterward:
>araded with the hearts ;luck upon pikes.
Here a sudden burst of indignation a!
his abominable transaction proceeded
Vom tiie society, which interrupted Mr,
ijrey for a conliderable time. Mr.
oncluded by observing, that when inei
,vere familiarized to such scenes, the)
Lvould not hesitate to direct their dagger:
igainll the present i.dminiftration with a;
liuch willingnef as ag;.inft these objeits oj
heir ignorant displeasure.
Copy of a letter from Gen. Dumourier
dated < t Tirleniout, March 19. to the
Minister of war.
•' It is with great pain, citizen minister
hat 1 communicate to you an account 01
:he check which I have received. or
1111 ft have seen, bymy letters of yeflcrday.
hat my presentiments are but too truly jul
ified, 011 account of the news which I have
•eceived <vf the dangers at Namur, in the
ipproach of a corps of about 10,000 men.
,\ho dire£ted thetnfelves towards BruHellf
ind Louvain. I had doubts that it would
lot have been in my power to preserve tin
niblic good, without dislodging the enemy
.0111 the camp of IServengen. I have
made, in consequence, an attack on the left
vving of the enemy; my centre ri'vifion
made their attack on Nei vengen, and my
left, commanded by Miranda and Lhamp
morin, attacked 011 the viilage—The right,
and the centre of the armv had feme fuc
i ess, although the infantry was twice re
pulsed, and driven from the village of Ner
vengen. The left wing proving unfortu
nate, their retreat was made with confu
iion till behind Tirlemont, or perhvps a
little further. The Marefial de Cant
Mielen was killed, who commanded the
artillery, and two general officers \ver<
wounded in this flight, and fundi y pieces of
cannon taken, amongst which there were
three 12 pounders.
I was ignorant of this derargeinent, and
I had prepared an attack for to-morrow to
complete victory. And uneasy at not hear
ing from Miranda, and hearing murmur?
that he had retired, I quitted the victori
ous part ot the field in the evening, to learn
the fitiuuiojj of the left w ing, and was as
tonilhed net to find -P'o nf Hi? corps on my
way to Tiilemout. Jg: lers to Mi
rand lto rr-funie his p.. on the neWits of
St. Margarita, to Cov the retreat.
I lend you, citizen -;ter, a letter f.-om
Vidlence, who was wounded; and who is
now Oil his way ,<> BrulH-lls. I amgoin e
hick to the camp oi' Louvain to cover
Brulk'lls and M.dines. I cannot diffimn
late that tbee\:l of dilbrganization is at its
height. I fear lor the event of this re
treat, in a country, where we have a^ ra .
vaced the inhabitants, by pillage and the in
discipline of the troops. 1 will do all 1 can
to lave the army, who place in me the tu
rn >ft confidence, and I will abide by their
judgments.' I will submit myfelf to the
molt severe examination, and I will de
mand a court martial to judge of my con
duct. Too happy if the facrifice of my
life can be ot ut.lity to the glorious cause
of liberty ! and I ihall fight till i die, or am
condemned by the patriot:. I fear not the
judgment of my fellow-citizens, or the re
proach of posterity. You ,11 fee that our
loss has been considerable, about 2000 men
I mull pass the utmofl pr..Te on the bravest
soldiers in the unit erse, but \vc are in want
of experienced officers. 1 propose a fup
prellion of th ■ mode of elefling them —
This mode gives neither talents nor confi
dence, and will never produce subordina
tion."
PHILADELPHIA.
Wednesday, May ij.
Oi Saturday lass arrived Tit New York
aveffel in 35 days from Hofjand. which
brings Amflerdam accounts to the 4th of
April. According to these the French had
completely evacuated Brabant, and retired
into b ranee, where great disturbances had
tLiken place from infurrettions in different
parts. Ihe Leyden Courant mentions,
that the French in their feverai engage
ments. from the 15th to the 22d, oi March
had loft from 30 to 43,000 men—Louvain
was left by them on the 23d, and on the
24th BruUels, where the Auftrians entered
on the 25th— On the 26th Antwerp was gi
ven upby capitulation. It was also report
ed that the French h d abandoned Bruges,
and that the Auftrians had taken pofleflion
of Mons, w here they had thfir head quar
ter: —Breda and Gertrnyde? berg were
blocked up by the Aullrian:;, but had not
capitulated.
011 Sunday last arrived here the ship
Morning Star, captain Ken. from Havre
de Grace, w huh li e left the 27th of March.
By t .is vessel we le3rn, that the accounts
heretofore received, of a counter-revolu
tion at Paris, and of the capture of Amster
dam bv the French, are premature —A
body of French forces, however, flill re
mained in Holland, and reinforcements to
the amount of-o.oco men had marched to
the French armies. The people of France
were very unanimous and deteimined,
notwithstanding the check which General
Dumourier lately experienced ; and there
appeared no doubt of their beii.g able to
' efeat the intentions of iheir enemies.—
On the fame day came into this port, the
(hip William, of Glasgow, captured bj the
privateer Citizen' Genet, «fl Gape Charles,
about twelve days ago. She was I ound to
the Potowmac, and is the firff veflel cap
turid by the above, which privateer is out
of Charleston with a French con m ffion.
The bed account yet 1 eceived, oi tht fitu
aiion of the French and con billed armies,
is contained in General Drmourier's let
ter. Miranda, who commanded the left,
bl nit d for the whole ot the late check
which has been experienced by the army
of the republic, and he is fufpeuded. Va- ,
ience has been wounded, and Cuftine's ar
my are goirg 011 with great success in the
country near Mayence. So iar from this
theck dilpiritirg the republic, an army of
leventy thotifand men were marching from
Paris to re-inforce C en. Dun mirier. The
queen and princess Elizabeth, together with
the youngprince, were (till fafe in tiie tem
ple, and treated with great civility. No
mention whatever w as made ot a: v inten
tion ii; the national councils, to bring the
tjueento atrial. With refpeft to internal
[liCcontents, they are not nearly of so dan
gerous a nature as has been leprelented,
for evr. the a iflocrats fpole dcti rniined
y against Inbniitting to any kind of a coun
ter-revolution.
W T e hear that Mr. Hammond, the Bri
tish minister, has preferred a memorial to
our execui've. relative to the capture of
the 1 nglifh fliip C range.
Fresh disturbances"are broke out in the
.(land of Martiuico between the patriotic
and arillocratic parties ; the latter ot which
had net wholly, it fetms, (hipped them
selves off to Trinidada, as reported. Se
veral deaths have taken place in confe
quciice of these < flievrors ; am' it was
strongly fufpefted th.e aristocrats ha<l fo
'icited the protection of the Engli lb, whom
they mean, if possible, to put in pollellion
of the island.
We ate afiiired tliEt the ple
nipotentiary t the court of V. has
negociated a treaty by w 1 ch t n«- navigati
on of the MiPitippi i> grr.rtec! i» the fit
zens of the I'nitcd ot: -e-.