National gazette. — Philadelphia [Pa.], 1793-05-22 00:00:00, page 2

members of the meeting as a committee to
preterit tlie address.
Charles Biddle, Robert H. Dunkin, Da
vid Rittenhotife, Jonathan IX Serjeant.
James Hutchinfon, P. S. Du Ponceau, Ed
ward Fox, William Barton, J. A Dallas,
Jacob Morgan, William Coates, John Bar
ker, Thomas Profctor, Joseph Kerr. John
Stagg, John Nicholfon, William Irvine,
Jonathan B. Smith, Tench Francis, Mayor
Boyde, John Barclay, James Karr, James
Reed, Matthew Lawler, William Will,
James Moore, Thomas Lee Shippcn, Is
rael Israel. John Harrifon, Matthew Ir
vine, William Bower, William Shippen,
William Adcock, Jacob Lawerfyler, Wil
liam Nichols, Isaac Wikotf, John Swan
wick, John Smith, Benjamin Franklin
Bache, Patrick Moore, John Dnnlap. Tho
mas Leiper, Matthew Carey, Henry Kmi
rnerer, William 'joodfellow, John Porter,
George Weftcoat, Thomas Willis, Willi
am Kidd, Thomas Billington, and Jacob
G. Koch,
The committee, preceded by the chair
man. and followed by anjinmenfe body of
citizens, walking thres a-breaft, having
arrived at the City-Tavern, were intro
duced to M. GENET, and after the accla
mations, as well in the house as i» the
streets, had ceased, the address was deli
vered, at the close of which the house
and the streets again resounded with con
2ratulations andapplaufe.
M. GENET, evidently affe&ed with the
warmth of the public attachment thus con
veyed, as soon as silence was restored. de
livered an extempore reply, in terms that
touched the feelings of every auditor, and
of which memory can serve to give but a
very faint idea. He observed. that he
ivas not an orator, and should not at any
time affefl the language of eloquence, that
even, however, in uttering the genuine
and spontaneous sentiments of his heart,
on an Occasion so interesting and so flatter
ing, he experienced fonie embarrafiments
arlfing from his defective acquaintance
with the language in which he was about
to /peak, but this defect he was certain
freemen would readily excuse, if they
were convinced of the sincerity of the
sentiments which he should deliver.
Pie then adverted to the address,
and acknowledged in the most pathetic ex
preflions, the sense which he and his fellow
citizens rauft entertain in finding so noble
an avowal of the principles of the revolu
tion in France, and so cordial an esteem
for her citizens, existing in a country, for
which (he had spilled her blood, disbursed
her treasures, aad to which file is allied by
tne dearefl fraternal sentiments, and the
moftimportant political interefb," France,
Continued M. Genet, is furiouuded with
difficulties ; but her cause is meritorious,
It is the cause of mankind and mnli pre
vail. With refpeA to you, I will declare
ope ily and freely, for the minister of a re
public should have no secrets, no intrigue,
that from the remote lituation of America
and other circumstances, she does not ex
pert that America should become a party in
the war, but, remembering that (lie has
already combated for your liberties—and
if it was neceflary, and she had the power,
would cheerfully again enlilt in your cause,
we hope, and every thing I hear and fee
allures me our hope will be realized, that
her citizens will be treated as brothers in
danger and distress. Under this imprefli
on, my feelings at this moment are inex
preflible, and when I transmit your ad
dress to my fellow-citizens in France, they
will consider this day as one of the happiest
of their Infant Republic."
It is impossible to describe with adequate
energy, the scene that succeeded. Shouts
and salutations were not unancompanied
xvith other evidences of the effe£t which
this interesting interview had upon the
paiUons of the parties who were engaged
in it. From the citizens in the room. M-
Genet turned h's attention to the citizens
who were aflembled in the streets, addref
fingthemina few, but emphatic senten
ces froin one of the windows.
The committee having thus discharged
the duties of their appointment, took "an
affectionate leave of M. Genet, and re
turned with their fellow-citizens in peace
and order. Every man who had joined in
the address, departed with this virtuous
and patriotic fatisfa£tion, that he had at
once teftified his gratitude to a faithful al
ly, in the hour of her distress; and de
monstrated his attachment to those repub
lican principles, whicli are the basis of the
American government.
At 12 o'clock on Saturday morning, M.
Genet, agreeably to his intention previous
ly expressed, delivered in writing to the
committee, a copy of the following ans
wer to the address.
Citizen Genet, Minister Plenipotentiary
from the republic of France, to the Citi
zens of Philadelphia.
CITIZENS,
IF gratitude be not acknowleged a vir
tue among despots, it is evidently such a
mong freemen. Of this truth I have re
ceived abundant proofs, on my journey
from Cahrlefton to Philadelphia. In eve
ry place the general voice of the people
convinced me in a most sensible manner of
their real sentiments and sincere & friendly
dispositions towards the nation which I
have the honour to represent, and for the
advancement of that common cause which
(lie alone fnpports with Co nuich courage.
Citizens, your addrcfs has completed my
fatisfaftion, and I assure you that the day
your brethren in France fliall reccive it,
will be a day of gladness to them. This I
anticipate, that from the effect it has had
upon myfelf, it will have the fame up
on them, from those wife and liberal
sentiments, those just and excellent ideas,
which are its chara&eriftics.
In my private capacity of a citizen, I am
highly flattered with the favourable opini
on you have formed of me; and I promise
to make every exertion in my power to
render myfelf worthy of that good opinion
& to |uftify the confidence my conntry has
reposed ill me. My conduit while among
you fliall be to the height of our national
political principles—An unbounded open
ness shall be the constant rule of my inter
course with those wife and virtuous men
into whefe hands you hava intruded the
management of your public affairs. I will
expose candidly to thein the great objects
on which it will be our business to delibe
rate, and the common interest ps both na
tions will, I have no doubt, be the compass
ofourdireition ; for without such a guide,
what would become of both France and
America, exposed as we mutually are tc
the resentment, the hatred, and the trea
chery of all the tyrants of the earth, who,
you may reft afl'ured, are at this moment
armed notonly against France, but against
liberty itfelf.
(Signed) GENET.
On the fame day, a Committee appointed
by the German republican society of Phila
delphia, waited on Mr. Genet, Minister
Plenipotentiary from the Republic ol
France to the United Sfates, with the fol
lowing ADDRESS.
Citizen Genet, Minister Plenipotentiary
from the Rspublic of France, to the
United States of America—
SIR,
THE German republican society of Phi
ladelphia congratulate yon as the represen
tative of the people of France, on your fate
arrival in this city—We welcome you with
heart felt joy to this land of liberty, which
your generous and gallant nation contri
buted to make happy—We feel the liveli
est sympathy for the diftrefles of our repub
lican brethren, who are combating the fel!
hosts of tyrants, in defence of their own
natural rights, and the rights of mankind ;
and deplore that a nation from whom we
are defended, Ihould be among the firft in
the confjiiracy against liberty—Wc set
with pain and horror the confederation ol
all European despots against freedom, theii
united efforts to supersede thegeneral wil<
of France; but though foes encompass hei
brave sons, we trust that the arm nerved by
liberty will be invincible, and that the mil
lennial of political happiness is opening it;
profpetts upon them. The combinations ol
the sovereignty of the people are the only
security for general liberty and happiness,
and we flatter ourselves these will be at
length so well understood, as to fix the
rights ofman upon an immoveable balis, and
that the French nation will give an exam
ple to the European world, of rulers and
ruled having but one objefl and one will—
THE GOOD OF THEIR COUNTRY.
With our best wishes for the perpetual
union and freedom of our refpe£tiverepub
lics, and for your full enjoyment of every
blefling, which can serve the glorious cause
in which you are embarked,
We are,
With sentiments of republican affection,
Your friends.
By order of the society,
Henry Kammerer, President.
Michael Lieb, l Secretaries
Andrew Geyer, J
Philadelphia, May 17th, 1793.
To which the Ambaflador returned the
following
ANSWER:
To the German Republican Society o!
Philadelphia—
Citizens,
I HAVE had the fatisfaftion of spending
several years of my life among the people
of Germany,and during myftay with them,
knew how to esteem and refpeft those in
dividuals, whom the abfiird prejudices of
birth, and the difgraceful habits offlavery,
had not entirely estranged from humanity.
It was ever my opinion, that this great na
tion would enthusiastically rouse itfelf to
vindicate and maintain with invincible
ftrmnefs, the sacred flame of liberty, as
soon as it could free itfelf from the incum
brance of its monftrotis constitution : That
desirable event has not yet, however, ta
ken place. The lioftf ofdefpots that have
pofleffed themselves of the sovereignty of
the German people, still continue to rivet
their chains upon them : I am convinced,
however, my opinion is well founded, not
withstanding, and that Germany will yet
be FREE.
The republican sentiments that animate
the hearts of all those I have had an op
portunity of feeing beyond the limits ol
their own unfortunate country, are a con
vincing proof to me, that this will be the
cafe ; and under such a view of things, ft)
important to the sincere friends of huma
nity, I cannot express how much your ad
dress has excited my sensibility.
I lhall miflce your sentiments known to
my fellow citizens, and haveno doubt they
will receive, with the most lively marks
of fatisfaftion, the good wishes you have
exprcfTed for thefticcefs of their arms and
the extension of their principles.
GENET.
May 18, 1793-
To the Editor of the National Ga.
ZETTE.
A S many persons, from diffance of time,
may have forgotten the terms of our
treaties with France, it may not be amiss
for you to re-publifb the 17th, 21ft, 22d,
and 23d articles of the Treaty of Amity
and Commerce between this conntryand
France, made the 6th of Fehruary 1778.
It is the intereff and duty of the United
States to preserve a neutrality between the
belligerent powers of Europe; but it (hould
be remembered that this neutrality can
only observed by our conforming to the
treaties we have made. With Great-Bri
tain we have no treaty but the treaty of
Peace—with other nations, and particu
larly with France, we have treaties of
Amity and Commerce. None of these
treaties require us to involve ourselves in a
war to support the quarrels of other na
tions ; but the breach of treaty with any
nation may be the means of involving us in
war with that nation.
As AMERICAN.
The articles referred to are these :
Article 17. It (hall be lawful for the
(hips of war of either party, and privateers,
freely to carry whithersoever they please,
the (hips and goods taken from their ene
mies, without being obliged to pay any duty
to the officers of the admiralty or any other
judges; nor (hall such prizes be arretted
or seized when they come to, and enter the
ports of either party ; nor (hall the search
ers or other officers of those places search
the fame, or make examination concerning
the lawfulnefs of such prizes ; but they
may hoilf (ail at any time, and depart and
carry their prizes to the places exprt Ted in
their commissions, which the commanders
3ffuch fliips of war (hall be obliged to (hew:
an the contrary, no (helter or reftige (hall
be given in their ports to such as (hall have
made a prize of the fubjeffs, people or pro
perty of either of the parties ; but if such
(hall come in, being forced by (frefs of wea
ther, or the danger of the sea, all proper
means shall vigorouflv used, that they go
out and retire from thence as soon as pof
lible.
Article 21. No fubjefts of the mod chri
stian king (hall apply for or any com
midion, or letters of marque for aiming any
(hip or Oiips to ast as privateers agninft the
(aid United States, or any of them, or a
gainst the fubjeffs, people or inhabitants ol
the said United States, or any of them, 01
Jgainft the property of ahy of the inhabi
tants of any of them, from any prince, 01
with which the said United State;
lhail be at war. Nor (hall any citizen,
fubjeft, or inhabitant of the United States,
>r any of them, apply tor or take any com
mission or letters of marque for arminj
jny (hip or (hips to ast, as privateers againfl
:he fubjefts of the mod christian king, 01
iny of them, or the property of any of them
"rom any prince or (fate with which the
"aid king (hall be at war ; and if any per
"on of either nation {hall take such CDinmif
ions or letters of marque, he shall be pu
lifhed as a pirate.
Article 22. It (hall not be lawful for an)
Foreign privateers, not belonging to
fubjeffs of the most christian king, nor citi
zens of the said United States, who have
cpmmiffions from any other prince or (fate
111 enmity with cither nation, to fit their
(hips in the ports of either the one or the
other of the aforelVd parties, to fell what
they have taken, or in any other manner
whatsoever ro exchange their (flips, mer
chandizes, or any other lading; neither
lhall they be allowed even to purchase vic
tuals, except such as shall be neceflary
for their going to the next port of that
prince or slate from which they have com
miflions.
Article 23. It (hall be lawful for all and
lingular the fubjefts of the most christian
king, and the citizens, people and inhabi
tants of the said United States, to fail with
their (hips with all manner of liberty and
security, no diftinffion being made, who
are the proprietors of the merchandizes la
den thereon, from any port to the places
of those who now are or hereafter shall be
at enmity with the most christian king, or
the U. States. It (hall Ijkewife be lawful
for the fubje&sand inhabitants aforefaid,
to fail with the (hips and merchandizes
aforementioned, and to trade, with the
fame liberty and security from the places,
ports and havens of those who
of both or either party, without any oppo
sition or disturbance whatfoe% er, not only
directly from the enemy aforementioned to
neutral places, but also from oneplace be
longing to an enemy, whether they be un
der the jurifdiffian of the fame prince, or
under federal. And it is hereby ftipuiated.
that free ships (hall also give a freedom to
goof's, and that every thing shall be deem
edtobefr?e ami exempt which fii.ill !-e
found on board the fliips belonging to the.
fubjefts of.either of the confederates, al
though tile vholelading, or any part there -
offhould appertain to the enemies ofeither,
coriti aband goods being always excepted.lt
isalfo agreed in like manner,that the Dine
berty be extended to persons who are on
board,a free ship, with this HFeCt, that al
though they be enemies to both or either
party, tiiey are not to be ta*e>) oui of ihat
free (l\ip, unless they are fohl;' md in ac
tual service of the enemies
To the EDITOR of the NATIONAL
GAZETTE.
THE genuine difplav of affeCHon r ifve
cause of France, by the citiz^;on the
arrival of the minister, has once more a
bashed ariflocracy, and hailed i ■;i. a! ; ty tri
umphant. The boforas of m: . v hundred
freemen beat high with affectionate tratif
port, their fouls caught the ce'.tilial fire of
[trnggling liberty, and in the enthuliafm of
emotion, they communicated their feelim/i
to the worthy and amiable rej»refeniati\e.
of the French nation. What a delicious
repaftfor a mind interested in the cripfe of
humanity! There is something ennobling
even in the contemplation of liberty ; but
the energy of philanthropy, which its pre
lence imparts to the foul, exalts and puri
fies human nature. Incommunicable and
incomprehensible as this is to the well-born
of the earth, it is not less difficult than.the
aflimilation of virtue and vice. We have
an amphibious kind of char*£ler, which is
neither pofl'eli'ect of qualities to give it dif
tinfiion, nor modelly enough to mike it
content with the humble vale of equality,
that sickens at every exhibition of the so
vereignty of the people ;thefe.like the ani
mal plant, fhrinkfrom their approach, into
the clcft of infignificance. — May they ever
hide their djminifhed heads 1
The contrast, which (he conduCf of the
citizens, friends to the cause of freedom,
formed with that of the merchants, who.
Simulated by the fordid considerations of
felf-intereft alone, had the moriefty in
their own names and with their own Jet j'e,
to speak the sense of PENNSYLVANIA,
mulf give a charm to the characters of the
one, while it reflects dishonor upon the o
thers. The nilk a'ld water produ&ion of
sycophancy, which was carried in procrjft
on, was as delfitute of energy, as devoid
ofdignified and manly exprefiion, as the
motives which produced it were devoid of
the genuine spirit of liberty It was a cli
max of weakness and of fertility. Penn-- 1
fvlvania has not yet depreciated so far from
the character which she sustained durijig
the late revolution, as to fifffer the nobie
feelings of gratitude to be entombed in
Britifli influence and Britifli corruption,
and to prostrate the republican charaClerat
the shrine of Plnttts. Let the mercenary
band, who balk in the fun-ftiine of court
favour, and who, in the accumulation of
wealth, forget the dignity of man, and the
fsvage character of the people around
whom they entwine themselves, and 'iie
barbarous means they used to bend our
necks to the iron yoke of Britain, let !'u m
declare themselves neutral, neutral to e
very feeling but that excited by money;
let them declare themselves opposed to
countenancing the French Republic ; but
let them remember, that in so doing, a
sentiment so ungrateful, so unworthy,
reaches not beyond the limits of mercantile
apathy, or of Biitijli influence. —Eroclcy
motions unfanftioned by preceding law:,
and procefiions of merchants, are equally
indifferent to freemen, when opposed to
the rational dictates of the head, and the
warm impiilfe of the heart —Thanks to
our God, the foiiereig'ity flill resides with
the PeoPle, and that neither pro-l.i
mations, nor royal demetnor and J'ate can
prevent them from exercifirg it. Of tli'-
the independent freemen of this iretrop oi s
gave a (irikingexample in tlieir reception
«f Mr. Genet! Tho' neutrality was en-,
joined by proclamation, or in other words
indifference to the French cauff. or if yon
please, an equal affeCtion for all the belli -
gerent powers (Great-Sntain aniongft the
number !) they were not to be the flaviih
receivers of proclamatorV principles, nor
to be deterred by them from acting as be
came the dignity of freemen, and citizens
under the dominion of a virtuous fenlibili
ty. —Fellows, as some of the would be
noblefi'e of our country, termed the ref
peCtaMe citizens, who walked In the pro
cession to congratulate the mjnifier, sup
ported the tottering fabric of liberiv a
gainst the machinations of such wretches,
who fancy themselves of a gender too per
fect to herd with the people, and at this
moment sustain the virtue andindepei.-H ' ce
of the American character. — Are there any
fellows in a freegovemment but those who
tranfgi ess the laws, ox thoje-v.ho apply the
degradii g epithet to the people ? T he man
who confpiresagainft his neighbour's rights,
and the man who attempts my life or
plunders me of my property, are fellows
alike \ they ate both murderers and rob
bers. Let such fellows beware,-^:''''/> onl*
"makes the man, & want of it the feljow,
in a land of equality; and an infulttd peo
ple may give them a fcrioi lefbn, th::t
their worth is of a d iTerent rait from t'v t
which ignorance cr vanity n- have ut'ght
them to belie v e