National gazette. — Philadelphia [Pa.], 1793-05-01 00:00:00, page 1

address
From the National Convention
to the French Nation.
Propojed by M. ISNARD, and adopted by
the Aifembly, on the prejent crijis if their
fituaiion.
FRANKS,
CUCH is the inevitabfe lot of nations who
have given to themselves kings, that
they ne\cr can lli: ke off their yoke with
out a struggle with every neighbouring ty
ra'nt.
Scarce had you proclaimed your own lo
vereignty wiien the emperor and king of
Prussia took up arms again 11 you, but now
that vou have proclaimed your couiticuti
-011 to* be republican, there is not one del'-
pot who hfs not refotVed u/on your uttei
ruin. Those wiio h:»ve not already lore
-ed you into open war, are probably tempo
riling, that tney may the more ealily de
ceive vou, and it is but too true, that the
projected Ifc uggle i 3 between the enfran
chifcd Fiance and the cnflaved Europe.
. Be that so, France mult eventually tri
umph, if its will is firm and coultant ; ioi
nations ire Itronger than armies. Those
who have fought lor independence were
ever victors. Let Holland, Switzerland,
and the United States, be proofs- ot thi.
alfercion. . , .
Free nations find resources 111 their ut
moit extremities and dillrefs. Rome re
duced to the circumference of the capital,
arose iVn u defeat more formidable than
from victory. .
Reir. jnia. r, Franks, your own exploits,
when the Prutlians dared to pollute your
icrr ■ y. Evei did the enthusiasm of li
berty -riumpli over numbers; ever did
fin-tune o*iile on the val mrous enteipiilii,
and viJfbTy'on truf ewrrajf- ■
Heroes of Marathon, Salamis, and Jem
mappe, we invoke your testimony. Intaiit
republic, such are thy models, such ale the
prefaces of thy success. Surely thou w all
reserved to give the u'niveife adifplay ot a
scene hitherto unknown, hitherto unima
gined in the mind ot man, for never did
such a cause occupy the foul oi mankind,
never was such a cause referred to the ul
timate decision of a tribunal of Not
the interest or concerns of the day is the
theme, polterity and ages *.o come aie the
fubjefl ; not the liberty of one nation —no,
the enfranchifement of the human spe
cies. .
Franks, may the sublimity of these ideas
inflame thy valour, crulh every tyrant, ra
ther than thyfeii become a slave- a (lave !
What lhall then new kings feed on thy
gold, on the fwcat of thy brow, on the pro
tulion of thy blood ? Shall again unfeeling
parliaments, at their caprice, dispose oi
thy fortune, of thy lite ?—Shall again a fa
natic priesthood decimate thy indulhy and
thy harvells ? Shall again a faftiiiious no
bility tread thee under the foot of insolent
contempt ? Shall holy equality, lhal. facrc-il
liberty, the produce of thy unparalleled
exertions, again be ravilhed from thee ?—
Shall that noble empire, the inheritance of
thy ancestors? be d.lmen beivcl ?—Shall
there be for us no logger the word Coun
try, no longer the nine of a Frank ? —
Shall this generation be deltincd to this ac
cumulation of infamy ?—Shall it bear the
scorn of all Europe, and the contempt of
posterity ? No ; we will disappear from
the furface of the earth, or we will re
main upon it independent Franks !
Let every true republ can arm for his
country, let our iron and brass transform
thenifeives into the tliunders of war ; let
our forelts become veflels ; let France be
come one camp ; let the nation become one
rmy ; let the artist quit his art, and the
i eculator his speculation. It is more ur-
to acquire liberty than riches ; let
J cultivation retain but the arms that are
necefiary lor it; before we ameliorate our
foil, let us enfranchile it ; let those veter
ans who have def'erted their flandards,
blulh to fee their laurels fading before the
viitories of inexperienced but valourous
youth. Above all, let the young and vi
gorous citizen fly to the defence of the re
public. It is jufl that he fliould be expos
ed to the combat, ere the father of a fami
ly 'hall risque his more facreci person.
And you. tender mothers, wives replete
with love and sensibility, inflead of attract-
Sng and holding back in your arms those
citizens who are dear to you, excite them
rather to fly to victory !
It is not in the caule of adefpotthat they
are to combat, it is for you, for your chil
dren, for your homes. Inltead of weep-
Numb. 53 of Voi. ll.]
By P. FRENE AU : Publijhcd. Wednesdays and Saturdays, at Three Dollars per annum.
ing for their departure, repeat, like Spar
tanwomen, enthufiijftic arci martial forg';
and let your hands, ere their return, weave
them cloth lor their bodies, and crowns foi
their victorious heads.
And thou, patriotil'm, and thou, paflion
of liberty, a:.d of glory, who art the pre
servative eflence of republicans, thcfburce
of heroism and of virtue, enflanie their
fouls ! Let us all (wear upon the grave oi
our lathers, anil upon the cradle ps our
children—let usfvvear by the victims ot tilt
10th oi AugulK by the banes' of our bre
thren yet Icattered over the fields,'that we
will revenge them, or die like them.
As tor you, opulent, and more favour
ect men, who are ra'her egoults than re
publicans, who lighior nothing but for reft
—aid us to conquer, andtoon you will have
peace.
II relaxed by indolcnce, you cannot fuf
:ain the fatigues ol the war—open youi
tieafufes to indigence, and buy defenders,
ivho may supply your place.
YVlulfi yyiii brethren triumphed inj Bel
jia, and upon the Alps, whillt they bid de -
ian'ce to cold, to' hunger, and to deajfi ;
.vhillt they climbed tip mountains and.Tea
ed rampart. , you were repotiug in tht
of luxury, and can you reftife evei
jecuni iry fucu ur- !is then gold n.ore pre
ions than blood 1 It on one hand tlie lint
or your country' peiTuadej you to make
acrihces, let at icall on the other, infereil
nipel you to it; reflect tliaL both youi
property and your fjc'urity depend upot:
• iieftucefs of this war; liberty will noi
Jerii,. beiore pubiu fortu e is aiCa an Villi
ated, it I'ra.icfe difniembered : if the ene
nies triumph, woe to ihem who have
a rouged our country.
Rich citizens, if you with your countr)
:o be generous towards you, luii. ;> ui
uties luu aaiL, Uex ; Lo.. ofl. ij n; - be
:omes a victim, because he has relukd tu
lo justice. Let your opinions be what
:iiey will, your eaul'e is common ; we all
ire but patli-ngers in the vclul of the re
volution, Hie is launched, ilie mult come
to haibour, or Ilie mull go to pieces, and
none will find a planx in the tiniverlal
wreck. 1 here is only one means to save
us ali. the whole niafs of citizens mult
form a powerful colofi'us, who, (landing
upright before the nations, nii.fl hold with
une iiand tiie exterminating sword of the
nation, and waving it over the earth and
nver the IV .s, lhall overthrow the armies
and fie. is of monarchy.
Popular fonetits, ye ramparts of the re
volt! .on—ye who gave birth t, liberty,
and who watch over its cradle ; create de
lenders to it by'your eloquence, your ex
amples ; imprint a great motion, and ele
vate your fouls to the highest degree of en
thusiasm.
Warriors, who at the voice of your coun
try fly to the field ol combat, we do not
endeavour to excite your courage, French
men and republicans, you are full of hon
our and bravery ; but we recommend tc
you, in the name of the republic, obedi
ence to your chiefs, and ftritt discipline ;
without discipline there can be no armies,
nol'uccefs; without discipline, courage is
useless, and number is impotent : discipline
supplies every thing, and nothing ftipplie;
its place.
Conquerors of Valmy, Spires, and Ar
gonne, w ill you futter to perish what you
have once saved ? Ts'o, you will also van
quilh these new phalanxes the north is vo
initing forth ; you will defeat England on
that element at present the theatre of her
power. Let our brave faiiors fly to the
veflels of the republic. Our marine, as
renowned for their patriotism, as our ar
mies, lhall heap victory upon vi&ory; dis
encumbered of an effeminate nobility, it is
invincible. Sons of commerce, who un
der the yoke of a delpotifm, that over
w helmed you withinfults, produced a Jean
Bart, Diiqnene, Kagne, Trouin, what i;
there not to be expecled from you undei
the reign of equality ?—No more restrain
the combat to the discharge of cannon—a
freeman should depend only on himfelf.
Our grenadiers have themselves dismount
ed batteries with their bayonets. Our hus
sars have charged on horftback from the
ramparts. Do you in yourtu.n attempt
their decks. There let these proud islan
ders—these despots of the sea, fall under
the stroke of your hatchet.
Sailors, soldiers, may a salutary emula
tion animate you 1 may an equal fuccef;
cro\ln your endeavours 1 Are you con
quered ? France becomes the fcolf of nati
ons and the prey of tyrants ; already fee
your savage conquerors dart upon her, fee
WEDNESDAY, May i, 1793.
them insult, ravage, and lay her u afle ! fee
thematalofs for victims to glut them
selves with, to appease the 11 ants ot' Ca
pet ! fee, illuminated by the (lames of Pa
ris, whither they carry theii vengeance,
whither the hangman drags your friends
and your brothers ; your defeat covers the
e irtlj with mourning and with tears, liber
ty limns these desolate regions, and with
her vani(hes the happinels of the human
race ■, lmig after you (hall be 110 more, the
urihappy will clank their chains over your
tomb-, and insult your a(hes.
You vanqtrifli, and there is an end to ty
ants ; mankind embrace each other, and.
ilham: d ot their long error, extinguiih the
orch of war; they proclaim you the fat i
-3urs of your country ; the founders of the
"epnblic, the restorers of the universe :
ind the nation will crown you with the lau
rels you have earned for it.
For you \\ ho may (all in the field of he
iou'r, what can equal your glory? Yout
grateful country will provide for your fa
milies, will engrave your names tfn mar
ble, and on brass, or rather they shall dwell
or ever on the frontifpiece of the great
emple of uuiverfal liberty, and tutnre ge
nerations, when they read them (hall fay,
:!iefe arc the French heroes who broke the
Jiains of the human race, who inttrelled
hemfelves in our happiness, when we did
lot even exist.
Happy France! such is the exalted def
:iny that is prepared for you. Lose not
pourfelves in its vaftnefs ; perform it with
leroifm, that history may notf urnifh, from
ts annals, any triumphs to compare with
['ours. Efface at once the glories ot the
epirblicj of Greece, and Rome. Accom
jlifn more in ong year, under the reign of
liberty, i ail you have done in ages undei
hereifg' of kings. Compel ft rangers to
per' F't :ich republic brt \v 1 th ref
jeft—of Fre .ch citizens but with enthuli
iflic admiration.
As to us. firm at our ports, we promise
:o set you the example of unbounded ci
■ifm, courage and devotion. We will inn
ate, lhould there be occasion, those Ko
nan senators, who waited their death up
jn the ciirule chair. They have said thai
nc are divided among ourselves, take care
towy.>u ulen tothein ; if ouropinions dif
er, our sentiments are the fame. We dif
fer as to the means, but our object is one.
3>ur dWiberationsare tumultuous, but how
:an we help being animated in difcuflin:
mr nearest interells. 'Tis our eagerncl
or the public good which agitates us ; the
rlecree once paffea, the clamour is at ai
end, but the law remains.
Franks, rely upon your representatives.
whatever may be the event, they will cou
rageoudy ftruggie againfl fortune, anc
again (I man—never will they, in thy name,
c pitulate with tyranny.
When firft we were constituted a con
vention, it fecmed to us as we heard the
voice of our country, fuggelling to us.
•' go, and render me free, and insure mj
future happinels at the expence of momen
tary tranquility.-"
It to insure freedom Europe must be
conquered, speak and 1 w ill join battle
with her, whatever may be my lofTes, my
dangers and fatigues. Give me no defini
tive peace without pure and limple inde
pendence. O ! my country ; that sublime
language has penetrated our fouls—has re
mained impressive 011 our hearts—will
form the unerring rule of our conduct, anc
thou fliait be laved.
(From an Eajlern Paper.)
" T HAVE ever conlidered a republicar
government, as the molt natural, anc
the mofl rational and equal government,
that ever did, or can exist among mankind
as it giyes to every subject thereof, a rlghi
and opportunity, to choose his own ruler;
and juclges, and it is supposed, that by a
majority of'votes, men of the greatest abil
ities, and candor, will be ele£led to fill the
legislative and judicial departments ; —yel
we often find that mankind, by long use &
habit 111 those privileges, become inatten
tive and careless, and do not consider the
importance of them enough. They there
lore grow by degrees, remiss and indiffer
ent 111 their attendance on eieftions, anil
other public convocations ; they think
matters will go well enough; they have
some little bulinefs to attend to of theii
own, and their vote will be of but very
small consequence, and so they do not at
tend to cl.cofpg iltir goven.oi, their
counsellors, their representatives, See. by
which means those who have a friend to
serve, or a party to gratify, can and do
mutter their forces, and Without any or
but little opposition, choose thole who they
think \\ ill serve their own paricular in
terert withoui any regard to ,he abilities,
honesty, or integrity of those they vote for;
thus it is, we ohen fee men of the worffc
principles, and moil wanting in probity and
candor, and who are replete with tinctle
and duplicity, and mod it illtd in the base
arts of low cunning, fubtilry. .nd mean
intrigue, get into places i.f trust and ho
nour, who, to compensate their voters,
flick not at prevarication, and at the per
veriion of justice, to lerve their friends;
hence we hear (and with too much truth)
that an ailetnbly will grant a petition to one
man, and deny to another hi request
founded tipcn the fame aicot.nt, and often
on much more reaional le and £qt.i:able
grounds. hence it is aifo we hear so of
ten, nay it is a common observation that a
-rial at law is a mere lottery, and you may
as well toss up a copper for the decision of
i cause, as to have it tried by a court. A
man has a petition topreie. to the'general
ifltmbly, he is made to believe that hfs
H-ighbour A is his friend anil is a man of
nfluence abroad, and he knows he won
lerfully poffefles the art of in r j>ue, and
■vill allift him in getting his petition gi»nt
;d, if he can get him chosen deputy, he
nutters his friends, and urges theiri to at
end pun£)ually it the hour ot fonie public
neet ng and vote for Mr A. Other free
nen knowing or caring nothing about the
>lot, do not so generally attend ; the cori
equence is Mr. A. is appointed deputy, &
Alien he gets into the afcemhly, or Con
;refs, he puts his intriguing arts into exe
ution, and repays his voting friend.--., and
jets thepetitioi) granted,w itii a pronii eto
iliilt a brother deputy, and to get another
jetition granted, which the other deputy
las illicit i taken in the f me way: \ jiiTe
mother man, more ciefervingj 1011 l hi: pe
ation for want of friend- to all;!: hi 11 .
Judges, efpeciaily the afliilant judges, in
ounty courts, are Vilually non in,,red by
:he deputies oi e.ch county, and perhaps
ome of those deputies, owe their election
o some one man, who willies vo be a ju T
icc of the quorum : and anxious to r pay
lis friend for his exertions, in getting him
ippointed deputy, uses his intriguing art,
o get such a friend of his appointed a fide
tuige of the county court. 'i his jt.dge in
eturn mufl help his friend ; anu unit Is lie
s a man of great candour, he will do it;
jn this account, it is, we so often hear a
-omplaint that parties are judged, and not
:he cai.Je. Another observation is often
11 de ; tlio I conftls not so common; but
ndeed carries great impeachment 011 a
-ourt, that is it you get a certain lawyer,
,ou will be l.kely to have greater fnccefs ;
lot that he has greater abilities, or more
ntegrity, but he has greater influence with
:hc court. Ido not believe this is gei.er
illy the cafe, because 1 believe our juo-es
11 a general way, are men of comcieiue
ind candor, yet it is to be feared, thaL some
if the judges who get their appointments
yy their intrigue, give too much occafiun
or the observation : and lhonld a jud"e
who is to try a cause, be si. void of ir.teg
rity, and candor, as to advise a party to
-mploy such or such a lawyer, in p; eftr
;nce to another, merely became he (ti, e
recommended lawyer) has more influence
with the court ; it would be indeed li ock
nig; and when a jiu.ge has those feelings,
are our properties fair in his hand:- ? and it'
lie should be so bare- aced aiid undiiguifed
as to express his feelings to the parties
w hole cai.fe he is to try, need we any lon
ger wonder that we hear the <on.nion
complaint ' that law is a lottery?" And
ought not such a judge to be difphctd ?
My fellow freemen, these are tie causes
of complaint, and thc-y arise from your not
attending public elections punctually, and
thereby fruflrate those detigning and in
triguing men in their plans. Attend and , t
tencl till tile business of the elefuon is doi.e
and no donbt but righteous men will ) t t
rule over us: and by their example, we
fliall again become a religious, a republican
people, and so be a happy people.
From such causes we find by hiflorv that
all the antient republics dwindled aw a- •
became hateful to the people, ai d cave
place to monarchy : the people chose
to be under the controul of one 111,111 v [~,
was independent of the people for h- ,
sice, and could not be bought by friend
rather than to live in so great ur.ee, taii,| V '
From such facts Mr. Adams grounds | , (
opin on, that a republican government can.
[Total No. 157 ]