National gazette. — Philadelphia [Pa.], 1793-06-15 00:00:00, page 3

ou'titoi" contemplated "Hid iutetlded that
the roads through the different parts of tlie
' country, fliould ever be pfefcryed free for
the advantage of tic '.mv\'e. We fee no
* reafoii why they Ihajit jw become'ob
jects of private fp> Nation.
Should the iegifLmire think it proper to
enact a law of till nature, we beg leave to
i rtlggell our liifapprobation to some clauses
' in ciie bill now utldcr confederation.
* The ninth fe£liou, bv which the president
and in makers, with their workmen, 5 c.
ore authorized to take the property of ci
tizens without their concur, is a violation
of tile :'s,.:d unental principles of civil soci
ety, by which every citizen is guarantied
in the ill I enjoyment, and the free disposal
of his property. This we regard as a great
injury, particularly when we coniider that
tile company lb authorized are aifin* in a
private capacity Tor their own private e
molument, on which account we are of
opinion, ti:t (Government ought not to in
terfere in the contrails of the company.
Cull it he tlwugl t confident with jullice,
that a farmer elsgaged in the moll ufeful
and necefi'ary occupation, by which he
does n-t clear j per cent, on his capital,
ftoi'.ld have his property taken without his
coufent, to enable an incorporated compa
ny, engaged in a fiibordinate occupation,
10 make a dividend of i j per cent, per
annum, oil their capital ltock.
We coniider the reparation of the pub
i.c high-ways as a nect airy public expence
To which the citizens fliould contribute in
proportion to their property. The 12th
ieflion of the bill is totally incontinent
with this jult principle of equality, as it
fubjefls the poorelc citizens, who in their
daily occupations are engaged in fupplyiiij;
tjie city with provilions to pay the fame
toil with the mod wealthy: as far as
f?icfi toll is considered as a tax for the sup
port of the highway, it operates unequal
ly, ;■ id as far as it is intended to put an u
surious interell in the pockets ot the cor
poration, it niuit be regarded as unjtifl and
opprcfiive.
Till3th feftion, in which it is declared
'"if arty waggon or other carriage fllall be
drawn along the laid road by a greater
number of horses, or with a greater
weight thai is hereby permitted, one of
the horses fliall be forfeited to the use of
the fan! com; a y, to be seized and taken
by any of their officer* or servants, who
fnr.ll be at liberty to choose which of the
said horses they may think proper, except
the lhaft or wheel horse or horses," is to
tally iiiconfificiH with jus.ice and found
policy ; as the molt powerful party is
jn.nl; judge in their own caule, and are
authorized in a fuimnary inanuer to exe
cute tiie law, ami to take from a citizen a
horse of the * alue of one hundred dollai s.
for an iufult offered to the dignity of the
corporation, rather than any real injury
done to the road belonging to the cojr.pa
liy.
Influenced by the foregoing reasons, we
are en;> ged to reiiionlli ate on this occasi
on, and to prav the legislature not toenail
the aforefaid bill into u law.
Signed, &c.
No. 111.
REFLECTIONS rei.ative ti
i i[e . KEKCH Kr:VCLI/TIO>;.
r T~ I HE French revolution, next to the
A American, is the molt intereiling ant
awful crisis in human affairs, that evei
claimed the attentionof the world. I fay.
next to the American, becalife the Frenct
revolution may be conlidered in a greal
tneafure as 1 consequence of the American.
Many cause; doubtless coufpired to prepare
the way in France for the great even!
there, and many circumstances, indepen
dent of America, may have coufpired with
her example to propel the French nation
towards the attainment of liberty. But il
is. highly probable, that if America had
basely given back from the glorious contcll
to which Hie was called, or had failed in
elhiblifhing her independence, that France
at this hour would have been groaning
under her yoke, and mankind deprived ol
that general prospect of a better order of
things, which the French revolution holds
out to all Europe. In this point of view it
is natural for every American to feci a pe
culiar interell in the affairs of France, liuce
befidis tiie common motive of philanthropy
and a love of liberty, he mull coniider the
itriiggles of France as a continuation of the
glorious struggles of his own country, for
tiie emancipation of human nature from
llavifh governments and llavifli prejudices,
and for the enjoyment of the equal rights
of man, anil all the blefliugs of civil society,
under the virtuous auspices of a republican
fy.lem. Accordingly, it is mod clear and
certain, that a hearty good will to the
French cause prevails through the great
rnafs of the people, notwithflauding the
artful niifreprefentations which have been
employed to hood-wink and millead them.
They know tiiat theFrenchare fighting for
their rights and liberties, as the Americans
fought for theirs j and that the kings and
nobles of the eartli who have for ages
pall rioted 011 the sweat and blood of the
people, and trampled on all laws divine and
human, are leagued together in defence of
tyranny and iniquity.
i |»e » c •! .* " rthr.ei ts of Am- t <■ a
were mod unequivocally evinced, w lien
they celebrated last winter the ftitcffles of
che arms of the French Repu>,;.ic. The
loth ofAugud putin ("ufpenfipii on royalty ;
and foo'n after the king, for betr;.)irg l'is
trtift, was formally dipi ived of his crown,
$nd the natiun'tlechned robe a Republic.
( his change in thefceneof things, as could
not but happen, was attended with vio
lence, toiivuliiorr, and blood. The agonies
of expiring monarchy, anil the panglul
birth of freedom, difpl. yed a fptffacle lhas
could ealily be disfigured into a pi mire of
horror, and a fad example of popular go
vernments. Advantage was taken of this,
every where, by the enemies of,liberty, to
blacken the revolution, and the fame ait'
were pra&ifed for the purpose here ; so
that for a time the people, embarrafitd
thereby, was beginning to doubt the
propriety of their zeal for the French
cause". At length, Truth forced its way
through the cloud that had been thrown
over it. Fails and circumltances c; me to
be understood. The people found that the
French nation, provoked by royal tifurpa
tion and perfidy, had only, like America,
declared theinfelvcs independent ot all
kingly government, a:.d had set up a Re
public in its (lead ; and tl e confequeiitci
that fell on the enemies of France nu i e ii
evident that the change was a nectii'.'i)
a:td wife, as tvell as a jurtifiable meafuie.
In this (late of things the half-fir,othsrcd
feelings of America broke cut into ;:n ar
dent and general jubilee in honor of the
French Republic. If the public of i
liion and disposition was evtr irrefragably
nianifefUd on any occalion, I think was
on that. For the I:gns and indications of ii
were perfectly free ami | ontaneons. Ihe
example began at Boflon. U the ttf:;irtoi:e;
of heart-felt congratulation with the glori
ous champions of republican liberty in Eu
rope, became in a moment iiniverfaj
throughout our continent. It reminder
me of the effect produced by the pamphlet
"Common Senle," in favour of indepen
dence. The suddenness and universality
of the effect evinced that the fentimenl,
which was the true cause, was before ir.
tile hearts of the people, and was only
brought into a£llon by a well-timed ;.d
---drefstoit. The celebration of the Rrjttih
lican viiiories of France, in or.e view was
the flronger cafe of the two. For, as 1
remember, the people of their ow 11 accoicl,
rullied into f'eilive expreiHons of their joy
at didant places, so near the fame moment
of time, that at many it could not be produ
ced by the example set at others, but mull
have been the uninfluenced,benevolent efi'u
iionof hearts gladdened with the preps ef:
and triumphs of that liberty of which they
taded the sweets themfclves.
The conduit of the American people on
the occalion alluded at, is the more de
serving our recolleflion now, bccaufe it
was poderior to anjtl founded 011 a know
ledge of the and ;<' ' 1 ijon
met.t of the king, and the erefiicn of t/.i
Republic on the ruins of monarchy. Tin:
conlideration proves clearly the attachment
of the Americans to republican government,
antl that they approved of the proceed::.--
! agaiuft the king, 011 the bel tf of bib en-
I rninal attempt to betray the cor.iututioi,
he had sworn to ftipport, and the countrx
that gave him bit ll\ into the cruel har.ds cl
foreign I'-fp- ts . Now, it the people of A
merica viewed ti.e niatter in this light,
how can it be, as feme would afi'e£t, that
their attachment to Louis riiould alienate
them from the nation for putting him tc
death, a: d out of pity to one poor mortal,
make them indifferent or unfriendly to a
cause involving the late of millions, and
perhaps the fate of liberty in one half the
globe, and possibly, in the event, oil the
other half too. No—lt is impossible. If
the king deserved to lose his crown in the
eyes of Americans, and they deemed the
eltablidiment of complete liberty agreeable
to American principles, on a republican
plan, so glorious to the people and nation
of France, the circumdance of punilhing
the royal offender with death, can never
turn their eyes or their hearts from the
grand objett Liberty, the liberty of
France, the liberty of Europe, the liberty
of human nature. They may recollect
with fenlibility the light in which they foi
inerly viewed the unfortunate Louis; they
may and ought to pity his lamentable faie ;
they may perhaps Willi his life had not been
taken away, or they may blame many cir
cumdances related, (whether truly or not
we cannot yet fay) of the trial, treatment
or condemnation of him. But then, on
the other hand, they are forced to remem
ber, that h's conduit had been-acceflai y to
the death of thousands of illnocci t people;
that it was treacherous anil dangerous to
the happiness of millions—that i- was his
conntry that condemned him, which
had the bed right to judge and could
bed judge whether his life had been
forfeited, and ought to be required at
his hands—and, that whether the French
nation judged right or wrong, in this
indance, or were governed by reason or
paflion therein, it cannot s.lfeff thecaufe
of liberty in general, and the merit
afcribecl to the French in abolishing royal
ty ; nor diminilh the anxious' wishes and
prayers of every American, true to repub
lican principles, that the Republic, so glo
riotifiy fc: up by France, ma/ prevail uvel
s, and tn: t iirt'cr trf !
Df het example, arid the example of An e- |
rica, the reign of Liberty may l." ur.i\ er
faily eftabJiU.etl.
rHILADELPKtJS.
June i i:
For the National Gazette.
sensations n.uft dot bt
~/ less arifg in lie bieaft of every perlon,
who is not irimically diCpoCcd towards t'»:e
rights of HKn, Upon healing, or rea3ir.g of.
the too CucceGful progress of the various
combinations for the defti uciion of the tit e
ot liberty. So numerous are the votaries ol
avarice, credulity, prejudice and fuperfliti
on on the other lide of the Atlantic,that the
intercft of a few individuals is preferred to
the \v diare of millions.
•• Happily for the United States of Ame
rica, they are now enjoying a well-earned
honorable peace. Having now gained our
own freedom, we may lit quietly down,
every man under his own vine and his own
lig-mc, i'.nd view with a calm compolure,
thole calamitous wars which at'prefent de
luge F.urope with blood.''—lf luch is i.ot
the real language , f many ol' our w orthv
citizens,it is a conitruction w hUh ma) juili)
be put upon several if their luiubiations.
In vain is the cau'fe of humanity adduced
to plead the caufu cf France titioi e Cu'th
judges as il.efe, \\ hen a fellilh iniei ell is an
advocate for the other party. Lan an;,
tn.e republican view thefreedom ol man
kind at Hake, whiift at the faille tin'.'e he
lefufes )lis tftolls to aid her trii.n.( h : ht t
can ar.y Con of Amcrica behold the unequal
coiJKlt which now tx:fis in Furipe with
t i t vvilhrng his country to pay that dtbt ol
gratitude to France which ihe has Co long
contrsfied. by ; ,(lilting her to support the
car.Ce of humanity, and defeat the iniquit
ous' deTi gns ivf dt Ipots. Fienchmi n, by af
lilllng this oppn fled country in l.cr fn njlgle
for her rights, caught the ardent fume
which glowed with Co liiucli vi f our in its
native loil—They waited it into tl.e:r own
territory, where it blaztd with redoubled
luflre—Oreat-I'i itain, Poland, Ciimany,
Sweden, Hoi! a i.d, and Spain fee nit d 10 l.av t
been (corchcd by its heat ; and al! 1 lire pi
bade fair to be Coon unitrd ii! one ; ei ei«l
confiagrat on, v.hiih would hiir iliumina
ted the whole world with the benthcent
rays of real'on, science. human:'.) and vir
tue. But how darkened the pro.pi ct v. hi eh
is now pfei'enttd to our vie w ! '1 hecrown*
of c % cry nation in Eui c pe ft em deteimint J
to check its progi tls. F.\r: > i.uuuU i.c
quainted with the alptQ'w hich the came «J
freedom now we..cs; and ihall we, ui it
grcateft hour of difficulty and d-i ger, poC
cls no niore iflhefpirit oi i'retn en, tl.r.i
to fufi'tr it V* l.e abandoned ly 11;e urj
perfens who'fir it efpouCtd its intt rti-.s. i;
it jufl ? is it gratelul ? is it horoiabie ? ii
it rcafiinable i is it humane.? If tvranu)
is incompatible with the inti 11 fts of iuni.ai:
nature, is it .not the duty of cve i v manic
promote the pi chiefs of those lentiir.cn;:
which are calculated to facilitate the wel-
IVi eof mankind. VI hen our filiation wa:
peculiarly unfortunate, France : ii.'itd us
in the time of danger : will a fie is ai.c
gratefVl people reinfe to return their tri
bute of afliflance. w i.ea its? < x. gent y of af
fairs demands it !
But if we are loft to every manly fenti
mer.t. and callous to every feeling whit!
ii.ould diflinguilb freemen from have, lei
us not be blind to our own inteuiis. '1 ht
cause of France, in my i pinion, is in .
great nieafw e the cause of An erica—Vvni
knows but the combined aimits, if the)
are firccc-Csful againlt her, will ntxttur:
their attention to this wellem continent ;
and the infernal deCpots, in pelled'and ait it i,
by our ancient Co.vcreign loidar.d n.ai'.cr.
will attempt to flifie every Cpark of philan
thropy by jeducirg thele Hates into ino
jeft provinces. The idea isnotnew.it i ; s
been talked of, appeared in some of the
public prints, and is even laid to have ac
tuated the late CongreCs at Antwerp. The
appearance of circunillances countenancea
Cuik an opinion ; and with me, irom an
ancient conjecture, it is now reduced into
a probability, if not a certainty. Vvhy has
the king oC Great-Britain, in violation oi a
(Oleinn treaty, as well a 9 the laws if na
tions, kept pofleflion of the Weltern polls,
and not withdrawn his forces Irom theie
United States:—why have fucli repeated
insults been offered to the Aiiierical) flag in
foreign ports by Bi itifli CuLjects: —why, ai e
tfTe liberties ot the Amtri.ans Co abridged
by a B>itiji) act of Parliament . —Are uiet'e
not fufheient to convince us that t nderthe
present prosperous appearance of" their af
fairs, they are seeking for a pretext ii r a
future war with us. Are not these tufli
cient to conviuce us that they are ftiil our
enemies, and wait for nothing but a fa
vourable opportunity, to Ccize upon our
liberties.
But we Cet'tn dead to cur danger—faf
cinatedwith tliepleaiing influence of cie
lulive prol'pefls, we will tamely lufier our
treaties to be Cportcd with, our laws to he
violated, and our natural honor inCulted.
Is this the effect of that freedom which we
Co dearly purchaled I is this the firft con
duit of a iree people ! May we not ascribe
it to the pernicious influence ofbritifii iu
rerefl. What the conquering arms of
Ron.e, in fuc%-c2ive t.n ~. c ..ici iw.
eft c v , w Frorjht :Hot.nn a few years by
the inrftuhi&ioii of fop •• n luxury. W<f
at r tto p \xe our conimei. ' ' tercourle
wi;h C.ieat-b'iitain al too liivli a rate—We
11i! 1 view c;r ii otl.tr couniry witli an eye
as prejudice. If we rt tei\ e ir< ill the Bri
tilli f i liiC of tlie necti aiies of lift, ilo v. a
not likewise import many of their fupeiflu*-
tit:'. htxnrifr .i rsci vices. ? If. by an inter
.ourfe with us, principles of iit etion: ate
lificminattd o\ er theircountry, are « e r,( t
n return tainted with the cimiptirg a;*l
utractne grandeur of a corrt.
Lifien to tiie voice of reason, fellow-ci
.ztiis, A.fler not \ our jniij- litems to be mil
led by the flattering appearance of picfent
tttcrefl. Itis now high tmcto \ ii. diiate \
ur national character, l.y cc n pelling tl.oltr -
a 1.0 now I'port with oor ueatits to comply*
.vitii their engagement;. Have ,v. e not
iiiitrej 'inrfelves to be trampled Upon long,
nough to tiiiplay to the world our Ithity
ltitl love icr peact —]! wertiuain inxtiive
inylot'j.ti, will it net be i oiifuticd intc*
niliiiaminity :—Does not the infultirjr;
treatment our feamtn have experience tK
w arrai.t us lo cciiclt.de ti at the lit"it.f 1 Lave
ilreatiy pi t Inch a cons.i uc.io/i upon oi r
tieii dnfl ? Our \ ifit is have been pillaged
by Er glint fub.ieiis, and American failure
dragged from iheir own fi.ips ;o ti. 1 t p tie
iofs of the Br".tilh navy ! Is r.ot Great-
Britain ttc'eti!, in a manner, in a slate t.f"
warfare with us,, by rttainirg troops in
u;r tit n.in,(is ? Do we not experience the
of; if tbe iwrts in their pofkii.on in a peiu
;ar ti.i.i,, er (luring-our war with the In
dians? How long will i: be, before we
Ihew to the wuilel, that we .pofTcfs a real,
as w ell as a I.oli.it.a! Irt t den..
T ht re toiiid not jit si bly le r. more fa
vourable opportunity than tie prcfent, of
lot t ii g a ti i: piiance w it li ti , at it s, as well
is icnitVn i' our national crtdit—W biie
the f.ett of Gieat-britain l as to ion.bat
with the naval loiteof a people who are
exciting tb.tmiehes with the energy of
fit t n. en, we could liav e !;i lie to lear li out
tl.at terrific tiuarier. 1 l.e i.b.creations ot
jVir. l-'aii.c, in his Con n.m tenle, upon the
lobject of cur . bility at lea, will apply w ill*
nioie paiiituLr iwte at ii.e piefent mo
lt, tni. 7 l.c .nbi,n.ail tt.ttfe, in wbith
Cleat Britain is now en;,;.ged, as well as
tbe diiitii t.aisi es which aj-jjiar libeiy to
bic.-H* 'it at hin.e, ti oi ii! pieclt.de the
iof l.i r .nil ;', ii.iuli oi her military
: oi ce le r this i ortii < i t.
but oil ,iie contra;)', if we wait till a
pi m nutiLiitd wnit tie belligerent
icwers ofhintp*', what will betheconfe
.|iiciite. If frame piotcs ititccUul, fbe
i'.iil l;a\e too mai v i'i ntthic concerns to
..tie-iel 10, bcl'i ie (be li.ii.ailis il.e fate of
.another vi. i. If the con.felted armies aie
i t 11 ions we fiiaii 1 i.\c t> 11 > thing to lear,
land nothing lo In pt. ( 'j.ci; oil the north
to our eit .i its-tie britilh ; oil the fotillt
to tl.e ?p;.ii.;,it:s ; on tie w tit to the ir
t i t for s oi i.i lii.e lav: ye 1 - ; ai d on tbe talt
to tiit attack if ai.y ii.aiit n.e jower.we
nay leecn.r aniaiy pity to tbe hungry
ir.vceiers. lie vvi.oit i. \ its ol Citat
britain. bpain. 1 oil. 1 liancl.; ei baps Fi anct T
will tfiti; ual.y obfu act nll y cctnii.ti tia!
inter'coi.rie.
1 be te ti i fderations are w ill vv ortliy the
attention oi Uic rt prelcntatii cs of the peo
ple. Tie iul jt cb w ill ;onitol no procraf
imatHin. It is the itlnt of i t mbers oi th .
tit.zti.s ibat it n.ouni ;ptt t-1 ; time under
their toi i del at,on. jtisti e i efot e hoped
ii at tie F.e. i.tr.t will toa.piy with the
voue oi the pccpie/'w Uiisi* jiurxt % by con
vfiiiig tbe ru.piclenutives of the Union
with ail poflitle ceieijty, lor thepurpofe
o) conf.Cei ii g our i eiatii e precarious fitu
ationwith certain foieign powers. It is
heiwi \tr tie bt i.i.els of tbe fe.ple to eon-
I (it r it, as veil as tie l■- j,, -- -. Our ton
oiict w ill niaiiiielt our alt. it n.ent to those
pi nit', pies w btsi. w ere tl.e gjts y of our c. ti —
zc ns in i: 5 ; it v. ill cite ..re whether we
t.rue fwervtd iiem lliofeltntiments whicli
we (..le lijpoiutl; -i.el IUW how iar «e
have elapfeci into the Cavifn i. aimers of our
anctftois. It is «>p.prebeiit!ed our liberties
are m danger, we have i: ; itive spirited
exertions ill eieleht eof tie in ; v\ e ha\ e ex
perienced tome of tbe biin. ts reiultiiig.
tiom tl eir enjcynient :if ti.a tontefi is not
en(ltd, let lis lupport tbem with that en
eigy which be' oiiits thole v. bo have talieel
thefwectsof fieedriu. \, t- aienow blt'J
jt-d witn a col iiitution, v.biili, though it
dots not politifs the many iihcginary cx
ctileiuic wliicii lome (jiccnlt-i.ve thcorifls,
would wi:i,t!ill let aii s .ii.s
(|iialiltcation, i bat it is calculated never tt>
iffcttitriite. blow w.oiij eiir.erentis our
llate of ailaii s-(rein witat they were 40.
years ago. The people now enjoy the
" otii.tr ci/m (Ugh it ate?? w h'.cli c ur tyrants,
foin i-i iy [.oflencd, We can now perform
tiie citities 01 freemen, \»ithout tl.e cxpenfe
anil inconvenience of elt cfirg our execu
tive: anil, thanks to'heaven, there are al
ways enough patrit t ill .tu 1 i lea, vc ho are
willing to iegiti.i.e i. r time, v. .tbrut even
giving tiie people tbe of prefentinjj
them with ir.!triic,icr.;.
Kife, it liow-i iiiit-ns, be no longer deaf
to your own ii.terefts and tt.'e catife of
mankind. Be 110 lonyer dtipts to the en
ticing attrac.ion if 11 iullit Iml splendour.
lake /.. eJ iejl you le Jetlt.ced jrvft tie Jim
. I,.t\ truit is in true repvuli<.ri,.i l ',n. The
tii ;J, the luxuriDiib ci.ciu.jiacy of a
ur*, ..zi Li.. 1. -'.'v i.ec wc* .i- . . l-uiicc of a