National gazette. — Philadelphia [Pa.], 1793-03-20 00:00:00, page 2

For t'a; National Gazette.
Friend Freneau,
TjY observing for some time past in thy
" newspaper, divers piei.es levelled at
particular foibles in certain characters,
written 110 doubt with a view to individual
amendment, and the public weal; and
also from hearing ttxictures on thj' con
duct, as being t.he publilher of laid pieces,
a:id an autifederalilt, I feci within me a
difpohcion to qireftion thee a little.
L.-t me ask thee, what are the motive;
for thy conduct ? Does tnee love to fifli in
troubled waters, or route to thine own de-
Kruction swarms of hornets, who will
watch thee till off 1 thy guard, and then
lting thee in every vulnerable part ?
Ii is perhaps thy intention, and that ot
thy paragraphias, to item the torrent ol
corruption in its fanrce, with the princi
ples of virtue and true repuulicanilni ; not
to pass over, in ihamenl inence, the wilful
error of any public officer, or the corrup
tion of any public meafwre.
Such a spirit would well accord and vi
brate bariuoiiiouily with the tone ol the
public mind in 177 j and iV7 fa - ut
not the times altered ? Has the honelt
. flame of ihofe days been nournhed with
veltal diligence? No —The principles ol
quondam profdlional patriots are, fro.i,
motives of interett, became twilled. Bend
thy itubborn neck, and become thou twill
ed also. Nay, become a cork, and float
Uninterrupted down the gutter oi corrup
tion.
Thee mud surely be blind, else the ex
amples of others would have taught thee
wisdom. rial! Thee not ohfeivnl ven
geance on tiptoe, menacing tile reputation
and honorably acquired fame ol a departed
Sage*—a ma . the uniform and unmaken
friend of America in her 1110,t gloomy
days; her pride and ornament both as a
statesman and phdofopher : and tor what
Becaul'e a descendant 01' his dare ad.nit
through the channel of nis free pre fs, stric
tures on the foibles of an exalted charac
ter. A political deadly iin thij to be sure 1
Neverthc.efs, tiie meafureof thy corrup
tion is not yet full—yea h.d it overflow ed,
thy Country is merc.ful. She does good to
those who have injured her g.nerous ex
ample ! how worthy imitation. Let me
for thy encouragement inform thee, that,
if thee had the spirit to accompany her moll
inveterate foe;, even into her metropolis,
and there diilort thy jaws in loud huzzas,
and triumph over difcomfited patriotism;
notwithftaiiding this, I fay, theep.obably
wuuldlt hive friends. 'I liy regenerated
country would finale thee out, perhaps, a
nio.lgit the f'orcmolt, aj aa oojeic, not of
refentment,'but of favour, not ot ven
geance, but of regard ; and probably dif
tmguilh thee with a trust both of honor
and profit.
Cease to be like the tall cedar, or stub
born oak. Become willow, vine, or ivy.
Become any thing. At any rate, become
flexible. Get tnee to some Ihreu d mailer,
profoundly versed in chicane, genuflexion,
and sycophancy. Hear his le lions —Pre-
cept and example will effect any thing.
Learii of him the courtly knack of ali'ailing
both the head and heirt, under tlie plausi
ble m ilk of profeltional lincerity. By
conduct of this kind thy friends will be
multiplied, nay, they will become as nu
merous as the lands on the sea lhore. A
linecure will be thine inheritance, the pro
tits of which will be augmented, feflim al
ter felfioi, unt.l the annual emoluments
thereof (hall exceed thoufauds. Print, 01
even write, but do not condemn public
men, or public measures. Not one word
of corigrejfional time wafted at the com
mencement of ever) Jefjian ; of the ihame
ful negleit of some members throughout ;
or of bulinefs <if real impu tance iuniped
tow ards the close. Make 110 mention of
public dollars wafted u ider the lhamelul
pretext ot co upenfatihg extraJervicts.
Write thou, yea, and .et thy correspon
dents exhatift their bottles of red ink and
blacx in the indifcriinin ite praise of every
public measure. Remember, 1 tell thee,
it will be for thine own private profit.
Go thy way, pin chafe barrels of lime,
and hundreds of white lead. Paint and
whitewalh —colour with liberality a.d free
dom of fancy. Thy typographical labors
1 will be requited—thy rev ard will be cer
i tain. MONITOR.
f March 15.
* See Gazette of the United States, of
February 23.
For the National Gazette-
Franklin, Number VI.
TRACTS are stubborn things, and neither
A to be talked nor voted way. The pub
lic mind is returning with frefli emotion to
the enquiry into the Treasury adminillra
tion, which wasarrefled for a moment by
the tumultuous voice of an interested fac
tion, and the triumphs of a legillative ma
jority, which decides nothing, or by con
demning the authors will doubly condemn
the obje£h
The tone of conversation is rapidly
changing. Even the einiffarics of specula
tion, who haunt the co.Teeh mfes, and bab
ble in the streets, begin tofoften their note,
and to feel the reverberating force of
truths which tliey can no longer elude or
refill.
Could it be otherwise ? Fair argument
was offered. How was it refuted?—By
sophistry and- evasion. Clear proofs were
ftateel. With what were they opposed?
With detecteel calculations and unfounded
affiercions.
On the fide of the minority, appeared
temperance, order, and dignity. On the
lide of the majority, w hat ? A precipitancy
that confirms fnfpicion; a contempt for de
corum, under a pretended zeal for " Or
der and the joint outcry ofßank-Di
reftors, (titling the utterance of truths uiott
interelling to the public ear.
The fubjeft is again bef ore the public,
and there are dilintereded men who will
examine and judge for themselves.
It is the character of truth to be firnple
and confident. Error and wrong forever
entangle and betray themselves by theii
own contradiftidns.
\Vhil!t the Secretary was preparing hi;
correction of the Errata, which made hi!
printed ftatefnents unintelligible or delu
live, his unlucky champions were trumpet
ing them as clearer than the fun at noon,
and reproaching the blindness of all noi
equally gifted with this new species of se
cond-light.
The Secretary acknowledges the free
doms taken with appropriations, and strive:
to workout an apology rather than ajulti
li ation. His advocates, on the contrary,
maintain that his measures have beer
ftrictty conformable to law.
The Secretary declares himfelf "com
pletely refponlible in all instances, whert
Ipccial exceptions, (to wit, inltru&ions fron:
tlie President) do not appear.'''' His unwary
advocates leave him ultimately behind the
fcreeu of inftru£tions from the President
xvhijh do not appear.
The Secretary admits that a full view oi
the public monies and funds had . ever beer
rendered to the legillature ; and is content
with an attempt, (an auk ward one. to be
lire) to throw the blame from himfelt 01
the legifljture. His reprcfentatives have
so far mi (taken the interest of their conlli
tnent, ai to affirm, some of them, that full
information was given ; others that theie
giflatnre had no right to it.
The greatelt folly of all has confined i
?xpefting that such a ti title of contradiction!
:ould divert an enlightened people froix
demanding a fair account ot their finances
and of the execution of the laws appro
priating their money.
Why, they begin already to repeat, wh]
'lave the laws of appropriation been fport
?d with ? Why have the Inttrudtions of the
President, in pursuance of law, been in
fringed and affronted ? Why has a gallant
nation in the friendlhip of liberty with the
United States, been kept out of the money
:lue to them? Why have immense film
icen drawn from their legal situation, and
Icpo.lted in the bank—under a reprefenta
ion, when one purpose is to be answered,
hat it might be paid to the bank, not lie
lead to the public ; under another pretext,
.vhen another explanation is requilite, that
t will be absorbed in the uecefiary expen
litnres of the current quarter ?
Why, it is again demanded, have the
longrefs been kept in the dark ? Why ha
he President been Kept in the dark ? Wh)
lave the commifiioners of the Sinking Func
jeen kept in the dark ? Why have bank
tirettors, and the favourites of bank direc
ors. be» n alone deemed worthy of the fe
.rets of the public money ?
The boalted difference between a free
government and a Tyranny is, that the for
mer is a government of laws, not of men
Appropriations of money are the laws thai
liould be held mod sacred. So they are
.■iewed by theConflitution, which has made
:heir inviolability the palladium of libertj
g.iinft the greatest of all dangers, the dan
ger ot' (landing armies.
A precedent therefore, which invade;
ippropriations of public money, is the mof
ilarming that coulel be exhibited in a younj
■epublic. That it should have been co
;val with the firftaeis of our Fiscal Kiltory,
s an omen lingular as it is menacing.
This wanton infraction of legal appro
bations is marked with every additions
colour that could slain the tranfaClion.
Belides being a breach of the law, with
out even the plea of necessity, it was a mofl
flagrant attack on the dignity and authority
of the President.
It was a breach of public faith folemnl)
plighted.
It was levelled against: a nationwhei
had aideel us in our struggles for li
berty, and needed our aid in "niggling for
her own : who enjoys the gratitude and
affection of the people e>f America, and
whole glorious cause is dignified with the
hopes, and hallowed by the prayers, of
every human being that groans under the
chains and scourges of despotism.
Are other aggravations wanted ? Behold
them in theftudied concealments from the
representatives of the people, and the spi
rit of contumacy when summoned to give
information.
Trace them in lending the public money
to the Bank without interest, anil borrow
ing money at the fame time from the bank
■with interelt.
Do y-'.i v.'iih to go farther ftilf ? Vol)
muli do what a most responsible represen
tative [Air. F.j was hindered from doing ;
you mull compare the dates of these fifcal
manoeuvres with particular bubbles ci spe
c 111 ;tion, and with the well known parox
y'.ms of the bank.
And if you are defiYous of unravelling
the whole plot, and understanding all its
curious incidents, you must open the trans
fer books of flock, and the discount books
of the bank ; and compare with these the
names, and dates, an.l v otcs, to be found i:i
yotir public bodies.
How afflicting the fpeflacle! Inthe in
fancy of a republican conllitution, are dil
clofed the distorted features of a;i old
monarchy, worn out with debauch anddif
eufe. The mylteries and obliquities of its
lifcal operations are copied with an admir
ing servility. The subtle virus of pecuni
ary influence is inoculated into the vitals
of the government. Even the outlandiih
dialed of political craft is wickedly mi
micked by the venal pens of newfpapcr
partizans. Enquiries into abuses are nick
named an Oppolition. Oppolition is a pur-
Tuit of office. Patriotism ishypocrify. In
[he thirst of power and the base arts of
"eeking it. human nature is, with them,
universally the fame. And in this refpeel
jnly is the doctrine of Equality admitted
;o be true.
Americans, you owe your liberties to ?
:levelopement and defeat of the flrll infi
:lious eflays of Usurpation. Remember,
hat you must prefcrve them by the fame
vigilance !
FRANKLIN.
Philad. March 18, 1793.
Ferthe National Gazette.
tT appears that the French nation have a
length tified and condemned Louis thi
XV lih, and that the {'entente of the nati
on his been executed upon him. Whet
we reflect that it has been usual, for form
time past, even with Americans, to view
through the darkest medium, the londut
of a people, whose generous and maul;
struggles for liberty, entitle them to th(
";ood wilhes and applause of every true vo
ta.y of freedom, we need not be fm prised
• hat this late event is viewed v. ith extremi
lorror by many among ns. Such are th<
prejudices and flavilhprinciples which hnv<
been early imbibed by numbers, that Na
ture's God is unjullly charged with havin;
eilablifhed those diftinclions among men
which are merely artificial, and the refill
of social combinations. Hence kings an
Hill considered, by many, a 3 the Lord' 1
.4: ci/ttd, as Ibiiwtlskig above ttieioHWlloi
run of mankind ; and their misfortune
excite a much greater degree of fynipathy
than those of a thoufincl of their fubjetts
however virtuous, and however iinqui
toufly ojprefltd by the hand of tyranny.
Had no royal blood flowed in the vein
of Louis, his fate, in all probability, wonlc
neither have called forth a sigh nor a tear
from those who are so ready to bewail th<
fall of royalty. But, Mr. Freneau. is i
not extremely ungenerous, is it not ex
tremely tinjuft, and, let me add, indecent
for any man in America, with his prefen:
information, to vilify the conduct of:
whole nation I Surely it would be prcpei
to filfpend filch virulent cenUires, till tin
circumstances of his trial, and the eviden
ces of his guilt, are better known ; and noi
to condemn, as an unnecefia y act of cru
elty, the punishment inflicted upon liim.
without being informed, whether jnfticf
and national policy have not united in de
manding the facrifice of his life. At an;
rate, his life ought to be considered but a:
the life of one mat! ; and I hope there art
nou/j among us, so loft to every principle
of reason and justice, as to think that the
life of a man, who had fliewn himfelf ;
traitor to his country, ought to be.placec
in competition with the freedom and hap
piness of twenty-fix millions of his fellow
creatures.
March 18. A REPUBLICAN.
PHILADELPHIA.
March 20.
Extrai7 of a letter from a gentleman if,
Cafe- Francois, dated lei. 18, to ahouji
in New-York.
" Since our arrival, there has been a grcal
battle fought with the negroes, in whicl:
400 were killed, as many taken prisoners,
and a great number dispersed. A granc
house belonging to their general, whicl
they had built for him, fell into the hand:
of the \\ hites ; and I am told it was as e
legantly finifhed and furniflied, as if it hat
belonged to the firf> planter in the colony.
The plains are cleared to the extent of 21
leagues, and the Hacks driven back to the
mountains. It is expeflrd that a numbci
of the planters will very shortly return ti
their desolated eflatcs. There was a great
infurreition of the mulnttoes here in the
beginning of December; they demanded 10
be admitted as officers in the regiments
then arrived from France ; they were de
nied—flew to arms—febxd the out polls—
turned the cannon upon the town —fought
and fired in the fireets—terror nn<! confii
flon ensued; They Ihick firm to v.- t they
had undertaken ; (wore they wornd die to
a man, or carry their point. The' .um
bers were formidably auiitcd by ; ... free
negroes, and at length the whites found it
prudent to admit them both into tiie mu
nicipality. So no'.i' we fee mulatto and
black officers, ftruttinw about in uniform,
equipt a la militaire."
We understand Col. Proctor i-; returned
to this city from his million to the Indian
country, N. W. of tlie Olio, relative to a
treaty of peace. It is said, he went no
further than Legionville, aiiotit 30 miles
N. W. of P.ttfburg, where he received in
form .ition from the Cornplanter, that ii;<f
people seemed inclined tor war, and it
might not be prudent for the colonel topay
a vilit.
Extract of a Liter from Lisbon, dated Fe
bruary Hth. (By the Dominic Terry,
Capt. Deliart.)
" The poll brings this day a certainty of
die execution of the king of France, on
the 2i ft of January Jail, between 10 and
11 o'clock of that day. It is said he flip
ported liimfclf with great cour. eon the
Dccafion ; mounted the fcaffold with cod '
deliberation, and attempted to make ;»
speech which tended to his i nocence ;
however, the troops were ordered imme
diately to beat their drums and fund their
trumpets, i.i order to prevent his being
heard ; which he perceiving, inaddi a re
verence to i ll around him, and laid his
head on the block, which wa.< in mediate
ly fevered from his body. A ..... v. dug
in the Temple court, near the fc lioid,
where the head and trunk \\ ere thrown,
then filled up with' earth, and jived. As
loon as the execution was effected, t' ree
huzzas were given by the fpecl.uors, li
thrown in the air, and it is f id the t x.
tioners and many near the fcaffold <, . '
their buttons in the king's blood, . rk.i
of victory and triumph.
" The queen and the king's (if . »re
put into tlie common gaol, ami comm; : '
to civil jiif!ice for examination and sen
tence. A report prevails that they were
|int to death two days after."
In addition to the above, Capt. De Hart
mentions, that previous to his leaving Lif-».
bon (which was on the 9th of February) a
number of French royalists there hrd put
dii mourning for the king, which is a proof
that they confidercd the news, as brought
by the post, true.
Captain Boys, of the fiiip Perfeveranee,
«ho arrived here 011 Saturday last, after a
passage of jQ.c'qys from C-Uijltar, nseati-,
ons. that a few days oeforir l.e f.ileri a re
port prevailed, that officiallntelligeiice had
been received by General Boyd, the com
manding officer there, that the king of
France was beheaded on the 2 i-ft of Janu
ary. It was, how ever. :.fterw ardi under-
Itood, that no official accounts had been
received ; but that information to that ef-
I'eft had reached Gibraltar, thro' a channel
ol private correspondence : it can there
fore be confidertd, by no means, as a con
firmation of our foi jner accounts.
The following is an extract of a letter
brought by Capt. Boys, dated Gibraltar,
Felj. 12.
"We are fiill in a {late of uncertainty
with refpeft to peacc or war ; tut now the
unfortunate ki: g of France is no more, ha
ving been put to death 011 the 2ill ultimo.
We il all foe n know what determination the
powers of > nrope will come to. Spain
has agreed to join Great-Britain and h oi
land againfl France, and is making g; eat
preparations for war. The Aljerines
have declared war againfl the Dutch, be
ing difpleafid with the last presents they
sent them. \\ e have a strong squadron erf'
Portuguese men of war here.watching the
Algerines, so that there is no danger oj \ ef
ftls tmder American colours coming to
this place."
An abuse, existing in that frate, is much
complained of in some Mafiachufetts pa
pers, that seems to require redress ; \
the power given to a fheri'i", upon the oath
of onepcrfon, to order a freeman for cer
tain offences, (filch as breaking jail, or tin?
like) tobetied up. stripped, and flogged at
a whipping post, without even the form of
trial. "It may be w ell worthy ofour at
tention (said Governor Hancock in a late
speech to the legislature) to investigate the
question, whether the infamous punifli
ment of the public whipping post, so fre
quently administered in MalTachnfetts, is
the belt means to prevent the < ommifiion
of crimes, or abfoiutely necefTary to the
good order of government, cr to the fee 11-
rity of the people. It is an indignity to •
human nature, and can have hut little ten- '
dcncy to reclaim the fufferer." Certain
ly, the punifliment is infamous enough
when legally inflicted; Int becomes an
outrage on the political and social condi
t tion of /nan when inflicted by the arbitrary
order of a fheriff, who then becomes to all
intents and purposes a despot.
It is mentioned in a letter from Burling
ton (Vermont) that an inhabitant of th: t
place, in digging a well, found frogs at the
depth of A : ty l'eet, v hich from every cir-