The Republican ledger — Portsmouth, N.H., 1800-05-27 00:00:00, page 2

PARIS.
J^e rat ©ration,
ON
WASHINGTON,
Delivered in the Temple of Mars, by Lotus Fontanes,
the 20th Plu vioje, Feb. B— Traffauedfor the E
pitome of the Times.
FRANCE, u nbiaffed by these narrow prejudices
which exit! between nations, and admiring virtue
wherever it be found, decrees this tribute of re
fpeft to the manes of Walhington. At this mo:
ment Ihe contributes to the difeharge of.a debt due
by two nations. No government, whatever form
it bears, or whatever opinion it holds, can refufe
its reaped to this great father of liberty. The
people who so lately fligmatifed Washington as a
rebel, regard even the enfranchifement of Ameri
ca, as one of those events consecrated by hiftory
and by part ages. Such is the veneration excited
by great characters. The American revolution,
the cotemporary of our own, is fixed forever.—
-Washington began it with energy, and finilhed it
with moderation. He knew how to maintain it,
purfaing always the prosperity of his country ;
and this aim alone canjuftify at the tribunal of the
Mod High, enterprises so extraordinary.
To speak the eulogy of the hero of America,
requires the foblimelt eloquence of the firit of ora
tors. I refi^ft, with feutimeuts of admiration,
that this temple, ornamented with the trophies of
valour, was raised up in an age of genius, an age
which produced as many great writers as illullri
ous commanders. Then, the memory of heroes
was eutruftea to orators whose genius gave im
mortality. Now, military glory shines with luf
yre (eclat ;) and in every country the glory of the
fine arts is (hrouded in darkness. My voice is too
feeble to be heard on an occasion so folemu and
momentous, and so new to me. But as that voice
is pure ; as it has never flattered any species of
tyranny ; it has never been rendered unworthy of
celebrating heroism and virtue.
Nevertheless, these funeral and military honors
will speak to all hearts ; it needs not the aid Os
fyeech, to raise strong and undefcribable emotions.
The mourning which the frit consul orders for
Washington, declares to France that Walliington's
example is not loft. It is less for the Jllullrious
general, than for the benefactor and the friend of
a great geople, that the crape of mourning now
covers bur banners and the uniform of our warri
. ors. Neither do we prepare that unmeaning
pomp, so contrary to policy and humanity, in
which insult is offered to humanity, contempt to
venerable ruins, and calumny to the tomb. Eve
ry exalted idea, every ufeful truth, is seen in this
affemaly. I speak before warriors firm in adversi
ty, model! in victory, and human in every stage
of fortune. Before the ministers of the French
Republic, I speak the praises of a man whom am
bition never swayed, and whose every care tended
to the welfare of his country ; a man, who unlike
others have changed empires, lived in peace in his
native land ; that land which he had freed, and
which he had held the highest rank ; and died as a
simple individuol.
An effecting piece associates the fliade of Frank
lin with the eulogy of Walhington, and recalls to
mind the amiable virtues of that sage, so celebrat
ed in France whom posterity will regard as the
brother of the heroe of America.
In that piece, the orator finds tints of a finer
hue, to paint the virtues of the hero.
“ Walhington, fays he, offers examples not less
worthy of imitation. Amidd all the d forder of
camps ; amidst all the excefles infeperable from a
civil war, humanity took refuge in his tent, and
was never repulsed. In triumph and in defeat,
he was always as tranquil as wisdom, as simple as
Virtue. The finer feelings of the heart never a
bandoned him, even in those moments when his
own interell would seem to juftify a recurrence to
the laws of vengeance. This I call thee to utteft,
O youthful Afgill ! thou whose misfortunes have
Interested England, France and America! With
what assiduous care did Walhington endeavor to
delay a sentence which the laws of war would
have precipitated ! He expected that a voice,
then all powerful, would have been heard across
the expansive ocean, and demanded a pardon
which could not be refined. That voice, so con
formable to the feelings of his heart, was heard
and felt ; and the day which saved an innocent
victim ought to be iufcribed among the molt glo
rious and independent America."
Here the author seems to elevate himfelf, or ra
"ther to soar with the great men, whose necelfary
course and inevitable delliny he so admirably de
scribes.
“ It is these extraordinary men who appear at
intervals on this waft scene, with characters com
manding and illustrious.—An unknown & superi
or cause fends them when it is fit, to lay the foun
dation of new, or to build up the ruins of old em
pires. It is in vain shat these men Itep aside, or
mingle in the crowd .• destiny leads them on ;
they are carried from obstacle to obstacle, from
triumph to triumph, until they arrive at the sum
mit of power. Something fopernatural animates
aljth<ir thoughts; an irrefutable movement is
given to all their enterprises.—The multitude still
seek them among themselves, and find them not ;
they raise their eyes, and fee in a sphere, dazzling
with light and glory, those whom their ignorance
and envy would call rash. Washington had not
those high and commanding traits which (trike
every mind : he displayed more order and justice,
than force and elevation in his ideas. He pofTeff
ed above all, in a superior degree, that quality
which fame call vulgar, but which very
few possess ; that quality not less ufeful to the
government of Rates than to the conduct of life,
and which gives more than emotion to the foul,
and more happiness than glory to those who pof
fefs it : it is of good sense that I speak."
Audacity cleftroys, genius elevates, good
feme preserves and perfects. Genius is charged
with the glory of empires ; but good sense a|one
assures their fafety and repose."
So many interefls are here united with the plea
sures of once more finding French eloquence, that
we are fore of the attention of our audience, by
multiplying quotations.
<< .—_ His end pourtrayed all the domestic
virtues—as his life had been an iHuftrioUs example
in war and politics. America regarded with re
fpeft the mansion which contained her defender :
from that retreat, where so much glory dwelt,
fagecounfels iffiied, which had not less weight
thin in the days of his power; but death has
fyvept all away ; he died in the midst of those oc
cupations which fleeter! domestic life, and Cup
port ns in the infirmities of age.
“ From every part of that America which he
had delivered,the cry of grief is heard. It be
longed to France to echo back the mournful
found ; it ought to vibrate on every generous
To do this it was necessary, that 'certain witness
es should be called and examined, and that cer
tain public papers should be so authenticated, as
to become evidence in a court of JaW., He (Coo
per) accordingly requeued thatJohn]Adams might
be Summoned as a Witness. 1 his reqtieft was re
jelled by the court. He then attempted to pro
cure authenticated copies of the President's an
swers to sundry addresses, &c. &c. but these allo
were refu fed. He then proceeded to read certain
papers generally received 3s the infwers of the
President to the aforefaid addresses and published
as such, but this the court decided not to be legal
evidence.. Under these circomfianceshe was con,
vifted, &c. &c. [See Webder's Spectator.]
An enquirer who has nothing at heart but jus
tice, who has been uniformly attached to the con
flitution, and who has every possible public mo
tive and private disposition to think well of the
adminiflration—willies to know, who, in a suit
involving the liberty, property and character of a
fellow-citizen, John Adams, fliould not have been
called upon as a witness ? To fnppofe there was
any legal disability by the height of sedition and
calumny, nor will it I believe be pretended that
he is exempted by his office from the obligations
of truth, justice and humanity, which impose it
upon every human creature to convift the guilty,
or exculpate the innocent, if they be called upon
to do so. His competency therefore being un
questionable, what consideration could have gov
erned the decision of the court ? Was it tho't in
delicate to require from the firft magistrate of the
country, the exercise of one of the most solemn
duties which as a man he owed to it ? This is im
possible. It cannot be, that if Mr, Cooper had been
charged with theft or murder, iuflead of sedition,
and that if he believed Mr. Adams's testimony
material or necessary to his acquittal, that it
would have been denied to him. py the Confli
tution, " the accused shall enjoy the rights of a
speedy and a public trial by an impartial jury—
fhall be informed of the nature and cause of the
accusation ; (hall be confronted with the witness
es against him—and shall have compulsory process
for obtaining witnesses in his favor." In this
clause, according to my comprehension ofit, Mr.
Cooper's right to call upon the Frefideut or any
other person whose teftjmony he supposed would
operate in his favor, is clearly eflablifhed—nor do
I find in any other part of our magua charta a fin
gid syllable to impair that right.
Whence then is derived the authority exercised
in this case by the bench, not certainly from the
Conflitution—nor from any law of the U. States;
and it is quite improbable that it Thould be among
the un-enumerated authorities incident to a court ;
for if it were, every accusation would ueceforily
be a condemnation, at their mere will and plea
fore. In other words, if a court has a right to
prejudge the extent or application of a testimony
which it has never heard, and on that or any other
ground (fat the tingle one of rhe legal disability)
tofet aside one witness in a cause, it has a right to
let aside all, and of courfe,to compel the jury to
bring in a verdift of guilty.—Thinking as I do of
the judiciary of the United States, i conceive it
to be utterly impossible, but that feme reason may
be given for their conduit, which plain men, like
myfelf, cannot perceive —-It is this latent and tin
difeovered reason that I am now tofearch of, and
which, for the reputation of our courts and the
cause of federalism, 1 expelt that fom^of the
friends of government, better informed than my
felf, will be obliging enough to assign to the pub
lic. I should like to know at the fame time, how
it happened that the papers required by Mr. Coo
per to be authenticated, were not authenticated.
I heart. The fode of Washington on entering be
neath this lofty dome, will find aTurenne, a Cat
lirfat, a Conde, all of whom have fixed their habi
tation here. If these illullrious warriors have not
served in the fame cause during life, yet the fame
of all, will unite them in death. Opinions fubjedt
to the caprices of the world aqd to times, opin
ions, weak and changeable, the inheritance of hu
manity, vaniih in the tomb : but glory and virtue
live for ever. When departed from this flage, the
great men of every age and of every place, be
come in some measure, conipatriots'and cotem
poraries.—They form but one family in the mem
ory of the living ; and their examples are renew*
ed in every successive ag€. Thus, within these
walls, the valour of Washington attracts the re--
gard of Conde ; his modelly is applauded by Tu
renne ; his philosophy draws him to the bofum of
Catinat. ' A people who admit the ancient dogma
of a transmigration of fouls, will often confefs
that the foul of Catinat dwells in the bosom of
'CThe voice of republicanism, which resounds
front tevery part of these walls, ought to please a
bove all, the defenders of America. Can they
mot love those soldiers who, flier their example,
repelled the enemies of their country ? We ap,
proach with pleasure those veterans, whose tro
phies add luftre to these walls, and some of whom
have gained laurels with Walhington,in the wilds
of Carolina and Virginia."
But there is something more due to
the memory of Washington ; it is the union of
France and America ; it is the happiness of each :
it is peace between the two nations. . It now
seems to me, that Washington calls to all France
from the very summit of his dome “ mag
nanimous people !" you who know so well
how to honor glory. I have conquered for inde
pendence ; the happiness of my country was the
reward of that victory. Imitate not the firft half
of my life ; it is the second that recommends me
to posterity.
Yes, the counsels (ball be heard, 0 Washington !
O warrior ! 0 Legislator ! O Citizen without re
proach ! He who while yet young, surpasses thee
in battles, (hall, like thee with his triumphant
hands, heal the wounds of bis country. Even now
we have his disposition, his character, for the
pledge ; and his warlike genius, unfortunately ne
cessary, Ihall soon lead sweet peace into this tem
ple of war : then the fentimen't of universal joy
shall obliterate the remembrance of expression and
injustice. Already the opprefTed forget their ills,
in looking to the future. The acclamations of
every age will be offered to the hero who gives
happiness to France, and leeks to reflore it in the
contending world."
THOMAS COOPER, was lately indicted for a
libel on the adminittration. The trial was under
the aft commonly called sedition law. Accord
ing to a clause in this all, he was permitted to
justify, by (hewing the truth of the falls he had as
serted.
H Lata Case,
For the consideration of men. of all parties.
From the Poughkeepsie Journal.
PLAIN TRUTH
FRAUD and deception can never prevail for a
long time in a free country. Where fraud is
fan&ioned by an ettablifhed statute religion, and
ignorance is an eminent virtue, there cunning ad
dress and deception have friends.
Absolute falfboods, lies, and deception, have
been the current medium with a few politicians
in America, for several years past. These met!
have, under the gnife of federalifm, been attempt
ing to overturn the fair and beneficent principles
of the federal government. They have tried; but
in vain, to ingraft a monarchical administration
upon a.repubhcan flock.
The people have been persuaded that the divi
sional line between the political parties, was form
ed by an opposition to the national conflitution.
When thisha is examined, it will appear, that it
is not only without the lead foundation, but that
it is insidious, and artfully calculated to support
a foreign interest, to gain an influence for anti
federal ends, and to corrupt the understanding of
the citizens.
When the Conflitution was formed, Adams was
in London, and Jefferfon was in France. The
former was called home to be Vice-President, and
the latter to be Secretary of State. The patriot
ism and wisdom of both these eminent men, were
considered as necessary in the administration of
the new government. Jefferfon was placed near
his friend Washington ; Adams at the head of the
legislature, Nothing was heard againf tJefferfon
before the arrival of the Brhifh treaty. He was
admired in the firfl rank of American patriots—
The politician, the philofopher,the scholar, and
the friend of mankind. He was opposed to the
ratification of the treaty ; from thence he has been
an atheist, a delft, a heretic, an illuminati man,
&c. &c. a jacobin, and a democrat. Maddifon,
as a man of virtue, was considered as an ornament
to his country. Munroe was in foreign countries,
exhibiting the confidence of his country, under
which Washington's administration had placed
him. Langdon, of New-Hampshire, had been en
thufiaflic for the federal government, and was
generally caressed for his real goodness of heart,
and urbanity of manners : But these, with many
others, devoted to the federal government, did not
agree to that inftrnment. Since that time, and
for that reason 6nh, they have been abused as
jacobins, democrats, &c. Many who were op-'
posed to the general government, and their crimes
are all paired away.
For the truth.of these falls, and for a numerous
train of persons, and other fills evincive of them,
we refer the people to their own recollection.
The political club we have in view, are falfely
pretending that they are friends of John Adams,
and are now the advocates of his adminiflration ;
but when this shall be examined, the fraud will be
difeovered. The foreigner Hamilton is their idol.
If he has vices, they are not to be mentioned ; and
whatever books regarding to his conduct he may
have written, yet he is applauded,and even in the
dejk,/acred to religion, has been fainted next to
the immortal Washington. To open to evi
dence on this important affection, a few questions
are proposed.
From a Philadelphia Paper.
PROSPECT OF POLITICSAN EUROPE.
France and Fngland, like Rome and Carthage,
appear doomed to a contest which cannot end but
in th fall of one or the other. The means by
which Buonaparte afeended to power, has placed
him in a filtration which, while it attaches suspi
cion to hisviews, places the minds of men, of all
In the oration before the legislature of Ma ffachu
fetts, on the death of Washington, was not the
name of Adams treated with neglefi ? tho' he was
the fucseffor of Wethington, was his name men
tioned ? When Peter Porcupine, an English hire
ling, issued a gazette in Philadelphia, teeming
with ridicule and abpfe, against the principles of
our revolution, and against the principles of all
our governments, as well as against all our former
patriots, was not his paper encouraged and flip
ported by men, who falfely pretend to be fede
ralifts ? was it not spread and recommended by
them ? When Adams had sent Envoys to France,
was he not the objeft of these mens resentment?
did they not neglelt to refpegt him at court
dinners, and on other public occasions in a toad ?
While these Envoys are on their way, and after
they are received in France, is not this junto doing
all they can to render the embafTy abortive ? Even
while we are negociating, are we not worn down
with sermons and prayers from the pulpit, from
public fpeechments, and numerous toads in the
papers, implicitly and rancorously condemning
this important measure, and attempting to form
the public mind against the ratification of a treaty
for a reflation of hostilities with France ? In the
oration above mentioned, was not this measure
(trongly and impicitly condemned? Yet these
men pretend to be the friends of John Adams ;
and under that guise, as thev have been under that
of federalifm, they attempt to edablifh an opinion
in favor of an alliance offensive and defensive with
Great-Britain, to involve us in the European wars,
to gain a (landing army to maintain thir schemes,
and to fopport a civil government by an undimin
ifhable public debt.
MORE HEREAFTER.
—The papers purporting to be aiders of the
President to sundry addrefles, were enter written
by Mr. Adams, or they were not. If they were
written by him, it is impoflihle that they should
contain any thing which could jollity a libel upon
bis conduct, and of course, the papers ought to
have been acknowledged.
If on the other hand the papers were not genu-,
ine, that is if they have been falfely attributed to
Mr.-Adams, where was either the error or the 1
danger of openly disclaiming them ?_ As the buli%
nefs now stands, it gives the opponents of Mr. Ad
ams a plausible handle against him. " 'Tis true
(fay they) that Cooper has been convicted, but
wno we ask can be acquitted, if an executive will
not authenticate its own a&s—and if a court will
prejudge testimony, and reject witnefles, they
have not heard ?" Such are the questions that are
alked—and I honellly confefs that they are ques
tions which at pr^fent embarrass me not a little.—
Like St. Paul, I do not thinlc it enough to reply
generally, that I believe all this to be right ; I
wish to be able to give a reason for the belief I
profefi—becaufe I generally find that when I can
not fatisfy my own mind fully and completely, I
always fail in my attempts to fatisfy the minds of
others. lam yours, &c.
From the Independent Chronicle.
Magna est veritas, &c.
Great is truth, and it mul lprevail.
AN ENQUIRER.
* # * The regiments to be difbarided by the
above resolution are the sth, 6th, 7th, Sth,
9th, loth, nth, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and
16th. The Permanent Army Eftablithment
will then confix of one regiment of cavalry,
commamded by Col. Watts, two regiments
of Artjilerifts and Engineers commanded by
Col. Burbeck, and tour regiments of In
fantry commanded by Cols. Hamirarpek,
Strong, Gaither, and Butler.
MR. PICKERING. :
The public mind has been in ^ slate of
fermentation here for several days. Por
tents of great changes have appeared for
some time ; arid at length the President has
been necefftated to replace Mr. Pickering
in the Secretaryship, by Gen. Marlhall.—
The best men here have varient opinions on
the measure—but all allow that the coplnefs
which has exited between the President and
the Secretary of Sate, demanded an eclar
cifement. Mr. Pickering, we learn, will
retire to his rural feat on the Sufquehannah.
Itis said 'pretty confidently, that Gen. Mar
shall will accept, although he is now absent,
in Virginia. Mr. Dexter, it is also conjec
tured, will not decline the War Department.
They are both men whose abilities pre-em
inently qualify them to fullain any office in
the United States with nfefulnefs to the pub
lic and honor to themselves. Gen. Mat-'
shall is well acquainted with the poli±
views, and objeds of the Frerfth cabinet. ™
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Philadel.
phia to the Editor of the New- York Gazette, dat
ed May 13. '
, " I mentioned to you yesterday that Mr.
Picketing had rtfgned his office of Secreta
ry of State ; 1. have now the disagreeable # ,
talk of informing vou that Mr. Picketing
has been dilnffed from office by the Presi
dent. Or the circutnftances which bavtf
attended this extraordinary procedure, I can
relate such only as have uai;fpircd> That ^
" The measures aborted on the part of France
are dittinguifhed by that prompt tude and energy
which are to be expelled from a government so
concentrated, so powerful and (perhaps it might
be added) so popular as that of the consulate," —
" The desire of peace," he adds, “ is however
still heard in the midftof the immense prepara
tions ; negociations, it is ftated± continue to be
carr ed on with the cabinet of Vienna ; and the
remarkable expression in Buonaparte's answer to
the Orators of the Tribune cannot escape the no
tice of our readers— Every hope if continental
peace has not yet ranifhed."
Domestic Intelligence.
-4-<-<-<+¥^<^M^>^^^>^^^^+b->..fr..te.
PHILADELPHT, MAY T 4.
DISBANDING PROVISIONAL ARMY.
; The Senate passed a refohnion, mem.con.
to DISBAND the PROVISIONAL AR
MY, and the house of ReprefentatiOes this
forenoon concurred therein 'without an ar
gument. The measure to take place on or
before the 15th of June. The officers and
troops are to have three months pay to de
fray their expenses home. This measure is
not unexpected. In conversation wfth Gen.
Marfball some days since, he exprelfed his
opinion, that in thtepre[entfituation of af
fairs in Europe, the retention of the army in
service was not an object. The General's
opinion is here considered of immense
weight.
To monarchists he mud appear invested with all
the actual attributes ot despotic authority.
The Wa[ then stands upon its merits, indepen
dent of thebrimary pretentious of Britain, or the
prefcnt ambition of France.
In all the alls of this extraordinary usurper,
from the moment of his assuming the consulate to
the jatells accounts we.have received,, a wonderful
uniformity of fagacaty and moderation, of Wis
dom and energy, cf vast and yet cemprehenfive,
of bold but fuccefstul, views and measures, have
marked his adminiflration. The mind loft in the
novelty of his measures, even in an age when nov
elty in politics had aimoil seemed exhausted,'at
firfthelitates in addreffir,g them, but,however re
lullant to admire, is compelled to canfefs- the
greatness of the mind which conceives and con
duftsafyUem, so wonderful, so unexpected, and
in a season so new and critical.
The character of this man and his measures have,
however, the advantage of a foil —in the miuifter
who conduits the measures ot rhe rival power.
After the failure of negociations with Britain,
a war seemed for a moment inevitable on the con
tinent. After various diplomatic operations it
now appears that—
France has concluded a treaty with the Turkish
government.
And as a necessary conJequence, the Ruffians hate
been withdrawn from Germany.
These events give a new aspect to the affairs of
Europe. They are evidently produced by
predisposed coufes—Events which have inevita
bly resulted from the Egyptian expedition, and
they may ultimately transfer the theatre of war
to the banks of the Euxine, and the Boriffhenes.
On the Rhine, however, and ip-Italy,every mo
ment announces a formidable military conned.—
We muff refer, however, to an expression in the
public documents of the French Tribunate- that
peace is not yet uncertain on the continent, and
that the French armies there may only march to
conclude a treaty without contefl. This is no im
probable event.
The preparations are truly formidable on the
fide of the French, a London paper thus notices
the Bate of things—
principles ard parties, in that state which leaves
the contest of war more dilengageC from party
passion than at any period during the revolution.
To#'.epublicans lie appears at bed, as an extra
ordinary genius, but an oijed of serious suspicion
from the nature of man, and the ordinary effects
of ambition.
MAY 15.