Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1804-12-04 00:00:00, page 2

taion ? Will the choice be considered as a test to
Decide the religious complexion of men in power ?
or, is it intended as compensation for " Useful La
bors” already performed? (salem Gaz,)
, EIGHTH
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
thursdaUnov. 8.
Mr. Early being on two committees,Was excused
from serving on the committee of accounts, and Mr
conrad appointed in his stead.
Mr. speaker laid on the table a return foom the
governor of New-York, of the election of Gurdon s.
Mumford to the next congress, in the room of Mr
Tomkins, resigned.
Mr. Lattimore presented 2 memorial from the
board of trustees of Jefferson college, in the Missip
pi territory, expressing their apprehension of losing
the lots at ' Natches, with which that institution had
been endowed, and praying congress to secure them
in the same—The petition was referred to Messrs
xattimore, T, M, Randolph, stedman, Alston and
Elliott.
The petitions bf William Dunbar and of the May
or and corporation of the city of watches were re-'
ferred to the same committee.
The motion made yesterday by Dr Leib, was ta
ken into consideration and an amendment was pro
• posed by adding "Blacks and People of colour, o
ther than freemen, shall be excluded from the gal
lery"
This gave rise tosome conversation, afim^iich
the amendment, upon a division of the HMMBP
peared to have but one member in its favour
The question on the resolution to exclude all per
sons from the lobby except numbers of the senate,
and stenographers, was tifcffand lost, only 32
members voting for it.'
Mr. J. clay offered the Allowing resolution :
Resolved, That the President of the United states
be requested to present in the name of congress to
captain stephen Decatur, p sword of the value of
dollars, and to each of the officers and crew of
the United states' Ketch Intrepid months pa,
es a testimony of the high sense entertained by
Icongress es the gallantry, good conduct and services
of captain Decatur, the officers and crew of the said
.Ketch, in attacking and destroying a Tripolitan
frigate of 44 guns, late the United states frigate
Philadelphia.'
The resolution was referred to a committee of the
whole on toe state of the Union, and ordered to be
printed.
The committee of revisal and unfinished business
made a report, which was received and ordered tc
be printed for the use of the members.
Adjourned.
Committee of post office and post roads—Messrs
yewton, Thomas, Hannah, N. Mitchell, Lowndes,
IG. W. Cambell and southard. 1
' committee to whom was referred the articles of
impeachment against samuel Chase—Messrs J. Ran
dolph, Jos. clay, Early, Boyle and John Rhea, of
Ten. -—
MONDAY, NOV 12.
THE House went into committee on the state of
the Union ;—
L Mr. J. Randolph submitted the following Resolu
lions, which were agreed to, as follows : —
I. Resolved—That so much of the Message of the
^President of the United states, as relates to the re
straining of our merchant vessels arming themselves
Without authority, and attempting to force a com
merce into certain parts and countries, in defiance
of the laws of those countries, be referred to a select
Botro-rrttce.
2. Resolved —That so much, &c. as relates to a
namelidration of the form of government of the ter
aritory of Louisiana, be referred to a select commit
tee.i
3. That so much, Lc. as recommends an enlarge
■&nent of the capital employed in commerce with the
'lndian tribes, be referred to a select committee.
4. Resolved —That so much, kc. as relates to the
defence and security of our Ports and Harbours, and
supporting witliin our waters the authority of the
laws, be referred to a select committee.
r — 5. Resolved —That so much &c. as relates to the
improvements of the militia system of the U. states,
be referred to a select committee.
6. Resolved —That so much See. as relates to the
inconvenience which arises from the distance to
which, under existing laws, prizes captured from the
corsairs of Tripoli must be brought for adjudication,
& referred to a select committee.
7. Resolved — That so much, &c. as relates to the
ted mines of Louisiana, be referred to the commit
tee of commerce and manufactures.
Mr, J. Clay reported that the committee appointed
to wait upon the President on the subject of captain
Decatur and the ketch Intrepid, had performed that
service, and received for answer that he would cause
the request of the house to be complied with.
Mr. J. Randolph informed the House that the com
mittee of Ways and Means had received a commu
nication from the Treasury department, stating that
the appropriation of 50,100 dolls, for carrying into
effect the seventh article of the British treaty had not
been sufficient to discharge the second instalment
upon all the awards made in pursuance thereof, and
suggesting the propriety of making as early as pos
sible a further appropriation for tliat object. The se
cretary of state estimated the amount unpaid at
50,100 dolls, and that in order to prevent any disap
pointment it would be eligible to make the appro
priation 70,000 —Mr. R. hereupon moved that the
committee of Ways and Means have leave to re
port a bill on this subject ; leave b^ng granted.
Mr. J. R. reported a bill accordingly, which was
read a first and second time, and referred to a com
mittee Qf the whole to-morrow.
Mr. Griswold stateti, that some inconvenience
had been felt by some of the merchants of the At
lantick ports in making shipments to New-Orleans,
as they were not authorized to obtain drawbacks on
a reshipment from that port t# a foreign country :
Heretofore New Orleans had been a depot, from
which many foreign articles were shipped to the
French, spahish, and even British colonies and
islands, a commerce that had beep very productive
. —He wished, if there was no solid objection to it,
that the usual course of trade might be continued—
He therefore moved the following resolution :
Resolved, That the committee of commerce and
Manufactures, be instructed to inquire into the ex
pediency of allowing, under proper regulations, a
drawback of duties on goods, wares and merchan
dise, imported into the port of New-Orleans, from
any port of the United states, and from thence ex
ported to any foreign port or place, and that the com
mittee report hr bill or otherwise.
The Resolution wagkrried nem. con.
Adjourned,
TUESDAY, NOV. 13.
A sufficing number of members not appearing to
form a quor&, adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 14.
A letter from the secretary of the Navy, with a
report onthe wavy Pension Fund, were ordered to
'te printed
THURSDAY, ^OV. 15.
Alill making a further appropriation of 70,900
dollars for carrying into effect the treaty between
the United states and Great Britain, passed to be
engrossed, ।
The President communicated a report! of the se
cretary of the Navy, on the affair of the Intrepid
Ketch, under captain Decatur, who, it w^
nounced had been promoted to the rar"
in the navy, Ordered to be printed.
Tty; committee on the petition .aLon. corn,
pany in New-Tork, reported, tl .t ^ ^c -
#y on imported slates at this 'te ^^ '-
dient. Referred.
The petitions for the erecti wof ^ v :s
in Rhode Island, was referre *
—■D#^*-'—^
REMARK ,
ON the PRESIDENT'S MES^GE.
(continued.),
WE c cr.e now to a subject wlich has long
agitated the public mind, a subject in arch the hon
our of the American States and the interests of many
citizens are deeply concerned. A monstrous pro
duction, called a convention between the United
States and Spain, has been crawling into existence
for about three years. It wat announced and adopt
ed on th; part of our government, but when sent
back to Spain for confirmation; it has Received a dead
ly blow, which threatened to destroy at once the
hopes of its friends, and to disslove tie social inter
course subsisting between its parents the American
and Spanish cabinets. The cause or this unnatural
treatment has excited much speculator., but has still
baffled the wisest conjectures. Tit people of the
United States waited with impatience for the open
ing of the present session of Congress, assured that
the ingenuousness of Republicanism would then un
ravel the mystery, and expose the trie grounds on
which the final approbation of Spain was denied, and
the functions to our Minister suspended—the gene
ral prelude of open war. Let us then turn our at
tention to that part of the message which relates t.
this subject.
" Soon after the passage of the act ts the last ses
sion," says Mr. Jefferson, " authorising the establish
ment of a District and port of entry, on the waters
of the Mobile, toe learnt that its Object was misun
derstood by Spain." This provision, it seems there
fore, gave rise to that jealousy and resentment, which
the Spanish government has exhibited. But what
did the Spaniards conceive, to be the object of this
provision, that they have been thus alarmed ? The
message does not explain. What kind of objections
have the, advanced, which may possibly be obviat
ed ? The message does not explain. But is nothing
to be gathered from the native of the " candid ex
planation" which have been transmitted ? No, rea
der, in quest of satisfaction, vie wander, into deeper
obscurity. " Candid explanations were immediate
ly given, and assurances, that; reserving our claims,
in that quarter, as a subject of discussion and ar
rangement with spain, no act was meditated, in the
mean time, inconsistent ^ ith the peace andfriend
existing between the two nations,^, that conformably
to these intentions wsuld be thdexecution of the Law.
There is an imposing air in this phraseology, which
may satisfy weak or 'deluded minds, but we must beg
leave to observe that, in substance, it is not only eva
sive but absurd
A petition of simem Noyefy an invalid loldfef,
praying for the payment of his pension, was refer
red to the committee of claims.
The committee of ,laims, on motion of General
Varnum, was insured to consider at large, the
subject of invalid pensions, and the situation of all
persons who were wounded or disabled in the ser
vice of the United states, during the revolutionary
war ; and wh it further measures are necessary to
ren ier them justice.&
several other subject's—all dr them local, were
offered ; and variously disposed of.
Though the President has certainly concealed the
objections of the spanish government, a little reflec
tion will convince us, that they are not of a nature to
be easily explained away—lt would be ridiculous to
imagine, that from the establishment of a part of en
try in any part of territory, acknowledged to be our
own, the Spaniards could suspect our government of
hostile intentions towards either their insular or con
tinental possessions—The'truth is evidently this—
spain disputes our title to that part of country, lying
on the Mobile—lt was the provision to occupy and
settle it, 'which aroused her resentment, and riot a
misunderstanding of our motives—ls the President
can forward such candid explanations aswill con
vince the Spanish government, that our settling on the
Mobile and extending our jurisdiction in that terri
tory, will not interfere with their rights as exclusive
owners of the soil, he may then make it appear, that
"no act was meditated, inconsistent with the ^eace
and friendship existing between the two nations.” It
is possible that the spaniards do riot know the limits
of their own territory; it is possible they may be per
suaded to withdraw claims, in which they appear
to feel deeply interested and zealous ; but whether
they do or not, we are bold to fay, the essential
cause of difference between us and Spain was a
question of title, and not a doubt reforming our mo-;
tives, in establishing a pert of entry. We appeal to
common sense, which though now so frequently in.
fulted, will in the minds of many, have as much au
thority as the President himfelf.
"But the explanations," continues Mr. Jefferfon
Which would reach them loon after, (they had tho't
proper to fufpeod the ratification of the convention
of 1803) and still wore, the confirmation of them,
by the tenour of thp instrument, establishing the
Port and Diftri^l, may reasonably be expeaed to
replace them in the dispositions and views of the
whole fubjed, which originally dilated the Con
vention." Strange indeed ! Explanations which
have been forwarded refpeaing the real limits of
the country denominated Louisiana, (this certainly
is the grand difficulty) will replacethem in the dif
pofit^ms and views of the whole fubjed, which
01IGINALLT DICTATED CONVENTION ! What
view of the fubjedt could possibly have dictated any
part of the Convention, which has no relation
whatever to this fubjed, and which was formed be
fore the purchase ci Louisiana had entered into the
mind of even Mr. Livingflon ; it is to be hoped
that the Prefideal's head is ckar—ii is to belametri
ed that his language isf) tonfufed.
"I have the fatisfaaion to inform you that the
objections, which had been urged, by that govern,
•merit, against the validity of our title to the country
of Louitiana, have been withdrawn; its ex & lim
its however remaining still to be fettled between ns."
Thisdeclaration determines a point, which has been
variously represented by the Federalists and Demo
crats. The former asserted that such objedions had
been made ; the latter zealously denied it, and they
accused their opponents in bitter and abusive terms,
of fabricating evils which did not cxift. By the
words of their own oracle, wenon convia them of
' 4 ^: '''''.•'* • 'tv*'
^r TfZIC MAILS.
—t^®@Oto —
PHILAD. NOV. 20.
It is amusing enough to see with what affected
contempt the democ&ick prints treat such of their
candidates for congress as happen tffbe unsuccess
ful in their elections. It is said of a herd of wild
hogs, that if a hunter wdunds one so as to draw blood,
the rest immediately fall upon him and tear him to
pieces. It seems that there are other animals which
possess the same propensities.—" A fig for Eustis"
says the American Citizen, a# soon as it was known
that a federalist had beaten him in the election ;
" the republicans would rather have an open than
secret enemy."—.Notwithstanding all the pains tak
en in districting this state, a federalist has been cho
sen to Congress for the counties of Adams and York,
in the place of one Stuart. This being the case,
poor Stuart is instantly proscribed by the Aurora,
and declared to be "any thing or nothing," though
he has for along time represented the democrats of
that district, and would have still continued to repre
sent them, had they been able to elect him.—The
democrats should be upon their guard against such
confessions ; otherwise the truth will, now and then,
slip out unawares,and show us what tliey really think
of one another. ———
"The adivity and success of the small force em
ployed in the Mediterranean, in the early part of
the present year, the reinforcements Cent into that
f%and the energy of the officers having command
io the federal yeffels, will, I trust, by the fufferings
of war, reduce the barbarians of Tripoli to the de
sire of peace on proper terms."
The activity of our small force, the energy of
our officers and the bra- very of out legmen,
we are far from doubting ; indeed we are proud to
fay that whatever can be performed by so small a
force, may be expeded of them. But ala,! what
has been their success ! One of our fiaeft frigates is
loft, and her officers and crew flint up in dungeons
by a contemptible but inhuman foe ! loft to their
friends and conneaions, and left in the ^memory
of the iympathetick Jefferfon ! Who would have
imagined that a man, whose philanthropy is the
pride and boast of bis friends, whole whole fuel is
a compages of the nicmft sensibilities, could have
contemplated Hut small force, which has experienc
ed Inch a melancholy diming ion ; could have men
tioned its success, which coniifled principally in de
firoying our own frigates, which by a fatal casualty
fell into the pofleffion of the enemy ; could have
turned the attention of Congress to the belt means
of securing a few dollars of prize money, and never
advert to the fuffering situation of our imprisoned
Countrymen, or intimate that their recovery was de
sirable ! Were not the meflage before us, we should
pronounce it incredible. Poor fouls, we trust they
have better friends in Congress.
"The &y of Tunis having made requisitions un
authorized by ouQreaty, their rejeaion has produc
ed from him some ex preffions of difeontent. But
to tkofe who expe& us to calculate whether a com
pliance with unjust demands will not cost us less
than a war, we muff leave as a question of calcula
tion (for them allo,) whether to retire from urjuft
demands will not cost them less thana war.—We
can do to each other very lenfible injuries by war.
But the mutual advantages of peace make that the
best bucreft of both. 7
We copy this paragraph with uncommon fatis
fa&ion. Many ungenerous opinions have been
entertained refptaiog the courage and firmnels of
our Executive, which this sentence alone mutt si
lence forever. Observe the dating, patriotick tone.
To those, who expert ns to calculate whether a
compliance with unjust demands will not Ynft us
lels than a war, what then, (hall "our cannon de
clare the free charter of trade"- -& thunder of our
relenment burst upon them-—No, we must leave
as a question of calculation for them also, whether
to retire from unjust demands will not cost (hem
less thana war ! ! Yes, mistaken villains, we will
leavethem to think ! ! !
We (hall conclude the present number with a re
markon the style of the last p r ^raph. To the
Prefiden., we leave it for him /to ro determine,
whether the fenteuce would not nave been com
plete and more corred, had he omitted the words
which we have taken the liberty to enclofc in a pa
renthesis. ,
Important ! "A gentleman of respectability in
forms us, that he has just received advices from
Point-Petre. (G.) through a confidential friend, stat
ing, that a privateer, called the Grandville, mount
ing 28 guns and two 36 pounders, with a compliment
of 280 men, besides seamen and marifers, each arm
ed with a musket, had arrived there, with orders to
take all American vessels bound to Hispaniola, and
hang the crews as piratss—The Grandville was one
of a fleet of well armed ships, daily expected at
Point-Petre, in order to cruize on Americans bound
to Hispaniola.
The preceding- article is from the Freeman's
Journal, (a democratic paper) of last evening, has
excited a sensation in this city, which will be felt
throughout the United States, and be keenly
felt by the friends and relatives of every per
son engaged in the trade of St. Dortingo.
If the information it contains is correct, & ground
ed on facts, it demands the immediate interference
of the government to avert the impending fate of
our honest and unsuspecting seamen, who are em
barked in a commerce, which our government has
never attempted to restrain, nor even ventured to
prohibit—On the contrary, clearances have been
granted at every custom-house in the United States
to vessels bound to St. Domingo.
It was the duty of the Executive, if the trade was
illegal, to have issued a proclamation explanatory of
the consequences that would attend its prosecution—
If in a desire to avoid what might be thought an un
popular measure, Mr Jefferson has neglected or de
clined to give the necessary caution to our citizens,
he alone ought to be responsible for the result, and
it becomes the duty of the Legislature to inquire in
to, and ascertain the fact.
If the Government of France has commissioned
its cruisers to seize and to execute every citizen of
the United States, who may be found trading to St.
Domingo, that government should be told that such
instractions consist not with the laws or the,sage'of
civilized nations, and that the American people will
never suffer such a barbarous exercise of power a
gainst their citizens by aty nation whatever.
£ (Political Register.
Captain Williams, m the schooner Dolphin, ar
rived here, in 49 daysman Leghorn, learnt by the
Ignorance or wilful f^fehood. We have not cd.
pied this lenience fur criticism, but for the tonfu.
lion of our enemies.>
(To be continued.)
way orMalta; that commodore Preble had mated
successful attack upon Tripoly ; had bombarded th®
city ; damaged the fortifications : sunk one Xebec,
and three gun boats, with trifling loss, and was pre
paring for a second attack. [Philad. Paper.
§°Two of the Philadelphia papers of Nov, 21st,?
which announce the above arrival from Leghorn,
make no mention of the above intelligence.—We
wish it may prove authentic.
Baltimore, Nov. 19./
We learn from Annapolis, that the French ImpeA
rial Minister, on his landing there, was received by
Gov. Bowie, and the other Public Functionaries,
with every mark of respect and attention.
—
Aew fanned J\avy. The gun-boat Navy, which
Mr. Jefferson talks so foolishly about in his Message
excites as much silent contempt among his advocates
who ever saw blue water, as it does open ridicule,
with the Federalists. It will continue to "farrow a
world of fun ;" and ought to be scoured into oblivion
as pointedly as the dry-dock phancasmagoria. NO.
1, still continues high and dry in the Georgia corn- •
field ; no 2, in maneuvering in the Potowmac, in
fresh water ; and it is said to be destined on a se
cret expedition. No 3,4, and we believe some high
er numbers, are in cradles, at some of the Eastern
dock yards. ' —.+•—
TRENTON, OCT.
GOVERNOR BLOOMFIELD.
Has again fucceded—and though we have to la
ment that a more suitable ch^raa^r was not prefer
red, we may yet rejoice that a worse man has not
been appointed. This circumstance may be regar
ded as one good effect of a formidable federal party
in the Legislature—Among the democrats, Mr.
Bloomfield has some firm adherents—Bonds and
Mortgages weigh heavily in his favor, and offices in
his gift are flrong arguments in his behalf. These
added to federal votes, in all probability would make
him Governor, though a majority of democrats op
posed the measure. The democrats rightly confiJ
ered, that a chief Magistrate of Mr. Bloon fidis
habits, thus elected, would feel the bonds of attach,
ment to their interest much loosened, if not u holly
diffolvcd, and therefore made a virtue of neciffi y,
and gave him tyeir whole support. This released
the federal men in the Legislature from the unplea,
fant situation to which they would have been redu
ced, in having to choose between men, neither of
whom they considered tit for the appointment ; and
of course, they were left free to vote for 'their own
candidate.
Mr. Bloomfield, it is presumed, hardly supposed
when last fill be was turning federal met out of of
fice Tor darfag to exercise the rights and privileges
of freedom in a free country, that in the short space
of 12 months, he would owe to the free exercise of
thole very rights he was exerting his little brief au-,
thority to destroy, the privilege of livjm j@th£.
year in the Government house of Newjeffey :—-
On this last let him reflect, and learn wiidom from
experience—Hai nut a formidable federal minority
appeared on toe floor of the joint meeting, the days
of his political afcendency would now have been
numbered,
"No State in the Uni .a r :
teria! mouth piece," a. a * /
than South-Carolina and I„ ,<. -
scatacion is Republican??'
can States, somehow or bl.
cheat, with immunity the ,: , I t,r , a ' t
Hundred and Fifty-one Thou ^§:H:}
and Twelve dollars, of the Direct t ax voted by a
Law of Congress ; when all the rest of the States
have paid in their quotas'! We should like the dem
ocrats would read a certain statement made to
Congress, in December last, by William Miller,
juu. Commissioner of the Revenne, on the subject of
the Direct Tax ; and then call on Mr. Smith's wri
ter of the "Defense of Mr. Jefferson's administra
tion," to satisfy the public, why the laws of the U
nited States have not been executed in the republi
can States of Georgia and ^mth-Carolina ; and why
Mr. Jefferson is not accountable for their flagrant '
violation in this particular. The Constitution of the
United States expressly declares, that the President
"shall take cape that the laws be faithfully executed."
—Notwithstanding this, and notwithstanding the im
punity with which he has suffered these two states
to treat the laws with contempt for years, Nineteen
good, honest men—all republicans—will convene in
this town, on the next week ; and without inquiry,
Will one and all vote that this same Magistrates be
instructed with the careful execution of the law fur
four years yet tc coroe ! ! such are the times.,
IMPORTANT NEWS.
The Philadelphia True American, of the 22(1inst.
received last evening by Mail contains the following
demi official account of the
Bombardmen! of Tripoli.
Capt. Williams, of the Dolphin, which arrived
yesterday morning,in 49 days from Leghorn, direct,
brings the following important intelligence^: That
advices from Malta had been received mere, of
Commodore Prebble's success against Tripoli ; that
officer had bombarded the city, and done much dam
age to it and the fortifications, and had sunk or ta
ken a large Zebec and three Gun boats, with the
loss of the commander of one of the gun-boats &c. Sc
was preparing for a second attack. This account,
was brought to Malta by a gentleman from Tripoli ;
but nothing is said respecter Captain Bainbridge
or his crew. Captain Wiliams did not touch at
Gibralter nor any other place.-
Extract from a letter, to a respectable Merchant
in the city dated
LEGHORN, SEPT. 25.
Dear Sir,
" I wrote to you in July, by Mr. Donavan, of Phi
ladelphia, and gave you a short account of our pros
pects relative to the war with Tripoli.. Commo
dore Preble's conduct since has been extremely ju
dicious—the annexed extract will inform you of the
consequences which have already attended his ex
ertions and will tend to prove that the measures *
which I have so strenuously recommended to govern
ment, were founded upon a probability of success ;
in my next I hope to be enabled to inform you of an
advantageous peace having taken place at the ex
pence of the Bashaw's pride.
/Highly Interesting !—At a period when the " con?
vulsive spasms of infuriated" picaroons are daily dis
tressing our commerce, at sea ; we with peculiar
satisfaction announce, that the keel of Gun-Boat No.
4, is laid in one of our ship-yards ; and that in about,
a month, " more or less," it is said, she will be rea.
dy for the protection of commerce, within &#r hur<
bour! — — _