Republican ledger, and Portsmouth price current — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-06-14 00:00:00, page 2

A violent effort has been made to produce
Mn immediate war between the U. States,
France and Spain. For this purpose the
celebrated refolutionsof Mr. Ross, authoriz
ing the President to embody fifty thoufind
men, and to seize onNew- Orleans and Lou
ifiana,and appropriating five millions of dol
lars tor the expenses, were prefenttd to the
Senate. The Tocsin has been founded from
one extremity tn the other of the Union.
The opposition, true to their old fyffem of
war, (landing armies, navies, debts and pat
ronage, have been tremblingly alive on this
fnbjca. No means have been omitted to
efF-fl their object. Brilliant offers have
been made to the weftern people, their pas
sions played upon, their spirit and ^folution
at one moment admired, the next, doubted :
— But all to no purpose. Those who were
eminently ufeful in preventing war during
the hit administration, who firft asserted the
rights of freemen, and by their bold and man
ly resolutions said to the ruler of the nation
"thus far (halt thou go and no farther," here
shall thy proud career be flayed, have re
mained unmoved and firmly attached to the
iriteteft, the peace, the happiness & the gov
ernment of the country. My furprize at
the edndudt of opposition, is increased by
their vote proclaiming their want of confi
dence in the executive. Charity leads me to
admit this originated in their belief that he
was destitute either of talents or integrity. If
the firft, then they have evinced a readiness to
expose the nation to the evils of a misguided
and ill conducted war.—ls the last, then they
have manifefted a willingness to hazard the
> liberties of the country, by intruding to a
man, whom they believe unprincipled, the
sword and treasures of the nation. They
muff elect between these alternatives, or ad
mit what is generally believed, that this ex
traordinary Vote did not speak the language
# af the heart, but was the child of party
Miscellany.
A VINDICATION
OF THE
MEASURES'
OF THE
PRESENT ADMINISTRATION
By ALGERNON SIDNEY.
" Where liberty is—there is my Country.''
[continued.]
Fox pay and subsistence of the officers, the
pay of the seamen, provifiobs, repairs, and
expences incurred in the year one thousand
eight hundred and one, and which have been
paid out of an appropriation made in the
year ole thousand eight hundred and two,
including a deficiency for the Service of the
year, one thousand eight hundred and two,
one hundred and sixty ei ?tt thousand four
hundred and thirty nine dollars and eighty
one cents.
For marine barracks, on account of ex
pences incurred in the year one thousand
eight hundred and one, four hundred and
one dollars and ninety three cents.
For the payment of a balance due the
eHate of John Haberfham, late collector at
Savannah, tor naval materials afeertained at
the treasury, for sundry payments made by
him to John H. Morel, on the fame account,
including a eommiHion on the (aid payments
at one per cent, sixteen thousand nine hun
dred and forty eight dollars and thirty seven
cents.
Sec. 2 # And be it further enabled, That
the several films of money herein fpecifically
appropriated and amounting together to
the sum of one million and ninety eight
thousand seven hundred and ninety seven dol
lars and forty fix cents, shall be paid fiift
out of the sum of one hundred thousand dol
lars already appropriated for the naval service
during the year one thousand eight hundred
and three, and secondly out of any monies
in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
NATHY MACON,
Speaker of the Houje of Representatives.
A. BURR.
Vice-PreJident of the United States, and PreJi
dent of the Senate.
March 9, 1803.
Approved,
TH: JEFFERSON,
For salaries of fuperintendants of navy
yards, Hore keepers, and clerks, Hore rent,
hire of laborers, &c. on account of expences
incurred in the year one thousand eight hun
dred and one, including a deficiency for the
service of the year one thousand tight hund
red and two, eight hundred and seventy fire
dollars and sixty eighty cents.
For navy yards, docks and wharves, elev
en thousand five hundred and thirty five dol
lars and twehty eight cents.
Fer medicine,.medical services, and hos
pital Hores for the marine corps, on account
of expences incurred in the year one. thou
find eight hundred and one, including a de
ficiency for the service of the year one
thousand eight hundred and two, five hun
dred and ninety fix dollars and thirty nine
cents._
brought into exigence to fofter (be spirit *6f
difaffedion. Because the government refu,
fes to relent the unauthorized a& of aSpanifh
Intendant by a declaration of war, before it
has demanded an explanation from the crown
of Spain,its want of energy is daily proclaim
ed. NotwithHanding the Spanish minister,
and the French Charge de Affairs, have in
the most solemn manner assured government,
that the rights of deposit will be restored and
our interest rcfp(&ed and cherished ; not
withHanding tltey have united in an endea
vour to procure us immediate redress (and
there is just reason to hope that at this mo
ment the prohibition is taken off; Hill i: is re
sounded in our ears, “ but for the fears of
the President we should soon be in polfeflion
of New-Orleans, we should teach the nations
of Europe to refpe& our rights." The Presi
dent undoubtedly has his fears ; but fears of
a personal nature he cannot have, his high
Hation and the duties of his office, place him
above them. He fears to do wrong. He fears
to create a Handing army,and thereby jeop
ardize the liberties of the country,to increase
the Executive powers in his own hands, and
those of his successors. He fears to oppress
the people by tax upon tax, to destroy our
commerce and fi fheries by an unnceffar, war.
He fears to transmit to poAerity a debt en
creafed to foch a degree as to entail flattery
upon them, to demoralize the people, to
bury in one common grave, in the sickly re?
gions of Florida, the robust yeomanry, the
hardy fifhermen, and the ufeful mechanics of
the nation. He fears the imprecations of
frantic mothers, and Hill more frantic wives
bewailing the lot's' of their children and
husbands. And lastly he fears to offend the
Majesty of Heaven by infliding misery and
wretchedness on five millions of people in
truded to his care and proteaion.
From the commencement of the govern
ment to the inauguration of the present exe
cutive, the eiHern Hates have constantly
bonded of thier superior ftrenghth, not an
arsenal or fadory of military Hores, has ever
been established in the weftern country, or
fouth of the Potomac. Os the monies ex
pended in fortifications and for defence, not
one dollar in fix has been applied in these
Hates. Now the members from the New
England Hates, whose representatives here
tofore voted to lock up the Mississippi for
twenty five years, express the inoft tender
concern for that part of the Union. Happy
will it be for this country, if experience shall
prove their pretentions sincere! But I can
not forget, that the persons, who heretofore
for years, have bellowed upon the people ot
that country, the epithets of " the wild men
of the woods of Kentucky," " the Banditti
of whiskey boys," " the sweepings of the
earth," "enemies to religion, order and gov
ernment ;" who have treated with contempt
and indignity their solemn a& of legislation,
and who have proclaimed their wish for a
separation, now challenge their firft confi
dence. Is there no reason to believe that,
irritated and chagrined at their loss of power
and ot the confidence of the people, they have
seized upon the mifcoDdu& of the intendant
of New-Orleans with a view to embarrass
government, and, in a moment of passion, to
pu(h the Weftern people to some aa, dif
graccful and ruinous to thcmfelves and to
the nation ? For let me ask, frerh whence has
originated in the minds of the opposition this
affection for the weftern country, at once so
novel and irrefutable so vast and unbounded,
so tender and glowing, that burns like the
Crater of Etna, and that threatens, by the
burning of its lava, to overwhelm the honor,
the peace and the happiness of this nation r
From the bleak mountains of Nova-Scotia
to the pestilential heats of Florida, from the
recefl-s of the sorest to the billows of the
ocean, not a member of the opposition can
be found, high or low, great or small, rich
or poor, learned or ignorant, whole mind is
not touched with this ardent flame, who docs
not Hgh for some relic of this burning lava.
Not one, who has not heard the hoarse thun
der of war rumble though the welkin, who
has not seen the Moor dyed with blood; and
the “ finger of heaven pointing to war."
All exclaim for it immediately, and for the
capture of New-Orleans.
What charms d'e> not New-Orleans prf
fefs ? She is indeed a talisman. Seize but
upon her and the mighty power of France,
of Spain, of Italy and of Holland, vanish like
spirits at the approach of light. The United
Stages become impregnable ; no point is left
for attack. The Mobile, -the Tombigbee,
the Altamaha, and the St. Mary's, are dried
to their fourees. Our commerce, our fifh
eries, our cities and our towns, are all pro
teaed from assault, and the war is ended ere
it is commenced. Omit to seize upon her,
and instantly, from the Mifliffippi to the
South fca, the haunts of wild beads are tranf
formrd into princely palaces, lofty towns
and richly cultivated fields. The Oak, the
Sycamore and the Cypress, become soldiers ;
an unhappy race riles up among us and
butchers our wives and children. The en
ergies of the nation are palsied, and (he for
ever ruined.
1 I tremble as I Write. Surely this cannot
Ibe the child of fancy, it must boa reality ;
In some hidden volume of the book of fate it
was regiftcred, our guardian angel made the
difcQvery, whifpcied it in the car of Amer
ica's be, friends. Else why is.it proclaimed,
echoed and re-echoed, from one end of the
Union to the other, by those who claim a su
perior regard to religion order and happjnefs?
Why are we urged to instant war? Why is
the government censured for making one
effort to preserve peace. It has spoken to
the nations interfiled, in the refpedtful
flrung language of freemen. It has sol
emnly pledged itfelf to maintain inviolate,
the rights of the people and nation. It has
made provision tor the dernier resort, an
appeal to arms, , .
Yet despair fhuld not drive us to madness.
It is poffibte that the advocates for war have
taken the evil genius of America for her
guardian Angel. The rights of our Weft
ern Brethren are sacred, they never will be
neglected, surrendered or bartered. On the
other hand, in the estimation of every good
man, the pieft ovation of peace is important.
In difeuffing fubjefts so interfiling flights
of fancy Ihould give place to cool reflection,
and the ardor of passion -to the dictates of
found diferetion.
CONCORD, Thursday, Juue 2.
The Hon. Senate and House of Representatives
being met in convention agreeable to adjourn
ment—The committee to re-examine the return
of votes for Governor, report, That rejecting the
votes from Hancock & Nottingham Weft, which
in the opinion of the committee were not consti
tutionally taken, and the vote 4 from Piercy which
are not constitutionally returned, the votes for
Governor stand thus—For his Ex'y John T. Gil
man, 12,263, for the Hon. JOHN LANGDON,
Esq. 9,011, frittering 43 —His Ex'cy John T.
Gilman is eleded.
A cemmitte of ten were chosen to wait on the
Governor and inform him of his election to the
office of Chief Magistrate the present year* At
4 o'clock the Senate and House being afleinbled
in the representatives chamber, his Excellency the
Governor Eleft came in, took the oath ot office,
and was declared Governor. His Excellency then
addressed the Legislature in the following
Speech :
Mr. President, and
Gentlemen of the Senate,
Mr. Speaker, and
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,
ASSEMBLED at this time in confor
mity to the Constitution, for the purpose of
organizing the government sot the year en
fuihg, and for tranfaftng such business as the
public good may require, it must afford great
farisfadlion to the representatives of a free
people to contemplate the prosperity and
happiness which is so generaly apparent
throughout the State—this should unite
to perseverance in mcafures calculated
to preserve and promote the general wel
fare.
Whenever the rights of a nation are viola
ted, it becomes the duty of the rulers to seek
redress. Where the fafety of the date will
admit, this redress is to be fought, firft, by
amicable conference & negotiation,& in case
these fail, by resort to war. This rule is
laid down by all the writers upon natural
law, and praaifed by mod of the nations of
the earth. It results from nature itfelf, and
from the obligations we are under to consult,
as well the happiness of others, as of our
selves. Whoever refleas upon the mifeiies
of war, will agree with the w liters upon that
fubjea,that it is juftified only by extremities,
Not to swell the volume of human woe, is a
duty we owe to ourselves and mankind at
large. Now the fafety of date was not en
dangered by denying the right of deposit at
New-Orleans ; a right derived from treaty
alone. It was therefore the duty of govern
ment, as it was the interest of the people, to
regain the exercise of that by negociation.
The obligation upon government to adopt
this coutfe, was hightened by the consider
ation, that the a& complained ot was not the
a& of the Spanish government, but of a fob
ordinate officer of that nation. [To-be cont'd
If any grievances exist which require legif
lativc remedy, if any alterations in the pre
sent laws, or any new laws are necessary they
must be know to you as Representatives ot
every part of the State.
By a [efolution of the Legislature passed
the last year, an inventory of the taxables
was required from the several towns, tor the
purpose of making a new proportion fortaxes
throuhout the S'ate.
The adjuAment of this business will re
quire con fiderable time, and you will deter
mine whether it (ha'l be completed it the
present session—The constitution requires
that it should be done within the present year
and if you should think it best to podpone
the business until another meeting, permit
me to suggest whether it might not be a
confidcrable faring of time and expense. to
appoint a committee who should affcmble a
fufficient time previous to your next meet ing,
for the purpose of arranging the returns
from the several towns, making a schedule
of the fame, and foch remarks thereon as
they way judge proper,Jo be laid before you
at the commencement of the session. '
A letter from the President ot the United
States refpe&ing the militia; with a icpoit
New-Ham,fare Legislature.
of a committee of Cengrtfs on the fame
fubjed received with the letter, will be laid
before you, and undoubtedly receive such
attention as the importance of the fubjeft
requires.
There is one sentence in this letter which
I take the liberty to quote, namely, " A'one
but ah armed natron can difpenje with a fund
ing arnty" This - tentiment, it is presumed,
accords with those of every well-informed
man in our country.
The fubje&of our militia has been fre
qiiently mentioned in my addresses to the Let
giflature, and particularly at the session in
November, 1797.
Believing that the Legislature arid our fel
low-citizens of the State at large, are pq
feCtly united in their desires to avoid if poR
ble forever, the necessity of standing army,
permit me 10 recommend to yonr confultra
tion the adoption of such further meafores
as you u ay think proper for the encourage
merit, arming, and difeiotining our mil
itia, as the belt means to prevent (hat necef-
The present afpeCl of affairs among some!
of the European nations is filch as to make it
very uncertain whether they will preserve
peace for any cofiderable time: It t hoped
that our country will not take any part ire
their quarrels, but be inclined and able to
preserve a Arid and honed neutrality ; but
violent coniefts between those powers with
whom we have important connexions, will
affi & our interests in a greater or.lefs degree ;
and to be prepared to guard and defend our
rights is at all times necessary—The truly
benevolent mind would desire that man
Arnold cease from being the foe to his fellow
man, and that each Ihould do to others as be
would that others Aiould do him, but in
legislating for states and nations, circumstan
ces should be considered as they really exist.,
The United States are increasing rapidly
in numbers b, natural population and by
large importations of persons from tiher
countries. Can it be wife, is it fafe, under
such circumstances, that the energies of cur
national government should be leflened.—
Would not such condud rather tend to the
injury of that real liberty which is so dear to
us, and ultimatelv to the deftru&ion of the
present system of government —ought we not
rather to unite as a nation, and endeavor to
preserve in full vigour every branch of it,
whether Legislative, Executive or Judiciary.
Our date Constitution, which is given by
the people as a general rule of a&ion for their
Legislators and MagiArates, has assigned ma
ny important duties. It is declared among
other things to be their duly to cherish the
interests of literature and the sciences, semi
naries and public schools, to promote Agri
culture, Arts and Commerce—to inculcate
the principles of humanity, general benevo
lence, honefly and pun&uality. Indeed the
particular article under which these things
are found, contain so many excellent pre
cepts,that it cannot be too frequently called to
mind by a people who arejuftly and flrongly
attached to the principles of a free governs
merit, and who at the fame time believe that
general information among the great body of
the people, and virtuous condua, are indif
peniible requisites to the support of such a
government.
Whatever may oc6ur to me as necessary
and worthy your attention shall be co/nmu
nicated by separate mcHages.
Be adored, gentlemen, that it will afford
me great fatisfaaion to unite with you in
measures calculated to promote the general
welfare. JOHN T. GILMAN.
Government of New Hamffiire, for 18og.
f()HM TAYLOR GILMAN. Governed,
Ca.Jellors —Levi Bartlett, Wm. Hale, Berja
min Peirce, Samuel Stevens, Daniel Blafdell.
Senators —Clement Storer, Ezekiel Godfrey,
John Bell, Richard Jenuefs, John Waldron, Ng.
than Taylor, Joiw^Orr, James Fhi/dert, Seth Pay
son, Ezra Peirce, Amos Shepard, Moore Rifell.
Oliver Peabody, Trcafurcr. Joltph Pearson,
Secretary. Nathaniel Parker, Deputy Secretary.
Amos Shepard, Prefdent of the Senate. John
Prentice, Speaker of the H<uje. John Calle, Clerk,
of the House. Nathaniel Wear, Zfffant Clerk.
* # * The lift of Repretentatives created for van?
of room.
It is jinpollible not to fee how much the
oppofitiun are nettled at the pacific appear
ance of things in New-Orleans. It was
hinted by feme persons that Great Britain
viewed withjealoufy the intended colony in
Louisiana. From the supposed with of
Gaeat Britain to take care of her own feeble
colonies on the continent without a tingle act
on her part; an attempt is nadc to contrast
her a&ivhy with the indolence pt the United
States because they did every thing but go to ,
war; and Britain has done nothing !—Such
is the profound wisdom ot party ! And a
great display of Calender is made, because he
has called the confidence in our own, govern
ment, by which a sum already in the treasury
is made sacred to a prudent negociation, iob
bingin a cellar ! ,Can any party be so base as
to be oleafed with such a defence.
Saita Regnier,
Toted, That Messrs. Chamberlain, Bow
ers and Cutts be a committee to draught an
answer to his Excellency's address.