The American herald of liberty — Exeter, N.H., 1793-06-04 00:00:00, page 2

MR, RUSSELL,
HAVING attempted, in a late paper, to
shew that a rigid adherence to the sys
tem of Neutrality between the European na
tions now at war, is equally the dictate of jus
tice and of policy, to the individual citizens of
the United States, while the nation remains
neutral, the question recurs, what is the line of
condud preicribed to the nation itfelf, at this
delicate juntture, by those immutable laws of
justice and equity,which are equally obligatory
to fove<eigr.s and to fubjetts, to republics and
to kings. I shall not make any consideration
of general policy a separate fubjett of enquiry,
because I hold it to be one of the most undeni
able principles of government, that the truest
policy of a nation consists in the performance
of its duties. The rights of nations are nothing
more than an extension of the rights of indivi
dua's to the great Societies, into which the dif
ferent portions of mankind have been combined;
& they areal) mediately or immediately derived
from the fundamental petition which the au
thor of cbriftianity has taught us as an article
of religion,and which the reviled declaration of
rights of the National Convention in France
have declared, to contain the effenceof liberty.
•* Liberty,” fays the new Declaration of Rights,
“ consists in the power ot doing whatever is
not contrary to the rights of others.’* ° What
focver,” fays the Saviour of mankind, you
would that men should do to you, do ye even
so to them.” Let us therefore be cau'ious to
do nothing contrary to the rights of others and
we (hall continue to enjoy and to deserve the
bieflings of freedom. Let us do as we Ihouid
chufe others might do to us, and we ffiall de.
serve the favours of Heaven.
If these are the principles upon which our
national conduit is to’bt grounded, it will fol
low that an impartial and unequivocal neutral
ity between the contending parties is prefcri
b*d to us as a duty, unless we are bound by
feme existing contrail or stipulation, to make a
common cause with one of them.
I have already said it : The natural state of
all nations, with refpett to one another, is a
state of peace— * ( damus jetimufque < vici£im :’*
It is what we have a right io exped from them,
and for the fame reason it is our duty to ob
serve it towards them. In addition to this na
tural obligation, we are bound by express trea
ties with France, England, Holland and Prus
sia, to observe the laws of peace with the fnb
jetts of their different governments, and we
have no right to interfere in their contentions.
Whatever may be the current of our fenci meets,
or of our opinions—whatever may be the lan.
guage suggested by our passions, or the wilhes
inspired by our affettions, we are not conftitu.
ted judges of the refpedive merits of their
cause. From a feeling of gratitude towards a
nation which assisted us in the days of our own
calamity, we may be disposed to throw a veil
over their own errors and crimes, and wish
them that success which their frantic enthusi
asm has rendered so improbable. As the de
feendants of Englishmen, we may be willing
to lose the memory of all the miseries they in
flitted upon us in our just flruggle against them
and even the relics of their resentment, which
ftili refufe the complete fulfilment of the trea
ty of peace, and we may wilh them still to re
tain their reputation for fuccefsful courage and
conduit in war—-as men, we mull undoubted
ly lament the effufion of human blood, and
the mass of misery and distress which is pre
paring for the great part of the civilized world ;
but as the citizens of a nation at avast distance
from the continent of Europe- of a nation
whose happiness consists in a real inde
pendence, difeon netted from all European
interests and European politics, it is our duty
to remain, the peaceable and silent, though
forrowful fpc&ators of the sanguinary fee ne.
With the reasons for neutrality luggefted by
these considerations of natural duty and Os po
sitive stipulation, a forcible argument concurs,
derived from our incercft. Io the general can*
flitt of all the commercial European Nations,
the advantages which will be thrown into our
hands, and the activity and vigour which will
be given to every branch of our commerce, are
too obvious to need any, difeuffion. ’ As the
natural confequenee of war, the necessities of
all the belligerent powers must increase in pro
portion as their means of supply will di mini fir
and the profits,whieh must infalibly flow to us
from their warns, can have no other limitation
than the extent of our capacity to provide for
them. «
With all these inducements to-a decided neu»
trality, let us look at the other fide of the med
al and fee what would be the confequenee of
our making ourselves partisans in the contest.
—First, we fhonld be engaged in a quarrel,
with the laws of nations against us. It would
be a violation of our political duties ^a depar
ture from the principles of national juftice,and
an ex press breach of the pofirive ftipularions of
peace end friendfhip with the several bdltge.
rent powers,, contained in the treaties which I
have already mentioned. An aft of partiality
in favor of either party would be an aft of per
fidy to the other.
< J have to full a confidence in the equity and
virtue of my country men, that I Ihould rest the
« NON NOSTRUM ,t ANTAS COMPONERE LITES.”
FROM THE COLUMBIAN CENTINEL.
Political Miscellany.
argument on this point alone, if I had not per
ceived that a cohtrary system of policy,is avow
ed by men qf lomc influence among us,and o
penly recommended in some of the public
prints of the day. A system, which profeffing
to arise from an extraordinary attachment to
the cause of Liberty and Equality, may in re
ality be traced to the common fourccs of pri
vate avarice, and private ambition, perhaps
at once the cause and effeft of an implicit
devotion to France, and an antipathy to En
gland, exceeding the limits of a national re
sentment.
To men of this description, arguments deri
ved from the obligations of natural justice, or
of written contrast will be perfe&ly nugatory.
“ The Rights of Man,*’ will be theftanfwer to
the on?, and “ Liberty and Equality,” to the
other. 1 apply therefore to a principle of more
efficatious operation in their minds, if their
own interest is in any degree connected with
that of their country, and ask them what would
be the inevitable confequenee of a war, with
all Europe, except only the present prevailing
power in France ? The experience of the late
war, would perhaps, difeourage an atempt on
the part of Great-Brltain to conquer his conti
nent, but we have a sea-coast of twelve hun»
dred miles every where open to invasion——
^nd where is the power to protest it ? We have
a flourifhing commerce, expanding to every
part of the Globe, and where will it turn when
excluded from every market of the Earth ?
We depend upon the returns of that commerce
for many necessaries of lifq and when thole re
turns shall be cut off, whet shall we look for
the supply ? We are in a great measure desti
tute of the defen five appanfus of war,& who will
provide us with the armsand ammunition that
will be indifpenfible ? Me feel severely at this
moment, the burden of 4«r public debt, and
where are the funds to fufport us in the dread-*
fol extremity to which oir own madness and
iniquity would reduce us?—Not to mention
the infallible deftruftion 0 our Finances, and
the national bankruptcy, Vhieh the friends of
the system I am comba<ng, would perhaps
welcome as a blessing.—ire thipfe, Sir, imagi
nary apprehensions, or are they objefts of triv
ial moment ? Our natiomi existence may de
pend upon the event of mr Councils in the
present crisis, and to advifdus to engage volun
tarily in the War, is to ai<i a daggar at the
heart of the country.
Marcellus.
- Foreign Intelligence.
BATT L E 5
OF MARCH 19th TO 23d.*
Prince CO BOU RG' s account.
FRANKFORT, ^^24.
WE now continue Prince de Saxedobourg's
narrative down to the 23d March.
*• On the 20th, the Austrian Genital Ben*
joffki, drove the French from Tirlerront, and
pursued them a league and*an half beyond the
Town. The enemy covered their reireat with
great order and coolness. At noon, tie Auftri.
an army advanced upon the right, aid passed
Tirelemont. A party was encampei behind
that town, having in the rear, the la-ge brook
of Chethe, in the middle of the highway lead
ing to Louvain the corpse de reserve on the
right, and behind that, the village of Hue
gard.
“ Col. Baron deMylius, detached near Hem.
ten, with two battalions of Michael Wallis and
Some light troops, had received orders to dis
lodge the enemy, which he fuccefsfu'Jy atchie
ved, as appears by the following relation—
At 7 in the morning , M. Dt Mylius^t^ made
his tirft attack upon Dieft; he was st firft re
pul fed, but upon the Second attack, he entered
the town on two tides, took 50 prisoners, and
carried off a cannon and fame waggons. The
10-ls of the Auitrians was 50 killed and woun
ded, amongst whom was one Captain. The
enemy having been cut off from the road lead
ing to Louvain,were obliged to retreat towards
HeeventhaL
0 The army halted on the 21st of March
to refrefh.
« At break of day, on the zzd, the Austrian
army Set out in three columns. The firft ad
vanced on the right of the causeway of Lou vain,
the second on the left, and the third, which
formed the van guard, directed its march to
wards Tourine. When the second Column ar
rived at the heights, where it was to encamp,
it found them covered with numerous bodies
of French cavalry, and .the village of Blam
den,which was intended to cover their left wing
occupied by a great number of tneir infan
try. / '
*• The enemy were attacked on all fides r
but they made an obstinate defence, procuring
re inforcements, and Supplying by frefh troops
whom they brought from Louvain, and their
camp behind that town, tbofe who had been
repulsed.
'* The battle was bloody, ouv second co
lumn loft above 400 men, and the enemy more
than 2000. They were however, overcome by
* It has. been exprtfsly cn nt radioed, and after
wards doubted,, that any battle was fought on these
days by the FreAch and Combined armies. The a
bove accounts prove our intelligence on that head
true,and that* it was fought near Louvain, a town in
Austrian Netherlands, 14 miles N. W. of Bruflels,
and 40 N. E. of Mons.
ENGLISH ACCOUNT OF THESE
BATTLES.
** Advices from Cologne of the 24th March
state that Dumourier’s second and third defeats
in his strong entrenchmen s in the Iron Moun
tains, most deiperate resistance, have nearly
completed the total discomfiture of the French
army. The Austrian cavalry were led by the
Prince of Cobourg ; —he was Seconded in the
attack by General Clairfayt, at the head of the
Austrian infantry, with fixed bayonets only.
The French artillery no Sooner opened upon
their line, than the Aftrian hussars charged
them, and notwithstanding a considerable loSs,
which they Sustained at the onset, they drove
the enemy’s engineers from their guns, and
put 1,500 of them to the Sabre on the Spot.—
Dumourier headed the right wing of the French
in person, on foot, at the head of the Parisian
Grenadiers. The two lines coming into gen
eral action, the conflict was Severe. Near
15,000 of the French are Said to have been
killed or wounded, and 6000 of the Austrians.
They fought with incredible fury, and gave no
quarter. The Regiment of Royale Allemand
Suffered most Severely. The French retreated
in great diSorder, beyond Brussels.,
«< The PrrfSDans since the 20th, have passed
the Rhine at St. Goar, and formed a jundion
with the body of Pruflians from Coblentz.—
This junction of the Prufiian forces, will ena
ble them to co-operate with the Austrian army
and aft with force against the common ene
my.
FROM FRENCH PAPERS.
PARIS, March 5.
The American papers mention the continu
ance of the bloody war between the states and
the interior Indians. The southern tribes seem
also to be joining the general league, chiefly
owing, we are assured r to Spanish intrigue,
which will not cease to harrafs the United
States, in the fame manner as it did the
French in Hispaniola. Thbfe|ftates arc rapid
ly referred to buy a set of men who will not
fail to corrupt their republican principles;
these are the emigrants from St. Domingo.—
They carry with them their slaves, their follies,
and their vices, which are by no means few
in number. •
It is observed by physicians that from the
philanthropy of the God of nature, certain dis
eases which formerly tormented mankind have
disappeared wholly,or in great part, from the
world. May we not now hope that thedif
eaSe of monarchy, worSe than all the plagues
of Egypt, is also rapidly verging to its period ?
The convention are forming designs against
Rome that no fubmiflions or Supplications of
the High Pontiff will set aside. The repub
lic that burls vengeance upon kings who wear
not the tiara, will allo puniSh in an exemplary
manner, the priest king of jhe Romans——her
vengeance will not be fatisfied till Rome itfelf
is laid in ruins.< It h high' time that this an.
dent city ftould be humbledto the dufhfte
who has temporally or spiritually tyrannized
over the world in all ages, and which the
French have at left proscribed— The monu
ments of ancient art ft all not proted her—they
will be transported toNice and Savoy, that new
“ The firft column fell in, near Belemberg,
' with a body of the enemy, who occupied the
heights between that village and Louvain, in
order to cover the latter. The enemy defend,
ed themselves these with the greatest obstinacy,
but they Were at length overcome, and driven
beyond the river Dyle.
“ This battle was still more bloody than
that of the fccond column, and we reckon our
lo’fs, which is not yet properly afeertained, at
more than 500 men ; the enemy loft above
2000. Our column took poflefTion of three
cannons and one carriage.
“ The enemy abandoned at Louvain a con
siderable magazine. Terror and dilorder have
again increased among their troops. They
have quitted the advantageous poll Which they
occupied on the Iron Mountain, and have en.
camped before Bruflels, between the canal and
sorest of Soignes.
(Signed) SAXE COBOURG.”
[A correspondent wishes us to add to this
account, that it confronts and refutes the ab
surd falfehoods propagated from the Britilh pa
pers in this country, with refpeft to the loss of
the French army on the several aliions of the
19th and 22d of March last. By this accoint
it will be evident, that the courage of he
Frepch soldiery, and the ikill, and addrefsof
their General, are indireftly acknowledged,e
ven by the Austrian commander—as he speaks
of the coolness and order of their retreat, and
of the determined obstinacy ot their defence —
The aggregate of their loss, according to this
impartial authority does not exceed 6 000
men in the several actions. Dumourier on the
firft battle allows but z,odo miffing on his fide
—an^ presumed a much heavier loss on the
fide of the Germans. Putting the two accounts
together we must conclude the actions have
been severe and the adgantage on the fide of
the Auflrians—and the loss of men perhaps
nearly equal—at any rate, the superiority has
not been great, if an official report of the Im
perial General officer, can be admitted as an
authority against the loose, insolent reports of
the Britilh paragrapifts. (Col, Cent.)
the bravery of the imperial troops driven from
all their posts, and forced to evacuate the town
of Louvain, and to retire behind Louvain to
wards Bruflels.
—- V- n—
PENNSYLVANIA.
PHILADELPHIA^ MAY 18.
BY a gentleman who arrived here in 24dayi
from Port-au-Prince, we are informed of
the troubles which happened there last month.
Our informant relies, that Mr. Santhonax,the
national civil commiflioner, arrived there in the
America, of 74 guns, with two large frigates^
on the 4th ot April ; that he issued a thunder
ing proclamation against the inhabitants,whom
he branded with the term of Counter-revciu
tionifts, and imputed to them the cause of the
inSurredions of thj^j^acks; that dur.ng the
sih and 6th thc^Klputes ran high between the
Aristocrats and Democrats ; that on the 7th
the national commiflioners gave orders to the
captains and commanders of the'American and
French merchantmen to quit the port, and to
retire ou t of the reach of the artilleryand gee
under the protection of the ships of war. The!
Captains drew up and Signed a pathetic me
morial, and presented the Same to the commis
sioners, remonstrating against the approaching
deftrudion of the town ; they were, however,
obliged to comply, and retired out of the reach
of cannon Shot, during the 10th and nth.—
On the 12th, at nine o’clock in the morning,
the Ship America commenced amoft dreadful
cannonade against Fort St. Clair ; at the fame
time the frigates began to bombard the town,
and continued that dreadful work till the after
noon. The Forts St. Joseph, St. Clair, and a
nother, returned the fire with desperate intre
pidity, It is computed that thele three ships
discharged about 3500 balls against the town
and forts. The old men, women and children
' ran in different diredions to meet death, 73 of
these were killed on the spot. jA cart loaded
with powdef blew up in one of the forts, by
Which 1 accident 8 persons loft their lives. To
wards the close of the day Mr. Borrell, a lead
ing man in the town, made his escape with-300
white men, and too blacks, to Jacmel. The
commiflioners took pofleflion, and have since
been organizing the troops, and imprisoning
the diSaffeded, 300 of whom are now in jail
there. — — ■ -
/mong a variety of prediiiiont and anticipation f
re-publi/hed at the present interesting period,
the following hat been extradied from a works
publijhed in the year 1701 — by Mr. Robert
Fleming, an eminent Scotch Minifier.
’• There is ground to hope, that about the
beginning of another Such century, things may
again alter for the better—for I cannot but
hope, that fame new mortification ot the chief
Supporters of Anti-Christ will then happen?
and perhaps the French monarchy may begin
to be considerably humbled about that time ;
that whereas the preSent French King takes tile
fun for his emblem, and this for his motto, nec
pluribus impar—ho may at length,or rather his
successor, and the monarchy itfelf, at least be
fore the year 1794, be forced to acknowledge,
that (in refped to neighboring potentates) he
is even fingulisimpar .” Page 53.
« We may justly suppose, that the French
monarchy, after it has Scorched others, will it
felf consume by doing So; its fire, and that
which is the fuel that maintains it, wafting io
fenfibly, till it be exhaufled at last towards the
end of this century, as the Spaniih monarchy
did before, toward* the end of the sixteenth
•ge ” Page 57 58.
Other remarkable ext radsmight be made,
which are omitted on account of their not ap
plying immediately to the present grand revo«
lution in France,* woik which,if it be of God,
cannot be overthrown by all the combined
defpot* and tyrants of the Univerfo. Mad- .
— I —-w—
ENGLAND.
LONDON, APRIL 9.
It is said that the city of Nantes is take pofieflioal
of by the insurgents of Britanny.
By a French paper of the ed, it appears that the
Spaniards have entered in two places near Audaye.
When the French took pofleflion of Breda,they de
stroyed a church organ worth io,coo sterling. They
demolished all the monuments of great and eminent
men, forbade public worship, and tore every book of
piety they could lay hold of.
Horrid as it may seem, a man of the gown,
a preacher of peace, at Cologne, had the cru
elty to propose, upon hearing of the decapita
tion of Louis, to have all the French in that
capita), seized and facrificed on the gaHows to
the ghost of Louis the 16th—an offering that
would have been worthy the divinity they a
dore—despotism ! The propofitioh met with
contempt, and the only advantage gained by
the preacher was tfte reputation of being a good
royalilh.
The duke of Brunswick’s health is in a most
Critical state ; altho’ his physician, B.ckman,
gives him hopes that he is yet worth a dozen
deadmen. Many are afteniffied that he had
not rathbr employed Dr; Willis, rhe famous
physician of George the 3d, and the queen of
Portugal.
The holy Inquisition at Madrid have at last
finished their process upon the damnable books
publiffied m 1792. The number is immenfei
and they have given a lift of them. What is
remarkable is, the two last bulls of the pope
are included in the number, under pretence of
being forgeries.
land of liberty, where travellers in a purer at
mosphere, may contemplate the relics of super
stition and defpotilm, overturned by our arms
in one and the fame instant.
American Intelligence.