The Republican ledger — Portsmouth, N.H., 1800-02-12 00:00:00, page 3

)Fro^nthe Albany Register.
THE paper of Fenno and others of the fame
class in Pennsylvania, have lately been .almost
wholly dictated to the abuse and vilification of
Governor M'Kean, tor having exercised his con
ftitutioQal power of appointing officers, in that
Itate in a manner contrary to the wishes of that
an^lofederal junto, spoken of in the celebrated
letter of Crammond, which hasbeenjuttly denom
inated the Porcupine Club. Some tew persons,
prothonotaries and others who are not thought fit
for the Rations they enjoyed, have it seems been
difmffed bv Mr. NT Kean, and men in his opinion
more deferring and better qualified have f^c eed
ed in the vacancies thus legally & coalbtutionally
made. This change of men is complained of by
the Porcupine club, thro' their organs above men
tioned, as being the height of tyranny ; and as
much clamour is railed in behalf of the drfgraced
partisans as though the proscription of a Marius,
a Sylla, or a Robespierre, were revived under the
administration of that venerable patriot, and uni
form defender of bur republican conftitutitutions.
We~ (hoold think it unnecessary to notice this
fubje& were it not that the papers of the Ch, in
this Rate have joined in the hue and-cry, and from
New-York to Albany the burthen of their .song is
“ the denwerdtic tyranny" exercised over the poor
frothonatories of Pennsylvania ! Certain it is that
a foiritof toleration,as well in politics a# reli-iofo,
to fob amiable not to recommend iifelf with
finable forces to every virtuous heart. But in on
dcr to produce salutary Consequences in society,
this divine spirit should actuate all parties alites
Unfortunately this has not Seen the case amoiq,
us. We have witnefled a reign of terror, when
social intercourse was imbittered and almost sus
pended by the violence of party spirit, arid When
to lisp the accents of republicanism Was deemed a
crime. And since the citizens of -this Rate are
called upon to Sympathize with “ the viflims of
democratic tyranny" in Peiurfylvania, it is but right
to remind them of the persecution which men
have fuffered under our own wild administration.
Let it te rfflember^ that about eighteen months
ago, analffl general proscription was adopted
by wangle federal party in Vermont, when ev
er/ republican who held an office in that Rate was
ddmiffed with more than marked contumely
nearly all in the fame day : let it be remembered
that this example was held up to the ruling party
in this state, by the presses among us devoted to
the Porcupine Club, as being greatly worthy of
imitation, not only by them, but throughout the
union. Was the example of Vermont followed
in this rate, and to what extent ? Let the records
of our Council of Appointment answer this quef
,@n. Do we not all know the men who were the
vidims of this fydem of proscription temen, in
almost every county, whole characters for moral
re&ifude,, no envy or calumny bad ever assailed,
men against whom no mal-conduCt in office could
poffioly be suggested—men who in the adverse
Scenes of our revolution, when success promised to
crown the arms of Britain, and when the cruel
foe was bringing fire and (word into the heart of
this Rate; when Schoharie and Cherry-Valley
were give. ,up to lavage fury, and when "fire
brands, arrows and death'' were scattered thro'
, Efopus, by the hands of British myrmidons, until
that devoted village exhibited only a mournful
pile of ruin! ; men we fay, whom in those gloomy
hours of ill fortue and despondency, did qptfneak
away from the feenes of danger, but with true
courage and genuine patriotifin flood firmly at
their pufts, and aided by their republican valour
to save their finking country. ~
If necessary we would unfold a volume of stub
born fafts, illustrative of what is above aflerted—
but one remarkable case shall at prefect fuffice.
In 1798, a Judge of the common pleas in a certain
county of this date, was faperceded to make room
for a man who happened better to answer 1 def
cripti on more (bitable to the powers that be. The
shades of difference which diftiuguifh .these two'
characters deserve particular notice, especially
from 3hofe modern patriots, who pretend to cen
sure Mr. M'Kean for having, as they fay, dismissed
men from offices which were the “ far rewards
of &ir revolutionary services." The dismissed of
ficer to whom we allude was a real whig of 1776
—the .well-known attachment of his family to the
prigciplea of the revolution 'brought on them the
tigrial vengeance of a merciteG enemy, by whose
hands he saw his paternal mansion dellroyed, and
the fortunes of his family ruined—he had already
joined actively in thecaufe of hit country, and
was honored with a commiffiouin her fervice,—
to that service he lledfallly adhered, and through
guv the reotaton fought with an Itoweß zeal,
and increasing reputation, in support of her vi
olated fights and insulted honor. ; At the dole
of that glorious conceit be returned to the bosom
of domeltic life; and under the adminiftracion of
a real patriot, and one who bad been a brave de
fender of bis injured country, was promoted to the
office above mentioned, the duties of which he is
known to have fulfilled with the mod honorable
fidelity. But what was the charter of the man fe
lefted to fopply the place of this long tried, faith
ful servant of the people A It is true he had been a
pretended whig of 1776 —had accepted a commif
uon in the revolutionary army, and railed a com
pany of recruits for the honorable service—but,
/" Qh what a falling off was here !") shall we fay,
that he defected his principles and his post—basely
deferred his country's cause, @nd with a few delta
ed followers, resorted to the bloody standard of
the Anglo-Savage in Canada ? Shall we add, that
under this standard of murder and conflagration,
he ted as the zealous co-adjutor of a band of
miffeants who devastated our frontiers, and em
( brued their hands in the blood of our defencelefs
women and children I Shall we fay further, that
such a man has not only been received and tolerat
ed in the bosom of that country he had betrayed,
but exalted to office in preference to a citizen
whose belt days had been facrificed with zeal and
honor in her service. And all such things Daft un
noticed, whilst the good sense of the communitv
is insulted by the whinnings of a pack of venal
blockheads about the offers of “ democratic ty
ranny," as if the people were capapble of tyran
nizing over themselves.
Obe Republican Lag preacher,
- % No.i b
T 9 mar Twite trirt is a nmr, 4ND
a TIMS TO trzkr PURtoez Omder
MKaTEN.
This being admitted, and few will pretend to
difonte it, the wife and prudent will always en
draftto improve the fafon to the bell advantage,
especially as these feafous do not occur every day,
all if negle^ed,the confequeoces are more or fofe
< dedraaive. according to the nature of the thing.
\ An inattention to this bufihefs, has often been pro
la&vt oirem evil, especially in political affairs,
and more particularly) in the elediort of rulers. —
The feafora for this bulinefs have been criminally
neglected; by those whose higher imereft depend
ed upon a prompt attention to them; The privi
lege of electing rulers by the tree & uncontrouled
fuffrages of people, is of a value too high for esti
mation ! Not to improve it to the belt advantage,
not scrupulously to attend to it, is inconfifteotwitl>
reason and common sense, and uifgracetul to Re
publicans.—The many evils, bf which Republicans
juttly complain, are, in a manner chargeable to
this source. By thus neglecting your privilege,
you have given your enemies an opportunity to
gain analarrtling afeendercy in your fctoitilv-,
and how they have exercised this power recent
events will determine. Then having ferftered in
so essential a matter, will you, by your own con
duct, by an unpardonable remissness, ernfaueyour
cum Sufferings —Purely not. You will aw ake to
your belt interests—you will recollect what the
Preacher fays—that—“ to every thing there is a
season : and a TIME to etoy pur,oje under hea
ven." The season for the choice or rulers is tail
approaching-—IMPROVE IT WELL- Rally
round the standard of republicanism—fay ye to
one and other, come—let us go to the choice of
onr rulers. On the day, which may be appointed
for this purpose, let every Republican be upon the
stand. Strength is made by the adheGon of parts.
“ Two are better than one—for if they fall, the
toe will help up his fellow—-and a threefold cord is
%ot easily broken." "
- Republicans 1 attend to the sdnfofflb, of the
Preacher—he fays " there is a time to rend, and
a time to few—a time to. keep silence, and a time
to speak.—The organs of information have long
beet ifitent : it is now time to speak, and to speak
to the Rwpofe. Then by the love for Freedom
and theffghis of Man—by your attachment to
our —^publican systems of governments and by
your veneration for the manes of those heroes who
laid down their lives on the altar pf Freedom,( that
you might enjoy the rights of men and citizens,)
arouse to a sense of the importance of these privi
leges which you will fbortly be called upon to ex
ercife—and improve the season worthy yoittfelves
—The insulting I/hmaelites have mocked long
enough—by your determined conduit let them
know that there is a time to every purpose under
heaven— a time to go into office, and— a time to
go out. Let your conduct be worthy of men and
citizens. In every thing exemplify your attach
ment to order and government, rear not your
oppofers—for of them we may fay—"tf thc&feeft
the oppreflion tfthe poor, and a violent perverting
of judgment and jufece in a province, marvel not
at the matter, for he that is higher than the high
est regardeth ; and there be higher than they."
The Feds of Pennsylvania are emitting their
virulence against Goy. OPKean for exercising the
power given him by the Confutation of dilplac
ing sundry characters obnoxious to Republican
ism. For this conduct, he has been vilely calum
niated, as having afted a part impolitic and ipju.
dicious, which, instead of conciliating will have a
tendency further to divide the various parties in
the United States. It would have been well for
these friends to order and government, if they had
difeovered the fame anxiety for the conciliation
of parties, at the time when they fopnofed them
selves so firmly fixed in power and influence, that
there was 40 danger of their being removed. At
the period alluded to, Republicans, however cele
brated for integrity, Ivere repeatedly removed
from office—for what reason , not for mal-ad
minifration, for with this they were not charged,
but because they could not confeiencioufly acqui
efee in all the measures of government. And to
add to the business, their places have, generally
freaking, been filled with persons inimical to the
late revolution. The republicans are patiently
bearing all this, ahd more—we hear of no mobs,
or infurre&ion,, or riots. How do the disap
pointed Federalists conduct themselves, when
Something similar has happened to them. They,
at oneqforget their much favoured doftrine, *' 0-
bedience to the powers that be" — but loft to sense,
to order and decency, fly right in the face of gov
ernment (or of its organ, the chief magistrate,)
and are not very moduli in their observations.
Gag-bills to the contrary notwithflandiog, 1t is
highly necefry that the conduct of these men
ihould be properly cagvaffed, in order to deter
mine, whether they are Friends to government or ;
to a party aeJMim According to their former
maxims, implicit faith and confidence Ihould be
placed in the government - and if any of its ads
are not agreeable, the people are, and ought to be
bound to abide by them. We will hot pretend to
dispute this do&ine, but we would alk—ls the
condud of these men (especially in Pennsylvania)
conformable to it? Do they discover that pa
fence and forbearance, which those people have
difeovered, whom they have been in the habit 01
dubbing dtfargonfter;; Jacobins, &c. ? let the im
partial reader decide. Cramped as we are at
present, we are tenable that in many cases, we
can emit but feeble rays of Light. We hope,
however that the artificial clouds which are plac
ed between us andthe people will soon be remov
ed, and that the period is not far diflant when
truth will not be considered # crime, nor a decent
iuveftigation of the condu& of men, Jedition. N
EXTRACT.
I am a plain country man Mr. Editor $ I
love to take my glass and my pipe with my neigh
bours, and when we have difeuffed the common
news of our township, the weather and the ap
pearance of the crops we naturally fall upon the
more general topic of politics § I do not pretend
to underhand much about the matter, however 1
join in the conversation, and have hitherto en
<leavonred to fopport my opinions such as they are,
by what is usually called argument and mfeUiug |
but whether these are not the right fort £ weap
ons, or from my unikillfulneft in the use ot them,
hey have seldom proved adequate in my hands to
ihe purpose of confutation or conviction when'
used against persons well read in the Newspaper
politics of the day. My adversaries of this de
scription, generally obtain a decisive anvantage by;
the dextrous use of certain nick-names, to which
as Idonot understand the precise meaning of them,
I am unable to reply.
Some practical inconvenience I remember to
have {offered from this mode of attack during the
war. I pretty well understood the quertion be
tween us and Great-Britaiu. I knew that if we
were governed without consent, or taxed without
our consent, tliere might be no limit to coercion
or taxation, but the will of those who taxed or
governed us. But in the course of the war
the terms WOO H fam, came in vogue; and
ate Bepubitcan tcagcr.
Portsmouth, February 12, tfai
1 found that when used by the prevailing parti
zans for the time being,ail argument and reason
ing gave way before these conquering appellations.
So, triend ire I was tothe caule of American Inde
pendence, yet being somewhat too idle, too peace
able, and too domestic to engage, in or approve
the violent measures of any .party, 1 became fuf
petted da a Tory by the Whigs, and would have
been hung as a Whig by the tories, had the latter
unfortunately fiA&kl. Under one or other, or
both of these undersigned appellations, the opulent
and the peaceable were 4 almost certain to _be
clafa according to the prevalence of their more
alt# otifaurs antedher fide. 1 felt experi
ment, tty at that time the truth of the proverb,
™ give a tiog an ill name, and hang him."
During the interval of peace that succeeded I
thought and I found that |t was enough for a man
to be a good pitizeb, to merit and obtain the es
teem of his neighbours : the disputes about the
present confutation though warm, did not ope
rate so unplea Gently as the contells of opinion dur
ing the war.
Os late however 1 find, that if I ent,er into any
political dilcuffion, lam completely interdicted
from every thing like argument by the applica
tion of certain new tangled words -partly of our
oWn growth, and partly of foreign importation ;
and the n^re i^foite and unintelligible they
are, the more powerful items to be their influ
ence. Some of them lam informed are ofGreek,
some of French, some of jinglifb and some of A
imrican production; but from the quarrels, the
rancour, the violence and the injustice they occa
lion, I am inclined to ascribe to them a much loos
er origin and to believe that Satan himfeif imports
ed them from his own Country.
1 will not pretend to define or describe an Aris
tocrat, a Democrat, a Jacobin, a Sans-Culotte, a
Frenchman, an Anarchist, a Revolutionist, a Lev
eller, a Diforgamfer, a Regicide, a Liberticide,
&c. &c. &c. or even a Federal, an Antifederal, or
a Friend vs Government ; for I am utterly unable
to fix their boundary lines, or trace their (hades
of difference ; and I make perpetual blunders
when [attempt to apply them to my neighbours.
Jacpbiqifm and Democracy 1 for some time sus
pected were the names of certain contagious ma
iignant fevers; for our dodor (a friend of govern
ment as life calls himfeif) often declared the coun
try was terribly infested with them and required
to be well purged ; that if lie was Mr. Adams he
Ihould know what to prescribe ; that such inflam
matory humours required drastic remedies and
plentiful venefelbion ; and seemed much a
verse to visit any patient whom he foppofed to
have them. All I can find out with certainty on
this fubjett is, that whatever the true meaning of
these names may be, the most hot-lieaded, the moss ,
ignorant, the most interested, and those who have
been suddenly railed from indigence to opulence
are the mod ready to apply them.
Suppose Mr. Editor, as the country is not very
rich, that a license be necessary for the present vo
cabulary, and a good round tax laid on the future
Importation of these outlandilh words ; the per
son fifft using them to be deemed the importer
and liable to the duty? If we go on as we have
done of late years, they might be made to produce
a very pretty revenue,
1 bave been fometimet tempted to form my
own opinions when these terms have been liberal
ly bellowed, by the rule of the Clown in Germa
ny, who li&g afzed what benefit he could derive
from attending the Latin disputations In the Di
vinity Schools, when he did not underhand a word
of the language, “ I can always find out (fays he)
who has the best of the argument by observing who
firft gets into a passion." So have I generally
found, that disputants in politics who abound most
in the argument of nicknames, have little else to
fopport their opinions. I remember a flory Mr.
Editor, not inapplicable to the present fubjeft,
refpefting nicknames of another description, of
whose import 1 muff confefs myfelf equally ig
norant.
Three pallors of Congregations in the neigh
borhood of Boston, joined on the road one Sun
day as they were riding to their refpe&ive placet
of preaching. They naturally couverfed offthe
Rate of religion among their flocks, and while thus
engaged they were overtaken by a Farmer. “ 1
am much chagrined (fays one of them) to find that
some of my Congregation are strongly inclined to
Arminidnifa ; good works are a broken reed,
and 1 fear they are too much relied on. I with 1
bad no more to complain of, fays the second than
yourfelf, but a more dangerous doctrine has made
its appearance among my people, they are tinftur
ed with the berefy of &ty&afa: Sociniani^D !
Bad indeed far# the firff l pr^ God yop may
Succeed in getting rid of fc So do 1 too (fays the
third) but 1 have a mil more baneful opinion to
contend with in the course of my duty ; what
(cried the two firft) worse than Socinianifm ? Yes,
my friend, it to with Dei/m, that I have to com
bat," They looked at each other with artonifh
ment : they joined in common lamentation : a
more dreadful evil could not happen : a more ter
rible enemy they could not encounter. "1 really
am not acquainted Gentlemen, fays the Farmer)
with the difficulties you have to deal with, for 1
do not well underhand what these Iftns are; 1
dare fay they are very bad things, but 1 am much
mistaken if there be not a worse ism than either of
them in our township. “What—worse than
Deism I Impossible: Sir, you cannot surely mean
Athtym ? No indeed,Gentlemen, fays the Farmer,
1 have a notion it mult be still worse than that, it
is tW Rkeumatifm."
Tell me Mr. Editor, if a man be a good Citizen,
a good American, a good Republican, working
his farm, supporting his family, obeying the laws,
paying his taxes, and drinking his mug of cyder
in good humour with alt the world, should he be
hunted down as an Aristocrat, or fleered at as#
Tory;oHticted out of company as a Jacobin, or
have Qy W these hard 4 v o wed hr tbrowo at
tod KWW, Scribe to ,e infallibility
of hit opponent? Some iulormatibn on this sub
j& would o@ a plain Cowart** Man.
A report (Ays * correspondent) is in circulation
among the royalists, that their tiatmeh,and reputa
ble friend Porcupta the Brityh printer, mutt sub
mit to |fpprifonment, unless a fubfeription is set On
toot for hit relief— the thing is indeed already cut
Bud dried. Would it not be equally laudable in
these treigds of religion, morality and good order,
to apply money (favuig the price of a few pounds of
40,) tel purpose more confident With their pro
feffions. (When &ccufed of being a British faction,
they difevoW the charsaer ; yet when the avowed
Brttij&prlnter is made to Gaffer for his villainous at
tempts tprum the charter and fortune of one of
the most ufeful and virtuous men in America, these
pretended Amtriteu open their purses with a de
gree of liberality worthy of a better cause, to save
Hhis Mate from his merited fate— and yet
these men ate not #W@ faction! [N.Y.ft
:OFFICIAL COPY.;
The undersigned, Secretary of State, has receiv
ed his Majefty'scommand, to inform Mr. King
,that his Majesty has judged it expedient, to fufo
pend, for the present, the blockade of all the ports
in the United Provinces, which was eftabli ihed b,
his Majefly's orders, and which was announced to
Mr. King by the undersigned, in his Note, dated
March 21st. (Signed) -'
GRENVILLE.
Downing-,reet, Nov. 27, 1799.
DIVIDENDS.
The Bank of the United States, at Philadelphia,
has declared a dividend of 16 dols. per share, for
the last fix months—which is at the rate of 8 pf, est
per annum. The Bank of North America, at $ per
cent, for fix months : And Bank of Pennsylvania
±8 dols, per share, for 6 months.
Osborne's Ratine Lift
ENTE RED.
6th, Brig Lucy, Smith, Emden:
10th, Ship Mary, Hilton, St. Übet, via Defeat
OFFICIAL.—A letter from Mr. Elmflie, at the
Cape of Good Hope, to the Secretary of fate, h'
forms of two French privateers cruising off the
Brafil Coast,
The Eitzi, Capt. Lament, arrived at New York, left St.
Kitta Jan. 8. On the id, the U. S. (hip Ganges, carried into St.
Kitts, a French Privateer brig mounting 16 guns, & manned with
lao men. She was from Guadeloupe, and had captured several
American veffela. An officer of the, Ganges said, that of 36 A
merican vessels captured the preceding month, 18 had been re
taken.'
One Hundred Dollars reward.
WHEREAS fame evil minded person
o persons did on Friday evening left
break off the tops and thereby ruined a num
ber of beautiful young growing trees, that
were planted in the upper end of Broad
st reet, in this town the year past, at confi
derablc expence, and would have been a
great ornament and benefit to the public, if
they were not injured by the hands of vio
lence—And as many of the inhabitants of
Portsmouth intend importing such trees
from Philadelphia and planting them in the
streets and public walks in this town, if the,
are to be destroyed by the nefarious hands of
every vittate palling by, w ithoat puniffiment,
the profpea muff be at an end, it such prac
tices are not retained.
Therefore the Selectmen hereby offer the
above reward of one hundred dollars to '
person or persons that will give evidence fuf
ficient to convia the perpetrators thereof to
such punilhment as they justly deserve for
such infamous behaviour, and if there be
any accomplice in destroying the trees &►
bove mentioned, that will give such evidence ;
as to convia the offender, he or she (hall be
forgiven, and (hall be intitled to the &v<
reward.
GEORGE GAINS,\
BIOSES woodward!
saopi hatchings, >&&wt
...ELIJAH HALL. ( .^
^MUEL DELWQ)
Arfora^, Aft <4, it,
Gen.Touiffaint of St. Domingo, having pronoun
ced a judgment in favor of an American citizen,
lays in a letter to Me. Ritchie, Consul of the Unite
ed States, at Port-au Prince; “ This is.a proof of
the protection to your /commerce which llntt
promised you"
The answer of the Senate of Pennfylvaub t o
Goveuor M'Kean's Speech, breathes a manly
firmnefs and decision which we did not expert
from the Senate of the (late. They present, even
at his own . door, a glowing pitlure of his iniquit
ous nakedness ; and if the fmallell ray of decency
animates his mass of bones, he Will (brink from
public view, with a full and complete conyiftion
of his injustice—like the tarrapin to his (hell, not
only with fear, but with thame ! !!! [N.KGo.
A New-York paper of Feb. 1, fays, that a ship from Liverpool,
in 49 days, was then coming up the harbor.
BOSTON, FEE. 7.
On Tuefday night was wrecked on Hampton Beach, brig Lucy,
Smith, from Embden for Newburyport. Cargo saved with dam
age. She had a passage of §8 days ; and left there, three Boston
vessels. On her passage spoke a Slip from Wifeaffet for Liverpool.
On Monday or Tuesday left was cast away near N. Bedford
the sch. Diligence, Williams, 77 days from Gibralter for Boston,
It is feared that the vessel and most of the cargo will be toft.
NAVY ARTICLES.
The Conftitntiqu of 44guns, Capt. Talbot, was
cruising off the Mole the fft Dec. in co. withjhe
Boston, of 32 guns, Capt. Little.
The General Green, of 32 guns, Capt. Perry ;
was at the Cape, refitted and ready for sea.
All the crews healthy and in fine spirits. No
officer of either of the frigates had been imprifou
ed at the Cape, as reported.
The Conttellatiou, of 36 guns, Capt. Truxton,
was spoke Jan. 1 bound to the Weft-Indies.
FRESH GOODS.
Plad and ftrip'd Ginghams, plad
and mourning Chintzes, Muffins & muffin Hand*
kerchiefs all kinds, Shawls and cotton Romals,
cotton, worded and silk Bofiery.
Fashionable steel, plated, gilt %
other Buttons, very cheap.
Gentlemens' satin beaver & bea.
ver Hats, Ladies ditto, Boys ditto.
Satins and Modes, Taffetas and
Tiffanies.
Wm. STANWOOD, jr.
Has ju& received a fre/h fopply 0,
GOODS,
. Among l irtich are,'
CUperfine, middling & common
kJ Broad Cloths, Forest Cloths, Devonshire Kei,
feys, Coatings, Cafimeres and Swandowns, Rose
Blankets, Baizes and Flannels all colours, Duran#
arid Tammies, Wildboars and Camblets, Velvets,
Corduroys and Tbickfets.'
Irish and check'd Linens, India
Cottons per piece or yard-—all which will be
fold at the lowed rat,.
Portsmouth, Feb. n, 1800.