Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1804-09-04 00:00:00, page 2

found in the Administratim of Washington ofAdams!
Daring that of the latter, only three individuals were
displaced, and one of those at the time was a feder
alist. But way do I mention these characters :—Mr.
IJ£&£on°\ glory exists only in his opposition to them.
however ask.;, whether the dismission of.
officers "protects the rights ot}he minor-.
EWhether it " restores to social„uitercourse
^Lrmonv, without which lite is bot a ^reary #
Wltetlier it " banishes political intcli-r
--despot
that difference ot opinion io not dd-,
principle?" Is it not rather violating the
■LCbywhiclithcminorily arcguardeda
m^ssion? Isit not cuitingthc cards ol iia
frettas, annihilating social harmony, and
: irritation ^
.war and entire ruin ? is it not
die community, because they will
•postles ofadcmocracy, tcndingto
, the oi ' ' virtue by placing .man under the .
h coiri impassions!
The bi election can alone, preserve a
fylfot foment, for virtue is its ba, .
, then can be. thought of the pretensions ot . Jet-
Aferson th republicanism, when it is known that, alter ,
solemnly, inculcating the important truth, that pun?
r tv and freedom of election can alone make datable ,
our civil institutions, he should, within toe shor
, "space of two years, attempt to influence it oy cor
responding, and soliciting a particular person, even
' against his inclination, to be candidate ^or iepre^
7 tentative to Congress ? Strange as suga facts may
seem, they ret exist in a case in Delaware ; and
perhaps conytifotethe first link in the chain ofevents,
dforid to platens in the calm of despotism. Tae
cause of eternal political iruth, as it is called,depends
- nut on elections, cannot be supported except by the
r interference of the President—a greater outrage on
the right of the citizens, than ever characterized
the British' .King ; for he never uses his personal
influence ;, his ministers, alone are the instruments
,of corruption. Hereafter we need not look to other
countries for influenced elections, we can find them
- in our own, the work of a man, who lias been the
' most constant declaimer on the importance of their
^ freedom< 1•
' '- The sctind economy, has been the talisman of power
• to the Executive.; 'That he shold so soon forget the
' clamor, originating from tliis topic under a former
administration, seems to manifest a belief, that his
iconstituents repose in him a confidence, w hich he
r# is at liberty to abuse. What could induce him to
lay out thirty- two thousand dollars on the Berceau,
~the ship of a nation, who had robbed us of thirty
millions of dollars ? The treaty with France did
not authorize him to do it, unless it is construed so,
as to charge us with making wanton and unpro
' yoked aggressions on her property. Does any Amer
ican believe, that such is the natural and obvious con- 1
- struction of this treaty ? thatthemeasure of our degra
dation might be more fall, Mr Dawson must be sent,
the harbinger'of our minister, to a nation, which
■ hadadded insult to injury .But he probably desired to
- travel, become acquaited with foreign fashions, pay
the homage of his high respect to Pom l'aine ; and
thought that his private interest required the Pre
• sident to defray his expenses from the national trea
sury, under pretence of carrying the treaty. Do
theie and the other fiscal acts of Mr. Jefferson, which
we have mentined, and shall more particularly no
tice, show that economy is his favorite virtue ? Do
they not rather display a total disregard to our na
tional welfare?
We have now concisely considered the inaugural
speech of the President, a tinselled mockery of the
understanding of fc nation. Whether the result
' of bur c%r,arison Ofhis actions with it, is not a com
plete picture of inconsistency, a virtuous and eu
lightenOd community must judge.
HUME.
• THE actions of some men appear to be directed
by a certain fatality. In different situations they
seem unable to exercise their v.mal sagacity in tra
cing effects from causes and infering future things
from a consideration of those, which have passed.
If they rise from a humble beginning to the posses
sion of power, the elevation darkens their under
standing, and induces a wrong judgment. Men of
the most extraordinary intellect sometimes totally
lose their caution and prudence. These remarks
Forcibly apply to one of Mr. Jefferson's productions.
As displaying weakness of understanding, and a dis
position, which ought by no means to be pleasing to
its possessor, it will long remain a literal, phenom
eiion on the page of history. His reply to the re
monstrance of the merchants of New-Haven on the
removal of Mr. Goodrich in 1801, came foi th un
masked ; and, instead of the magnanimity of a chief
magistrate was marked only by the vindictive teel
' ings of a partizan, irritated by a just opposition.
tie will avalize it.
'ln the very beginning of the reply the President
teems to feel conscious of the impropriety <v his
conduct ; for he speaks of the "appointments of
“S imuel Bishop to the office of collector of New
" Haven, lately vacated by the death of David Aus
"tiu.” Was 'not then the office filled by the ap
pointment and acceptance of Mr. Goodrich, before
Mr. Bishop's promotion to it ? If it were not, the
philosophical genius of Mr. Jefferson must have in
vented a logic, by which he can prove Mr. Good
rich a nonentity ; bv which he can shew his remo
* Val of a person from officers sufficients round to in
" fer that it Was never in possession. Had this been
true how ridiculous was the remonstrance, how ab
surd' the reply ; to remonstrate, and reply about
nothing. But we ask pardon for thus sporting with
even the meanest capacity. The truth is, the exec
utive desired to make his professions and actions ac
" cord, though he was not happy enough to hit a sem
blance of consistence. . n Q .
By defending the appointment the President has
shown a determination to persevere in the course,
prescribed to him bv party, against the light of bet
• ter information. The merchants of New-Haven
had unequivocally declared the unfitness of Mr.
Bishop for the office, to which he had been appoint
ed They had informed the executive that his age
was great ; that he labored under a full portion of
those infirmities, which are its necessary attendant;
that he was unacquainted with the business of an
accountant ; that weakness mid debility of mind
must probably prevent him from ever qualifying
himself ; and that his eyesight was so bad, ne could
with difficulty write his name. Mr. Jefferson does
not question the truth of these objections.—He con
fesses that "the knowledge of characters, possessed
by a single individual, is of necessity limited, and
that information concerning them is often incorrect
from the best men, acting from the purest motives.
But he answers their objections to the appointment
bv a mode of reasoning, the merit of discovering
which will exclusively be given him. It is simply
this ; because Mr. Bishop was acquainted with the
dutv of important offices, which had been entrusted
to him by the Assembly of Connecticut, therefore
he must be acquainted with the duty of the office of
collector ; and because Franklin at 77 was an orna
No. V.
nent of hUrttatt nature, therefore, at THAT AGE,
the Usefulness of Mr, Bishop must Ite an object of
attention; This singular defence, the derision of e
ireu a School boy, necessarily originated from the
circumstances of the Case.—The emolument of the
office was not for the person, appointed, but as a re
ward for the faithful services of his son, so infa
mous, that Mr. Jefferson himself dared not then ha
zard his reputation by openly promoting him. Such
i+iful conduct admitted only so pitiful a defence.
The.next paragraph, in this climax Os weakness
and passion explains part of the inaugural speech
of the President as well, as shows his hostility to a
former administration.* He often wanders from his
subject to express the bitterness of his feelings a
gainst it. He says, that 'declarations by himself in
favor of political intolerance, liarniony in social in
tercourse, and respect for the equillights of the
minority, liave been misconstrued into assurances,
that the tenure,of offices was to be undisturbed.
An obvious and natural construction of his words
then must not be put on them. Mr. Jefferson con
tends, then can be only construed rightly by an as
sumption of the principle, that a due participation:
of office's by different parties is a matter of right.
• But the principle is false. It can be inferred only
-from his exercise of power, as tire leader of a party.
This however cannot be reconciled with the ojhgu
tions, under which the constitution has placed him ;
so that the charge of inconsistence of conduct and
profession will still apply to him. His inquiry con-,
cerning a candidate ought not to be, whether he be- ,
Tong to Any political party ; but whether he have
Ithe necessary qualifications.-^-When the former is
Imade the inquiry, the dignity and splendor of his
Isituation dwindles into an insignificant litt eness.m
I Upnce would have exceeded the limit of crcdibd
ity, to suppose the President of the United States, J
capable of descending from his exalted situation, to
: censure the former administration. He has how
, ever done it in several of Ills official communica
tions. Not content with censuring, lie has alledged
- against it charges of misconduct, which if true, the,
constitution would punish. The reply contains lan-I
guage, as extraordinary, as tlie following. "How
"are vacancies to be obtained ? Those by death are
"few, by resignation none. Can any other mode ।
"than removal be proposed ? I shall proceed with I
"deliberation, that it may be thrown as much as
"possible, on delinquency, oppression, intolerance,
"and antirevolutionary adherence to our enemies."-.
Was it true then that Mr. Adams appointed to|
offifice delinquents,—oppressors, the intolerants
and antirevolutionary adherents^ to # enemies ?
These charges could not be a small crime. I hey
were sufficient to subject him to an impeachment.
Why then were not these persons pointed out, and
liimsclf arraigned at the bar of the great tribunal
of the nation ? Because the charges were false ; Mr.
Jefferson must have known them false. He never
could have permitted himself to make it, unless p<%-
4 sion had banished the tliouglit oi detection, and the
infamy, which must be its consequence. If howev
er the charges had been true, it did not comport with
the situation of chief magistrate, to seek opportuni
ties of raising the signal of contention, after %he
doors of liohor and confidence Were burst open foi
the redress of fancied grievances, though the prefer
tribunal ought to have noticed them. It discovered
fears concerning the continuation or his power. It
manifested a revengeful temper wnichcould be sat
isfied alone by draging its victims from private lue,
and immolating their reputation on the altar of
' The rights 1 exercise of authority by the Federal
administration is also a subject of animadversion.
File President tells us, "persons were appointed to
"office, in the last moment of an administration,
•not for its own aid, but to begin a career with its
'successors.'' Did then Mr. Adams and his fi rends
transgress the limits, prescribed to them by the con-'
Citation by the appointment of Mr. Goodrich, be
fore the determination of their power ? Or was Mr.
Jefferson impatient to possess himself of their spoils,
drat he so eagerly desired to strip them, while li'^
mg ? Tame indeed would they have been, had they
left offices unfilled, or stood silent spectators of the.
national concerns from fear of offending the libeller
of their character. But the strain of complaint does
not here cea^e. Mr. troodrich ought not to have
accepted tlie office, before he knew tiurt; those,whose
agent he was to be, would have confidence in his a
• genev. What'—The reputed greatness of the au
. Ghor only can be a justification dor answering such
an objection. It could not be pleasant, nor was Mr.
Goodrich obliged to rcsort toan administration, tie
commence hient of whose course was -marked with
persecution, and against whose attacks tlie most
splendid reputation was no security.
The feelings of Mr. Jefferson fully unsold them
selves in tlie progress of his reply. jTy^ard the
close of jt he openly assures that he will insure good
men least in his displacements from office. 1 lie pel ion
?then indeed has arrived, when goodness is sureto
bethe prey of oppression. The partizans of the
present government must either have been deceit ed,
or totally devoid of moral principles, to have coun
tenanced a man, who openly professes his disrespect
for integrity and virtue. Nothing less however
could be expected, after there was evidence, how
little a sentiment of religion influenced his heart.
No modern nation has witnessed a similar specta
cle. It- was reserved for America to exliibit in a
cliief magistrate a dereliction of principle, which
cannot be found in States, the most corrupt.
The last thing which places the President one step
further from the path of rectitude, if possible, is,that
after he has injured good men, 'till thereby a due
participation of office, he shall proceed to inquireof
candidates "whether they are honest, capable, and
faithful to the constitution." It seems then that the
state of society was such, that these qualifications
could not be regarded. Prompter correctives, than
vacancy of office by deatli, or resignation, were need
ed. The hungry maw of democracy would not be
flattered to wait," until a short enquiry into charac
ter and reputation could be made. Virtue must be
bound a victim at its shrine, and tlie affairs of the na
tion committed to the ruffian management of vice.
Such profligacy of sentiment will remain in faithful
memory, a disgrace on our national character, until
the iron hand of time shall erase the inscription from
the marble monument and the pyramid be crumbled
b to dust. HUME.
Mow Landing from on board schooner Enterprize,
from Philadelphia,
AND FOR SALE BY #
John Langdon, jr.
Philadelphia IRON, in square and fiat bars.
3d. 4d. and 6d. Hhd. Hoop IRON.
And in Store,
20 bales Upland Georgia COTTON ; of a su
''"x^^ PEPPER and PIMENTO;
Fresh superfine and scratch'd Philadelphia
and New-York FLOUR;
Pilot and Ship BREAD ;
A few catks bottled ALE and PORTER.
Bystreet, August 31, 1804.
Mr. Duane,
Sir— Be pleased to publish the enclosed extract of
a letter from the commercial agent of the United'
States, at the port of Antwerp, dated May 24. ~
P. MUHLENBERG, Collectors
PHILAD. AUG. 26.
We have information from the best authority, that
the yellow fever is prevalent on board a fleet of Bri
tish ships at New-Providence. We think it proper
to publish the fact, that the citizens of the several
ports may be on their guard.
. NEW-YORK, AUG. 25.
ANISH CASH.—Letters from Cadiz, of the 26th
of April, says a London paper, state a circumstance
vriiich ought not to be passed, over in silence, & yet
it is not easy to see how the evil can be prevented,
without causing a sacrifice in,a commercial point
of view. , I
I The greater part of the annual subsidy paid by
Spain to France,is carried hometo England,by British
men of war, from Cadiz, and from England remit- ;
ted in bills to Hamburgh, where it is paid to French ?
,agents. Within these two months,the following sums
are stated to have been, shipped on board the follow
ing shipson account of the French government,though;
nominally consigned to merchants in London, viz. by;
,th6 Diana, 500,000 dollars ; by the Monmouth,;
! 460,000 dollars ; and by the Orpheus, 6,400,000 dol-|
lars.i
This is the only safe mode the Spaniards have of!
sending their silver to France, which constitutes the
greater part of their remittances, and it is attended
with great advantages.—The dollar at Cadiz is
worth only four shillings and a penny, and in Lon
don, at the same time these particular remittances'
were made, their value was about 4/9 which yields
a gain to the French of about 7 per cent after pay
ing freight, insurance and commissions.
It surely deserves the consideration of government
whether our ships of war should be permitted to be
the carriers of money passing from Spain to France
to be employed in paying those very armies which
are destined for our destruction.
The gold can be transported from Spain to France ,
on mules, but the silver, which forms three fourths)
of their mode of payment, is too bulky to be Convey-;
ed a long journey by tliis mode of conveyance with- °
out great delay, expence, and inconvenience. A
million sterling in silver requires 2000 mules to trans
port it, allowing each to carry five hundred pounds
weight ; and the journey from Cadiz where trea
sure is all landed from South America, cannot be
performed to Paris with a train of loaded mules in
less tlian two months,whereas by the present mode is
generally reaches Paris in less than five weeks, with a
'-profit of 7 per cent apd wiebtyui. risk after paying all
expences. •
NEW-HUVEN, AUG. 30, 1804.
I On the 31st July last was received at Milford by
I Mr. Um. Durand, (a federalist and a worthy citi
zen) an order to resign his office as Post-master.
Mr. D has feld the office 10 years. At an inter
view with the Post-master General, he was assui
ed, that he should continue to hold the same until he
should voluntarily resign :—But agreeably to the e
conomv of the " powers that be, he was not appri
sed of the least official advice, before the order for
his removal arrived.—ln order to shew the ccsisten
cv of great men, it may be observed, that at ano
ther interview with the P. M. G. about 14 months
since, at which time it was contemplated to lay out
I the present turnpike yoad through Milford Mr.
IGranger observed to Mr. Durand that should tlie
L turnpike be carried through tlie upper road, he
should be under the necessity to remove the office,
but if it came the lower road he Mr. D. should re
tain the office. , , , ,
The turnpike was carried through the lower
route, but Mr. Durand is nevertheless deprived of
his office !
° " In consequence of the late instructions given by
the French government to their different marine of
ficers, to examine all neutral vessels that may enter
the ports of France, it being alledged, that the Eng
lish ships of war have put persons on board that are
not admirable ih this country ; I judge it adviseable
tomfbrin all masters of vessels, and the citizens of
the United Strtes, that it is not only necessary that
all the officers and crews should be on the roll of e
quipage, but likewise all passengers, who must, not
withstanding, have regular passports that they are
citizens of the United States, or such other country
as they may belong to, (not English,)"
In the sch. John, from St. Tliomas, came passen
ger Madame Maria-Louis.Touissant, widow of the
General Touissaut Louverture.
Capt. Green, of the brig Lucy-Ann, arrived at
Baltimore, in 40 days from Cadiz, was informed, by
the Vice Consul, that it was probable a uar would
take place between Spain and the United States.
The report was current in .Cadiz, the cause suppo
sed to be some dispute about Louisiana ; it was so
much believed by some of the Americans, that they
^ere hurrying to get away as fast as possible.
This alarm, we presume, gained currency at Ca
diz, on the refusal of Spain to ratify her convention
having become public there. We suspect, however
they have over-rated the spunk of our executive, &
its regard for the commercial interests of our coun
try. Some writing patriot, with another extra out
fit of 9000 dollars,will hush up the matter and soothe
the fierce Dons with another sacrifice of the claims
of our merchants, happily not so great, but no thanks
to our government for that, as that already made to
France. Bal. Gaz.
FURTHER FROM CADIZ JULY 20.
By the brig Neutrality, Capt. Wadsworth, arriv
ed at this port yesterday from Cadiz, we understand
that the differences mentioned in the above account
and their consequent rumours, had existed in that
place prior to his sailing ; but that it was not finally
expected they would occasion a war between the two
Countries. Capt W. further adds, that the Spanish
Court had refused to confer with Mr. Jefferson s
Ambassador on tlie subject of the Convention, and
that Mr. Pinckney, conceiving himself irreverently
treated by this procedure, had demanded passports
for his return to America.
A gentleman who has arrived in New-York, from
Antigua, imornis, that an expedition, was fitting out
at Barbadoes, understood to be destined to take pos
session of St. Martins and St. Eustatia, but some
PF~~~—™re^*=^^^^
BY THE LATEST MAILS.
^— _■■:::# O^ ^>:::_• —=
Philadelphia, AUG. 2%
COLLECTOR'S OFFICE.
BOSTON, AUG. 30.
AFFAIRS WITH SPAIN.
FROM THE WEST-INDIES.
1 Philad. Aug, 17,
NEW-YORK, AUG. 25.
supposed intended for Martinique. In the middl
of June, 309 English vessels sailed from Tortola for
England, at which time 18 French privateers went
out of Guadeloupe : 13 of which, sailed for St. Do#
min^o, in pursuit of Americans, only four went off
after the English fleet.
A well informed gentleman who arrived here yes^
terday in the Spanish sch. Del Carmen, from Port
Rico, informs us tliat just before he sailed a packet
arrived there in 28 days from Coruna, by which
positive information was received that the Prince*
of Peace had left Spain, in consequence of Bona^
parte's having demanded his head oi the Spanish
government, for being concerned in the late conspi
racy against the life of Bonaparte. There was nC
doubt at Madrid of his having gone to England, as
he had previously sent large treasures there, with
orders for the erection of a palace for his accommo
dation.
The Salem Gazette of yesterday gives the follow
ing summary of intelligence;
“ The news of the war in Europe reached Cal
cutta about the beginnhig of Dec ember,in consequence
of which, a number of sailors were i ^pressed from
thcAmerican shipping for the British ship Caroline,
Capt. Page. A great number of American seamen,
had deserted their ships in the months of September
October and November, and volunteered on board
the Hon. Company's frigate Bombay, Capt. Hayes,
where they still are and probably will be during tha
war.
Bv Capt. Haskel, at Salem, we have intelligence
,of the English , taking possession of the port and town
of Muca (Sumatra) with a force consisting of a ship
of 20 guns, one of 16, one of 8, one of 6, and of 4,1 L
between 3 and 400 Seapoys, after an action of 6
hours,in which the Malay's lost 50 men and the Eng
lish 20; This was on the 14th of April.
“ A rupture between Irolkaar, a Mahratta Chief,
and the tympany, was much expected ; & it wu| al
so whispered that Pigu would soon fall into the hands
of the English. On this subject, however, no surmise
could possibly be formed from the Gazette of Cal
cutta ; as not a syllable appears in them which has
not previously undergone examination by the Chief
Secretary to Government ; who, expunges such ar
ticles as he thinks proper.
" There Iyad been a number of French privateers
from the Isle of France, cruising in the Pay of Pen
gal, several of which had been, taken/bv English
cruziers, and sent into Calcutta.—They had been
at Bencoolen, and destroyed a quantity of pepper,
and several vessels in the harbout. v
“There had been two embargoesmh all shipping at
Calcutta, and on the river Hongly fa consequence of
the sailing of the Company 's ships for Europe."
United States and Spain. —lnformation is re
ceived, that Spain refuses to ratify the Conven
tion providing for indemnification for excesses
committed on cur commerce ; alledgipg as a
reason, that " circumstances are so altered by the
accession of Louisiana, that they cannot in its
present Hate." Should Spain perfitt in her refu
fal to do justice, we expect fhortiy to hear that
• 'Gun Boat No 2" is sent against her by our
Government.
From the Mediterranean, we learn, that Commo
dore Preble had sailed from Messina, with his squa
dron, four bomb-vessels and four large gun-boats,
which Mr. Cathcart, the late Consul at Tripoli had
borrowed of the King of Naples ; for the bombard
ment of Tripoli. The squadron, we also hear, was
in good health and spirits.
Capt. Smith, arrived here from Leghorn on the
11th June passed through Lord Nelson's fleet, off
Toulon. —It then consisted of eight sail of the line.
Last Wednesday was the anniversary Commence
ment at Dartmouth University. At 11 o clock, the
President, Board of Trustees, Executive Officers of
College, gentlemen of public education and charac
ter, candidates for degrees, and all the members of
the Institution, walked in procession to the Meeting
house. After prayer by the President, attention
was given to the Exercises, which were—
1. Salutary Oration in Latin ; by Allen Greely.
2. An Oration, on the Fine Arts ; by Samuel
Knapp.
.3. A Forensic Dispute,— Has the discovery o,
America been of general advantage to mankind !
by James Walker and. Abraham Burnham.
' 4. An Oration on the rise, progress, and present
political state of Great-Britain ; by George Y.
Chapman.
5. A Dialogue in Hebrew on the unequal distri
bution of Rewards and punishments ; by Jim.
Richeu, David Thurston & William W Moore.
6. A Philosophical Oration on the System of
Mature ; by Otis Hutchins.
7. A Dialogue on the Revolutionin St. Domingo ;.
by 'Avery Williams 8c Stephen Harley.
8 A Greek Oration on Morality ; by Uriah Wil-
COO?.
9. Forensic Dispute— ls the modern System of
Education perfcrable to that of the Ancients ? By
Aaron F. Sawyer k Buswell Stevens.
10, An Oration on Commerce ; by John W. Smith.
N." B. The Valedictory Oration, and son either
exercises omited on account of the corporeal indis
position of those appointed.
The degree of Bachelor of Arts was then conf© -
red on Joshua Bean, Aaron Pean, Abraham Eurn
ham George T. Chapman, Stephen Farley, Ebenc-
O. Fifield, Elias Gallup, Samuel &ile, Alien Greely,
Joel Harris, Alexander Holton. Otis Hutchings,
Henry Hutchinson, Anson Jones, John Kelly, Samuel,
Knapp, Enos Lewis, Job Lyman, Jacob Miller,
William W. Moore, Hubbard Newton, Thomas H.
Pcttengilh Israel P. Richardson, William Richer,
Aaron F.Sawyer, Josiah W. Seavey, John W.Smith,
Buswell Steven, David Thurston, Hort ce Utley,
James Walker, Ezekiel Webster, Uriah Wilcox,
and Avery Williams.
The degree of Bachelor of Medicine was con
ferred on Abraham Mason,and Job Wilson.
The degree of Master of Arts was conferred, in
order on Lemuel Bliss, H. Weld Fuller, Abner
Howe, Sanford Kingsbury, Simeon Lyman, Thomas
Abbot Merrill Josiah Noyes, Daniel Parker, and Ca
leb Jewett Tenney ;—On Nathaniel Peabody, A.
B. 1300,Warren Pierce, A. B. 1799, Peter Cochran
A. B. 1798, Wm. Ferson, A.B. 1797, Walter Little, •
A. B. 1796, Beniamin Ruggles Woodbridge, A. B.
1795, also on Walter Fullerton and Samuel Hunt.
The degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred
on Lyman Spalding. -
The degree of Doctors of Laws was conferred on
the Hon. David Humphry's, formerly Ambassador
HANOVER, AUG. 24.
COMMENCEMENT.
FROMaVE IL-YORK, Aug. 27.
BOSTON, AUG. 25.
FROM INDIA.
FROM SUM ATRA.
SALEM, AUG. 28.