The American herald of liberty — Exeter, N.H., 1795-12-30 00:00:00, page 2

The treaty, lately negociated
between Grcat-Britain and this
Country, has met with the molt
violent opposition from this party.
The reason is apparent, the Trea
ty tends to contravene their "un
warrantable designs, it secures
ptace to our country. Loud and
difeordant have been their cries
against our late able Envoy who
negociated, and thole of the Sen
ate of the United Slaves who ap
proved this instrument, the fafe
guard and protedion of our na
tion^l tranquilipff They have*
been charged with 46 having bar
tered away the rights and interests
of their country for British gold.*'
But no proof has been, or can be
produced in lupport of this charge.
And filrely no candid American
will credit the affection without
f^c probable ground to main
t^ its truth. If we take into
view the former condud of these
much injured patriots, we fliall be
convinced that it would be doing
them the highest injustice to har
bour an idea of this kind for a
moment. They have uniformly
proved them (elves to be the friends
of their country. When Britain
attempted to deprive America of
that freedom which (he derived
from the God of nature, these cha
racters flood foremoft in her
cause; n with halters round their
necks,” and in contempt of every
danger they nobly aflifted in se
curing her liberty and independ
ance. Is it pofiible to believe
that they have turned apoftates,and
tell as once become her enemies ?
Candid men will refled that the
approbation given by our rulers
to the Treaty is probably warrant
ed by more good reasons than are
easily to be difeovered. They
will confider that a greater degree
of political and commercial infor
mation is requisite to form a just
idea of the Treaty, th^n the gen^
erality of the people can be sup
posed topoffefs. With characters
unblemished as patriots, and with
the best pofiible means by which
to form a right opinion of the mer
its of the instrument, they have
given it their approbation; and
from these reflections we ought to
presume that it will operate bene
ficially 10 the interests of our
Country. But if considerations
of this nature are to be dilregard
ed, if men, whose lives have been
devoted to the service of their na
tive land, are thus, when declined
into the vale of years, to become
vi&ims of ingratitude, and to be
arranged among the number of
traitors, then (hall we (bow our
felvesto.be unworthy of freedom.
But I am persuaded that the infa
mous aspersions thrown upon the
characters of our late Envoy and
a majority of the Senate will meet
with general disapprobation; and
be viewed as the malignant and
unfounded calumnies ora taflion,
Not content with pouring fourth
torrents ofabufe against our Ne
gociatbr and a majority of the
Senate, they have charged our be
loved Frefident with harbouring
designs unfriendly to the interests
of America ; they have dared to
adverse to the happiness of their
country.
*
A cond e& thus tending to bring
upon us an evil, which we ought
to deprecate as -the greveft that
could befall our Infant Republic,
mull fire with honest indignation
the breast «F everv. ■virtuous and
•patriotic citizen.
dom and patriotism have uniform
ly marked hi,* meafurcs- .... £lis
well timed negociation, when we
were on the verge of a war with
Britain, is among the wife ft of hft
ads—The house of Reprefenta*
lives of the United States were pur|
suing measures to retaliate upon
Great-Britain for the injuries we
had received ; they were so rafli
and intemperate as to contemplate
a'feq.ueftration of British debts,
and a Bill was introduced for that
purpose ; had this Bill pafled it
would have been considered by
Britain as amounting to a decla
ration of hostilities. it would prob
ably have plunged us into war.
This was a period of difficulty and
danger to our country; « our
American bark was failing on the
margin of a whirlpool ’ and the
greatest {kill was requisite for her
preservation. The President, ev
er watchful of our interests, inter
posed negotiation, and thereby a
verted the impending evil. Yet
for this salutary measure, didated
by wisdom and a sacred regard
to American happiness, he 4 h»#^
been charged by Jacobins with
having abandoned the caufeof bis
Country. But let these fadiofis
monsters know that W ash i
ton ft ill lives in the aff’edions of
his^Countrymen. Americans can
never believe that the President,
- who has grown grey in their ser
vice, would in the evening of his
days give up their interests and
thereby ebunterad the labours of
Kis life. No, they reward his cdh
dud with their warmest approba
tion. When the unfortunate pe
riod fliall arrive, which fliall de
prive America of his services for
ever, who will be found with equal
, talents and integrity to supply his
rank him with -a Cromwell and a
Caftr. ’■
If such a charge were believed
by the people, then Ihould I in"
deed deplore the infatuation of my
Countrymen, then Ihould I think
chat die Genius of America, of-
fended at the ungrateful conduct
of her sons» would abandon , her
counsels. But Americans will
never believe it, they well know
the source from which it fpriAgs.
Our great and virtuous Prefident*
has given every proof of his at
tachment to the rights and inter
ests of his Country^ that man can
give. At the time of danger when
America, alone, unaided by a (in
gle ally, was attacked by Britain,
before whom the nations of Eu
rope trembled; when her truly
distressed situation called
the resolution and firmnefs of her
Tons ; when patriots were greatly
apprenenfive that She was doomed
to wear the chains which British
tyrants had forged for her; at this
disastrous hour, regardless of his
personal fafety, our beloved Pres
ident took the command of the
armies of his Country-, and led
them on to conquest and to free
dom. The liberty and independ
ence of America being secured,
he resigned his authority and re
tired, loaded with laurels, to a pri-
vate station. After the formation
of our present happy coullitution,
he was called by the voice of his
Country to the Presidency of the
United States. He obeyed her
voice, which he ever esteemed sa
cred ; he gave up. the eife and
pleasures of domestic life for the
arduous cares of a Public employ
ment. He has (hown himfelf to
be the consummate Statesman no
less than the able General. Wis-
Uis Maj efly’s Mos Gracious Speech
io both Houses of Parliament, on
Thu,rfday,Od. 29, 1795. *
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN*
IT is a great fatisfadion to me
to refled, that, notwithstanding
the many events unfavourable to
the common cause, the profped
resulting from the general situation
of affairs, has, in many important
refpeds, been materially improved
in the course of the present year.
In Italy, the threatened invasion
of the French has been prevented ;
and they have been driven back
from a considerable part of the
line of coast which they occupied :
There is also reason to hope that
the recent operations of the Aus
trian armies have checked the
progress which they had made on
the fide of Germany, and fruftrated
the offenfive projeds which they
were pursuing in that quarter.
The successes which have at
tended their military operations in
other parts of the campaign, and
the advantages which they have
derived from the conclusion of
,(eperate Treaties with some ofthe (
powers who were engaged in the
war, are far from compensating
the evils which they experience
from its continuance. —The de
ftrudion of their commerce, the
diminution of their maritime pow
er, and the unparalleled embar
rassment and distress of their in
ternal situation, have produced
the impreflion which was natural
to be expetled ; and a general
sense appears to prevail throughout
France, that the only relief from
the increasing pressure of these
difficulties must Strife from the res
toration of peace, and the eftab
liftiment of some fettled lyftem of
government,.
The diftradion and anarchy
which have so long prevailed in
that country, have led to a crisis,
of which it is as yet impoflible to
‘forefee the issue; but which must,
in all human probability, produce
confequenqes highly important to
the interests of Europe, Should
this crisis terminate in any order
of things compatible with the tran
quility of other countries, and af
fording a reafonabie expectation
of security and permanence in
any Treaty which might be con
cluded, the appearance of a dispo
sition to negociate for general
peace on just and suitable terms
will not fail to be met, on my part*
with an earnest de fire to give H
the fulleft and speediest effed.
But I am persuaded you will agree
with me, that nothing is so likely
to ensure and accelerate this de
sirable end, as to fbew that we are
prepared for either alternative,
and are determined to prosecute
the war with the utmost energy
and vigpur, untij w© have the.
^lace ? It is rather to be wished
than expeded that his equal in
both mav be found. Should hea
ven hereafter in mercy to our
Country raise up a man, in whom
fliall be united the brave and able
General, the consummate States
man, the firm and disinterested
patriot who forms no with be
y ond his country’s good, posterity
to give a just idea of his worth
will call him Washington.
ARISTIDES.
Exeter Dec. 1795.
From the London Gazette.
* Butt®
mean^of concluding, in conjunc
tion with our allies, such a peace
as the justice of our cause and the
situation of the enemy may entitle
us to exped.
With this view I am continuing
to make the great exertions for
maintaining and improving our
naval superiority, and For carrying
on adive and vigorous operations
in the Weft-Indies, in order to (e
--cure and extend the advantages
which we have gained in that quar
ter, and which are so nearly con
nefted with our commercial re
(burces and maritime strength.
I rely with full confidence on
the continuance of your firm and
zealous support, on the uniform
bravery of my fleets and ar
mies, and on the fortitude, perfe
vdrenee, and public ip.irit of all
ranks of my people.
The ads of hostility commited
by the United Provinces, under the
influence and control of France,
have obliged me to treat them as
in a state of war with this country.
The fleet which I have employ
ed in the North Seas, has received
the most cordial and aftive assist—
ance from the naval force furniih
ed by the Empress of Rujfia, and
has been enabled effectually to
check the operations of the ene
my in that quarter. 4
I have concluded engagements
of defensive alliance with die two
Imperial Courts ; and the ratifica
tiQn of the treaty of commerece
with the United States of America,
which I announced to you last
year, have now been exchanged.
—I have directed copies of these
treaties to be laid before you.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons.,
It is matter of deep concern to
me, that the exigences of the pub
lic service will require further ad-*
Aitions to vthe ht%a.vy .
which have been unavoidably im
posed on my people. I trust chat
their pressure will, in some degree,
be alleviated by the flourift ng
state of our commerce and ma uX
failures, and that our expenses
though n. ceflarily great in their
amount, will, under the actual cir
cumstances of the war, admit of
considerable diminution in com
panion with those of the present
year.
My Lords, and Gentlemen,
I have oblerved for some time
pall with the greatest anxiety the
very high price of grain, a,nd that
anxiety is increased by theappre
henfion that the produce of the
wheat harvest in the present year
may not have been such as effec
tually to relieve my people from
the difficulties with which they
have to contend. The spirit of
order and submission to the laws
which, with very few exceptions,
has manifefted itfelf under this se
vere pressure, will I am sure, be
felt by you as an additional incen
tive to apply yourselves with the
utmost dilligence to the consider
ation of such mcafures as may
lend to alleviate the present dis
tress, and to prevent, as far as pof- .
fible, the renewal of similar em
barrassments in future. Nothing
has been omitted on my part that
appeared likely to contribute tex
this end; and you may be affured'
of my hearty concurrence in
whatever regulations the wjfdom
of Parliament may adopt, on a
fubjeft so peculiarly interesting
to my people, whose welfare will
eve/ be the objed nearest mj>
heart. ,