Republican ledger, and Portsmouth price current — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-06-21 00:00:00, page 2

bring them to an exaa obedience on all oc
casions. Hence it follows, that the govern
ment, by declaring war, would have com
mitted an a£t of irijuftice against Spain, tf
tablifhed a precedent which might be
come fatal to the future peace of this nation,
and juflly merited the execration of the
world.
There is reason to believe, that not only
a complete restoration, but an enlargement
of our rights will take place. Then let the
people judge between those, who have us
ed every means in their power to inflame
the public mind. And to involve the nation
in war, and those, who have labored
incessantly to regain the enjoyment of our
rights, and to preserve peace and happiness.
Government has represented to the Span
ifli Court the violation of our rights by the
Intendant, and demanded immediate fatis
, faction. " Indemnity for the pad, and se
curity for the future^" areexpeaed. Should
Spain, alike neglectful of her duty and her
interest, withhold from us that fatisfa&ion
which justice decrees, all will unite in the
neceflity of war. By attempting to avoid
its evils, we shall have given to Europe, evi
dence of our disposition to live in peace and
good neighbourliood ; we Ihall become
united, andjuftice will arrange hejfelf un
der our banners. By hastily declaring war,
without asking redress, we should have ex
cited difeontents among onr own citizens,
and justly awakened the fofpitions and jeal
ousies of all those European powers who
have American possessions.
The Cabinet of Saint James might possi
bly have rejoiced at the event ; but would it
not have occurred to them, that the fame
power, which had seized upon New-Or
leans, might, at any moment, upon as light
or less provocation, seize upon the Canadas,
Nava Scotia, New-Brunswick, and the
Baharns, and, in a few years, upon their
Weft-India pofTeffions ? Our highest inter
ests require that we should evince to the
world a ftricl regard for justice, a faithful
performance of all our engagements, and a
desire to cultivate friendship, peace and good
will with all.
In case war (hall become neceflary, what
new evils will the nation have incurred by
the delay! The advocates forthat measure
fay, " France will be in poffellion of Loui
siana !" And will (he not be in pofleflion
of that province before we could have railed
an army, if war had been declared at the
commencement of the session of Congress,
or even if the Executive had pofleifed and
exercised that power on the day he was in
formed of the unlawful condud of the In
tendant ? But are we seriously to enter into
war with France becanfe the Intendant of
New-Orleans has closed that port which is
ceded to France, who has committed no in
fradion of our rights; Will any man fay
that war (hall be levied upon France for the
mifcondnd of a. Spanijb officer^ or will
any one deny, that taking polfeflion of New-
Orlean c , which is daily expeded to pass in
to the poffeflion of France, to whom it has
long since been ceded, will in fad, be mak
ing war against her? If we had seized up
on that place, we must have retained it a
gainst her, or have restored it when the
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, 1 hat
there be appropriated and paid out of the
monies arising from imports and tonnage,
the sum of seven thousand dollars for the
purpose of erecting the Light House as afore
faid.
NATHT MACON,
Steamer of the Houje of Representatives.
STEPHEN R. BRADLEY
President of the Senate pro tempore.
March 3d, 1803.
Approved,
TH: JEFFERSON.
To involve the nation in all the horrors of
war, for the unlawful md unauthorised a&
of a Subordinate officer, would be the height
cf political depravity. It would introduce a
rule of which we could not complain, and
under which this nation, at any future
time, might be involved in war by the un
lawful or wanton a^ of any one of her of
ficers. It would be virtually transferring.,
the all important queflions of war and peace,
from the Representatives of the people and
the government of the country, to the cap
tain of a frigate.
The acl of an individual officer or Subject,
does not become the aft of the nation to
which he belongs, until the nation has Sanc
tioned it, as it is irripoffible for the most vigil
ant and belt regulated government to control
the actions of its agents and fubjeds, and to
Miscellany.
A CLNDICAtT&N
OF THE
MEASURES
OF THE
PRESENT ADMINISTRATION
By ALGERNON SIDNEY.
" Where Liberty is—there is my Country."
[continued.]
When France takes pofkffion of that
country she will cultivate peace and good
neighbourhood, or invite war. If the for
mer, the two nations will be mutually ufe
ful and beneficial ; if the latter, her colo
ny cannot thrive or become dangerous. It is
peace 3c persevering industry alone, that can
build up a powerful colony. But the advo
cates for war contend the colony will.thrive.
Admit the fact, so fltali we. And by time any
colony Fiance can establish, (hall equal in
(Length an average Rate in the union,we shall
possess a power, equal to France herfelf, in
numbers, resources and the means of war.
1 hat she possesses a mighty power at this
moment 1 admit, this is one reafen why we
should not wage war unnecessarily. She
has come to her growth and splendor ; we
are in the very grille ; our bones though
fufficient for any necessary conflict, have
not yet acquired their solidity and strength.
Time is everything to this nation. France
is under the command of a valiant and for
tunate leader. Before a powerful colony
can be raifeft up in Louisiana, he will be
laid in the tomb of his ancestors, and nature
rarely gives great rulers to a nation in suc
cession. The brilliant exploits of a great
warrior inspire the world with awe, but the
effc& is transitory. The conquers of Ta
metlane have long been celebrated. —His
posterity became vaflals. Cyrus made A
sia bow to the Persian fceptre. Darjus 101 l
the diadem from his head. Alexander con
quered the world—his empire died with
him. Louis the fourteenth threatened to
overturn the liberties of Europe, in the end
his throne tottered under him.=Not unfte
quently has it happend that the prudence of
the warrior is loft in the splendor of his vic
tories, and he closes his career on the level
from which he started.
To be concluded in our next.
game to take possession. If we restored it
to her, then what advantage fnould we gain
by the Sacrifice ? It would certainly excite
her jealousy. If we retained it, a long,
bloody, and arduous war must be the conle
queuce. The people of the weflern country
would be deprived of the navigation of the
Mississippi, more years than they have been,
or will be, months under the policy pursued
by the adminiffration. Belides, on what
principle Should we juftify the detentionr
Certainly, not on account of the condud of
the Spanilh Intendant.
But fay the advocates for war, 'France is
a powerful, ambitious and designing nation,
she has procured the cession of Louisiana
to draw a cordon round these Rates. The
nation therefore has the right of levying war
to ward off a future evil. An infant colony
planted in the wilderness for a corder to
bridle this Union ! I—As well might she set
a Sergeant's guard to overawe the people of
Paris. I readily admit the importance of
attaching that country tothe Union, because
thereby we Shall be forever Secured from the
wars and intrigues of Europe. We Should
then have no interest in forming political
connections with the maritime pewers.
But I maintain, that, by the laws of nations,
the cession so territory by one nation to an
other, does not create a rignt of war in the
adjoining nation. That nation must wait,
not indeed until the new neighbor declars
war, but until (he furnifhes some evidence
of here hostile intentions, by adding to the
number or Strength of her forts, increasing
her troops, denying the exercise of her own
rights, or the like. This rule appears to
to apply with particular force in the present
case for France, nearly a century before we
had a Settlement on the weftern waters, was
the proptietor of this colony. By the for
tune of war She was compelled to cede it ;
again,be the fortune of war,She has been en
abled to regain it. Her reclaiming an ancient
colony,founded by herfelf Speeded by the pos
sessor, ccnnot give a just right of war to her
old neighbour, nor can I believe such war,if
just, would be politic. But it is said, if we
were in possession of New-Orleans, France
could not get a foot hold, and the country
of course would become ours : That, if
true, would not alter the justice of the case.
So it might be said, that if we Seized upon
Montreal it would give us the command of
the St. Lawrence, the weftern lakes and the
upper Canada.
Is there no point of attack from the two
Floridas, or must the war of necessity be
confined to New-Orleans? No. If there
be a war it will rage in all parts, it will des
troy our navigation, commerce and fisheries,
and may produce serious calamities to our
sea ports. I fear not the issue of a juitwar
lirobg in ourselves, poffefled of every mat
erial neceflary for war, and removed three
thousand miles from the powers that alone
can attack us on American ground, we are
certain of eventual success. All wars on
this continent must terminate in the aggran
difement of this nation and the extension of
her territory. But to a nation of farmers and
artizans, glory and happiness are essentially
different.
The Philadelphia, of 44 guns, will form
one of the squadron now equipping for the
Mediterranean. She will be commanded by
Capt..Bainbridge.
Virginia has long been an eye fore to the
opposition. The firmnefs, with which she
refilled the usurpations of the late admiftra
tion has excited the utmost rancor of fed
eralifm. But she is not yet " humbled in
dust and ajhes." How the enemies of gov
ernment can reconcile their efforts to make
her an objea of jealousy to the other Rates,
with their prose ffions of veneration for the
character and sentiments of Washington, is
difficult to conceive. In his legacy to the
American people, he told them to avoid
every thing which might excite distrust be
tween one part of the Union and another,
They paint democracy as the word of hu
man evils, and Virginia as its hot-bed ; they
hold her tip as a contaminated member,
which must be cured by a caustic or incision
knife, or be amputated to save the remainder
of the body. But it seems they pursue his
advice only when it suits their convenience.
They declare his opinion infallible one day,
and refufe to follow them the next. Not
even Gen. Hamilton, who is the public if not
the private, friend of the character of Wash
ington, has been able, or willing to avoid this
inconsistency of conduct.
We cannot doubt that the hatred of the op
position to the President is cordial. It is very
natural for men, who difpife<he rights ofthe
people, to feel a spirit of hostility to those
who advocate them. The enemies of gov
ernment will never forgive his virtues and
firmnefs. He is a rock which the tem
ped of their paflions can never move. They
call him 'pujilianimous' ; but have their cal
umnies ever affrighted him from his purpose?
have they prevented him from anting with
steadiness for the public good ? Was he
pujillanimous, when he refund to co-operate
with the opposition in their attempts to in
volve this country in war, because the In
tendant of New Orleans had Shut that port
against us without authority r Is he puJdlan
imous, because he is unwilling to Sacrifice
the lives of his fellow citizens to gratify a
few difeontented individuals, who delight in
bloodshed, and who love plunder r Is he
pusillanimous, when he prefers saving the
revenue of the union for the difeharge of
our public debt, to placing it in the hands of
federal contractors, to be walled in an use
less, aggressive, and expensive war ? Is he
pusillanimous, when he refufes to infringe the
law of nations and of jultice, by recom
mending hostilities, before he attempts t°
redress our grievances by negociation r Is
he pusillanimous, because be withes to light
en the burthens of the community, atul to
avoid every unneceiiary a&, that might
compel the government to rellore the inter
nal taxes ? If this be the puJilianimity, so
disagreeable to the feelings of the opposi
tion, the day is far distant when the Citizens
of this country will not pronounce it a
virtue, and believe the man who is under its
influence 'is competent to Ju, lain the helm of
government.'
From the National Intelligencer.
" Arouse y<urh res, fellow citizens, and
feftroy the nionftcr engendered in that hot
bed of democracy, Virginia : We cannot
fail of success at the present election, and
the triumph which is within our grasp, will
form the fiift link of a cbaip that will encircle
theUnion,xnd compel the pujillanimous states
jman to retire from the helm of government,
the weight of which he is incompetent to
sustain!!
{Hamilton' sfpeech to the federal meeting
beid at the city hall.
Mr. Smith,
Always to submit with quietness to impo
sition, betrays a destitution not only of spirit
but principle. A person who never feels
indignant at reproach must be either more or'
lels than man. For though a due regulation
of our passions may elevate us above the or
dinary standard of mortals, yet not to show
our indignation is sometimes evidence of a
week nnderftanding.
If any thing ought to excite our resentment
it is the sentiments contained in the text.
A party has long exilted in this country,
whose opinions are hostile to the principles
of our constitution. But none of its adher
ents have till lately had the hardihood while
addressing the public, or haranguing the
people, to tell them, that a government foun
ded ontbeir rights is a mockery, & its advocates
monsters ! It is in vain for such deciaimers to
fay, that they reprobate pure democracy only ;
if this were the case their invectives are ab
surd ; for they know that nothing of the kind
exists in this country. Ihe people do not
aflemble and pals laws themselves, nor do
they execute them in person ; the laws are
enacted by their representatives, and admin
istered by their judges & executives. This
is the only democracy we have. These
preachersthen against democracy,unlefs they
are combating their own imagination, must
deny the sovereignty of the people, they mult
think, that the doctrine of equal rights is
monstrous. If such be the democracy a
gainst which they contend, if such be the
mongers, " which to be hated needs but to be
seen," the citizens of the United States will
always continue to cherilh it, they will al
ways despise the man who attempts to ren
der it odius.
The opposition seem now to have dashed
the cup of reconciliation from their lips.—
Every day furnishes the administration with
additional evidence of the implacable temper
of its enemies. Every concession, every aft
of lenity seems but to increase the flame of
their malignity. No attempts at reconcilia
tion can appease them. Every conciliator,
effort is to them proof of the weakness of
government, of its pnfillanimity, and cow
ardice. Though the administration is wil
ling to make fair and honorable terms, to
concede every thing that is reasonable, all
offers of accommodation are treated with
indignity, and considered as the offspring of
fear and irrcfolution.
CURTIUS.
—wr^-^«e#wft^— —= -
New-Ham,fore Leg fatlire.'
Answer of the Senate to the Governor's
Speech.
Nay it plcafe your Excellency,
AS the Reprefentarives of a free People,
the Senate of New-Hampfbire are highly
gratified in the view of that prosperity and
happiness which the Citizens of the State
so generally enjoy ; and should any grievance
he difeovered, which will admit of Legisla
tive remedy, onr endeavours shall he directed
to apply that relief in the mod prompt and
effectual manner.
The new proportion for Taxes, which the
Canflitution requires to be made the present
year, shall receive from us all that attention
□which the fubjeCt demands.
The importance of a well-regulated Mili
tia, for the support of a free Government,
mud be evident to every person of informa
tion. The adoption of those measures
which may place the Militia of this State in
a refpe&able condition, we confider an ob
je& of the greatest magnitude.
Should the differences, now exiting
among some of the European nations with
whom we have connections, terminate in
war, we hope that every measure, confident
with the honour of the Nation, will be ad
opted, to preserve a firia and an impartial
neutrality : But should the aggrt flions of the
ambitious and unprincijld compel us to $
take an attitude of defence, we trust that A
mericans will not be found wanting in cour
age and prowess to avenge the wrongs of
their Country.
To Icffen the energies of our National
Government, in either of its branches, would
under exiting circumdapces, endanger th^
The man who tittered our text has long
been noted as a prominent figure above the
political horizon of this country. The bril
liancy of his talents has commanded the
refpe& of his enemies ; his political fer.ti
ments deserve the censure of every friend of
the Constitution. Aristocracy is his avowed
political creed ; taxation his'favoiite mode
of subduing the spirit of the people. How.
ever favored he may be by the approbation
of a few, however obsequious they may be
to his direaions, or submissive to the superi
ority of his genius, wherever he appears to
possess the agency, defeat and humiliation
must be the consequence. It he with to ef
fe& any thing he must manage the wires
behind the cuitain. He may make an ex
cellent performer in Secret, tut in public his
a&ing only excites suspicion and didruft.—
His party might derive much benefit from
his talents, could they fopprefs his with for
popularity. His sagacity would aid their
intrigues if they could cure him of his pro
perduy to make speeches, and his itch to
ex pole the follies arid foibles of bis own par
tizans. Until he can submit to such a regi
men, his efforts must be impotent in the
cause of federalifm, his exertions to aid the
°PP°''"° n must prevent its sieponderancy
against the wisdom of admjnitl ration. The
issue of the elections in the State of New-
York may, perhaps, in some measure be
attributed to his ill adfifed and injudicious
interference. For the people will always
fufpea a man, who does not regard their
rights, and who only Willies to patronife the
election of those, who believe that republi
canism is political heresy. Whenever he
obtrudes himfelf upon the notice of the pub
lic, our minds are naturally lead to retrace
his past conduct From the convention,
where we behold him advocating an ariftoc
racv, to the Suppreflion of the whiskey infur
redtion, from the establishment of a funding
system which difgraccs the character of our
country, to the Ibamelefs proposal of a fv fcm
of ejpioxnage, we difeover nothing that can
attach cur confidence, or awaken any senti
ment but fufpicior. Years must elapse be
fore the citizens of the United States will
enlist under the banners of such a leader,
and fubmifhvely march to celebrate the fune
ral obsequies of their own liberties. As a
meteor be has filed his lurid luftre around
our country —but is fallen—never more to
afeend. The joy which produced this in
temperate effuSion is like a feverilh blush
which plays a moment upon the cheek, but
is soon followed by the morbid 1 alenefs of
debility and disease. The chain has become
a rope of sand, and instead of encircling the
union, will probably crumble in atoms never
to be re- united.