Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1804-09-25 00:00:00, page 1

HUME, No. VIL
WEALTH is the nerve of national power. In
wmiliets between kingdoms, it is the source of re
training armies; whose ranks arc thinned by slaugh
ter and disease. It not only conquers by land, but
it opens the empire of the ocean. Must it not then
excite surprise and regret, to perceive Mr. Jeffer- ~
son, lavishing the treasure ot the nation, the only
sure defence against the disposition or the actual en
croachment of ambitious and domineering States ?
Nor is it matter of less surprise, to see this treasure
applied to strengthen our enemies, expended on a
ship of a people, who have recently shown their to-*
tai disregard of the laws of nations and the principles
of justice, by wantonly stripping us of millions, and'
refusing redress. Almost thirty^hree thousand
dollars were expended to repair Ahe Berceau, a
French vessel, whose original cost is stated at a lit
tle more than thirteen thousand. No law, treaty
or national compact, imposed any obligation for
• such singular and unprecedented conduct.
To prove too expenditure of money on the Ber
ocair, bv order of the Executive, and the manner in
^hich It was repaired, we shall give extracts of a
R letter of Samuel Brown, N ivy Agent, to the Secre
tary of the Navy, dated, Boston, October 31, 1801.
" I now enclose an account of the repairs made on
Bnd the supplies furnished to, the French national
corvette, Le Berceau, agreeably to your instructions
of the 2d April last, amounting to 32,839 dollars
54 cents.
'' You have directed to be stated the precise con
dition Le Berceau was in, as to her equipment of
ever kind, on the delivery to the officers appointed
'on the part of the French Republic, to receive her.
On the 23d of June she was formally delivered up ;
but ns many of the supplies were necessarily made
after that time, I conceive choobject interred would
not be embraced by stating her condition at that pe
riod. I think there is no better way of ascertaining
repairs atid supplier she received at public expense
and the condition of her equipment at the termina
tion of the supplies,than by a reference to the account
wlKch I hope you will think to be/sufficiently explan
atory. But it mar not be amiss in me to make some
general observations on the subject. I shall there
fore saw, that the best shipwrights, blacksmiths,
caulkers, joiners, mastmakers, riggers, and other
workmen in this place, were * employed on the re
pairs ; that their work was well executed, and the
materials furnished for the purpose were of the best
kind ; that wlrcrcver the copper on her bottom ap
peared to have received any injury, it was repair
ed with new. In these respects, there cannot l>e a
doubt of her being placed in a better condition t^an
she was in at the period immediately anterior to the
action with the Boston. Her masts, bowsprit, spars,
tops, and caps, were all new, and made in the best
and most substantial manner. Her shrouds, stys,
and cordage, were all new, and of the best quality,
being made of the finest yarns, excepting about four
tons cf the latter. She was furnished with a new
cable of eighteen inches, one hundred and twenty
fathoms in length, and amply supplied with spare
cordage. In addition to upwards of thirty sails,
that were saved from the wreck, which were put
in good order, she was furnished with a complete
new set of sails, made ofthe best duck. Her condi
tion, as to her masts, spars, shrouds, stays, and sails
was doubtless made much better by the repairs, tha,
at the period referred to above.
" Her supply of blocks and block work was am
ple. She was furnished with a new barge and her
other boats were well repaired, and she was abun
dantly supplied with water casks.
" Her cabin was sufficiently furnished with tables,
desks, chairs, crockery ware, and other furniture.
Jn these respects there cannot be a doubt she was
Also placed in a better condition than she avas in at
the period before referred to.
“ She was furnished with beef, pork, bread, beats,
rice, flour, oil, rum, wine, and other stores, which
were of thq best kind, for a voyage of three months."
Here then we have one instance of the expendi
ture of money by the direction of the President, re
quired bv no treats-, authorized by no law, and in
violation of the Constitution. Indeed the govern
ment have manifested a consciousness of wrong, by
defending this waste of public money, in no less than
four different wavs. At one time, we are told our
.quiring the restoration of tire Berceau, in the same
-state in which it was at the commencement of the
battle with the Boston ; whence was derived the pow
erto place it in a better condition than at that period !
Neither this treaty, nor any law passed on the sub
ject, gave such a power. Yet an agent of Govern
ment expressly informs, that her state of repair on
alelivery was better than immediately anterior to
the time of capture. Her cabin was filled with the
furniture of luxury, Her stores were such as are
seen only on the splendid table. The best workmen
' and materials, were alone fit, to strengthen and de
corate a ship, belonging to a nation of pirates. The
Administration were not only laying open the breasts
of the country, but directing the dagger with which
an enemy desired to pierce it. The words of the
treaty, however, do not admit f such a construction
It would be criminating ourselves. If admitted, a
defensive war, carried on to save our seamen from
captivity, and our property fr;m destruction, must
be pronounced unjustifiable. It is even a misfortune
to take the ships of an enemy ; because if we con
qtter we make compensation, if conquered we must
he compensated. An equality of right, however,
demanded the reparation of the Boston by France, if
It required that of the Berceau by America. The
truth is, Bonaparte could claim nothing more by
the treaty than tlip restoration of the vessel, shat
tered as it was when it first came into rar possession.
The thirty-two thousand dollars, which wereexpen
toa it/can only be placed to the account of the
convention with France required it ; at another,that
it was justified by the principl&freason and max
'imsof sound policy ;at a third,lkis falsely and un
blushinfly averted, that these, refairs %vere order
ed by the preceding administration^ and at a fourth
that the Berceau was considered and repaired as an
American vessel. These several modes of defence
Vol. XIV.]
require a short examination.
In the convention with France was a provision,
that the ships of both nations, taken after the time
of the ratification of it should be mutually restored.
Allowing then a construction of this convention, re-
OF ALL THE DISPOSITIONS AND HABITS WHICH LEAD TO POLITICAL PROSPERITY, RELIGION AND MORALITY ARE INDISPENSABLE SUPPORTS.—Washington.
Political Miscellany.
From the Centinel.
OP ACT F PART'
partiality and overflowing affection for France,
wliich have ever characterized Mr. Jefferson.
When a Chief Magistrate condescends to explain
any measure of his administration, the possession of
complete information gives a nation a right to ex
pect a satisfactory defence. So far from referring
to the treaty, or law, authorizing an expenditure ot
money on tl>e Berceau, the President, with more sin
cerity than his supporters, and with less distrust of
his party, justifies the transaction on the principles
of reason and policy. In a message, in April 1802,
to the House of Representatives, requesting infor
mation concerning this vessel, he says, " I now trans
mit the papers, desired in your resolution ofthe sixth
instant. Those respecting the ' Berceau will suffi
ciently explain themselves. The officer, charged
with her repairs, states in his letter, received Au
gust 27, 1801, that he had been led by circumstances,
which he explains, to go considerably beyond his
orders. In questions between nations who have no
common umpire but reason, something must often be
yielded of mutual opinion, to enable them to meet in
a common point." Had we not before arrived in
that common point, in which France could meet us ?
Must a large sum be expended on the Berceau, in
addition to thirty millions of dollars to strengthen
the ties of friendship, and produce a mutuaT senti
ment ofharmony ? What equivalent have we receiv
ed from the magnanimous republic, for all these
marks of affection, more grateful than simple con
descension ? She has not even repaired the Boston.
She has only insulted our petitions for redress. A
subordinate officer, confiding in the inclination of the
Executive for a justification, could go considerably
beyond his orders, in adding to the power of an in
veterate foe. Though Mr. Jefferson may feel willing
to be a viceroy of Bonaparte ; yet, I trust, the spirit
which animated Americans, when achieving their
independence, is not so broken, nor their national
pride so humbled by the insults they have received,
hiat they are prepared to become a colony of France.
A third kind of defence for repairing the Berceau
is. that it was done in pursuance of the orders of the
preceding administration. No less an officer than
the Attorney -General, had the effrontery to make
the assertion. How consistent it was with truth, a
letter from Mr. Stoddert, then Secretary of the Na
vy, to S. Higginson and Co. dated December 19,
1800, will determine. “ I have the honor to request
that you will cause the Frencli ship, Le Berceau, to
be purchased for the United States, and afterwards
have her placed where she will be secure, with just
as many men on board, as will be necessary to take
care of her. Make no repairs." Regard for
the reputation of the Government, ifnot for his own,
ought to have restrained the Attorney-General from
a direct violation of truth, to avoid the puMicodium
which he knew must attach to conduct so inimical to
the interest of the country.
The last attempt to continue the confidence ofthe
people in the present rulers, is a report of Robert
Smith, Secretary of the Navy, to Congress ; in
which, on the 6th of February, 1802, he says, “ The
corvette Berceau being the property of the United
States, the expenses of repairing her were defrayed
out of the fund appropriated to the expense of re
pairing the public shipsof the United States." Un
fortunately, however, for this statement, a brother
of the present Secretary, S. Smith, on the 20th of
March preceding, then acting as Secretary, wrote to
S. Higginson and Co. that " the French national ship,
the Berceau, is to be restored under the treaty. You
will please to cause her to be delivered with all her
guns, ammunition, apparel, and every thing belong
ing to her, to the order of Mr. Fiction, when such
order shall appear." Thus is this defence as ground
less as the others. To assume so many modes of it
is evidence that the action cannot be justified. In
deed, from the preceding facts we have a right to
infer, that Mr. Jefferson has betrayed the interest
of the nation, and directly violated the Constitution,
by expending an enormous sum without any appro
priation for the same by law, on the vessel of a people,
who had not only robbed us of millions, but threaten
ed our independence.
Quota for S< uthcarolina, 112,997^739
Quota for Georgia, 38,814 87 5
In which two last States, not one cent has been as
sessed or paid into Treasury, and but a small sum
has ever been Baid by rbeKentucky—These States Are
friendly to Mr. Jefferson, and to a negro represen
tation and notwithstanding his energetic adminis
tration ; and his love of justice, they are suffered to
violate ahd treat with contempt a law of the United
States. I raa? at some future period shew to the
public, through the mediuni of your paper, the a
mouat of impost paid by the several States.
IN an address to the electors of New-Hampshire,
there is the following assertion, viz. " two of the
southern States (South -Carolina and Georgia) have
not paid a single cent of the Direct Tax into the
Treasury of the United States." Our good, self sty
led republicans deny this and say it is afederal lie.'
That Mr. Jefferson's administration is so strong and
energetic, and he so upright, that he never would
have suffered these states to retain the direct tax
from the treasury such a length of time.
To convince the public and if possible, the blind
advocates and worshippers of Mr. Jefferson, of the
truth of the above assertion, I send you an extract,
from the report of the Secretary of the Treasury to
Congress, during the last cession which will shew
the amount of the assessment on each State", and the
amount paid by each State into the Treasury of the
United States.
Sa'cß4 Assessment. Paid.
Dols. Cts. M. Dols. Cts.
Newhampshire, 77,850 70,511 90
Massachusetts, 261J28 49 233,000
Rhodeisland, 37,303 31 4 30,423 21
Connecticut, 130,186 44 7 120,62 14
Vermont, 46,32 11 34,362 73
Newyork, 182,207 27 160,752 6
Newjersey, 98,226 10 92,139 13
Pennsvlvania, 237,560 56 9 193,92 66
Delaware, 30,309 99 28,468
Tennessee, 18,770 15 5 15,071 23
Northcafolina, 192,097 965 122,500
Maryland, 153,001 96 128,500
Virginia, 349,000 30 5 311,508 94
Kentucky, 38,166 44 8 4.000
Mr. Fay,
From the Haverhill Observer.
TUESDAY, September 25, 1804.
This excites our risibles, and insults the charac
ters of many amiable worthy men who have been
removed under the present administration. It o
pens a wide field for remark ; and is not within the
compass of-the plan,we set out upon, which was to
notice the misrepresentations in as concise a view
asp ssible. And do you suppose, Mr. Freeman,
that the people do not feel a concern to whom they
pay their money ? Do you suppose they experience
no more pleasure when they see worthy men receiv
ing pay for their services, than they would to see
such characters as Albert Gallatin battening on the
loaves and fishes of preferment ? You really pay a
fine compliment to the sensibility of your readers.
Would it afford no more pleasurable feelings to see
old general Putnam favored with an office for which
he.was suited, than to witness the appointment of
Mr. Armstrong the reputed author of the anony
mous, inflammatory address to the revolutionary ar
my, just before its disbandtnent ? If you think it
would not, you place them on a par with the slaves
of Virginia, you make them mere machines, inani
mate, and incapable of reflection.
14. "They advocate the dangerous doctrine, that
a judiciary once created, is superior to its creator,
and can never afterwards be regulated, if found un
necessary."
A cause is frequently injured by indiscriminate
approbation. As there is ro such quality in human
affairs, as universal, absolute perfection, it is pru
dent, where the fact is plain, to make concession of
at least some imperfections. But the writer of
these remarks seems determined to defend ealamo
currente, every measure of the present administra
tion, and to falsify and misrepresent the views and
conduct ot the two former. His cause would not be
weakened by acknowledging them to possess some
degree of merit, but would rather be strengthened;
f or the apparent candour exercised, would serve to
add weight to other charges which might have
some foundation in truth. But we might as soon ex
pect 'grapes from thorns, or figs from thistle,' as
candor from such writers.
12. "They condemn the laying of new duties on
certain Imported articles to meet the extraordinary
expenses in the Mediterranean—as if the old duties
ought to have, been left afloat and unappropriated,
or lying idle in the national chest,while a vast pub
lic debt was on our hands."
The laying of this additional duty on articles of
importation was as is pretty generally understood in
furtherance of Mr. Jefferson's favorite system of
laying such restriction on the commerce of the
country as to discourage so much intercourse with
foreign nations.—The war in the Mediterranean of
fered a pretence for the measure. But if we can so
soon pay off our national debt, if we have so many
millions untouched in the treasury, why shackle the
enterprising merchant with this new burden, and
why oppress the poor consumers with the additional
load ? We do not absolutely say that the addition
might be impolitic or unnecessary ; but we dislike
the variance of professions and practice. We dis
like to hear demagogues declaring they have the
interest of the people wholly at heart, when they are
necessitated to resort to measures diametrically op
posite. Let them honestly avow their motives,and
let their conduct stand upon the bottom of truth.
13. "They endeavor to alarm the people for the
few removals from office which have been made by
Mr. Jefferson—as if the people could feel a great
concern to whom they paid their money, since it
must be paid.—The removals have all been just and
merited."
The Independence of a Judiciary is the great bul
wark of the people's safety. If vou make jt depen
dent, the streams of justice become polluted. Bribery
and corruption are the natural fruits of such a mea
sure. Their decisions take a complexion'to suit the
viewsof their create s till, time-servers are the only
characters, who will accept of the dignified office
under such a tenure. Have not the sound argu
ments and eloquence es a Morris, a Bayard, a Tra
cey and others amply proved the falsity of the xsth
remark.
15. “They falsely accuse the government of viola
ting the constitution in hnany instances—without be
ing able to substantiate the ' truth of the charge in
one."
The remarks upon Virginian aristocrats, being
less luxurious than the people of the Northern States
has no foundation in truth. There habits, the pos
session of slaves, and the power they have to abuse
and maltreat them produces an arbitar, sentiment
in their bosoms which from their youth upward
cannot be obliterated ; and causes them to look
down upon New-Englanders with contempt, as on
beings of an inferior grade, and on our farmers of
moderate income as little better than their slaves.
16 “ They represent the interests of the north
ern and southern people a, essentially different—
when they tere precisely tire mine in rotation to
From the Farmers' Museum.
[Fact continued.]
commerce with unnecesssary duties is drying up ora
source of national prosperity without benefiting, but
rather with injuring agriculture. FACT,
(To be concluded in our iiext.) at
it
—t^ ^ i>«t— —. ^ ~
At a Meeting ofthe Standing Committee of the So
ciety of the Cincinnati of the State of New-York
on Wednesday, sth of Sept. 1804—
The President presented a letter received byhim
from Major General Charles CotesworTh
Pinckney, Vice President-General of the Society
of the Cincinnati, -”hich, was read and attentively
considered—Whereupon, resolved unanimously#;
That this Committee highly approve the sentiments
expressed in the said letter, and that the Secretary
forthwith cause the same to be published.
The President also presented a letter from Mrs.
Hamilton, which was also read—Resolved uuan#
imouslv that the Secretary cause the same to be pub#
lished/ WM. POPHAM, Sec'ry.
Charleston, (S. C.) August 1).
Sir,:
With deep affliction, I received the account of oaf
irreparable loss by the death of our late President
General. This deplorable event has been sensibly'
felt and lamented in this part of the union, even by
those who were not personally acquainted with him.
and who did not coincide with him in politics. By
me, who have witnessed his calm intrepidity and
heroic valor, on trying occasions, and was acquain
ted with his transcendent abilities and amiable qual
ities, and honoured with his particular friendship,
his loss is most poignantly felt, and bis memory will
be ever most affectionately revered.
Agriculture and commerce are dependent oh eac
other, in the present order of things. The farme
is benefitted by the industry of the merchant, and h(
is assisted by the former.— Strike the axe at the roe
of the one, and they both are injured. To burd<
taxation and all the general measures of govern,
meat, so far as agriculture forms those interests,
If they had said that the commercial speculation
or monied interest of the north & south is unrigh.
teously at variance with the agricultural interval
both of ihe nor/h and south, they would have Gomi
nearer the truth."
Is there no way of abolishing, throughout the
Union, this absurd and harbarious custom, to the ob
servance of which he fell a victim ? Duellmgis no
criterion of bravery, for I have seen cowards fight
duels, and I am convinced real courage may often
be better shewn in the refusal than in the acceptance
of a challenge. If the Society of the Cincinnati werg
to declare their abhorrence of this practice, & the
determination of all members to discourage it as far
as they had influence, and on no account either to
send or accept a challenge, it [might tend to annul
this odious custom, and would be a tribute of respect
to the sentiments and memory of our late illustrious
Chief. If the State Society of New-York should
coincide with me in opinion, I should be glad to have
their sentiments how best to carry it into execution ;
whether by submitting it to a meeting of the General
Society at New York, Philadelphia, or Baltimore, or
by referring the matter at once to the different State
Societies for their consideration.
Your most obedient servent,
CHARLES COTESWORTH PINCKNEY,
,V.F. G. S. C.
Col. W. & Smith. President of the New-
York State Society of the Cincinnati,
Albany, August 11, 18%
Sir,
To the distress of a heart sodeeply afflicted „
mine, from the irreparable loss of a most amiable
and affectionate husband, I trust the respectable so
ciety in which you preside, will impute the'delay of
an acknowledgement for their consolatory letter,
couched in terms that evince their sympathy erne
nates from the heart.
Although great mitigation of that affliction, with
which I am so severely depressed, can only be hoped
from the mercies of the Divine Being, in whose dis
pensations it is the duty of his creatures humbiy and
devoutly.to acquiesce ; yet, the wounded heart de
rives a degree of consolation from the tenderness with
which its lot is bewailed by the virtuous, the wise,
and humane—and also from that high honour and
respect with which the memory of the dear deceas
ed has been commemorated by them, and these con
templated in the resolutions of the Society of the
Cincinnati, transmitted by you, and for which vou,
Sir, will be pleased to convey my warmest thanks.to
tla.t respectable body.
I reciprocate with sensibility your and their re
commendation of me to the Divine care and protec
tion—may they ever' enjoy it, and without alloy.
I am, Sir, with great respect,
Your obedient servant,
E. HAMILTON.
To W&LfJfy Snrrn, Esq
I have this day received your favour of the 25th
of July, and am much obliged to the State Society,
and to yourselffor it. With sentiments of great re
spect, I have the honour to be.
[No. &