Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1805-04-23 00:00:00, page 2

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1 ^'. >.Qfy> _ > , A' „_=**"»« •^^ " 4
fort rest of d hrtfefWalk themselves, to whom
& right it hub©, to adopt such measures as their
wisdom may direct, to gi,e a fair apd full expres
fe'of their opinions the succeeding legislature.
Re«fy, That as soon , the people shall fully
'' Ifftrust and Instruct their ,epr6&,sWes m general ,
Assembly fa call a convention, provision shall be
' (a to accon^^l^inruCttoQS and directs.
From [Peon.) April s.
« The irreconcibibte difference among the De
mocrats shews Wlfjn^ytry thing, £bg pre
r. dteims oftte Afed^as to tie divisions in the
tarty opposed taifemate verified. Like the state
'of tilings ifbiCh ourJacobips commanded in France,
doe day we sire a man t&e idol of the revolutionists,
and the nefa day we witness his fickkfriends tread
ing him fate the earth, Such conduce says emphat
-realty to era, Demag,e .ready."
But let every one seek and adhere to what he.is
•conscious are correct principles, such as'he can ad
vocate and declare without bashing, whether pop
{ utar or not Let us respect and love but not flatter
: and delude the multitude—Let Us be more anxious
to tell them the truth, than merely what may Altaic.
Ithem —And let them have a better criterion for
determining who are their friends than the mere
professions of individuals. -,
: "Gov M'Kean, who, a few years sihee, was
the object of the enthusiastic attachment of the an
ti-fedefaiists—against whom ikWas not safe, even
hl^M^^^^^l
^ whom he has assisted t^ give influence in society,,
are using that influence to destroy his character and
popularity. It is tot that he had changed ; but
that they had travelled beyond him in the road to
anarchy —and are provoked that he remaiasdoubt
ing and hesitating behind—that he. discovers an at
tachment to steady habits and to principles—that
he deliberates instead or rushing on with there in
their mod career.=on the second inst. a private
caucus was told by members of our enlightened le
flslature— where arrangements were made fop hav
ing a public caucus against our governor and such
measures adopted as they conceived would give an
imposing appearance to the result.—The friends
Os His Excellency were not invited. On Wednes
day night the fewwine Democrats met—when Si
• mon Snyder had 42 votes, and is to be the guberna
torial 'candidate— He,l suppose, has given assurance
of submission to this * will of the people," alias the
will of a parcel of assuming aristocrats,who pretend
tube the organs of that w@ Mr. M'Kean had 7
• votes, and Samuel M*Clay I—Thirty-four raerabe:s
of the Legislature,have since subscribed their names
, a nomination of Thomas M'Kean.
" We have had a meeting of the friends of the
constitution, those who are opposed to calling a con
' vention—A. Standing committee .has been appointed
Id a committee to draft an Address to the people.
“ The resolution lately reported, and which; is
considered as favoring the project of a Convention,
fas been passed by the House ayes 51, noes 23. —At
tie moment, however, of passing this resolution,
there was of the petitioners to the House for and
against a Convention, a majority of the latter."
g,Mr Elliot's Second Letter.
FROM TMX VERMONT JOURNAL.
MR.ELLIOT
, TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.
LETTER, IT.
THE first important subject which fame before
Congress, on which it became necessary for
foe to abandon either my principles or my party,
Was the first.bill for the temporary government of
Louisiana. By tills bill, all the military, civil and
judicial powers, exercised by the officers of the exis
ting government of that territory, were to be vested
in such person or persons, fc exercised in such man
ner as the President of the U States should direct.
Surely government of this description must be a
perfect despotism ; and this indeed was admitted
by its advocates, who justified the measures on the
ground of necessity alone.—This necessity I could
not dissever. By the law of nations the institutions
of the ceded country would remain in farce until
changed by the legislative power of the United
States ; and it could be the work of a few days on
ly to devise some system of a general nature, which
should be competent to the temporary government
of the territory, and at the same time consonant to
*the republican principles of the constitution. The
anion erf legislative, executive, judicial, and milita
ry powers, in an individual, was utterly irreconcila
ble with the spirit of that instrument ; and the deli
gatron cf % power tp the President to appoint a su
1, w , pldrtie governor of the territory, was repugnant to
its letter ; the Constitution having authorised Con
-1 " gross to vest the appointment of inferior officers on
ly in the President alone. By the institutions of
* ancient Rome, when the Senate received informa
, tion of the conquest or cession of a country, they
consulted What laws they thought proper should be
'prescribed, and sent commonly ten ambassadors,
with whose concurrence the General of the troops
' in the conquered or ceded country might settle its
:concerns. The two first laws which Congress pas
sed relative tty the government of Louisiana, display
a very singular improrment upon the too republi
, fan system of the ancient Romans. It is a subject
of pleasure and jfpride that I opposed them "; and
; lam clearly of opinion that the adoption of simi
r lar measures, by- the federalists, while they held the
jre& of power, would have been considered by the
r rep Weans as unquestionable eriden^^
, L fam to create a monarcl,ical system of government.
&' ' The celebrated alteration of the constitution, pro
' viding for a distinct designation of the electorial
'- votes for President and Vice President, comes next
• in order in the present review. The following let
-4 ter which ^addressed to the Council and,House of
^ f Representatives of this State, unfolds the views and
motives which governed my conduct in relation to
" that subject. The council, although they had for
' warded" to me ap instruction in the form of a re
quest to vote m favor of die dmendment,forbade
their Secretary to read to them fay reasonsfor dis
obeying their instructions. This conduct may^ve
been truly republican ^bpt it will be proper, pre
viously to the admission of that point, to exami be
the constitutional power of the State Legislature to
instruct Representatives or even Senators in Con- .
{;ress, with respect to amendments to the constitut
ion. The Constitution has declared that " Con-
N ,?% whenever two thirds es both Houses shall
' geem it necessary, shall propose amend nentsto this.
Constitution, or on the application of two thirds of.
the LegiStures of the sever! States, shall call a con
vention, &c," Congress are vested with a perfect
discretion in the case ; they may propose amend-,
, . „,fe wheritheydeem it necesiary. Congress and
.^-^ • tfefe^ Legislatures are;, conditionally, distinct in
itiative bodies, as it respects amendments, each
eotopletfy independent qf the other.—Tojustify the
tote Legislatures fa iesteting etra Srafttl to
propose ai*4<bmts, the Constitution staid first
be amended sou, toTCad thust-Congress; Whenever
the State legislatures ehatiinstruct.them @ deem
it necessary, shall propose amendments, Sic. Ishall
ht Airtime only 'add that I have, wpon rahtiwe -re
flection, altered the opinion avowed hr ths flowing
letter, chat the amendments riot nuieeriady info
tfoth co the small States ; and Jshall elevate my .
nextletter to an exhibition of tte reasons which
produced in my mind that alteration. ^<; -
Washington, Deel 10, 1803.
f. ^^^' ^^^
I DULY received a communication from His
Excellency the Governor, covering a resolution of
'the Council and General Assembly, instructing the
Senators, and requesting the Representatives ofthe
people ofthe State, ih Congress, to uselheir exer
tions to obtain an amendment to the Constitution
of the United States providing for a distinct desig
nation of the votes for President and Vice President.
Previously to the arrival of this communication, a
resolution providing for that object had passed the
House of Representatives by a large constitutional
majority, and was sent to the Senate for their con
sideration ; for that resolution my vote was given.
The Senate did not act upon, the resolution, but 0,.
riginated a new one, contemplating another materi
al alteration in the Constitution, connected with the
principle of designation. The alteration to which
latitude is a provision that in case tliq House of Rep
reseotatives shall not make a choice of Resident,
when the right of making such choftv devolves up
- on them, before the fourth day of March, thl Vice
' "President elect shall ^ President for^the peat four
years. To the resolution from the Senate, myself ;
and six other members of my own political senti
ments, four from Massachusetts, one from Pennsyl
vania, and one from Virginia, after making fruit
less attempts to amend it, were compelled by the
dictates of conscience to give our deckled dissent :
And it becomes me, in the peculiar situation in
which I stand, tespecfully to offer to tie Legislature
of the state which I have the honor to represent, the
reasons for my conduct. ]
We were all attached to the great principle of
designation, but we thought the additional provisionj
of the Senate calculated to reproduce the fame eril
which that principle was intended to remove, by
creating new probabilities of the instroduction of a
man ts the Presidency,who was never contemplated
ask-suitable candidate for that office, ffthe^ by the
people or the electors. We urged raat the day
would probably soon arrive, when new political in
terests would soon arise in our country, aid numer
ous candidates be presented for the Presidency.
That upon the establishment ofthe principle of dis
" crimination,the office of Vice President would become
of minor consideration, and the public ^attention
would be turned upon all the most prominin t char
acters ifi the Union, merely as candidate) for that
of President. That two large states, each invol
ving; several smaller stales within the circle of its
influence, might present two candidates, equally and
preeminently qualified for the office of President,
and equal, or nearly equal, in the number oi electo
rial suffrages, to the House of Representatives :
That each of those great states might be obstinate
in its pretentions, and that several small stem mig ht
as happened at the last election, be divided 4nd give
no vote; that it would be in the power of two or S
individuals to prevent an election ; that/the Vice-
President, already chosen, either by the electors or
the senate, would be enabled tt promise those indi
viduals the first offices in the power of& execu
tive bestow, although they might be as totally un ¥
qualified for them as himself for the Presidency,
and that he might make his promise with a perfect
certainty of being able to perform it, if they should
protract the election until the fourth da&tf March.
We urged that this could not be con sidered as an
extreme case, because it could not be considered as
improbable that the American people, although now
virtuous, would be at no remote time income de
gree corrupted and would always possess ambitious
and unprincipled individuals of talents and influence.
That the proposed addition to the Constitution con
tained language inconsistent with that commanding
Voice ofthe original constitution by which the House
of Representatives is directed to make an election
of President at all events : and that although the
imperative stile could not be considered as intend
ed to coerce moral violation, it was improper, after
commanding the House to make a choice, immedi
ately to tell them they may do it or not as they please.
That thisprevision seemed to invite to corruption,&
to open a broader avenue through which intrigue and
ambition might advance to the very vitals of our re
publican system than any free people had ever es
tablished as a radical principle of their constitution.!
—That it was dangerous to alter the constitution
„with precipitation, and to insist upon blending with ,
a principal which the public sentiment unequivocal
ly demanded, a novel principle which the people
had never contemplated.l
That it was irrational to conclude that the dis
crimnating principle would be lost by a rejection of
the present resolution ; a conference with the Se
nate might follow, and an accomodation immediate
ly be made, or the Senate might proceed to consid
er'the resolution sent from the House, and the pro
bable result would be its adoption.
Although almost every member in the majority
allowed our objections to possess great weight, we
were not favored with many answers to our argu
ments. We were only told that the evils we feared
might never be experienced, and that if we did not
adopt the resolution in the form in whichfit passed
the Senate, we should in all probability lose its prin-.
ciple altogether.
The members who generally constitute the minor
ity in the House upon political questions supported
our objections, but relied principally upon a font
Irt&dfffotyHbffaemMPrti^^principle
of discrimination between the votes for President
and Vice-president, impairs the privileges &hd re
lative weight of the small states in the Union. They
supported this position with much sincerity and in
genyity^ut I could not discover great force in their
arguments.
I possessed the sentiments of the legislature and
people of Vermont with respect to the question of ]
designation, but could hot anticipate tlieir opinion
upon extraneous subjects and therefore felt myself
at liberty to vote against the resolution, yhich'was
carried by the casting vote of the Speaker. It
was matter of great consolation to me in this paiaful:
situation, to find so many members of the same po- 1
litical sentiments with myself, anti of much greater
political experience, uniting wityme Opinion ; a
circpmstrmce tyhicli will preserve me from the im
tyittatiOD of having adopted a s^it^ry pndeccentrici
opinion; from prepossessions adverse, to cool re
flectito. . JAMES ELLIOT.
Coos &nk counterfeited.
,; We areinfoßned, that Twenty Dollar Bills, per-.
porting to have toped from the Coos Bank, are in
circulation inland oW Stanftead,in Canada. The
public are rotifief thatTO bills rfa larger denomi
nation tW Ten Doll„p h'fre jffurd&ty that Bank
—of to^rte, all of tefafa deUriptic, rat te
I Ipft—
' BY THE MAILS,
; • CHARLKSTOT, APRIL 2, 1805.—
'- Accounts from Cap-Francois, by Caph Richards,
state, that the Hvytian army had gouq agai^tSani
. ta Domingo.r-L'liey were said to amount to 40,1,00
-mcn,l Dessalines, the Emptor; had 'matched at
the head of these until they reached St. Jago, an
* inland* tdwif, of considerable strength—a council of
war was theuheld, when it was determined to storm
the city. The Emperor, however, was requested
^not to risque his life in the attempt, and the direc
tion of the siege was given to gen. Brave," who, as-.
ter a desperate 5c bloody conflict, succeeded in car
rying the city ; not however, without considerable
loss. It was rupiored that gen. Brave was mortal
ly wounded, and had lost 10Q& of his best troops.
The French and Spaniards found in the city, it was
supposed, were all put to the sword.*
[Contradicted by later ac counts.] , .
✓ B—
, PHILADELPHIA, APRIL 6.
We have been favoured with the following ci
traa ofa letter from a gentleman of the firft respec
tability in India, to his friend in this cirypThs
newspapers referred to in this letter, have been >bli
gingl, promised to the Editor of this Gazette; and
the interfiling extrads fall appear hereafter :
Calcutta, Dec. 14.
'For my pciitical matters J refer you to toe pa-I
pers, by which you wbl titid, that we have had
lorne defperfy fight agin this Country, but I be
lieve we h^ye now gotine better of all die native
Ipowers, who at one time were about to combine a
gainl lus—Generals Lake, Wellesley, and Frazer,
have behaved like Heroes, and indeed fd have all|
our troops. , .I
^'Halkar has given ns much trouble, but he has
met with such a check, in the last bufineft, that he
will never be able to do ns much harm. , I think
we fhdl fopri have a permanent peace, at least in
asmuch as vre Anil have nothing apprehend,
from the native powers, who now they arc got un
der, will be kept from riling again io any force.;
"Marquis Wellesley has proved him'ell a clever
fellow, in every , sense of the word.—Had he not ;
been our Gov. General, we frould probably have
left this country. , .?
Arrived in this city off Turfday last, from New-Tode,f
the Hon. Jofcph Rademakcr, Esq Charge des Affaires and ft
Consul Gen. from his Royal Highness the Prince Regent j
cf Portugal, to Che United States of America.
NEW-TORK, APRIL 8.
By the brig Mountaineer, captain Rogers, arriv
ed here yesterday, we have received a St. Croix
paper of the 21st of March, containing the follp^ing .
account of the operations of the French squadron
recently arrived in the West-Indies from France.
basseterre; March 13.
Invasion of St. Christophers.
On the morning of the Sth March, the French
fleet arrived off Basseterre, and having anchoredl
abreast of the town, with the transports about 12
o'clock ; a shot was fired at Fort Smith, when the
flag was immediately struck.
The two small forts to windward and leeward of
the Harbour being unable to make any essential re
sistance, the militia having gone early in the morn
ing to re-inforce the Garrison of Brimstone Hill, and
no protection for the Town of Basseterre, eitherin
troops or British men of war, any resistance was
deemed ineffectual, to so formidable a force.
As no flag of truce appeared from the enemy but
preparations were observed for landing troop,, a
committee of 6. gentlemen, previously appointed,
went off with a flag of truce and were received on
board Lc Lynx, where General Barbot, chief ofthe
Etat-major demanded to hear our proposals. The
terms of capitulation proposed, were :
Ist. That they shall retain their laws, as far as the
same relate to their persons and properties, during
the war.
2d. That their persons and properties shall be
safe, and taken under the protection of the French
[Government.
3d. All Forts, Batteries, arms and ammunition,
within the power of the inhabitants above described,
shall be delivered up to the French Government.
'The committee were then sent on board the Ma
jesticux, whire they were received by the Admiral
and Gen. Grange with politeness. On repeating
to them the terms, they were informed by the Gen
;eral,that the following only would be agreed to, —
i vfc
I The surrender of all the merchant shipping in
I the road.
The occupation by their troops of the two small
I Forts of Smith and Bluff Point ; and
I A contribution of a million of livres tournois, to
be carried on board the Majestieux, by 9 o'clock
the next morning.
On the return of the committee on shore, accom
panied by M. Ducrocq, the French commissary,
Gen. Barbot marched the troops to Taylors' estate,
where he fixed his head quarters ; he then sent for
the Treasurer and Collector, and ordered Mr. Cof
fin to produce 5,0001. sterling by 8 o'clock the next
morning—and told the committee, that if the sum I
was not raised by that time, it should then be dou-|
bled, until the next day ; and if not then r^pleat-I
ed, the whole of the French troops should to land-I
ed, the town and country given up to plunder, rind'
afterwards the town be demolished by the line of
battle ships. He stated that this contribution !
was not to be considered as levied on the inhabi
tants themselves but by the French Government on
the English Government, which would indemnify ps
-forTCur ra^es "Th. addition to this he declared he
must have 5000 L separately from the Collector ;
and 200,000 livres, (near!) §,OOOI. sterling') as acom
pensation for the troops already landed, and underl
his orders.
In consequence of the sum .required, not .being re-|
ceived, Gen. Barbot told the collector he should de
mand double ; and it being impossible to procure
; cash, recourse was had to the negotiation of it, by I
bills.—Accordingly, Mr. Coffin, the collector, drew
on Gen. Mathew,(who was on a visit to the Island,
from America) for 10,0001. Sterling," in favor of
Gen. Barbot, ; whiqh bill was accepted by General
: Mathews. He then gave his own bills on the A
-1 merican Consul in Paris, for the amount which was.
demanded by Gen. Barbot.
At five o'clock in the afternoon the committee
were carried on board the Majestieux. Gen Grangej
I then said,that he was extremely dissatisfied with the
smallness of the sum raised; that he was certainl
tliere.was mor&money on the islaad—and finally he
demanded that. 2«0001. sterling more should be
brought on board the Majestieux by 8 o'clock the
next morning. This the committee frankly declared
. was impossible,-Gen. Grange then ordered them into
the Lieutenant's cabin and threatened to take them
to sea ifhis demand was not eomph'ed with.
Sohn after they were informed by Gen. Barbot,that
they must pledge themselves to bi ing on board 3,000
' guineas by eigkt o'clock precisely ft in which case
go ifory should be toeto the town or the inhabit |
fonts. With this they tempifed: and et rite a'dcc±
the* ne xtcoining the money yrps taken on board
L'Araude, where they were received with express
foils of approbation, at the honour ' and fidelity with
which they had fulfilled their eng^oments.
M. Ducrocq was presenter! witl^ a gold watch by
the com mittee as a testimony of esteem for his beha
viour to the inhabitants.
At 12 o'clock, on the 7th th; squadron departed
and went to Nevis where they ob&fo@4^oQj ,cut
rency^anded no soldiers, & behave) with tye utmost
politeness.—They demanded at fir#^QfyQQ»§}iLeu.
BRITISHFLEET.
new-tork, APRIL 11.—The schr Betsy Folgeri/
Dolliver, has arrived at Sandy-Hook, in SO days
from Madeira. Mr. James Tucker, seaman came
up from her List evening in a pilot boat,a„q informs,
that on the 10th of March, a'British ^neuron of
seven sail of the line, including a three decker, sail
ed from Madeira. He adds, that on the 12<h, th#
day after he left Madeira he passed toe above squad
ron ; and that from the course they were steering^
the supposes they were bound to the .Whinnies.
The above squadron had been off Madeir^.gme
^time, and the officers frequently on shore. ; "
* BOSTON, APRILIt
I'FRENCH EDICT.
Yesterday's Mail furnishes us with the following
Document, corroborative of the late acuouafiurerß
the West -Indies; stating that the trade cf America
with Hispaniola was interdicted by the French, CQ
pain oi deatfi. It han official* paper, and entitled
to credit. " ," ;• -
"L. hRRAKb, General of brigade cofoa&r in
chief of St. Domingo, anting aS captain -general
and a member of the legion of honour.
• Experience has, for too much time, taught the
general, that all kind of regard and modification to
wards those scoundrels, who maintain the rebellion
in Hispaniola by furnishing every thing necessary
to the rebels, against the will and approbation of
their respective governments, and who, by those
acts of cupidity, dishonor the flags they sail under -
and finding the necessity of putting a stop to rapat
ity, and to treat them as /mates, has proclaimed
and proclaims— ; ,„,
• Art. L All individuals, whomsoever, found oh
board of any vessel or vessel, allies or neutrals
bound to any ports in Hispaniola, occupied by the
labels shall suffer death. • '
Fhose found on board of any vessel, allies or neu,
rajs,coming out of any ports in Hispaniola occupied'
' by the rebels, shall , suffer ' death.
Those found at two. leagues distances from an,
part on the coast of Hispaniola,, occupied by the re
bels, on board of allies or neutrals shall suffer death.
art. 2—The general informs, that all prisoners
made in those different cases shall fee brought into
one of the ports of Hispaniola occupied hythe-f ranch
to be tried by a military commission, which is te
pronounce sentence.
art. 3—This proclamation shall be put into ex
ecution on the first Floreal, (21st April) and until
that time all the preceding proclamations, in order
!to prevent all kinds of communication with the
coast of Hispaniola/ occupied by the rebels, shall be
strictly executed.
art. 4—Of this present proclamation registered
at the Colonial inspection, one hundred copies are
printed, published and posted up in all the chief
places round the east-part of Hispaniola and aft
necessary steps shall be taken to its publicity, in al)
the islands and continent of America. ....
Done at the head quarters of the general of St.
Domingo, the 16th Fluvoise, year the 12th (Sth
February. 1805);
The general commander in chirf acting as capt
tain-general a^d member ofthe legation of
f^CT (S&ned) L. FERRAND.
ST. DOMINGO.
From St. Domingo, March 17, we learn, that but
one division of the Haytian army had made their ap
pearance—it was expected that no attack would
made on the city, until the remainder arrived.—
No apprehensions were entertained of the blacks
taking the place, as they had plenty of ammunition
and men, and every precaution taken tgput the
place in ' the best state of defence possible. All the"
vessels were ordered out of the port, so as to leave
no hopes for retreat. The women midchildren and
property to a large amount, were sent to Porto-Ri
co, some of which was intercepted by the British,
and sent to Jamaica. <'"
FURTHER FROM ST. DOMINGO.
Capt. Paddock, arrived at New-York, from the
city as St. Domingo and Porto Rico, informs th& the
Haytian army appeared off St. Carlo the sth March,
and on the same morning shot a French general whe
was walking on the ramparts. On the Bth they
crossed the river, arid pitched their tents. On th*
11th the French general Debarque, at the head o<
four hundred troops, made asortie from Fort Carlo
and routed the besiegers (who lost their commander,
and one hundred troops) after a smart skirmish of
four hours, with a loss of only threaten killed arid
five wounded, including general Debarque, slightly
On the succeeding day general Ferrand prdered all
I the shipping to leave the port, op account of the ip*
I jury they would sustain from the firing of the negroes
I and compelled them to take on board all the women
and children in the place, and convey them to Por-
Ito Rico. Capt. Paddock received sixty of these up-
I fortunate persons on board his vessel. The garri-
I son of St. Domingo consisted, of about 4000 troops,
iwell supplied with arms, ammunition, and provis
ions ; and the commander in chief apprehended ne j
danger from t^e threatened ettueL --=-- Y
A gentleman from St. Bartholomews which he
left 23 days since, informs, that Commodore Hood
I in the Centaur, of 74 guns, had arrived at Antigua,'
from Bafbadoes, with a reinforcement of 1600 seZ
I men and troops—apd that the naval and land forces
collected at Antigau amounted to between 12 and
A,OOO men—Tlfat the French fleet had been off An-"
tigua, but learning the state defence, stood off to the/
southward. The Cork fleet, under convoy of two
frigates having on board 1700 twops, has arrived 1
at Bafbadoes. ? <
Accounts from St Thomas, received at Philadel
phia, state the reported arrival of a French and
Spanish fleet (of 17 sail) off Porto Rico, standing,
to leeward ; supposed to be bound to St. Doming^
Thereare nodates to these accounts ; but fhefe are
other accounts which corroborate foe fact. Ft-isnp-
Iposted to be the combined fleet from Toulon and Car
thagena. Previous to this, Dessajines had invested
the city of St Domingo, and the French and Span@
women and children had left tin place.
A letter from Bourdeax, of Jan. 30th, says, “ The
Society of Public Instruction, in this place, have e
lected Mr. Lee, the American Consul, one of its
Vmembers. This is said to be in consequence of/
some communications he tpade to the President of
the Commercial CoHhge on the advantage ofthe
I Commerce between tye United fa& QFraige. fr