Republican ledger, and Portsmouth price current — Portsmouth, N.H., 1801-12-29 00:00:00, page 2

patriotifin that can animate the human heart.
Such sentiment, founded on the immutable
principles of reason and truth, once em
braced, becomes a permanent rule of a&ion,
and republicanism finds an impregnable
fortrefs in every breast.
European philosophers have told us " that
man, to be free, mutt be virtuous"—They
have midaken the cause for tye cfta ; and
should have fa id, “ That to be virtuous he
inuft be free." For if virtue be a moral
principle, and man be a free agent, can that
be virtue which does not flow fpontanecmf
ly from the heart ? Can that be virtue, how
ever specious, which slavery compels ? Away
then with the falfe, the dangerous dogma
the constant plea of tyrants, and the perpet
ual terror of slaves. It is the interest of all
nations to ba virtuous, and all nations would
pursue their interest, did not. political fraud
lead them astray.. To detect this political
fraud, to guard against its machinations, to
inspire man with a consciousness of his dig
nity and his power ; these are the great ends
which true wisdom ought inceflantly to pur
sue, undismayed by adversity, undated by
profpcrity. Her means Ihould be reason
and truth. These are the only irrefiftable
weapons that rational agents can wield.—
The sword may subvert an Empire. But
reason alone can re-establish and give stab-,
ility to its glory.
The diftinaive feature of American gov
ernments is the representative principle. It
is by the operation of this principle, that the
nation can at any. time express its opinion
of public men and public measures, and will
their continuance or suspension. It is by
the operation of this principle that they have
expressed such opinion and by its expression
have Glently and tranquilly produced a re
form, which in other states would have been
denominated a revolution, whose atchieve
ment could only have been imperfe&ly ef
fe&ed by the sword. Cherish, then, fel
low-citizens, a (acred regard for this holy
principle —Let every heart habitually feel
its valuer Let every mind frequently re
flea on the inestimable good that it produc
es. And when the wreck of other govern
ments, falfely (tyled republican,, are held up
as evidence of the perishable nature of all
political systems, and it is inferred that ours
too must go to decay, recollca that our fyf
i&n is the only one that has ever existed,
whose baGs is a true representation of the
people. , a
I ifpfng babe mingling its tears with the dis
consolate mother.—These a<e but the faint
outlines of the diftiefiing picture.
Here fancy intrudes her suggestions. Dur
ing the sanguinary period of war, we might
observe the pampered Contractor, whose per
centum (lands in competition with the hap
piness of his country ; the unprincipled
Speculator, who is living on the injuries of
an unfortunate foldicr ; a clan of favored
fyeophants, who to obtain employment,
Would facrifice every principle of honor and
honesty ; a group of myrmidons, who un
der pretence of supporting government,
would offer themselves as tools to enslave
their fellow-citizens ; a junto of proud of
ficiates, who, rioting on the emoluments of
their appointments, would if possible, over
throw the Constitution, if there should be
virtue enough in the President to displace
them. Such circles might experience the
benign efficacy of War ; and while the in
duftrions body of the people were groaning
under the weight of taxes, the feflive board of
such gluttons might resound with songs of
mirth, in adoration.
As men and citizens, our devotion on this
day naturally embrace the fuperintendance
of Providence. Under this impression, it is
our duty to approach the Altar with every
expression of gratitude; no party spirit ought
to disturb that Christian tranquility, which
distinguish its pofleffors. The Pulpit, on
such occasions, should not become as ter
rible as Mount Sinia, but be used as
the medium through which the difeordant
passions should be allayed ; charity towards
each other, on religious points, should be
exercised ; no censure should be cast on a
sister date fortheir religious scruples ; abu
sive epithets should be avoided ; Union in
culcated ; the Constituted Authorities, re
fpeaed ; and thus harmonizing in ourthankf
giving and devotion, we may anticipate
“ Pefa on earth and good will towards
men^ OLD SOUTH.
There is something so interesting, and
even sublime in a nation, now composed of
millions and defined hereafter to be unri
valled in numbers, Making offby Herculean
efforts the chains of foreign despotism, and
then with unexhaufted vigor defending the
rights of its citizens from internal invaGon,
that the mind cannot too often pause, and
trace the admirable connexion between cause
and effe& whereby the interesting fpe&cle
is produced.
To obtain diftinQ views of the nature of
our government to difeern its necessary con
nexion with true national glory and person
al felicity, is the basis of the only corred
If the federal prints seriously thought that
there was any danger to be apprehended
from the persons at present administering
the government, either from their ambition, 1
their extravagance, or from their former'
condu&, they would be juftified in their en
deavours to bring about a change in the pub-'
lie sentiments, with regard to the public ser
vants —but what are we to think of them,
when they can (loop to misrepresentation
and falfhood refpe&iog men whom they well
know to be the contrary of what they rep
resent them, and against whom the poisoned
dart of (lander availeth nothing ?—Theyt
surely are true Jacobins, true diforganizers.l
We copy the following from the Britijb
paper printed in Canada, and seriously re
commend a perusal thereof to the federal
printers generally, and to some of those cler
gymen in New-England, who have so far
forgotten their duties as ministers of that re
ligion which teaches " Thou foalt not bear
falfe witness again, thy neighbor, as to en
ter the lifts among the other defamers of gov
ernment, thereby encouraging by their ex
ample a departure from that good command,
which it Ihould be their duty to endeavor to
enforce.
THE press has always been considered
by republicans as a great means of preserv
ing the liberties of a people entire, and al
ways will be—there are no men so Superla
tively virtuous, to whom a few hints from
a public paper will not some time or other
be, if not absolutely necessary, at least use-,
ful ; and more especially if these men are
entrusted with the adminiftratioh of the af
fairs of a free people.
But the manner in which the present ad
ministration and all its measures have been
handled by some federal editors, Sufficiently,
proves that their intention is not to correAr
the proceedure, not to have measures whichn
they term ruinous ahd subversive of the con-4
dilution, altered—neither can their conduct
proceed from a dread left improper measures
might be adopted if they did not openly at
tack the administration ;---no, the object of
some of the federal prims can be nothing else
than to bring the principle of a republican
government into disrepute, by lavishing in
diferiminate abuse on the men entrusted with
the administration thereof.
BRITISH AMERICA.
NIAGARA, NOV, 7.
" The States papers in inventive most
certainly take the lead of any in the world,
and prove to a demonstration that presses,
unrestrained by law to decency and truth,
are dangerous. The President and his re
moving from office all those who are oppos
ed to his administration, are fubjeds for
doubly distilled gall, yet he fays, “ the lib
erty of the press is effcntial to the liberty of
the people." But his philosophic temper
may be provoked (and he rAuft be more
that a philosopher not to be provoked) to a
belief with his predecessor, that an energet
ic (edition law is the surest way of guarding
against attacks, and it is better to err on the
reftriaive fide, than to leave too much liber
ty to complain.
" We will certainly not grant that Mr.
Jefferfon's administration perfe&ly accords
with wi/bes and interest, not so much as did
Mr. Adams's ; yet we mutt do him the jus
tice to fay, that if he has not in fad taken
part with usagainft our enemies, the French,
he has not a&ed against us ; and if we fay
he is an incarnate devil, a party there make
him more so : and indeed he must be (aid
to have wrought miracles, for he has, in
spite as opportion, and contrary to our ex
pe&ations, procured to his nation a greater
degree of external peace, and less depreda
tion on their commerce from the warring
nations than did his predecessor, and has also
considerably lessened their national expence ;
these seem to be his principle obje&s, and
we may apprehend no harm from him.
" A Granger, who could not allow for
felf praise, would suppose from these papers
that alTthe righteous, mere-torious and pi
ous in these states were kicked down in the
party who fill ; and that all religion and or
der, on which they so much harp, are dis
regarded, it is evident from the joint con
dud of the parties. In this the world mult
agree, those two things so necessary in the
government of a country, are stolen for hob
bies and ponies to the fallen , and could we
be brought to believe half that is said by a
It is the belief of the Editor that neither
exclusive virtue or talent are to be found on
one fide, and it is his hope, fortified by nu
merous recent illustrations, that the great
mass of each party only requires a temper
ate and rational difeiofure of its error to 3-
bandon them—From the accumulating tri
umphs of republicanism, he halls with joy
the dawn of national harmony, and does not
despair of reaching the period, when the
nation will be undivided in political opin
ion. We cannot, it is true, expea to be
exempt from the occasional intrigues of am
bitious men ; but the great body of the peo
ple may be so enlightened as to pursue their
true interests, Unmoved by the turbulence of
ambition.— Nat. Intel.
Os Elections—of Revifal and unfinished bufi
nefs—of Claims—of Ways and Means.
A Committee was appointed on enrolled Bills.
Resolved, That a committe be appointed to
enquire whether any and what alterations are ne
cessary in the government of the Territory of Co*
lumbia, and to report by bill or otherwise.
A meflage was received from the Senate, with
a resolution of that body, to eleft two Chaplains,
and requeuing the concurrence of the House.
Whereupon tie House concurred therein.
A message, With sundry communications accom
panying the fame, was received from the Preli
dear, by Mr Lewis, his Secretary.
After the reading of this Message, a desultory
conversation took place on the printing—Mr.
Randolph and Mr Giles were for printing 500
copies of the Message, and the fame number of
the Documents. Mr. Bayard for 150 of the Doc
uments, and 500 of the Meflage. He argued,
that the experje would be too great, and as the
documents were volumniops, and it would be re
pugnant to the economy now purfbing, beside
that the House, having dispensed with the read
ing of them, did not know what they were.
Mr. Giles complimented the gentleman from
Delaware bn his disposition to economy, and ho
ped to fee It manifested during the session. For
his part he Was fond of economy of money, not
of public information : be thought the public
could not be too well informed ; on that point'
there had been much economy the other way.
There were persons in all parts of the Union e
qually competant with the members of that
House, to form an opinion oh those documents,
and he wished them to possess the means,
Mr. Bayard assured the gentleman of his dispo
sition to go as far as he Should ih liberal economy.
But the means of information proposed, he coh
tidered inadequate to the end. Each member
would receive four copies of these Documents,
and What means would they afford to all theii
constituents ; he for instance represented 60,000
persons—what use would four copies be to that
number ?
party is tree, we (hall soon fee our entpin
als who are Sentenced to depart the province
in a few hours to save hanging, like some
who in England have had their choice of
Botany Bay or she gallows, wifely choose
the latter for con Science fake."
. Read, O Theodore, thou who so well,rac
tife the Works recommended by that faith
which you profits /=Read, O Noah, thou
who haft added so much to the verity and el
egance of the English Language ! —Read O
Backus, profound in Ajiatic researches !—
And read, O thou renouned champion of
federalifm, cream of argument, eflence of
true wisdom, wittiest among the witty, Ben
Russel, read what thy friends fay of thee and
the other valiant knights who have so bold
ly come forward in defence of the oMfchool.
(Aurora.)
Dr. Mitchell presented a petition from certain
Aliens residing in Jew-York and its vicinity,
dating the injuries they fuffer from the naturaliz
ation law, and praying the house to afford such re
lief as they (hall deem ft.
After fonts conversation as to the dilpofition of
the Petition, itwas agreed that it lie on the table,
until the part of the President's message on the
fame fubjeft be taken up by the house.
A Petition to the fame effed was presented by
Dr. Mitchell from Certain Alien residents in the
County of Montgomery, date of New-York.
Mr. Giles moved the reference of this petition
to the Committee of the whole, to whom had
been referred the presidents message.
Mr. Giles and Dr. Mitchell considered this mode
of difpotition proper to be pursued in all cases
where abftraft principles were to be fettled. Such'
was the present case, the fads Were notorious
and indisputable,
Mr. Grlfworld advocated the reference of all
DECEMBER. 8, 18ot.
ACCORDING to the (landing rules of the
House, the following Committees were appoint
ed :—
(tongret^ of the United States.
Mr. Giles observed that the objection made to
printing 500 copies of the Documents, would e
qually apply to 500 of the message bo which they
belonged , surely the Documents will be as ade
quate as the Message.
The question for 506 of each was carried. Af
ter Which the motion of Mr. Nicholson was call
ed up, and after some conversation postponed to
Monday next#,
Gen. Smith moved that the message of the Pre
sident be referred to a committee of the whole on
the state of the union—Agreed, and the house ad
journed.
The speaker laid before the House a letter re
ceived by him from the Secretary of the Treasu
ry, communicating an account of the Receipts
and Expenditures of the United States for the
use of the members.
Resolved that the House will to-morrow pro
ceed to the election ofa Chaplain.
The following nominations were made ; Rev.
Mr. Gantt, Mr. Balfh, Mr. Parkinson, Mr. Muir,
Mr. Lyfle,
WEDNESDAY, DEC. li.
Several private petitions were read, and refer
red
On motion, referred to the Committee of Ways
and Means.
A committee, on the memorial of Thomas Clax
ton, reporting a resolution authorizing Thomas
Claxton to employ during the session one addition
al assistant, two servants and two horses ; and al
lowing him therefor five Dollars feventy-five Cents
per day.
The report was taken up, and agreed to.
A meflage was received from the Senate, dating
that they had chosen, oh their part, Rev. Dr.
Gnatt as chaplain.
Mr. Dennis moved that such part of the resolu
tion of the Houses as directs the leaving the news
papers taken by the members at their lodgings be
rescinded.—Disagreed tea
Mr. S. Smith moved that the Secretary of the
Treasury be directed to report to this house a
schedule of all the duties imposed by law on goods,
wares and merchandize, imported into the United
States.
House of Representatives.
—<<-<^^^,Q>.>%—
' ' THURSDAY, DEC. 10.
: petitions to a TeleQ committee. In conffdcrQ
I tuem facts might arise, ulfyhcould only be eluci-
I dated by a teleCt committee.
Mr. Giles's motion was carried.
On Motion, refolvctf&t a Committee be
pointed to enquire what amendments .re necessa
ry to be made in the acts establishing poll offices
and poll roads? to rep.ri by bill or otterwife.
A Committee of Seven members appointed.
Mr. 5. Smith moved the following resolution,
^ ^ committee of Commerce and
Manufactures be directed to report what altera
tions, if any, are necessary in the laws impofing'du.
ties on tonage of Ships, and on goods, wares, and
merchandize imported into the United States.
Ordered to lie on the table.
The xHoufe then proceeded, according to the
order of the day, to the election of a Chaplain—
Stratton and Mr. Stanford were appointed tellers.
The ballots being taken and counted were declar
ed as follows ; for Mr. Parkinson, 44 ; for Mr
Balch, 31 ; for Mr. Lyfle, 14.
There not being a majority of the ballots in fa
vour of either of the gentlemen, a new elettioA
was bad ; in which the ballots were as follows;
for Mr. Parkinson, 50 ; for Mr. Balch ; for
Mr. Lyfle, ~
Mr. Parkiufon was accordingly declared to be
Chaplain
Wd/hington, Dec.,, 1
" WITH regard to the Brhilh treaty, the pre
sent season is most the critical to us, as it expires of
itfelf iu two years alter the peace is concluded.
At present its Wpulgtibns arc !~ molt dangerous
Members of the Houje of Reprefentativel._
New-Hampshire —Abiel Foster, Joseph Peirce,
Samuel Tenney, George B. Upham.
Moffachufetts —John Bacon, Phannuel Bi/hop,
Manallah Cutler.* Richard Cutts, Wm. Euftis,*
Silas Lee, Eten. Matton, Wm. Shepherd, Joseph
Smith,* Nathan Read, Joseph B. varnum, Peleg
Wadsworth, Lemuel Williams, Seth H # flings.*
Rhode-Island —Tho's Tillinghalt,* Joseph Staun
ton, jun.*
Connecticut —John Davenport, Sam'l W. Dana,
Calvin Goddard,* Roger Griswold, Elias Perkins,
John C. Smith, Benja. Talmage.*
Vermont —lfrael Smith,* Lewis R. Morris.
New- York —Theodore Bailey, Lucas Elmendorf,
Samuel L. Mitchell, Thomas Morris,* Kilan K.
Van Renffellaer,* David Thomas* John Smith,
Philip Van Cortlandt, John P. Van Nefs,* Ben
jamin Walker.
Delaware —James A. Bayard."
Virginia —Richard Brent,* Samuel j. Cabell,
Matthew Clay, Thomas Claiborne,* John Clop
ton,* John Dawson, Edward Gray, William B.
Giles,* David Holmes, George Jackson, Thomas
Newton, jun. Anthony New, John Smith,* John
Trig, Abraham Trig, John Taliafero, jun.* John
Stratton,John Randolph, Phillip R. thotuhfon.*
North-Carolina. Wallis Alston, William B.
Grove, Archibald Henderson, William Hill, Na
thaniel Macon, Richard Stanford, - < Stanley.*
Charles Johnfon,* Robert Williams, ^= —- - Hol
land.*
South-Carolina —William Bbtler, Benj. Hui
ger, Thomas Loudes, Thomas Moore,* Johp
Rutledge, Thomas Sumpter.
Georg,a.=-Charles Taliafero, John Millege.*
Kentucky^- 1 hofoas T. Davis, John FoUler#
Tent-fee. =-— Dickfon.*
N. H: Territory — -Pav\ Fearing.*
Miffijippi Territory.. Hunter.*
ThoJe with thisjnark* art new members.
Friday, dec. rr.
The Speaker laid before the house a letter from
the Treasury of the United State, accompanied
with sundry documents relating to the lad years
accounts.
The following is a correff lift of Senators and Re
prejentatives chojen to the Seventh Congress of
the United States.
Mr. Euttis presented a petition of Joseph Chafe,
merchant, of Nantucket—he Gated his having pur
chased the Ship Neptune—which was built in the
Eaft-lndies, and originally owned in the Isle of
France ; but being wrecked at sea, was brought
into Nantucket, where (he was fold—that after
having thoroughly repaired her, She was fem to
sea by the petitioner, where she was again wreck
ed : but on reaching port she was completely re
paired. The collector not thinking himfelt au
thorifed to grant a regifler, the petitioner prays
Crongrefs for one.—Refered to the committee
of Commerce and manufactures.
b MEMBERS OF THE SENATE.
New-Hampjhire —James Sheate, & Simeon Ol
cott.,
Maflachufetts —Dwight Foster and Jona. Mason.
Rhode- IJland—Theodore Foster and Christopher
Ellery. %
Connecticut —James Hillhoufe and Uriah Tracy.
. Vermont —Nath'l Chipman & Stephen R. Brad
ley.
N.York —Governeur Morris & Jphn Armflrong;
PennJylvania=]ames Ross and Geo. Logan. -
Delaware —Wm. H. Wells and Sam'lWhite.
Maryland —John E. Howard & Robert Wright.
Virginia —Stephen T. Mason and Wilson C. Ni
cholas.
North Carolina —JeffteFranklih & David Ston+#
Kentucky —John Brown & John Breckenbridge.
South Carolina —Mr. Calhoon, , vacant;
Georgia —Abraham Baldwin & Janies Jackson.
, Tennessee —Joseph Anderson and W. Cooke.
'New-Jerfey —Jooa. Dayton and Aaron Ogden;
,New ferfey,— John Condit, Ebenezer Elmer,
William Holmes, James Mott,* Henry Southard.
Pennsylvania —Thomas Eoude, Robert Brown,
Andrew Gregg, Joseph Hemphiil, Joseph Heifler,
William Jones,* John A. Hanria, John Stewart*
John Smiiie, Michael Leib, Isaac Vad Horne,*
Henry Wood, Wiiliam Hoge.
Maryland —Samuel Smith, John Archer,
John Campbell, John Dennies, Daniel Heifter,*
Joseph H. Nicholson, Rich Sprigg, Thomas Pla
ter.*
Mr. Nicholson moved that a committee be ap
pointed to enquire into the expediency ofamend
ing an aft entitled an aCt reprefehting fugitive,
from jullice, and persons escaping from the Ser
vice of their matters; with instruction to report
by bill or other;
Mr. N. Rates that a bill had been reported last
session for this pnrpofe, but the session being near
its ciofe, it was not a&ed upon.
The resolution was agreed to, and five members
appointed.— Adjourned to Monday.
From the Editor of the Aurora