The Republican ledger — Portsmouth, N.H., 1800-11-18 00:00:00, page 2

this fubjea. the President a^d you difer
widely, and to the ill fucccfs of your propo
rtions and views in regard to this measure,
may be principally ascribed the open oppo
futon you now make to the President,. re
ele&ion.'
As you have omitted to Rate,he fa&s apd
your proportions on this (nbje&, permit me
’ me to doit for you —and to inform the pub
lic, that the railing of an army was never re
commended by the President, nor by any of
the heads of department with his privity
and confect —that he never had an opportu
nity of expre ffipg his opinion official on the
subject, until the bill was presented for his
signature—and that, in his opinion, the mea
sure was adopted without a due regard to
the resources of the country ; yet as the bill
passed by a large majority; and was a mea
fare of defenfe, of which lie considered the
representatives in Congress good judges Qe
did not fee fit to give it his negative.—
Permit me to date further, fir, that in the
firing of '98,,% addrefled the people of the
United States on the necessity of railing a
considerable army ; endeavouring 'to con
vince them of the danger of invasion —a dan
ger altogether chimerical and almost mor
ally impossible— You was the principal in
strument of exciting an unfounded alarm,
and producing measures that put the coun
try to unneceflary expense. And it was not
the moderate number of twelve regiments
only, that you intended to have raised. In
a writing which you put into the hands of
your friends, you "proposed a much larger
cßablilhment, and far beyond the resources
of the country. [Report fays, 50,000 in
fantry, and 10,000 cavalry, but the particu
lar number, I cannot fpecify.]
This enormous proposition alarmed even
your friends—ultimately, however, but
twelve regiments were raised —This step
created great expense, and was without ne
cessity. It has made many enemies of the
government, & alienated the minds of many
moft'decided federal men from vgu and your
friends. And this alienatian orrnind is be
come the less rec'oncileable, as your friends
have freely avowed that one main object in
eftablilhing an army, was, for a rallying
{joint in the event of civil diffentionf, to col
e& the friend's of government and crulh
domeflic opposition. This avowal derives
new force from the fa& that a,fimilar pro-.
je& was concerted among certain military
characters in the year 1785, when Joel Bar
low, who then.was ripe for the eftablilh
* ment of monarchy, was sent as an agept
from Connecticut to Boston, to make some
arrangement with the military gentlemen
in that State ; when it was agreed, ip case
of civil convulsions, to rally the officers, and
soldiers of the late army, and with ..the help
of tupplies to be furnifhed by some rich
merchants, to give a government to this country
by force. '
Think not, fir, that- all the mondrous
fchemes.o£ daring ambitious men, to over
' awe and coutropl the conflitutional powers
of our government, are either hidden or ap
proved by federal men. The writer of this
letter has been too long the faithful fervent
of his country ; and too Ready and uniform
in the support of government and religion,
against the assaults of di[organizers, to in
cur a suspicion of apoftacy. But it is time
to speak freely—to disclose the latent designs,
of some influential men—and arraign their
schemes at the bar of public opinion.!At
this bar, fir, your opinion and mine mufl be
tried. I reprobate your policy. I know
mat rncift of the hardy sons of freedom in the
Northern States want no landing army to
overawe domeflic factions, nor to refill for
eign foes, unless under circunfßancesthat
do not now cxi ft, —They will cheerfully sub
mit to pay the necessary expences of defen«ty
but the danger of invasion mull exf— it
must appear—before they willconfent to pay
soldiers. And I fcrupje not to fay, that had
it been generally kpowpthat the Executive
did not recommend the raffingofthe 12 re
giments, anti that ton Hatt Ifen the father
-of the tbiTidry fyftem,/nofy in this
country could have refilled the public indig
nation. And it is surprising that your boat
ed wisdom and forefight ffioull save, jn,
thisinftance; yielded io the ifopulfes of your
military zeal.—-Indeed it would be incredi
ble, had not other inßancesoccured,fa which
your passions had blinded your reafop. But
what can be cxpe&ed from a man whose pro
minent talents have given him a confidence
in his influence, that disdains public opinion
and overleaps lall the ordinary maxims of
prudence. To fee Alexander Hamilton de
liberately call together the mod refpeaable
citizens of New-York to decide pn the ex
pediency of meeting a mob in the streets; to
vote on a qUeftidn refpeatng the British
- treaty —much more, to leehim harangue that
mob—surrounded by adherents who repro
bated the measure, in which they joined to
gratify their leader —sorely this gives us no
very high opinion of the corre&nefs of his
judgment. —
But what Ihall we fay to the conduct of a
' man who has borne fomeof the highest civil
and military employments, who could deli-,
berate!) Write and publish a hißory of his
private intrigues, degrade himfeff in the eh
timatjon of all good men, and Scandalize a
. family, to clear himfelf of charges which no
man believed ; to vindiertewregrity which
a legislative a&had pronounced unimpeach
able, and which, fca^elv a man in America
fuTpeaed ! Sir if Mr, Aslams Sas ever been
guilty of such glaring inconfißencies of con,-'
du& and indiferetions, I will join with you
in declaring him unfit to administer the go
vernment, „ Q :
But this is not all— Your prefenf letter
to Mr. Adams, published at this moment
just before the election, and with a, deter
mined view to defeat his re-election, is the
most indiferete of all your indiscrete condua.
Admitting all your charges against Mr.
Adams, they amount to too fmallra sum to
balance the immence hazard of the game
you are playing. .
A great proportion of the people of Amer
ica are fatisfied that Mr. Adams has not
made any Sacrifices of public interest, which
clearly disqualify him for the Ration beholds.
No other candidate clearly unites in himfelt
a claim to universal Suffrage—to be divided
is to be mined—Mr. Adams is advanced in
life, and ho person believes that his public
services will extend beyond the end of the
next period of presidency. Under ttyefe cir-4
cumffances, what extreme indiferction was'
it to undertake an opposition from which,
in case of success, would inevitably reful.t an
irremidable division of the federal interest,
^nd in case of defeat, complete our over
throw and ruin ! Will not federal men, as
well as anti federal, believe that your ambi
tion, pridty and overbearing temper have
destined yoy to be the evil genius of this
country,
Besides, hr, Mr. Adams has the credit of
being the father of the navy—a fyftein of
defence vastly cheaper and more effectual,
as wejl as more popular, than your military
system., Agiauy is the natural proteaion
of the United States—it meets our enemy
before he arrives—it attacks him on the
Water, where alone in; all probability, this
country will ever be assailed—it is less ex
pensive than, an army—it encourages the
genius of our people which tends more to
maritime affairs, than to warfare on land,
it keeps the defenders of the country at a
distance, where their vices ' will not infc&
the community ; it limits the deftruaion
of war to those who fight, wheras land ar
mies desolate fields and towns—it unites the
protedion of commence and revenue, with
the defence of our independence.
Let.me ask then, how your talents cpuld
be so nhis-emplofed, as to depreciate the
navy, and give a preference to the army,
for defence: for in your remarks addrefled
to .the people in 1798 you expressly declare
a Considerable army to be an obj^A of the
.most importance," And how can the mer
chants be so insensible tothctf truerinterefts,
a§ to join you in the clamour against Mr/
Adams, the father of that policy by which
their business is proteded!
• “ Be allured, so, you miftak,e the
temper of .the intelligent and hardy freemen
of the United States. Your military system
they will not bear-^-they are aimtoft to a man
determined, ifppflible, to have no treaties of
alliance, and permanent military force be
!yond what the frontiers and garrisons may
; require. Such is the prefenf temper of
the people -4 and in governments like
ours selling solely on popular opinion, it is
policy to conciliate that opinion, by a clear
and deci five evidence, of the necefuy or uti
iity of measure ; rather than ±to drive for
; ward regardless pf confequenccs and rely
for support on the force of party attach
ments. r
I It avails little th'at.yon accuse the Presi
dent of vanity for as to this, there is less dif
-Iference between men, in the degree of the
i<felity pofleffed, than in the manner of Low
ing it—apd Were it aq issue between Mr.
Adam's and yourfelf, which has the most,
you could not rely oimn unanimous verdi&
in ypur favor, r,The fame remark is appli
cflsle to the charge of felf-fufficiency. That
I the president is unmanageable is in a degree
!true, that is, you and ypur supporters cannot
.manage him, but this wiR not pass in this
Icountry for a crime*., That he is unftablp is
lalleged—pray, fir, has he been fickle and wa
vering in his opposition toyour policy ? If;
, he has, the found part of the American peo
ple will notjoinin reproaching him. Didhe
waver during the revolutionary war f Did
he waver at the negociations of 1783 I
There is a wide difference, hr, between a
hasty declaration in familiar conversation
and instability ina system of policy.V
Bu, it is an opinio, formed pn thirty
'years of public service, thkt Mr. Adams is
a man of pure morals, of firm attachment
to republican government of found and in
flexible integrity and patriotism, and by far
the,belt read statesman that ,the late revolu
tion called into notice. Oppefed to ihefe I
qualifications for the Ration pf Chief Ma
girtrate, his occasional ill humour at unrea
sonable opposition, and hasty expressions of
his opinion, are of little weight -; and when
to these considerations we add the extreme
• hazard pf affording a triumph toad oppoft
[tion, your condua on this occasion will be
deemed little Short of infinity..
Whatever apologies you may make for
this Rep, ^nd whatever apparent candormay
he indicated by your declaration that yog
would not divert a vote from. Mr? Adams,
the world will duly appreciate the tendency
of your, letter and the views the author
0> world will find the difference be
tween candor and jefuitifm---and in an
attempt to defend the honor and interests of
„the United Slates, bvrenfuring the President
for the embassy to France, the citizens of
America will fee the deep chagrin and dis
appointment of a military character, whose
views of preferring a permanent military force
>on foot, have been defeated *by an embassy which
has. removed the pretext for such an eftablfh-*
ment. ARISTIDES.
' — —■■■■mrammreß—^
. From a Southern' Paper.
IN the House of Reprefeniatives of the
next Congress it is calculated, there will be
Rxty-fix Republicans, and in the Senate 15..
These, with a republican President, beingl
unbelievers in the mddern and t,oo fashiona
ble do&rine, that " a public debt is a public
blessing," will of course endeavor to lighten
that bleffng, which has increased in a ratio
that might well lead us to expert soon to be
in the blessed Rate of those who are relieved
from the plague of property,, This may be
done, ••
iftlv. By freeing us from the incumbrance.'
of a Standing army, except what may be
rte&ffary for garrisons. The people on the
frontiers ever wishing to rely on their own
prowess, in preference to having a mischiev
ous band of idle fellows quartered in their
neighborhood.
2d. By reducing the expences of the navy,
to what may be merely necessary for the Se
curity of the revenue against the frauds of
aristocrats, we having now no naval enemy
to fear but the Britjih, against whom it
would be madness to equip a naval arma
'dlent,' ~
3d. By reducing that tribe of idle officers,
that are paid for doing nothing, and whose
appointment, can be ascribed to no other
motive than that of having spies on the con
dudl of the people.
• 4th. By reducing the extravagant salaries
of ail the necessary officers : Let them have
an adequate compensation and no more, the
people know what to do with their own
money, without hiring others to spend ts for
them.
sth. By increasing the duties on foreign
luxuries, and lessening those on our own,
manufa&ures ; This would give a Spring to
agriculture and internal commerce, and in a
Short time free us from a dependence on
foreign articles. ."
6th. By recalling our foreign ambassadors,•
an idle pageantry that fwallowsup the wealth
of the people, without rendering them the
smallest benefit. An eftabliihment tot grat
ify,the ambition and vanity of a few cour
tiers, and to secure the votes of those who
seek such appointments ; If a treaty is to.be
made, a minister extraordinary is .employed
for the purpose,. the refident' minifter is
therefore a cypher, nay worse, as on the
frivolous pretence of etiquette, they have
frequently been the cause of involving whole
nations in war. These and many other
blefiings we may reasonably expert ' will
flow from the appointment of republicans to
ladminifter our republican constitution.—-
Can there be a greater abfiirdity than that of
i committing the administration of such a con
'Rituti^n to aristocrats and tories, who open
ly avow their opinion, that a*monarchy is
preferable. The people provfe|e,ua|ly are
awake 10 the abfiirdity #f such condua, and
in molt all the Rates are filling the places,'
as well of the rats, who have abandoned the
Ship, as of those who never oughteto have
been oq board, with men who have Stead
fastly adhered to the principles' on whfth
our constitution is eßablithed.* Every great
sea port, in the union, from South-Carolina
to Boftop, has elected 'a Republican repre
fentatiVe—Even Ne^-Englancl'^ awaking
from her lethargy. Maffachufetts,' which
a few years ago, was hoodwinked by the
intrigwes'bf lories and the Elfex junto, has,
it is. said, lately filled one half of he| delega
tion with' old falhioned Republicans; In
Connecticut too the delusion is wearing a- #
way ; the alarm of French inrafion, they
have discovered by the late quarrels among
the feds, Was an impofture' to trick them of
their cath ; one third of her present legisla
ture is truly democratic,, andrft the next e
le&ion it is expedfd, from the late return
ing of that virtuous people to rhe old path,
that a majority of their Representation will
be republican ; Vermont has given 'an ear
ned of her principles by the eledion of the
Hpn. Ifr^el Smith, and the rejc&ion of Mor
ris, a thorough going fed.,,On New-Hamp-
Ihire and Rhode-Inland, the day ftarJs also
riling, but as the channels bt information in
'thofe Rates #re .much impeded by the great
exertions that are made to prevent the circu
lation of any but angle- federal papers, the
progress of light of eburfe mug be Row, as
it can only keep pace with the indans of in
formation fol when curiafity is once a-,
wake in those Rates, they will arifelike a.
giant from his lumbers, burll the fetters
with which their enemies have endeavored
to enthrall them, and resume their old. Spirit'
of Independent Republicans, which has ,
heretofore so highly distinguished thcm.=
The people ever mean right, and when once
awakened from deception, they never fail
to visit the imposition oh their deceivers.
The following is the addrejs delivered by Maj. Gen,
Bloomfield, at alate meeting rs the. Republicans,
in the County of Burlington, N. f. (at which he
presided) which was unanimously adopted.
TO THE PEOPLE /
OFTHE^..^'^
COUNTY OF BURLINGTON.
FELLOW CITIZENS, ' ."
THE people of tlie United States in their for*-
ereign and independent capacity chufe those who
represent them in making laws for their govern
ance, and, by the Federal Constitution, ought to
chufe, in the firtt instance, the persons who Shall
elect the President and Vice-President of the U, S.
but being deprived of this constitutional right in
New-Jersey, are obliged to fubnrir this important'
privilege to the men who may be chosen to le
gislate for this llate. The people may h^ve con
fidence in a man, to make local laws ; but not to
elect the firft magistrates in the U. States.
:Knowing, as we do, that men who fhalljbe re
turned ta tte next legislature, will, by a law nbw
in force, chufe the electors bf President and Vice
.Prefident of-the United States, we ought .to give
our fuffrages for those characters in nomination,
*who will vote for Electors that will join in plac.
iing at the head of the American government, men
who have dittiuguifhed thetyfelves throughout
life in advancing the rights of man, and particu
larly the preservation of our Republican Govern
ment. Such men are^Thomas Jefferfon and Aafon
Burr ; the firft penned oof Declaration of Inde
pendence,-and both fought Wiring the revolution
ary war in ellablilhing it. 'Neither of these men
have been corrupted by an education 3000 miles
from America, nor have they been ministers to
the mod corrupt court in rhe world ; they hard'
not written eulogium< on the English Constitution
and laws, and approved of the toleration of tythes
and exclusive rights to particular proteflors b£ ,
.Chriftiariity. If it is alked of those who advocate ^
Mr. Adams' and Mr. Pinckney's election, they'}' \
must acknowledge that such was the education,
and such the principles of the men they v^ilh to
support. Is it because they will lead, by their ex
ample, conduct, and influence, this country to its
former, union and Dependence on Great-Britain ?
The British prints proclaim at this Time "a hearty
wiJh for the success of Mr. Adams' reele&ibn as he
is known to be a well wisher to Great-Britain :";
and for this reason Mr. Adams' ought not to have ',J
it in his power to Shew his partiality to the nation,
which is determined on our fobfugation. The
enormous expence incurred during, and the weak
ness of Mr. Adams? administration, are too well
known to be detailed at this time. During th&
last year only, there was expended in the land and ~
r,vice, fix millions and a 'hblf of dollars,
the enormous funis laid out for intercourse
foreign nations—monies borrowed at 8 per
cent, and other dilburfenients ;—fo thatthe addi
tional expense for 180®, for the navy alonf, will
amount to-five million bf dollars, which, added
to said fix and a half millions, make an aggregate
of eleven million and a half of dollars, for the ex
traordinary expenses of the military and navy el?
tablßhhienls lor June, 1798, to the dole 61 ibil
year..--
Mr. Pinckney bitterly inveighed against the vote
at the lad session of Y Congrefs for diftiahding the
Standing army, and reprobated the- policy that led
to the measure. If therefore, you wifli to have a
Standing Arniy, Mr. Adams And Mr. Pinckney
are your men. What' entitles Mr. Pinckney to
the Presidency of these U. States ? Is it beckufe he
was educated in England ? Mr. Adams in a letter
lately published, (it feenp) fufpe&ed the Pinck
neys, top this and other reasons, to beii^der Brit
ilh influence, and said he should “ take the liberty
to keep a vigilant eye^ upon them ;" add shall not
we b.e jealous of a man, whose family Mr.-Adams
fufpeded jo be under Britifli influence ? Has Mr.,
Pinckney ever dillinguilhed himfelf in public life,
so as to entitle him to the exalted Nation of Prefi-'
dent ? It is true, he was lately ambassador to
France, but his edycafon ;nd principles were as
well known to the miniUeis of France, as to Mr.
Adams, and,that republic would not negociate +
with a man under Britiffi influence.
Let us then turn aur attention; to vote for those
m nomination, who are decidedly against the men
that are so evidently attached to the Britifli Con-,
flitution, and tinker EriviOr influence, and who #
idrill life their uftnoit exertions to support the nien".
of the American peopte^Jefferfou aiul Burr, „
Mr. Jefterfon is rhe ackhoo ledged author of the ,
Declaration of independence. He was the author '
of the law and the 'iMrumenf that4itaifcdfy&,•
and by him also, was. ran/<ttablifhed privileged
; church,ft the'cxclofion of ether modes of,wor
fhip, abolished in Virginia.' By this a&, the
Friends may now affenjble to worship in filence—
the Roman Catholic attend, muff in his chapel,
,and the Jew worship iri his fynagogte, without
being accountable iff mortal n an for their refpe^t--
ive modes ^f belief and worffijp ; apd neither
.Christian of Jew is. compelled to pay twites to fop
|port Epfcopacy. This, has raised. the refen:ment '
of the Epifcopst clergy, ami,induced them to de
claim on every occasion agai nil Me. Jefo-foa; as a
maribf pQQengfon. ".Affumiug no* dominie-fl
over the faith of others, Mr. Jeftrfon refyeafully
resigns the rights of religiou^ml a&sdf piety to
the acceptance of all roen, according to the light
they have received, and the idiQattt of their ewp ,
confidences.'' Our anvelters fied : h.m perfecu%
tion far their religions principles to this: wilder
nek; and to puraaen&tQ perfeoutites, fotor
lies, rancors, and delations, refylti% from the r^
Union of Church and Stats, by , Political fyablifc
mww/rahps . bee^tte,aiitf gs ttfe who fecurrti tu-'
fiepepdence fog m pg natiop, with te&fffi
own wisdom and valor. And will y<& not, fel- ,
low citizens, preferve+hofe sacred wid inedima-'
fights ? Yourjeljcity and prosperity as a fafaffa,
as religion, feietifs,,@ud @
times depend uponihe support, as wefl©fyour
civTl as yopr coitfcteutious Fights! •; . ' ° ''
Mr. Jefferfon iff beeiia tried Patriot, from
the firft Cop^e^ to ty present fo—fetml ' years.
Governor of Virginia, in the times that fried men's
foulfrs££re?@rxof.Srate, ih w^hhedhtiitro
rd hityfelf iu jtefeadym ^e A^'i^'E '°^^ **^ ...
his spirited qorrefpondence Mrith Genet, and the
Muffler of Foreign SelQB in France ; #tad.,
taring 'his -prelent Vice-Pieiideucy, in ofyofiug
re beavy°burdem brought on this couutr'j by Mr.