The American herald of liberty — Exeter, N.H., 1793-08-27 00:00:00, page 1

as approaching CONVULSIONS OF THE
WORLD, ' And a GENERAL EARTH
QU \KE. undoubtedly, mull overthrow the
colossus of despotism.
For this convilfive catastrophe, the world has
been preparing for centuries. To form an esti
mate of the lubjed, open a broad eye on the u
niverse, and view its progreflive revolution I
But without presuming to develops the whole of
this “ mighty man? I will now only attempt a
rapid fetch of a part. For, so unequaijhave been
my powers of mind to a fubjed demanding such
majefly of talent; and so unequal have been my
powers of language even to express the (hiver
ing force of my own conceptions; that, altho’
I have not wholly loft niy courage in contempla
ting the fubjed of this work, I frankly acknow
ledge myfelfto have deeply felt the inadequacy
of my powers. And,to the Philo lophers,whom
nature education, and experience, have ien
dered my fucerior, 1 leave it, to take an ampler
range, t) eliminate his mighty fcul, and (weep
through all human society. To myfelf, I now
uffign an humble talk : And without here un
der aking to range through the hiftory of the
universe, it is purposed, to glance a rapid eye
oxyome of the more prominent features that have
characterized pa^ t ofjociety. in the progress of
events, from the fall of the Roman Monarchy,
to the present eventful ae a/ -
The warring Jyftem of feuds arefe on the ru
ins Os the Roman world. After its prevailing
over Europe, and strongly impressing its features
on the^nglifh government, " the eyes and ad
miration of mankind” were turned to a new
voorid dilcovered in the Weft: and the feu al
charader, accompanying the progress of En
plifh adventure, crofffd the ocean, and has mar
ked rhe Anglo-Columbian policy. .
Three centuries have elapsed, since the at
chievement of ..lumbu, -ftomlhea ih. Old
World And, «g«in,.difcovery in the weft
seizes“ the eyes and admiration of mankind.
The spirit of ethical enquiry in the prelcnt cen-
W . , ,F A , . ■ ' ■ ‘
■ Exrß -iCES FROM
7he “PATkIOT of the WORLD.”
Se levied for the Fen'inal, by a Citizen.
CONCLUDED.
Expiration of Despotism.
THere for ages, h^s man been injured, &
the world been cursed by deipotiim. But
delpots cannot eradicate the human fenfsbility to
injury : Nor can they, forev r, chain down the
energies, and silence the groans, of humini:y.
Ebe ijid:gnat ion of injured man speaks the lan
guage df universal nature ; around the globe,
demands the dedruilion of defpotijm.
Not the human race alone, the whole an
imate world, universal being,adverfe to the
fuff sing of tnj try. And irrcfijiible physical
flrength of society resides in the govern df who
iorm the mo/i numerous portion of mankind.
Ebe majority of the human race,thofe who Suf
fer ocozaih the (courge of prerogative, have
borne their agonies, from their incapacity to u
nite their force, which is irrefifiible. for their
reciprocal benefit : And this incapacity has re
(ul ed from their ignorance, and want of mu
tual convex on. Bu the progreflive improve
ment in fociciy, by dfiufing ujeful knowledge,
have increased, and are rapidly increasing, the
common capac ty,. and (piru, to difeern, and
to refill, oppr&llion.
Tne p evalence of knowl edge,& the atten.
dantspirit of liberty in the new world
have alieadv fevered he of the proudest empires
onw ich the pun everfh.ne. This momentous at
chLvement is recent: And the impressions made
by the various events of the American revolution
cannot have become obliterated from the minds
of the exiiling witnefles of its accomphfhment.
It is, consequently, unnecefTary, in t!^ place,
to fpecifkate the viciflittdes of that arduous
Wonted, the fwervings of battle, the (hocks of the
charging forces of a divided empire.
United America, having pafled through the
revolvtionary conflict, now enjoys the fmihng
radiance of heaven ; while the deep-charged
t mpeft invests the old world. Turning from
the orient tden in the wed, a far different prof,
pest demands attention : For (cents like what
the American ciizens have witnessed may be
realized over a whole continent. And, with
this idea in view, the eye of philosophy may
now eagerly fix on Europe !
Expend the view, yet further I Contemplate
^-exponfive energy of principles,*^ eye the uni
verse ! Taen eliimate the courle of events, and
confid>r what the profpett port nds 1 The as
sociating of the champions of liberty, against
the coutpirating supporters of despotism, the
affembiing of iheir refpeftive powers, in vari
ous quarters of the globe, the conflids of their
numerous forces— -now strike the mind,
Volume VIII.]
S'?' >^><>^<>-^'<>^<:> ; ¥x.><irK,
From the COLUM BI AN CEN TIN EL.
ne American Herald of Liberty. *
EXETER ( New-Hamp/hire) Printed and Publiihed by Henry Ranlet, in Main-Street, at fix /hillings and eight pence per annum.
^<>&
nervous body uf'feudal despotism in Europe : —
a body, however, in which there was vo common
will,no moralfpirit, to give the whole the ra
tional animation of foul ! —Commerce, and arts,
however,'eventually, crept forth even from, the
despotism of feudality ; and, adventuring, ac
ross the Atlantic, to the new world, loitered the
liberal heicults'. From themidft of the feu
dal lyftem, despotic as it has been proceeded
that ardent spirit of liberty which has coftitu
ted the animated republic in the weft. Spirit
too, reversing the policy of its parentage, has
in its turn, already palled the Atlantic, to /»«-
rify feudal Europe. And a general revolution
in Europe, would kindle a flame, which mult,
eventually, blaze over the voorid, and CON
FLAGRATE DESPOTISM.
If this vast event is not expeded by those
who arc rioting on the fpcils of humanity, their
want of forefight is no proof of its being at a
dillance. Who, that truly estimates the charac
ter of modern defpo's, would exped them to
be the firft to difeern potent effeds in their
general causes ? If the revolutionary princi
ple Ihould seize on their dominion, with the
luddennefs of furtive irruption, would not the
event fully accord with the sentiments of truth ?
—Must not the general explosion of empire,
which blows up despotism, burfi. cru/h, extend,
with a fljock, sudden, irrefijtible ?
-One European country, which has beendif
tinguifhed for devotion to the betiial idol of mo
narchy, and to that lying prostitute of the uni
verse a meretricious hierarchy, no* burns with
fervid zeal a gain ft both. And the numerous
indications of approaching eruptions, in other
parts, imply, that the fire, which has long been
preparing, is veil nigh ready to burst forth into
GENERAL CONFLAGRATION ; while
they proclaim the potent advance of TRUTH,
the approaching battle of the terrible DAY
OF OMNIPOTENCE.
A GENERAL ACTION OF THE U
NIVERSE, on the event of which is fufpen
ded the liberty of the whole human fraternity,
and in which” all errors” encounter u all princi
ples,” with all weapons, enwraps a complica
tion of feenes never before exhibited on the ter
reflrial fiage- Scenes to which the hiftory
of hnman adion can produce, nothing equal!
—the conlpirators of the universe» armed for
perpetuating the empire of vice I—-the theatre
of the world covered with millions of hostile
' adors I—kingdoms ftiaken to thiir centre 1—
MONARCHY IN THE LAST OF ITS
tury, rivalling the spirit of difeovery which dis.
tinguifhed the age of columbus, has firft illus
trated the weft by the magnitude of atchieve
ment. The adventurous magnanimity of the
weflern defeendants of Britons has boldly ex
plored the conditions of humanity ; and,afcer
taining the truth of theory by the palpable evi
dence of experiment, hasconfecrated the prin
ciples of humanity, by realizing the firftfyfiem
of polity that ever merited the name of republi
can. And adual experience, confounding the
dogmafilm of courtly conceit, may now affine
mankind of the true constitution of the world ! I
If, now, the enlightened friend of humanity
would exhibit, to mankind, a system exempli
fymg the serene majesty of republicanism, he
need no recall, Lorn the grave, the age, when
Athens shook beneath the fulminating ailion
of Demotihenes, or when Rome hung on the
mellifluent tongue of Tully. For the purpose
of ascertaining the art of republicanism, instead
of ponjuring up the dead, let him consult the
living I—Let him observe ‘hat political firuc
ture in the weflern Spring of day, and point the
world to its unrivalled order, and arrangement I
While the luminous edifice commands the admi
ring eve of Philosophy, and presents a model of
the grand proportions that become the RE
SPLENDENT TEMPLE OF UNIVER
SAL LIBERTY.
No atchievement, since the discovery of the
weftern world, has, in point of moral utility,
as yet, rivalled the magnitude of the political
discovery recently atchievedon that theatre of
grandeur. That the new world, in which the
majestic energy of nature has sported in wild
luxuriance, and whicti is so distinguished by the
bold display of physical magnificence, ffiould
so potently arrest the moral eye, and beaifo thus
eminently distinguished by the display of hu
man magnanimity,is a confederation, which r if
pursued in a certain diredion, might be expec
ted to lead into a rich field of interesting ideas.
But the nature, and limits, of the prefenc work,
now call the atention to the fubjed of human
policy.—With this Ample view, I remark, that
as evincing the differ ence between the imme
diate effeft, and the distant result, of human
adions, the progress of empire is eminently ob*
fervable : And our immediate fubjed may now
elucidate this prominent truth!
The fierce tempeji which came out of the north,
and which (hook, and desolated, the Roman
Empire, and ars, introduced the compared and
^^<
TUESDAY, August 27, 1793.
' JVlv Buzot infilled on the neceflity of
■ 4ce deliberation- The galleries, he said,
> were filled with blood thirsty women, intent
: on murder: and much art was used in order
to keep honeftand refpedable citizens out of
5 them.
’ A tumult nowenfued in the galleries ; but
। the Convention having at leng h decreed,
that the delinquents fhodd be lent to piiicn,
a momentary calm was restored.
’ M. Vs rgni au d obfei ved that it was im
-1 poflible the republic could (land without a
1 confticution. Having moved to pumih the
’ men and women who hiss from the galleries,
a violent uproar took place, in the course of
which the last (peaker was acculed by M.
: Buhem, of being one of Dumourier’s
' occomplices, and by M. David of being an
aflaffin. .
On this the Convention pafled a decree re’
1 primanding the latter as a calumniator.
Ve rgnl au d “ The^ royal-tygew lea
gued against France, and Pitt, Ccbourg,
and Du mou ri er, wished for nothing better
than that these fort of debates (hould be per
mitted. It is they who wish to perpetuate
our anarchy, and render, their viftories
more easy. Those riotous men are the aflaf
fins employed by foreign powers, the agents
of Pi tt and Cobou rg, the accomplices of
Du MOURI ER ; they will not fufFcr os to
form our conftiemion, or repair our finances
for the support of the war. These men pre
' vent us every day from difeufling a Angle
question. [Murmurs, and a cry for the order
of the day.] '
1 Citizens, you have formidable enemies to
! overcome ; Despotism attacks the Republic
from without, and Anarchy within. We can
not ourselves contend with the firft—cur brave
battalions are employed in that charge ; but
we will combat with the last body, to body ;
it is our duty. Our battalions (hed their
blood in fighting tyrants—let us (hedours in
vanquishing anarchy.
“ I move that an extraordinary convoca
tion of the Tedions be summoned for to mor
row night, and that this day’s proceedings be
sent to them; that an additional guard (hould
be demanded of them for supporting the re
gularity and defending the members of the
Convention.
Referred io the committee of legislation.
*3, ■ X
FlELDS—ftimulating the pride of oppress
ors to the final combat for domination —by one
deathful coilifion of empire, swelling the tra
gic horrors of its fall, and aggrandizing the
CATASTROPHE OF THE RLOODY
DRAMA OF PREROGATIVE ! ! !
In every quarter of the globe, mankind have
been kept in chains t—Fhe wosld has resembled
an immenje dungeon. But, in the present age,
philosophy the fair, defending in radiant beauty
fr m heaven, is dissipating the gloom, and as
sisting the human race to atchieve their deliv’
erance. Rafon, the illumining emanation of
the Divinity, denounces hereditary trerogative,
as being irreconcileably hodiie to natw al law : .
And the proclamation of nature, the dread her
ald of CONFL AGRATION, requires it to be
exterminated from the universe. The moul
dering fabric of despotism is tumbling to de
ftru&ion : On its ruins, is rising the UNI
VERSAL REPUBLIC of the associated
world.
Such an UNIVERSAL REVOLUTION,
which abolishes the old, and condit 'tes a new,
order of things involves an aggregation of af
fans replete with terrible grandeur, andeventu tl
glory ! —the dfiolution of the old firmament !
—a fiery tempest of the world /—the obfeura.
tiett of the enthroned fun I—the consequent in*
diltinfticn of the contorted moon !— the falling
of the darry hop! —tne crush, and extt.ftion
ot fyfiems /—the DEATH OF DESPO
TISM ! I /
And the death of despotism implies the mor
al life of nation t, and a GENERAL JUBI
LEE OF HUMANITY. Then, sing O-
He*ven I and exult, O Earth ! for that diabo
lical adversary of the human fraternity, that
veteran fducer of the world, hat evil deflroye r
of mankind, PREROGATIVE, the calumni
ating fatan, the oldJerpent, he deliroying devil
of the universe, IS BOUND IN ADAMAN
TINE CHAINS, AND EXTERMiNA
TED FROM SOCIETY ! 1 !
National Contention of France.
RIOTS IN THE CONVENTION.
Foreign Affairs.
MAY 20.
A Letter from General Bretcnville
announced, that on the 191 b the three colour
ed flag was hoisted in place of the white one,
cn the wUls of Pathenay, that the civil au
thorities were retaliated, and the tree of liber
ty replanted.
An advance of 40,000 livres was granted
to the fe&ion of invalid , for clothing and ar
ming volunteers.
Ca m bon exclaimed against the waste of
public money, of which 10,0:0 francs would
probably never be applied to its proper pur
pose. In nine months 551 millions had been
expended for clothing troops : and he deman
ded a rigorous account of this enormous sum«
The commissioners with the army near
Rochelle, wrote from Poitiers, dated May 22.
—The city of Pcitiers t on rhe capture of
^Thouars, was struck wirh terror. The de
partment of La Vienns was open ; the con
stituted author ties had not force ro oppqfe
the rebels. But tne fuccours that poured in
from the neighbouring departments soon re
stored confidence. The administrative bo
dies being informed of the re'rogate motion
of the rebels, and their dirpofitions against
Fsntenay, (ent thither more than 3000 men, a
party of whom contributed to tne defeat of
the felf titled Catholic army in the plains of
Fonttnay la People. We hope, wirh the tuc
cours announced to us, soon to annihilate those
ferocious and sanguinary robbers, and to
prove to all our enemies that the French will
sooner perilh under rhe ruins of their country,
than fufFer a handful of fanatics to aim at
giving them a king.”
t( Upon receiving yesterday evening the
alarming news, that the r^beb were attemp
ting to pass the Loire near Chalons,\ instantly
ordered the general to be beat, and collecting
aa many nuops as 1 cou’d. Jefe St. George’s
at ten o’clock at night, and advanced to
wards Post Girault at the head of the nation
al guards, and a detachment of calvary. Be
fore 1 fer out, I dispatched exprefies to the
commandants of Lalen, La Pelffoniere, Se
venters, and Lapointe, with orders to beat the
general immediately, and fend out numer
ous and frequent patroles on the right and
left of the banks, in order to guard the whole
extent of the polls with all poflible attention.
I dispatched the Gendarmes to go the round?,
and fee again to the execution of those or*-
ders. Myfdf, and the nationd guards, un
der my command, remained waiching under
arms from ten o’clock last night to five in
the morning,when we returned to St. George's.
I kept all the while pairoles inceflantly go
ing on all Tides where they could be of use.
The rebels have indeed efteftuaied nothing
as yet but they are in force from Rochefort to
St. Florent, and seem to meditate frefa at
tempts upon that line.
** Four o’clock.
,f I have just beat the genera! again, and
shall proceed with my National guards to se
cure the weakeli and mod threatened polls.
In the interim, I conjure you, citizen admi
riftrarors, to take every neceflary measure to
baften the reinforcements of which we Hand
in such great need : I have just heard from
rhe commander of Seveniers, that the rebels
have appeared on the fide of Rochefort with
200 horse, and have fired several vollies over
the barges, (Signed)
“ GAUVELLIER.”
Letter from Citizen Gourdon, commandant of
the Isle of Chalonnes, to Citizen Gaovellier.
“ from the illand of Chalonnes, May 2^.
** Citizen,
« We have pafled the night in tranquility,
but to day I sent fsven men, vineyard hbor
ers, to obtain intelligence ; he banditti told
them, that they gave them the whole day to
confider which fide they would cake ; on their
return they informad us, that their grand
army arrived yefterday,and this night at Sr.
Lourent, so numerous, that all the roads were
crouded with them ; rhat they have 1 4 pie
ces of cannon, and that to-morrow they in
tend to Commence the attack.
(Signed) “ GOURDON.”
Letter from the Commfifarits to the army of
Rothtlles. “ May 27.
“ We have received imeliigence of a com
plete defeat. Having learned chat the cne-
Letterfr^mtbe commandant of the wed dividon of
the army of reserve, tit the ad-ntniflrators of
the department or Ma : ne and Loire.
“ Sr. Georgs’a, May 24.'
Barrere read the following dispatches,
which gave an account of the progress of the
Royaliits : —
THURSDAY, MAY JO.
SUNDAY, MAY 26.
[Numb. 8