The Republican ledger — Portsmouth, N.H., 1800-04-30 00:00:00, page 2

where they must necessarily be good; for
the ele&ors if they are properly constituted,
will always have the greatest interest in the
maintenance of order and liberty, in the lia
bility of institutions, and inthe solidity of
good principles. It is fufficient that their
choice can fall upon none Who are not point
ed out by the people.
Such is a good democracy with all the
advantages of that form of government ; for
in,this system the molt perfect equality pre
vails among all the citizens, since every one
may be placed upon the lift of eligibles. But
besides you thus obtain the democracy purged
from all its inconveniences ; for under this
order of things there is no populace (or
mob) to agitate in the forum or in clubs.
The ignorant class exercise no influence
either upon the legislature, or upon the gov
ernment. By these means, too, you get rid
of demagogues. Every thing is managed
in the name of the people, and for the inter
aft of the people. Nothing is done by the
people, or under their precipitate direaion.
They are tranquil under the prote&ion of
the laws ; they enjoy the advantages of real
liberty,>,
The fuhaions of the legislative body com
prise three diftina operations. The propo
sal of a law, its discussion, and its adoption.
The proposal ought not to be made by the
fame assembly which adopts. This is an
acknowledged principle. The discussion
ought not to take place without the partici
pation of that body by which it is to be exe
cuted. Experience has proved the necessity
of this measure.
Along with the legislative body you have
a tribunate whose business is continually to
petition in the name of the people. Neces
sarily compofed of the most energetic and
the most eloquent men in the country, it will
be entitled to make continual appeals to pub
lic opinion, to censure in every way the pro
ceedings of government, to denounce those
which it confiders hostile to the constitution,
taaccufe and to prosecute all the executive
agents, to /peak and publish their sentiments
with the most complete independence, with
out the members ever being called upon to
answer for their speeches and writings. The
exigence of this popular magistracy, togeth
er with the liberty of the press which under
a vigorous government muff always be unre
strained, forms one of the principal securities
for public liberty ; for do what you can,
these securities can never be real and durable
but when they rest upon public opinion.
In a republic like France, the executive
government must be strong. It ought to
have unity of thought and of action. This
is the only real advantage of a monarchy.
The representative system must avail itfelf
of this unity. Os whatever number of func
tionaries the head of the executive power
may be composed, it is always evident that
ultimately one must have the means of ter
minating discussion, and bring all opinions
to concur.•
The judiciary power may be considered
as an emenation from the executive. It be
longs therefore to the latter to apdint judges,
without however having the right to displace
them, in order that thus the Tatter may be
independent in the sentences they pronounce.
* The connection of the 'executive power
with the armed force must be regulated by
the exigency of circumstances. . Our situa
tion may require that certain members of
the executive (hould have the power of com
manding the armies, or that numerous mili
tary corps (hould remain under its command
in the neighborhood of the great commune,
or eftablithed capital. All this may be con
sidered only as provisional, but we ffluft
'haften to get into the tract of principle in
proportion as our fituatfon becomes more
calm both at home and abroad.
' The government, the foundation of which
1 have pointed out, is that which the new
social Compaq presents. The plan of it
h'as long fubfifed in the mind of its author,
Sieyes. It was eagerly adopted by another
man of genius (Buonaparte) qualified to ap
preciate its merit, and made to derive new
glory from the support given to its establish
ment after having enlightened the discussion
of it by the powers of his understanding.
Cabinas then proceeded to answer the
objections which had been made to the plan
of the constitution.
It is alledged, continued he ;—ift, That
the power of the executive is immense ;
there is no security against its designs. We
must have a government full of vigor and
life. If it were not created so it would u
surp or it Would quickly perish, as happen
' ed in the case of the directory. The securi
ties we have are in the potent permanence
of the conservative senate, and in the turbu
lent charter of the tribunate. The execu
tive power besides is restrained by the decided
responsibility of the ministers, and the regu
* lar proceedings of the council of state. ff
It is next laid, that it is to be feared that
the scheme of the tribunate will produce
turbulence and violence. These apprehen
sions spring from the remembrance of our
past evils. But the demagogues of the con
vention, and of the council of five hundred,
had the right to bring forward laws drawn
up in form^ They cared them to be dis
cussed, and often to be adopted by undue in
fluence. They kept the property, the liber
ty, the life of the citizen in a constant state
of uncertainty. Here the tribunes may
make a great deal of noise in their own
house ; but all they can fay has no force but
that which it derives from opinion. If they
are very violent, public opinion will be deci
dedly unfavourable to them. They willa
larm the public more than the executive
power or the conservative senate, which will
Know perfectly well how to maintain them
selves against the result of their vain clam
ors..'
From the (New-London) Bee.
The present number of this paper probably clo
ses the editorial career of the printer of the Bee
in this state.— On the 13th instant he is bound to
appear at the bar ofthe circuit court of the U.
States for the diftrift of Connecticut, then to lit at
New-haven, and to (land a trial of indictment
under the Sedition Law, for publishing a peace in
May last, militating against the recruiting service.
Situated in this predicament, he has hitherto for
borne to detail the outrages of a let of men, whofq
Ration in society has protested their infant, while
their individual demerits would have exposed pri
vate citizens to the obloquy and! execration of
their country. The depredations of these men
upon the property of his fellow-citizens he has
palled unnoticed ; the insults and threats offered to
the peaceable inhabitants and helpless women in
this neighborhood, and the alarm and disturbance
excited by firing in the streets and under windows
at all hours of the night, he has refrained from
publishing : & though the public mind has been ex
cited in a very high degree, he has carefully avoid
ed every thing that could have been construed in
to personal infult'or wound of private character.
A regard to truth and jufiice, however, will not
permit him to omit this opportunity of recording
one of the exploits of some of these “ defenders of
the country? in this city last week.,
On Tuefday one Peter Duran, a corporal in the
detachment of artilleries and engineers under the
command of lieut. Steele, Rationed at fort Trum
bull, in company with John Eafterbrooks, ore of
the soldiers, had alfaulted, and nearly effected an
abominable purpose upon a refreshable young wo
man who had come to the relief of her niece, a
small girl, who was firft pursued by the fellow.—
The villain, who has a wife and children in the
garrison, tore part of the clothes from her body,
and injured the woman. Meanwhile Eafterbroks
went to the house where the girls lived, knowing
the men to be absent, and insulted and threatened
the family, reminding them in terrorum that he
had " powder and ball enough.".
A complaint being entered, and warrant Hued
for apprehending the offenders, the prosecutor,
who accompanied the officer to recognize theimen,
was insulted and menaced by the lieut. who bid
thefoldiers to defend themselves, but fuffered them
to be taken and carried so trial, where Duran was
fined fifteen dollars and the costs of suit, and Eaf
terbrooks acquitted. The prisoner was commit
ted gaol, but is to be liberated on Friday next by
taking the poor man's oath. By this meat# the
whole expence is thrown on the prosecutor; and
this is the recompence he receives for endeavor! ng
to bring to justice an offender against the laws of
his country.
The people in the vicinity of this gat,rfbu feel
their lines in jeopardy from men whom they fcru
pie not to call a band of disorganized, unprinci
pled and abandoned ruffians, a burden, a pest, &
a terror to the citizens who are taxed for their
fupport.''
If these soldiers were enlisted only " to eat,
drink and play with the girls," as said by the re
cruiting officer in Litchfield, it is proper that pro
visions and women of their own mould be furnish
ed in a fufficiency to prevent their making too
free use of those belonging to their neighbors.
Other instances of mifconduft might often have
been published; but the present will fuffice to shew
that they have reason Who complain of the evils of
/landing armies. L
In addition to the foregoing we have to add,
that on Friday night last, at about twelve o'clock
(the time at which some of these orderly gentle-,
men are ufiially seen draggling to their barracks)
the house occupied by Mr. John Carol, which had
been threatened on account of his bringing for
ward the prosecution against the soldiers for their
abuse of his wife's lifter, wasattacked with Rones,
the windows broken, and the people terrified to
such a degree that they determined to quit the
habitation. .
How long this date of things is to continue, we
pretend not to fay, though it is certain that fame
alteration must speedily arise from the necessity of
the case. We believe that the fame number of en
emy'scroops in the fame position would occasion
left uneafinef s than this body of men ; & it would
appear that their eftabliihment answers no good
purpose but that of exciting in the breads of the
citizen, a natural and just abhorrence for landing
armies, and perfect contempt for the creatures of
Which they are composed.
From the Constitutional Telegrapiie,
Mr. Parker,,
A Paper called the Press, is printed in
Richmond Virginia, on pure and unadulte
rated Republican principles, on 6 abase so
broad' and 6 on principles so extended, as to
be beyond the reach of accident to controul,'
or even the sedition law, to destroy. This
paper is a dreadful eye-fore to the aristocrat
ic federalifts. The u^r batyb (those pre
tended friends to order and good government)
already dread its influence on the minds of
the people who have been too long deceived
by a mad /xrerminaffag wdr faaion,as it will
bring to light their works of darters, rind
completely defeat the insidious designs of
those exdufrue federalfo, who indefatigably
endeavor to propagate those anti-republican
principles, of Presidential infallibility, of
passive obedience and non-resistance; and
whose determined objed, is permanently to
eftabliih the rulers, as matters ; and thefa
ereign people as tteu servants, slaves and vaf-
A Litter to a gentleman in Baltimore contains|
the following particulars of a most Jhocking Jai-\
cide, committed by a young gentleman ^ ref- I
peflability and eaJy circumstances at Broad Greek,
whose name is omitted through regard to the
feelings of his connexions.
Broad Creek, Feb. 28.
DEAR ER,
Os all the Scenes of life that I' ever pad, last
Monday presented the molt suddenly ihocking.
About 10 o'clock in the morning I left home, was
absent until three in rhe afternoon. On my re
turn I found the house locked, I asked the servants
where +. was, they answered they knew
not, as he often went to his cousin's, Mr. •
1 sent there for the key, the boy returned with the
answer he had been there, and observed to me
that he saw the key in the door ; and further, that
— told him he was going a ducking. 1 at
tempted the windows, one of which 1 found 1
could open ; went in and found my gun gone ;
reding fatisfied that he was gunning ; I eat dinner,
after which as 1 was reading a news paper, I ob
served a wet place in the wall overhead, which
led me to suppose that some water had been fpilt
that should have been wiped up, I afeended the
Hairs until my head was above the floor, when 1
saw the unfortunate young man on the floor.
The blood having ruri a small distance, my firft*
'furprife vvas not so great, supposing him in a fit,
his face not having the appearance of death ; how
- ever the afeent of one Hep more presented to my
view the gun, with a Hick ran through the guard
above the trigger—then fir my aftonjfhment was
such for an instant, that description falls short,
nor can human being imagine what wire my feel
ing. He had behaved in' such a mariner that not
the least suspicion had entered the breast of any
one ; in Ihort, considering his conduct and cheer,
ful behavior during av^reat length of time and
wliat appears by the lefters he left behind, (four
in number) that he had had it in contemplation ;
this transaction marks the greatest refolutiop, ad
ded to the most perfect composure of mind 1 ever
read of.-
The following is a copy of his letter to me. ./
^SEAR FRIEND,
" Before you receive this I (hall be in the re
gions of happiness ; If not,! hope I (hall be utterly
annihilated—in either case I think I (hall make a
happy exchange. Ido not believe that^the kind
author of nature ever made mankind to be miser
able in a future state. You will no doubt be sur
prised at the dreadful event as you will term it)
—but upon your reading this I hope your surprise
will cease. I cannot fay that I have beenQappy
or miserable in this world, but I have enjoyed my
equal part of both. We all experience more pain
than pleafare, and why (hould we with to live in
this wretched world ? If man is to be more mise
rable in another world than he is in this for any
transaction in this life he is the most miserable an
imal in creation, if after death we cease to exist,
it ought, to every man be a welcome visitor ; for
most undoubtedly a non existence is preferable to
an existence wherein we experience more pain
than pleasure. . For these teafons I have resolved
on the experiment. At all events I shall be re
moved from those troublesome doubts concerning
a future state which are common to us all. I shed
a tear for the numberless unhappy beings I leave
behind me, and so 1 bid adieu to this wretched
world.
“ This is not a thing on which I resolved with
out maturely and deliberately considering every
circumstance. I have had it in contemplation for
more than nine months, and has been about two
weeks since I resolved,
"The letters you will find with this, I wilh you
to forward to the refpeftive persons to whom they
are directed. Adieu.
-In the other fetters are the following expres
sions. \ ,
" Man, will be the conjectures about the mea
fur^s I am now about to take, but the reason is
thirst for knowledge, and wish for happiness,
which I know cannot be attained in this world.
And, lam perfectly composed." Aifo, “ the in
strument which' is to decide my fate is now lying
•by me."' */ ' '*'
He left particular explanations of all his bufi
nefs.and except this rain aft (it I may term it rad)
after reading his letters) his conduct met the ap
probation of all his friends and acquaintance—he
was of a uniform lively disposition, and one all
rtty acquaintance; that I fliould have the least fuf,
petted of fuck an aft., ^• •
1 amyours,
•WASHINGTON. *
We with pleasure insert the following—the pathe
tic eflujions of a French Legislator;
LEGISLATIVE BODY.— 13 Pluviofe, Feb. z.
In (peaking of Gen. WASHINGTON, Felix
Faulcon said, , '.
* This is not the moment to retrace in this hall
all that that great man has done for the freedom
of America ; the number and importance of his
I warlike exploits ; the generous inspiration with
which he animated the French who fought under
him ; arid the fubljme aft by which he did eternal
;honor to his memory, when, after having contri
buted so much to give freedom to his country, he
laid down voluntarily the supreme power, to hide
his glory in the obfcority of private life.
" Malice and mean jealousy have attempted to
(bread a deadly venom over so great a life ; but
their perfidious insinuations are loft in the uni
, verfal fuffrages of his grateful fellow patriots, and
of all the freemen in the universe.
" Yet he is no more ; the eulogium affords plea
'fure to great minds ; who has doubly merited the
civic palm, both as a warrior and a citizen ; Who
combined every Virtue with every talent ; who
after having supported the revolution by his abili
ties, bis valour and virtue, knew how to terminate
it by the moderation as well as the wisdom of his
counsels; Who has done more than render his
country men free—who has rendered them happy.
, Oh Legislators ! feel you not jour fouls swell
lat these Hilarious recollections, which, by a priv
ilege worth, to be envied, are conne&ed^with
nothing to be regretted, and create nose but sweet
and elevated emotions ? Do you nbt delire that
this tribune, where we are forbidden to mixonr.
voices in legislative discussion, should at least serve
to (hew the impression of our gratit^e, of our
veneration, of our unanimous forroOT Do you
, not feel the necessity of joining our portion of fu
neral praise to that which all free people will ad^
dress to the manes of the to^kmimous Washing-
(Signed) " —— .
Broad Creek, Feb. 23, 1800.
p.s. Look in my pocket-book for the accounts."
ton ; and which we owe him Hill more particu
larly, wd among whom the eleftric example of
the American revolution sowed the firft fit of
the desire of independence ? He moved that the
president (hould, on the 28th Frimaire (the anti
verfary of the day of the General's death) make a
speech in honour of the hero whose lose every one
deplores."
Foreign Intelligence.
=. <"<"<+^ | 4^^ <4Fy|F < ^} l ^Qt> j > ——
LONDON, Jan. 28,
The following is the amendment moved by the
Duke of Bedford, in the House of Lords on Tuef
day last, instead of the address moved by Lord
Grenville :
" That an address be presented to hi, majesty:
“To return our most humble thanks for his
condefeenfion and goodness in having been so gra
ciously pleased to communicate to us the corres
pondence between the minister of foreign affairs
in France and his majefty'sprincipal secretary for
foreign affairs ; and most humbly to represent to
his majesty that on the Bth of Dec. 1795, his ma
jesty was graciously pleased to acquaint this house,
that he had been induced, by the order of things
in France, to meet any dilpofition for negociation
on the part of the enemy with an earnest desire to
give it the fulleft and fpeediefteffect.
“ That, in pursuance of this disposition, his ma
jesty directed an overture to be made in his name
by his minister in Switzerland, in the spring of the
year 1796. • 4
“ That on the rejection of that overture^his ma
jesty gave the molt solemn affiirances, in a note,
dated April . 10, 1796, that whenever his ene
mies (hould manifeft more pacific sentiments, hia
majesty would at all times be eager to concur in
them by lending himfelf, in concert; .with his al
lies, to all such measures as could be best calculat
ed to re-eHablilh general tranquility on conditions
just, honorable, and permanent. r j
“ That his majesty has since entered into two
negociations for peace with the French Republic,
at Paris in the autumn of the year 1796, and at
Lisle in the fumfher of the following year 4797.
“ That his majesty has repeatedly and solemnly
declared that the rupture of both these negocia
tions was solely to be ascribed to the determina
tion of the French government to reject all means
of peace, and to ptirfue, at all hazards, their hos
tile designs against the prosperity and fafety of
these kingdoms.
“ That, on the failure of the negociation at
Paris, his majesty in a manifefto dated the 27th of
Dec. 1796, was graciously pleased “ to renew, in
the face of all Europe, the solemn declaration, that
whenever his enemies (hould be difoofed to enter
on the work of general pacification in a spirit of
concili^'on and equity, nothing should be want
ing on his part to contribute to the accomplish
ment of that great object."
“ That on the rupture of the subsequent nego
ciations at Lisle, his majesty had again declared in
a manifefto dated October 28, 1797, that “he
looked with anxious expeaation to the moment
when the government of France (hould (hew a dis
position & spirit at all corresponding to his own ;"
and that “ he then renewed before all Europe the
solemn declaration that he was yet ready to con^
elude peace on the fame moderate and equitable
principles and terms which he had before propos
ed."
“ That we, his majesty's fnoft dutiful fubjetts,
the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament
assembled, impressed with the juHice of these len<
timents, and equally anxious for the re-eflablifli
merit of tranquility, and for the preservation of
the honour and dignity of his majesty's Crown, (of
which we are, by the Constitution, hereditary ad
visers,) cannot conceal their regret at perceiving
that his majesty has been advised to reject tbe firft
overtures for a general pacification on the part of
the enemy; arid we beg leave most humbly to im
plore his majesty to give directions for the imme
diate renewal, if possible, of a negociation far
peace with the French Republic, most fervently
beseeching his majesty to recur to those principles
of moderation and equity so solemnly and so re
peatedly avowed, and which; if Hfiaiy adhered
to, must either ensure the speedy reftotation of all
tbe bjeffings of peace, or render our enemies alone
accountable for all the calamities too certainly at
tendant on a continuance of hoHilifies."
° ™ LONOOV. FE^. 20.
- PETITION FOR- PEACE.
In consequence of a requisition sent to the Lord
Mayor, figped by feyeral of the; Liverymen of
London, a Common hail was held yellerday at
Guild-hall, in order to take into consideration the
propriety of petitioning the Hotie of Commons
on the state of public affairs, and that they would
use their efforts to cause a negociation for Pe,ce
\to be opened between this country and the French
Republic. 0
SCARCITY of BREAD.
Lord Sheffield yelfcrday, in theHotife of com
mons, said the extreme scarcity of corn, in a part
of the country with which he was pwre particu
larly acquainted, would not admit of his being a- *t
ny longer silent on the fubjett. (He therefore
gave notice, that he (hould 0 make feme motion
concerning' it.. The diltrefs of the country, aril,
ing from this deficiency, he said, called for the im
mediate interference of Parliament; He believed
tome beneficial measures might be adopted. Mr.
Joliffe (an oppofitiom member) said there was so
nopgh of Corn in the country to supply the defi
ciency until next harvest. This he (fated from Lis
personal observation in the countries he had lately
visited." :
, FEB. 25. A
CITY of LONDON PETITION.
The 1-ord Mayor presented a petition from the
Lord Mayor, Aldermen, &c. and Livery otLon ?
don, in Common hall assembled, praying that the
House might take the speediest means of conclud
ing a peace. ', O
Lord Hawksbury, having asked how many
names were figged to the petition, it appeared
that the number was very small. The Lord May-'
or said he was not aware that any objections
would be made on the ground of a small number
of fignaturea, and then moved that the petition do <,
lie on tbe table. ,/1, :1?
:Sir John Anderton said, he had no objections to
let the petitiondie on the table ; but he thought it
his duty to ilate that the contents of that petition
fa not the idea of the city of London, but of 4
: faction, coulifting, he was glad to fay, of very few
persons, as might be j,rcei ve d by the few signa
tures it contained. At the time the question to,
fending this petition had firft been put in the Cong
mon Hall, he conceived it tp have ftp carried fa
the negative ; but the Chief Magistrate thought
differently, and said it was carried in the affirnta
tity A great eenfufioo then took plm; there