The American herald of liberty — Exeter, N.H., 1794-08-19 00:00:00, page 1

telligencer.
A few thoughts ad dr efed to the good
sense and serious cons deration of
the ‘public.
IS the Constitution of the Unit
ed States a democracy or an
aristocracy, or is it neither ? These
questions are important in their na
ture, and have never been tho
roughly examined: they are also
collaterally interesting, as their So
lution will serve to determine the
degree of merit or demerit attach
ed to the terms democrat and ar
iftrocrac, as applied to denominate
thß friends or enemies to the con
fticution.
Is the Constitution of the Uni
ted States a democracy ?
A democracy, according to the
original acceptation of the word,
is a government where the whole
of the people aflembled in a body,
from time to time, to ena& laws
by a majority of voices and try of
fences committed against the laws
of the State. In this point of
view, neither the ConltitUtion of
the United States, nor any of the
State Constitutions, established de
mocracy.
Is the Constitution of the Uni
ted States an aristocracy ?
An aristocracy is where the
power of making laws and crying
offences is lodged exclusively with
the rich or nobles. It is plain,
therefore, that neither the Consti
tution of the United States, nor
any of the State Constitutions es
tablishes aristocracy.
Hence it follows, that the Con
stitution or government of the U
nited States is neither a democra
cy nor aristocracy; not a democ
racy, because the people do not
meet in a body to make the laws,
which is the effenee of democra
cy । not an aristocracy, because the
rich have no exclusive right to
govern, which is the charaderiftic
of aristocracy. If then there are
people among us, who are desirous
to establish such a government as
the former in the room of the pres
ent, they have very properly as
sumed the name of democrats;
and if there are also men who with
to change the government of the
United States, so as to fix exclu
sively in the rich to administer its
powers, they may as justly be de
nominated aristocrats.
The Constitution of the United
States being therefore neither a
democracy nor aristocracy, it is
certainly incumbent upon those
who have voluntarily called them
selves democrats, to prdve to their
fellew-citizens,how a man may be
a democrat, and hot wilh to change
the government to democracy.
In all ages of the world, the
* multitude have been abused with
founds, and in nine instances out
of ten which could be quoted, have
loft their liberty by the credulity
in the men who have thus imposed
upon them, and set themselves up
for centinels and guardians of their
rights.
Profit the Baltimore Daily In-
Volume IX.]
American Herald of Liberty.
Published on Tuesdays, ^Stearns and Winslow, in Main-Street , Exeter, (New-Hatnpfhire) at 6/8 per annum.
The Constitution then of the
United States, as we have observ
ed, is neither an aristocracy nor
democracy. To call it either,
would be to abuse the known ety
mology and fetled acception of the
fenie of these words, and lay a snare
tor the ignorant or uninformed in
such difquifiiions. It indeed con
tains a proportion of the principles
of each, but without possessing the
cffential qualities of either.
For example. The people by
the Constitution, have no right to
meet in a body and make laws,
which as has been said,, is the es
sence of democracy and without
which democracy cannot exist;
but they have a right to eledt per
sons to make laws, in which par
ticular it partakes of the principle
of democracy. On the other hand,
the Constitution excludes all per
sons under twenty-five years of age
from being Representatives, those
who are not thirty, from being
Senators, and aft who are not thir
ty-five and natural born citizens,
or citizens when it was adopted,
from being President; so far there
fore, as it has thus granted the ex
clusive power of making laws and
governing to men of certain dif
cription of years, it participates of
the principle of aristocracy.
As the government or Constitu
tion of the United States can,
therefore, neither be denominated
a democracy nor aristocracy, with
out a pervertion of terms, what is
it ? I answer, a pure representa
tive government, excluding the
soldiers and tyranny infeperable
from a democracy or aristocracy.
With what propriety, then, it
may be asked, do men call them
selves democrats, and to answer
what purposes do they associate as
such, and hold private and secret
meetings and correspondences in
the bolom of government which is
not a democracy ?
A declared democrat must wilh
to destroy the aristocratic princi
ciple of the Constitution, and an
aristocrat its democratic principle;
both therefore, may be considered
as enemies to the Constitution;
for to add to or take away from
either principle, is to change the
nature of the government, and of
course to change the government
itfelf. Hence the aristocrat and
democrat Ihould be equally dread
ed and watched, the one as the
caterpillar and the other as the
canker-worm of the Constitution,
by good men who are neither the
one nor the other, but Conftitu
tionalifts, anxious to preserve and
maintain to each principle the rank
assigned it by the Constitution.
A CONSTITUTIONALIST.
Late European Intelligence.
LONDON, JUNE 7.
FROM WARSAW, MAY 21.
IT is mentioned that the Polilh
General Kofciufcow had made
a movement from Cracow to Staf
fow, about 15 miles, with intent
TUESDAY, August 19, 1794.
noy the enemy in that quarter. —
All the accounts agree that the
fLles ar Skole, were fuelled by
the Prussians under General Fav
rat, on the j^h. T 2 former were
very indifferently armed, and fled
at the firft or second difeharge of
artillery, leaving on the Field a
General and a number of prisoners.
The Prussian cavalry could not
tends to join the corps of the ar
my under General Favrat. Or
“ders have been received from Gen
eral Kolciufcow to arm the firft
line of citizens with fire arms, the
second with fcyches, and the third
with pikes.
It is to be hoped, that the Turks
in concert with Sweden and Den
mark, may fee, ere it be too late
for their own fafecy, the necessity
of acting in concert, to preserve
Poland, and re-eftabiifh rhe bal
ance of Europe.
ry.
** Six thousand four hundred and sixty
eight mufquets, twenty ftaridards, 100
cherts of tambour, all the horses and mules,
the arms and equipments of the cavalry,
and artillery.
** We have sent two officers who are
charged to prefect to the Convention the
splendid trophies of this viftory of repub
licans. Vive la Republique.
Signed, SQUBRANY es MILHAUD.”
LIVORNO, MAY 28tb- >794‘
The 25th inftanc arrived here,
the Engliftj Hoop of war the Sin
cere, of 12guns and 120 men;
by her we have received news, that
the city and Fort of Baftia, have
capitulated on the &2d. The En
gtjji took ©Qffeffion of it in the
name of his Britannic Majesty.
WE have to announce to you a great
viftory obtained over the Spaniards.—
Nothing but the infant love of coun
try could have enabled our brothers in
arms to have overcome the almofl insuper
able obftades which opposed their success,
and which (hielded their enemies. St.
Elmo, situated on an almoit inacceflible
mountain, has fallen, and iesgarrifon though
thus situated have capitulated.
0 We have this inflant been to fee, ac
cording to the terms of capitulation, seven
thoofand Haves deposit their arms at the feet
of Republicans, and take the oath not to
serve against (he French Republic, during
the war.
The force of the Spanish guards at
Collioure, and its invirons, are, fix battal
ions of Spanish, and one regiment cf little
Waloon Guards—in all eleven regiments
not complete, besides artillery and cavalry.
** Return of prisoners. Three Marshals
de camp, 10 Brigadiers, ry Colonels, 60
Lieutenant Colonels, 300 Captains & Lieu
tenants, 300 Sergeants, 6468 privatesand
fevcral companies of artillery and caval-
to drive the Ruffians towards South
Prussia. General Grofchowki had
been detached by him towards
Lublin with *2,000 men, to an-
Events of War between the Com
bined Powers and France.
pursue them far, on acconnt of the
unfavourablenefs of the ground.—
Some accounts call this body Gen
eral Kofciufcow’s advanced guard.
DEFEAT OF THE SPANIARDS.
PARIS, JURE 6.'
Letter frem the Representatives near the Eas
tern Pyrennean army, dated Collmure, le 9
Praireal.
The King of Prussia, it is said, in-
CITIZENS COLLEAGUES,
States of the Corlicans, (hall ap
pear to conclude what constitution
they would chufe co have, whether
the Englifti, or the ancient Corsi
can, with the assurance that every
member thereof may depart free
and unmolested after the Confticu,
tion is framed.
■ • > : » I .
Battles in the Netherlands^
Head Quart er s,at Tournay, May 3 1,
Early yesterday morning the
enemy attacked the pofbion of
Bettignies and Daugies with a con*
fiderable force and with the grea
test vigour. Our firft advanced
posts, attacked by more than twd
thousand men, were obliged to Fall
back ; they were immediately fup*
parted, but the light troops of the
enemy having been attacked by
12,000 infantry, and about 1,206
cavalry, our piquets, after an ob
stinate adion of two hours, were
obliged to fall back to our position.
Succourswereimmediately brought
up; our troops broke through
them with fixed bayonets, and the
enemy, after a long and spirited
resistance were obliged to aban
don the village of Dougies, and
its entrenchments. Our brave
troops returned to their firft pofici
on, and the enemy into Mau
beuge'.
Four hundred remained dead
upon the field, and a great number
were Wounded. Ourlofs amounts
to 140 men. The troops who had
to contend with such a iuperiority t
fought with a bravery which fur*
passes praise.
On the 23d of this month, M*
Mar (hall Mollendoff attacked
and completely defeated the cne*
my near Kaiferlauterm That Gen.
at the head of his orave Prussian
troops, killed not less than 1,000
men, took i,Boo prisoners, 18 piec*
es of cannon, a great number of
tumbrils, and more than 60 wag
gons loaded with baggage.
Twelve battalions and twenty
two squadrons of Imperial troops,
under the orders of thi Geo. of
infantry, Prince Hohcnloe, passed
the Rhine the 22d of this month;
and after some brisk adlions, took
up a most advantageous position
upon the left bank of that river,
from which the enemy were driv
en. *
The garrison, which consisted
of 2400 men, marched out wi h
the honours of war, and had to
ground their arms, and were (hip
ped off to Toulon, in exchange of
an equal number ot the Bri.tifn and
allied troops, who were prisoners
in Provence.
We are also informed, that be
fore the siege, the garrison consist
ed of more than 50^0 men; and
that during the confufion by
favour of the night great part got
away into, the mountains. After
the taking of this city and citadel,
the Englilh General publilhed his
proclamation, that on the Bth of
June, the Representatives of the
[Number 7.