The Republican ledger — Portsmouth, N.H., 1801-06-23 00:00:00, page 2

• be following remarks, on the advantages to man
kind ivhich reforms of government, and the lib
erty of the press have produced, together with
the handsome, andjuft panegyric of the learned
and elegant writer, on the late Speech of our
highly terterated and beloved President Thomas
Jefferson, E(q. (a character admired and be
.loved by every real Republican, as well in Eu
- rope as Americans Extracted from the " Albion,
1 a London paper, of the .16th April last.
AMID the blessings to mankind which
reforms in government have produced, none
has been so awfully guarded from invasion
and injury, and none has so highly conduc
ed to the preservation of general liberty,
virtue, and justice, as the liberty of the press.
As governments advance in the perfeaion
of their own natures, this liberty acquires a
wider empire} and attains a purer state. If,
during the firft moments of enjoying it, like
whatever else has been long denied, but long
fought, freedom to use will sometimes cause
licentiousness in the application and exer
tion of the powers of The human mind, yet,
mellowing with length of years, those ener
gies, of which that freedom is the parent,
finally become the sublimest faculties of
man. This truth has seldom been so nobly
illustrated, as by the Prelident Jefffrson,
in his speech delivered in presence of the
Senate, the members, and the Constituted
Authorities, in the House of Representa
tives, at New~York*'on the 4th day of
March h'ft. Our readeis are in pofleffion
of a copy of this Speech. Whomsoever
has perused it without feeling the Divine
glow of patriotism at,is heart, let him hire
out his days to talk-matters, take upon him
,felf the yoke, and dragging his chains to the
front, worship slavery ! But he deserves not
to live arpong men, who can refufe to join
his voice to that of thousands who will,
throughout the world, celebrate the praises
of the First Citizen of the Republic
of America! §
It is not merely the fervid devotion to
the cause of his country which beams on
the world through his speech, that we ad
mire in the President. Developing with the
hand of a philosopher principles of govern
ment the most congenial to the nature of
man, he proclaims franchifes, privileges,
and immunities, belonging solely to the peo
ple and to opinion, which, tho' not to have
recognized them, would have been to disa
vow the sovereign maxims of all popular
Government, yet, are so noble excitements
to the passions for freedom, that whilst
yielding <0 their influence, every soundly
constituted mind will confider the assertion
of them, on such authority, as no mean
triumph for reason and the rights of man
kind.
Throughout the temper of the Speech is
equal, yet firm ; bold, yet refieaive. The
didion is stately, yet nervous ; majestic yet
familiar : no ordinary mind presided over
the diftribujion of its parts. Some of the
passages have never been excelled. The
truth of the principles, the'juftuefs of the
opinions, the hoble elevation of the senti
ments of the President, design his fame for
immortality, and for glory.
After truly observing that every differ
ence of opinion is not a difference of prin
ciple, the illustrious Citizen, in evident al
lusion to the tumults of popular election,
and the agitations of parties, fays',
“ We have called by different names, brethren
of the fame principle. We are all Republican, —
all Federalists. It there be any among us who
would with to difldive this Union, or to change
its republican form, let them hand undilturbed,
as monuments of the fafety with which error ot
opinion may be tolerated, when reason Is left free
to combat it. - * J '
Can sentiments be more liberal, or obser
vation more correa!
In bis " Refleaions on the Revolution in
France," Mr. Burke, a great Statesman and
orator, has ' somewhere delivered himfelf
with much hefrtation, in allowing that any
of the Representative forms may be a good
species of Government ; he likewise seems
to hue thought the Republican the worst
of all forms. Mr. Jefferfon nearly his equal
in experience, is not the inferior of Mr.
Burk, in capacity for all kinds of public
bufiu^fs—for Government—for Legislation
—for Diplomacy —-Like him too he is elo
quent ; and possessing a mind quite as capa
cious, he is as complete in science, in learn
ing, in all the arts and accomplishments
that perfea and adorn superior talent : yet
Mr. Jefferfon confiders the Republican the
best form of Government. N
He deserves tote remembered for ever on
this fubjed—
« I know, indeed, that Tome boneft men fear
that a Republican Government cannot be Strong ; I
that this Government is not firong enough. But
would the honest patriot, in the full tide of fuc
cefsfnl experiment, abandon a Government which
has so far kept us free and firm, on the theoretic
and visionary fear that this Government, the
world's belt hope, may, by possibility want ener
gy to preserve itfelf ? I trust not ; I believe this,
on the contrary, the strongest Government on
earth. I believe it the only one where every man
at the call of the law would fly to the standard of
the law, and would meet invasions of the public
order as his own perfortal concern. Sometimes
* This is a miflake of the Editor, it was thi city
rs Wa/hington, and not New-York. # ^
litI it is hid that man cannot be trusted with the gbv
ernment'of himfelf. Can he then be trusted wip
the government of others ; or have We found an
fels, in the form-of Kings, to govern him ? Let ;
iftory answer this quellion."
His definition of " good Government"
will no doubt be rejected by some cf tie
Governments of the old world ; but its just- 4
nets is nevertheless indisputable.
“ Still one thing more, fellow citizens ; a wife
and frugal Government, which shall retrain men
from'injuring one another—shall leave them oth
erwise free to regulate their own pursuits of iu
duftry and improvement, and shall not take from
the mouth of labor the bread it has earned — This
is the sum of good Government."
But we must not any farther extend this
our hasty analysis. Indeed, what'can be
fele&ed in the way of example, from a
speech unbounded every where with beau
ties!(
From the AURORA.
THE hiffory of the last American Ad
ministration will be matter of astonishment
to posterity. The difeovery of the defalca
tion in the appropriations for the Dey of Al
giers, is among the most curious of the
tranfadions, and happens to have been deve
loped in away that could not have' been
hoped for. Had the Editor not been so for
tunate as to fumble on the books of the
Treasury in the firft instance before the
present Administration came into office, it
is an inference that can be juftified by all
the former a&s of the Tory party, that they
would have denied the fads, or held their
own dilapidations up as ads of their succes
sors ; in like manner, had not this difeove
ry been made so long as twelve months ago,
the Dey of Algiers, villainous as he is,
would have been charged as having received
the tribute ; and the evidence of our Con
sul would not have been so important in
proof, and probably we Should have heard
the denial of the receipt of the tribute made
an argument for a war against him, while
the agent a&ually had not accounted for the
amount, for three,years !
These are not the only Ad effeas of the
change of men, even in a proniary view ;
every day furnifhes some X fads ; the
advantages of the new order of things is
strongly exemplified in the late public sales
at the stores oi the War Department in this
city.'
The articles fold consisted of Furrs, Deer
skins, &c. &c. being the remittances from
the public stores in the Indian Country, and
which formerly passed from the hands of
the purveyor into those of an individual, &
were left to his discretion to dispose of in
any way he might think best.
What is very worthy of remark is, that
the late returns, which passed immediately
into the war stores, brought 100 per cent,
and some more than double the price of ar
ticles of the fame kind brought from the
stores of the individuals, where it is presum
ed, that all the best or most suitable were
picked out and disposed of by hand, wheth
er for more than they would have brought
at public sale all round or without culling,
it is not now eafyto afeertain, though we
do not mean to attach the most distant blame
on the conduct of those persons immediately
enthufted with the management of this con
cern, but certainly there was abuse some
where ; and the law itfelf appears to have
been defedive in not pointing out the ex
press mode^ in which they fliould be dispos
ed of, which no doubt ought to have been at
public auction.
We aM e well informed, that the late In
tadant and Keeper of military stores, appears
to fanaion this mode of sale now adopted ;
but they fay the late Secretary of War,
would not take upon himfelf the direction
of it. Is it not strange that he Should bog
gle at an objed of this kind, when he could
pay double the price for the fame kind of
eloathing at Baltimore, which he paid in
Philadelphia.
In this small item of public expense, it
is expected the United States will save or
gain between 20 and 36,000 dollars by the
adoption of this mode of conduding the bu
siness, in the room df that pursued by the
last administration. Economy began in this
manner by General Dearborne, and carried
on in the other departments, will ensure
them individual affeaion; and the whole
administration that best reward, the esteem
of all honest men, and the approbation of
their consciences.
From the Baltimore American;
. "NEW-PROVIDENCE, MATZ, lßot.
, "Sir,
F" SINCE my disagreeable residence in
this place, I have had the mortification to
fee my countrymen brought here in droves,
whenever the wind favored the making this
den of robbers. f i
J' It would be in va^ forme to attempt
the description of my sensations, when 1
view these harmless, innocent people, con
duced to the den of Helj, there to be judg
ed before the tribunal oHfajuftice. No^ can
I describe how much my humanity was
-wounded, when I reflexed on their fate ;
having left &rae with the view of obtain
ing support for their families, or those im
mediately dependent on their industry, they
1 fetch out cargoes, which, in the itriaeft
I sense, according to dur treaty with Great
Britain, are neutral property ; thus with
consciences divefted™t>f fear, they no sooner
, come off the " Hole in the Wall,?' than one
of those pirates board them, and fend them
into port on the most frivilous pretexts,
more particularly if bound to the Havanna,
Campeachy, Vera Cruz, New-Orleans,
Natches, &c. &c,
“ As soon as they arrive here, if, by the
perjury or by oath of villains suborned for
the purpose, they can make it appear that
any part of the cargo is contraband, they
condemn the whole, instead of taking the
contraband part only, agreeably to our trea
ty with Great Britain. But if they can make
it appear that any part or the whole of the
cargo, is the production or manufa&ure of
the mother country, to whole colony it is
destined ; that part or the whole will be
condemned. And it is a very easy matter
to make it appear either way, as a few men
of their own stamp, or commonly interested
in privateers, ate chosen to decide on all the
cargoes brought in. In order to give such
baseness the colour of honour or honesty,
these arbitrators, three or four in number,
generally choose three or four impartial
men, who are of course overruled, and the
majority remains on their fide ; according
to their decision the judge gives his decree.
“ In order to iuftify their conduct in regard to
taking vessels laden with the produce of the moth
er country, they fay; “If we permit the Ame
ricans to be the carriers of our enemies the Span
iards, and thus allow them to be supplied with
the productions of thh mother country, we shall
never be able to distress them. To what end then
is it to Great Britain, to keep such a formidable
fleet; it is not with the intention of distressing
and compelling our enemy to agree to a speedy
and advantageous peace ? But if we do not pre
vent the neutrals from supplying them with the
necessaries of life, they may deltroy all the plans
of the nation, and enable our enemies to carry on
war to the greatest advantage,"
“ Now does not such pretexts appear very
plausible, Mr. Martin ? Does it not appear as if
these pirates had some jifflice on their fide? I
know you will readily answer, yes—But, sir,
mark the sequel ;—thofe American goods are no
sooner condemned and fold at auction, than they
are immediately shipped on board the Spanish
licensed vessels, for Cuba, or any other Spanish
port ; of such vessels ydiLwill fee more flags fly
ing in this harbour than W,ofe of the British.
"Thus their object is not to distress the Span
iards, but to cripple our trade, and plunder us ot
our property, at the fame time wishing a cloak
for their roguery, which is so barefaced, thattfey
themselves will seldom take notice of our com
plaints, unless pressed too hard to make evasion.
Every article, even the mod flagrant contraband,
are fold to the Spaniards; and if they are not to
be procured, in Providence, they will write for
them to England.
" Only twice, during my long flay here, have
the captors been condemned to pa, the costs. In
these two extraordinary instances every one ap
peared to be astonished.
"All American vessels which are acquitted, ex
cept the two infiances above cited, have to pay
the colt which is considered a great favour, and
happens not often. The loss to such a veflel, a
mounts on an average, at a very low computa
tion to at least 8,000 dollars.—To my certain
knowledge has the Baltimore merchant 101 l 20
per cent, on two cargoes, by their detention,
which, as there is court charges, the average of
3,000 dollars is very moderates Besides call to
your recollection wages ; interest of money ;
loss of market ; fopport of the vessels company ;
expences : what a vessel fuffers by laying so long
idle in port, &c. &c. Add to that the cargo be
ing rumaged by these unprincipled ruffians, which
not unfregueqtly occurs ; one in particular to
my knowledge, under the most aggravating par
ticulars: A (hip from New-York to the Natches,
was brought in here-; the judge acquitted both
vessel and cargo ; and cleared out and on the eve
of failing ; when the captor, effecting not to be,
contented with the decree, went on board the (hip
under pretext to fearcb for contraband, hoifled
all their goods on deck ; when it being a fqoally
day, a heavy shower came on, and all the goods
got damaged— -for this base action the American
could get no redress.
"I have to no purpose used every exertion to
procure a lift of American vessels brought in here
from the beginning to the close of the year 1800.
I at length got one, but very incorrect ;—being
anxious to give their nefarious deeds aS little pub
licity as possible. Even the editors df their news
papers are prohibited from faying any thing con
cerning the proceeding of their court of Ad
miralty.
" However, I was able to afeertain that within
thefe'twelve months 300 vessels have been carried
into New Providence. Now, if one half of those
have been condemned, which is a very low calcu
lation, the other half which I allow to have been
acquitted,.
Colt each 3000 dollars, 450,000
The other half, if they only were
worth 15,000 dollars per vef
fel, amount to 2,250,0000
Dollars, 2,700,000
Deduct of this sum the real con
traband cargoes, or those in-<
eluded were not appealed for, 500,000
The sum then Hands, dollars, 2,200 000
/ “ This, my dear Sir, is the amount of uhich the
citizens of the United States have been robbed by
the free-booters of this infignificant rock, only fit
for the lurking hole of piracy. But if we also
take into opr view ipe amount robbed from us by
Jamaica, Halifax, Bermudas and the other islands,
we have loft during the 14 months from the com
mencement of the year 1800, at lead eight millions
of dollars— and this enormous sum taken from us
by our best friends !! ! This large sum we have
loft on this fide the Atlantic : the other injufiices
which we have fultained, even in England itfelf^
Would confidera tyly augment it. I witty you to
give this publicity, that our fellow-citizens may
rightly underhand their situation. God knows I
would not wish to augment the degradation 0
my brave countrymen ; but it is requisite they'
mould know the truth ; which 1 have given ) ow
as nearly as I could come at it.'
I am, Sir, &c.
To the Editor of the American.
late foreign .InteHigenm
By an arrival at Boflon, bringing London dates to
April 30th.
? LONDON, APRIL 20.
WE have the fatisfadion and happiness to an
nounce, that according to private advices received
this morning froj, Paris. The whole of Egypt is
in our pofleffion.
This account was brought by Major Keir, who
landed at Dover last night from Calais.
By the overland dirpatch which arrived at the
Eaff India House, intelligence was received of
Rear Admiral Blanket's having-failed from Bom
bay on the 28th December with a part df his
Squadron and the troops from Bombay defined
to aft in Egypt. The refl of the force was assem
bled at Trincomalee, under the command of Gen.
Baird, and was expected to fail in January. The
whole it was hoped, would be at Suez before the
end of February.
The arrival of the two Hamburgh Mails yester
day, must be considered matter for great congra
tulation, as the intelligence brought to Govern
ment was highly fatisfaftory. The circnmilance
of the courts of Ber lin and Copenhagen having de
termined to re-open the navigation of the three
Great Rivers which empty themselves into the
Northern Sea, was very julily considered of such
importance, as to be immediately made the fub
jett of a letter from Lord Hawkfbury to the Lord
Mayor.
" DOWNING-STREET— ApriI 2,.
“ MY LORD,
“ I have great fatisfaaion in informing you,
that by letters received this day from Lord Carys
fort and Sir James Crauford; it appears that the
Courts of Berlin and Copenhagen have determined
to re-open the Rivers of the North of Germany,
and that all vessels whatever will be allowed to
navigate those Rivers without moleflation.-
“ I beg your lordship will have the goodness to
make this Intelligence as public as possible in tlie
city.
“ I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) “ HAUKSBURY.
" To the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor."
IMPORTANT TO AMERICA.
Sir William Scott, yeflerday brought forward
a motion, in the House of Commons, for the bet
ter regulation of his Majesty's Prize Courts in the
Weft Indies, &e. which after some considerable
conversation in favor of it, and being seconded by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, was accepted,
and leave given to bring in a bill. Mr. Scott ob
served, that it was of the higbeft importance, to
the interest and charafter of Great Britain,
that some alteration should take place in the
nature of the jurifdiftions, and that instead of
the numerous Courts now existing, there Ihoukl
be but three, one in Jamaica, one in Martinique,
and one at Halifax ; and that the judges instead
of depending on the quantity of bubnefs for their
profits, should be placed, by liberal salaries, to
gether with the registers and other officers, beyond
the reach of corruption. In proof of the iniquit
ous conduct pra&ifed in these islands, it was re
marked, that out of 318 cases, not above 36 had
been confirmed by the court of appeals in England.
Mr. Nicholas suggested the necessity of providing,
that no one who had not taken a degree in our
courts ot civil law, or been admitted to the Bar in
the English courts, should preside in these courts,
• PARIS, APRIL 22.
The new Emperor of Russia, We learn from the
Hague, withes to renew the commercial intercourse
between his Empire and that Republic. His Im
perial Majesty has in consequence, written a letter
which bears this fnperfcription :-='' To the Gov
ernment of the Batavian Republicans."
NASSAU, (N. P.) APRIL 2T.
Arrived late this evening, the private vessel of
War Mary and Susan, Petty, from a cruise, with
an American brig under her convoy, from Cape
Francois, sent in under suspicion of being laden
with French property.
APRIL 25.
On Wedoefday last arrived the privateer Three"
Brothers, Saunders. She has brought in an Ame
rican brig tor adjudication.
•'M<rß.
By some trading vessels that arrived yeflerday
from Cuba, we are informed, that the la Vera
Cruz fleet, said to have ft board 1'7,000,000 of
dollars, has escaped the vigilance of our cruisers,
and arrived fafe in the Havanna. They were con
voyed by two line of battle ships.
The Andromache fell In since (he left Provi
dence with the American frigate ConftellatioA,
with a convoy from St. Domingo. Out of this
convoy she captured a valuable drip called the
Arethufa, which has arrived at Bermuda.
Domeftfc information.
—life #«<*>@fcr—
SAVANNAH, MAY 20.
GEN. BOWI ES.
Extras of d letter from an officer at Fort Wilkin
son, to his friend in this city, dated May Bth, 1801.
" We have alarming news from tffe Seminoles
town : Bowles' revived interell and influence at
this junaure, will certainly fc;ke the authority
of the United States. From the best information
received ,as late as this day, Bowles has received a
cargo of valuable goods fromfome one of the Ja
maica ports—the traders ate flocking to him, and
I fear will become his advocates, as he disposes of
his goods at an extremely low rat,. Leiters trout
Col. Hawkins and Timothy Barnard, fays, " the
mifehief makers are again at work-—a convention
of the .Creek nation will takeplace ox the 13d of
May—we know not the event." \,
"I think from the doubtful Bate of the Colonel v
fon,e ferrous and decilive llroke is in agitation.''
'WEIV-rORK, JUNE 4.
The growing commerce of this State is beyond
all calculation. Our wharves and flips are all
crowded with vessels which have recently arrived,
and which are preparing for sea, with all possible
expedition. During the month of April 33 Ships,
47 brigs, 53 febooners, and 13 (loops, and during
the month of May,43 ships, <0 brigs, 34 fchopners
and 14 Hoops arrived -here from foreign bortQ
m»&g< during two months only, 292 vchels, of
which 81 were Ibips.•