The Republican ledger — Portsmouth, N.H., 1801-02-03 00:00:00, page 3

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0e Republican Ledger,
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, . Portsmouth, February 3, 1800.
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Fbr the REPUBLICAN LEDGER.
ASTOCKHOLDER
,/IN THE LATE
NEW-HAMPSHIRE UNION BANK,
TO HIS
FELLOE CITIZENS.
A LAW so subversive of the natural and es
sential rights of a free people as that for reJirain
ing unincorporated banking associations in New-
Hampj'hire, it is believed, could not have receiv
-1 . ed the fanctionpf the Legislature notwithttanding
the amazing influence of party Jpi?it and the ex
ertions of individuals who from a peculiar coin
cidence of events had suddenly become influential
and whole interest as Stockholders ib the bank al
ready incorporated couftancly urged to the molt
energetic measures, had not the way been hi feme
degree previously prepared by the government of
Massachusetts, whole Legislative example it has
been the general practice of New-Hampdiire to
imitate.
Banks in Mafichufetts had become numerous,
fix were incorporated, employing together a cap
itol of about three millions of dollars, the flock
holders must therefore be many, wealthy and in
fluential : Aristocracy had arrived to an alarm
ing height; the Eflex Junto, whose intrigues at
that time were but little known, in a gre t mea
sure, governed the counsels of that State ; a prin,
cipal member of that noted club was particular
ly interefled to bring forward and support such
an aft ; many members in both branches of the
legislature were largely interefled in banks alre -
d, incorporated, and the afting governor at that
time was not only a flockholder but prefirtent of
one of those banks : From fi+ch a concurrence of
powerful causes was produced a law, the firft of
the kind that America ever knew ; which in the
opinion of the difinterefled and judicious of that
. Rate is considered arbitrary, oppressive and un
constitutional, although far 4efs exceptionable
than that of New. Hampshire to which it gave
rife; it does not declare an institution unlawful
againSt which no law had ever been made, it did
not change the obligation of contrails made before
the law was ever thought of, nor was it fuffered
to injure any bank that had before been establish
• ed. The Gloucelter bank (which like the N. H.
Union Bank) was in operation before the retrain
ing aft was passed, without any difficulty obtain
ed an incorpora ti<„ before the law took effeft ;
even the Newburyport Bank, the plan of which
was but in embryo, was not permitted to be def.
troyed : their petition for incorporation not be
ing granted, a committee was appointed by the
Legislature to devise some mode of relief for the
Stockholders (although the Bank was not estab
lished when the prohibitory law was made) which
Was brought about by an union of the flocks of
both banks in that town; so fearful were the
Stockholders of the Merrimack Bank that the new
law would not Stand the test of the Constitution,
that they readily contented to the measure, rather
than hazard the decilion ofa judicial court, which
might have rendered the law a nulliry and have ,
brought the Legislature into disgrace
If such a law, circumstanced as Massachusetts
then was in regard to banks taken in connection
with the subsequent proceedings of the govern
ment in guarding against its deleterious effea#,
be a fubjeft of great and just complaint, in that
state, who can read without astonishment the
hiftory of rhe memorable session of the General
Court of New Hampshire in the winter of 1799,
and the latter proceedings of the Le giflature on
%he fubjedt?
The N. H. Union Bank, as has been already
Stated, was instituted at' great expense 'feverel
months before any law was made against it, and
as early as October loans were made and bills is
sued to a large amount :=the petition of the
flockholders in December following for an att of
incorporation was not granted ; a law calculated
• for the special purpose of destroying it was pass
ed ; fubfeqtient petitions for relief were rejected,
and even the consideration of the propriety of fill
pending the aft for a Short period Was pointedly
refafed by THE SENATE!
, The State of Massachusetts exceeds N. Hamp-:
Shire in population in the ratio of about three and
a quarter to one-eight banks therefore of One,
hundred thousand dollars each, would not exceed
its proportion compared with the capital which
experience had shewn, might be profitably em
ployed in the former date. One bank only was
incorporated in N. H. whose capital Stock a
mdunted to the infignificant sum of eighty thou
faud dollars. An only bank in the date with so ;
paltry a capital under the mod liberal manage-,
ment could never have supplied the demands of
those for whose interest it would be to borrow,
and who could procure the best fecurity—of this
truth every unprejudiced mind, in any degree ac
quainted with the business of Portsmouth, mult be
fatistied ; what then would be its infufficiency con.
ducted on Controlled and partial principles ?
It is a matter of general notoriety that notwith
flanding the support afforded by the New-Hamo-
Ihire Bank, money was constantly loaned in its Vi
cinity by individuals at the exorbitant interest of
25 to 50 per cent, per annum,and by men too who
were constantly borrowers of large sums from the
bank (for which they probably had no other use
than to loan again gt such an extravagant premi
um ; while merchants and other men of business
who had need of occasional sums for carrying on
their commercial affairs and who were able to
procure security which would be no where else
-refufed could not 'be accommodated, but were
driven to banks of another state, at great expepce
and inconvenience, for loans, which if the capital
had been fufficient, and the managers disposed,
might have been procured in their own.
Ofthefe things the Stockholders of |he N. H.
Bank could not be ignorant, they however saw
fit by their agents to declare in their memorial to
the legislature that their capital was fully adequate
to Supply the demand for active capital, which in
course of bufmejs of this kind could, with pro
<trietv be made upon any bank, and %that the
Lent of business ofthis kind and the capital necef
*~ fary and adequate to a juftfappy vas better known
to themfebes than to others ! and to ell,ldh ,
, these affections declared themselves « interested tn
'affording all that supply ^accommodation of
which such . inflitutions were fifepttbie because on
this their profits depend.”.. How plauhble the pre-
tence and yet how fallacious ! they were indeed I
interested in loaning to as large an amount as their 1
small Capital would permit but not to enlarge that I
capital, for in doing this, the glares of the origi
nal proprietors mult be enlarged or new proprie
tors be admitted, in the former case more money
muft.be departed by the tirll proprietors in order
to hold their original proportion (which very
probably would be inconvenient to a major part)
- —it new proprietors were admitted the power of
the former, to mana,as they might think proper,
would be lessened—-and if enlarged in either way,
and however ueceffary for the convenience of the
public, it is probable that at certain times there
might not be a full demand for all that might be
iflued under the incr'eafed capital unless by accom
modating tlrofe, who from political prejudices,
or other considerations, they might not with to
gratify, and so rhe profits on a given funi in the
larger,might not be so great ason the fame sum in
a Imaller Uock ; felf-intereft, therefore, and third
for power so natural to man, will ever induce the
proprietor's of the N. H. Bank to continue their
capital as small as possible, confident with their
plan offecuring the alii Stance of influential charac
ters, by occasional grants of (hares, while they en
joy the exclusive privilege of the banking business ,
in this State, and until those passions cease to influ
ence the minds of men, every degree of opposition
to the incorporation of another bank may be ex
petted from them, however unreasonable .and in
compatible with the public good it may appear to
others. We look to our fellow citizens for juf
tice, and from you it can be expected in no other
way than by a careful and conscientious exercise
of the invaluable privilege secured by the Consti
tution, of appointing your own rulers. If the law
complained of be in your opinion unconstitution
al and oppressive, withhold your fuffrages from
those who have been influential in its adoption, if
in your opinion any description of citizens have
been unreasonably and unjnftlyopprefled, confider
that if you are not immediately affected by their
(offerings, yet that the fame spirit by which their
persecution was dilated, if passed by unnoticed,
may 011 force future occasion, deprive you of some
of your dearcfl rights—be convinced that to re
tain men long in office is dangerous to any free
government, th y acquire a supposed right from
repeated appointments, and aretoo often fuccefs
tul in gaining over their constituents to such an
opinion ; examine into the qualifications of men,
and fee if the opinions you have formed be just,
and it in any instance you have been deceived, be
cautious in future—ever realize that the Peps to
arbitrary power are gradual and concealed, that
its advocates are fubtil and persevering, that they
. are generally men of extensive property them
selves, or tools to such as have and are able by
bribery and corruption to accpmplifli that which
cannot be supported by reason pr gained by force
. —fix your eyes on men of integrity and discern
ment, on men who can have no sinister views, no
interests to serve, incompatible with the public
good. We live under constitutions of govern
ment, wifely calculated to render its fubjetts
prosperous and happy, and it depends on ontfelves
whether we will Suffer them to be violated or be
handed down in purity to the next generation.
[To be continued.]
-<-<^>
EXTRACT.
In a late debate in Congress on the fub
je& of increasing the salaries of the Diftri&
Judges to two thousand dollars a year—a new
England member observed, that "in his part
of the country, a lesser compensation to men
qualified to decide those great and intricate
questions, which often came before them,
would be deemed a Jhamefulparfmony," and
yet the salary of the Diftria Judge of Mas
sachusetts, has never exceeded 1200 dollars,
that of Vermont 800 dols.—New-Hamp
(hire and Maine, 1000 dols.—and the offices
have been coveted and filled by men of the
firft profeffional eminence in these several
dißrias—How does this praaice correspond
with this gentleman's observation, that less
than two thousand dollars, for a Diftria
Judge, would'in New-England, be deemed a
jhameful patrimony — And yet we fee the N.
England members voting for this enormous
increase of salaries, as piously, as if they re
ally believed, a Diftria Judge could not be
procured in New-England under an annual
salary of two thousand dollars—What sala
ries have the supreme Judges of Massachu
setts ? What in New-Hampshire ? where
they are laboriously occupied, for fix or eight
months in every year —-No wonder the peo
ple complain of taxes, when their Repre
sentatives scatter their money with such
(hamdefs profufion. How many clergy
men are there in New-England, that receive
for their unceasing labors, more than three
hundred dollars a year ? It is generally sup
posed that the average amount of minifters'
salaries in New-England, does not exceed
two hundred and fifty dollars—and yet no
order of men in society, are found more dil
igent and faithful in the constant difeharge
of their important duties, than the New-
England Clergy—And no country perhaps
is so much distinguished, for men of learn
ing and piety in that profeffion—and yet a
member of Congress from New-England,
observes, that a smaller compensation for a
Diftria Judge, than two thousand dollars,
would in his part of the country, be deem
ed a Ihameful parsimony—Ye Farmers,who
obtain your dollars by the sweat of your
brow ! what think ye of this ?
4LBJNY,3 AN. 20.
We announce with regreat, that on Sat
urday last, the Chocolate, Starch, Hair-
Powder, Mustard, Snuff and Tobacco Man
ufaaories, belonging to Messrs. Caldwell,
Frazer & Co. and equated in the vicinity of
this city, were entirely destroyed by Fire.'
It is scarcely neceflary to mention that no
exertions were wanting on the part of the
police of this city, the fire-companies and
citizens in general to save from deftruaion
,anufaauries Io extensive, so valuable, and
of so much public utility—and which, our
I readers will recollect, were several years
since destroyed by the fame element, and
were re-built at avast expence by Mr.
Caldwell—to whose enterprising spirit the
community were indebted for their firft e
ftabliihment.
TREASURY 'DEPARTMENT
BURNT.
/ Extras of a letter from a gentleman at Washing
ton, dated 20th fan. 1801.
I have jultnow returned from the feene so hor
rible and distressing—Last night about 8 o'clock
in the evening I wascalled on by a gentleman,
who informed me that the Treasury Department
Mas on fire. I immediately ran out and saw the
blaze gushing tiwough the window casements,
which toon communicated to the rooms above.
My firft object was to secure the public accounts
of the Revenue, in which I facceeded tolerably
well, by throwing them into the Greet out of the
window, 1 cleared the room in a hurry, with the
affillance of two gentlemen who had by this time
come up to me, but I am apprehensive a number
ofthe papers will be loft. Report Books, and
other Official Documents, which were in Mr. Far
rell's room, were entirely consumed, as well as
those in the Auditor's Room which was adjacent
thereto—l mutt fay I never saw the people exert
themselves more at any fire, than they did on this
occasion, which saved the building —there are fix
rooms on the east end, rendered entirely useless
until repaired."
\The above is confirmed by various accounts.]
Under the fame roof at Washington were the
following offices—thofe of
The Secretary of State,
Secretary of the Treasury, ,
Treasurer of the United States.
Auditor of the Treasury,
And Commiflibner of the Revenue.
There are flrong rooms fire prooftor the preser
vation of the principal books, but it appears the
books, &c. were not in the rooms intended for
their preservation! [Aurora.
The British adjudicated more than five millions
of American property, previous to the ratification
of their treaty, which profeffed to hold out an
indemnification, but which has not, and probably
never will be realized to the fuffcrers, excepting
they should be paid by our own government. The
Bricifh captures of American property, since this
treaty was accepted, and which fume vainly ima
gined would secure us from future harm,amounts
to at least ten millions more ! If it flopped here
our merchants might possibly be silent, but we
may expert a continuation of the tender and par
ental friendfhips of this “ Otteen of ijies."
Regifer.
Among the infant navy of the United States, it
is said the frigates United States, Constellation,
the John Adams, and the Congress, have already
underwent expensive repairs. The Montezuma
declared unfit for sea ; the Insurgent and Picker
ing miffing ; the George Wafhingtou, the sloops
Experiment, Petapfco, and Merimack, engaged in
the service of other nations.
-tufc-fr
From SPAIN.
The plague is committing dreadful ravages. In
Andalusia 11,000 have died. Io Seville 21,000.
In Xeres from 160 to 2oodie per day. The utmost
consternation prevails. It is approaching the bor
ders of Portugal, and is supposed to sweep off one
sixth of the population of the places through
which it paffrs. But a small proportion of wo
men die. This disorder begins with violent
pains in the limbs and head ache, a llrong fever,
and reaches its paroxifm by the 4th day. Many
die with the black vomit, and their bodies turn
yellow. v
DaW marine Lift
fan. 27, failed,fch. Diana, Blunt, Weft-Indies.'
31, do. barque Resolution, Laing, Philadelph.
do. do. brig Rifog Sun, Noble, Weft Indies,
do. do. sch. Success, Rindge, Demerara.
do. do brig Hiram, Amerzeen, Wefl-Indies.
Feb. I, do.Jloop Amity, Woodward, do.
Jan. 28, arrived, brig Washington, Ricker. Surri
nam, via Boflon.
MARRIED] —AtKittery, Mr. Isaac Martin of
this town, to Miss Elizabeth Rogers, of Kittery ;
fohn Clark of Saco, to Miss Polly Cutts of Kittery.\
In this town, Mr. Nathaniel Drijeol, to Mrs.
Abigail Randel. 4
DIED] —ln this town Capt fames Miller aged
82— Mrs. Sarah Parker aged 60, wife of Mr.
William Parker—Mr. Robert Neal aged 75 —Mrs.
Alice Yeaton aged, 36, wife of Mr. Robert Yeaton.
. CHEAP STORE.
Just received, and for fah by
TIMOTHY WINN,
Buck-freed,
A general aflortment of
GOODS
suitable for the fea/on, viz.
Broad and sorest Cloths, Ker
fymeres. Coatings, Duffin, Baizes, Flan
nels, Swanfdowns, Swanikins, Camel s hair
Shawls of various kinds.
Satins,, Luteftrings, Modes, Cali
coes, Chintzes, Furniture Chintzes, Cal
amancoes, Durants, Tammies, Moreens.
A large variety of
Mullins, Cotton Cambricks, Muf
linets, Dimities, Wildbores, Cambists, Lin
ens, Holland, Cottons, Shawls, Handker
chiefs, —Colton, worked and silk Hosiery ;
long & Ihort Kid Gloves, silk ditto ; Laces,
Edgings, Ribbons, &c. &c. &c. •,
—ALSO—
Hyfon, Souchong & Bohea Teas,
Poland Starch, a few dozen English Muf
tard —with many other articles too tedious
to mention, all which will be fold whole
falq and retail. >,
Portsmouth, Feb. a, ißub
TO-MORROW;
At 10 o'clock A. M. will be fold, at
Abraham Isaac's Auction-Room,
40 Gola, Silver and Gilt
WATCHES,
of various kinds, which are a conli^ument,
and must positively be fold, without any re
ferve.Feb. 1.
PUBLIC VENDUE.
TO BE SOLD,
Air public vendue:
At Abr'm Isaac's Auction-Room,
On Thursday the 12th February, 1801,
At ten o'clock, A M.
The Household Furnitue,
late the property Q the Rev.Jofeph Adams,
deceased, confiding of Feather Beds, Tables
& Chairs of various kinds ; Cases of draw
ers ; a Clock ; one Desk ; one very valuable
Jack ; Pewter ; with a variety of kitchen
Furniture ; also, a number of Volumes on.
Divinity and various other fubjeds.
—Likewife —.
One very serviceable Mare with Fold,
and a likely Colt of the last season.
H^R D-WARE
GO _O_ D S -
H^ B. PENHALLOW,
Have Imported in tbefbips Sally, and Penus,
from Liverpool, and the Harriot, from
Brifol,
a large and general assortment of
HARD-WARE GOODS,
Among which are a great variety of
Cutlery, Ironmongery, Ship-\
Chandlery, Sadlery, Cabinet & Biafs Foua
dery Wares.
—ALSO—
-4 Casks Brass Kettles^ 2 Calks Flat-Irons.
14 Bundles Frying Pans.f 2 C<fks Rotton Stone.
12 bundles Shovels andJ 2 Calks Pumife Stone.
Spades. * 1 Calk Black Lead.
12 bundles of Plate Iron./: 6 Rolls Sheat Lead.
20 calks Sheathing and* 2 Calks Bar Lead.
Deck Nails.! 10 calks Brads & Tacks
.5 Calks Pewter.
—-Likewife —
Anvils, Vices, English Pots and
Kettles, Iron Dogs, Sleigh-Bells, 6by 8, 7by 9,
and 8 by 10 Crown Window Glass, belt German
Mill Saws, &c. &c. &c.
All which will be fold by wholefate and retail,
on the belt terms for calh.
CT CaJh and the highest price uill be
given for OLD COPPER and RA'S.
Portsmouth, Jan. 30, ißoi.
FOR SALE BY
MARTIN PARRY,
No. 8, Portsmouth Pier,
Liverpool SALT.
Fine blown ditto.
Turk's Island ditto.
Loaf Sugar, India do.
Bohea, fouchoAg & hyfon Teas.
Twine, Sail Cloth, Cordage, &c.
Portsmouth, Feb. 2, 1801.
THE fubferiber begs leave to in
form the Public, and his Friends in
particular, that he has opened a
COMMISSION STORE,
In No. 17, Market-free!, P,rtfmouth,-
Where he will receive Merchandize
for sale, or tranfad tany other busi
ness on Commission.
He likewise has a Licence as an
AUCTIONEER;
And will receive property of any kind, for
Public Sale, and promises those gentlemen
who may be pleased to favor him with their
commands, that his belt endeavors shall not
be wanting to compleat the fame with fi
delity and dispatch, and every favor will be
duly attended, by the Public's obedient fer
vent,
Alexander Ewen.
Portsmouth, Feb. 2, 1801.
LOST, =
A Pofl-Note of the United States of
Three Thousand Dollars ;
AND having apprized all the banks in
the United States of the marks of the said
bill, it can be of no real use to any but the
owner : but as he feels an inconvenience
from the want of it, he will pay any person
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS
that has been so fortunate as to find it, and
will deliver the fame to
JOHN TAYLOR. •
Richmond, l r a. Dec. 21, 1800. -
N. B. The printers of the United States
are requested so publith the above advertife
ment,in their refpe&ive papers three times,
and forward their accounts to Mr. Augul
tine Davis, Postmaster, Richmond, Virginia,
for payment.