The Republican ledger — Portsmouth, N.H., 1799-11-27 00:00:00, page 2

THAT the human, race would be miserable
without civil government, is the universal fenti
inent of the world. From the necessity of govern
ment the world is divided into societies, Bates,
kingdoms and empires. The imperfections, fol
lies, and vices of man, demand a coercive, civil
jurisprudence- and men muff submit to be govern
ed by men.
As the rulers and ruled, are alike under the in
fluence of their passions, and equally liable to thole
corruptions to which the date of human nature is
defined, there cannot be a perfect government.-—
The fydem may appear under the niafks of the
highest perfection on paper, but as it is to be ad
minidered by these, who partake of the general
frailty of mankind, there is as much necessity to
.guard against the crimes of the officers of it, as
there is to compel the fubjetts to obedience.
No man, however exalted, ought in a free date,
to feel himfelf for one moment, above the reach
of the laws, or. above the dread of public censure.
Every instance, where the character of a man,
however virtuous, and great he may be ; however
his merit may be echoed through the world, is so
hedged in by public reCped, by public opinion, or
an abje&, and obsequious regard to his greatness,
as to render it criminal by the laws, or in the pub
lic eye, to investigate his actions, expose bis errors
or to condemn his follies, he is an established
tyrant. He may indeed, be a good man, a prac
tical patriot, and the fubjefts may feel themselves
fafe and easy under his domination ; nevertheless,
as the public opinion has placed him beyond the
reach of controul, and given him authority over
his fellow men, for the use of which he is not a
menable, he takes his rank with his fellow despots ;
and rivets the fhacklcs by the wisdom and mild
ness of his administration, so that they can never
be broken under the cruelty of a tyrannical fuc
ceHdr. .
The nations which have proper ideas of civil
freedom, have always, whilst they were in the
polfeffion of those ideas, attended to principles,
and not to men. Whether a measure is right or
not, can never depend upon the assent of any one
man, or of any number of men ; it is right or
wrong, from the existing nature of things, and not
from any man's patronage or disapprobation. It
is true, that all men are not equally within the
reach of means, or in the poffeflion of equal pow
ers, and capacities to decide: and thus the opin
ion of great, virtuous, and learned men will have
a proper (hare, of influence. The people, however,
have an indefeafibie right to think for themselves,
to have their own private opinions, and to difeufs
every point in which they have an interefl. It is
true that the authority of government is to decide,
but yet if rhe people have no right to hold, and to
express an opinion, what advantage can they have
from the privilege of frequent elections ? or how
can they determine whether it would be fafe and
proper to continue the fame men in office ?
Every constitution formed by the people of the
American nation, has expressly referred this as an
invaluable, and sacred right of the people, and is
founded upon the idea, that without this privilege
the people cannot be tree—yet for two or three
years pall, the people of America have been as
completely, and iutirely deprived of this impor
tant right, as the vassals of Russia, or the slaves of
"the Ottoman Empire haye been.
We do by no means fugged, that this priva
tion of liberty, has Keen effefted by the national,
or date governments, but by a certain Junto ; a
felfcreated society, who have come into an affocia
tiou, to maintain a fyllem facrificing the confcienc
es,andhone%(in every question) of a minority to
a majority, in order to carry their points.
The usurpation of this party, has been Support
ed by a Strange concurrence of circumstances, in
such a manner, that it has been in vain to attempt
to expose their errors, or to condemn their vices.
Even their private vices, and Scandalous eiiormi
ties have been palliated, and the confeffed infamy
of one of them, has been rendered laudable by the
virulent influence of their public exertions.
To render a further description of this clan un
necessary, and to save the necessity of a circumlo
cution of expression, we call them the Porcupine
Club. They denominate themselves the Illu
minati of America ; others call them the Dis-
ciples of Monarchy.,
Like other despots, and tyrants, they have run
on their careefr^til their pride and insolence,
have at length rendered them odious, and Subvert
ed their powers. They are now far gone ; the;
public eye has seen their wickedness ; and the
public opinion no longer gives countenance to
their usurpation. „ . ,„
We have affirmed the talk, in a few papers, call
ed the Examiner, t. give the origin of this Club,
Sand to describe some of the infinite numberot in
juries, they have done to the freedom of the Ame
.rican nation. . rt T r
When the French nation had caught a spark ot
civil liberty from America, the contemplation of
their own fufferings under the despotism of an he
reditary monarchy, and the cruel ufutpations ora
corrupted church, kindled it into a flame. It is
well known that the English nation interfered
with the internal police of France ; that before the
monarch of that nation was tried or destroyed, a
minister was sent from the Court of London to in
form the convention, that the British monarch had
assumed the character of guardian to the French
King, and Should resent any ill treatment which he
might receive. The war was made on France by
the English nation, in order to prevent a demand
for the redress of their grievances. Every nation,
° who attempted to trade with the French, was con
sidered as hostile to the designs of the Court of
London, and their Ships, were, without diflemin,
tion, captured and condemned, upon the. supposi
tion of their being prize to the English captors.
Jefferfon, Madifon,and others,whofe names bad
' long been enrolled with those of the most virtuous
and illustrious patriots, were for affiiming the only
means of defence that our infant republic was ca
pable of. The proposition then compiled and of
' sered, Was (imply a resolution to withdraw our
commerce from every nation, which, attempted to
deprive us of our privilege of passing on the ocean
—the common highway of all nations. This could
by no means gratify the ambition of the men, who
now have leagued from one end of the nation to
the other, and are now known as the Porcupine
This simple, harmless measure, would i^t
the way for a minister at the court o^Lon
or hive a pretext for other expences and'offi
€es, which are now rendered necessary.
Mr Tay was dispatched under a pretence of de
mandifo recompense for the depredations made
CTeßritiih navy on * T^ ^^
done in Londoti, was nodoubt carreffed and
Drained, whilst the molten^ and fugacious
&the Republican Ledger,
©x damincL So.b
men of that ration were digeflinga treaty fortheir
own advantage. *
When he arrived, and the sum of the treaty was
known, the American nation was Shocked from
one end of the union to the other. Hamilton who
has always been at the head of the club, repaired
to the feat of government. The other friends and
devotees to the British government and nation,
gathered round. The treaty was ratified by a
constitutional majority, who cannot be charged
with afting from bad motives, or under a wrong
influence. One, however, obtained immediately,
an Indian treaty for which he had tried in vain
before. This was the reward of his candor, for
he changed his mind, having before been violently
against the treaty.
This justice went instead of procuring a com
pensation for the captures of our Ships, provided
for an allowance for British and refugee debts, lod
in America by legal impediments. It was no
where explained, what Should be considered as
legal impediments ; but it was easy to foresee that
such a use could be, as has actually been made of
it. The commissioners at Philadelphia allowed a
sum that will pay the yalue of all our captured
property, and leaye a balance of millions due to
the English nation.
When the treaty was fanttioned by the name of
Washington, who was prefled on every Side, it be
came the law of the land, and it was then in vain
to find fault with it. The authority of that name
became a Shield to the Porcupine club, and they at
once deemed it to be treason even to doubt of the
propriety of the measure. The men who had op
posed the ratification of the treaty, whatever
their virtues and patriotism had before been, were
I not to be forgiven, but were to become the fub
fefts of the mod fcurrlous and extravagant abuse.
Here the issue was joined, and here the usurpation
was fixed. The right of opinion on public con
cerns, was snatched from the citizens—the prefles
were engaged, and a strange and unexampled ty
ranny was begun—Not a tyranny by a government
but a tyranny over the public opinion ; fan&ion
ed by the penalties of calumny and Slander, by in
sults and abuse, on all, who would not bend the
neck to every measure, however wrong it might
be, if it was proposed or patronized by the Club.
" Render unto C<efar the things which are Ca
sar's, and unto God the things which are God's."
These are the words of him who Spake as never
man spake. They are replete with useful knowl
edge and at once fettle the question So much dis
puted of late, viz. whether the civil arm has a
right to interfere in matters of religion ? As
we suppose our readers, tho' Republicans, read
their bibles, it is unnecessary to inform them of
the occasion which produced this observation from
the Prince of Peace. The idea held up is plain,
and we may venture to fay, means this—that Re
ligion is one thing, and Politics another—
that the kingdom of the Messiah is Separate and
diltintt from the kingdom of this world—and can
not be conneded—that the former Hands in no
need of the civil arm to protest and defend it—lt
having derived its Source from Him, who has ex
prefsly laid, " My kingdom is not erf this world."
And indeed his whole hiftory does not afford
one infiance, diredly or indirectly, which im
plies the contrary —nor does be once hint that his
followers Should make use of any other weapon
than the sword of truth, and those who advocate
the contrary, cannot be his disciples—they cannot
be the followers of him whose throne is establish
ed in righteoufnels, and whose ultimate object is
Peace on earth — good will to men. But are we to
have no religion ? Certainly,—" render unto God
the things which are God's."
Let any one, painful as the retrospect may be,
take a Short view of the history of the church,
from its firft establishment to the present period,
and calmly and fairly decide the queftion,—Has
the cause of true Religion, in any one instance,
been promoted by the interference^ the civil
arm ? We assert it never has, but dLca the con
trary—lt has introduced, in lieu'of religion, a
bare form —instead of meekness, pride —instead of
charity, a spirit of oppreffion—inltead of mercy,
tyranny —and instead of the sword of truth, the
sword rnilitaire, with the aid ot fire, faggot, and
a spirit of persecution, which would have disgrac
ed demons I—Reader, are the above fads ?—lf
they are, then it is evident, that true religion has
not been much aided by the civil arm.
That religion which is pure, undefiled and Sepa
rate from the world, will prevail, unified by
mortal creatures. He that planted the vine knows
belt how to prote& and cherifli it. It is a Choice
vine, and the fruit which it bears is for the healing
not for the def/rußion of the nations,
Those who advocate religious establishments,
(under whatever form) are shrewdly fufpeded on
having more regard to their own private emolu
ments, than to the growth of that divine principle^
which teaches men to " render unto Carfar thel
things which are Ceefar's, and unto God, the thingl
which are God's." A
To conclude—true religion is opposed to tyr^U
ny ; it having the ultimate happiness of mankifl
in view. It is calculated to make them 1m
py here and happy hereafter—and leads the m
to anticipate that glorious period, when wars
be no more ; when the reign of the Messiah R
commence— „ '
When freedom, peace, and truth and love,■
Shall in tweet concert ever move ;
Diffufing gladneG, thro' the city roam,
To welcome Pilgrims to their wilt'd for home.
* It is said, that when Lord Scone went to read the id that es
tablifhed E,papacy in England, by whatthey call law, (but in
fact it was but the word of their i<fo/, a King ! which robbed God
and his creatures of the liberty of worshipping him as their hearts
lead them) the heavens were as scarlet and wept in a flood., 1 ,
the thunder roared in tremendous' peals, and the forked lightning
flatbed in sheets of fire in his face I
Late European HOPiCT
From Dublin Papers to Sept. 17, received by capt.
Co LE, who arrived at Boston.
Advance of the French in Italy.
f ARMY OF THE ALPS.
ChamPionnet, Commander in Chief, to the Min
iftdat War^.
Head-quarters, at Embrufe, 13th Frac
ti&>r,Aug<3<x,
THE movement just made by the army of the
flips 'in the rallies of Piedmont,to been attended
with success. The right of the army, the advan
ced polls of which had been pushed some days a
go, as far as the Barricades, engaged a great num
ber of Barbets mixed with Austrians and Ruffians
tonboth flanks. Tri the different actions in which
it has been concerned in the rallies of Maire, @1
Oz Republican Lap Preacbet
Mont^etta and the Barricades, it has killed and
wounctad above 4°° °1 the enemy, and is now in
pofieffifo of the barricades and Mantagnetta—
The advanced pofH reach to Demont. The cen
tre, undbr the orders^f Gen. Duhem, advanced
on the zith in three columns. The first command
ed by Cen. Lessuire proceeded to Fenedrelles,
with thtyth demi-brigade, and being reinforced
by 50 iitea or the garrison of that place, com
manded ly the gallant Morel, it attacked the po
sition of Viliaret, which was defended by two re
doubts ana 4000'men. After an obstinate engage
ment of five hours, in which the enemy lost up
wards of 600 men, the position was. carried and
we took 120 prisoners, and two pieces of cannon.
The enemy was pursued to the gates of Pignerol,
and oir troops are polled at Peroufe. The se
cond column, commanded by Adj. Gen. Mulaul,
confiding of two battalions of conscripts, pene
trated by the polts of Exiles and Lallieita, which
were attacked and carried with the ardour of
Frenchmen. The enemy was pursued to Suza,
aad 101 l above 3000 men in killed, among whom
are several officers. The Comandant of Suza, was
killed. The column took above 50 prisoners, and
has posted itfelf before Suza. Our loss in the dif
ferent actions confids of about 100 in wounded,
3 of whom are superior officers, Citizens Touif
faiat and Tarqui, Chiefs of Battalion of the 47th
demi-brigade, and Say Chief of battalion attached
to Gen. Lefluire.
(Signed) CHAMPIONNET.
Defeat of an attempt on Genoa.
Souchet, General of Divijion, and Chief of the
Staff, to the Minister at War..
Head-quarters at Cornigliano, 10 Fruc
, tidur, dug. 27.
The enemy's force, colliding of 4 or 5000 men,
part of whom belonged to the army that besieged
Mantua, made a movement on the eadern Side ot
the river, with a deSign to attack the front of the
division commanded by Gen. Miollis, at Ricco.
Moreau, who had fotefeen their intentions, re
paired thither himfelf. He had already commanded
Gen. Watrin to march thro' Toriglia, to Fontana
Buono, with 1500 men. The attack ot the enemy
was covered by an Englilh frigate which was Ra
tioned near Ricco ; and which, about 8 o'clock
in the morning, began to fire upon that village.
But the arrival of Gen. Watrin defeated the pro
jects of the enemy, and put a flop to all his at
tempts. The next day the enemy was vigorously
attacked in front by Geni^liollis, while Gen. Wat
rin turned him by the nßuntains. Sixty of the
enemy were killed, and 100 taken prisoners, a
mong whom are 30 Coflcks, with their hoffes.
Our loss confdis only in 40 wounded. The Gen
erals were highly pleased with the officers and sol
diers.
(Signed) SUCHET.
1. Os Buonaparte—ogain.
I' CONSTANTINOPLE, JULY 28.
I WE learn that Buonaparte had actually attempt
led his retreat to Suez by Egypt. He found means
I to hire a few Arabs, and to collect some thousand
I difeontented persons, whom lie promised to free
Ifrom the .yoke ot the Ottoman Porte, and put in
I pofeffion of the fertile fliores of the Red Sea
1 It is laid that the Schieks of Arabia having cauf
[ ed n»ft of the fpring%in the defart to be deftroy
[a t[e French General will find it difficult to cross
[ the burning defart ; but it is added, that Bupna-
Iparte having seized three ot the chiefs employed
I on this service, he will succeed in compelling them
to difeover the springs they had destroyed or di
verted. We expe& to hear of the expeditions
projected against Damietta, Alexandria and A
boulir, which are to take place at the fame time.
Sir Sidney Smith has left Cyprus, in order to con
duCTthe operations.- o
\' BOMBAr,3ULr2B.
Litter of the 6th of June from Mocha are re
ceived by a late opportunity, mentioning that they
had no late intelligence from Egypt. • The Centu
rion andAlbatrofs had been off Suez in the begin
hint of May, where by the accounts which reached
them the French had about 800 men, but no craft
excepting a two mailed vessel which was destroy
ed by the Centurion, boats, in spite of the endeav
ours which the French also exerted in a few fmah
boats armed to prevent it. The Centurion arriv
ed bt Mocha from Suez, left from Juddah on the
6th June, arid the Albatross wa§left cruizing oft
Suez. The fquadrqn are well supplied with beet,
mutton, &c. and the natives are to all appearance
well disposed towards the English. Capt Wilson
let off on the sth on an embassy to the imaum of
Shiina. This gentleman is, by all accounts from
that quarter, in high favour with the Govenor and
All the great man of Mocha ; and his hofpitahty
has rendered him very popular with the many vifi
itors of his own nation, whose duty has lately called
them to that place. It was tho;t,ha§ the l^oparQ
would leave the Red Sea in August, and proceed
The papers contain an official account from the
French Gen. of Division Lecourbe, to Gen. Maf
fena, dated at Altorf, Aug. 17, of various actions
he had with the enemy on the 14th, 15th and 16th
of Aug. They were obstinate and bloody ; but
the French appear to have gained feme donlidera
ble advantages ; and obtained pofleffion of Grim
fel, Furca, the sources of the Rhone, Gothard, the
heights ,f Oberald, the valley of Urferen, and the
canton of Schwitz. They fay, the enemy loft in
these three days of fighting, 3500 men and 50 offi
cers, who were taken prisoners; 14 or 1500 kil
led or wounded, and 10 pieces of cannon. The
French acknowledge the loss of but 2 or 350 kil
led or wounded. The detail of these actions is
very prolix.
Massena, Commander in Chief, to the Executive
Directory.
Head-quarters, Linzbourg, 15 Frac-
tidor,Sept. i.
Citizen Directors— Geos. Soult and Melitor in
form me of the attacks which they made on the
3oth of August; the tirft upon Ufnack, and the
second upon Claris ; and the result ofthele addons
is 300 prisoners. On the tide of.Uluack a cannon
ade took place, which lailed the whot day. Gen.
Melitor was obliged to make himtelf matter of
some formidable portions at the point of the bay
onet.
VIENNA, AUG. 31
A secret expedition is preparing inSwitzerland,
in which will be employed 15000 Ruffians and
8000 Auftri^ns. A,sufficient force has been sent
against the Trench in the Cantons of Uri and
Schwitz, to flop them there [the part in which
Lecourbe has been active.] The in habitants are ex
pected to rife in 4 mass mould the French attempt
to advance from their petitions. ::
Battles in Switzerland.
(Signed)
MASSENA.
to this place for repair. The Eliza of this port
arrived at Juddah on the 19th May.
The fleets at Breit are provisioned for 3 months.
Helle CaTlell, of the German Empire, has deter
mined on neutrality in the Prelent war.
L'Ami de Loix (Paris Paper) of Sept. 3, Rates,
that Letters from Switzerland were recened, with
news, that the armies in that cou^ y were engag
ed, and that victory appeared inclined to favor the
Frenclj,„.
A third division of the expedition defined for
Holland, was said to be preparing to fail for Hol
land, with troops to be commanded by his Royal
Highness the duke of Cumberland.
The surrender of Napper Tandy by the Govern
ment of Hamburg, as dated some time ago in the
Times, and other prints, is now positively contra
dicted by fume of the London papers.
The commission which have been sent to Alk
maar, to confider of the belt means of Rrengtheu
ing the Republic, and maintaining the public con
fidence, returned the day before yeflcrday, and
has given government full alfurance that the gen
eral lituation of affairs is as favourable as poffiole ;
that the French and Batavian reinforcements, and
likesife the national guards, were collected to
gether ; that the whole army was filled with zeal
for the republic; that General Brune had adopted
the molt effectual measures far defeating the ene
my ; and that the news of the surrender of the
Batavian fleet, and of the treachery and insurrec
tion which took place on that occalion, so far from
operating unfavourable on the roinds of our sol
diers, has filled them with the utmoß indignation,
and determined them 10 make good by land the
losses we have Buffered by sea. A formal contra
diction has been given to a-report which had gone
abroad, that the object of this commission was to
confer with General Don and the other Englilh of
ficers. who hod arrived at the pead-quarters on
Monday lad ; and the Haarlem Gazette has been
reprimanded for having Rated that conferences
had taken place between them and the commission.
It is however known to a certainty, that these En
glish officers dined at the head-quartets or Gen
eral Brune ; and that on the 4th, after an order
had arrived from the Englifir 'advanced guard.
Our army, in consequence of the" reinforcements
it nas received, amounts to the number of 30,000,
without mentioning the reserves at Amderdam,
Haarlem, and Ley den.
A letter from Ratilbon, dated Augufl 19, fays,
“ Proposals are said to have been made to France
by a certain Court for the relloration, of the an
cient frontiers, without any interference with the
internal concerns and government of France."
It is an admitted principle in the law of nations
that a belligerent power has a right to search neu
tral fllips, but it is never understood to be implied
when they are under convoy of the flag of a na
tion, that they are liable to a search. The equip
ment of American fhiprof force alarmed Great-
Britain. The tardiness of Sweden in co-operating
with the despotic powers—The examples which
Britain had already given of unlawful depredation,
in the seizure ofoar ships under, and without con
voy; rendered it effcntial to the policy of Britain
that the should bend the law of nations to her
views; this has been done in the decision alluded
to. The order of the Britilh court has followed,
and .consequently the seizure of ships under con
voy of the Baltimore, captain Murray, and the
Wafhmgtox, captain Fletcher and others, will be
covered and authorized by this outrageous deci
tion of a corrupt court.y
In the spirit of the decision in the Britilh admi
ralty court, the recent order of the Britilh privy .
council has been issued. The Swedish frigate ac
cording to the law of nations, was inllruCTed to
repel any attempt of the cruisers of any nation
whatever to search (hips under his convoy. The
Swedish fleet was bound for a neutral port, ^
Britilh fleet of ships of the line flopped and fazed
the whole. On the trial the circtiniftance of „-
Jiftance on the part of the Swedish captain, agree
able to his order&and the laws of nations was %<
of the grounds ffir condemnation.
All the hopes of drawing the King of Prollia in
to the war are entirely vanished. This Prince has
confirmed his neutrality, and has made a formal
declaration ot such his intentions to Count Panin,
the Ruffian Ambassador. This Minifler was at the
waters ofCarllhad, in Bohemia ; a meflage from
the.Pruffian Cabinet caused his return to Berlin,
where, to his great surprise, this invariable refuta
tion of his Majelly was notified to the Count. He
immediately took his audience of leave, and ex
prefled his fears of the manner in which his Sov
ereign would confider this determination. Should
it unhappily produce any threats or hostile dispo
sitions on the part of Russia, the evil will be much
aggravated, as it muff draw Prussia into an alli
ance with the French ; alfthe powers who pre
tend to preserve their neutrality, will follow the
fame impuife. St. James's Chronicle.
A morning paper of Thursday contains the fol
lowing paragraph :—" Yeflerday a packet was
received at the Admiralty, of the contents of which
we are wholly ignorant. Ot the peculiar circum
tlances of the conveyance of it, we may speak
without hesitation. About 1 o'clock on the morn
ing of Tuesday, a vessel was met at sea by a final!
boat, which put this packet aboard it with a let
ter addrefled—." To any commanding officer in
his Majelty's lervice," It was requested that the
packet might be immediately forwarded to the
Admiralty, as it contained intelligence of the Ligh
elt importance to our government. The mailer
of this veflel soon after met aKing's cutter, by
which the bag was forwarded to government.
The matter was told that circumstances of high
importance had taken place at Paris, the particu
lars of which were contained in the packet.
> PHILADELPHIA, NOV. I}'
It was reported this morning, that the U. S brig
Pickering, of 16 guns, Capt. Hayward, had cap
tured in the Weft-Indies, a French fllip 0f22 guns,
after a severe action. The ship, it was further
said, had been manned and fitted for the express
purpose of capturing the Pickering.
We believe this report is entitled to no credit,
as no such account has been received at the office
of the Secretary of the Navy. Capt. Tinge,, of
the-Ganges, -however, informs that the Picketing
had captured a French letter of marque, of 6 guns,
with a cargo valued at 100,000 dollars.
Domestic Intelligence,
PENNSYLVANIA.
'DUBLIN, SEPT. 17-
LONDON, SEPT. 10.
HAGUE, SEPT. 7.
SEPT. 13 —20.