Republican ledger, and Portsmouth price current — Portsmouth, N.H., 1801-12-15 00:00:00, page 2

he" would not be a ruler, or a judge: and
that he commanded his disciples, when he
sent them out to be so intirely devoted to
the ministry of the gospel, as not to receive
or return a salute to any man. But I re
turn to this man Morse.
“ The clergy who are numerous, and as
“ a body very refpeaable". What is there
in the laws of Connecticut, or in their form
of government, that gives these men the ti
tle of a body, or renders them a corporation ?
From whence arises their claim to a con
, lociation, or a diltina Landing from their
, fellow citizens ? If the answer is, that they
, are separated to the work of the ministry,
then I ask, why do they come forward in
secular concerns ? But the learned Geo
grapher goes on, and fays " they have hith
" erto, preserved a balance in the very a'e
" macratic goverment ofthat Hate". The lan
guage here is, that the ele&ive government
of Conneaicut, is so much of a democracy,
that it cannot subsist without some external,
or extrinsic power, exiting, independent of
the people to preserve it from being over
turned. That is, that the government is
in fa& a bad one, and has been held togeth
er, only by the illegal usurpation of an ec
clefiaftical body. If he uses the word de
mocratic, adje&ively, as no doubt he does,
he does not call Conneaicut a democracy,
that is a government of all the people im
mediately, but he may pretend to mean,
that it verges much towards such a form of
government, if there is any form to a de
mocracy.
But what will the Do&or do with the
other limb of his sentence? " which has
" happily operated as a check upon the o
" verbearing spirit of republicanism."
This is a charge, not against the form of
the government of Connecticut alone ; but
it is an arrangement of the principles of the
American revolution, and of those of every
government in the whole nation, If_the
Spirit of republicanism is an overbearing spi
rit, if there is a necessity to have a body of
men, without the lines of the constitution,
an ariflocratieal body to check and balance
this spirit, then all our governments are es
sentially wrong : and those men, who have
been attempting to change, alter, overturn,
and consolidate them, are right. The. pow
er denominated an aristocracy has no other
meaning, than that of a government of the
better fort ; not the! better fort from wisdom
and morals, but from rank, birth and opu
lence. The clergy may be an aristocracy,
a numerous body of men, very refpe&able,
and clearly of the better fort in the opinion
of Doctor Morse, but as men in the affairs
of government, they have never yet obtain
ed a corifiderable influence, or authority' in
any country, where they have not proceed
ed to perfections, 'and afyftem of tyranny.
They are men, many of them, sequestered
from the world : bigoted to their own o
pinions, easily irritated, very ^unforgiving,
and quite impatient of contradiction.
The clergy of Connecticut arc a body
refteaabie, and powerful enough to coun
terbalance the overbearings of democracy,
and republicanism.—What other defetip
tion is neceflary to the bench of bi(hops' in
England ? they hold a feat as a part of [the
aristocracy of the government in the h@fe
of lords, and there, check and balance Hhe
wildness of the democracy, and the over
bearing spirit of republican leprefentattyes
elected by the people.
This sermon, and the geograpical fehti
ment, has seemed to raise a Standard for
rallying a number of weak, young and ig
norant men, who have crawled into the
desk, and are morose and impatient at their
own situations. These men have come
forward, with a degree of acrimony and a
bute, which would have been intolerable a
where but in the pulpit. Their abuse
against Jefferfon has been incessant ; mere
ly because he is content with the confthu
lion his fellow citizens have framed Their
malice against Adams has beeu insatiable,
because he dared not involve his country in
the honors of war,.They have enrolled
themselves with a man, whose impiety is
It may, perhaps, be said that this repre
sentation is unfriendly to religion. But re
ligion never fuffers by the truth. 1 here
are many valuable ministers of the gospel,
who are not guilty of those errors, and fol
lics ; let those who find the coat to suit
them, wear it with shame, until, by a due
repentance, and prudent mode of condua,
they (hall eftablilh chara&ers suited to the
holy functions of their office. Until they
shall learn from the divine author of chrif
tianity, that the kingdom, in the service of
which they have separated themselves is not
of this world. Let 'them remember, that
Public devotion, appeared as eulogies in fa-
V or of those whom this party held as candi
dates for elections : and the holy rites of de
votion, were profaned by calumny and dan
der, against others. The week was em
ployed in the founds of Jacobins, democrats,
and other irritating expressions against some
of the people of their charge, and on Sun
day, they would urge them to love union,
and concord.
ALTHOUGH the British fadion in this
country exclaim against the observations on
the British Treaty (as being unnecessary
since its adoption) yet the baneful tendency
of its operation ought ever to be held up
with detestation and abhorrence. This in
strument has been.the most fatal engine to
destroy every benefit, contemplated on the
success of our Revolution. We flattered
ourselves on the declaration of our Indepen
dence, that our Commerce would; not there
after be controled by Britain ; we then de
nied their right to lay even a three-penny
duty on tea, and yet, within a few years af
ter have concluded a Treaty Subjecting our
whole commercial property to their arbitra
ry decisions. We are, if possible, in a worse
situation now (as it relates to their marine
mandates) than when we were colonies—we
then fought for our Commercial Rights, &
in alliance with France, obtained them ; but
we have since surrendered the principal part
of them, through the medium of an impoli
tic negociation. When we were Colonies,
we could obtain more justice in their judici
ary Courts, than we can at present ; our
Colony agents formerly had more efficacy in
their applications, than our independent
Ministers ; & there was more refped paid to
our " humble petitions," than is to our free,
sovereign remonstrances. Since the treaty
was signed, every insult has been offered to
our Flag ; our demands for property have
been disregarded, and we are bound hand &
foot from using those means, which (if pro
secuted with <vigor) would oblige that na
tion to recede from its impositions.
To fay that we ought now to let the trea
ty dumber in Silence,,or that it is an old do
ry, and therefore it is bed to drop it, are
Sentiments which may be peculiarly pleas
ing to the feelings of its authors and pro
moters, but " the people" of the U. States,
who will have to pay millions to cancel
Britilh demands, Should keep it in remem
brance, while the “ tablet of their memory"
can retain an impreflion, or their minds are
susceptible of indignation. It is so involv
ed in our political and commercial concerns
that its mifehievous properties will enfeeble,
for agesto come, the energy and vigour of
our government. It palsies our exertions,
and like a poisonous ingredient, contami
nates the vital principles of our political &
commercial existence. .
To fay that we ought to forget it, is to
fay, that we ought to forget the fall of our .
firft parents ; for if it is not original fin, it
is actual transgression. In apolitical Sense,
it is the curse inflicted, which entails misery
on the present and future generations—who.
the Tempter was, we cannot absolutely de
termine ; whether he crouched like a ser
pent, or flood ereCt in a more commanding
attitude, are circumstances not yet revealed ;
whether he tempted with a golden apple or
betrayed with a kiss, are questions not yet
ascertained.
It is worthy of observation, that two of
the greatest revolutionary characters io the
proverbial, whose morals are scandalous,
and who if you allow him credit, as his
own biographer, and believe, what he fays
of himfelf, considers the grossest immorali
ties, as mere matters of course. This man,
they claim as the successor of a Washington,
hoping, by the edge of bis sword, to ex
tirpate the ui/dnejs of democracy, and the o
verbearing fpiril of republicanism.
There will be a cry, on the appearance
of this paper, that the children of democra
cy are attempting to overturn the chriflian
religion, by the deftruaion of its ministers ;
but this is going too far. There are but a
very few men of that charaaer, who have
been in fad, in this conspiracy : but these
have deceived and lead many of their breth
ren astray. They have enlisted themselves
under the banner of a party, boftile to eve
ry principle of a republican government ;
and by their falfe clamours in regard to the
illuminati, prevailing heresy, Godwin, Paine,
and others, whose writings would never
have obtained notice here, had it not been
for their hypocritical noise, they have a
roused their honest brethren to a mistaken
zeal for religion. Their falfehoods and
folly, have engaged them in a most malig
nant manner, against Mr. Jefferfon,'and
they are, a few of them, by influencing, the
Palladium of Boston, and other papers,
which treat the principles of national gov
ernment with contempt, and ridicule, en
deavoring to abhrud, and embarrals his ad
ministration. But the plucking up of these
deftruaive weeds, will leave the true stalks
in a fair and thrifty condition. Nothing
can be done by human (kill, more favorable
to chriftianity, than to confine the attention
of its ministers, to the work of the gospel
alone, to oblige them, with gravity, serious
ness, and benevolence, to make the work of
the ministry their sole business, and to oblige
them to refrain from the acrimony and noise
of politicks, and rage of parties.
TIMOTHEUS.
O ^outb.
From the CHRONICLE.
United States, expressed their diApprobation
of the British Treaty, nearly in similar lan
guage : President Washington said it was
"pregnant with events," and Governor Ad
ams declared it to be "pregnant with evils."
The illustrious Washington, in the earliest
Hages of the business, was pppofed to its rat
ification ; but such were the exertions and
machinations of the friends to Britain, that
we have reason to think this great and good
man was deceived into the measure. He
was encompassed by a host of British parti
zans ; the English Minister was a&ive and
persevering during its suspension ; he had a
confidential intercourse with those who asso
ciated with the President ; though their im
portunities were prefling and urgent, yet he
refuted for some time his assent. At length,
after intercepting a letter to Mr. Fauchet,
under all the exaggeration which their al
most blaffed hopes excited, they inftilted in
to the President a suspicion and resentment
which led him to sign it in a hasty manner.
—lt is generally believed, that President
Washington would never have consented to
its ratification if he had been left solely to
his own judgment ; but the whole power or
the English party was bent to (his purpose,
he was surrounded with so formidable a
phalanx, that he must have been more than
a man to have withstood their combined ef
forts. They rallied round him as their last
desperate hope, and by intreaties, deception
and hypocrisy, it is strongly fufpeaed, ;that
this patriot yielded, though reluctantly, to
patronize this baneful instrument.
The foregoing suggestions may be cohjeaure;
but it has been obferyed by many who vlfited
General Washington after his retirement, that he
declined converting on all political fubjeas, and
that he appeared wholly djfpofed for solitude and
retirement. The Lalt Wilf of the General, is a
presumptive evidence of his di (approbation of the
Treaty ; for tho' the integrity of his mind would
not fuffer him to violate it, after it was ratified,
yet he seemed to dread the exposure of his fuccefi
for to the intrigues of a party, in future diplo 4
matic proceedings of a similar nature. The sen
timent she advanced in that instrument, were in
many instances in opposition tp'the treaty, as the
peace and prosperity of the United States were
in his opinion folel, dependant on their own na
tional energies, unshackled by any foreign inter
ference to control their political or commercial
transactions. If he was thus against any connex
ion which tended to weaken this strength, it is a
flrong presumption that he was not fn favor of the
British treaty ; for no proceeding could be more
completely deftruaive to the permanent prospe
rity of the U. S.
" The ^onclufion of this whole matter is," the
British nation have, by various means, enticed
some who were formerly their opponents, to ac
cede to their intriguing schemes, to bring this
country into an alliance offenfive and defenfive,
and thereby aid them in their projects against
France. These men have been affixed and flat
tered by certain British refide&r, in their diplo
matic capacity, and otherwise, to deceive many,
principal charafters in their political negqciationJ
They have exaggerated every tranfadion of the
French, and extenuated every bad attion of the
British ; they have assumed the garb of Fed?ral
ifm, and been foremoft to resent the conduct of
the French, and to footb the passions as it refped
ed the Englifb ; they pretended that the English
government was friendly to our Commerce and
Independence, and pften expressed a concern for
our happiness andy prosperity frnotwithflaoding
all this profeffed friendfhip, yet the injuries done
us by Britain are in every particular greater than
those by France. They were ever busy in our
town-meetings, foremoft on all public occasions,
and when the COCKADE was the emblem of Fed
eralism, generally displayed a much larger signal
than their brethren of thirb/ac^ order. But can a
ny man suppose that such men were really friend
ly to the freedom, sovereignty and independence
of America ? Can we suppose, that such men
were sincere in their attachment to Gen. Wash
ington ? Is it probable, that dll their former
prejudicesagainft him, as the head of our Army,
had subsided ? that they had become real Amer
icans, when many of them were receiving pay
from the British government, as oppofers to our
Revolution ? Can any man think, that the whole
body of Refugees, had been converted to ihe cause
of American Independence, and that they viewed.,
their confifcated estates as lawful facrifices for its
obtainment ? Could President ADAMS, when es
corted through the country, or into Boston, con
sole himfelf with a confidence in their integrity,
when such a large number of the retinue were
formerly his molt implacable persecutors ? Adams
aud a body of Tories, were an unnatural associa
tion ; they might cry hosanna, or even drew the
way with palmtrees, yet when it was in their
power they would carry him out of the city and
crucify him; they might drink his health in
bumpers, but, like Judas, they would betray him
under the courtly salutation of a kiss. Ims dit
pfey of friendfhip was never sincere ; but was in
tended as a lure to facrifice him after they had ob
tained his confidence and etteem.
" This deceptive conduct on their part, has been
amply fbewn in the late election for President.
Mr. Adams' pretended friends were planning his
overthrow, even while they were exalting his po
litical reputation. Some who were apparently
the muff zealous in bis favor, were in league with
those who were insidiously undermining his pop
ularity. These fame men would entertain warn-,
ilton and eulogize his virtues, when at the fame
time they knew his defigus, to turn out Adams
and introduce Pinckney to the Presidency. While
Mr, Adams was toafling in FaneuiLHall, " The
proscribed Patriots, ihefe men would to.dl Ham
iftoiris the faviour of the country, and reprobate
Adams for his duplicity. It is surprising, bow
Mr. Adams fhou|d be deceived in such characters'
when he had such constant evidences of their at
tachment to a man who' had calumniated him in
epithets the mart gross apd degrading. As a pol
itician, could he expea, after men had engaged
themselves so Wrongly to Hamilton, that they
canid be real friends to him ? If the charges of
Hamilton were true, the hypocrisy of this party
was the more glaring ; if they were falfe, the in
sult was doubly aggravating to Mr. Adams—and
yet amldft this iuconfiftency, Mr. Adams appear,
ed totally unapprehenfive of their defigus, but in
Citizen Laurefton, after putting up at the City
of-London-Inn, Dover, immediately dispatched
one of his couriers, richly drefled in scarlet and
gold, to order horses on the road for the French
envoy, and to apprize Citizen Otto of his arrival.
Gen. Laurefton hunfelf, after some refrefhment,
followed, and reached WeGminQer-bridge about
12 o'clock at noon, on Saturday ; the forfes of
his coach, and the drivers, decorated with blue >
ribbons, and the word Peace upon them. In this
manner the French envoy made his triumphal en
try ; and a mob fbon collected, running after the
carriage, which drove to citizen Otto's the cor
ner ot Hereford and Oxford -Greets, near Ty
burn Turnpike. After remaining a few minutes
with M. Otto, that gentleman returned into tire
carriage with citizen Laurelton, and they drove
down Oxford -ftreef,' for Reddifh's Hotel in St.
James'-Greet, where apartments had been taken
for the French Envoy. At Otto's door the mob
encreafed amazingly, exclaiming '' Peace for
ever,"—"Long live Buonaparte," &c. The pop
ulate imagined that Laurelton was Joseph Buona
parte, and some fuppofed.it was Buonaparte him
felfi After being a short time in Reddifh's Ho
tel, Laurefton and O:to returned into the carriage
to proceed to Lord fiau kefbury's Office, that they
might formally exchange the Ratifications.
Soon after two o'clock,'the carriage reached
Lord Hawkefbury's office, into which Citizen A
Laurelton and M. Otto entered, and exchanged
the Ratifications. About half past two, the can
nori in the park announced this great event, and
at three the Tower guns, did the fame.^--At the
fouhd of the guns,the pfopulace tampered along
all the neighbouring Greets, pouring into the
Park, rejoicing, delirous of witnessing this scene.
The carriage of Citizen I>atirdfton having the
horses put to it, was in the mean time removed
from Downing Greet, round the Horse-Guards,
to the entrance from the. Park of Lord Hawkes
bury's office,- that those gentlemen might there
get into it privately, and drive away ; but the
vigilance of the populace was not to be eluded#
The moment Laureltonand Otto entered, the
horses were taken opt, and the ebsth was drawn
alopg'in triumph by the mob ; Mr. Cox, the Mes
senger, who was in it affo, affing as steersman, or
rather director of the way! They proceeded td|
the back door of the Admiralty, which leads out
upon the parade. Here Laurelton and Otto en
tered, and remained some time with the Lords ;
—--Lord Hood was also prefeut. Earl St. Vincent
came out with the two Citizens, and very good
humouredly addrefled the mob thus :—Gentle
men 1 Gentlemen ! (the populace gave his Lord
lhip three buzzes) let me gequed you to be as or-*
derJy as possible ; and if von are determined to
draw the Gentlemen, accompanied by M. Otto,
1 request you to be careful and not overturn the
carriage." The populacte afliired his Lordship
they would be very careful of arid rffpetttul to
the grangers. Away they drew the carriage with
(hours of applause through Sc. James',Park, round
the Palace, by the liable-,ard, making the old
walls of our Royal Court (hake again at their ac
clamations. they went up St. James'-Greet,
and again fafely landed the two Citizens at Red
dilk's Hotel before three o'clock. LaurelUm s
gain paid his refpeds to the populace, and ,after
withdraw ing, St. James'. Greet remained crowded
with people, hoping Gill to fee him. At four
o'clock, his carriage having been taken to Ben
net-Greet for concealment, he left the Hotel with
M. Otto's brother to walk to his carriage, and
proceed to M. Otto's to dinner ; but the mob re
cognized him by his uniform, and collecting a
bout him, he returned back to Reddiffi'sphere he
undressed, and put on plain clothes, .in which he
escaped observation, and dined at M. Otto’s,<
which he left at eight o'clock^ returned to Red^
difh's, and went to bed before ten o'clock,, very
tired. The courier who. proceeded him-Jrom,
Dover repeatedly fell asleep on horseback, and 4
was wakened by his guide (a Dover, peg boy) ac
companying him ou the ro^d, Tire poor fellow
was quite worn out; galled with riding, and fa
tigued. Unused to rjde at a finart trot, and una
ble to keep company with his companion, he of
ten criedimt in great sgpny,.A.h ! yen gallop :
you gallop ! which was.all the English he could
command. Soon after Laurelton entered Red
difh's Hotel the sass time, Mr. Fox, with three or
four friends, walked down St. Jamea'-Greer, CT
their way tothe Shakespeare Tavern, attracting,
I it may be supposed, a great deal of notice, mixed
!with murmuring applause,
I The illuminations on Saturday begaayith the
Lnight, and were so general, that ,we hffy almost
I said they were uuiverfal. They were onl) ex-
LONDON, OCT. 1-2.
ON Friday night, about nine o'clock, Cjtizen
Laurelion, General of Brigade in the French<4er
vice,and one of Buonaparte's chief Aids-de^Camp,
landed at Dover, with his suite, and the copy of
the Preliminaries ot Peace, formally ratified by
the Chief Consul. By the veflel which brought
him over, .we received Paris Journals to the Bth,
which announce that peace had been signed be
tween France and Portugal, and that the dispute'
Between Prussia and Aulttia refpefling the Bishop
ric of Mun(ter, affixes a more serious afpett.
The French funds have ri fen again to 45. If is
the great load ot floating debt that mull be fund
ed at the peace which keeps down their price, as
we underhand, - * - 4 * &
the last flages of his adwioiftr^icn appointed a
gieat proportion of these pciions tc important of-'
tires. They may thank him hr his civility io
them, but even this kiuduefs would not secure
their affection to him.
Thus fellow-citizens have our patriots been de
ceived by an English faction, aud by others u ell
known by the appellation of an " Efe Junto,
who have-findiillridully purfoed their plans, by
claiming the prerogative ot exclusive Federalists.
Washington we have reason to think difeovered
their.plots, but when it was too lute to defeat
them. His Last Will, is a Legacy which ought*to
accompany President Jefferloii's Inaugural Speech.
Ja that jhttrument, he (peaks like himfelf. tihtin
troled by any intriguing intruders. It is bis death
bed admonition, ytien no Surrounding minibus
a °d hypocrites diflutbed his mind. It is an ap
peal to God, and his Conscience, and pot jntefi'ded
to be made public, till he w 4 s in the Fruition of
heavenly happiness.„
lr is a melancholy reflection that the arts of this
faction have so far involved our country in diffi
culties. They have * tarnished the fam*e of
many respectable patriots. But We trufl In. that
Being Who often relieved tis when in trouble, and
we console ourselves, that lie has railed a Jeffer
foo, who like Jofoua, willcondutt us to the pro
mised land.
OLD SOUTH.
Reception of the French Envoy.