The Patowmac guardian, and Berkeley advertiser — Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.], 1797-02-09 00:00:00, page 2

iiuttk ii)c NEW .VftGRLi).
I Tike it for granted, that theUnited States can
not prude bv a war, and that the* muft be unavotd
aulv injured tay itivoliing themlelves in that fi'uati
on with any nation on earth. Whenever therefore,
ihey are threatened by this dreadful calamity, » be
come* the duty of every temperate and unprejudiced
American, to exert b'imlelf for tbe purpole of avoid
ing the evil. v ,
Ou: preteiit fituation with France feems to call
for ou.- exertions, for although the miiunderftand
irjgs oetween -that country and this, have been re
prelcnred as a mere electioneering projecr, yet eye
ry well informed American fees them replete with
danger to our repnfe. In this fituat-fon it becomes j
a fource of real regret, that tome uFour newspapers, ^
iimead of ftaiing facta on that fubjecr, in the tan
uuage of conciliation and of peace, fhould be con
liantly filled with attempts to jrri:a:e France, and
to draw the public roi-nd of our country into an un
friendly difpolition towards that nation. While
the President of the United States appears to be fof
tcring a hope in favour of an amicable adjuftment of
our differences, theft papers are perpetually endea
vouring to defeat it. From whence do thefe at
tempts proceed ? War cannot contribute to our in
lereft, or to our happinefs, itis not probable there
fore, that they proceed from well-meaning Ameri
cans. The attempts areoffenfive, not conciliatory,
—they tend to war, and not to peace—they muft
therefore he the productions of foine perfoijs inimi
cal to a friendly ieitlement of our differences with
France. It is both the intereft and inclination of
Great Britain to keep aiive our inifunderftandings,
and thefe papers are known to be under the infleeuce
of Britiih partisans, and the immediate agents of
tlidt government. Hence it is fair to conclude,
that the attempts which thus oppofe our true inte
reft, arnl the profefsrd object of our Chief Magif
trate, proceed from this quarter, end arehoitomed
upon motives which cannot contribute to our poli
tical fafety or welfare. While, therefore, they
i'e.ve to ex pole the views of their authors, they
lh.ou.ld be uled by the United States,' as beacons to
avoid the rock which is near us.
»n our preieat fituation we know with certainty,
that there ere unpleafant and dangerous caules of
difeontent exifting between the United State3 and
rhe French government. How they 'havebeen pro
duced, or whether they afford any juft ground for
war on either fide, are difeuffions which muft be en
countered in (ome form or other. The continuance
of them without an attempt to remove them, may
occafion an accumulation of the evil, but cannot
{tromtfe Security or friendihip: Let them therefore
lave been produced by what means they may, or let
their extent be what it will, the molt interelting
confideraiion with the United States is, how to re
move them, and thereby avoid the ill confluences
with which they threaten us.
War and negociaiion are the two remedies which
lie before. The-firft will not haftily be reported to,
by any lover of his country, nor will a conduct be
put Cued which lhall force the French Republic to
embrace it. The horrors of w ar require no new
colourings to forbid them admittance into the Uni
ted States, and the policy which teaches us, that it
is better by negociaiion to. prevent, than to heal
the wounds which war always inflicts, will readily
produce a decided preference of the latter remedy.
If France has juft reafon to complain of us, or we
of France, friendly explanations will difeover the
aggrefsor, and meafure the degrees of injury which
has eufued, amicable negociation will then be rea
dy to fettle our; mifunderftandings. Before it is
too'Ute, evidences given with fincerity of a defire
to remove the juft caufes of complaint, and to p-e
fer/e and perpetuate the peace and friendihip be
tween the twocountriec will not fail of fuccefs. It
is the true intereft of the two countries, a id there
fore it muft he their policy, to make the unchange
able rules of juftice the foundation of their conduct
towards each other. If eitl^r of them has been
guilty of a deviation from them, truth remit ing
from candid and friendly difeuf^ons, will foon re
claim them from their error. It is therefore de
voutly robe wilhed, that they government of the
United States would inftantly begin and purfue this
courfe. ARISTIDES.
BOSTON, January 12.
Tt appears that Lord Mnlmelburv is not merely
the amhafsador of Englam , though c teofi1 1. fo.
His miflion molt probably is the iclul* of a lecret
Congrefs. But how it happens that 1 hey could
have prevailed on John Bull, the moft baihful ani
mal alive, to open the negotiation, and fave their
blulhes, is unaccountable, The French teem to have
feented out the fccret, and are refblved that a'll the
powers at war lhall come forward and Ihew their
guilty faces on the occafion.
The gentlemen who have lately arrived from
France, make no mention of any intended hoftility
againft the United States. The French people
were not altogether pleated with the treaty with
England ; but they knew the United States was an
independent nation ,* and had a right to enter into
any compact it pleafed ; juft as much a* France
had to enter into a treaty with Spain, or any other
defpotic power. At Rochelle the Americans were
treated with as much friendlhip and cordiality as
Frenchmen are in the United States.
COMMUNICATION.
The t*fat*atnn which has taken place in the
i<; iay,'li.ii ’.hr (_.emtutl.,JvtinQj tinM, *»»:U :Uc invju
hole Iwb W'i.Jtcr, is.q in concert v.uh the political
QJxotte Billy Wilcoclu, have enlii'ted ill the caufe o(
hutain, in oppoli.ion to France ; they have thrown
he gauntlet, and ieem 10 court their rtjculmcut —
While the powerl, which a few years ago were hoi
tile, are now fraternizing with this all conquering
Republic—while England is lending their Ambafsa
dors to make their ptact with the directory—while
this Rrpuolic Dcuridts Europe lrice a Cololsus, and
lays their Civil and Eccleiiaiticalenemies under con
tnbution ; while Pitt is trembling with convulfions
at the iisue of this late retort—while the King of
Great Britain becomes as harmleis as a dove, as to
the fuccefs of the French Revolution—while all na
tions view them as poisefling the invincible ARMA
M£N f. Amid this complication or French ener
gy, a few contemptible Americans are blufter'iDg a
gaiuft them 1 and are arrogantly placing their tor
midable oppofmon to difsolve the bonds of friend
lhip which heretofore fublified between ,us. Can
the citizen* of America be any longer deceived ?—
Can they wilb for further proofs of the dilpofitioo
of the Britiih faction rtfiding in America ?—Is it
not evident, that Put has let his Minions in Ameri
ca to commence holiilities againk France., and to
prtrvoke them to oppofition ? It is impofHble that we
Ihould any longer be duped by this Faction. They
know, the moment a.gun is fired againft France,
that our ruin is inevitable. They know the deci
five fituation in which we are placed, Ihould we be
allied-with England in their warfare. In thefe cir
cuinltances, what can <we expect ? Can we depend
on the Iriendlhip of a nation which has fet our
towns in fl .ine&—(acrificed on board their guard
Ihips thoulands of Americans ! crimtoned our i'treets
wirh the blood of our citizen*—and even, inaftate
of impartial neutrality,captured our vefsels—whip
ped our feamen—excited the Algerines to depreda
tions—and even roufed the favages to the deiiructi
on of our defencelefs frontiers ? Can the Americans
truftto rhis nation for protection, and abandon the
only nation which helped us in our difficulties?—
Is it poflible that we Ihould become I'o infatuated,
and henceforth rely on the benevolence of Brirain r
No :-The citizens of America are convinced of
the defigns of Pitt's auxiliaries in this country, and
never will they hazard the happinels of America on
Britiih leuiry. If we are jealous of France, we are
more than jealous of England ; as the former has
helped us in the days ol danger, while the latter
has ever been executing the^noft wanton cruelties
10 debafe us to fltvery.--Thefe arc rtflecrions
which ought to roufe the attention of the real A
mericans : as the enemies of our happinefs are now
bufiiy employed to drive us into the rnoft fatal di
lemma.
— ~4<S-0^5£>»-—
PROVIDENCE, January 13.
A gentleman of this town has received a letter
from Col. Talbot, who was lent by the Prefident
of the United States to the Weft-Indies, on the {ob
ject of the Americans imprefred on board Britiih
Men of war, dated Antigua, Nov, 10, *96, which
he has been polite enough to thew us. The Colonel
ftates that on his arrival at Barbadoes, he was treat
ed with great attention by the governor {Ricketts)
who promifod all the afliftance in his power to ena
ble him.to accomplilh his million—that he {the Go
vernorVhad in every inftauce where the fact had
come-to bis -knowledge procured the difeharge of
the jmprefsed men. The Colonel then wenc to
Mirtinique, where he bad a conference perfonally
with fir Hide Parker, Her.ry Harvey, and H. C.
Chriftian—Admiral Harvey informed him he bad
difeharged more than 40, at Fort Royal who had
been imprefsed—and the Colonel adds, that 20 had
been difeharged lince.
The Admiral informed the Colonel that as faft as
the {hips on the windward ifland Station -came into
port they Ihould be learched, and all imprefsed A
mericans difeharged—and that he would give the
mo ft poiitive order*, that no Americans Ihould in
future be prefsed—and that their protections ihould
be firictly regarded. The Colonel adds, thap on
his arrival at Antigua, he found the Admiral had
given out the orders he promifed—and he faw them
in the hands of fome of the captains of the men of
war, which directed them to difeharge all Ameri
cans, after paying their wages and prize money—
and* giving them certificates to prevent their being
again imprefsed.
NEW YORK, January 22.'
It is an old fiyiBg, and a true laying, that a pen
ny favcd iaas good as a penny earned. If Congrels,
inftead of racking their brains by what mode of
taxation to raile revenue fufficient for the exorbitant
demands on our government ,• I lay, if they would
fpend a few thoughts on what might be laved by
lopping off unnecefsary expellees, they might per
haps-find, that by proper deductions and better
(Economy, our prefent impoft is quite fufficient.—
H^s it ever been believed, or was it ever faid off
the floor of Congrefs, that the frigates now build
ing at fo enormous expence, will ever be one fix
peDce fervice to the United States—Therefore, w hy
not fell them. Are federal courts and federal judg
ges a very heavy expence and of no fervice whate
ver ? What a great expence is the fcolilh and mo
narchal form of keeping fo many arabafsadors at ?\
moft all the courts in Europe ; are they of any uti
lity ? Common fenfeanlwers, no. Then call them
home, and fave our money. The mint fpeaks for
itfelf, and every year's report concerning that infti
tution mult hurt the feelings of every American who
d if believes the creed, that a public debt is a public
inu:e w! ci have t:t; unec-iuii ot oj; p;.: j c ,U.:fs.
With hotn'de fnbmiflion 1 will propole the fol
lowing queries to the Executive, viz. how much
hath the Speculating negotiations of remittances to
the Dey of Algiers coft the United States P And af
ter all thefe unnecefsary expentes, is there not
100,000 dollars fwindled out of the public purfe ?
What hath it colt thefeftate* to lend JohnJnyto
the Court of Great-K* irain, to make the ferret
i treaty ? And in what time will the net advantages
arifing from that fame treaty defray the expence }
Is it necefsary to keep up the prefent compliment
of a ftanding army ? Is, or is not, the public dcot
augmenting annually, and tnuit the induftrious far
mer bear all thde burthens, while the Itock-holder
who draws his intereft for thoufands which coft
him but a trifle, pay nothing at all !
Th^l'e are ferious ot jerif-s, and thofe who ere
burtheued and opprefsed with heavy taxes are en
titled to an aaltver.
jaouary 28.
William Cobbett. of Philadelphia, has ifsued pro*
polalsfor publishing a Daily paper in ihat city, un.
der the title of4* Porcupine’s Gazette," The rea.
fon he afligns for it is, that there are too many pa
pers already—that is, io many ill conducted papers,
calculated 10 mislead the people, that another is
become necelsary ro undeceive them. Peter will
prove a terrible fcourge to the44 Patriots.”•
1 [ Minerva.
•[The Editor of the Minerva has therefore no
thing to fear from him:]
PHILADELPHIA, February 1.
Extra8 of a letter from Martinique, dated the Jtk Janu
ary, 'c,y, received by thejchooner Ltkerfy, Capt. Crane,
arrived at Marcus Hook.
“ On the 15th int. arrived at Fort Royal, Sir
R. Abercrombie, Gen. Hope, &c. from England,
after a pafsage of days, in the Arethufa frigate;
and we learn that 1 5000 men may be expected in
the courle of this month, it is fuppofed to attack
Guadaloupe, although the mo ft profound fecrecy is
obferved at head quarters.
4‘ Tranquility is a: length reftored to the ill-fa
ted iflands of St. Vincents and Grenada, and the
jnfurgenrs of St. Lucia are nearly reduced—The
Charibs have all furrendered, and are now in the
'(land of BilliIda.
“ On the.20th ult. fix fail of the line, with fome
frigates failed, it is fuppofed to Trinadad, to cut
out the Spauiih fquadron, confifling of five fhips of
the line.”
Mr, Bache afed to entertain his readers with in
ftances of Biitijh amity. Why does' he not begin
his lift of inftancea of French amity i He would
nor be forced, as formerly, to invent them.
On Saturday the remains of Mrs. Brown and her
three children (the eldeft a girl of 13, the fecond a
boy of 9, and the youngeft a girl of feven vears of
age) were conveyed in three coffins frem the houfe
ofMijor Robert Patton, to the graveyard of St.
Paul's Church, attended by the clergy o( all deno
minations, and by the greateft concourfe of other
citizens that probably ever convened at a funeral in
this city. The fyrapatby in this mournful fcene,
was fincere and univerfal, and many tears were
(hed over the deceafed, by all clafses of people.
After reading the funeral lervice, the Rev. Dr. Ma
gaw afeended the pulpit of St. Paul's church, and
addrefsed a few pathetic words to the audience.
His fympdthy, and the agitation of the audience,
prevented his faying more.— He concluded by pr -
miling to preach a fermon fuited to the awful event
next Sunday.
Mrs. Brown will long be remembered and lamen
tedby all who knew her, tor her amiable, doraeCtic,
and focial virtues.
We have heard fince Saturday, that the negro
fuppofed to be burnt, efcaped unhurt. Mr. Brown
is indebted, under Providence, for his life to the fi
delity and exertions of this black fervant who con
ducted him on a ladder from the third ftory of his
houfe, to which he had, afeended through a I’tair
cafe, while it was in flames, in order to fave his
wife and children. He was much injured by the fire,
bur is now out of danger.
Two apprentices were much bruifed by leaping
from the upper windows, and two fervant maids
who were much burnt are now in the Penniyl vania
Hofpital, all it is faid upon the recovery.
We hear the Philadelphia Gazette will be conti
nued by Mr. Cary, Mr. Brown’s afiiftant, during
the confinement and indifpofition of Mr. Brown.
Congress of the United States.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
January 23.
The committee appointed to enquire what arti
cles would bear an additional impo/c duty, report
ed as follows :
“ Refolved, That there be laid an additional du
ty of half a cent on brown lugar imparted.
“ Refolved, That there be laid an additional duty
of two cents on all bohea tea imported.
“ Refolved, That there be laid an additional duty
of 2 12 cent, ad valorem, on cotton goods impor
ted, not printed, ftained or coloured.”
The rel'olutious were twice read and ordered to
be committed to a committee of the whole houi«
on Monday.
January 31. .
A refolution to the following effect was preientca
by Mr. Hcuderfoo :