Norfolk gazette and publick ledger — Norfolk [Va.], 1810-03-21 00:00:00, page 2

TftE PUBLIC K LEDGER,
WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 21, 1810.
* .. ’*• ......
The papers by lA^uglit* mail repeal ihciutellt
fence of the seizure o^Tmeriran properly in Franc*
•boat Ibe 28lh of Deeember, with to ;nnny fir
rumstunres that we know not how to disbelieve it.
We ran reconcile this account and that received
from London, respecting the arrangement said to
he mad* by General Armstrong with the French
government only in Ibis wnv. The Commodore Ro
gert arrived in Franre on the 27th of December,
with despatches from our government to Mr. Arm
strong, and it may have been in consequence of
those despatches that the arrangement spoken of io
th* London papers with to much confuknee, has
been mode.
Marrikd —:L#?t evening by the Rev. Mr. Symes,
fcltt. ThoMAS Wrmiste.sd, Merchant, to Miss
Fuiscttf-A Ahmiwao, youngest daughter of the
late Molt Armutrr.il, F»*q. of Back River.
Dmd—Yesterday, at Pembroke, near Hamp
ton, Thomas Jonf.s. Esq. ,
The vote of th* Senate to strike om ell the re
itrirtive paits of Mr, Martin** hill, with one ex
eeption, has entirely disrouretlrd the enemies oi
free trade in the bouse of representatives. A ma
jority iif members are evidently tired of the system
which has been pursued, and would w»lTi»n|v re.
% l«use themselves from the burthen, i' they could do
it without tacitly contet'iug their total incapacity
and ignorance. Even this they would have h«£ar.!
•d, if a vote had been taken on the day that the I ri!
was returned iron* the senate. But now tt is up
prahended the wavering mrmlxH* have been drilled,
and nothing better cen be expected than, that the
•ftD’iatercowee will be suffered to expire t>y its own
limitation. The benefits of free trade will thus he
deferred until theeud of the present session of con
grass. I say this is the best vrecan expect ; for f
the bill now before the house ts suffered to pas'-,
aotne injurious m»«*nr* will he coupled w;th it,
probably more dangerous than any of the hwm*r
experiments. The new sections offered by Mr. F.p
pes are of this nature. The object of these m to
authorise merchant vessels to arm, and to resist an
attempt to search them by British cruder*, or to
stop them on tlieir way to Fr-mi e—nod also to es
tablish convoys to the same-effect. Tha almost in
evitable effect of passing these into a law would he
war with Great Britain, li. hgcpiors the house to
pause and reflect upon consequences hpiore th \
proceed.. Is the eronnd they have assumed tcmblr
and ean they maintain it ? Can they lawfully ,,u
thorize resistance to the right of search 1 I think
not. The right of search is undoubtedly »m ancient
right, which has beep avowed and practised on by
every maritime state in modern Europe. It is a
right, which, to the extent contended for by these
sections, has never I pen denied. The partns in the
armed neutrality did indeed deny, the right to priva
teers, or evert to ships of wnr, when the mere hunt
vessel attempted »n he scan bed was under the eon
jroyof a national ship. But th* latter pr«t. nsmn
was explicitly renounced by the convention ot Fe
Sersurg,in 1801, to Which all those powers were
parties. The practise of Great Britain. >* then
conceded to he lawful. Undoubtedly, by treaty, the
dbnsrs' incident t» this practice may be prevented ;
but no neutral state can deny the right, or attempt
forcibly ro obstruct the exercises of it, without
causing certain war.
The United States have admitted by all thrir
commercial treaties, that belligerents may lawfully
prevent neutral me*chan>t vessels from carrying to
an enetpy articles coMtVsbtnd of war. Now I would
ask Mr. Eppes, to point out some me.,ns by whi, h
tbit abuse may be prevented, if the right of search
is.dcn'cd. If the commander of a British ship of
wnr cannot go on board a neutral merchant ship,
lie cannot know whether she has contraband goods
on hoard or not. Shull lie he required to lake the
word of a S'-n-ciiptam a suffi, ml evidence? This
Would hardly he sufficient security. If then you
concede to belligerents any muniime tights what
ever, the right of search must he the first.
With ri ipert to the orders si council, it seems to
he admitted, that they do not furnish suffici-nt
ground frf a declaration of war on our part. This
is wneirnn arowm<* nut hi toe conduct, of
administration for the last two years. These or
ders are certainly not more obnoxious than when
■rat promulgated r indeed, if all the runt shoot
" tribute,"* was not mete hypor'acy , their chcrac
is ameliorated. The third year smce their publi
cation ha* now commenced, and ytt we have not
resisted them : erjea non that the British minister,
Mr. J irkson, has repr■ seated that his government
sell! not abandon these onlrr*, unless tla- object of
them ran he obtained in some other way mure
agreeable to the government of the United States,
war is lint drrhrrct.m.r is preparation for war made.
The administration'neither suggests any dsw mode
to indure the government of G. Britain to with
draw its orders, nor to take any steps to resist
them, although it i* formally announred that they
will continue. Ortatwlv tltis is nothing less than
an acquiescence io them, oral hast ea admission
thut they do not furnish ground for war.
Wb) then is it attempted to du that indirectly,
Which it haa been determined out to dm direriTv ? Is
it thought that (he people will ha derem d hy to
•ont*mptih!e on artifice ? Tiuat me, Mr. Eppes.
you will be deceived. It yuor propositions should
pass into a law, and war should he the event, yuu
will be looked to as the ranse. Nothing hut war
Mu be expected from the measures which you have
submitted:—l»t ns now see whet is to be expected
from war. I shall do this briefly.
No one doubt# that the maritime principles which
Great Britain maintains, are essential to the sop.
port of herjnaritim*-greati*»« ; and it » equally e
vldent, that this greatness is essentia) to her safety,
even to her existence as an independent power.—
Tor the continuance of her retaliatory measures a
gainst France, she has solemnly pledged herself be
fere the world 5 a ltd both her iitteryst and her ho
■ear Verbid ln-r to recede. If them the -Guiud Stales
resolve Horrible to resist hrr marftime principle
and ordet$a»f blockade, »h# w ill resist oor attempt-,
nnti! on* ofit: partie* nKn^grede from iti gronnd.
Can wee Xpert that Great unt$Hi will recede, when
*w (*•». (hilt the cannot do go without dishonum
did r(® The honour and power of Great Britain
-tre essential to her safely ; and r*0 it he ex per- ted
lliat »he will endanger her ind fendrnie? II.is shr
not a greater right to r*ist, than we have to trmle f
dud will she wave this right 1 I’he war then must
he interminable—it must continue until Britain ff
linnf'led and destroyed, or the (Jutted Slate* must
.recede from all their pretensions. At prmnt we
oeert abandon nothing, hut tire traje to France for a
limited period, and we may reserve to a more fa
vourable period oar disposition to establish a new
maritime code. But vv* ran hate no hope to make
war surressfaUy, except in the evrntof ti e British
maritime power being transferred to Frame. Suc
rrs* would therefore be more dreadful than defeat.—
is this the van test which Mr. Eppes requires?
Fir. 1‘atriot.
From the Sprit of’/6.
TheVlitor of “ The Spirit of ’/O'” will please
publish the following querirs ; the author of which
Irisndly advises whomsoever may attempt to answer
them, to weigh well the consequences, as they are
calculated to produce serious considerations and en
quiries.
1st. Has or h :s not. the redoubtable author of the
piece in the “ Virginia Argiis," signed “ Camillas."
aisuoi me pampuiet ny *• «uroa» (bolh of whirh
in Cert ere supposed to have emanated originally
from the court of St. Gitcs's hot to have rereived
their last polish in the department of state, by one
of the secretary of stales* favourite rhuks, who for
reasoiw best known to the dignified trio, is made
Escape g.Mt and reputed author,) asserted and de
dared, “ that the secretary of state, before or when
tie st r -ed to take him fthe said clerk} into his (the
serreiare of states) oflice, made H a condition or
part of th.-ir agreement, that the said clerk should
defend hv his pub lick writings in the newspapers, of
Otherwise, that department, whenever It might be
attacked," and hence he received <tb initio, the sala
ry of a senior d rk ?
2mi. l ies or has not, the said clerk boasted of
the private and secret confidence and patronage ol
tnr s.*cr-tcry of state ?
3rd. Has or has not, the said clerk declared
“ ,,IHt the present administration (for his
s. rviri'3 in writing It into power) he could get, by
■' f**ly hinling his want, two or three hundred dol
lirsa: any trine, ol a cei tain great character,* who
SiFall or now nameless ?
•V.h. Dot or rial not, thee said clerk pohfickly
threaten “ to make known and disclose the secret
. caluh* t prrnripbs and policy of official appoint
meins ; and was he not soon after (pa, if seated up)
tak a into office, at tie* salary of a senior clerk ?
5th. It the proverb “ that birds of a feather flock
live!her,** he founded in truth, is the present admi
nistration federal nr what?
6'lh. Who enjoy the distinguished patronage and
; coBtiteitanre of the present admiivistratiars, the fede
rahvis or the democrats ?
Jib. To which administration (Adams’s n* the
preseiw) belongs f he r liar hc ter of the unjust steward:
And he called him, and said unto him, how is
.t that l hear this of tf ee ? Give an account of thy
stewardship, fur thou mayest he no longer steward.”
“ M**" hi yourself friends of the mammon of un
righteousness, that when ve fail, they may receive
you into everlasting habitations.”—- No servant
■■an serve two masters p for either he will hate the
one and love the other, or he will . leave to the one
and despise the other. Ye cannot serve Gent and
Mrminwn.'' ! ! t
&lh. lias not the promotion of power of fate be
'Tome a kind ol political juggle nnd an addiction to
petty shuffling, the immediate precursors of politi
cal, corruption ?
CALOMEL.
N’f.w-Yokk, M.reh ir.
The ship Atlun(;ck left Cadis on the ‘20th of Jan.
l.y her vve learn verbally, that a battle was fought
th* beginning of January, in which the Spanish hf
my was dispersed by the French, That a large
Fiench *iu*y was approaching Andalusia ; that the
supnmv jmis had ordered apartments at Cadis
where they *r«r»«xperted about the 1st of February.
That the Spanish ships of war at Cadiz were head
ing sails, and in otfu-r respects preparing for se».
It was reported at Cadiz, that there was ,t scri
ous insurrection in the south of France; that the
leaders of it had solicited marshal’ Massena to be
come their commander in chief; and that this state
of things was communicated to lord Cnllingwood,
probably for ilia purpose ol soliciting Ins aid^n for
ikeiuvg their views.
Cap*- I ieid inlurrra the editors of the New-York
(nw tie, th,it geivral Cast arms was at Algrzirtis
on the ‘-21st of January, again to take command of
the Sprnish army.
Captain Pol tar who left CarthagcBa on the (>th
oi January, informs, that a French army from
Madii.l was hourly expected at Curthagena, and
that the pat riot irk' troops were prepared to ojve
them buttle. -Markets at Cadiz dull. Flour 9 to
10 dollars ; rire -l jO ; pork 15 ; berf 12 ; uvb iccn
U»; pipe staves 1?0 to 180, in great demand.
Congress of the United States.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES!,
IVrdntsday, March 14.
NEW-OULEANS BATTURE.
Thefeonse lesnlved itself iuta a roinmitte* of the
whole—Mr. Basset iu the chair, an the bill “ pro
viding the means to ascertain the title to the Batiore
in Iront of the suburb of St. Mary, in the city of
New-Oi lenna.” J
The bill provides that “ it shall be lawfal for the
rlaimanta or their legal representatives, to institute
a3oit or soils in the district court of the U. States,
foi the Orleans distrii t, according to the forms now
used in tiie courts of laid territory, against the attor
ney ol the United Stales, for the said district, who
shall be made defendant as the representative ol the
United States, for the express purpose of defending
their title to the said Hatture, &r. and when the is
sue shall h« joined or the pleadings made ap and set
tled in the said district court, it shall fee the duty ftl
the judge of the said court to den -giwue by an order
n»ier*d«tl reeprd, as pan of the proceedings in sorh
care, some oca of the email courts of the United
jw' 1‘” "r™10"* 0 fair and impartial
trial cad &• k*l, aud which circuit court, so.dttig
n*4ed, U hereby aelboriwd in yrecwd to float trial,
both as to law and fart, to like manner as if such
suit hud been instituted in aneh roust, and had ari
vn within its jurisdiction, but according tu the
forms used in the court* of said territory, »t>tl the
lawt in force thera when the removal afoiesmd took
, place. And a transcript of the rerord shall be far
n'shed the plaintiffs, by the said district rnutt,
which being Authenticated in the usual form, and
hied with thvrierk of such circuit comt, shall be
'Ulficier.t authority for such coart to proceed to ft
iih| trial. And the judgment or decree of such cir
cuit court may be reviewed und reversed or wflirnred
in the supreme court of the United Slates, on appeal
or writ ol error, prosecuted by either party, within
alter stKh judgment or decree shall have
!.«rn finally rendered,or pronounced in such cirruil
court, &;r. &r.
Mr. iiibb moved to strik.e out the whole of the
bill Irom the enacting clause, and to insert the fol
lowing as an amendment r
“ That llie interest in or title to the battvre front
ing the suburb of St. Mary, in the city of New Or
leans, wbich^nay hove vested in the United States
by the treaty of cession between the United States
and Fiance, concluded at Paris the dOlh ot April,
I 803, be transferred to and vested in the cot pen a
lion ol ibe c ity of New Orleans, so far as to enable
said corporation to deicnd any scut or action which
may be instituted for the recovery of the whole or
any part of the said hatture, in any court having com
petent power and jurisdiction tu hear and determine
the same; and U no suit or action shall he institut
ed and prosecuted t<> final judgment or decree wilh
ln years, all individual claim, light or title
t > the said batture shall thenceforth be forever bur
ied.
.\ncr lx it farther enacted, (hut the said batlure
shall lie used and enjoyed ns n pnl.lic high wav and
landing place, as well by Ihe citizens of the United
, States as the inhabitants of the city of New Or
leans, who shall ri'H-tiniir to use the right of digging
and carrying earth from the said fcmttnrc for making
and repairing pa hire streets and levees and other
purposes, vvntch they were accustomed lo use and
'tij >y under the late Spanish government.”
Mr, SheSry called far a division of the question,
, so as to take it first on striking out.
Mr. Llibb supported his motion tis a speech of
considerable length. He strongly questioned the
ilaimof the petitione r, and contended that if he
: had a claim, it h-'d been in the petitioner’s power
i to have obtained a decision on it by the hind com
missioners by whom titles were in all other rases
examined, and that by submitting it to their deri
; sion.he would have avoided the removal by force,
from the property, Mr. B. welt into a detailed re
ply to the various arguments, heretofore urged in
‘■upport of Mr. Livingston’s claim. He was appos
'd to givmg this rase a direction did* tent from, o
there, as he feared if would be-the entering wedge
!o the grossest peculation, and that the Yazoo clai
mants would come next. He wished besides not
to put so great a property «t the disposition of the
attorney general «f the territory. The mode pro
pos'd by Ins ameudintnt was the usual mode, and
that whivh ought to- obtain l» this case, and was j
more calculated to do justice to all concerned than
the mode proposed l.y the bill.
Mr. Shefli-v replied to Mr. Bibb. l£e deprecated
the continual alarm of Yazouism which was Faised
on evei;y subject coming b> tore the houser and was
•n the presuit case an ignis Jatuus to lead them to
injustice. ’invent section of the ainrudintn-t pro
posed made the corporation of New OrWaus a par
ty in a trial to take place in that city. The next
section declared that the properly should heroine a
high-way. Thu would certainly promote injustice,
berausp, every citizen being interested in its hemm
ing a public high-way, it would be impossible that
a jury composed ol persons so interested rould give
an unbiassed verdict. Shelter yoorselt dm under
such subterfuges, said Mr. S. If you are not dis
posed to Jo justii e, say so openly ;. do not sanction
sacha inork-ry of justice as this would he. Mr.
Sheff-y M phed to various other observations of Mr.
lltbh.
Mr. Phydras made a long and elaborate speech
on the suljec t ot the title to this property, denying
that Mr. Livingston had either a shadow or sem
blance of title.
1 he committee lose at thxee o’clock, reported pro
gress, and obtained leave to sit again—and the
house adjourned.
J/iursdtuf, March 15.
Mr. Newton from tne committee of Commerce
and Manufactures to whom whs referred the amend
ments ot the Senate fwhich postpone the coni
mrncement of the hill to June 30.) to the hill to
prevent the issuing of sea-letters except to certain
vessels, reported as agreement to the same, with an
amendment thereto, vis. “ Fiovided nevertheless,
that no sea letter shall be issued to any vessel which
shall not at this time he furnished with or entitled
to n sea-letter,, unless such vessel shall return to
some port or place in the United Sines or territo
ries thereof on or before the said 3Ulh day of June
next.”
1 he report of the committee was concurred is.
COMMERCIAL KILL.
Mr. Macon made the following report, which
was ordered to he printed :
“ I he conferees on the part of the two houses on
the disagiecmg votes on the hill “ respecting com
mercial intercourse betweeu the United Slates and
Cneat Britain ami France and for other purposes,"
have met, and those on the part of the house ot re
presentatives report, That they have met the con
ferees on the part of tbe Senate, und that the)
have not agreed on any modification of the hill,nor
have either agreed to recede.
“ The conferees »n the part of the senate made
a proposition to insert,in the room of the sections
stricken out, the following: “ Be it further enact
ed, that the president of the United States be and
lie hereby 19 authorised to employ the public armed
vessels of the United Slates in convoying the mer
chant vessels of the United Slates, wholly owned
by a citizen or ritizens tbeieol and 1 Men with car
goes wholly the property of a citizen or citizens of
tbe United Slates, aud to issue instractions which
•hall be conformable to the laws and usages of na
tions, lor the government of the ships which may
he imolnyed in convoying siich^erchant vessels.”
To which the conferees on the part of the house dis
agreed. ‘ *•
“ The conferees on the part of the house ef re
presentatives made the following proposition . To
permit British merchant vessels to import into tbe
■United Staten British produce and manufactures,
bit lit to export My articles whatever; to permit
French merchant vessels to import into the United
plates French produce and inanofai tun s, but not to
export tiny article whatever; to ret&fr, th, 10th
uurt 1 Stir sections ; and to expl tin the 12th section
touching the penalties and forlHtmes un.icr the , ni*
hargo act. To which the conferees on the part of
the Senate disagreed.”
Mr. Fppes reported a bill imposing additional
duties upon all goods, wares, and merchandise im
ported irons any foreign port or place.
[tins hill is composed ot five sections.
The 1st imposes an additional duty of per
cent, ad valorem on all goods from foreign porta
paying it daty ad. vul.
Tlie 2nd imposes an additional duty of
per cent, upon the duties now imposed on good#
paying gjmtijitk duties.
The 3d imposes an addition of ten per cent, to
the severaldulies imposed I.y this uct, on allgoodl
1 ie r ea.it t t imported in vessels not of the United
Stales.
The 4th prescribes the mode of collection.
The 5th continues the law in force to the 1st day
oi April 1811, and no longt i.}
1 he Lilt was twice read and committed.
i he house took up the message ol the senate sta
ting their having appointed conferees on the disa
greeing votes of the two houses on the consul bill;
and resolved to appoint a committee on their part.
I he order oi the day on the bill respecting thu
hattiire being called for_
Mr. Bassett moved to pnstpont the further con
sideration of the hill till Monday next— Naeatived
til to 45. 6
llie motion under consideration when the house
yesterday adjourned, to strike out the whole of the
bill, was warmly debated at considerable length,
Messrs. Poindexter, Shetley, Ross and Boyd oppos
ing it, and Messrs. Bibb, Traup, Taylor, and Hal
land supporting it.
The motion was negatived 57 to 51,
Alter further progress—
1 hr committee ruse, reposted progress and ask
fd leave to sit again ; w hich was relostd. The bill
j is now directly before the house.
Lovut/x, January 9.
I The Antelope, 50, rapt. .M'Leon, is fill me, at
Portsmouth, to take nut tire hoe. Henry YVelltslev
and suit, ambassadour to Spain. Twenty rh< usan^
stand of arms are shipping *>n hoard her tut the
j Spanish forces.
U has been reported that large- reinforcements
of troops are going to Halifax. We know not why
the report is circulated, unless u be to increase the
irritation of the United State* against us. There
is no foundation for the rumour—The defence of.
Canada aad Nova Scotia is already amply provided
tor.
January TO-.
Endeavours have been made with great industry
to represent U negotiation with Fiance as not only
actually begun, but as having made considerable
progress—nay, some have gone so far as to say
that some nf the principal points have hern discus
sed. 2*o negotiation has been begun—All that baa
yet been- done, amounts, we believe, to this : —Aus
tria eoohl not withdraw her minister with any de»
'■ ccnry from this country before she had offered het
interposition to restore peace. She has made,
i through her minuter at Paris and with the consent
I of th« French government, an overture, to whirl*
‘the reply has been returned through the medium of
i prince Suhremhetg, the despatch from tbs Austria
[an minister at Putts having been addressed to that
■ prince. It may be that the reply was not convey
'd by Rfaynlz, hot by M. Pevost. who sailed last
Saturday—Majnt* may iiavecarried hark to Pari*
1 a letter, iinnouuririg that the proposal had bees laid
before oar government, aad that the answer would
‘ be sent by .mother messenger.
As to peace, it is absurd to suppose that it can b*
made at presents
The Dutch are having recourse to an expedient
that can oniy have been suggested by minds dege
nerated and sunk indeed—an expedient resembling
' that which the Rnmaus adopted in their decline to
purch.ise a trniporary and inglorious forbearance
Irom the hardy Barbarians. Instead nf taking
counsel from patiiutism and Inmi courage, they
have resolved to hoy »8 Buonaparte-,aad they think
that by op- ning their treasures,*™! crouching omr*
humbly at bis lect, lory shaH turn hirn from .hit*
purpose of incorporating their country with France.
I he legislature have express'd to Loots Buonapart*
their readiness Iwudopt and enforce an* measureMtg
geitcd by the French government lor distressing
this country. They have agreed that Holland
should givecveiy aid of wjnrh it was capable, i»
tiny any to the French finances. In this represen
tation, some of tiie principal commercial houses
are said to have joined.
Buonaparte may listen to tWe propostions ; h*
may even accede to them—aDd after having drain
ed Holland of her treasures, audgotfroni her all hn
can. he will tell them “ it does not accord with hw
system to let them be any longer a seperate nation
—they belong properly to France, and with Franc*
they must be incorporated.**
Finance.—We have published a correct account
of the income of, and tbarge upon the consolidated
fund for the quarter ending the 5th inst.as well for
the corresponding quarter in the last year. Tho
result of the comparison is surh. as to prove that
the commercial hostility of our enemies ha* been
perfectly unavailing, 'fhe revenue of customs pro*
duced in the last quarter 197,971/. more than tho
smie branch in the corresponding quarter last
year ; and the revenue of excise has yielded upon
a similar comparison art increase of 265,483/.—
Every other branch of the revenue has been equal
ly productive.
As we have before stated, the sum granted by par.
hament, upon estimate, as the surplus of the conso
(mated fund, to 5th April, la 10, has already bees
realised, with an excess of 100.000/. applicable to
the service of 1810. I’o which service, also, the
whole surplus of the current quarter, ending 5th
*Pnl Be*1. will of course be Medicable ; this can
not be estimated at less than 1,500.000/. or
.1,600,000/. making together about 2,000,000/. by
which sum the amount of the loan necessary for
1810 will be diminished. And us Hie productiveness
lh« ,e***"* wtil pfubably justify a vote of at
least 1,00<^00/. Irpni the estimated surplus of the
consolidated lunii, imne than it was thought tight
to lake in I809« *he whole eflect of this flourishing
•late of our Apauces, will be 1®. diminish by tArfe