Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-06-07

who're England" Meaning that England
had corrupted them, and SO prevented the
exertion of their former wisdom, virtue
and energy in administering the govern.
ment.~ There is no room TO doubt that
Mr.. Jefferson comprehended WAsHrNcroN
in this audacious reproach. Befoye the
publication of this letter iu the United
States It was first published by MIR. JEFF
ferson's French friend. in Paris Mr..
Jefferson. seldom, fever, passed Mount
Vernoa wit bout calling, or sending an a.
POLICY for emitting it: but affer its publi-
cation these civiltles entirely ceased. A
visit then, he was sensible, would have
been an insult not to be borne.
But what was the tyranny under which
the Britons groaned, aud for submission
to which Americans were taught to think
and call them slaves ? These slaves AS
serted and maintained the very liberties for
which the ssges and heroes of our revolu-
ton counselled, struggled, bled and died |;
they contended for their "birth rights"-
the "rights of Englishmcn," in which we
and our fathers always placed our glory Il
the right by their representatives TO partl-
cipate in the making of their laws--and of
giving and granting their own money for
the public service; the right of trial by
jury before able and independent judges /;
the RICH, to the writ of Habeas Corpus,
which every Engiishman may demand, and
by virtue of which he is secured, az we
are by the same process, against unlawful
arrests and imprisonments by ministers,
military officers. or others who abuse their
power; and with these rights they enjoy
freedom of speech and of the press. In
one word, of all the countries on the earth,
the u. States and the British dominions
alone are free. fhe rights of Englishmen
our fathers brought hither with them from
England; and to that country WE are in.
debfed far all cur practical ideas Of FREE
dom AID vet that is the country--now
the Worlds last hope--on whose existence
and Independent power our own depend
as intelligent aud rejecting democrats
themselves well know, and some of the m
acknowledge-bug whose downfall and sub.
juga,;on to France many Of their brethren
appear heartily to desire.
And what are the blessings of French
men, which seem SO attractive IN the eyes
of many of our citizens? They are such
as these: To be dragged in chains to the
armies, that they may have the honor to
endure all the miseries of war, to fight and
20 die, not for their COUNTRY, but for the
boundless ambition of an unfeeling tyrant;
70 be wretcheo themselves, and the instru-
ments to bring down misery and ruin on
all the nations round: to be taxed at his
pleasure and if they delay payment, to
have soldiers quartered upon them, eating
up their substance until they can find the
means of payment; to have their com.
merce destroyed, and be deprived of all
its comforts: to be beset by spies employ
ed by the emperor to watch their words
and actions; so that before Frenchman
dare open his mouth on any public affairs,
or any thing relating to the emperor, he
looks round to see if any suspicious per-
son be present. And here he is often de-
ceived. For since the French revolution,
such has been the increased and general
Prostraton OF morals, such scope and en-
enlargement have been given to vices and
crimes. that not unfrequently the father
betrays the son, and the son the father ;
and "a mans enemies are those Of his own
house." In a word, the will of the impe.
rial tyrant is law; and the most grievous
expressions are inflicted on the people.
His DEGREES in hostility to commerce, have
spread devastation in the trading towns
and cities of France. Bordeaux, for in
stance, once so active and hourishing,
with population of upwards of 100000
persons, has by the loss of trade, lost
half of its inhabitants. The like destruc-
ton and misery have visited Holland,
which had grown and existed by commerce,
and all the other countries where the
French emperor's sway is established
Amidst these mighty ruins spread over