elect the governor and council, and generally all the chief officers, executive and judiciary" is confined to a "roll of freeholders;" which "freeholders," let it be remembered, confift of a landed ARISTOCRACY, who are the owners and pof feffors of three hundred and fortyfive thousand faves.-So that by this fingle operation, as we are told by Mr. Jefferfon himself," a majority of the men in the state, who fight and pay for its fupport, are unreprefented in the Legflature." Having disfranchifed (to borrow an expreffion from Greene) a majority of the people including all who are not owners of lands, and confequently of NEGROES (the defeription of perfons being fubftantially the fame) it would really feen no more than reasonable, that the planters should "participate equally in political rights." No, no; a Warwick man, confidered as to his political rights," is estimated at juft feventeen times as much as a man of Loudon; and nineteen thousand men living in one part of the flate give law to upwards of thirty thoufand living in another part; and appoint all their chief officers, executive and judiciary!!! 66 fon, a Pendleton, a New, a Taylor, and 66 The inequality thus defcribed by Mr. Jefferson in his Notes on Virginia, we can allure the reader, has been continual. ly increafing; the Warwick men still retain their full number of votes in the legillature, while the relative numbers of their "fighting men" have been continually diminishing. When Mr. Jefferlon lofes its fundamental character of being a writes more "Notes on Virginia," he will reprefentative body," and to complete the be compelled to acknowledge that "bematter, where there is no legal obstacle low the falls of the river" the blacks into the affumption by the Affembly of all crease in a ratio of two to one, comparthe ed with the whites; and this indifputable diciary," all which may come powers, legiflative, executive and juto the fact may, if he pleafes, be cited as a per-mallei rag of delegation." Such accortinent illuftration of the pofition allumed ding to Mr. Jefferfon's own words are the by Publius," that the principle of inveftgenuine republican inftitutions, to which ing wealth with immediate political powwe are conflantly referred as a model of er, has covered the earth with flaves.' perfection. In Virginia it is that Greene How long the Western diftri&ts will fubmay find precifely the votes of nineteen mit to be governed as they are at prefent, thousand men prevailing over thirty thou we will not here venture to exprefs a fand, and not as his diftempered imagina. conjecture they have, we know, at- tion has chofen to fancy, in Connecticut. tempted more than once to "correct the procedure," but hitherto without fuc. cefs. obferving, that all efforts to difturb the ex- Mr. Jefferfon has faid, that "from the difference of fituation and circumftances" of the men living below the falls of the river," their interefts will often be very different" from thofe of the men inhabiting the other parts of Virginia. This is certainly true, and has been lamentably felt by repeated experience in the Unite States at large. The country below theat amid the violent conflicts of faction, falls is the feat of Virginian anti-federalfm and democracy. This is the tract of country which has produced a Giles, a Claiborne, a Randolph, a Clopton, a Daw the liberties of our country will be facri- mad career of their popular DEMAGOGUES. We entreat them to confider feriously, whether they are prepared to adopt in practice the principles which are oftentatioufly promulgated, with the unworthy, the mean defign of purchafing a fhort-lived popularity, at the expence of every thing dear to America? We affure them, in the fpirit of fincerity, that the Eaftern States cannot be taught to believe in one fyftem and to practize another; and they may with certainty rely upon it, that the bittereft enemies of the Virginians cannot imprecate a greater curfe on their heads, than that they may be filled with their own devi 66 ces. to As for Greene, he perhaps may attempt adminifter" fome new quack" remedy" for the "malady" but we are much mistaken if he ever again ventures to repeat his hypothefis that a "form of government by which 19.000 freemen govern 31,000 is manifeftly and certainly not republican." Yet, unlefs we are egregioufly deceived in the man, he will not blufh even at this detection in broad day of his impudent falfhoods-the feeble vibrations of his cowardly heart may give circulation to the cold venom of malice, yet they will never excite that fort of fenfibility which is fometimes experienced by "the man who without firmness enough to avoid a difhonourable action has feeling enough to be ashamed of it," but we may look for him among thofe wretches who have arrived at that flate of "abandoned profligacy" which renders them infenfible to reproach and incapable of compunction. Be it our weekly task, To note the passing tidings of the times. [We shall make no apology for occupying a large FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE, OF MAY 17. DECLARATION. HIS Majefly's earnest endeavours for the prefervation of peace having failed of fuccefs, he entertains the fulleft confidence that he fhall receive the fame fupport from his Parliament, and that the fame zeal and fpirit will be manifefted by his people, which he has experienced on every occafion when the honour of his Crown has been attacked, or the effential interefts of his dominions have been endangered. dence, might at leaft have allayed their ty's fubjects during the war, have been en- ty; violence has been offered in feveral There was confequently too much rea- lib. To a fyftem of conduct thus open, eral, and friendly, the proceedings of the French Government afford the moft ftriking contraft. The prohibitions which had been placed on the commerce of his Majef. them; and it cannot be denied, that the ed. The conduct of the French Government, with refpect to the Commercial Intercourfe between the two countries, muf therefore be confidered as l fuited to a ftate of peace, and their proceedings in the more general political relations, as well as in thofe which immediately concern his Majefty's dominions, appear to have been altogether inconfiflent with every princialtogether inconfiftent with every principle of good faith, moderation, and juftice. His Majefly had entertained hopes, in confequence of the repeated affurance, and profeffions of the French Government, that they might have been induced to adopt a fy fiem of policy, which, if it had not infpired other powers with confi had really appeared to be actuated by a due attention to fuch a fyftem; it their difpofitions had proved to be effentially pacific, allowances would have been made for the fituation in which a new Govern. ment must be placed after fo dreadful and extenfive a convulfion as that which has been produced by the French revolution. But his Majefly has unfortunately had too much reafon to obferve and to lament, that the fyftem of violence, aggreffion, and ag. grandizement, which characterifed the proceedings of the different Governments of France during the war, has been continued with as little difguife fince its ter mination. They have continued to keep a French army in Holland againft the will, and in defiance of the remonftrances of the Batavian Government, and in repug. nance to the letter of three folemn trea ties. They have, in a period of peace, invaded the territory, and violated the independence of the Swifs nation, in defiance of the treaty of Luneville, which had ftipulated the independence of their terri tory, and the right of the inhabitants to chufe their own form of government.They have annexed to the dominions of France, Piedmont, Parma, and Placentia, and the Island of Elba, without allotting any provifion to the King of Sardinia, whom they have defpoiled of the most valuable part of his territory, though they were bound, by a folemn engagement to the Emperor of Ruffia, to attend to his interefts and to provide for his eftablifh. ment. It may, indeed, with truth be af ferted, that the period which has elaples fince the conclufion of the definitive trea ty, has been marked with one continued feries of aggreffion, violence, and infuk on the part of the French government. In the month of October laft, his Ma jefly was induced, in confequence of the earneft folicitation of the Swiss nation, to make an effort, by a reprefentation to the French Government, to avert the evils which were then impending over the country. This reprefentation was couch. ed in the most temperate terms; and meafures were taken by his Majesty for afcertaining, under the circumftance which then exifted, the real fituation and wifhes of the Swifs Cantons, as well as the fentiments of the Cabinets of Europe.His Majefly learned, however, with the utmoft regret, that no difpofition to cour teract these repeated infractions of treatis and acts of violence was manifefted by and of the powers moft immediately interede in preventing them; and his Majelly there fore felt that, with refpect to thefe o je&ts, his fingle efforts could not be epected to produce any confiderable ad vantage to thofe in whofe favour they might be exerted. It was about this time that the French Government firft diftinctly advanced the principle, that his Majefly had no right to complain of the conduct, or to interfere with the proceedings of France, on any point which did not form a part of the flipulations of the treaty of Amiens. That treaty was unquestionably founded upon the fame principle as every other antecedent treaty or convention, on the affumption of the ftate of poffeffion and of engage. ments fubfifling at the time of its conclufion; and if that ftate of poffeffion and of engagements is materially affected by the voluntary act of any of the parties, fo as to prejudice the condition on which the oth er party has entered into the contract, the change, fo made, may be confidered as operating virtually as a breach of the treaty itfelf, and as giving the party aggrieved a right to demand fatisfaction or compenfa tion for any fubflantial difference which fuch acts may have eflected in their relative fituations; but whatever may be the principle on which the treaty is to be confidered as founded, there is indifputably a general law of nations, which though liable to be limited, or reftrained by conventional laws, is antecedent to it, and is that law or rule of conduct to which all Sovereigns & States have been accuftomed to appeal, where conventional law is admitted to have been filent. || the victims of a war which is alledged to | His Majefty judged it moft expedient, Whilft his majefty was actuated by thefe Neapolitan troops into the ifland. His The treaty of Amiens, and every other treaty, in providing for the objects to which it is particularly directed, does not therefore affume or imply an indifference to all other objects which are not fpecified in its ftipulation, much lefs does it adjudge them to be of a nature to be left to the will and caprice of the violent and powerful. The juftice of the caute is alone a fufficient ground to warrant the interpofition of any of the powers of Europe in the differences which may arife between other flates, and the application and extent of that just interpofition is to be determined folely by confiderations of prudence. Thele principles can admit of no difpute; but if the new and extraordinary pretenfion advanced by the French government, to exclude his Majefty from any right to interfere with refpect to the concerns of other powers, His Majefty cannot, however, admit, unless they made a specific part of the flip that at any period fince the conclufion of ulations of the treaty of Amiens, was that the treaty of Amiens, the French govern. which it was poffible to maintain, those ment have had a right to call upon him, in powers would have a right, at leaft, to claim conformity to the ftipulations of that trea the benefit of this principle, in every cafety, to withdraw his forces from the island of difference between the two countries. of Malta. The indignation of all Europe must surely then be excited by the declaration of the French government, that, in the event of holilities, these very powers who were no parties in the treaty of Amiens, and who were not allowed to derive any advantage from the remonftrances of his Majesty in their behalf, are nevertheless to be made At the time when this demand was made by the French government, several made by the French government, feveral of the most important ftipulations of the arrangement refpealing Malta remained unexecuted. The election of a Grand Mafter had not been carried into effect. The tenth article had ftipulated that the independence of the ifland fhould be plac cd under the guarantee and protection of Great-Britain, France, Auftria, Ruffia, Spain and Pruffia. The Emperor of Ger many had acceded to the guarantee, but only on condition of a like acceffion on the part of the other powers fpecified in the article. The Emperor of Ruflia had refufed his acceffion, except on condition that the Maltefe Langue fhould be abrogated; and the king of Pruffia had given no answer whatever to the application which had been made to him to accede to the arrangement. But the fundamental principle, upon the exiftence of which depended the execution of the other parts of the article, had been defeated by the changes which had taken place in the Conftitution of the Order fince the conclufion of the treaty of peace. It was to the Order of St. John of Jerufalem that his Majefty was, by the firft ftipulation of the 10th article, bound to reftore the ifland of Malta. The Order is defined to confift of thofe Langues which were in exiftence at the time of the conclufion of the treaty the three French Langues having been abolished, and a Maltese Langue added to the inftitution. The Order confifted, therefore, at that time of the fol lowing Langues, of Aragon, Caftile, Germany, Bavaria, and Ruffia. Since the conclufion of the Definitive Treaty, the Langues of Arragon and Caftile have been feparated from the Order by Spain, a part of the Italian Langue has been abolished by the annexation of Piedmont and Parma to France. There is firong realon to be. lieve that it has been in contemplation to fequeftrate the property of the Batavian Langue, and the intention has been a vowed of keeping the Ruflian Langues within the dominions of the Emperor. Under thefe circumftances, the Order of St. John cannot now be confidered as that body to which, according to the flipulations of the treaty, the illand was to be reftored; and the funds indifpenfably neceffary for its fupport, and for the maintenance of the independence of the ifland, have been nearly, if not wholly, fequefier. ed. Even if this had arifen from circumftances which it was not in the power of any of the contracting parties to the treaty to controul, his Majefty would neverthe lefs have a right to defer the evacuation of the island by his forces, until fuch time as an equivalent arrangement had been concluded for the prefervation of the independence of the order and of the ifland. But if thefe changes have taken place in confequence of any acts of the other parties to the treaty; if the French government fhall appear to have proceeded upon a fyftem of rendering the order whofe independence they had ftipulated, incapable of maintaining that independence, his Majefly's right to continue in the oc cupation of the island, under fuch cir- At the very time when his Majefty was demanding fatisfaction and explanation on fome of the points above-mentioned, the French minifter at Hamburgh endeav Yet notwithstanding this right fo clear oured to obtain the infertion in a Hamand fo unquestionable, the alternative pre-burgh paper of a moft grofs and opprofented by the French government to his brious libel against his Majefty, and when As the conduct of the governments of Majefty, in language the most perempto- difficulties were made re pecting the inferFrance and Spain have, therefore, in fomery and menacing, was the Evacuation of tion of it, he availed himfelf of his official inftances directly and in others indirectly, Malta, or the Renewal of War. character of Minister of the French.repubcontributed to the changes which have ta- It the views of ambition and aggandize-lic to require the publication of it by order ken place in the Order, and thus destroyed ment which have thus been manifefted by of his government in the Gazette of the its means of fupporting its independence, the French government fince the conclu Senate of that town. With this requifition it is to thofe governments, and not to his fion of the treaty of peace, have in fo very fo made, the Senate of Hamburgh were inMajefty, that the non-execution of the particular a manner attracted the attention duced to comply; and thus has the indetenth article of the treaty of Amiens muft of his Majefty, it has been equally impof-pendence of that town been violated, and a fible for him not to feel, and not to notice, the repeated indignities which have been offered by the government to his crown, and to his people. be afcribed. Such would be the juft conclufion if the tenth article of that treaty were confidered as an arrangement by itfelf. It must be obferved, however, that this article forms a part only of a treaty of peace, the whole of which is connected together, and the ftipulations of which muft, upon a principle common to all treaties, be confine d as having a reference to each other. His Majefty was induced by the treaty of peace to confent to abandon and to ref tore to the Order of St. John the Island of Malta, on condition of its independence and neutrality. But a further condition which must neceffarily be fuppofed to have had confiderable influence with his majefty in inducing him to make fo important a conceffion was the acquiefcence of the French government in an arrangement for the fecurity of the Levant, by the eighth and ninth articles in the treaty, ftipulating the integrity of the Turkish Empire, and the Independence of the Ionian Islands. His Majeftey has however, fince learnt, that the French government have entertained views hoftile to both thefe objects; and that they have even fuggefted the idea of partition of the Turkish Empire. These views must be now manifeft to all the world, from the official publication of the report of Col. Sebastiani; from the conduct of that officer, and of the other French agents in Egypt, Syria, and Ionian Ilands, and from diftinét admiffion of the Firft Conful himself, in his communication with Lord Whitworth. His Majelty was therefore warranted in confidering it to be the determination of the French government to violate thofe articles of the treaty of peace, which ftipulated for the integrity and independence of the Turkish Empire, The report of Col. Sebaftiani contains the most unwarrantable infinuations, and charges against his Majefty's government, against the officer who commanded his for ces in Egypt, and againft the British army in that quarter. This paper cannot be confidered as the publication of a private individual; it has been avowed, and indeed bears evidence upon the face of it, that it is the official report of an accredited agent, publithed by the authority of the government to which it was addreffed, who thereby have given it their exprefs fanc tion. This report had been publifhed a very The conduct of the firft Conful to his free ftate made the inftrument, by menace of the French government, of propagating thoughout Europe, upon their authority, the moft offenfive and unfounded calumnies against his Majefty and his govern ment. His Majefty might add to this lift of indignities, the requifition which the French government have repeatedly urged, that the laws and conftitution of his country fhould be changed relative to the liberty of the prefs. His Majefly might likewife add the calls which the French government have on feveral occafions made upon him to violate the laws of hofpitality with ref. pect to perfons who had found an afylum within his dominions, and against whole conduct no charges whatever has at any time been fubitantiated. It is impoffible to reflect on thefe different proceedings, and the courfe which the French government have thought proper to adopt relpecting them without the thorough conviction that they are not the effect of accident; but that they form a part of a fyftem which has been adopted for the purpofe of degrading, vilifying, and infulting his Majefly and his government. Under all these infults and provocations, his Majefty, not without a due fenfe of his dignity, has proceeded with every degree of moderation to obtain fatisfaction and redrefs, while he has neglected no means, confiftent with his honor and the fafety of his dominions, to induce the government of France to concede to him, what is in his judgment, abfolutely neceffary for the future tranquility of Europe. His efforts in this refpect have proved abortive. He has therefore judged it neceflary to order his ambassador to leave Paris. In having recourfe to this proceeding, it that prevailed at the board. When the "Prefident of the United States," was given, no perfon rose from his feat-no has been his object to put an end to the fruitlefs difcuffions which have too long. fubfifted between the two governments, and to clofe a period of fufpenfe peculiarly in-applauding hand was railed-not a whifjurious to the fubjects of his Majefty. per of approbation was heard. But when "The late Prefident," was toafted, the company rofe, to a man, and gave three hearty cheers. The following toafts were received with great applaufe : But though the provocations which his Majefty has received might entitle him to larger claims than thole which he has advanced, yet anxious to prevent calamities which might thus be extended to every part of Europe, he is ftill willing, as far as is confiftent with his own honor, and the interefts of his people, to afford every facility to any juft and honorable arrangement, by which such evils may be averted. He has, therefore, no difficulty in declaring to all Europe, that notwithflanding all the changes which have taken plac fince the treaty of peace, notwithstanding the extenfion of the power of France, in repugnance to the treaty, and to the fpirit of peace itself, his Majefty will not avail himlelf of thefe circumflances, to demand in compenfation all that he is entitled to require, but will be ready to concur, even now, in the arrangement by which fatisfaction fhall be given to him, for the indignities which have been offered to his crown and to his people, and fubftantial fecurity afforded against further encroachments on the part of France. His Majefty has thus diftin&tly and unrefervedly stated the reafons of thofe proceedings, to which he has found himfelt compelled to refort. He is actuated by no difpofition to interfere in the internal concerns of any other state; by no prospects of conqueft and agrandizement; but folely by a fenfe of what is due to the honor of his crown, and the interefts of his people, and by an anxious defire to obftru&t the further progrefs of a fyflem, which if not refifted, may prove fatal to every part of the civilized world. Hudson, July 12, 1803, The anniversary of our independence was celebrated in this city on the 4th inft. but not with as much formality as has been usual. The citizens dined in detached mixed companies. Mr. Attorney. General Spencer read the Declaration of Independence at the Prefbyterian Meeting-houfe, and Mr. Daniel Rodman, one of his clerks, delivered an Oration. On this production we fhall make no comments, as, we are informed, it was prepared at fhort notice. A large and refpe&table company of Mechanics, of both political fects, partook of an entertainment at Mr. Stocking's Inn. The toafts prepared for the occafion, were calculated to give no offence to either party; but the manner in which they were received, fufficiently evinced the fpirit American Farmers May neither drought, dull times, nor infects, deftroy their hopes. American Mechanics-May the im plements of their trade, grow bright with conftant ufe, and may their profpects brighten with their tools. American Merchantstheir undertakings. Success to || difpofing of the refidue. While at this laft place, he fold fome flour and butter. to a Mr. Reap, a clerk of Mr. Nicholson, a merchant at Nevis. The articles being landed, a difpute arofe between Reap and capt. H. refpecting the payment for them. Words enfuing capt. Hilldrup directed his men to remove the articles, and carry them on board the fchooner. Reap then drew a piftol and fwore he would fhoot the man who fhould attempt to remove them, and actually fnapped at one of the hands. The mate of the fchooner being prefent, made an attempt to remove the property, when Reap poitned his piftol at him as it to fire upon him. Capt. Hilldrup inftantly attempted to feize the pistol from Reap's hand, and a struggle enfued, in which the contents of the piftol were lodged in Capt. Hilldrup's breast. He furvived the wound about three minutes. Lord Lavington has iffued a fpecial commiffion for a Court of Oyer and Terminer, and a day is fixed for the trial of the offender, who is now confined in irons, and will it is hoped meet with his deferts-Capt. Hilldrup was an active and enterprifing young man, and has left many friends to bewail his untimely fate. A letter from a gentleman in Bordeaux, received at Charleston, dated in May, fays; I fhould not be at all furprised to fee bad times in France. They are now taking up all the young men under 28 years of age for the army, which has occafioned a revolt, as I learn yesterday, within a few miles of Bordeaux; a party of military by the name of Gens Daimes, employed by the government to take fuch youths, for each of which they receive a Louis D'Or, these young men fired upon them, at a place called Byle, on which there. was blood fhed-the fame thing has happened at Paris." An erroneous opinion has gone abroad, that in part purchase of Louifiana, we are to pay our merchants for French/poliations committed during the laft war--not fo; the claims for thefe fpoliations have been formally relinquifhed by treaty. The claims now provided for, are understood to be thofe arifing from purchases made by the French from our citizens of provifions and fpplies for their fleets and armies in the Wefl-Indies; indemnification for French bills drawn on Hamburgh and protefted, harie, which was published in the 26th Number of &c. &c. in fhort for all contracts made between authorised agents of France and American citizens. [Ev. Poft.] HARTFORD, JUNE 22. By letters received in town we have received intelligence of the murder of capt. William Hilldrup of this place, Capt. Hilldrup failed from this in March left in the fch'r Catharine, the property of Meffrs. Williams and Lawrence bound on a voyage to the Weft Indies. He arrived at Antigua and fold part of his cargo, and thence proceeded to Nevis, where he was CORRECTION. An error of some consequence occured in the communication of "PUER," relating to a remarkable instance of petrifaction, in the county of Scho the Balance. The word "brimstone" was inserted instead of Limestone, in the 27th line of the communication. Such printers as have copied the piece, will oblige us by noting the error. To Correspondents. "WASHINGTON," is under consideration. The proceedings on the Anniversary of our Independence, at Livingston Ville, in this state, and at Lee, in Massachusetts, are necessarily postponed until our next. |