-CAROLINA MINERVA,
A N 0T
R A L I GH A D V ERTIS El,
.AAMSBhimitrmKr TUESDAY by &CDGE cOYLAN Printtixso xn Stat.
Vou V.
T UESD AY, OcfpBER 14, 1800.
THE
NORTH
State nf the Negociation let ween
France and America.
PARIS, 18 Thcrmidor, Auguft 6.
The conferences opened atParij with the eftvoys of.
the United States are at prefent fufpended ; nd there
is little hope of their bring fuccefisfully refamcd for fome
time. It appears that the powers vefted in tht envoys
are too lirnitted to enable them to conclude a treaty
which fhall give the fame advantages to the Republic
as thofe granted-the Englifh by the treaty made with
Mr. Jay. France choofes rather to decline treating
with the United Spates, than to fanctin the priviledg
cj which they have acceded to her enemy.
;-'" The queftioa in difputc will appear from the follow
ing particulars.
The United States and England, by the 25th arti
cle of their treaty, mutually (tipulate a free entrance
ism their refpective ports, with complete protection
10 the privateers and Chips of war cf the two countries,
andlhtf prft'esttairffomlXejrf'nem"ies.. A nd they
.jeng age. wye r to ...coocludjrsatyxtiif thejame
lfTiiiry iianvu at vi v illi cit -icr mc c-i.'i.! act
ing parties. The treaty of i 778, between France
and the United States having been annulled by the Ut
ter, and now regarded as if it nver exifted,, .they con
ceive that they Cannot give the fame privileged to
France, v ith?ut violating their aKaty with England
The French Republia does not feem difpofed to rftif
r 1 j r . i i- '. a
ly, 10 iicrowii prejudice, ana in lavcmr or me znguinjP;
her enemies and rival?, a proceeding fo unexpected on
the part of the Americans, with whom flie recently
nude a common caufc agaiNft thofe very enemies di
rected to the fame object for winch France herfelf is
bow at warr-the attainment of liberty and independ
ence, It is unfortunate that the United States fo precipi
tately annulled the treaty, of 1778. They the mfelves,
bow repent that they were induced to take that -ftp p,
1 frdepTtf er lh)fTkfnT7)oer ofv?d'T7ance';'
or a.iy otherTcountry the .fame, advantages whi:h they
have conferred on the Englifh. . Their -diplomatic a
gents muft have been very fhort lighted, or very par
tial to the inrerell of England, or their Eovofys mull
give n wrong interpolation to their iriltruCtionsnd
she treaty alluded to ; fince it appears that France, re
noancir.g the claim fhe miy have from the priority of
the treaty of 1778, nmv ofTffS-toifeat wTthoTttde
wanding any other advantage than thofe enjoyed by
the Englifh,- and which tlicy have exerci'ed during the
prefent war and the AmbafTHdors-to negociate a
peace, if they are not veiled with power to accede to
thofe conu:iions. .1 ':J-, . ; -
The negociation wss opened, on the p;rt of the
French Ccmmiffioners, on the fuppofitidh that the
treaty of 1778 was (till in force. It .was, indeed,
natural to fuppof? that, the two nations never having
oeen in a ftate of war with eich other, this treaty
could not have been annulled tvithout the conftnt of
both countries aqd in this point of 'iw it was that
the French Commiflioners offered, an indemnification
to the Americans, by admitting the principle ofcom
penfation'for illegal capture.
They even proceeded further ; i ml end trf demand
ing from the American, the indiiinite guarantee of
the French colonies, the artickof the treaty which
was nioft diladvanlaeous to the former, they agree 1
to the fubftitution of a fpeCial guarantee, fucli.as Bp
pears to be contained in the inftruftions of the preced
ing ambaffadors, according to ihe copy of them pub
lifhed by Conrefs. But the American Envoys were
ly infilled a principle which ft is ftiltmore the inter
eft and policy f the Americans to carry into executi
on. But the treaty nf 1793 with the "Englifh pre
vents them from acceding to this fyrtem, namely, that
neutral bottoms fhall" conftitate" neutral property
France, however, hopes to redlrec the powtrs of the
North to eftablifh this fyftem, t4 be excluded from the
benefit of which wo aid be highly injurious to the A
mericans. It appears, however,' that ttiefe diplomatic confer
ences have been (nndnAed in the mo ft amicable man
ner, and fo as to leave only an impreffbn of regret
that is wa impoffihle to rrmofcc the difficulties which
had occurred. The AmericSnr Ambaffadots during
their reiidence at Paris, have feeri treated with every
poffible mark of reffCt, and enjoyed all the diftinfti
oris conferred 00 the Minifters of cur Allies, As it is
at prefent, the principle and fyftem of France to ref
peet jand pjotedlbr jaw f nssMb'SiIand thelrights of j
neutiality, it is to be hoped liat the frank and equtta
ble, copdud wh aeutrol
iates, will foon remove the diSTerence which have oc
cured brt!rr?a br "d the United States ; and thai e
ven mould the prewVl uegociation not terminate in a
treaty, the American flag .all, notwithftandiag, con
tinue to be refpeCted, arid thtir tfcffcls treated as thofe
m a. feien dTy 11 a tion n ou rcourt s nt la
Ordera'are iffued to the privateers tcrr?fpec?t all
neutral-flagS, amoBj which the A merican is undoubt
edly the molt nnmerou3,-and American veiTels are dai
ly relcaftd by the courts, witli damages again ft,; the
owners of privateers. There are now about fifty cauf
es brfore the Council of Prizerefpedling vtfTel3 taken
in the European fta3, and thefe of the veffcls which
really belong to Americans wil afTaredly be reftorcd.
The fate of fiich, however, as (vere furnifhed with let
ters of marque, does not appea to be yet determined.
SlJl J.tiQUJil! t ti a t t h 9?ti p L Jil ?JElSLr pV Lt h C U t
fniVning th? conduct of tie Americans inarming
them, unlef the ,.. reft i tut ion flould rtfult frofa a new
treaty of amity. ! ' .'.
"The Preceding particulars, (hough not official, have
been commumcatd lby,the raoft refpetabJc authority.
SERIOUS CONSIDERATIONS
- .On the EltSlon of a- .
PR ESI D E N T.-
Citizens of the United States.
Fi'.ioiv-CitizenS) .
THE time is drawing near, when you will be called
to jjive your voice in the cledion of a Prefident. In
the txercife of this important privilege, it will be grant
ed, that great deliberation is neceffary ; and that upon
the choice of a fuitable perfon depends, uiider' Divine
Providencc, the '"profperity of cur nation. A few
confulerationB, tlicrcfore, will be received by you with
candor, and allowed air the weight which youmay
think them entitled. The writer of thern has neither
held, nor dots he e.tpeft ever to hold any office under
government ; he means not to be an advocate for any
particulfr man ; he is not aCtuVted by a mere regard
to the political principles of-any party but, if his
heart deceive, him not, by a fincerc dclirc for the pub
lic welfare. ' . . "
It is well tjnderftodd that the Horior?ble Thomas
jtfferlon is a candidate for the Chief Magiftracy of the
United States, and that a number of cur citizens will
civc him all their fupport.. I would not prefume to
ing that the reports which are circulated fhould be re
ceived with caution, cfpecially when there is not ready
accefs to the higheft and mod infallible fources of infor
mation. I (hall endeavour in this addrefs, to prefent to
your view, the collective evidence of Mr. Jcfferfon'a
principles as to religion, ,and fhow you why fuch a
man. ought. not to be honored and entrufted with the
office of chief migiftrate. This I hope to do princi
pally from Mfrjelferfpn's own writings, and in fuch a
manner, that neither he or any of his friends hall be
ablejuftly to charge me with the leaft mifreprefea.
tation.
; Dc fides the publications acknowledged by a man,
fomc dependence may be fairly placed upon his general
character, and his conveifation as related by men of
intelligence and veracity. The world is feldom mifta
ken as to a man's talents and moral principles ; and we
fafcly tely upon refpcdtible teftiroony. , The, avowal,
therefore, ofcntiajrnis !n converfatioh which (hall be
related, cannot be doubted, from the nature of the
authority r" and "oiir' belief will he ftrengthened wheit :
this is viewed in connection with the . Written evi
dence. .V
; Io the work e-f Mr. Jefterfon entitled " Notes on tht
fiatt of Virgini" what he fays. on the fubject of the
deluge, is a clear proof of his difrefpect for divine rcve
latibn.7"Fie oppofcj i thepiniofiT: that the fhells found
on the tops of bijh mountains ought to be confidered
as a proof of an nniverfdl deluge. He endeavours to '
fhow, tlitt if the whole contents of the atmofpherc were
water, the lands could be overflowed to the height of
52 12 feet only,tf and that in Virginia this would be a
very froall ptbpoition even of the Champaign country.
He rejects a fecond opinion, that " the bed of the
ocean, has, .by fome great ccnvulfion of nature, beea
heaved to the heights at which we now find fiiells and
other remains of marine animals." He rejects like.
5j.fe..a t h U" t . fyl t jj? a -f H g g:? fte d.. hy Vxtl U ir r . There
is a wonder," fays Mr. Jcffcrfon, fomewherC ; is it
greatell on this branch p the dilemma, on that which
fupprjfes exiftence of a power, of which we have no e
vidence iP- PVncr -,afe.-;,.ox on the. firii,, vvhlah .re. ...
quires m to believe the creation of a bbdy of water,
and its fubfequent annihilation ? The three hypethefes
are equally uafatisfactory, and we muft be contented
to acknowledge, that this great phoenomenou isjaoet
Trgniillng thtfatifc te'wtVuvl ih.uarj,
French ifiands. France, thcrefi.re, conceived herfelf ) you to hear with patience my reafons wbjr W ought
exempted from the -obligation of compensating f r the j
captures the Americans themftlves having, -by sbro- j
.'gating' the treafr,' deftroyed the bafis on which only ;
tLftr fLi.n rou!ri .ha vcJxv o. fo'j'nded, ! j
.. .It thus appears that the ncgscidt.ion turned chiefly
on three points, . ,
I.' The continuance n force, or the modified renew-
r ranee waved this point, in
not.
To thci,eclara'.ions of dif.ntereftednefs and fincerity
already made," I think it proper to add, that I have no
pcrfo'nsl Vefeniment whatever againft Mr. Jcffcrfon,
and that irrsthHn eppofe him ; that FTm-vet
vasin his company, atul would hardly know him;
that 1 honor himjis holding a high office in govern-
ment ;. that 1 aamire nis raicnuj, arm rcci g-attiui lor
: v r .1. - . r .'
IcOTTemienworthe ICI''.- 8 "v 'ir"- .
' i . u , o rnnntrr .attd that ihv nbirrtinn fn ha he.
1 6 vw"' f. " , . " J w
ing promoted to the Prefidency is founded fingly up.
on his'difheliefMhe Hoiy Scfipturesrrinxrther
words, his rejection pt the Chtinian Religion and open
profefSon of Deifrh. - ' ;
Notwithftnding the general character of Mr. Jef
ferfpri, and the proofs of his Deiftical principles which
have been partly published at different times, there are
fpme who (till doubt ; or, if they admit the truth, aie
difpofed to fay that he is lo worfc than his pponents.
Whether he is worfe or not will be fhown hereafter.--When,
the fpiiit of party, is fo 'violent as we have feen it
id this country, and the viien calumnies nave Deen pro
that they could not renew it. .
2. Tlir principle cf compenfation for illegal eap
ThU noint France offei ed to admit : but on
Uivni - f . 1,1-
new'cd, wiihthe rrvodilications ttated in tiie iintructi
oris given tyWafhltfgiQn.,., :
. 3. The z'-th article of the treaty between the Unit
ed States and Great Britain, relative to the prpteaion
granted : ta the armed. Tcffelsfjbat: na
till moft probably infift upon enjoying the fame ad
yaritage as longlalitis pbffeffed to her injury by her
encrnie's.' -:- '- - ? - . -- . '
UBfo'vcd. Ignorance is preferable to error ; and he i
lefs remote from the truth who believes nothing, than
he who beHtves what is wrong."
Let it be remarked here, that could Mr. Jeffcrfcn
found, what be thought evidence, that the waters had -ever
covered the higheft mountains, lie would have ad
mitted that folution as to the fhells ; but he attempts
to fhow the improbability of fuch a quantity of- water
being produced, and confcqujrttly difcredits the facred
hiftory. The account given by the iufpired writer; is,
AH the fountains of the great deep were breken up,
and the windows of heaven were opened, and the rant
was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. And
the waters prevailed exceed ingly-npon the earth ; and
all the.. high bilk that were itnder the tvhoie heaven w.-'
covered: , Fifteen cubits upwards did the wateis prevail ;
and the moiinains were ccvered'' ' ' .
jL. Mofxsjnentions two caufes 'of the deluge, lit foun
tains of the great deep were Irolen up, and the windows of
heaven iuereoptnd but Mr. Jefferfon docs not fp much
as name this old philofopher, while be indirectly debits
the facts, or, like other iofidcls, cannot (till get water
enough to cover the mountains.- Even a miracIe.J-s"
not lufficient with hitn-ror rather bis faith is too wec!r
to receive a miracle. Requires us, fays he, io believe the
creation of a body of water andtts Jutfequent ahhfhtlarfcm
He is at liberty to philofophizc if he. pleafes, on tiie
caufes of the deluge; it is not my bufintfs at prefent
(and I beg that it may be remembered) to refute hi
principles but only to fhow their irjconfiftency with
the Holy Scriptures. -1 1 am not Cilled then to contro
vert his pofitions, that ignorance is preferable to error,
and that he is lefs remote from the truth who believes tioih
in?, than he who believes what is wrong ; but ; I will be
"permitted to fay, that . it ':t.al3.fdtfg
Mciaic account ot the deluge, inougu ne laouiu-ncvcv
find out a fatisfactory folution J yea, though he (boul
adopt a wrong ont.
Again, upon the qasftion, Whence the firfl inhabi
tants of America originated ? Mr. Jeffeifon is 9f ;pini-
Page 28, top. 41. -The edition which 1 ule
that printed in Philadelphia, 1 778. Mrr Jefferfon has.
pubhfhed, fo late as the prefent yeaf, an appendix to
this work ; but it relates wholly to the murder of Lo
gaavs family. There is sot a retractipn of, or even a nt
apologyfor any of his fentimeuts, though he kaows
: a . ft II '.'f. 1
they have Deen rcpcateaiy centurea. -
f Gtntfis Tit. 11, 12, 19, io.
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