V
1
fwfl & x Hiir Pols. pe
an rujahle hnJj Yearly. J
PUBLISHED (wEEKl
'Vol.. 8.
t;
W-o bollAM tER, ANN.
RALEIGg;;(yt; jtom iUVF.!), 1803.
No. 370.
FROM THE UNITED STATES GAZETTE. -
' Late attempts to ftifle free enquiry, &
to deftro? the liberty of the prefs, have
excited ftrong and general indignation
throughout the country.
In thefe attempts we have feen magis
trates, legiflators, and private citizens
engage with a zeal approaching to mad
nefs, and in the purluit of vi&ims for
their malacc, we have feen the princi
ples of law end decency violated, and
the freeft febpe given to' the moft re
vengeful paflions. - The Firft JVIagiftrate
of a great and important State, difre
garding the principles and, practice of
his partizans, and the means by which
.. his own elevap&n was procured, has
TPh'cly advised prbceedingr which
in their o"ocratibrf'-vill''ryrtevfnr. nil fr.
- ----- j- - . .. m. m w-
and full difcullioa pf public : meafures,
"and condemn as common Jibellers the
whole claJs of republican editors. A
diitinguifhed bawlerfor liberty and e
quality, an open advocate for the free-
dom or ipecch and of the fireft, has had
the" impudence to demand, and has ob
tained, in a Court of Initirc.
v.irora ine caitor oi apuoiicpaper to pre
vent future infractions of Iawhv the Dub
lication of libels. Men whofe elevated
itaVms have -procured for them the ap-
, pellation of " honourable genjemetif have
not only refuled to hear, , but vilely tra
duced, the defence of a late public offi
cer of high refpecrability, after having
made and publifhed. allegations againft'
him, derogatory to official character and
-io private repuuuicn.
m The fedition law, the nature and prin
ciples of. which were" mod grofsly and
wickedjy miirepreTented, excited much
public indignation: . But this law did
not prohibit a free difcullion of -public
ineafures, norcifull examination oi pub
lic characters. Tt allowed the utmolt la
titude of inquiry that an honelf. man
"could defire;: It operated as a meliora-,
tion of the Uriel: principles, of the, com
mon law in regard to libellous publicati
ons", and, while it produced fecurity to
the government, it clearly pointed out
the nature of the offence, and gave to
the citizen who was profecuted, a juft
acquittal unlefs fidthood arid mdfce were
pioved againft hi:n. The inquiries of
Jurors were confined to the truth of the
publication and the intetitienoi its author,
and the: power of Judges was limited to
the impofition.of a fmall fine and a mart
imprrfonment. The lenity of the pun
imment evinced the humane defign of
the Iem'flature. and ihe iuftir-enf a law
which indulged the freeft publication,of
trutn, mould not nave been quettioned;
Againft this law, however, aloud and
powerful clamour was excited. It-was
. proclaimed to be an ad of injuftice and
oppreffion, oppofed by the conftitution
of the country,-and in direct hoftility
to the fundamental principles' of the gov
ernment. The meii who thus oppofed
the continuance of this law, foon rofe
to the direction of .the public affairs.
The Jay was fuflef ed to expire, and thofe
. who had oppofed it as oppielTive and ty
rannical, have fmce unblufiiingly' fought
fecurity for themfelves in the more rigid
Brincinles of the common law. r!Yntk
ur -x - - -
is no longer fullered to be given in evi
dence on a trial for a libel ; the offence
itfclf is fo vaguely defined, that the con
viction of the profecufed is dependent
rather upon the feelings and prejudices
efurors, than upon any known and cf
tablifhed principled of law j and t he pu
nilhmentto be inflicted is reftrict.ed.by
no prefcribed rule but isjtvholly depend
ent' upon the judgment cf the court.
JOieperfon convicted .of publifhing a li
bel mar at the difcrefllon of a Judge, be
fined in a Aim beyond his ability to pay,
and fentenced.to ' imprifonment for a.,
time adequate -to an expiation of the
inoit enormous' offence.
" ' .nce is feriouflyafked, proceeds
-inis unequal diftribution of! juftice?
vvny are attempts fo unprecedented, &
jo directly -appofed by theprofeffions of
thofe who make them, now ufed to fi
fence republican preffes ? Have not the
ilien who now adminifter this govern
ment, and thofe who fupport thefe mes,
again and again challanged their adver
iaries to appear at the bar of public opi
nion ? -Why Jo they. now fhrink from
this bar, and ftrike the mofhfeadly blows
al the freedom of inquiry? - '
. What fanttity of character belongs to
thec rnen whef how manage the" political
concerns of the country, which did not
belong to thofe who once filled-the plac
es of power and, truft?. lias a change of
rulers produced a change in the eternal
principles of juftice ? Does political ele
vation clothe its poffeffor with a coat of
mail againft which reafon and argument
mail not be .directed? And (hall thofe
complainof reafon and argument, the
weapons of whofe warfare have been the
groffeft falfhood- arid the raojl mallcf
oas flander ? Shall the common libel
ler be heard in his demand, that not e
ven the truth fhall be told of him? And
fhall the profeffed advocates for the free-"
"dom of the prefs, be regarded with re-,
vefence.-when thev enihlnv vinlpnrr.
jiijuiuki ivj iictiit me piwxic ux m;r cp
ponents ? Are the claims to refpeft and
confidence which are now exhibited,
more to be regarded than were thofe
which appeard in the days of our beloved
Wafhiiigt-on ? Do the virtues, talents
and patriot! Im of that fame Washington,"
:pfAtbms,cJai-ElswbftlW'oPinck-
f-ney, of Jvmg, of Ames, of Pickering,
of Hamilton, ofMarfhalf, or of Dexter,
fadein the cpmparifbn with thofe which
are how prefeoted in the-perfons of the
fage of Monticellflr, the Genevan fecre
tary, or with thofe of our recently ap
pointed envoy to France, t hole" of Mr.
Charles Pinckney, or thgife cf the Wor
ceffer Farmer ?
Is the fiily vanity, bovifli" oetulanrp.
difcuftinii Drefurnniio'i. and arifforra-
:ic pride. of that contraction of a man,
Randoloh. more to he fionnrpd vnlnH
andrefpetled, than the exten(ive know
ledge, the coinprehenfive mind, thedif
criminating j'udgmerit, the clear, clofe,
and ccnclufive reafoning of Griiwold ?
Is the fp'lenetic. malianant. fcowlinir-
and defamatory Giles," more attic, more
terfe. more rthflrJal. mnrp tprriKU In
j w A v m A
debate than Bayard'? Is thefhrewd
tice. the rnermacetri Diwfoiii the vm-
ous D'oclor, thiTyilbgifiw Bacon, the
half reafoning Davis, and the fmirking,
blimderinpr, cabbline: Smith, edual to
h::n uniofc; wt & elonnsnce coiifH nub
a Dm.-tb Leiril.iiure fyeak, and a Randolph
fc-Ad. Is the fit, waddling, unwieldy fe
..nator'ial. gniTitei-' of fpeeches, borrowed
iroip the prelidential lloremore vivid,
more variqus, more intere'ffinjf, more
convincing, than the rhetoric oAIorris ?
Is the dull, muddv. deleterious harancus
of Brackenridge, comparable to the deep
Ciear, . lull, and refililels. arguments cf
lracy cr Kois r Is tne frothy; the bao-
biing, the monotonous, the napekits,
the .nanielels nothings that proceed from
a right, to be weighed againit th'ejuhV
obieivatimis and found fenfe of hbnelt
Howard ? , .
Has the prefent Secretary of Slate
more eneryy of characler, .more know
ledge of men, more information relative
to fotehm nations, . more. Correct views
of the inter eft of his country, than th'.-
a'rnoli virtuous and highly renowned
ihicFat their head, entering upon a la
borious, delicate, perplexing arduous,
-and difficult undertaking. 1 This work
befnK. fiijimed the fame crear man 5n.
pears to prtfide over the councils of the
nation. A new ftate of things arifes out
of difordcr and confufion, public and
private diffrefs. The great debt of In
dependence is funded, and its gradual
and final extinction effectually provided
fbr National judicatures are erefted
a revenue' fyftein is formed, and a reve
nue commenfurate to exifting wants and
canable of eafv extenfion. in He ovent
of thole cafualties horn wliich no nation
can be fecure is collected. An Indian
:w4r.i?fac6iliFt
darief forne lea lements greatly enlarg
ed i an evacuation of our mihtaty polfs
and country, held by Great Britain and
Spaing obtained ; two infurredions hap
pily quelled ; Peace, made with the Bar
bary powers ; and our enflaved citizens
reitortdjo liberty and their, country.-
The intrigues of Genet" and a French
DrrecTpry, to" miflcad our citizens and
man 'upon Whom malice and democracy,
an(Hcer, have emptied the vials of
their vvrnth ? Has thr nnMVnr .9frrpforv
of the'freafury mcrefinancial (kill, mere
c.yeiiiiye, or muiure acqu.unrauce wnu-
the various obj Jets fufceptible of impoft.
a fupiribr faculty to equalizs taxes, and
to render them agents in promutingthe
general induftry. and wealth cf the' coun
try, than has been evinced in "the admi-'
nillratiori , of: Hamiltcn or AVolcoLt ?
Has the prefent Secretary of war " 'mere
cr -hi' talents, knowledge and genicus,
for a war'miniftcr.han Mr Ms Henry ?
Has M'f. Smith difcovered more ability
and information, neceffary for well con
duaing theiiaval-department, thap Mr.
io wntcn ox thtjemen are the people
moll indebted ? Which of them will hif
tory feleCt, as thefounders of their coun
try's greatne'athefirmeft'iupporrers
of its rights in adverJity,' and as the ableit
flatefmen df the times, arid as havmcr
Deen ing moil oaieiy aeramea, iiandcreu
and calumniated ? .
it is the afts of reat men by which
hiltory chiefly dtftinguiflies' them, and
by which they are bell known to pcife
rify. Let us anticipate the picture which
hiltory will preferit to pofterity, and the
fentence it will pronounce upon the
public characters of thb prefent. day.
Oh one fide of this picture,-we behold
"nrfpr of mm nf nipe honour. ' dpa td.
' Jents, nd unimpeaclid integrity, ' with
embroil us m war, liave been detected
and difcornftted ) - the honour of the U
nited States has been nobly maintained
Oh the Ocean, ; the commerce' extend ed ;
the national wealth increafed"; ' agricul
ture made more flourifhing; and the
wealth of our merchants, armers, fliip
builders, and mechapics, has been aug
mented. The energy of our councils,
and lhe warlike preparations to 'maintain
then,, have cauleu our rights as a nation
to bfc every where refpe&ed, The Trea-
fury has been made to overflow ; . the 1
peope have not been emban afled by
too tiinch regula'tion, nor onprefied bv
fical xtflioru' 'Ihe tfiouth oi 1 tabmr has
been .ever yvvhers fnis&J, and no pcv.rtj
feen in the land.
- AY hat, do we perceive, on the ether
fidtfjpfohc Picture ? a.group of figures,
beiwrfd' -which appear the head "of a tall,
thin man,- and the body-ofa little man,
half feen and half concealed. TLcfe are
the men who oppoied the funding of
the public debt, which reftored the cre
dit of. th nation, and which, acting al
raoft inftantaneoufly as fo much circu
lating medium,gave a new fpring to
coMtoeree and induftry. Thefe are the
men who oppofed the .evenuefyftem in
its moft important branches, to which
the "Country owes its overflowing .treafu
ry, and. the means of cxtingdfhing the
public-debt.-- i hefe are, the men who
oppofed themeafurcs whith induced
Great Britain.and Spain to yield, up to
the United States its territory, which en
abled government to erect m wo k Kv
ffates, which opened a new foarce of re
venue from the fales of land, and made
room for an incrvafed population. Thef e
are the'mcn who condemned the mfa
fures taken by the go-icrnment to quell
two inflections-, w hich ref Jesed to thcr
union internal tranquility, and'every
where obedience to, and a due execu
tion off-the laws. , Thefe. are the men
who oprofed.and condemned the coun
cils adopted and pfrfiued by the execu
tive, 'to defeat the projects of Genet and
his employers, to fave the United States
from a war with England, and aperpe--tual
alliance, ojfetifwe, and ih'enfw with
France. rJ hde are the. meii vvhn rp(i.
e,d and deprecated the building of lliips
of war, and the limited hoftilitie'? wag
ed againft France, which offered pro
tection to trade, humbled the pride of
the directory,' and broke alunder
chains which had bound the United
States to France. Thefe arp thprmn
who oppofed, and condemned, the war
like alpedt given to the United States,
which f ecured what ought to rank high-'
elf in the eftimation of every American
their rights, their honour, and their
independence! , . t -h
We have need of patience while en
gaged in the contemplation of thefe.
vents. The man whofe head appears
1 1 ' f T 1
uuyc ms icuow men, ana ne wno js
but half feen, were the firft: who cftar
blifhed anewfDaDer. haviri'or for rtrhb-
ject to vilify- the gbyernmerit, its mem
bers ana its meafures. Iheie two indi
viduals,. rhc,t one by advancing mone
arid furmfhing information, the othijr by"
purchafinrf a numbef of copies and dif
tnbuting them made thenifelvcs brinci
pals in the moft libellous, defamatory,
and abufive work aeainft the eovmu
mcnt and its members, ever publifhed
m any age or country. . t. ...
t A moft profligate libeller from a for
eign country has called General Wafh
mgton a- murderer and a legalizer of
corruption. 'I he fame being has elect
ed and employed for the abufe of Mr.
Adams the vilcft nhrafes and mnft r,K.
noxious epithets. ; He has reprdented"
thofe Ttarh'o c'ompofed the lateadminiftra
tions, as men, the moft vicious and a
bandoned. cuiltv of fraud and mrnmtfi
fP ivPcd ly a forign. court to betray
thennerefts of their country; public
plunderers, defaulters, and incendiaries.
He has acknowledged, - that be was re
tained in Philadelphia, and paid by the
tall chieftain of the party, for his para
graphs iBjheVtaymgh
per month. : This hired 'fnrmn K!d -
libeller by his own confefiion, with a
noted blafjliemer, and- a yile pm Joiner
of private letters, occafionally eat at the
table, with both the great & - little man,
while, with malignant flander, theypur
fue the departed benefactors of our
country to their staves, and the living
into their retirements. . But ftiil they
have not flopped here. The abufc and ;
calumny of public newfpapers were
deemed infufiicicnt to deftroy the cha
racters of thefrtfien. Prefidential mef
fages, legiilative fpeeches, " and official
reports have teemed with fa I fe and ma
lignant charges and unfounded infinua
tions againft the fair fame-of the men to
whom our country is indebted for its
glory and its independence.
Ponder 1 : I befeech you, my fellow
citizens, upon thefe things. . Think! ree
fy, and fpeak boldly what you think.
The times require if, Gratitude for im
portant fer vices tendered you demand
it. You have witnefled, during a peri
od of more than twelve years, the moftT
infa mous flanders and reproaches heap
ed upon the men. to whom. nnrWr..
vidence, yoi;r country is chiefly indebt
ed tor its prolperity : for the blefhngs of
peace, and internal tranquility i for its
overflowing treafury ; for the means
which have been provided for extinguifh
ing your public debt j f or.your "i.a:ional
armouries, foUndaYies, arfenals, ancfo
ther important p'ieparationior the de
fence of our.;CQ,untry, and to preferve
peace, on our frontiers : and for a re
fpcdUble naval elUbjifliment, to protect :
our trade againft the Barbaly powers,
and our feainen and citizens from fla ve
ry. , ,
" VHut do you further witnefs ? The
calumniators of thefe men, are now la
bouring to filence your republican prefs
es apd to ftifle free enquiry. Now that ,v
detection advances upon them, in all its
terrors, the defamers preach againft de
famation, the libellers againft libels.f '
What think you of inch men ? Look at
their countenances, like the mole, jthey
would bury themf'elves in the earth. -
l hey tremble. at the approach of truth,
like-the ienfitive plant at the touch of
man. l hey feekTafety from nurfuit in
he nlf of an office, like the Italian af
r- i . j ..:"r.'iuttn ar
. - h-t "r. .
tuwrr dim giuiu im.c xmrjnes, ine vile
calumnior of 'heroes,1 at the merited
chaftifement which has at-length over
taken them; VINDICATOR.
. See Governor M' Xean't addr efs ttthe kgijla
turf nf PennMvania. 1 he refnlui'tnnt .
s (l b-!tcve) Lar ten' Smith, in the, Virginia ajfcmlhj-
tive to (,allentier, Se alfs tb pmfeculion c6n-
JuHtil lv AmbTote' Suenccr. Attomtv :
1 Netu Tori, againft Henry Crcftvtll, Editor i f
'.J
When the hill ulhieh laiJ the' foundation of our
Jittle navy mat. tmdet canjtdtration jn th'i houe of
reprejeniattves, mr. titles t tti bit jpeecb m ofoi
tiontothi liQ, aid if the bill niuft pais, thank
ry is to be buttt,' - - '-
f0Af THE fFEi T1KN TEILSGKJPBS.'
Law intelligence.
D!ri3 citurt of Virginia, hoUen at Monongalia
Court jipvfe, before the honorable Archibald Siu
art 'i a judg? of the general court. '
September term, if 02?1 - f
jRARCiy A..TRiPiETT, verfuj Jomh J. Jack.
SONr-
t .
'Breach of promife of marriage. . .. -
by btieflr Ratio? to the iufr the nature of the
afttoD. They then called a umberoltkijao
'
.1.
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