I ers, who had entrusted him with a dif retionary powjr on this expedition, the necessity of bringing (pme persons from rlandert, who were acquainted with the management of artillery; and as he hop ped to have formed an immediate junction with the Royalitls, he had appointed two French officers, of great merit, his aids-cl u camp, and another as hiss fecietary; because he conceived, the junction once made," Ins little army was not to be grafted into that of the Royalifis, but was to form a part of that which he had the honor to command. In these circumstan ces, he thought himfelf juftilicd in making the appointments on which such animad versions had been made. He concluded by faying, that he took the whole responsibility upon himfelf, be cause his Majeily's Ministers had fully approved of the appointment he had re commended to them. Lord Lauderdale rose to juftify the notice that had been taken in the House of Commons of these Had minilters been as candid and explicit as the Noble Lord, it would have been deemed fatiffadtory ; but they had observed a fulien silence, and had not even deigned to give the least explanation on the fubjeft. Lord Greenville wished all responsibility for the measures adopted by Earl Moir'a to attach an adminiiti ation, who, he con tended, had acted legally and conlHtution ally. NATIONAL CONVENTION. Tuesd/y,February 4. The white colonist, admitted yesterday to represent St. Domingo, drew the plflure of the aftnai li ua ion of t lat iflar.d. After •Numerating those par ticulars which are al ready own, he pi ucei den to llate the btlrn . * Cape Francci', ,md the expuifion of Gal oot, trie of Dtimourier, who in con junction with the rich inhabitants, to deliver up the iflmd to the' Engiifli and Spaniards He stated, that the black, with the patriots, had lought agamft thole traitor*• and that the civil crnnnnffiouers, to reward rne blacks, had proclaimed tne liberty <.f the (laves thr .ughout the island >. that the blacks had ftvorn perpetual allegiance to France' and the mod vigorous refinance to rhe 1. >'' t!lev ">ouW dare lope etrate into tho interior parts of the island. _ The .rator concluded Iris repor tbv prov ! lng, that the rich planters, the ex-noble emigrarts and nth merchant of St. Dominim' *ad projeftcd to give up that island to tile Engl (h— Applanfe. The National Convention then naffed the following important decree - Tt.f National convention decrees. thatfla very is abolilbed i„ all the French colonies' It decrees nr cunfequer.ce, tliat a]) the ; M habitant, ot tire French colonics, of whatever colour, are French citizens, and from this day forward enjoy all those nghts which are secured to then, by tic- declaration of rights and by the Conftrtution. Aneg ets who heard this decree, fainted away, and did not recover but by the noise of acclamations, and the (houts of / a Refab hquc. — Her lenfibijty was ordered to be re corded in trie minutes of the etav. Danton, after having declared that this de crce would kill Pi n, moved that the mode of Its execution be referred to the committee of publrc welfare —Adopted. Amo'ion for the annulment of the dtcree of a-, reft against PoKerel andSanthonax who aie authors of the proclamation of Aueu'ft 2Q grantmgliberty to alj the blacks ofSt- Dom.n go, was referred to thsfame committee. W iDNEiDAY February The committee of public welfare presented the digest of the decree for abolrlhirg fl av erv in the colonies. Burrere, in the name of the committee of public welfare, having announced that the army Of the North had put itfclf into motion and made v.story the order of the dav, pro- P° Gc,;eral P'chegru to replace jourdain. „ Decreed. Friday, February 7. A Black deputy ascended the tribune, lo denounce several fefcret assemblies of colonist, wholedefign it was toreftore and cement slaves! Saturdoy February 8. A Baudot, ir-r the name of the war and hnanceprefented a long dcr* e WT fpea.ng the allowances of meat to beTra'nted to rhe ann\. 0 The Convention decreed it as a principle, that everymthtary man, whatever his rank II f all . owed 'he fame ration that is allowed to all others. Sunday February o. One of the Secretaries read a letter, dated Ttulon, January 26, of which the following is an extract : 6 "Lalt riight the bird weathe- drove into cur koad a two matted Englifli ihi P , laden wrth ceftee and sugar- A republ eau sloop got „p wrth her and brought her rnto port Till, is another payment upon account.-' (?'S r «) " DEBENET. " This day was signalized by an aflion truly republican: As Toon as the Spanish cannons were heard in the French camp, the soldiers .who were prtfoner, at Saint J w de Luz, for m.l.tary offences, demanded to march a gamft the enemy: their request ,vas granted, and they were accordmgly armed. After 1 their party had gamed the victory, these re- i- publican folditrs retired quietly, and of th:ir is own- accord, I > their prison. r n '-^ e - onventioa.i - ' reived this accpunt with ie ! l a^^ rt ' aiU * '•""'■V-rf'Kely decreed the re ; leafeTJt tiieidu, nfontrrs. s The pqjtlar foCtely 6f & Quintin wrote to tfcf convention congratulating jt on the deer® which made the negroes free, in the is following termv: •; " Legislators, :e " On heiring of the' fraternal manner in d which yog received the two deputies of color from St- Domingo, the frat<#ial embraces i guventhemby the Piefident, the fainting ol IC The negroe woman foi joy, we too wept with i- tenderness and gratitt.de. We had a negro g mafl in this .town, whom we instantly invit |. Ed to our aflemblv, and ma<V him a member of our popular focifty, the fraternal kiss wag < gjven hnn by our Prcfident, as a proof how _ na|tjji we .ire infpirei by the emancipation o~joo,coc of our brethren. F " Keprefentatives of the people, a membeT - very justly observed in the convention, that this day should prove a death blow to'Pitt : e —Continue as you have always done, to de £ lerve well of your country. i " Health and fraternity. (Signed) ] " TALBOT, President." Mr. DEXTER's OhJervaticiiS concluded. r I refpeft the manly republicanism of America too much, tj believe that the ' popular water-gruel, the milk for suck lings, with which some men llrive to gain : his favor, can either pleale his appetite or invigorate his fyttem. There are discon tented men in all countries; perhaps our own has fewer than any other. They hollow loud and often, and we are there- ' fore led to think they are numerous. A ' tumultuous minority thus imposes i measures on a peaceful majority, against the firft principle of Republicanism. 0 The voice of the people is not for war, un less necessary for our fafcty ar.d -honor. Many in this City may wi(h for it ; but the majority through the Union are desi rous of peace. I ho* they wiil encoun ter war bravely, if it (hall overtake them, they aie against running to meet it. I will not detain the committee with flati.ng the inconveniences we fubjeft our selves to, the difficulty of obtainihg lup plies trorri other countries during the coh vulfions of Europe, the loss of our arti cles of export, periling on our hands from a retaliatory prohibition by Britain, the impossibility of executing such a law, or the encouraging_cif frauds to tic rain of tfij merchant of honor. Theie have already been the fubje&s of observation. The llrong objection which arises from our constitution, 1 cunnot omit. In the diltribution of power to the several de partments of government, the right of | making treaties is given to the Execu tive. Of course the preparatory negocia tion mud belong to them as ail incident of the authority. But we are now com mencing a negocintion ourl'eh es, and pre ferring terms of a treaty. It is urged that this cannot bind the Executive They may make a different treaty, but our prohibition will still be in force. Do we intend to fay then, that we will forbid our Citizens from Commerce with Bri tain even after the Executive, the only iconftitutiona! power, (hall have fettled ail •matters of difference, unless they will f u f. I fer us to dictate the mode in which they fliall ezercife their authority ? This looks to me very much like usurpation, by whatever name we may chufe to call it. It has been said, by a zealous friend of the measure, that a treaty would be the supreme law of the land, by virtue of the conilitution, and therefore would repeal this law. Perhaps it may in future be thought convenient to retradt that doc | trine. If it be true, it is idle to make ■ the But fir, I doubt the truth of P it. It appears strange to fay that an ad in its nature such we are told this is, can be abrogated by an &e ---eutive att. I know of nothing but the legislature which can repeal a law. It belongs either to legislative or execwive power. If the former, the legislative on ly, can abrogate it ; if the latter, we ought not to meddle with it. We may as well carry thro' the negociation, as be gin it, and prescribe the terms of it. If the constitution had given us this power, wc could not exercise it, from our numbers and mode of doing bnfinefs. It will not be denied, that the Executive have a right to appoint and iullruft a negociator, as to the terms of settlement. Have we the lame right—or even can we inftruft him when they {hall appoint? Suppose hnii thus doubly inftrocted by the Executive having conftitutior.al authority, and by us who cannot tell from whence we de- ■ rive the power, and the inftruftions con each.othor; whom i$ the Negociar tor to obey ? None will fay thst the°pow er of the Executive is not paramount all others as to treaties, and all foreign ne gotiations. Are we to make a law then which may be violated with impunity ; nay more with propriety ? I wish fir, that , gentlemen who so often tremble for the • lan&uary of Republicanism and depiecate usurpation of power, would apply these t excellent feci mgr. to this fubjetf. We 1 have been often told that something mult > be done, and that if we object to this measure we ought to (how a better as a fubilitute. I have never thought this a difficult task; I will now state the outlines i w hat ought to be dpne. By a peculiari ty in our constitution negociation with fo reign nations is altogether anExecutive du ty ; but to declare war, is with the Legis lature. In governments where the pow ers of negociation and of war are in the fame hands, the fame officer can demand a recompence for an injury, propose hit i Ultimatum, and declare war if it be re- i jv.Cted ; but our Executive may be em barrafied in pursuing a demand of cum- ' penfatiop to the last extremity, left he ihould pledge the honor of the nation to war against the will of the legislature, who ajone can make war. We ought there fore to pais a resolution requesting the ! Pt etident to pursue with energy a demand | for recompence according to the cuiiom j o. nations, and pledging ourselves to sup- j port ilira if the event ihould prove unfuc- ! cess. ul; and in the mean time we ought to prepare for war. I c an f ee nothing fur. tner whicn is legislative in its nature, or committed to our care by the constitution; uptii it (hall appear that the negociation Has failed of success. Then fir, it will be time enough to prohibit commercial intercourse, or declare war, or take any other measures to avenge our wrongs and vindicate the honor of our country. If we are to engage in war fir, 1 presume wc mult have forr.e money to carry it on, un lets in this instance also we are an excep tion from general rules. The measure now contemplated mull almost annihilate our imports and we have not looked round for a iubftifute. We have heard of a innd tax," but there are many objections to it. On the eve of war public credit is doubly important. Having loft our former refuurccs, wp must provide new funds for the par,dual payment of the in terest of the public d .t, the expenses ° B over Dmeni, and the innumerable ex penses of war. Wt must not only fuffer hea- , vy taxes and burthens, but also an enor mous increase of our debt. As lam not guJiy of being a creditor of the union, pei haps I may be heard patiently on this iubject. It has been often said here, that tiie public debt has enllaved our country, _ yet row we a e urged to enereale it b'c -1 ■ y° nd a " calculation, without taking the u.ual mealures for pacific accommodation, t I l.ougii I have labored in vain to un ) derlland how the public debt is an engine of fluvery, and have fmcerely thought our - country a perfect model of civil freedom, yet I hope this argument will have some weight with those, who fee that we are £aves and that the public debt has riveted our fetters. Here give me leave to answer an argument, which has been repeatedlv prefTed, and with apparent success. It is not denied that the firllj regular step is to .demand a recompence for art injury; but it is laid that Britain regards no laws of nations in her conduct to ns, and there fore we are not bound to observe them to wards her. I presume by this is not meant that we ought to do wrong, because Bri tain has done wrong ; butthat it becomes rig.it for us to disregard those laws.which (he violates; let us examine this. The b.wsand usages have prescribed redress of a I nation ror an injury ; these of necessity can only be applicable to an injured nation, for no other can n<?ed redress. Can it then fci. true that the moment a nation is injur ed, and thereby is placed in the situation tor which, and for which alone the rule was made, the rule ceases to be obligatory ? A Ration cannot be injured, p.nlefs the law 3 of nations with refpeft to her have neen violated. According to this argu ment a veiy solemn rule of condud has been ellablifhed which is never to be com plied with ; not by a nation which has received an injury, because there is nothing to redress; and not by a nation which has been injured, because with res." pest to her the laws of nations have been h Y the aggressing nation, and tins dispenses with the rule. Thisannve • 1 I >- to an argument ft» muoii relied on is to i- my mind perfectly fatisfaftory. 1 call tn the gentlemen to {hew it to be a fallacy.'- !l Our situation fir is not new, though .our conduct may be so. We have seen "fiol i land when neutral in former wars, fuifer ; ing similar injuries ; they did not purine t fuel; measures as we contemplate, though : better prepared for war: Neither their : interest or their honor luffercd by their moderation. The present neutral powers of Europe are fellow-fufterers with us ; yes - we do not hear of liaiilar impetuosity of > resentment. In all wars neutral nations i arc abused, in proportion as the powers at i war are llrong, and the neutrality weak.- ■ A stronger combination than the present perhaps never cxitted in Europe ; and a neutrality can seldom be weaker. The principles of the present war arc also pe culiar ; it is a desperate llruggle for exig ence. The unusual circumstances of it have compelled the French with whom we j are in friendfhip, not only to difregardour | rights as a neutral nation, but to violate ; their treaty with us, though we have pro , ceeded so far in friendfhip to them as to hazard our peace. Our meichants iuSer ! severely from that nation ; yet we are told j that imperious necefiity from peculiar eir ■ cumftances is an excuic. I fay not thtie | things to criminate that nation ; they have ! been civil enough to apologize and pie mile recompence; but we have not receiv ed even gocd manners.from their enemies. The public mind appears to have fufiercd little irritation fiom.this cause, and it is far from my wish to excite any. My motive is only to (hew that this acquiescence in" their apology proves our opinion, that tks present war is peculiar in its nature. Hi.}' we owe nothing but indignation to Bri tain, yet we oweprudencc to our country and refpeft to ourselves. The prefect moment is infinitely valuable, and outfit not to be trifled with. The present til .1 • tion and difpofitiou of Britain aiifcoft en sure us honorable peace, unless we ; ro voke war. We have ftroiig evidence that war with this country is against both their interest and their wishes. Though tf>e meaftire under consideration is not in ttftif hoflility, and violates no law of" nations, were we to flop here ;yeta little reflexi on mult convince us that it tends to war. It is placing our negotiation for reecra. | pence from Brit-iin oti fonew, and A them so humiliating a footing, that the r pride mull revolt ; thus national heftur must forbid a compliance. They will fey to our negotiator, no nation ever address ed another in this way—Suppoie we have injured you; it is not pofiible for us to treat with you refpeding retribution on , these terms : It is not an offct of peaceful accommodation, but an affront, a chal lenge. This refufal to treat, which the mode of making the demand renders tei tam, will then be urged as a refufal ira make us a recompence ; and uar beccm.-s inevitable. Why fir ftoiM we be thus inpeniiras to avoid peace and ntih haitfly into the tragedy of Ei ropeT At such a moment we {night j psufe and enquire what we can gain hv wa tt e now possess ev ry bleilmg for which other nations contend ; we may fofe, But can not gain by contusion. The price of our prc ient political happiness was not i'mall; m s are now eating the fruit of that tree, wWti was watered with tlie blood of our fathers • yet we fuffer the canker worn of jea'ouiV to feed cn its foliage, the whirlwind of oi.!- cord threatens to root it up for ever. What attra.lions do we find in the defolaticn, th» mi.ery, the crimes of Europe? Their ve'-V virtues are ihaded with horror; their rulers are the scourges of mankind ; their bufiiit ,s IS oppression; their sport is violation, tfcev trade m blood; the Wefts of Moloch 6< r daily Hecatomb* of innpa nt victims • ti.cw ta t ten on humanfacrinces; o>.r former friend are iqfrfle; or rather their patriotic. her ders on phrenzy; Europe is a' war with atf tue feelings oi nature ; t% UaUiem. Ur rights; they !angh ( ft her agojiit s. Car it ' necefl » ! 7 !:r > to describe the fcarninefi t ,f our own country to shew the tout® > W are so familiar with public Medina tfet we have almcft forgotten their value.' The vc : -c of oppression is not heard. Our h&hitVn,- are the dwellings of virtue and domefta: W, pSiefs. Ihe lawi of morality and of - country are rove, ed. We prophane net IC akar, ot religion. We Have* res! fe> d /, " golden age Of tabl*. We have nrafltf-d'r's, publican viffons. J n fl,i s hvimVit 0 f daoeer our miKds should ~-dl , r t | le I <"-calion. We ought to iirjve every <«an. gerto defena th-fe in S flimal.le 4dvar.tr -cs • but if we want pruduice, we fhal! z T , ? r3 to want e-ery virtne.-! have the q„ r -ft,on. Tn<- sppears t o «• - Tf ,V C 'V Cn , to '4- r„ U Jr this fcrl be rt 3 i;zed, tt w ' J feali Cail $ JkepmrtW canity, a Vnf4 niy ,dua will net upbrad n.e. We back fir acrofe a delude of mifei y which u^y
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