hrom the Ncw-Jerfey State Gazette.
Mr. Day,
FROM the lamentable weakness and
too evident corruption of human na
lure* [>;imcs icem to have -prevailed
with all their mournful effects, in every ;
age and ci'ftiitry. They have generally )
uKJii, in thole nations who have
belt underwood and rrloft the
natural a.tJ unalienable ngiits of num.
e c?inot be frc.", but we fault bc'rctne
lici*nl,,/tis. V» f are nofootVci deliveiwd
fr n.tl'e oppicljSwß of the few, rnnrt we
Ai.ault tiiclj oth'e .'Mid lee.ng we can
no do violence to fcaeh othei's peVfoiJs
o property, tike eftethial measures to
dim ~'h ;*ie enjoyments of the prefect
exiinnee, by disturbing, irritating uikJ
pie cing U'4 inward feelings. Indeed
the extravagance of parties is ofteri
proHuClne of effciitS more extensively
ba:i<- il. Out of the exeefiVs into which
freemen ha%e Been hurried, by reason
O; their divllions, have grown up ufuv
pauons uy one 01 moieofthat foiereign
ty, which resides only in the-fai.', the
eq.m' and the regularly constituted Re
pi legation of the people. Should
l.'D-'rt efiripc this ruin, yst its comforts
m.iv Be alrrioll annihilated by the hor
rcm of civil war. Bat 'hould neither
o/thefe gigantic evils scourge a people
fc!" their political intemperance ; yet
the trowing ones cannot be avoided,
viz:-—A general and painful ferment in
th"fe passions, which God has wifely
anc! kindly given us for our felicity, in
an uninterrupted focceffion of the f.veet
em jtions—a confidrrable diminution of
the pleaiufes of social intercourse—rup
tu.es between friends and Sometimes be
tween near relations—a.disgusting exhi
bition of ourown&our neighbors infirmi
ties, a temporary but unjujt forfeiture of
one's good name, frequently very bitter
fenfalions—and many more, which a
knowledge of human nature will too easi
ly bring to ifmejnbrance. All these bur
thuifome taxes w. impoic on our fouls,
' as soon as our persons and property are
delivered from the oppressions of defpo
tiim. I aifi diltreffed, that freemen will
, no; be fr. e—that they seem not to know
that the feat of felicity is the mind—
and regardless of the Wain we may
iit!:-r in that quarter, they glory only
th'at their bodies and estates are exempt
from tyranny —Is not this almolt glory
in'" in their shame ?—-Man then only
re > so dignity, and may be pronounced
free and happy, when he improves his
cntl unit- h»a~
p. >11? and spends his life as the deity
<Mi].'ins, in diffufing knowlede, virtue,
},- rnony and bliis, to all his fellow
cfcatnres.
After wisdom and courage have de
livered a nation from bondage, parties
may exile felicity and enslave the foul.—
But, fay some, parties arc absolutely
necessary to a free state ; and Mon
tefquH'u has attributed to them the pre
~ fervstion of Roman liberty and the ex
ttiifion <>t Romaa glory. Superficial,
indeed, mull be the mind that, from
the benefits arising from the colliflon of
feniiments, pleads forthe virulence and
excesses of a party Spirit. Much may
be said in favor of parties and factions
in a state, with all their disgusting and
frequently pernicious effedts : And, on
the other hand, the pen of eloquence,
of wisdom, and of virtue too, has been
not a few times employed in favor of ar
bitrary power. So we often meet with
romantic displays of the blessings of fo
lit ade ; arid many are this moment, efpe
cfe.lly in the religious world, fafcinated
with its all pleafmg charms. Yet I be
lieve, there are few whose judgments
prevail over their ignorance, prejudices
or passions, but aie persuaded, that fo
li'tuda is a dangerous enemy to morals, to
knowledge and to all ufeful improve
ments.
As in conversation on common topics
of discourse, so with refpedt to politi
cal principles and governmental opera
tions, there ever will be a diveifity of
opinion. But bec.uife we fee -different !
wa ,'s of obtaining the fame objedt—
while we choose different roads by which
to pj-ocecd to the fame place—(hall we
proclaim war against each others charac
ters and peace ? And becatlfe we will
not all croud in the fame path with an
insipid uniformity of thought and mo
tion, (hall we open upon each other all \
the pelliferous contents of Pandora's ■
troji ? No Sir, we may each pursue his I
own c.ourfe—each his own Sj
system of opinions, and labour for that j
fuccels of those measures which to him-1
felt may seem mofl conducive to the pub- ji
lie weal, without dimiuifhing mutual j
eftecm, arid without impairing social f
htippinefs. No one,that fees what man
is, expe&s ; no one that has reaped the
be.iefit.and tailed the pleasures of social
im -course can tie (ire, that we {hould
all jump into one judgment and remain
immovably there for ever. A diversity
of Sentiments we ever will have; but I
do contend we may have it without ani
mosity, aitd oSujht «t> maintain it with 6
mfnly temperance.
The utility of this temperance in de
bate has been frequently pointed out,
and many tefpeftabie authorities might
be quoted in order to recomujpid it to
: us : Bot I fliall tontent 'myfeif with a
j fnigle extract from a Mr. James, an au
thoV v*ho Wfore a good wliile ago, but
i no
!V'>'bo, as well /as several of his contem
j pori.i :es, admirably understood human
; nature, and above all who have written
' since and almait all who wrote
'before, was, by some means or other,
made wonderfully acquainted with what
is molt for our happiness both here and
hereafter; Some men, 1 know, object
to the "authenticity/and unrivalledexcel
krice of this man's writings arid others
of his itainp ; but this fir, we all know
i' orly beeaufe he so differs, as some
times to " discern the thoughts arid in
tents of tlicir. beasts," (and who of us
does not liinch when we are cut to the
quick ?) and beeaufe, these writings,
with a petfpicuity, strength and beauty
peculiar to themfelves—-exprefTing and
illufttating the rights of man, smiting
terror into the consciences offuch as in
fringe them, and doing more than all
that has been penned to preserve them
both from diminution and decay—-these
men are prevented from so using their
liberty,as to miserably curtail the enjoy
ment of it by others. Fashion is per
haps a little against me, in the approach
ing quotation : But if Mr. Addifon,
who is so high in fafhion and in fame,
even in that production so aptly Ityled
by Dr Johnson "Arbiter elegantiartim"
has thought proper to confirm his senti
ments bv quotations from the writings
in question, I fliall expect to be excul'ed.
The great inflrument of violence and
excess from whence flow the-evils so per
nicious to free states—is the tongfie ;
and let us not forget, that the pen on
paper is preeif ly the fame as the tongue
in conversation and in public assemblies
—Hence the government of the tongue is
the great defideraturn in order to social
comfort and to the due and pleasant en
joyment'of ottf precious political privi
lege's. To effect this valuable purpose,
Mr. James wrote to the men of the old
times, and He had also a confidernble
eye to the men of the prcfent day, " If
any man offend not in word, the fame
is a perfedt man aind able also to bridle
the whole body. Behold ! we put bits
in the hoi fes mouths, that they may o
bey us; and we turn about their whole
1-W'fK- afiri the Ihips, which,
though they be so great and are driven
of fierce winds, yet are they turned a
bout with a very small helm whitherso
ever the governor lilteth. Even so the
tongue is a little member and boafteth
great things. Behold ! how great a
matter a little fire kindleth. And the
1 tirtigue is a fire, a world of iniquity ; so
is the tongue among our members, that
it defileth the whole body and fettgth on
fire the course of nature ; and it is set
on fire of hell. For every kind of beads,
and of birds, and of ferpeuts, and of,
things in the sea, is tamed and hath
been tamed of mankind : But the tongue
call no man tame ; it is an unruly evil,
full of deadly poison."—l could detain
you a long while in pointing out the pcr
fe£t justness and claflical elegance of this
passage ; but (hall refrain.—l have only
one observation to make, after which I
fliall conclude.
The exprefltons in this passage may
to some seem too flrong and not jullifi
ed by fait: But to prove to the contra
ry, 1 would ask every virtuous and in
telligent fellow citizen, what inconceiv
able mifchief might not be effedted in
this molt happy land, if, in our supreme
legislature, groundlefsaccwfationsof our
best public officers Were sustained and a
dopted ? and what, if they were even be
lieved by the people—with as much ig
norance, rashness and imprudence as they
have been known to be m'ade—might
we not fuffer, if all .our legislators fub
jefted their judgments to their passions,
and expended their hours of public du
ty, not in discourses that inform and
■convince, but in heated invectives and
inflammatory declamation? Should Bri
tain in her dytage, prosecuting her late
incredible folly and arrogance, commence
the war weliave fometimeapprehended—
what advantages might she not have
gained ? what fatal injury might she not
have dorse us, if all the members of
Congress had raved with the fame un
bridled passion, against her on the one
hand, and againjl preparing for her ho-
Jl'd'tfies on the other * Surely the hour
may be on the eve of an arrival, when
we (hall detect the incoherent proceduie
of those, who provoke war with as much
eagerness as if war only could give them
importance and wealth—and yet, in
the fame breath, with the fame tongue,
that " fire," that world of iniquity,"
that " untameable monster," that " un
ruly evil, full of deadly poison," vehe
mently declaim within and labour with
out, to /ruftrate every fcherne for being
fully prepaid for that awful event.
May your Gazette prove an instru
ment of calming the paflions—of inform
ing the public mind—and of promoting
internal and external PEACE.
From \he Americ■ n Durfy Advertiser.
Gentlemen,
■ The base and cowardly-attack upon
the character and conduct of General
Wayne, which lately appeared in a Vir
ginia paper, and has since been repub
lished in fevcral others, is so replete
with scurrility as to afford an antidote
to its poifoh and render a refutation
hardly neceflary; wa* the author of
the llander known to its object as the
tatter is to the former, he would pro
bably be treated with silent contempt
or receive the reward of his virulent a
buse, from the foot and not froiii the
sword of a soldier who is too .brave to
draw it againlt a paltroon, or to (heath
it when attacked by true courage.—
From a thorough knowledge of Gen.
Wayne, I venture to pronounce' the
author of Stubborn Faßs, a rancorous
assassin—and, his production to be as
falfe as his heart is venomous.
General W.ayne, after having fought
and bled in his country's cause, from
the frozen lakes of the North, to the
burning fynds of th* South, was feleft
ed from amongst his former brethren
in arms, to the chief command, against
a bold and savage enemy.
The President had seen the officers
of the late army tryed in various scenes
of difficulty and danger. Their re
fpeftive merits were well known to him,
and if a better choice could in his o
pinion have been made, Gen. Wayne
would not have been preferred. His
activity, his zeal, and his success here
juftified the appointment. He had
raw materials to work upon ; and by a
drift but neceflary discipline he now
finds himfelf at the head of a small but
gallant army. The brave he trained
and disciplined, and the coward and the
worthless he cashiered or drummed out
of his camp. In their vagrant (late
they or their hirelings and some others
of the like principles and practices,
I feign Stubborn Fails, while the Gene-
I ral is infufing his own martial spirit in
j to his soldiers, and preparing to meet
■ the enemy. That lie has conducted
i himfelf with great good conduct finee
j his appointment, appears from all well
* authenticated accounts from the army ;
' that the President with the bell meant of
•judging of his conduit is highly pleased
| with it, appears by the following ex
tiaft of a letter written by his direc
tion :
Extras of a letter from the Secretary
of War, to Major-General Anthony
Wayne, dated " War Department,
Match 31ft, 1794.
" It is with great pleasure, Sir, that
I transmit you. the approbation of the
President of the United States, of your
conduct generally since you have had
the command, & more particularly for
the judicious and military formation and
diicfpline of the troops—the precau
tions you appear to have taken in your
fortified camps, and in your arrange
ments to have full and abundant sup
plies of pvovifions on hand. Conti
nue, Sir, to proceed in this manner—
and, your success will be certain."
True Extract from the Records of
the War-Office of the United States.
JOHN STAGG, .Jim. Ch. Clk.
And the more effectually to root out
any prejudices that may have arisen in
the minds of some, from the piece cal
led Stubborn Fads, we present the world
with a letter to the Secretary of War
from General Scott, who molt certain
ly has a good right to know whether
General Wayne merits censure or ap
plause, he not only being the comman
der of the Kentucky volunteers, but
a.'j resided in that quarter, where anv
mifconduft of the General would soon
er b& felt, and instantly made known.
Philadelphia April 30, 1794.
SIR,
It is with real concern that I hear
the reports in circulation here yery in
jurious to the Commander in Chief of
the Legion, and am not yet able to
learn from what cause they have origi
nated.
Among other things it has been hint
ed to me, that he has reported the con
2uft of the officers of the volunteer
corps that I had the honor to command
lall campaign very unfavorably—if so,
he has done there injultice in not discri
minating.
To be sure, there were two subalterns
that behaved ill, and deserved the high,'
eft punifliment—but I have too good
an opinion of General Wayne ) - t to fup
j pose he ever possessed a thought of damn
ing a whole corps for the mifconduft of
two bad men—l am sure there could
be no cause for it, nor can 1 yet be
lieve he has done so, until I am con
vinced by feeing his report to you on
that head ; 1 hope thee is no impro
priety in your favoring me with a fight
of it ; there are many other reports in
circulation here highly injurious to that
officer—l therefore think it my duty
as far as comes within my knowledge
to do him the justice he deserves. 1
waited on General Wayne the latter
end of June, in -order to make the ne
ceflary arrangements refpefting the vo
luateers of Kentucky, during my flay
1 found him with great sobriety and
extreme attention to the duty of the ar
my, from that time until the 10th of
October, (at which time I joined him)
we kept up a conilant correspondence
relative to my duty, in which I found
him clear and pointed in his inftruftions. .
From about the 20th of October un
til the jth of November, I was almolt
constantly with him, during all which
time he paid.the molt unwearied atten
tion to every, the rilolt minute thing
poflible in person.
Notwithstanding all this, I was un
happy to find some discontent in the
army, whether it was owing to the
change of discipline, the difference be
tween garrison and field duty, thehard
nefs of the duty, or the unequivocal
orders inforced, I cannot fay : they
were all spoken of unfavorably by some.
However, so far as I am able to
judge, taking every thing in view, the
army was conducted witli great propri
ety, never losing fight of the public
good, or the honor of the arms of the
United States. ,
I believe there is not an officer that
served with me under General Wayne's
order but will cheerfully serve him again.
With esteem and regard,
1 have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) CHARLES SCOTT.
The Hon. Maj. Gen. Knox, Sec'y at
War.
True copy from the original letter,
on file in the War-Office of the United
States.
JOHN STAGG, jun Ch. Clark.
July nth, 1794.
It may be proper to add, that the
report which had been made by Gene
ral Wayne to the Secretary at War
was highly complimentary to General
Scott and the officers under his com
mand.
Read this ye caluminatora and blush
at your detection.
A FRIEND To TRUTH.
P. S. The Printers who have pub
lished the piece (tiled Stubborn Fails,
are requested to give a place to this.
11"
Foreign Intelligence.
NATIONAL CONVENTION.
16 Floreal, May 5.
Dupiri in the name of the commit
tees of general surety and finances,
made a report on the ci-devapt farmers
general. He entered into a detail of
their abuses and exactions, and conclu
ded with proposing a decree, which was
unanimously adopted ; the substance of
which was to render all of them ac
countable to the revolutionary tribunal,
for the purpose of forcing them to re
imburse to the nation what they had un
juflly acquired. The fame decree was
extended in its operation to the courts
of Aides.
Coathon—lt is time to convert the
numerous edifices, monuments of form
er luxury, to pnrpofes of national be
nefit. St. Cloud may be converted in
to a school of fculptura, Belvideie into
a school of painting, Rincy into a Me
nagerie, and Versailles into a feminarv
of education. In the mean time the
committee have charged me to present
the plan of a decree for preventing the
(ale of these houses, and for converting
them to public purposes—Decreed.
The popular society of Vabres, in.
formed the convention, that lately a
band of lnfurgents had'been difpeifed
by the efforts of the Republicans, and
fix of the ringleaders arreiled.
Fiie popular society of Aubenas com
municated an event of the fame nature,
which had taken place in the depart
ment of l'Ardeche.
FRENCH ACCOUNT
Of the BATTLE FOUGHT May 7th.
From French Papers.
Lille, May 18.
Citizens,
The letter of exchange drawn by the
Alpine army, on that of the north be
gins to be duly honoured. Victory is
here the older of the day The enemy
is in full rout. Notwitliftanding their
lofles at Courtray, Moucron and Menin,
they determined to attack us again, and
to use every endeavor to resume their
former position.
Yesterday having aflembled their*
troops of the centre, they attached us
on all points. They obliged us to fall
back from Pont a Marque and Lannoy.
We retreated in good order. Proud of
this firft success, they expected by at
tacking us again to make further pro
gress. It was their objtft to cut off
our communication; bat we did not
give them time to effect it ; we attack
ed them, and every where drove them
back, beat to the charge and our vicfo,
ry was complete.
i Adjutant-General Revel fought with
the greatest vigor. We took a train of
i artillery complete, made the garrison of
Lannoy prisoners'; near three hundred
Hessians have fallen i»to our hands.
They a/ked for quarter, we ought not
i by the laws of war, to have granted
it, since tht; town was taken by afirult
i yet they obtained it- We (hall (hew to
j the world that Frenchmen nre only to
be feared in battle.
We learned that the enemy opposed
to our forces 60,000 men. The com
mander in chief jull returns from his
found with my eolleague Richard j 1
hope soon to be able to communicate
new victories. We have taken 50 pie
ces of cannon, the enemy loft i<ioo
men. This division needed this vi&ory*
Chodiiu,
Representative of the people.
P. S. I learn this moment that thp
enemy evacuated Pont a Marque, and
has fallen back upon Orchies, ennfe
quently the communication between
Donay and Lille is re-established.
We promised not to faffer the enemy
to reft. We keep good our word. We
attacked them yesterday in all quarters
and every where beat. We have driven
them to Tour nay and Mount Trinity.
The battle laited 15 hours, and was well
fought. The enemy were considerably
reinforced and we retired in good order,
having taken a considerable convoy on
the Scheldt. We loft two cannon that
were demounted. We took seven from
the enemy and 600 prisoners. We (hall
soon begin again.
CHODIEU.
Account of this la it action by the Ge
neral in chief of the Northern army.
Courtray, May 23.
Citizens RF.pRnsF.NTJTirF.s,
We fought yesterday the whole day
long. We have driven the" enemy be
yond the Scheldt ; we captured a con
voy of hay, oats and coal. We carried
off what we could ; the remainder was
burnt. The affair was bloody on both
fides. There has been a great number
wounded. We took from the enemy
seven pieces of cannon, who took two
of ours. We made about 500 prison
ers.
Traits of courage were numerous ;
cowardice and treachery in some parts
injured us. Many Solders left their
duty to pillage ; which so weakened
the battalions, that towards evening we
were near being driven back.
The right of the army, oij the 21ft
May was near Bitiche, and rnuft thence
have proceeded to Mons or Charleroi.
PICHEGRU.
ARMT OF THE ARDENNES.
Commanded by Gen. Fromentin.
Bit/ches, May 22.
We have crofied the Sambre in seve
ral points. Our divisions adted with
concert aud success. I have taken from
the enemy all their travelling hospital,
a great many sheets, a considerable num
ber of Flemith horses. We also have
taken several droves of cattle; I fend
them to Philipville. We drive on *he
enemy with expedition, and may antici
pate fuccMffles the molt important., The
representative of the people Leva(Teui*
follows us every where ; he is always
in the heat of action. I expedite this
moment 900 carriages that bring us all
kind of goods. In a fkirmifli this day
a chafleur had his arm carried away ;
he said, turning round to an artillery
man, —" Put the arm ii: the mouth of
your cannon and fend it back to those
brigands."
MOSELLE ARMY.
Commanded by Jourdan.
Arlon, May 22.
We arrived this day at Arlon. I lie
small number of the enemy litre did not
attempt to resist. I leave here a body
of troops to proudt the march of our
artillery and provisions which pafsthro'
the country of and of Luxem
bourg, and 1 march on. Expedt great
(uccefßs.
JOURDAIN.