t t From the Virginia Guz.elle. MARCELLU S—No t. a general fufpeß those who bosff, or aj feci to have any one virtue ab'i'je al CHtST£K.ntLD. wrought to an extreme height!:, ant aud the acrimony of party {pint difplayi itfelf ob too jviany occaiioi'S : Whel jeuloufy and fulpicion UMverlaily \>~r vade the community : However inter reft even fur a ;nomcnt the public at tent ion V>y an imparti/t! appeal to the un derftanding, and ? difpaj/wtatl rnqvir' in to the interests of our country. Whei the miad is b.'ated it is not in a state t< litten to tl-,e ditlares of ri-afoi'.. In tw regarded as patriotism, patience and mo dilution asfvj>li*nim:l]—'he councils o the fir (I, 'ilecmed the irzcles of wildom the advice of the lalt contcmned as thi dilates of cowardice—the rashness of ; Varro, pieferred to the caution of a Fa r.ade to mislead and inflame the publii mird : And as v«ry great irritation ha: been v Anally produced thereby ; how <svtr uUucccfsful the uttempt, it is tim< tOunfoVi facts, and exhibit the true in terefts o! Virginia to a generouß people who only wish to know their duty ti perform it ; and to unde.rlland thei happing to pursue it. Men devoted to the laborious and ho norable occupation* of agriculture, at; -Jiftnnce from the feat of information without the means of enquiring, or thi leiftlre necePßtry t« make deep refearche and tj inrdligate complex principle »nd obfeure facta—however firtuous (and in all nations they are to be re girded as the mod virtuous pait of thi society) are too liable from tbefe cir c.imllances to be imposed 011 and tnidei by the aftificcs of the \ icked and thi ambitious. In all communities fuel men exist.—The purelt republics havi produced them.. It cannot be expeftct therefore that our country should b( wholly exempt from them. Indeed thi liiftoty of falfe patriots, except in a fev be friends to liberty, have kept thei Countries in perpetual foreign broils, 01 domestic agitations and convulsions t< serve their a vat ice or ambition, and ■ whe have never failed to render themfelvc the tyislnts of the people whenever ar opportunity occuned. It is by boh censures t>f others, and by boalling o superior virtue, that filch men opei their vay to power, by lulling the pub. rt&ing it to characters, whose generou! would difcl.iim, aft, and speak wit! republicans, confeious of their freedorr and of their integrity. But to enable them to execute thejr plans, they mnft firll discredit such men, who would o therwise prove an impregnable barriai annals of mankind, particularly the Ro man commonwealth, whose pillory con tains the history of tiie old civilized page-cxhiiiirthe efforts of ambition to obtain power at the expence of every moral principle ? Indeed Caefat's max violandum ejl jus regnandi gratia violan tlum ejl, with such a principle in his heart, this celebiated usurper began with acting the friend to liberty, and afii duoufly courting the Roman people, till by their means he rendered himfelf their tyrant. We mult expect in our country as it happened in other nations, that ambi tion will afliimi every (hape, even pro fane re/if ion and patriotism to gratify his cupidity for po^cr: If we mean not to be deceived, we must diftrult the pro feffions of men and look to their actions; try their profeflions by their conduct, and you yrill not unfrequently find those > who make most noise about danger of aijlotmcy, equality and liberty, pompous in their drcls and equipage, luxurious in their tables, faflidious iu their deport ment, and tyrants in every circumstance in which the laws have cloathed them with " a little brief authority j" it is wife to diftrufl men who aft contrary to their declared principles. They ought to be regarded as impostors endeavoring to conceal their real charaftcr, under a pompous ■pretension to virtues, which they never felt as they never practice. Avarice, ambit»div-fnvy c (the creatore * Hovj often and bo-zv j'\fil) has our il iujlrious Pitfident been compared til. thi:, saviour of R»»f. ~ '■ X * i | if ambition) or all combiurd will ijene- r. J rally be fdbnd itw true motives of d< condntt. c ' It is not to be ".voildered at that men actu- re ated by such principles (hould continually tJ endeavor to destroy the retpeit due to thole w who neither assuming all virtue to 'be™' c! selves nor denying it to others, modelty _ praiflife those ruJts of liberty,ew i nl'ty l~d . juilice, which they owe to their .iiluw-cl- is tizens, and to the society oi which they n are members. If v.-e were to rv. car i the .jj ■i<aiottsof men a? the only just clue 10 ;eir Cl ' principles, we fhouldefteem thelc j i those the pretended friends of tlet precious . hose the pretended friends of tf»a£ prcciou iSmy and equality, wbi hou o *nt.to b< liicl till of late was the pofTeflion or ever} rit'zen of our country. But udU*a new I: nd of arbitrary government is introduced amonglt us, under which, freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and freedom of enquiry are pr4jfcribed. In lome places focietiesftiling themselves democratic with out emanating from the choice ol the peo ple, or deriving any authority from that only pure fountain of povrer, haveerected themlelves into bodies corporate, aclmg as I inquisitorial tribunals over the actions and opinions of iron and nations ; and in many infiances ufarping the ftatioiji to the reprcllntativesof their country ">nsK tutionaliy chosen —In other places indivi duals have the effrontery to-affi.me theft high prerogatives, they undertake jo dilate opinions to the community ; and to mea l'ure out fame and infamy to their fellow- They have the audacity to impute to men thoughts which their minds never felt—opinions which thttir lips never nt teted, and dejigns which their foulfc ab hor ; and that by the magic force of a (ew'imporled wurds, inapplicable to tie situation of our country, and the ety mology and meaning of which, fre quently those who use them, do not un derstand and cannot define. No sooner have the shackles of religious tyranny been broken, than these shameless usurp ers of the rights of society seem deter mined to erect themselves into a new or der of priesthood to tyrannize over the political opinions of their fellow-citizenß. Let us tor a moment enquire what is our government ? is it not founded on this found republican principle, that the people are able and have a right to go vern themselves, either by themselves or by their representative: freely cho fen. j Has not every member of the society ' equal rights and privileges ? Has not . therefore every citizen a right to think * for himlelf, and to deliver his opinion ! without controul, on whatever involves ! the interests of his country, without being fubjeft to these new and till now unheard of pains and penalties by which • our more than papal tyrants eindsavour !to (heckle our liberties. Who authori- I zed them to call a fellow-citizen an arifto ■ crat bccaufe he differed in opinion ft urn them ? Has he not a right to' do so ? Who auihorifed them to afTume the title of friends to their country, and to the I rights of men in exclusion of the red of I their fellow-citizens ? Does the social I conipaftgive them greater privileges, or ! tfcognife in them a superior order r It ! does not—or has Heaven (lamped them ] with its peculiar mark of favor, sent them as its inspired political A pull Its; and cloathed them with the infigiiia of an authority, before which every knee mult bend, and to which every voice mull pay adoration ? From the intole rance of their principles,, and the want of charity in their conduct, they cannot be regarded a» the agents of a beneficent daily. Yet they could not aft with a more dictatorial pfefumption, if they were coufciousaf being an acknowledg ed superior order in the society, and ac tually derived supernatural powers from the God of nature. But it is impossi ble, for their pretences, their affected zeal, their profeflionsof patriolifm, and illiberal censures of men, who have the reality and not the femWance of the vir tues they boast of; who modestly aft what they vociferoufly pretend to, long to veil their real character and designs from the community. They will foor. be taught that a free people will not brook arrogance and diftatioo from any quarter or under any (hap: whatever. That their fellow-citizens are 100 en lightened, know too well the dignity and the rights of free men, to be dup ed by such (hallow artifices, fitted only for times of ignorance ; but can never impose on » people who underfland and are pofleffed of the blessing of liberty. But if we may define an aristocrat to be proud, vain, imperious, opinionated, extra vagant, idle, devoted to plcafure, and to luxury, or to use Sallnft's emphatic ex preflion, fui profufus alieni appitens, we ihall generally find that thofc who are 1 mod ready to call others by the name, will anfwerthe description bcfl. But what is aristocracy r As understood in the European world at this time, it never exilted nut'can ex -1 ift in this country. There it is confi [ dered a body of men poffefling a politi cal rank, with peculiar powers and pri vileges, derived either from the express or tacit consent of the society, sometimes for life, sometime* in perpetuity def r» idable firim fath.er to Co.r- —10 such or der ever exHied in Araeiica* iwlefs the citizens of oui Commonwealth may be regarded as fuch.f If arilloctacy in this meaning does riot exist, let thole who so frequently use the terms aristo crat and democrat, define them. F°'_ as Mr. X.ocke very.jnftly observes, nothing is so neceflary to fair difcuflion as a defi nition of the terms we Do tltey mean by tie term arijlocrut, a rich mnu, contra diftinguiftied from a poor man ? If by the term ihey mean the rich, and by the term democrat, the poor; by vilifying the fidl and exalting the last, do they mean to censure m dullry, by which wealth is acquired, and commend idleness 'iich is the cause of poverty, and the fruitful source of every vices If they make it a crime to be rich, men will ceafc to maki' any efforts to better fheir condition, to provide for the eiKieation and comforts of their fa milies, and add to their own wealth, as the riches of their country by an.honest , industry ; and from a cwilized society, \ve (Hall foori become,an horde of Sava- I ges.—To this deplorable Condition wbuld their system gradually reduce us. Btlt it caniiot be expected, that such haughty dilators would wait the flow operation of tinie. They may attempt to reduce all property at once to a level, abolition of fVbts, agiarian laws and emancipation of slaves may be proposed among their firil cellar de main. For if by the term democrat, they mean the poor, who so poor as our slaves, who therefore so fit to pai ticipate in the spoils of the rich, and to direct the affairs of the nation ? But it may be said by these intoler ant prlefts, that they hare not any such intensions. , If'.thcyhave not, let tliem explain theif views in plain and intelli gible terms, which every man can un derstand—perhaps they only mean to make a noise till they wriggle them selves into lucrative offices ? They wi(h perhaps to puff themselves into conse quence, for the filly ({ratifications of vanity; They will pardon us if we should miiapprehend their intentions, until they (hall condescend to address us in a language which belongs to the vo cabulary.of eur laws, and not in a fo reign idiom unknown to our citizens. It is unbecoming a republican, and in sulting a free people, thus to attempt to delude them by tricks that would dis grace the ihott coirfmon adept in the talifmanic art. If they mean to deno minate by the word aristocrat, a mau who willies to introduce monarchy and privileged orders among uslet them point onv the person and bring proofs of -the accoiation. Attempts of such a kind, are treason against our govern ment, and such charges ate of too se rious a nature to be lightly made. It is the boast of our government, that every citizen (hall have a fair trial, (hall know i his accusation, be confronted by his ac cuser, and (hall be entitled to evidence in his behalf, such accusations then vio late the pillars on.which our couftituti on reds. Yet those • who jnake them, call themselves patriots, friends to liber ty, friends to equality, while in imitation of other despots they deny to their equals, liberty of thought, and by mak ing their own changeable and uncertain wills the criteria of the virtue of their fellow-citizens, arrogate a superiority as unauthorised by their own doctrines, as violative of every principle of our con stitution, and inconsistent with the rea son and nature of things. If instead of meaning the poor by "I* Without-noticing our slaves (who in violation of the daflrine of equality, are deprived of every facial right) there is a difcr'imination made between the free men of Virginia, only a particular description of whom having any" agency in the affairs ef government. Perhaps-with such devi ations from that equality, which in our bill of rights <we fay is the birthright of every human being ; our conjlitution ought to he regarded as Jirißly of the aristocratic kind; and therefore our citizens under this view, may be denominated ailariftwxats. But t his is a fubjeS that would occupy a diffufe discus- J>on of itfeif and is particularly for the con sideration of those who are so fond of the diJlinSions of aristocrat. and democrat.— If they will begin byrffarfing the conjl.- tution, by equalizing representation, hyfub jecling lands to the payment of debts, and by emancipating (laves, and thus reduce our government and taws to their elemen tary principle equality ; we Jhould then think them fiacert in their profffions, and confident in their conduct. But as long as they permit these abuses to exist, as long as they continue to hold their, fehow-men in the tnojl abjcßflavery, their declamations a bout liberty and equality mujt be regarded as the froth of madmen, or the pretences of hypocrites. How far such an attempt to reduce the theory of their principles into praSice in this Commonwealth would be acceptable to the body of citizens, or conducive to toe facial order, harmony, and prosperity of our country, I leave them to determine. However ruinous, tabe con s tlent with themj.elves, they ought H make tlie term democrat, tl\ey denominate a friend to that kii.d ot government in which each citizen in his individual ca pacity, exercises thole functions, which, fn our society are delegated to repref n tatives, such as were some of the petty tumultuous commonwealths of old, this would be a government so hostile to the happiness of our citizens, and so counter to the habits and practice of the Ame rican peopk, th.it no man would deem it honorable to aflume the name, as in this sense, it would only be regarded as another term for anarcluft. But if by the term democrat is meant a friend to a well organised reprcfentative govern ment, in which, liberty of thinking, li berty of speaking, liberty of acting, and the protediion of property are intended to be maintained, it is an honorable ap pellation, which belongs to every citi zen, who, inltead of exciting rtjijlance, obeys the laws, and faithfully performs every social duty; and no individual has a right to a flu me it to the exclusion of his fellows. If this be attempted by a (ingle person, he may justly be called an impudent tyrant; it by an afTocia tion, an oligarchical c;icioachment on the privileges of the nation. But per haps we may come nearer the true meaning of the term democrat, as ap plied to those who moll generally afiume it, by drilling him to be a man impa tient of the controul of the laws, anx ious to govern, and who cares not what blood he sheds, or misery he produces, provided by any means, he can obtain the indulgence of his devouring ambi tion. MARCEL.LUS. Foreign Intelligence. FRANCE. NATIONAL CONVENTION, 15 Fruttidor, September I. ROUSSEAU. Citizens Lijeune presented to the Convention the original manuscript of the letters of the New Heloife. Gregoirefaid there had been depofiN ed lately in the National Library ano ther manuscript of J. J, Rouffc»u, un titled, " Les Consolations des Miferes de ink Vie."—The Conlol. tions of the Miseries of my Life. He was affiired also that there had been at the commif iioji of Arts, another manuscript of the fame author, the superscription of which had these words—" Not to be opened till they are 1S00." They were now employed in searching for it. He in cited his Colleagues of Mont Blanc, to make ercry possible enquiry in their de partment, (v certainly other mattuf cripts of Jean Jacques Roufleau would be found. He was sure that some were still in exiftencc at Chamberry. Treilhard informed the Convention that the Members of the Committee of Pub lic Safety had drawn lots to know which three of their body should be replaced The lot had fallen on Carnot, Lindet, and Barrere. He add d, that Collot and fiillaud had given in their resig nation. Duhem. —" I move that in consequence of these two resignations there shall be on ly one new Member chosen." This pro portion was decreed. Cambon.—l fear that if we accept the resignations that have been proposed, Ari.'locracy will turn it to advantage. [No ! no ! was exclaimed generally thro' the hall.J Legislators ought not only to be irreproachable, but suspicion ought not to fp.ll upon their heads. »I move therefore, that these refiynations be re fufed." The order of the day was called for and adopted. Billaud.—" There ran be nothing equi vocal in the motives of a resignation which is voluntary." Collot.—" It was not to day that we firft thought of giving in our refjgnation. We formed the design from the moment that the Convention laid it down as a prin ciple that a too long continuance in the fame committee might be dangerous to public liberty. Several of our colleagues were apprized of our resolution. [Yes, yes, exclaimed several Members of the Committee. J There, is nothing, there fore, particular in the thing. There was another motive of public interest which decided us. The new organization of the committees has conferred upon others than thek committee of public fafety that part of |ab»r with which we were charged in such a way as to give us almost nothing to do. Our retreat will therefore give some employment to those 'who remain, and they will not have too much, consider ing the able seconds they have now receiv ed. " These were our sentiments, avd the Convention r'nould do us juflice in this rc fpea." Tallien.—" The principles that you havejuft approved of in accepting the re signation of Billaud and Collot, call upon r- eto fay a few words. I have for many days carefully observed what has palled in this aflembly, I Jiave fcrsitinized the pub lic interest and the fatety of my country, ?nd T h*vr said to If in common with all good citizens, « No man in a Repub lic v.-!|'ht to p;,t himicii in tiie place of principles. If his presence in a Commit- teeWibc a Wrting block, , hindrance to Revolutionary u ought to condemn himftii to • ostracism It i» time that men jw appear b. f,re principles, and that ' ■ M equality, andjuftice, ftould alon, all our fuffrages. It U rojrf SM* mental balls of all good eovemm . I wilh to rally. Fa/i, kLSTfef throw into the National Con too much troubled our deiiberar; . ?V crifice, therefore, thU instant allfcif li, *" all particular enmities on the altar ' country, and I declare that ** rcfignation as a member of the r of public fafety. I re-enter the SLL" to combat with the fame enerev a !i tmies of the Revolution.— M« v th lution that I take in this moment hero™ the epoch of the umon of all the true K of the people, and of the overthrow „f their enemies ! I move, therefore, thmhe Convention accept my resignation." Ar cepted. The Convention decreed that the* would proceed forthwith to vote, by ral ling over the names, on the choice of four members of the committee of public fcfc. ! The choice fell on Delmas, Fourcrov j Cochin, and Merlin of Douai. ■k There was an extraordinary fittive in the evening for replacing the member! RO - out of the committee of general , f e ty. . The lot fell on E!:e Laccfte, Vouland H There were also wanting to this conv mittee three members, Jagot, David, an d Lavicomterie: the convention namtd i» their fucceflbrs, Bourdon of Oife, Colom bel, Meaulle, Glauzel, Mathieu, Man mayau, and -tefage Senault. Particulars of the new warlike invention propofe(i to the National Conven, tion. , J. B. Cope a French Proteffant Clergyman of Charleftown, made an offer to the Convention ofa new machine for warlike purposes This vvai a bomb ( carcass ), which when once let on fire, nothing could extinguifii. it could be sent 800 paces from a 24 pounder and farther with a greater force. A (hip of 120 guns the in»en tor stated, would not be able to refill the attack of a seventy-sour, if the latter were provided with these bombs; and fix fail of the line so piovided, would be able to attack the whole marine force of Europe in one day, and to dcitroy them in such a manner as not topermit even a single boat to return into the har bour. With four pieces of this defcriptioft it would be pofiible to prevent any squa dron from getting into port ; or to burn them if they perftvered in the at tempt. The iaftrumont conld be easily p«r fe&ed so as to cause even more terror to land forces, and particularly to ca valry. Its smell and flame could :'V but disorder.the belt < and if thrown against a wall, it wo' continue to blaze for hrlf an hour* The inventor presented a bullet <? posed of the fame materials. He i red, that he would lose.his life r; than disclose the secret of this con fition, if tlie Convention did not deem proper to convert it to their use. Barillon observed that a compositi on, of a similar nature had been offered to Louis Xl by that learned chymift Dchle. It was an application of wild fire, which evin that tyrant declined to use. He moved that it (honld be referred to the committees of war and public fafety, to determine whether they could avail themselves of the present offer, without danger to humanity.-- Decreed. ' -fa. -VVT ; 4 ? - UNITED STATES. NEWBURYPORT, 0& 19- The 4th Regiment, 2d Brigade, li Division, under the command of Col. Evan*, paraded near the meeting house in Salisbury, and after a pathetic addrc s was offered to the Throne of Grace, y the Rev. Dr. Webster, they marched to the plain, and were reviewed and inspec ted by Major Coffin, accompanied y many gentlemen ; the officers of ' ot ( ra oiher Regiments were then requeue by the officers of this Regiment, to re pair with them to Col. Evans', where thev had caused ample provision to be prepared ; they partook of an ele gant and plentiful dinner, and cst, y guest seemed ful'y to participate in t c joys and pleafum of the day. ( Thev were escorted to and from Evar.s' by Captain Lurvey's camp-*")' of Artillery, who a-,-re in comply uniform, and made a martial appearar l -'- The above Brigade is compel 0 likely robull young men, a»<l app e ' c capable for any service they a l ®* called to; it can with propriety served, that if every Brigade is eq> 2 this, we need not fear any power presume t« *ttack us by l» n >aD •V" 'r
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