Gazette of the United States. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1795-1796, August 13, 1795, Image 2
Philadelphia,- Jugtiji 13. Philadelphia, 13th Augull, 1795. Mn. Fenso, MUCH has been said as to the part Mr. Tho mas "PiNCKH-EYi the Minister from the United States resident with the court of London* hftd in the negotiations which ended in the Treaty of A mity, Comnrterce and Navigation with that court, lately ratified hy a conflittitional majority of the Son ate oi the United States; and the author of a paragraph i:i the Aurora of Tuelday undertakes to ("iy tfiat tlie reports of Mr. Pinckney'shaving- ap proved oftheTreaty Were calumnious to Mr. PinL'k. 5U")' and fiiHe, rhe tiiclofetl exfwhich are fcnt lo you for p'.iViK'ai ion, will it'cvv' to inform tHe piihliv.* oii tins point, and will'(hew the-author of the paragraph in the Aurora that he is miltaken. I do not fuppoie that any person of common sense or t'ue I'malleft informalion, will consider a gr„jj ui ba<! because t ade or approved by t!» : s or that mtnifter. The Inllrument (hould cer tainly be weighed and judged of by its own intrin sic merits or dfefefts. Nor do 1 believe that any Senator who voted for the Treaty did so in blind compliance with, the opinion of any other man, ■however resectable the author of that opinion blight be. The integrity anct true patriotism of Mr- Pinsk ney are above all suspicion. His great abilities, his thorough acquaintance with and his anxieus atten tion tothe interests of Amenca will never be doubt ed by those who know him. What then will the oppoferS of the treaty fay when they read the fen tim'ents of a miriifter whom they profefs to admire, who was on the spot; futty-acquainted,with the real fltnation of affairs, and the difficulties Mr". Jay had to encounter in the negotiation, and whose letter to the Secretary of State shews in the most plain and unequivocal terms the dreadful alternative A y. Aft, tin United States irtuCc to have encountered. CAROLINIENSIS. Lxtrufi of a Letter from Mr. fat to the Sf.cre- rsixr 0/ Stats, dated Letulon, igtb Ntvembtr, 1 7 94' " I OUGHT not to omit mentioning the ac knowledgements due from me to Mr. PincKney, with whom 1 have every reason to be fatisfied, and from whole advice and opinions I have derived light and advantage in the course of the negotiation. His approbation of the treaty jives me pleasure, not merely becanfe his opinion corresponds with my own but also frem the festiments I entertain of his judg ment and camdor. " My own opinion of the Treaty is apparent from my having signed it j—.l have no reason to be- Leve or conjc&ure, that ouu more favorable to uiis attainable." Extract of a Letter from Thomas fi'ubiey, M'nuftcr Pkntpo.'tniiarrf fa the Secretary 'of State, dated Lon d.if, tbib November, 1794.- " Mr. Jay communicated freely with me -on this fubjfea during the course of the negotiation, and 1 have witnefied the great difficulties which have occurred in adjuring, ftveral of the articles. Al though fjme points (flight have been arranged more beneficially for us if the Treaty had been dilated entirely by the United States, yet when it is consi dered as a corrpofiriori of differences, where mutu al complaints had rendered mutual concelfions rie cefary to eftabli/h a goad underjfanding, I think it may fairly be said that as little has been conceded by Mr. Jay, and as much obtained for the United States, as, all cireumftances conlidered, could be expe&ed : the business, upon the whole, has been concluded nxpie beneficially.for us than I had any hope we couid obtain by negotiation fix months a go, and, in my opinion; places us in a more ad vahtageoHs situation than we should have been by becoming parties to the war." Fr if holder No. i To-morrow. Fir the 'GAZETTE of the UNITED STATES. THOSE who will attentively read a number of yagers published in the Daily Advettifer, under the tide of ".Features of Jay's Treaty," will dis cover in them the feehle arts of quibble and preva i irtUioßj- exerted to confufc and pervert a fubjedt of importance, of which .the writer himfelf appears to hatfe a Superficial knowledge ; and the weak attempt ljugbt p.afs unnoticed, if, in his Bth and last number, he hat! ho{ boldly afTerted Some things untrue, that may injure our national character a broad. It) this number he has been falfe and daiin<r enough to repre'fent " The great Rod of American people," ( 1 use his own words) as " rifmg in mass to condemn" the treaty. If there ever was a wtl fu'l mifreprefentatibn ; if there ever was a defama tion "of the American chafa&er, this is one, To unjnft and Wanton, that I arr. confident he is a fo reigner, and insensible of the virtuous feelings of an American, for the reputation o£ this country What ! are the sober citizens of the United States become at once so fickle, as to violate that Conlti tution, which they glory in, and are happy under ; and so ungrateful as suddenly, without cause, to admit a foul suspicion of the virtue and gpodfenfe of men who had served thetn faithfully for many years; men who had put their lives and properties at Make, through the ordeal of an unequal war, to defend the liberties of the country ; and men who have been elected by the free Suffrages of their fel -ow-citizens to the mod eminent Rations of the com monwealth No ! I cannot believe either. These men have flill otir fulled confidence: and ive are hot, ignorant—you know, Mr. Anonymous—for, if] am-not much mi'taken, you a£ted a diftin-tiifh ed part at the Philadelphia Town-Meeting : you know, that this kifid of afTemblies are tleithev the great body of the nor in any sense of words, their representatives. Although Ido not fufpeft that you have candorenough to confefs it, you ne vertheless knpw, that a few bold and intemperate fnen, who undertake to speak, decide and resolve, for all that were present in the State-House Yard, iuppofed to be about 1500, were very ignorant of the Sentiments even of that body. I low arroga 1 and disingenuous is it then in you, to attempt to palm an"the world tht tafh resolves of a few men, taken amidst eonfufion and tumult, for an adt of the Tree citizens of Pendfylvania ; when, far onght that appears to \he contrary, ninety-nine out.of a hundred condemn ths whole proceeding. And there is every reason to suppose that the sense of the inhabitants of all the ether ftatts, which have had any of these tumultuous gatherings, have been colledfed and communicated to the public in the fame uncandid manner. A few mer. in some capi tal towns,- unqualified and unalked, meet and form resolves ; and then attempt to pass them off, a? the sense of the American nation ; and on a bufinei's which demands an universal, ferrous and mature reflexion. 1 have read of the usurpation of ty rants, and they had the ; r pleas of prcfcription and pajver ; but this is the usurpation of demagogues, who, in a representative republic, like that of the United States, have ho plea at all : nor can they have any object, except it be to deflroy the consti tution by the inflrumentalitv of mobs. In the name of liberty, publilh ; but publish the truth :—and if you have logic enough to persuade the people to pull down the augult fabric, which hsth cod them so much blood and treafurc to raise and cement, I will fay you aft a fair part at least. But the writer in queltion hath not atled in tiii« candid fart, as,l have cleaily proved above ; and he feems apprehensive himfelf that his fallacy will be detected and the scheme fail, without some collate ral aid. In order, therefore, to fill up the piece, and give it a fuller effect, he has depidtcd in the back ground a group of figures, calculated to ter rify those whom he may fail to deceive. The " hostile dilpofition," and imbecility, of Great- Britain, and " ail the energy of the tiitimphant arms of France," are marlhalled in seven formida ble corrollaries, in the rear of his lad number, as a body of reserve. And it is to these " proportions felf-evident," as he calls them, and to the follow ing remarks on them, that I now reqinrft the read ers attention. Their matter and stile are such as deserve serious notice, and their import to the Unit ed States a plain and candid examination. This is not a time to tnm, or mince matters. Referring the reader to the " Advei tifcr" of Aut'uft the 7th, for the piece 'itfelf, I now 'offer to his perusal a few observations, that occurred to me on reading it. id. There is not a single proof, that has come to my knowledge, that the difpoiition of Great- Britain was inimical to the United States of Ame rica, before the commencement of thcwar now ex isting in Europe. Consult the Englifli newfpa pers ; in this instance they may be confidertd as the organs of the public mind. Do you discover any injurious or abusive language iff them against the American people or government ? Examine the parliamentary acts ; the conduct of their merchants and manufacturers ; the indulgence of the East-In dia company towards Americans trading -,t Madrafs and Calcutta ; the enjoyment of the fame privilege as the most favored nation, in all their European and Weft-India ports : do they not all speak the language of reconciliation and friendfhi;. ? But if on the other hand jou turn to the American papers since that period, have they not all (a very few at least excepted) been disgraced by the most virulent inre&ivei against Great-Britain ; the grossest mif rep'refentations of her conduct ; the most palpable falfification of fa&s; the most extravagant applause of her enemies, as well as ridiculous attempts to palliate all the horrors of their condu£L Let us remember our civic feafts and ranting toaftj, which a few violent men have pasTed ori the world fpr the sober sense of America. liefleft on the many no torious infraftioni of the laws ofnestrality in equip ping and manning French privateers, as well as the juggling underhand manner of felling their prizes in many of our ports. It is this condu£l that has produced an hiftile resentment in the breasts of Englifli fubjefts; and it naturally would in the breafls of any nation, that were not callous to a sense of their own honour To this cause we may attribute the order of the 6th of November, the speech of Lord Dorchester, the infulu of their cruisers, and almost every injury we have sustained ; more rationally than to " a dijbof.tion in Great-Bri tain naturally h jlile to the United States." 2d. And to " sooth and convert" this natural resentment " irfto amity and peace," requires, as all tjtherdiforders do, nothing more than a contra ry 1 egimen. Cea(e to afpei fe the moral character of Americaj by ceasing to publish illiberal philippics againS a' nation with which we are at peace, r.nd with whom it is our intered to cultivate peace ; for, with leave of our allies, there is 110 nation in Eu rope can do us so much evil, ot so much go<*l. Forbear, in your civic feads, from toasting unli mited success to her enemies, & uttering perdition to her. In a word ftrengtheti your wife and vir tuous executive in supporting a just and unequivo cal neutrality ; and you will then not coiifider the projected treaty, as you please to stile It, " too high a price to pay" for a continuation of the blefEngs which flow trom peace. 3d. If-to reject the treaty contra&cd with Great- Britain, the very word article of which is prefera ble to what we enjoy, by compadt, with any other nation; and that for the very frivolous reasons, which have hitherto been advanced, " is not a just catife of a war such conduct on our part will na turally increase the rancour on both fides, and may finally produce a war ; unless the cabinct of St. James's is mere attached to peace than the war hawks of Ameiica are 1 for these have given art uniform opposition to eveiy lenient measure, that has related to the concerns of that nation. Indeed the opposition has been pursued with such Heady prepodeffion, that there is great reason to suppose that the designs of our allies have been more coh fulted than the intereds of this country. 4. " But the ratification of the freaty will affur edty_ give umbrage to another nation." Here a fe- cret v efcapes, which, from the stile of ajfurance rmit use of, it appears likely that this writer has received recent orders to communicate to the public. But how far a confidential organ of a foreign nation can be admitted as a difintereded counfeilor, by the peo ple of the United States, I leave with them to judge : more especially, as he has undertaken to advise in a hulincfs, in which, as he pleads, the in terest of that mtion is so much concerned. Ai a ovji-figii and independent state we hare a right, ndeeu we are bound, to So.ifult #ur own profpsrity 11 the fir It place ; not only with refpett to this trea y, but every other fubjgft that may offer. Fmnce not consider herfelf obliged, neither was (he, o ask the advice of America refpefting the alliance he hat lately contrasted with the despot of Pruflia : lor do I believe that we have any right to enquire, low far their treaty relates io the difmeaibermeHt of Holland, or the partition of Poland. It is not our concern. It is enough that we know that we have ulfilled our treaiiss with her ; that we have done ■very thing, exccpt making a common eaufeiu the .var, to aiTiil hrr ; and more even than her hue ron luft towards us gave her a claim to. Every at tempt, tlieiefore, on the part of France, or her a rents, to interne in ot.r national concerns with jrher powers, will be considered by every patriotic American, as iritj-ufive; and as fucli be fpunied ivith a virtuous resentment. sth. " II a war it> inevitable with Great-Bri :ain or France." .vith either. It is the principal concern of the io I t'nin'c there is much danger of a war, unlef: ive continue to display such bitter enmity to wards one nation, and gross partiality for.ano :her, as some people have donj ; and to crowt he whole, are resolved to add insult to the relt o i ! ir nufdeeds, bj violating a convention so just :qual and honorable as that under eoufideration.— ' But it would be more politic for the state, con inues this writer, more congenial with the fenti ne.nts of the people to engage the farmer than thi atter power;" that is, the Englifhthan the Frencl tation. Altho I fmcerely believe that a rupturi vith either may be aveided, unless the fault be outs >ut in cafe such a difaltrous event (hould tak< ilace it is not amiss to consider what might be the :onfequences. In the firfl place, how would a wai vith Great-Britain affedt our reputation abroad, *11 Europe knows that there have been complainti m both fides, and that this treaty was calculates o compose the differences, as well as to lay the oundation of a sincere friendfhip, As the terms art nade public, and will be genirally kiiown, the) vill naturally lead other nations to comparc the ar icles with these of their own treaties with Great Jritain ; and when they discover a manifeft partial ty in favor of America, they will conclude thai he fault is on our fide ; and that, however well the ;overnment is affected to the preservation of peace t had not power to support the eonftitution, or tc irevent turbulent men from rtifhing into a war. Sc hat, however glorious some enthufiafU may sup lose it is, to war on the fide of liberty, the fobei tart of mankind abroad, a 6 well as at home, wil ondemn it, as an aft of republican folly and ra(h lefs. Therefore in point of true fame we (hall b< t>fers. And how would this war affedt us ir ither refpefts ? Are we less exposed to the boflih rms of Great Britain, than of France ? By lanr vc are more, exposed ; our thinly fettled frontier: re begirt with numerous and warlike savage tribes nimical to 11s, and strongly allied with the British vho in cafe of a war, would cettainly make a com non eaufe againll us ; and that war would be pro ecuted with uncommon rancour, as tln-y woulc onfider it as waged in-their own ilefence against ai mplaeable enemy. By sea the dangers will beai 10 comparison ; beccufe we are so much more vul lerable in this quarter, and our antagonist so puif ant. Our trade, the source of all our revenues vcjuld be ruined ; our reffels would mortly b: ta nirnt by an exasperated and revengeful natioi nemy. In this fuffering condition what aids couh ve reasonably expect from France. However wel nclined to assist ns, it is not in her power to do i 11 that line that would be moll beneficial to us -ihe cannot grant us loans of money, which I ait perfuadad would be wanting. She could not pro eft oar cosit, nor convoy our trade, for (he ha lot a marine flrong enough to protest her owi rade. She cannot defend her own coall in th< British or Mcditei ranean fcas, from the triumphan fleets of her enemy, whose cruisers h»ld all h»i fe; ports in a (late of siege. During the continuano as this war from whence can we procure the ware and merchandize necessary for the common con sumption of the country i Neither French nor Hoi landers car. supply us ; and we (hall be oblige* to go to some neutral market, and there purchaf with ea(h British manufactures at double t/ie rate we now pay for them on liberal credit. Reverf the cafe, and suppose that our allies, not eonten with a fair neutrality on the part of America, fhoul< become our enemies, what evils have we to sea from them, equil to tliofe I have defenbed. 6th. But'" in cafe of a war with Great-Britain, we hare ajfuranee, that France will aid us with all the energy of her triumphant armi." What affair ance have we of this, that is fnfely to be truftcd ? 1 hope it will be thsught neceflary, to require some greater afl'urance, than the bare words of this writer, whatever may be his authority for faying so, some flronger testimony is neceflary to destroy the stub born evidence of facts. The truth is, France can not spare any soldiers from her European wars. Ther arc all wanted at horae ; to repel foreign in vaders, and to oppose internal rebellions : if this were not the cafe!, and (lie could also equip a fleet strong engage to meet her enemies on the ocean, would (he fuffer all her colonies to become a prey to them ? No man in his senses can suppose fnch an absurdity. But to indulge a delusive reverie for a moment ; suppose by some kind of magic, her «o»- tinental enemies should be willing to receive a peacc from her on her own terms; her thousand factions llioiild be united by a spirit of harmony and can cord ; and by some uncommon favor of wiad and weather, (he should be able to flip across the atlan tic with a fleet and army for our afliftance. This perhaps might enable us after some years to conquer Canada, but vihat (hall we gain by it ? I mean what will the maritime States, who must bear the burthen of this war, gain by it ? But when rhis bu finefs is accoraplilhed, how are we to compensate our allies, for I suppose wr are not so unreaionable as to expect they would do all this for nothing. That would be unjust. No ! they would in such a cafe have a right to require indemnification, a well as a mortgage t# secure payment. And i; would not be «ontrary to good faith, agreeable with the common usage of nations, if they demanded a portion of the coußtry,- as a fccurity until the new as well at ancient debt were paid. 7'h. In such a triumphant, but perilous circum stance as this, we could not rely on the afFe&ions ps Great Biitain, or of France—but finely on our own abilities not only t® discharge our debts ; but like wise when that was accomplifhsd, which w-ould re quire many years, if our allies did not chufe peace ably to surrender the security, to expel them. From ths AKGUS, CINNA. — >To. 11. FAITHFUL to hi* promjfe and meditating an at tack ypon Mr. Jefferfon, whose arguments hjvc hither to been unai-fwered j Camillus iu his 4th essay pro ceeds to inflance certain infrailions of the treaty of peace on our part ; an accurate enumeration of these breaches would reqtiire, fays he, a tedious research: and who, fir, has imposed upon yen this odious talk f Does the duty of a patriot or a citizen demand it of you ? Would not your talents and integrity be better employed in vindicating the injured honor and r g'iitJ of y»ur county ? Docs it become you t® rack invention to cover her with obloquy, and to hold her up as a faithlefs and treacherous nation ? Does it comport with the eharaifler of a citizen of the United Stales, after their minister had silenced the ohjedtions of the British Ambaflador,tojuftify aperfidious prince for his breaches of faith and violences towards America ? Wifl it answer any valuable purpose to ftigmatisre the legtllature cf your own state, for a«fl» which preceded the treaty, and which were fuggefled hy the spur of the oCcaf:o;i, and by a re~:ird to felf-defence I Will the recollection pro duced i«f a review of the conduit of the different parties during tne war, be profitable or conciliating ? VTiil not every American recur to the history of thole tirrves tc* discover, not only the reaions which difkated, but a jaftification of the acts of whicTi you cdoipliiu > If he pursues the inquiry -:th pure motive*, he will be astonished, not that the state of Ncw-Yorlc did so much, but that her moderation was a great as it was. He w.li recoiled! with emotions of pain and indignation, th_t the state was not only invaded; and its capital, and fouie of its most fertile diltriits in poffeflion of a foreign ene my ; hut that (he had also to encounter a mgre I'angui nary foe, in those, from yhofe birth, lituation aud con nexion, (he was entitled to expedt lupport and succour, in her arduous conflict for independence. These men not only turned their arms against their country, but, outstripping Britilh cruelty, they introduced a -*arfar;, which would have dil'graced the favag.s q'f our wilder ness. The peaceful farmer—tKe aged inhabitants of either sex, whole years and infirmities Were refpc<fted by the troop* of Great-Britain, and her mtrciltfs auxi liaries of Germany, found no quarter from this im placable and inteltme foe. Their depredation* were eircumfcribed by no principle or rule of waV—thirlting for revenge, rapine, plunder and fecret'death weretljcir pursuit. Theirfuccefs was proportinate to their malice. America being unable to extend her proteiiion >o an immense frontier, her citizens Were driven from their farms—their pioperty made a prey of, and they deem ed themselves happr they could efcapc from af faifination into exile and penury— our feat and Ccafts swarmed with privateers, fitted out by these internal enemies, and even the Indians of America were piloted by them, to the peaceful dwellings of her citizens, and j temale and infant scalps were often difplaycd as tke joint triumph of those monfiers of the human race 1 Who then can be astonished that fheft provocations, which were repeated every day, 'friouid excite the most lively fenfat:ons of indignation and relcntment >. Who then can wonder that our legifiature Hiould pass an aft which was not only extorted by a I'enfe of injiiry, and the exigencies of the times, but was peculiarly cal' culated to protefi our citiseaj from future plunder, and held out a gleam of hope to those who had already'been dripped of their all, by this ruthless and uiifeelilig una 1 Forgive me, fir, if I describe your present friends in glowing colours. Humanity wished to forget forever, deeds of cruelty and horror, at the b.ire mention of which the most obdurate and rugged heart revolts. America was content to drop the curtain on a the catastrophe of which had confounded the adversa ries of her freedom and sovereignty. This state in par ticular, although her trade and frontiers had fu Acrid most, early manifefted a cmcilitting and for'-lvirt" spirit. Persons who had betrayed the most rancorous temper, «nd had been baniihed far their enmity and poverty of spirit, were permitted to return to the bosom of their offended country. ftj en w j! o ]j atl denced not only in principle, but in ailion, the most rooted hostility to our freedom and government, were permitted to remain, and become a part of the great body politic. Instances without Mlmbcrof forbearance, lenity, and evert of tenderness., fprjjivenef. and finrere reconciliation might be prpciucffd— even rewards and public hoaors and offices luve been befiowed upo,, ti.ele men. F.r from condemning a to which how ever, there were many objections, /glory in the liber ality and munificence of my country. Nor wis it iny wilh to vefcue from oblivion, a memorial of the con duel of those who have been obje&s of their .country's generosity and forgivensfs. Camillus has courted, nay provoked the discussion. When it becomes nceeffarv to exculpate our country from the reproach of cruelty and breach of faith-, we must be permitted to turn 'o the times which produced the a<Ti, which it i?prettnded, fixes this (tig ma upon her. If Camillus had tak.»t this trouble, he would havefeen f® much room for recrimi nation, that in ten ernefi to the feelings, of ihei'e uii happy men, he would have foreborne i'oine of hi& severe anmiadverions o* the condutf of this state. Waring stated some of the provocations and induce ments, we come new to the taw itfelf, in vlijch Ca millus discerns One of the earliest brtacl.es of t>.e reaty of peace on our part ; Camillus was not more ufil.apnv in reminding us ef the cor.dust of the tori.-s, than i - is unfortunate in this fir ft proof which he instances of our breach of faith. The law to which he refer? i« welt known by the appellation ofjhe trespass a a Th ; s law paired the x 7 th of March, i 78 3 . 'A mind not warr ed by prejudice, nor dTpofed to deceive iti" If i 8 at some difficulty, to imagine how in adl, pafled fix mmtl s before the definitive treaty was figged, and more than a year according to Camillas, before it became bind,.,* on the king, can be tortured into an infraf-ior of t).a"- very treaty. At the time of passing this Jaw the>gi flature had a periedl right fo-to do; nay, it was 4-_ of their duty—the war yet raged with miaUled rie.-r , as the royal cauie became mo.e and more t'efperuie, its fnends became proportiohabiy alert in their efforts to revenge a fuccefi to which they could not reconcile themselves. I heir lad Ciuelties exceeded Vpy of a i't» mcr date. Every tueafure, therefore, whirl tend--J o curb the licentiovilncfs of ou, domefti,; foes, t,, mitL -r e or check the horrors of a civil war, and to protect •' o'e of aur citizens whole remote residence prevented their receiving a»y adequate fecuritv from the America'! ai my, was not only prudent, but neceff*ry,j u flia ;i Meand- humane. It was alio believed, that Yew, if a of the depredations and robberies which v ere comrm W by the new l e v,« and refugees, were at the time func tioned by any military order ; their own fury th , A for plunder and revere led them on ;v« if a , order was admitted tojuftlfy their ann&rt, have;,* would it haveb.cn to obtam n nt f Every n.au uUU.i , n a horfe > * or other property, withe,,t „ v authority, andcsKvertc! •' c i-,rwt-,U T' t J f i i , , i • k c ' s t:v r-is r\v (and there were thousands who purfucd ae «hc; |^K