ftMt the CO LV MB I'd If CENT lb EL.
FEDERALIST.—No. I.
sHE OBJECTIONS TO THE TIEATY
RE FVT E D.
Mr. R'ussf.ll,
THE Conllitution of the United States em
powers the Pretideist, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided
two thirds of the Senate concur.
In pursuance of a power thits vcfled, the Senate
of Umt-cT States did consent to and advise the
Prefi.le.it of the United States, to ratify the treaty
of anjit'yv commerce and navigation,' between his
Britannic Mjjeftv and the United StaK.'S of Ame
rica, concluded Ijondop, the 19'h of November,
A. Q. i.794-i- A>u cu'wOrt'tun,; thai there Qc added to
f iid treaty -an artick',' whereby it, fkaH. be agreed
T<» fiifpend the operation', lo much of the 1 jth ar
ticl>~, as reft; etts' .the trade .which" his. fctd majesty
thereby, consents may be carried on between the
United States and' U'ii.iflauds in the Weft Indies,
fn the ir..'.nrtsi,' and 611 the tc;ms and conditions,
therein ptcTcribed.
A copy of this treaty was sent liy Mr. Mason,
one of the Senators from Virginia, to the editor of
the Aurora "in Philadelphia, that, it might be pub-
ILriud.
On Tuesday, the 7th of July, the editors of
the Chronicle advertised in the Ivleicury, that a
tony of the trea;y before referred to, was brought
by express frotn Philadelphia, and was for laic at
their office, and at L.aik;u's Book: Store, in COlll-.
hill. ...
On the Bth July, a notification, issued by order
of the Sfclefitnen of Bolton, notifying the inhabit
ants to meet on the 10th, agreeable to the requelt
of a number of inhabitants, to take into their most
serious confide ration, Mich mealures as might be
deemed expedient, relative to the treaty pending
be'ween the United States ano Gre it-Britain,
On the 9th July, the editors of the Chronicle
tubliftied' fit tiiiir paptr the eight fiift afticleS of
the treaty. _
The foregoing was the o)'iy publication of the
treaty, prior to the meeting of the inhabitants on
the loth, except a publication of its supposed con
tents, by fotiie one who ha 3 read it, and which, on
companion with"Mr. copy, appears to be
i.-icorrcdt.
Ou the ioth, ths inhabitants met in Faneuil
Kail, where 1500 of the citizens, without reading
the treaty there, voted their disapprobation, and
not one appeared in favor of it. -
A committee of fifteen was appointed " to re
port the resfontin writing, which led to the disap
probation of the treaty."
On the Manday following being the 13th, tlie
committee reported the objections of the town, be
fore the reading of which, the treaty was read;
Tlie objections wefe then accepted by. the town,
without one diffenttng *<»tce and » votc pafod,
dtrefiting their immediate tranimiffion to the Preli
ds. t of the United States, and expreffiiig " their
earnest hope and confident reliance, that the te.ifons
would have their influence-to withhold his
.of tkis-ulcu minjj
liniment" • v I"'■ - 1 '»
time to the 24th, the merits of tli'c proposed treaty
•wcVe U'fcuffed, with all the advantages that could bi
{le;;ved to this difcufiion, from examining dotn
liit''»t<> that shew the real state of our commeicc,;
the relation of this country to others j the grounds
-of out complaints againit the Britiih, with their
aiilvvers ; the,grounds of complaint the British had'
against - this country; with' the answers of America.
On the 24th, the Senate advised the Prefijent to
>,iii*j- the treaty, in manner and on the conditions
Ijiecified iii the firtt part of this paper. ;
A concurrence of two thirds of the number pre
ie.it was neeefTary to conditute a vote of tl.e Se
nile on this fubjett ; and it is understood that this
majority iiiclu.led all tlie" Senators from N-w-Eng
land, (except Mr. Langdon, of Purtfmouth, and
Mi. RoWnfon of Vcrmnnt J one Senator from New-
York, all fioUt Ncw-Jerfey, Pcntifyivaitia, Dela
ware and Maryland, one from. Kentucky, or* from'
South-Carolina, and one from Georgia—Virginia
ami Njrth-Carolina were the only states in- the
U iion, whofc Senators were unanimous againll its
loliSeatian.
Unless the p'efent conduct of tbefe Senators,
n a'Jyiting tke President to ratify the treaty, has
Them of the confidence of their fell.iw-citi-
't-.eire ; it may be tfuly fa id, that as individual mem
bers of the community, none itaricl higher in the
public eftimatior., as men of pure mor;.ls, found
twdei Handing, industrious and fteadv attention to
toufe' duties, with which they hare been intruded.
Their conduit as public men, has been tried and
known in limes the mod critical and dangerous j
find has received thejuft tribute of applause, front
a gratefal country, for having pteferved it from
the did relies of anatchv and war.
Duty to ourselves demands that we should refpeft
the ltgas and constitutional doings of those we have
appointed to jciminiltfcr our public.affairs ; at lead
fa far asiiot to dcclare to.the world, " That their
acts are highly injurious to the commercial intcieils
of the United States, derogatory to the national
honour and independence, and may be dangerous
to the peace and happiness of their c'itizens,"—
without the mo ft cartful investigation of the fubjeft,
and without the mod substantial teafons in fuppott
of charges which so deep]) wound the honour of
the government, and the character of those who
hitve coufiitutiana'ly danw the adt, thus boldly ae-
iHlied
M'.n who lov« their country will endeavour to
fuppurt its gove!:iment, at lcs.fl will refrain from
. grjfily vrhninating its conduct until they have been
convinced that no good reasons can be offered, for
that which to them may at firft appear doubtful.
Such men ought not inllantly t« enlifi under the
banners of its avowed opponents, nor hafbiy furJ
euder their judgments to those who have uniform
ly calumniated all tbofc acts, which time and cx
r,?ri«uce have faiictioned, as wife and produ&ive of
-.iva'.er prosperity than is enjoyed in an* other
coufltry. Mf' l who know the value of charadter,
.;a just regard of their own ; who- have fen fib i
!';y dtiiy to appicciatc the worth of public fame, j
will be cautious how they attempt to infli& a
wound on the reputation of others, which, if aim
ed at theuiftlves, would produce the most painful
fenfationt.
The town of Boston has given its feafons-for
assertions which 'have so deeply wounded the ho
nour of the government ; and which assertions,
if true, mull extremely weaken the confidence of
the people in the superiority of their own conttitu
tion.
Permit, therefore, Mr. RuSTell, a fellow citizen,
thro' the medium of your paper, to examine the
solidity of their reasons, in proof tliat this declara
tion, that " the treaty if ratified will be highly in
juiious to the commercial iiiteriftg of the United
States, derogatory .to their national honour and in
dependence, and may be dangerous to the peace
and happiness of their citizens."
The sirs* is, "That compart (meaning the trea
ty) profciTes to have no reference to the merits of
the complaints and pretentions of the contracting
; arties.; byt in reality the complaints and pre
tensions of Great-Britain are folly provided fofr,
whilea part ftnly of thofeof the United Slates have
been bioug'flt into confiueration."
The »'o;ds of the treaty are, that " the parties
being (Jefirous, by a treaty of amity, commerce
and navigation to terminate their differences, in
such a manner, as (without reference to the merits
of their refpettive complaints and pretensions) may
be the belt calculated to produce mutual fatisfa£tion
and good understanding." The words of the treaty
are copied here, that by comparing them with the
firft reafoit of the town, the public may judge of
their true import", and not be induced to believe,
that the two nations met together, with the design
of. terminating tJieir differences, and at the fame
time, disregarded the real fubje&sof controveify.
The, great charge in this leafon is, that the
-complaints and pretentions of Great-Biitain are
fu% provided for, while a part only of those of the
United States have been brought into confidera-
tic»n
It is to be presumed, that the committee meant
here, that the minider on the part of America,
never brousrht int > confideiation all the complaints
and pretensions of his country, li& aufe if brought
into consideration, and proved to be unfounded, or
for any reafoti waved, it could not he expeited that
such coiifideration, or the reafans which icfutedthe
complaints, Ihould appear in the treaty ; it would
be useless and unpiecedented
That the American minister did not bring them
into corifideration, is an afTumption of a fact by the
coir.mittce, for which they have not given any evi-
dence'
If the correspondence and arguments used by the
minister who negociated the treaty, were be
fore the town, or the committee ; or if they had
such. information of their doing* as could be relied
on. it would probably have been dated. Candor
requires that before a charge of gross neglect is
believed against any man, some evidence should be
adduced to support the charge.
That every complaint and pretension of the U
j nited States was duly made and enforced by the
j ."I'mi itan minister. is t.i •••"/paitiotifin. It
i 'nar also be inferred from the following coafidera-
tions
The President of the United States umloubtedly
gave him inttru&kms on this head. The report
made of the ncgociation, would shew whether
thing was on the part of the United
Sta es. This report was probably before the Se
nate. •
It is not prefumeable, that tlie President would
accept the report of his mi.titter as fatisfn&ory, or
consider the negociation as compleattd, unless eve
ry matter of importance was brought into confide
rati.nt j or that the Senate would recommend to
the Prefidcntj to ratify a treaty that was to termi
nate all differences, where it appeared to them that
the complaints of our own country were not bro't
into confide.ation. Further, it is not probable,
that the minority of the Senate, who had before
them the v hole negociation, would have negledted
to lbte this, ir it hud existed, as a reason for re
jcdm|r the treaty ; whereas, m the communication
made by Mr. Mafcir, no such charge appears, nor
in the motiois of Mr. Tazewell and Mr. Burr. It
may, therefore, fairly be inferred, uptil the town
or its committee pieafe to give some evidence to
the contrary, that every complaint and pretention
of the United States, was brought into considera
tion.
The second reason is, beeaufe in the flipulatioh
which surrenders our pods on the Weilern Fron
rieYs, no jrovifitin is made no indemnify the United
States, for the commercial,- and other lofTci they
have ftiftained, and the heavy expences to which
th»y have been (needed, in confluence of being
kept out of pofTeflJon for twelve years, in duedt vio
lation of the treaty of peacer"
In this jenfon, the town must intend that no
treaty should be acceded to, unless the British na
tion would lirft agree to indemnify the United
States for all 1 ofit's, that arose from otir not being
in possession of the posts the lafl twelve years.
This would be on the part of Great Britain ro
acknowledge that the inexecuffon of the treaty of
I 783, . was entirely her fault—This is probably a
matter she would dispute, and we are in candor
obliged to acknowledge, that the 4th article of that
treaty which relates to payment of debts, was op
posed by some of the States very soon after, if not
before the definitive treaty was fjgned, aud that jt
continued unexecuted in fume of the southern
States, until the Federargovernment was establish
ed. If she can juttly impute the firft breach to tHe
United States, our claim of indemnity, foi her vio
lation, mutt be doubtful. But fuppoling it other
wise, and that it be clear to us, that she retained
the posts wrongfully, and without rnyjuft provo
cation on our part—ls it probable that (he would so
humiliate herfelf, as to confefs she was the only
party who hr.d afled wrong, and avow herfelf ;te
author or cause of all the calamities which have, or
which we suppose have been derived from the inex
ecution of the treaty, and now submit to.pay all the
damages that had arifsn therefrom ?
In the various have taken place for the
wrongful detention of territories; few, if any, qre
the in (lances, that the vanquished natian has paid (
for the injunes anii losses that have arisen from such
detention.
The ntoft that is commoi.ly attained, i« a reito
ration of ftlch territory. Independent nations, own
ing no fuperiijr, qualified to judge of their conducl,
will seldom acknowledge they havr done wrong,
especially when poffefled of power to iupport their
own cause. It is wife both in a Minister, and a
nation, to refrain from infilling on points, which
would only produce crimiaation, and recrimination,
without advancing the great obje&s of their negoct
ation, .Let. tl>e candid consider, if it is probable,
that any resfoning they oould lugged, woul-l hive
induced Great Britain, to acccde to fuch t a llipulati
on as thi» objection fuppoltb.
If not, would it be wife ins us to refufe the pofls,
and lliirftiffer the evils we feel from being deprived
-of them—or attempt to gain them by lurce ? If
lujcoefsful in this hitler modie, Is it probable, that,
rat tl)e end of a war, we could induce Britain to pay
us the JolTes futicred by.the twelve years detention,
added to jhe duration of hostilities ; and the further
cxpences - of a war undertaken to regain them ?
There ate few men who will fay such an event can
be calculated on—lf then it is' not probable that
Great Britain could be induced by arguments to
accede to this stipulation, nor that we could have
attained-it by war, it mall certainly be considered
wife in the rninillsr to accept the polls, and in the
Sanate to advise to the ratification of the treaty,
notwithstanding (he did not (tipulate to pay the
lodes consequent oa her detention of them—lt
ought also to be remarked, that altho much has
been said about making a demand of the poits, noth
ing has-been intimated in public, that a demand
(hould be made for damages, for not relinquilhing
them before; much lefsthat we fiiould refufe to re?
ceive them, unless weconld be paid for such dama
ges, or that we would attempt to gain such dama
ges by war ; especially when it had never been hint
ed, that the United States wosld hazard a war
even to gain the posts. .
Philadelphia, Aiigujl 15.
Some pertbns, fays a Correfpondcut, pretend to
believe in Richard Brothers, who, it is well known,
believe in nothing else.
A new Prophet aflerts that the Whore of Baby
lon means the Jacobins ; that the four Beatts are
the four * American Printers devoted t« their
caufc ; and that the ten Horns are the ten dissent
ing Senators to the Treaty of Peace with Great
Britain.
* G —, B—, F—u, i-.r.d A. b' L.
A writer in Mr. Davis's paper of the sth instant, in
giving an account of the Anti Treaty Meeting m Rich
mond fays, that in consequence of the hirangues of
the Speakers —the meeting was so thinned by the mov
ing off of the people, that on counting Noses betore
the question on the Refolulions wis put, there were
" not above eighty present 10 vote, and molt of them
not Freeholders."
uurj oj a Letter from agennc.
his friend in Philadelphia.
" Dear Friend,
HANK you fur the last Pampliki you
lent me, but I want words to express my obliga
tion to the worthy fenatar of Virginia, who mid
wised the fuhje£t from the womb of fccrecy. How
happy is it tor the United States, that they have
some men, who dare toconfult the pleafurc of their
conftituenis, the democratic societies, in spite of
ali law and order to the contrary. Were it not for
a few fiich heroic fpints, who scorn legitimate con
treul, public bufmefs would be wholly under the
management of public servants, to whom the con
!t:tution has affignedit, & patriotic societies would
become useless. For so long as the people are prof,
perousand easy in their fereral lots, they.will never
rack their heads about state affain. Citizen Genet,
thanks to his Jacobinic genius, firft set the example,
which citizen Mason has now followed, of appeal
ing to the public sense (of clubs) from the confti
tuttd organs of the union : and tiie principle'and
intention of both were perfe&ly similar, although
the occasions were a little different.
1 was once weak enough to believe that the peo
ple were incapable of governing themselves ; and
that to prevent a state of universal violence and con
fufion, it was ncceffary to delegate all the essential
poweis of government to some meh of competent
virtue and abilities ; with authority fufficient to en
force submission : but I am now convinced of my
mifhke—Conftitution, laws order, begone ? I
give you all to the winds ; a* I fee clea/ly that all
the a£ta of public bodiei require revision ; and that
the mass convened at town-meetings, arc qualified,
under a few able leaders, to manage the buftnefs
tmu h better. Thus it was in the glorious days of
Rome and Athens, when town-meetings were all
the fafhion ; when a Clodius and a Cleok were
able to point the thunder of pupnlar vengeance a
gainst such obnoxious characters; as a Ciceko and
a Socrates ;—and in our time, when a Robes
pierre antl a Marat, by the fame weapons, were
able to crush a Rocjiefoucault and a Fayette
—and 1 cxpeft that the United States of America
will soon display to theworld an example of still
greater eclat. Appearances at least are very pro
mihng. Town-meetings, and democratic societies
tinder fkillful hands, are the rholt powerful revolu
tionary engines ever devised. Grant me these two
inftrtiments, and a fubferrient prtfs, and ! will tear
an Antoninus or a Trajan from his throne, how
ever beloved by his fubjedts. They are in politics
like the reft in Mechanics, tbat Archimedes requir
ed to remove a world.
Notwijhftanding this treaty has made fiich a fi
gure in the newspaper*, and raised so much bustle
in the political circles, all the labour seems to be loft
on the great body of the people. The farmer re
turns from market, the mechanic and labourer at
tend to their daily avocations, without giving this
momentousfubjeft more than a tnnfknt thought.
They seem generally content with their own pros
perity, and to think others as happy as
believe whatever may be the fate of the
treaty, it will be dccitlril, without knowing tiic
fentimente of nine parts out of ten of the mod ref
pe&able citizens. In lhort the dispute seems prin
cipally confined between and a few
men who have stepped forward to fuppoit it, and
the democratic societies. It is a struggle for victo
ry ; and whichever party is foiled in this contest,
must hereafter submit to be ruled. Viewed in this
light the fubjeft becomes doubly important ; fitft,
whether we (hallcement the connexion with Great
Britain on the conditions proposed ; and fccondly,
whether the President and Senate (hall decide the
question ; or whether it l?e neccffary that Democra
tic Societies (hould guarantee the treaty. As an ia
teger of the body politic, who conceive myfelf in
terested in the issue, 1 very huiiellly declare myfelf
an advocate for the last propotition : and at tome
future time, you (hall have my reasons for so think
ing, if' 1 have leisure to arrange them. At present
I will detain you only with a few observations on
the Embaflador extraordinary, and His conduit in
this bufmefs. " ■ " *
When a public tnan hns accepted a commiflson of
importance under his country, as a General the
command of an army, or a Minister the conduct,
iiiu of a negotiation, his cor.ftituents l.uvc a j'uft
right to expect full and complete i'uccefs : and irf
cafe of a failure the delinquent Is fubje£t to an im
peachment at lealt. In a 'litei Republic. how ma
ny generals, eve 1 sfter a long feties of yiduriei. hive
forfeited their heads for a single defeat ! But in the
cafe at present under consideration, when, if we
can believe the joint teliimoi.y of Fren h and A
merican gazettes, «' England is at her last gasp, and
Amelia has nothing to do but to seize her by the
throat, and (he will expire in agonies at her feet,"
to sign such an infamous c»ir.jja£t as thi?, the nc
gocialor would deserve the guillotine. How un.
fortunate it was that the Prefidrnf had not appoint,
ed a more suitable envoy on this interelhi'g com
mifiion ; especially, when there were to many dillin
guilhed patriots, ready to undertake it. Almoil
any one of the immaculate foul hern delegates, or
such a sublime politician as that of South Carolina
would have met with the univcdal approbation of
democratic societies. 'Either of-thefe gfrlienr.ui
would liave insisted, as a f>r qua no/l, on/ttli Cum,,
penfatior. for all the run-away negroes the British
carried off with tlicniand as-to iliat article,
which provides for the payment of ancient debts due
to Britiih creditors, it would have fcien damned as
political heresy, as well as treason again 11 the fove
leignty of individual States. Bclides, the iultaiic
furrsndcr of the Western 'Potts would have been dc
manded, as a preliminary article, without which a
negociation could "not be commrncee. Indeed I
(hould not wonder, it such a p'etiipu, in imitation
of the Roman Prpconful, Ihoulddtaw a circle round,
the Brilifh Mini'fler, with the point of his cane,
and swear that he (hould not cross it, until he had
dispatched orders to Lord Dorchester so« an imme
diate evacuation. This I declare, would have been
adtingtwith the dignity of a republican, whatever
might have been the coiifequencc. And it (he
British Cabinet had mitiifefted no moie ,complai
fancc to him, than thej-din to Mr. j ,y, which it is
possible the haughty Iflande>s-mignt not, Use Err
baffador, after fpend ; ng a few thuufund dollars for
his country, would only have returned home, re
-iinlrfs they had been Xo malicious/ as to stop
him. on a pretence of derangement, and csnveyetl
him tp a chamber in bedlam. However, the wortt
that cculd happen, in cafe of a total miscarriage, is
that, iil the course of a few months more, tie
might have an CKjienfiye war oh our hands ; intiead
of a recompense for the lotTes we have futtained by
British depredations on our trade, the account
would be quickly fettled, and the remainder of our
veflels might be taken without any compeofation
Stall ; and iiiftead of being put in poffetuon of the
wefterh posts, they might become the rendezrdin
of numerous lavage bands,"who, united with their
white allies, might renew thrirclaims to the western
wilderncfj with redoubled fury."
-in hanraHer to
For the GAZETTE of the, UNITED STATED.
AN informant of Mr. liache's in the Aurora of this
morning states, that a meeting of the Citiz«ni of the
County of New-CalUc in the slate of DeU .«re, col
•«**»« Bridge to «*psef« their ierift of the
late Treaty, That rti« meeting after reprobating the
treaty, burnt Mr. jay ami trie iwo Senators from ihit
State in effigy. I n thofc facts Mr. Bache's mformaM
IS correct 5 it on!y remains to give the public full in
formation on this head to llaic who tin: perron? w. re
that composed this meeting. 7bat a friend to truth
will undertake to do. In consequence of advertifementi
affixed in different parts of the Cminty, .hout tw»
hundred and fifty perlons rnet at the place appointed,
and without a Chairman, Prefiiient, Moderator, Coin.
miitee, or resolves, or one person capable of put tin •» a
question, so as to take the l'enfe of the meeting thev
damned the Treaty. When this was done they par*,
ded the figures which they had previously prepared,
in a Cart to a gallows eroded for the purpose, and
theie burnt them. As (boh as this ceremony was over*
the principle of a floe iat ion which seemed to conned!
and traternizc them evaporated, and as if his infernal
majelly to do mifchi# haS aril'en from the afties of
the figures, the meeting broke U p, in damning, box
ing and mutually eaih ether.
The meeting was conduced by a man who had been
lome time before elected a lieutenant in a Volunteer
Corps raised 111 opposition to the laws of the State, and
who earns his daiiy bread by Cart-drivine. The meet
ing was altogether composed of men of that itamp, roe*
generally unqualified to vote at eleiilions, and wltofe
enfigma are Cart-whips, spades, and flioveis, ex. tat
between fifty and fixtv negroes with whom the white*
promifcnoufly afiociated and fraternized. Be affiled
Mr. FennO', that neither Mr. lay, Mr. Vinine or Mr
Latimer, feel much mortification at being burnt out
of inch checker'd company.
August 15.
BELVI D h R K.
Formerly WHARTON PLACE.
THE Subl'criber returns his gratsfj! Mknowlsdgm'siKt
to his friends and the puMic for th,: uyoi-s he haj al
ready received, and refpeafulljr inform, tiiem that hi*
House continues open for their reccpticn. tfuhlie and pri
vate parties are accommudated at any hour. An exteuf. s
flute of Rooms for those inclinod to >j-mt the city uiiri;>jt
the hot fnmmer months, and excellent luring and duvet
pafture for horses.
ihe f>craut;iul oi" p!<icobkino* i &
"«"• no dcfv'riptioa. M,"«u ?UKVi.>
Auzufc i? J-
M*. Fenuo,