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THE JOURNAL,
TUESDAY, April 17.
The opinion of the Supreme Court
of the* United States, in the case of
Fletcher vs. Peck, which we have
published entire in our paper, con
firms the decision of the court below’,
in all its points, in favor of the Ncw-
/fengland Yazoo Land Company,
la it a fort of fcare-crow let np to frighten
the great belligerents of Europe—or it it a
toy, a rattle, a bare plaything ro amufe the
great children in our political world ? On
whatfoever meafures the nation may.ulti
mately refolve, be it peace, be it war, be it
(it there be fuch a thing) an intermediate
ftate between these two, there is no differ,
ettce of opinion as to the delet r rious opera,
tion of this unfortunate law. I ought per
haps to call it fortunate 5 for, although it
here appeared to be a majority of up- sis to be dismissed.” Why did
wards of forty Votes in fav'dr of it. struggle for liberty ? Of what v il
I'm rt t a n , S t w% a.* n Sm sI* ■ %.« . a I« ^ 1 ... .. .t. . * *
The question was taken on the rc-
naindcr ofthe resolution in the fol-
ow’ing Words : “ That the * said
committee enquire generally into the
conduct of the said. James Wilkinson
as a Brigadier General of the arim
of the United States and that the
An investigation intb the conduct
of general Wilkinson is at length de
termined on by Congress. The re
ports relative to his having been a
Spanish pensioner and of his connex
ion with Burr appear to have gained
befiet even among his oVm officers.
We find that Capt. Scott was tried
by a Court Martial at Natchez some
time past for uttering expressions to
that effect. The unparallelled suf-
i firings and prodigious mortality of
our litttle army during the last year,
attributed on all hands to the mis
conduct of the Commander in Chief,
seemed to render an investigation in
to his conduct absolutely necessary ;
yet', strange to tell, an attempt was
made to suppress the investigation,
and by one of the members from this
state.* The motion was rejected
by a very large majority. The rea
son offered in support of this mo
tion, was the late period of the
session—or, in other words, the want
of time.—How inconsistent ! Con
gress met in November & have been
in session five months—And how
have they been employed ?—not in
passing laws of public utility, or, in
repealing such as were peculiarly op
pressive ; not in asserting the rights,
or. in relieving the distresses of the
Country ; but, in proposing Resoluti-
tions, which after long discussion are
finally w ithdrawn....In chimericalpro-
jects of every kind. It is acknowledg-
edby themselves, that they have done
nothing—and if they have now much
to .perform, they certainly in the
fore-part of the session were shame
fully remiss in their duty—-they have
made a wanton waste of time and
ojtthe public money. If they can, let
tliem justify such conduct to their
constituents.
* Dr. Bibb. See procecdingi of Congress.
can it be, it we suffer the minist •
of England to dictate to our gov n
inent ?—to say in the teeth of oui,
Secretary, he knew what he did not
know'. In this situation we should
degrade ourselves beneath the digni
ty of civilized beings. We should
simply enjoy the name of liberty, and
Worship the shadow for the substance.
What, I would ask, terminates wars.
Houfc Wi,h ? ut committee have power to send
Bugle friend, although no man was found.« „ , 1 •. .
to lift up hh voice in it. defence, it actually^ P erson * a ™l papers, and compel
pafsed by a majority of two to one, and ii their attendance and production, and
found nearly ai difficult to repeal ai the oldjthat they report the result to this concludes treaties, &c. if it is not the
1 th u ^° r, i! er even after all i«S|House.” It was agreed to bV a large^faith which one nation reposes in the
BurtevCh^pi-lword of another > Is JL any o-
lull profit of former experience, and not|° n * Deshea, Pearson and Root were ther pledge bv which they are bound ?
pertinaciously adhere to a meafure which appointed a committee pursuant to Do they not Hotel it as immutably
is daily diminilhing the refources of the na*,the foregoing resolution respecting sacred ?—and yet, you are willintrto
Xrtitelffl 0 :" 1 "* ,n ib!miSh , i ‘ <V °”' >7»r minds. You
the Legislature—hut I beg pardon- -lam . 1 he Hous f resumed the consider-are ready to regard as indifferent the
entering into a difeuflion, when my foie ob- a tion of the joiht resolution- for an foundation of all civilized govern-
ments—the great basis of the liber-
&fc.
>A press of matter more interest
ing, prevents the insertion of the
King’s Speech to the British Parli
ament, in our paper of to-day.
they mud prefent ...1.........
every man of common obfervation and com-l** 608 ^
mon fenfe—the arguments by which the
propriety of a fpeedy decifion of this quef-
tiotr it enforced. If any member of this
Houfe will figute to himfelf the fair and bo
na fidt American merchant, whofe fliip has
been lying at the wharf the greater part of
the winter laden with a cargo perilhable in
its nature, fay flax feed, which if not export
ed now becomes utterly worthless, he will
conceive the situation of tbofe whom I wilh
to relieve. How our refources are to be
enlarged, or the belligerent! to be act.
ed on bT our produce perilhing hvre
I cannot conceive—I mean the pro
duce of the fair and bona fide trader—
for the other defeript ion of men we kaow
all men fend their produce when and
where they pleafe. We have had official
information near five months ago that the
law is wholly inoperative, except as to men
of high character for probity and honor,
who cannot gain their own confent to vi-
olate.the l^w. I therefore move
“ That the aft interdicting commercial in
tercourse, Sec. &c.—ought to be immedi
ately repealed.”
The Houfe agreed to conGdcr the refo-
lutipn.—Yeas Nays 53
Mr. Montgomery was opposed to
the repeal of the Non-Intercourse
without a substitute. He conceived
that its repeal without some substi
tute was positive, unequivocal sub
mission. He thought Congress could
not separate at the present session
without repealing the Non-Inter
course and doing something to main
tain, support and defend the rights of
our country. He concluded by of
fering the following amendment :
“ And that provision ought to be
made bv law, to maintain and defend
SUMMARY VIEW OF THE PROCEED-
* INGS OF CONGRESS.
NATE.—On the 30th ult. Mr.
Crawford, from the committee ap
pointed for that purpose, reported
the resolution proposed by Mr. Reed,
for’ amending the Constitution re
spec ting titles of nobility, with amend
ments. The bill making appropria
tions for carrying into effect certain
Italian treaties was passed
Mr. Smith of Aid, on the 5th inst.
gave notice that he would on the fol
io Ang day ask leave to bring in a bill
to authorise the President of the U.
S.lo employ the public armed ships
in protecting the commerce of the
United States.
A resolution was submitted for
consideration, by Mr. Lloyd, request
ing the Secretary of the YVar Depart
ment to prepare a system.for impro
ving the discipline oi the Militia of
the U. S. comprehending infantry,
cavalry and artillery, and to report
the same at the next session of Con
gress
House of Representatives.—The H.
of R. on the 21st ult. resumed the
consideration of the amendments of
Senate to the Commercial Intercourse
BiU. The question on adherence was
taken without debate. Ayes 6G—
No.es 58. And the bill is finally re
jected. Immediately after the deci
sion of this question, Air. Randolph
rose.. ...
He faid that f<rld->m had a qurftion excit
ed fo-much fenfation which was of intrinfi-
cally Itfs importance than that juft now de
cide.q—arid perhaps it mi^hi be deemed that
the propoGrion winch he was now about to
offer was not oFitfelf deferving of higher
confideiaMon. He faid he would ftate his
ideas as luccinctly as poffible, becaufe his
prefenr object was difpatch. We have
(fnd he) an a»ft fubfifting which for brevity’s
l-*kr ) will call the non-intercourfe law.
’* his aTl has been reprobated and reviled by
♦ very man of every political defeription in
this- Houfe arwl out of it, from one’ end of
the continent *o the other—and yet, sir,
lira* gc a., it may appear, Cong refs has been
-i in It dim near five months, and this law in
relation -o which ♦ very one feems to concur
(in.ieeti vie with each other) in its reprobati
n'!, (till remains.upon our (tatute* book
FOR THE GEORGIA JOURNAL.
duct of Francis fames fackson,^° W 1T *
What then would become
our liberty, the preservation of
. . , , , , . .which, you say, drew forth vour in-
Again, gentlemen, I appear before , fl ammatorv rc p 0rt ? WO uld dis-
the public in defence of our common l)crse like ’ thc morn i ng inisU
will think it a bold assumption of anf 1 “ la, ' r - n " h ° ut not,c !"« ,h<;
individual to place- himself in oppo-j lo :': ,n S hnes-the re-pubheanon of
sition to enlightened commUtc, wrest mnm. of the,r
of thc Lcgntdxan'of Mdurnhwctul'
and your surprize will be encrcased''f "”. r ’ " */»q***< ,ha
deem it illiberal, if I should question against xmom
the motives which brought your T ^one they could be expected to operate,
port into existence, «id should even' 1 ™ RKs * ECtED OUR ELAf? ’ fosvor-
indirectly insinuate, thaitU3reat»Bri- |E £ > 0l R r w Ips i and admitted us to a
tain had her influence over your acji- and lucrative commerce with e-
ons very part oj her dominions. Gra J
What induced you to bring., for- '^ olls heaven . s ! Here ' ,s a f of
Ward your infiammatory report is en-f the mf)st ^« ious nature, of the black-
the riphtt, honor snd independence . . .- , . , , ,
of the U. S. against the edicts of f;ur, y elucidated by concurrent e-
France and Great-Britain.
On the 2d inst. Mr. Love reported
a bill for the establishment of a Nati
onal Bank. The Bank to be esta
blished at the city of Washington,
with branches in each territory and
state, provided the consent of the
state Legislatures shall be obtained
The bill was twice read and commit
ted.
Mr. Pearson called for the consi
deration of the resolution offered by
him some time ago, relative to an en
quire into the conduct of Brig. Gen
James Wilkinson.
The House a greed now to consi
der the resolution, Yeas 84, Nays 15.
A division of the question was
called for, so as to take the question
distinctly on each clause. The first
question was on the first clause in the
following words :
Resolved, That a committee be ap
pointed to enquire into the conduct of
brigadier general James Wilkinson,
in relation to his having at any time
whilst in the service of the U- S. cor
ruptly received money from the go
vernment of Spainjor its agents, or in
relation to having during the time a
ty we enjoy’. “ All governments arc
f founded in opinion,” says a great po
litical writer. And what is opinion,
hut that belief or faith .vhich one in
dividual reposes in the word of ano
ther ? If Great-Britain has a right
LETTER II. to ted us we know, what we do not
MilkJ s nUk,i.ihJtril,UlO.}" oyr < ma )' sh ' no < rob us of
To thc Committee of thc LegiolatuJ"™: °“ r "“kpendence and all that
ofMaeoachmeUoUhodrwupthe™'*.*™}?™™', »“ h c ,1 uaI
liettolutions'approbatory o/rt c «»- !pmprlc, - v . Kl ‘.- us > **♦ »” d *«
niinent services in the cause oj En-
land, you deserve a statue of Gold.' 1 '
Yon will consider these remarks, *
gentlemen* as wholly directed to your
selves. It is an arduous task to an
swer objections and remove difficul
ties. It is painful in the extreme to '
question the motives -by which you
were actuated : But, as a link in the
great chain of the human family—-as
a member of the American Repub
lic, the only one on earth, every free
man should be vigilant, and act in
that manner which may seem best ■
calculated to promote the happiness,
welfare and prosperity of his coun
try* bACELLUS.
Norfolk\ March 30.
The brig Fame, Captain Stone, ar
rived here yesterday from France— "
left Calais the 22d jan. where he was
carried in on his outward passage '
from this port, bound to Tonningen,
by a French privateer ; and after a
long detention was liberated, on cbm- •
promising with the captors. Ca'pt.
S. confirms the reports we have al- 1
ready had of all American property
at St. Sebastian’s being confiscated ‘
by the French government j—knows
nothing of a convention between
France and this government—landed ■'
despatches at Dover (E.) from Mr. *
Armstrong for Mr. Pinkney, and is *
also the bearer of despatches to our |
government from Mr. Armstrong.
rights, and to eradicate thc foul stains
which you have cast upon- the Gene
ral and State Governments. You
I cannot, gentlemen, in justice to
myself or mv country, close the pre-
when you recollect it comes from the
wilds of Georgia. But, gentlemen,
as you have taken the liberty of ques
tioning the motives by which Con
gress and our National Executive
were actuated—as you have indirect
ly accused them of being under the
influence of France, you will not
the entire period of these commercial
restrictions (meaning the embargo
and non-intercourse act I suppose)
France, WITH WHOSE CONSENT
THEY WERE IMPOSED, AND
CONTINUED, has seized and se
questered nearly all the American
Property, which has fallen within her
grasp, whilst Britain, against whom
veloped in doubt, and cait- only be
vents. Every other Legislature had
determined wtth one voicid'to support
the administration in the: dismissal
of Mr. Jackson. Every other felt the
wound given to tlreir-honor by En
gland. You were callous to all.—
You chose to be the shield between
an injured people and that perfidious
nation—a nation, whose character i«
stained with blood, and polluted hv
the most attrocious crimes. Admit
ting every thing in your report to
have been founded in fact, it cannot
in that case be justified. • When we
are tottering on the precipice of war,
it ill becomes a confederated state to
expose the weakness of its govern
ment, and invite the enemy to car
nage and plunder. But, you^did not
stand on a foundation such as I have
supposed. To gratify your spleen,
you assailed the fair fabric of truth ;
but you assailed it in vain. You
have represented us as w<?ak and de
bilitated, when we are strong, & in
the vigor of. manhood. You have
said we are under the influence of
France, because we will not enter in
to an alliance with England. Such
is the language of men enjoying the
foresaid, been an accomplice or in any blessings of the oaly Republic on
w ay concerned with the agents of anv Lartn.
■* * ~ • You, gentlemen, say “ a war with
Great Britain in the present state of
Europe, and under the existing cir
cumstances of our country, would be
the greatest calamity that could befal
thc United States, short of their, liber
ties and independence, and would in
its consequences ehdanger these."—
Which is most compatible wish Li
berty ?—which best accords with the
noble deeds of our ancestors, to run
the risk of losing our independence
by a war, or passively suffer its anni
hilation by intrigue and duplicity ?
If we defend our rights like freemen,
we discharge the imperious duty en
joined on us by our ancestors. If
not, we provoke their vengeance,
and justly incur their displeasure.
You, gentlemen, are willing to con
strue the insult of Mr. Jackson in am
other way than that which is correct.
You go farther, and say, “ if thi
British Minister had, either througli
accident or df-sign, used equivocal
foreign power or with Aaron Burr in'
a project against the dominions of the
king of Spain or to dismember these
United States.
This part, as well as the proposi
tion generally, was supported by
Messrs. Pearson, Pitkin, Key, Shef-
fey, Lyon, and Macon, & opposed by
Alessrs. Rhea, Holland, M’iCiin,
Smilie, Taylor and Findley. The
debate turned principally on the right
of the House of Representatives to
institute an enquiry into the conduct
of the commander in chief or of any
officer of the army of the United
States. The debate Will be given
hereafter.
A motion was made by Air. Bibb,
inder the impression that it wss too
ate in the session to act on the sub
ject, to postpone the further consi-
leration of the proposition indefmite-
v. The motion was negatived, 79
o 33.
rhe question was then taken on the
est dye, against our government.
YY’hat patriotic bosom does not throb
with emotion, at so unprincipled, so
diabolical a sentence ? Can any
friend to America read it without
feeling the most dire contempt for
its authors ? I shall not, gentlemen,
palliate or justify the conduct o
France at the expense of my own go
vernment. I will not, like you, by
prostituting truth, extol a foreign na
tion, whilst I stigmatise my own.
England, you say, “ has rejected
our flag, convoyed our ships, and ad
mitted us to a free commerce.” Y
murdered citizens arise from the si
lent grave—awake from the cokl
sleep of death, and contradict this
cruel assertion. Ye unfortunate sea
men who are now pining in fruitless
hope in her dungeons—who are drag
ging out a life more horrible than
death, testify against it. But, why
disturb the ashes of the dead ? Why
call them to prove acts, which are
known to all, who are not wilfully
blind ? You, gentlemen, Can view
our national ship wantonly insulted
—Youcan beholdits deck streaming,
and the ocean purpled with the in
nocent blood of our citizens, and as
sert in the face of thc American na
tion, that “ Britain has respected
our flag, convoyed our ships, Jkc.
How does she convoy them ? By
capturing our vessels, impressing our
seametw-carrying them to England
—condemning them by a mock trial
—and convoying the value of the
vessel and cargo into the public cof<
fers of the nation.
In your report, gentlemen, We are
Unable to discover the sentiments of
freemen—a tacit submission to a fo
reign despot bursts forth from even-
part. When, too, we recollect that
: To aafwer wiat cni, I tcEccb you, fit : first clause of the proposition, when exnresssions, he ought not at this cri
We understand (says the Nation^;
al Intelligencer,) that a letter from-
General Armstrong to the Secretary
of State, dated January 20th, has
been .received by the Fame, arrived
at Norfolk, wliich states that our at* .
fairs with the French government
had at that time assumed ft more fa
vorable aspect. General Armstrong
ordered the John Adams to repair to
England, to receive Mr. Pinkney’s
despatches, and to return to France,
for Lieut. Fenwick, who would be
charged with the French despatches.
H. & E. GATES, ;
Respectfully inform their customers
and the public, that they have rc* :
moved their
Blacksmith’s Business.
to their Shop, on Hancock street,
next door to DcVereux Jarratt’s, and
nearly* opposite John Matthews’?*,
where business in that line will be
executed with neatness and dispatch.
They have on hand, a large sup* ■
ply of
' Excellent Timber,
Suitable for Waggons and riding Car
riages, which will enable th ( to
furnish any article in the Wheel*
weight and Coach-Maker’s business <
on a short notief.
April 17. 65—tf..
Notice.
A Ll. perfWns *re forwarned again!* trad.
I*- ing for three note! of hand given b)r tbe
Subscriber and W'nK*te Hall (as fecurity)
to Finlater Clements, on the firft of April
laft one of the ssid notes is for 174 dollars
payable in 1812—the other notes payable
Ift January lit!—the frid notos were gi.‘
ven fo Clements for the purchafr of a Traft
of Land, snd he being a citizen of Pcnnfyl.
vania, and executions having been rince le* *
vied on frid land as the property of the ori* ••
ginal grantee, lam determined not to pay
the notes until my title to the land be fe*
cured--But if the faid Finlater Clements
will come forward and satisfy the elccUti* )
ons, I (lull consider myfclf bound to dif.
charge thc notes.
ROBERT HILL* *„
April IT. j) * i.. i inpt
Notice.
A LL perfons are herrby forwarnrd from
trading with my wife Peggy Ann Wil- -
liama, ai I am determined not to be answei*
able for any of her contrails, (lie having kit
my bed and board without any provocation.
ARTHUR WILLIAMS.
April 17. 95—It*
Notice.
'T’HIS is |to ferwarn all perfons what*
L foever, from tradirti; for a certaia
note of hand given from William Penn to
mv. bearing date feme lime in March 18! 3,
and" made payable on the 95tb of December
lAlfl, with an alignment on the back of
faid note from rtte fo Crorgr Hird, and one
alfe from me to Sanford L. Rarnry, as the
faid note was fraudulently obtained by the
frantic fame, fachon had IcUen "* ““
introduction to Christopher Gohr.,
Governor of Alassachusctts, and
combine that Circumstance with your
report, we are at the same instant,
fired with pity and indignation.
Your report is an invaluable state-
paper to England. Although she
has not the impudence, openly to a
April 17.
ARTHUR miLUMC.
25 ltfl
GEORCilA, Laurens County.
W HEREAS Nancy Brazcal has applied
to 1
me tor letters of adminiftrafor oa
the ettate of Willis Brazeal, late of this
county, deceafed
Thele are 'hcreforr to cite and admonlfh
all and s npular the kbtdred and creditors
vow the principles you profess, she'of said dec’d, to be and appear at my Of-
■ * * * '—*- -J1 hy law, to
. 1. 1, _ • • . - - r , me— (.use 11 any nicy na.c, wtiy said let.
iovalty. Her ministers no doubt' not Given under
.vill declare of you, as they did of my hand this 10th day oi April, i^o.
Peter Porcupine, that, “ for your #-|
A. Love, C. C* 0