The Republican ; and Savannah evening ledger. (Savannah, Ga.) 1807-1816, May 12, 1807, Image 2

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J rum a Londun Paper. MONTAGNEGRINES. As much lias been said respecting this peo* J*lc, and but little known, the lollowing account ol them by a late traveller in that quarter, will Le acceptable to our readers : “ I mentioned the natives of Montagna ne |ro as a parcel of banditti. Tiiey are in all probability the aborigines of the country ; and when Greece declined from her former great ness, mouldered by degrees from the Roman hands, and became a prey to the barbarous na tions. These wretched remains of a celebra ted people forsook their fertile plains and tel lies, and took refuge amidst barren and almost inaccessible mountains. They preserved, in deed, their liberty by this desperate step; hut lost what is perhaps of more consequence to the happiness ol mankind—the manners, the morals, the laws which form and preserve un broken the bonds of society. The Montagne jpines have returned to the state of nature, and in a few ages have undone a system which lhcrr forefathers could not accomplish during the revolution of a thousand years. There is a wide difference between them and the sava ges of the new world, but the balance is in fa vor of the savage. lie has \ irtucj mixed with the vices of an unlettered mind, and virtues of a quality that often serves as a veil for his crimes. Hut the Montagnegrines, after hav ing gradually forfeited the principles of honor, and the sentiments of humanity, retained anti nursed every dark and unbridled passion that reduced men to the level of brutes. This fc ro< ions tribe acknowledge no masters ; and be ing equally out of reach of the Venetians anti Turks, serve as an impenetiuble barrier to tfiosc nations in this quarter. Ily the most ac curate accounts I could obtain, they can bring fourteen thousand fighting mtn into the field ; which is the only mode by which their actual numbers can he guessed. Supposing thateve ry male capable of bearing arms is ranked as a soldier, and this is no unreasonable conclu sion among a barbarous race ; we may reckon the women and children at triple the number. “ This calculation will bring the Montagnc grincs to fifty thousand souls and upwards, who subsist on the footing of primeval inde pendence, and own no law but the sword. Like the Americans and Arabs, they elect a chief, to whom they pay obe ‘ience in public matters; but reserve to themselves the right of execu tion in private concerns. The murderer’s Jife is not only answerable for that he lias taken away, but should he escape, the life of one of iiis family is the forfeit; a piece of justice that neatly corresponds with the accounts that I have had occasion to give of the Arabs. With the Montagnegrines, however, the thirst of re venge seems far more bloody and unquencha ble. Should the deceased leave a son at his mother's breast, the satisfaction required is but deferred for a while. The disconsolate widow preserves the bloody shirt in which her bus band was assasnmated, as a memorial of the dead. With the sight of this she kindles and keeps alive, the implacable flame in her off spring's breast, which breaks out when he ar rives at an early manhood, into an act of savage retribution. She exhorts him in the manner of the Spartan matrons, when they nobly sent llicir sons against the public enemy— “ Return victorious ; a)’ return no more !’ “ Like a famished parti, the young enthusiast Issues from his den ; and the blood of a devo ted and unsuspecting victim gluts his revenge. What a dreadful atonement. llow contrary to the dictates of reason and humanity ; and yet according to the records of nations and our own experience not repugnant to human na ture. 1 feel myself mortified at being supris ed out of a reflection that does no honor to our dispositions ; and shews in the clearest light the. virtue of education, and the beauty of phi- Josophv ! “ Though the Venetian Republic holds not these people in subjection, she derives every Advantage from their vicinity which the cultiva tion of arts affords a political state. She rebuilt the forttVss of Cataro on a steep and barren rock, as a bridle on their and ungovernable tempers, Behind this rock is the only passage lip to the mountains ; audit is not to be sup posed that the Montagncgrincs presume to make inclusions into the Venetian territories, when their retreat would be infaliably cut off l>v the commanding situation of the castle bat tery. lienee the inhabitants of the valley li\e secure; end those of the mountains are con strained to bring down the produce of their region to barter for what ncccsssai ies they may eund in need of. Reef, mutton, poultry, game egg and garden stuff, are exchanged by them for linens, woollens, beads, gun-powder See- All their meat is excellent in its kind, and very cheap. Sundays is their market day, when the road is seen crowded with men and women, vho arc loaded with eatables, or drive down their cattle for sale. The women only are al lowed to enter the gate which opens to the pass. While these are bartering their wares in thb city, the men assemble without the w 11s, to divert themsclvc in drinking or smoking, coursing round the plain, wrestling or hurling the quoit, as inclination leads them. There were two field pieces, loaded with grape, on the draw-bridge, that were pointed at this tu tuuhious assembly, which as I contemplated from the walls, recalled to my memory the idea of the infernal group of fallen spirits, whom Milton so dreadfully describes ill their pastimes — “ Tart on the plain, or in the air sublime, “ Upon the wing, or in fvvift race contend— •’ Other*, with vast Typhoean rage more fell, > Rend up both rock* and hills— ■ mm Hell fence can hold th wild aprc.tr.” “ Amid one of those assemblies, fny felloe travellers and I were tempted to venture our selves, accompanied by a \ cnetian officer, count Zarawich, who is a native of Cataro, and has an estate bordering on the mountain. We were under the-fort; but, without such a con ductor, it would have been held imprudent here even for strangers to hare entrusted themselves in such hands, as no \ cncuan in a public character chooses to sleep out of the fort, cr expose himself to the enmity of these moun taineers. “On our passage to the draw-bridge we were presently surrounded by a crowd, who observed by our mustaches and habits, that vve wcie foreigners. When they understood that wc were English, their satisfaction increased; and one or two of those who spoke Italian, told us that they had gone to England during the last war in a Venetian Irigate, where they serv ed as mariners. Their mein, their dress, their arms, and their manners, were the same ; and I could not condemn the caution of the state, which suffers not men with such arms, and such inclination, to enter their walls; and yet we had so little apprehensions of dan ger from them, that we should have eagerly follo wed the suggestions of curiosityi and clo sed with their proposals of visiting their coun try for a few days, had our situation admitted of it—But the difference was wide between the \ rnelians and us; wc had never offended them, nor were wc the object of their jealous ies or apprehensions : and had wc travelled in their domain divested of money or finery, to tempt injustice, there would have been no chance of meeting it, unprovoked, eitlier in the dcsarls of Arabia, or the mountains of Greece ! “ On our return to the fort, we met the fe males of this tribe, who either from the hard la bour, which, from their subserviency to their husbands, fails all their share, or from other causes, arc uncommonly iiidcous and disagree able. Their lot, indeed, appears a hard one. Even gallantry, with respect to the sex in oth er places, is completely reversed here ; the wile salutes her husband by kissing his hand ; ol this I was an eye witness. “ Wc heard several anecdotes, that mark the genius of this extraordinary people ; but the account of one, which was related at the governor’s table, will serve as a specimen of the rest. The present chief of the Montag negrines, having lately heard that his sister was engaged in an intrigue during her hus band’s absence, hesitated not a moment on the part he was to take. lie went direct to the house of the unfortunate culprit; and without betraying the least sign of remorse, alter as suring himself of the fact, severed her head from her body with one stroke of his sword, flic sentence, it is true, for such a tresspass, was only anticipated ; as the unrelenting hus band would have exacted her head at his re turn ; but the cool, though cruel behavior of this chief, who, though unstimulated bv jeal ousy, and actuated by no other motives than the honour of his family, and the right of so ciety, could perpetrate sucii a deed, fill the mind with a mixture of hoi lor and admiration. Wc were shewn more than one of Ids tribe, who was known to have killed a dozen men with bis own hand ; but as their lives were supposed to have been forfeited by offences, or taken in fair sight, it did not derogate from the character of the warrior.” COPY OF A LETTER, ]\~'ittni during the late Rebellion in Ireland, by •Sir an Irish member of Parliament, to his friend in London. “ My Dear Sir, “ Having now a little peace and quietness, I sit down to inform you of the dreadful bustle and confusion we are in, from these blood thirsty rebels ; most oi whom, are however, thank God, killed and dispersed. “ We are in a pretty mess ; can get nothing to eat, not any wine to drink except whiskey ; anil when we sit down to dinner, we arc oblig ed to keep both hands armed—whilst 1 write this letter 1 hold a sword in one hand and a pistol in the other. 1 concluded from the be ginning that this would be the end of it, and I see I was right, for it is not half over yet. At present there are such goings on, that every thing is ac a stand. 1 should have answered your letter a foitnight ago, but I only received it this morning. Indeed, hardly a mail arrives safe without being robb’d ; no longer than yes terday the coach, with the mail from Dublin, was robb’d near this town ; the bags had been judiciously left behind, for fear of accidents, and, hv good luck, there was nobody in it but tvvo outside passengers, who had nothing for the thieves to take. Last Thursday notice was given that a gang of rebels were advancing hither under the French standard ; immedi ately every man in the place, including women and boys, run out to meet them. We soon found our iorcc much too little, and they were far too near for us to think of retreating. Death was in every face—but too it we went, and by the time our little party was killed, we began to be all alive. Fortunately the rebels had no guns but pistols, cutlasses, and pikes : and, as we bad plenty oi muskets and ammunition, we put them all to the sword. Not a soul of them escaped, except some that were drowned in an adjacent Irog ; and, in a very short time, there was nothing to be heard but silence. Their uniforms were all of different colors, but most ly green. After the action we went to rum mage a son of camp they had left behind them ; all we found was a few pikes without heads, a parcel of empty bottles full of water, and a bundle of blank French commissions filled up with Irishmen’s names. Troops are now sta tioned every where, around the country, which exactly squares with my ideas-. I have only leasufe to add, that 1 ash, in great haste, yours truly, J. T. “P. S. If you don’t receive this in course it must have miscarried ; therefore I beg you will immediately write to let me know. — Pram a A ‘civ- (Jrleaiu Paper, J larch 20. ADDRESSES. The following are copies of the Addresses (with their answer.*J •which were presented an the 2 id inst. to general Wilkinson and governor C laiborne. Signed by many of the moat vital* thy and resfiec table inhabitant a of this city. TO HIS EXCELLENCY G EXE UAL JAMES ll lI.KIXSOX. Sih—The recent arrest of Aaron Burr, has wc hope, dissipated the dangers which have menaced the peace and safety of this city.— \V ; therefore beg leave to congratulate yon on the discomfiture of the wicked plot, and to pre sent you our acknowledgements for the protec tion you have afforded us. Spectators of the dis cultics and cnibarrasment, by which vve have seen yon encompassed, we believe that a knowledge of facts and circumstances, as they have really occurred, will satisfy every unpre judiced person that the decisive steps to which you resorted, in a critical moment, were not only justifiable, by the extremity of the case, but were essential to our preservation. We arc not surprised at the alarm, nor c!o we condemn the sensibilities which were ex cited by the extraordinary measures, which a sense of public danger compelled you to adopt, because the rights and liberties of an American citizen cannot be too sedulously guarded : but we arc persuaded, that in the instance which has given origin to this address, your conduct has been loyal, dutiful and patriotic. And that when your motives are made manifest by a fair developement of the transactions which have engaged your attention in this city ; the impar tial and enlightened part of the world, will con cur with us in acknowledging your merits and services. Wc lament the domestic afflictions which press upon you ; and beg you to accept our best wishes for your future fame, prosperity and happiness. ANSWER. Xew-Ohi.ea};. s, March 23, 1807. Gentlemen, I beg you to accept rny grateful acknowledg ments, for this very friendly and honorable tes timony of your approbation. Caiied by imperious circumstances, to offer myseit a victim to the service of rny country, if jn my zealous exertions to avert a national calamity, I have been compelled to anticipate the tardy process of the law, or intrench on those sacred institutions, to which freemen cling us the rock of the ir salvation; I hope I sltuli be acquitted by the candid, of all sinister motives, and that it will be believed I am ready to embrace the severest penalties which justice may exact or policy can demand ; even to the uevotion ol that life which 1 had staked on the issue. And should the measures which the exigen cies of the moment imposed on me, have vio lated the feelings of an innocent citizen, it would gratify my pride to acknowledge the wrong, and to make him every reparation which a man of honor can ask from his fellow. The approval of my conduct by those who were the spectators of it, by a body of gentle men, who comprise the wealth, weight and in fluence oi this city ; nextjto the applause of my own breast, and the justification of that high authority, to which I am immediately respon sible, will rccompenec me lor the past and con sole me for the future. Your sympathies for my domestic misfortune, alleviate my sorrows and excite the liveliest emotions of gratitude. May your happiness and prosperity be uninter rupted, and long very long may it be before you are taught by a similar affliction, how to estimate the sufferings I have experienced. JAMES WILINSON. To JuLIF.N P OTt)RAS,j Benjamin Morgan, VEsquires. And Joseph Saul, J For themselves and associates. TO HIS EXCELLENCY a 0 VERXOR CLAIBORXE. Sir—The undersigned citizens of the terri tory of Orleans, offer you their congi atulations on the arrest of Aaron Burr, and the sup pression of a conspiracy, which had for its ob ject the dismemberment of the union ; and the subversion of our government and laws ; which it is no less our duty, than our disposition to support, and a unison so essential to the safety and happiness of the inhabitants of this territo ry', as well as that of the American people in general. In contemplating the scenes of injustice and rapine, which would have marked the succes ses of the conspirators, we cannot but highly estimate the services of those who have been instrumental in counteracting their wicked views. During the late interesting crisis we have observed with pleasure and approbation the conduct of your excellency. It evinced an integrity of character—a sincere love of coun try, and the result has clearly shewn the poli cy you pursued, was well calculated to stifle the flame of civil discord, and to defeat the machinations of base and designing men. We beg you then, Sir, to receive this testi mony of our esteem, and with our best wishes for your future prosperity and happiness. AKSV.THi. To ‘tester. Jl’Af.s Pordr as, Eesy. and Joseph Save. Receive gentlemen lor yourselves, and be so obliging af to convey to such ot my lcllow citizens as 1-vc signed tbe friendly address* which you tlis day presented me, the assur ances of my warmest acknowledgments. “ The suppression of a conspiracy which had for its object the dismemberment oi the union, aid the subversion of our government and laws,” is an event of mutual felicitation, and cannot fail to afford the highest satisfaction to every virtuous citizen. A government lour.d <d on principles of equal right, and laws bear-’ ig alike on ail, is indeed entitled to your sup pirt ; and the American who would not devote lis life to the preservation of that union which nakes us one people, must be cither insensi ije or inimical to the safety, the happiness, and prosperity of his country. The injustice and rapine which would Hive marked the successes of the conspirators,” voulcl have fallen with the greatest severity on the good inhabitants of this territory ; ‘and ‘acrefore it is, that, as a member of this soci ety, I am the more gvatelul to the agents ot the general and state governments, who have most contributed to defeat the machinations of these base and designing men. “ During the late interesting crisis,” the services of others have been more distinguished than my own—— I feel however, that, in my situation I have done all I could do for the welfare of my coun try ; and while an approving conscience will ensure me that serenity of mind, which through life I have sought, the approbation of so res pectable a portion of my fellow citizens, will render me more emulous to deserve a conti nuance of their esteem and good wishes. v \VM. C. C. CLAIBORNEt Xew-Orlrans, March 23, 1807. From the Baltimore American. Copy of a letter from a gentleman in Xew-Orlranti to his friend in Baltimore , dated March 12 1807. “My deer Sir. —lt lias been contended on the floor of congress, by those who are ever ready to speak of what they do not understand, that the current of justice here was undisturb ed, and that general Wilkinson’s usurpations in seizing and sending to the United States the known associates of Burr, was not only unwar rantable, hut iinncccsary.—And yet vve have seen James Workman and Lewis Kerr acquit, ted here, with triumph, althourgh it was prov ed by two witnesses, they had attempted to corrupt the army, and proposed seizing on the banks and shipping. Alas! what is to be come of us, whilst private views and personal resentments continue tp influence our national councils. This city has, at several moments been cn the verge of civil war; and if general Wilkinson had omitted the decisive steps which he adopted, the calamity vvculd have been unavoidable, and a scene of carnage* and horror would have issued And by whom was suchdresdful commotions advocated ? Bv re publicans, by the friends of equal rights and liberty? No, sir; by advocates of revolution and of anarchy, and despotism ; by those who have expressed the opinion, “ that popular in< fi uence should be employed to introduce despotism, * the clamorcrs for a strong armed, energetic government, and the scandalous vilniers of our present systems and present administra tion. And what was this for ? The more ef fectually to secure Burr’s possession of this city, where, if he had erected his standard, his force would have increased with rapidity, and furnished him with every means of defence and probably maintained his hold until some European power might have taken him bv the hand and wrested from us the wealth and com mcrce ot the Mississippi. When gen. Adair popt into the city, whither it has been proven, he was sent by Burr in Nashville, the exult a* tion of the revolutionalists was loud and public; for he ied them to believe Burr was at hand* Judge Provost, accosting lieutenant Shaw in the street, exclaimed with passion, “well sir,l give you joy, general Adair has arrived; he dines at madame Forages, and is much at the sen ice of general Wilkinson, and to-morrow or next day vve expect colonel Burr.” Proof has been given, that general Adair said to a confident alter his arrest, that “if Y\ ilkinson had given him twenty-four hours in Jvew-Orleaas, he* could not have made him prisoner, as he., A* dair, had more friends than he, Wilkinson yet the envenomed tongue, directed by the malignant heart of a dcclaimcr, has labored to derogate from the services and to stigmatize the conduct of the man, who, by the ex ercise of a dread responsibility has saved this place from utter ruin, Shame on sucij conduct,” PETERSBURG!!, April u. A letter from the American Consul at St Jago, dated March 6, 1807, incloses a list cf Americans taken in Miranda’s expedition . This list has been published in the Philadel phia papers, and is stated to be obtained from the most correct source. The prisoners an? thirty in number, eleven of whom were hanged and beheaded on the 21st July, 1806. The American consul, in his letter, states, the situation oi those who are in confinement at Carthagena, to be truly deplorable, and adds, h may be, pci haps a consolation to their friends, to hear of those who yet remain in ex istence, thro’ a miserable end indeed. Ido not understand that they are treated with other severity, than what their sentence demands, and a great part of their misery arises as I can-- ceive more from the want of a trifling sum of’ money to alleviate their necessities, than from any wanton acts of cruelty in the Spanish go* verament.” **