Newspaper Page Text
from the Aewburyfiort Gazelle.
Audi alteram putem.
STATEMLNI Oi 1-ACTS.
As we, Students of Havard University, ate
tdxjui to dissolve tlie ties which have lutltert-u
bound us to that institution) we think that a
decent regard for the opinion Os the public, and
es ccially for those who me more deeply and
dearly interested, requires that fte should give
a fair and impartial statement ol the causes
which have brought us to this our present, im
portant and unusual resolution. \ve sensibly
f eel the powerful, the pressing embariassments
w hich we are forced to encounter, by opposing
the embodied authority, and tin- united influ
ence oi a great and venerable institution. We
dourly foresee- from our age, our situation, and
from the veiy nature of things, that the pie
r,uioption of the public will he strongly against
us. The authority of great names ever lias
given, ever will give, and ever ought to give a
marked direction to the grow ing tide ol public,
opinion l"o that authm ity we have neither
name nor influence to oppose. We shall give
a clear and unvarnished statement of facts ; and
then appeal r>, a coal ai>.l Impartial decision,-to
tlic understanding of the public.
The history of the case is simply this : On
the 20th March; a decotous and respectful pe
tition was presented to the lion. Corporation-,
by a committee from the several classes Jn this
jn i ition a true and faithful picture of the -de
plorable state of commons was drawn with the
minutest accuracy, hilt with the Utmost respect
for the lion, body, to whom it was presented.
The several articles of commons, which were
deemed faulty, lroin their intrinsic essential
qualities, together with the uncleanline sand
filth of the cooks, were detailed at length. This
petition lay upon the table or in the hands of
the corporation, ten days, without any notice
being taken thereof, to the knowledge of the
students. During the whole of this period, the j
commons being more and more offensive and j
disgusting. On Monday morning, ten days
iif’er the petition had been presented, the stu
dents resolved, that if the commons were not
better at noon, than they had heel , they would
immediately retire front tho hall. The noon
Came, and with it, the commons of a still more
offensive and nauseous character than before
The students then retired from the hall, in a
peaceable, sober and orderly manner. This
fact is not denied. The vileness of the food,
is attested by the conduct of one*'the tutors,
who called the head cook from the kitchen,
reprimanded him in a severe manner, and ask
ed him, “w hy he dared to send such meat as
that into the hall.” It was black, nauseous
and intollerable. For the offence of retiring
peaceably fromjthe hall, where they found noth
ing, hilt to nauseate the stomach, an offence
committed every week, and usually punished
l>\ the small fine of fifty or one hundred cents,
ttu-j. ,rc now called upon to make an humiliat
ing atonement by casting their characters at
the feet of authority.
“ The very head and front of their offending
Hath thin extent , no more.”
For this inexpiable crime, they are now re
quired to make a confession of the following
\mporl:—l bat they have behaved in an im
proper manner; that tlicy sincerely regret ii,
and that they never will behave in like manner
in future. Ail who do not comply with this
requisition, are denounced as re lac Is, and driv
en from the university. It must be remem
bered, that the only offence lor which such a
conic .sion is demanded, was that of retiring
.from the hall. This is acknowledged by the
government. The conduct of the whole botlv
of the students, must not be confounded with
the particular acts of any individual. There,
are, have been, and always will be, among the
students, as in all bodies of considerable num
ber, some who delight in mischief, anarchy,
and confusion. But because, one man com
mits a crime in a community of which he is a
member, shall that whole community be char
ged m the indictment ? There are, undoubted
ly, some students who delight to raise a storm,
and then sit and enjoy the uproar; but con
ic npt is inseparably connected with their
nu nes. For the conduct of those few outcasts,
shall two hundicd respectable, characters be
comprised in a general prescription ? Is this
law l Is it justice? We trust no one will
think it.
We do most solemnly, and earnestly protest
ugainst any suspicions or imputation of a sedi
tious and rebellious disposition. We depre
cate such intention from the bottom of our
hearts. It was not our wish or hope, or expec
tation, in any respect, either directly or indi
rectly. to weaken or loosen in the smallest de
cree. the strong and salutary restraints of con
stituted authority. We know that laws, clear,
definite, respe ted and unimpaired, are the
living nerves and binding ligaments of society.
‘They are the bright and standing guides which
di’ cct to virtue, to honor, to harmony, and to
p ospeiitv. With them before us we can nev
e go wrong; without them we can rarely go
li Jit. We put our linger upon the clue, and
arc led through the labyrinth. With them so
ciety is harmony ; without them it is confu
sion. We are also convinced that those, who
arc appointed to the high function of their ad
ministration, should he regarded as the sacred
sh ines in which are reposed the covenants of
our common security and welfare. But it also
becomes those, on their part, to whom this
high trust is committed, who are invested with
the holy robes of authority, to be lawfully anx
ious, lest they tarnish their robes, lest thev
Wain their garments by a cruel and unfeeling
exercise ofthcit power. They should rcmciu-1
’ her, that it is possible to Vdl the spirit by too
rigorous an adherence to the letter ol the law.
They should recodect, that they have in their
keeping, the fortunes, the feelings, the charac
ters and t!ie well being of their fellow-crea
tures, that the subjects on which they operate
arc not wood, or rock, or water for the pui po
ses of experiment ; but flesh and blood, and the
living and liery springs of an immortal nature ;
that there is a point of submission beyond
which no man can pass without ceasing to be
a man ; that “ there is a spirit in man, anti the
i.ispii lion of the Almighty givelh him tinder
standing that this spirit t annot be debased ;
that it abhors disgrace, and is the life-spring of
a good name. It cannot be described, for it
bailies the power of description. It shews its
nature when it is called into action. When
this spirit is dead, character drops to the dust.
While we kink with reverence and respect
upon those who are crowned with authority,
we arc still not unmindful of the purposes lor
w hvl- we- came to this institution. We placed
out names upon its book, because we believed
it “w as good for ns to be here.” We did ex
pect that we had entered the family of olir fa
thers, who would treat us with the affection
and the cordiality of kindred. We did expect
that they would join and assist us ; that they
would arm and equip us for the arduous and
perilous conflicts which arc to be encountered
upon the great theatre of the world. But we
remembered, that, wifi’- we had an education
to gain, we bad a t haracto. to lose. When
the incredible demand was made,we consulted
that character and formed our decision. We
thought that infamy was not a passport to hon
or , that degradation was not the road to renown.
We deprecate the influence of authority, and
ask for an unbiased mind to the naked siate
ment offsets. Wc asa a full and /icr/tc; cre
dence to that statement , for that statement in
truth. Every fact given can be ratified by
I oath.
Signed by 2f studentn of the senior class, 44
of the junior, 29 of the sofihoniores , and 47 fresh
, men. In all I IT.
From the Charleston City Gazette.
‘To the Refiuhlicans of the United States.
Messrs. Ei.i,iott k. Richards—l SEE,
| with regret, by a publication from the Rich*
mmd o.nyiurcr, in tins Gazette of Thursday
last, that Mr. Jefferson will not serve again,
| and lament it much ; for tear it will be difficult
to mid another President his equal, and who
has, with such unde,Kiting pro) ietv steered
our political bar pie amidst such political diffi
culties, as have attended his administration,
| both as they respected our foreign relations,
anil domestic concerns.
lie, ho a ever, conceives it due to his politi
cal consistency, that now he should retire .* nor
will lie consent to he the example, or prece
dent, for continuing the great powers of a Pre
sident too long in one hand—he knows how
valuable the principle of rotation is, to the pre
servation **l liberty ; and tins makes him sa
crifice honors, power, and even the strong de
sire lit* must have to oblige his numerous con
stituents, from 011 c end of the union to the oth-,
er‘ who hav e addressed him, and who so ar
dently wish him to continue.
llovv valuable and gratifying these addresses
must be tssu distinguished a public othccr as a
President, every man must lecl ; and alien
Mr. Jefferson adds to this, the pleasing reilec
ttonoi having left his country free and respec
ted ; in peace with ail the world ; its territory
woiulerltnly augmented ; and the navigation ®i
its great livers torever secured: anti with ad
tlii.,, her public debt lessened astonishingly, and
the means furnished for a speedy and final ex
tinguishment of it. liellectiiig on ..11 these, he
wm leave the political chair with a pleasure,
that lew public men have ever leit in any coun
try. tils me, when well written, win ue tiic
model oi such a life, as ail distinguished politi
cians snotiid lead in a republic.
bn Mr. Jefferson’s Unis voluntarily and
honorably leaving the > hair, 1 tiln.u. our sisict
\ irginia, ought to hold her hand a little, and
not push for another IVesul lit from herself ;
but leave it to the republicans of the oilier
states to have some liitle distinctions too ; she
has had two out of three Presidents, and six
teen out ot twenty years administration.
If Virginia lias another President, it is an
unquestionable fact, that it will he considered
by the world, and particularly by the federalists,
that, among all the numerous republicans of all
tlie other states, who have so nobly supported
tlie \ irginia and tiie republican administration,
they cannot find a man sufficiently able, in their
own opinions, to bring forward as a candidate.
Phe republicans of Virginia, themselves, ought
to see this, and not v ish to contribute to the
stamping such a reflection, on their friends or
adherents, as may probably lead to disunion.
They ought to remember, that neglect or con
tempt, and most particularly where it is suppo
sed to arise from a deficiency of talents, is the
strongest incentive to revenge in the human
breast. Many men can bear up against the
stings of wounded conscience ; but few are
proof against neglect anil contempt, and parti
cularly for their abilities.
1 know well that Virginia pushing for anoth
er President immediately, will cause some un
easiness, and she reallv, therefore, ought to
come forth, for this election, magnanimously,
and support two men, not citizens or belonging
to Virginia.
1 have been lately at the northward, and am
certain that in Massachusetts, New-York, Penn
sylvania, Maryland and the Carol mas, this is
‘-lie sentiment generally among the republicans
I — 1 therefore submit with great deference, the
I propriety of the republicans in time turning
their attention to the production cf lists for the
consideration ot the gentlemen of the national
legislature when they meet, to select the two
candidates to be supported.
‘i he following republicans have all held high
i appointments in their own states, and under
! the general government ; 1 give it as my list
I for consideration* —Georgs Clinton, the present
Vice-President of the United States ; B. 11.
Livingston, late minister to France ; Charles
Pinckney, late minister to Spain, and our pre
sent governor ; gcnetr.l Smith, of Maryland,
general Sumter, two brave revolutionary offi
cers ; Mr. Bowdoin, the present minister at
Madrid, who it is said is about to return ; Mr.
Sullivan , the present governor of Massachu
setts ; and Mr. Macon , the speaker of the late
House of Representatives of the United States.
I am not so well acquainted with all the
states, as to designate all who might, with pro
priety, he put on this list ; but I date say, a
number of others might be and will be found—
my only reason for mentioning these, is, that
they have held offices and appointments, both
under thtc United States and their own states,
and most of them in Europe, and arc therefore
more generally known to the different states
It would be difficult to make an impression in
favor of a man who is not so generally known,
or has not held any public situations.
A. most people do not like to read long pie
ces, (and much might be, and probably will he
said on this subject) I will only add one remark,
which is, that if the principle of rotation of
power, in individuals, is so necessary to pre
serve liberty, and Mr. Jefferson, who might be
unanimously re-elected if he pleased, goes cut
expressly for that reason, does not the nature
of your federal system require that, where it
can be done with safety, the states should have
something like a rotation in the great officers i
V, hat w ould they say if the minister to Paris,
Madrid or London, (the only three w e have)
was to be constantly sent to each ol those pla
ces, for twenty or thirty years together, from
the same state, or all your Supreme Judges ta
ken from one state ? 1 hey would suppose it a
little unequal. I wish Virginia would think
of this herself and relinquish ; but as she be
gins to talk of the next President already, the
other slates, which have .pretensions, ought to
begin too. A CITIZEN.
From the National Intelligencer.
LIFE OF WILKES.
[The following piece of Liography will excite
an interest lti this country, scarcely interior
to that felt in England. Eveu here, “ W tikes
and Liberty,” were not long since syr,om
inous terms, The article lias likewise the
merit of being throughout weil penned, and
in some parts is exquisitiy wrought. It is a
faithful portrait ? Had not the patriot some
foibles—had he not even some vices, which
it is the duty ol the faithful Listoiiun not to
overlook rj
JOHN W ILKES was bom in October 28,
1727, in St. John Street, Ciurkcnweil. His la
ther, Nathaniel, was a tiisliilei, ol great opu
lence, and ot a most respeciuhic character.
from the nature cu the government, and
from the habits ot the people oi Great-Britain,
an easy intercourse .subsists between ail its or
der ol society. When industry has obtained
for itself mole tnun competence, it naturally
becomes desirous ot distinction, 1 lie powers
ot wealth, however great, are yet circumscrib
ed: to the we.itii\, the wealth of others is oi
small importance ; and wheie there are many
rich, riches ol course give attic j re-emniinence.
Another standard ol merit is men resorted to,
abilities and rank are made the objects of re
gard. Mr. VVin.es was curly accustomed to
meet al the table ot his father with persons ol
literary excellence, as well as with those ol
weight m tlie commercial world ; and hence
he imbibed that taste for letters which he con
tinued to cultivate through life.
liis education, however, though liberal, was
domestic ; and though not severe, yet suthci
cntly sober. His philosophy therefore (that
of enjoying the world, and passing laughingly
through it) was not so much tlie fruit ot levity
and custom, as of his ow n reflection ; and was
adopted in compliance with his own \ iew of
human nature. And this he was himself very
willing to have believed.
His parents (one of them, at least) were not
of the church ol England; and Mr. Wilkes ha
ving [vassed his school years, partly at Hertford
and partly in Buckinghamshire, was sent, not
to either of our English universities, with a pri
vate tutor, to the university of Leyden, where
his talents attracted much noticc-
Iu the year 1749 he married Miss Mead,
heiress ot the Meads of Buckinghamshire ;
from which mariiage probably originated his
connexon with that county. In April 1754,
he offered himself as a candidate to represent
in parliament the borough of Berwick, and ad
dressed the electors in terms not ill, according
with that political spirit, which afterwards
marked his political conduct. He was not
however on this occasion successful; but in
July, 1757, he was elected burgess for Ayles
bury, and Was also again chosen (at the general
election) in 1761, for the same place.
On the 2d of June following, the first num
ber of the North Britain issued from the press;
a work of which Mr. Wilkes was the chief
supporter.
Amongst the memoranda of Gibbon, as given
to the public by their noble editor, is a note of
a spirited dinner party, in which colonel Wilkes
is mentioned as having supported his share of
the conversation with much vivacity unjl intel
ligence. He is also related to have made a
a frank acknowledgement of his resolution to
take advantage of the times and make bis
fortune.” That Mr. Wilkes, then colonel of
the Buckinghamshire militia, made such a de
dal ution, there i. no doubt. But there may
be much and reasonable doubt, whether any
construction can be put on this beyond an inti
mation of his desire to become an object of po
pular attention. Neither his habits of living
nor his turn of disposition, were such as to ren
der any supposition, that a plan of pecuniary
advancement crossed bis mind, at all natural.
When Cardinal de Retz was reminded that
his debts were large, he replied, ‘ Caesar’s at
my age were greater.’ Such i.i all probability
would have been the language of YV ilkes, cast
of temper was a little likely, as even theirs, to
make interest, the scope ol his endeavors. It
is not indeed easy to perceive how, even iu im
agination, he should promise himself, by the
course of action which he adopted, that liberal
provision as to worldly circumstances which he
eventually obtained.
The truth, 1 believe, is, that to be known
amongst men was his ruling passion, an i it must
be owned that he undoubtedly possessed many
of the qualities which deservedly command
renown. A weak administration and ill direct
ed public counsels afforded him a harvest of
materials for attack. He saw his opportunity,
‘ put in his pickle,’ and crowned his toil with,
plenty beyond expectation.
The North B.iton had been established but
for a few months, and had reached no further
than the 12th number, when it involved him iu
a quarrel with lord Talbot; a quarrel which
ended in a duel. By a retired scholar, unac
quainted with the vvor.d, it might .not unnatu
ral be made a question, whether a paper |tke
this, could by a possibility have become a
ground on which two responsible beings should
stake the hazard of their lives. And ic should
seem even to others, that the liberty of politi
cal attack was certainly at that period in its in
fancy, when such a trifle occasioned such a
meeting. The number complained of has for
Us object some pensions, which had been bes
towed by the udmini nation of that day, a
mongst which were those allotted to Dr. John
son and the author of Douglass. Had there
been no justcr cause of murtnerthan this, they
who then lcld the veins of government might
continued safe in power. When, however,
a spirit of dissatisfaction is abroad, the lightest
circumstance will tend to widen the circle of
its influence. Even this complaint was not
without its effect. Lord I fitchfield also, ar.d
Lord Talbot, bear a part in the paper; the
chief assult against lord Talbot being a sneer
upon his horsemanship at the coronation. Hi*
lordship however was irritable and demanded,
first by note, and then by a message, a disa
vowal on the part of Mr. Wilkes of his being
concerned in the composition of the number
which reflected on his lordships’s name.
Wilkies, to whose views, an affair of this sort
was not ill-suited, contented himself with a de
nial of his lordship’s right to interrogate upon
the subject. An appointment was made be
tween them, and they exchanged pistol shot s
at Bagshot, without hurt to either party. Mr,
Wilkes having filed, walked immediately up
to lord Talbot and avowed the paper.
Mr. \\ ilkes was now daily becoming roord
known to, and, from his opposition to lord Bine,
a greater favorite with the public. The .North
Briton still went on, and Mr. Wilkes also be
came possessed of a most able coadjutor in
Churchill, the poet, in March, 1768, he ad
dressed a dedication to lord Bute, prefixed <o
the tragedy of Rojer Mortimer, an unfinished
play of Ben. Johnson. Between .Mortimer,
the favorite of Isabel, the mother of Edward
the third, and lord Bute, lie drew a parreliet,
necessarily not very favorable to the character
in that noble lord.
The busy and more important part of tiny
life ot Wilkes was now arriving. The far-fa
"led No. 45. of the North Briton appeared o.n
the 23d ol Ap;il, and on the morning of the
30th, Mr. Wilkes was served by a king’s mes
senger with a general warrant, in conseque: ce
ol which lie was on the same morning convey
cd to the Tower. That “ a warrant to appie
“ bend and seize, together with their papers,
“the authors, printers, and publishers of a
“ work,’| ithout naming who those authors,
printers, and publishers were even suspected
to be, In.s upon its very face an appearance of
illegality, Cannot be denied. But in justice to
the secretaries of state, who signed it,it should
be remembered, that for a hundred years the
practice of their office had been to issue such ;
and that in so doing they did no more than
w hat precedents seemed to justify.
It is worthy of remark, that this event came
upon Mr. W ilkes unforeseen. It was fiicge
tetidu lor his adversaries, rather than a net
thrown over him by them. And if the knowl
edge cf this circumstance should in a degree
tend to diminish the praise claimed loudly for
him at the time, upon the score of presence af
mind, it will at least establish, w*hat is perhaps’
still more to his reputation, and what. I believe,
was as truly the real character of his under
standing, that he possessed the talent of weigh
ing with skill the consequences of his public
actions. In a letter addressed bv him to the
right hon. George Grenville, in November,
1769, he writes thus: ‘The affair of Mr.
Beardmore has been misrepresented. The
warrant against him for several numbers of the
Monitor was made special , but directed the
seizing of his books and papers. Mr. Wilkes
knew Mr. Beardmore personally, went to visit
him at the messenger’s house, and endeavour
ed to persuade him to bring an action of false
imprisonment, and damages for himself, his
clerk, books, papers, See. against lord Halifax.
T his Mr. Beardmore at that time absolutely
refused. The transaction was in November*
1762.’ Mr. Wilkes, therefore, had examined ‘
;