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Ror* THE NATIONAL IK T EI.LIGEN #ER.
ro THE rrorLE OF die united states.
Fellow-Citizens —ln the course of the
events which have mat ked the conduct and cha
racters of those, to whom you have, at differ
ent pcri<.ds, intrusted by your suffrages, the
power 4>{ making laws for your government,
few measures have occurred, since the adoption
of the present constitution, more extract dinary,
than the meeting lately held for the purpose
of nominatiag a president and vice-president
of the United States.
Our alarm is equally excited, whether we
advert to the mode in which the meeting was
summoned, or to the proceedings aftet it was
convened. The senator who assumed the pow
er of calling together the members of congress
did it under the pretext of that power being
vested in hint, by a former convention; this
pretext, whether it be true or not, implies an
assertion of a light in the congress of 1804, to
direct their successors in the mode of choosing
the chief magistrate; an assertion which no
man has ever before had the hardihood to ad
vance. The notices were private ; not gener
al to all the members of the two houses, nor
confined to the republican party ; a delegate
from oue of the territories was invited and at
tended—a man who in elections has no suffrage,
and in legislation no vote. The persons, who
met in pursuance of this unprecedented sum
mons, proceeded without discussion or debate,
to determine by ballot the candidates for the
highs it office in the union/ The characters of
different men, and their pretensions to the pub
lic favor, were not suffered to be canvassed and
all responsibility was avoided by the mode of
selection. The determination of this conclave
has been published as flic act of the republican
party ; and with as much exultation as the re
sult of a solemn election by the nation. At
tempts are making to impress the public mind,
that these pioceedings ought to be binding up
'trm all the republicans, and those who rrfuncd
to air ml or dissa/iroved of the meeting, are de
nounced as enemies < l liberty, and as apostates
from the cause of the people. In this state of
things, wd think it our duty to address you,
and wc deetu ourselves called upon to enter our
most solemn protest against these proceedings.
It is line that t former periods, when the
election of president and vice-president ap
proached, it was customary to hold meetings
of the members of congress, for the purpose of
recommending candidates to the public
But these meetings, ts not justified, were pal
liated ly the iie< essity of union. Ihe federal
ists presented a formidable phalanx ; and either
to succeed at all, or to prevent them from plac
mg the candidite for the vice-presidency in the
presidential chair, it was necessary toexertihe
combined dibits ofthe whole republican party.
But it is equally true, that in those instances, the
nominations for the presidency wore mere mat
ters of course. In the first and second elec
ti ins under the constitution, the eyes of all
were turned upon general Washington, and
since the expiration ofthe two periods, during
which he filled the supreme exctitive office
there lias not until now been any difference of
opinion among the republicans, as to the can
didate for the first magistracy. The real ob
ject of all former meetings, was to produce
such a co-eperation as would secure the elec
tion of a republican vice- president
The circumstances, which might lie urged
in extenuation of such a measure heretofore,
do not now exist. The federalists are compa
ratively few in number, and form but a feeble
party j they cannot give to any one candidate,
more than sixteen or seventeen votes out of
one hundred and seventy-six ; no federalist
can therefore be elected by the electors ; and !
should no peison have a majority of all theclec- i
tonal votes, the choice of the President will -
devolve on the members of the present House
of Repicscnta'ives, in which the federalists I
liavc the votes of only two states, Connecticut ‘
and Delaware. The alteration of the constitu- ‘
tion prevents the danger of any intrigue, bv ‘
which the intended Vice-President might be
elected President. No good reason can there
fore now be assigned, why an union ofthe re
publicans in favor of any particular person,
should be attempted by a measure in itself so
exceptionable, as a nomination by the Senators
and Representatives in Congress.
V\ e do not say that a consultation among the
members ol Congress, respecting the persons
tube recommended as candidates for the two 1
highest ‘-Rices oi the nation, may not in some
extraordinary rtisis be proper. But the pro
priety must arise from absolute necessity.—
liven then, we doubt whether it can be
completely justified. The pc pie ought to
exercise their right of election without any
undue bias ; and is it not the evident intention
ol such consultations, to produce a bias i Be-j
sides, in the event of there being no election j
by the electors, the choice of the President
devolves on the House of Representatives, and
that of the \ icc-Prcsident on the Senate :
Should the House of Representatives, not suc
ceed in electing the President, the Vice-Pre
sident will become the chief magis rate ; hence
the impropriety of nominations by the mem- i
bet sos Congress is mot e glaring, as it may
become the political interest ofthe representa
tives to prevent an election by the electors,
at and ofthe Senators to frustrate any choice by
either. Nor is this all, a danger of more than
ordinary magnitude arises from the influence
which may be used by the President, over
meetings of any individuals at the seat of the
Central government. The hope, or the pro
mise of office may be employed to induce the
nomination either of himself, or of a favorite
successor, and it requites but little sagacity to
foresee the consequences ol such corruption.
so conscious were the members who attend
ed the ate meeting, of the weight of objections
which might he utged against ‘heir proceed
ings, that they have thought it proper to pub-
Ji'h an exculpatory resolution, proposed by Mr.
Files, of\ irginia, and unanimously adopted.
They have declared, that in “ making their no
ini nations, they have acted only in their individu
al characters as citizens this is vety true, be
-cause they could act in no other, without a
breach of their oaths, and a direct violation of
the letter of the constitution. But was it not
intended, that these nominations should be en
forced by the sanction of congressional names?
They proceed to assert “ that they have been
induced to adopt this measure froti the ne
cessity of the case ; from a deep conviction of
the importance of union to the republicans
! throughout all parts of the United States in the
present crisis of both our external and internal
affairs.” We trust we have shew* no such
necessity exists, and that an union among the
J republicans, in favor of any individual, is not
S important. Wc acknowledge that tie aspect
of otrr foreign affairs is unpromishg. We
1 are, perhaps, on the eve of a war with one of
■ the great powers of Europe ; we are therefore
’ strongly impressed with the difficultus of out
situation. In such a crisis, if Enaninity in the
1 choice of a President is necessary, tlat choice
should be directed to a man, emincrtly calcu
lated by his tried energy and talents to conduct
the nation with firmness and wisdom through
the perils which surround it; to a man who
haul not, in the hour of terror and pe'secution,
deserted his post, and sought in obscurity and
retirement, a shelter from the political tem
pest ; to a man not suspected “f undue partiali
ty or enmity to either of the present belligerent
powers ; to a man who had not forfeited his
claim to public confidence, by recommending
a shameful bargain with the unprincipled specu
lators of the Yazoo companies, a dishonorable
compact with baud and corruption. Is James
Madison such a man ? We ask lor energy,
and we are told of his moderation , we ask for
talents, and the reply is, his unassuming me
lit ; we ask what were his services in the
cause of public liberty, and we arc directed to
the pages of the Federalist, written in con
junction with Alexander Hamilton and John
Jay, in which the most extravagant of their doc
trines ate maintained and propagated ; wo
ask for consistency as a republican, standing
i forth to stem the torrent of oppression, which
once threatened to overwhelm the liberties of
the country ; we ask for that high and honora
ble sense of duty, which would, at all times,
j turn with loathing and abhorrence from any
compromise with fraud and speculation ; we
ask in vain.
But farther. One of the reasons, assigned
by Mr. Jefferson for declining to stand again
as a candidate for the chair ofthe chief magis
tracy, is the propriety of a rotation in that of
fice. The great advantage of this principle ot
rotation is, that by appointing as a successor to
the present office, a man not immediately con
nected with him, the acts ofthe administration
may be impartially reviewed ; those measures
which tend to promote the public good will be
adopted, and thoseof a contrary tendency, which
from the fallibility ot human nature, mar have
been pursued, will be abandoned, and if neces
sary exposed. All other rotation is a mockery.
We do therefore, in the most solemn manner,
pioiest against the proceedings of the meeting
field in the senate chamber on the twenty
third day of January last, because we consider
their.—
As being in direct hostility to the princi
ple of the constitution :
Asa gioss assumption of power not delegat
ed by the people, and not justified or ex
tenuated by any actual necessity :
As an attempt to produce an undte bias in
the ensuing election of Presicent and
Vice-President, and virtcally to transfer i
the appointment of those officersfrom the
people to a majority of the two houses
of Congress.
And we do, in the same munne’, protest
against the nomination of Janies Midison, as
we believe him to be unfit to fill th; office of
President in the present juncture of oir affairs.
Joseph Clay, W. Hock,
Abkam I'iugg, Samuel Smilh,
Jno. Kus'EL, Uanl. Montgomery,
Josiah Masters,. John Harrii,
George Clinton, Jr. Sa.ml. Maci.vy,
GurdonS. Mumford, David R. Williams,
John Thompson, James M. Gnu nett,
Peter Swart, John Randolph.
Edwin Gray,
City of Washington, f'eb.27‘h, ISOJ.
A modem gentleman, having mads a pur
chase of Gibbon’s Rome, 12 vois. in boards,
took it into a bookseller’s shop, in Ireland, to
have it most elegantly bound. “Pray, sir,
(enquired the bookseller) what binding would
you like best? Would you like to have it
bound in Husitia.” “Oh, no, no!” replied the
man oftashion, “ Russia is too far of!'; I’d rather
have it bound in Dublin." — London fiajier.
Bonaharte may be compared to a master- 1
tay(or He has cut down the king of Prussia’s
great coat to a s/iencer , he has added a skirt to
to the duke ot \\ irtemberg’s jacke\ and a cafie .
to the electer of Saxony’s morning-gown; but •
he has taken care to put them all into livery.—
London Jui/ter.
Unanimity of Trial by Jury. —At a late trial !
in London of ihe captain of a Liverpool slave
ship, for the murder of a bov belonging to Li
verpool, the jury, alter being out for several
hours, returned a verdict of acquittal. It is
said, eleven of the jury were for finding the .
prisoner guilty, but one strong man resisted, •
and the others were obliged to yield to him.
I he following remarks appear in the London
papers :
“ The late extraordinary acquittal of the
slave-ship captain at the admiralty sessions, is
the subject cf general astonishment. If eleven
jurors out of twelve, after continuing six hours,
determined to find the prisoner guilty’, return
into court, and give a verdict of not guilty, in
compliance with the single obstinacy of the
twelfth, it might be well to know, whether sue*’
a verdict has any relation to what is usually de
nominated perjury, or not ?”— id.
SPANISH DECLARATION. •
Madrid, January 8.
On the 3d of this month the king issued the
following decree:—
“ The atrocious attack committed by British
ships of war in 1804, by the express order of
that government, when four frigates of the roy
al fleet, which, sailing under the full assurance
of peace, were unjustly surprised, attacked and
compelled to surrender, determined me to
break all connection with the British cabinet,
and to consider myself as at war with a nation
which had so iniquitiously violated the laws of
nations and of humanity. So atrocious an ag
gression, was a sufficient motive for breaking
all the bonds which unite our nation with anoth
er, even had I not considered what I owe to
myself, to the honor and glory of my crown,
and my beloved subjects. Two years of war
have elapsed, and Great-Britain has not mode
rated her pride, nor renounced the unjust do
mination which she exercises over the seas;
but, on the contrary, confounding at once
friends, enemies, and neutrals, she maifested
the formal intention of treating them with the
same tyranny. From these considerations, I
determined, in February, last year, in confor
mity to the wise measures adopted by my inti
mate ally the emperor ofthe French and king
of Italy, to declare, as I have declared, the Bii
tish isles in a state of blockade, in older to see
if that measure would reduce the Btitish cab
inet to abdicate its unjust supremacy over the
seas, and conclude a solid and durable peace.
So far from that, the British government has
not only rejected jhe propositions which were
made on the part of my intimate ally, the em
peror ofthe French and king of Italy, whether
directly, or by the mediiticn of different powers,
friendly to Britain, but also having committed
the most enormous of atrocities and injuries,
by its scandalous attack on the city and harbor
of Copchagen, it has thrown off the mask ; and
no person can any longer doubt that its insati
able ambition aspires to the exclusive com
merce and navigation of the seas. Nothing
can prove this more evidently than the mea
sures which that government has just adopted
by its orders ofthe 14th of November last; by
which it not only declares the coast of France,
Spain and other allies, and all those occupied
by .he armies of either power, in a state of
blockade, but has even subjected the ships of
neutral powers, the friends and even the allies
of Britain, to the visits of British cruisers and
to be forcibly cat t ied into a Biitish port, where
they are to bo obliged to pay a tax on their
cargoes, the quantity of which is to be deter
mined by the British legislature. Authorised
bv a just right ol reprisal, to take the measures
which shall appear to me proper to prevent the
abuse which the British cabinet makes of its
power, with respect to neutral flags, and to see
if we cannot force it to renounce so unjust a
tyranny, I have resolved to adopt, and do here
by require there shall be adopted, in all my
states, the same measures which have been ta
ken by my intimate ally, the emperor of the
French and king of Italy, and which are of the
following tenor.” ’ Here follows a copy of Bo
naparte’s decree of the 26th December.]
Salonica, November 15.
The British captain Handfields, arrived on the
20th October at Salonica. lie spread a report,
that an armistice had been concluded between
the British and Turks,and profiled by the confi
dence which this news inspired to commit a
sh meful piracy.
A Turkish ship which was se'ting out for
Smyrna, begged of the British captain to escort
him through the gulph, and defend him against
the pirates.
He consented, but off Panomi he seized upon
the Turkish ship, pillaged the passengers and
crew,and sent them on shore naked and helpless.
The inhabitants of Salonica were enraged—
they attacked the quarter where the Franks re
side, and wished to enter the houses of the Bri
tish in order to sack them. The prudence ol the
Janissary Aga prevented disorder.
Petersburgh, December 15.
A number of Biitish merchants yet remain
here, who have not been able to obtain their
passports for their departure; they have still
possession of their counting-houses, and are
winding up their accounts with the Russians,
but the warehouses are scaled, and their goods
sequestrated.
December 22.
They write from Moscow, that several couri
ers have passed through that town, carrying to
the governor of the Crimea and Black Sea, the
most rigorous orders for the seizure of Britsh
merchandise.
We are assured that several French officers
have arrived at Astrakan, on the Caspian Sea.
M. general Savary has left his residence to re
turn to Paris.
Belgrade, December 24.
The Greek bishop, who lately arrived here
from Constantinople, has declared to the Ser
vian synod (or senate) that the new emperor
Mustapha IV, ardently desired to conclude a
peace with the Servians, and that he was dis
posed to consent to their demands, provided
they would acknowledge his sovereignty, and
send deputies to Constantinople to conclude a
definitive arrangement.
The president, Czerni Georges, replied, in
the name of the senate, that this offer came too
late, that the Servian nation could not negoci
ate alone, but that its fate must be regulated
by foreign powers—and that the counsellor of
state, Rodosituken. who had been sent some
months since by the court of Russia, was charg
ed with every thing relative to that object.
The Greek bishop immediately sent a couri
er to Constantinople with this answer. It is
said, that this et voy is likewise charged with
another mission, and that he will remain here till
next spring. Other Turks of distinction are
likewise expected at Belgrade.
According to accounts from the 4th corps of
he Servian army, posted on the Busawa, a fii -
man of the grand seignior has arrived at Tra
varnickj in consequence of which the Turks tre
assembling anew, as well on the Buscwa and the
Drina as on the frontiers of Dalmatia.
Milan. December 28.
The last accounts from Venice state, that
the harbor of that city is to be declared a free
port, by which means, it is hoped, Venice will
be restored to its former rank among tho
trading towns of Europe. It is also said, that
the river Po will be connected with the Medi
terranean, ‘ \Z,
Copenhagen, January 2 Jr
A paper published here, contains the follow
ing estimate of the whole loss which Denmark
has suffered by the British expedition :
The number of ships of war carried away
or destroyed is staled at 76, carrying together
; 2246 guns. The whole fleet consisted of 18
| sh'ps of the line, 16 frigates, 10 brigs, 26 gun
s boats, 4 praams, and 2 floating-batteries, W
; sides other smaller vessels. It is estimated,
! that a ship of 98 guns, costs 250,000 rix-dollars
for building ; one of 84., 212,000 ; one of 74,
’ 156,000 ; a frigate of 44 guns, 97.000 ; and t
, shipof24 guns, 50,000 ; and the smaller vessel I
in the same proportion ; according to which
calculation, we shall find the result a total of
5,222,000 r:x dollars.
It is likewise estimated, that a ship of war,
, completely equipped, costs at the rate of 6009
rix dollars Danish currency.
It is also observed, that the immense quanti
ty of marine stores and timber necessary for
ship-builing, collected in the magazines of the
Holm, and carried away or destroyed by the
Biiiish, must be valued at thiice that sum ; and
if to these be added the damage occasioned to
Copenhagen and the country, by the bombard
ment, fi e. pillage, Ecc. and if we calculate also
the loss sustained by the total stagnation of trade
’ the capture of mcithant ships, and the losses
sustained by Denmark out ofEurope, the whole
‘■ loss may be faitly estimated at 67,380,000 rix
, dollars.
; The ship of the line Dithmarschcn, which
j the British had mutilated, as also the skeleton
• of a three-decker, which was left on the stocks,
’ are now taken down ; as a great quantity of
their timber nit y be made use of in building of
■ gun-boats.
j E
London. January 16.
; We have just been informed bv a “general
officer of high rank, that a small firing force,
t consisting of four regiments, under the com
> mand of Sir George Provost (who so gallantly
. distinguished himself a! Dominic;.) is prepar
ing logo to the Bermudas ; for the purpose of
t being i eady to annoy the Americans, should
: the existing discussions between the two coun
. tries terminate unfavorably. This is an addi
i tional proof of the vigor and activity of the pre
; sent administration.
January 25.
! A ship arrived in the river from Montevideo,
is said to have brought a report that general
< Liniers entertains a design of emancipating
} Spanish America, and has made no secret of
j it to the British.
January 27
1 lie following is additional chit-chat matter,
which has found its way into the papers, tes
pecting an illustrious couple, who have been too
long sepai ate,'l:— a A.,, accident which happened
toCha. Nassau I hornas, esq. vice-chamberlain
to her royal highness the princess of Wales,
made anew appointment to that office necessary.
Her royal highness wrote to the prince, to ex
press her wish of non mating Anthony'S'. Le
ger, esq. to be her vicechamber!ain. if perfectly
agreeable to bis royal highness. The prince’s
answer, with the most attentive regard to her
wishes, not oniy expressed his entire approba-r
tion of this appointment, but that in every ar
rangement of her household, it would give'him
pieasure that her royal highness she til'd exer
cise her flee will. This correspondence, it is
whispered, has opened an avenue to the good
offices of their mutual friends, and we fondly
hope that the two illustrious persons v ill be
restored to the blessings of domestic union
The event will give occasion to a splendid fete
at Windsor, and will be hailed by the public
with joy.”
Yesterday, the lord mayor, after inspecting
the returns, ordered the price of ‘bread to be
advanced Id. per peck.
February 5.
Our Plymouth correspondent informs us,
that the Growler gun-brig brought dispatches
. from sir R Strachan. Sir Richard, it is said.
I when he first went in pursuit of the enemy,
I could not weather the bay ; he returned to his
? station off Rochefort, supposing the enemy
might have returned ; and finding they had
not, he immediately sailed in pursuit of them,
and was in pursuit when the Growler left him
a few days since.
Some letters from the Growler state, that
it is supposed, from the state of the wind since
admiral Duckworth sailed, that he has headed
the Rochefort squadron.
The fleet of transports with 5000 troops on
board, now at Portsmouth, under orders for
j North-A meric a, will be accnmoamed by five
; line of battle ships. The military force will be
■ increased by a regiment of light “dragoons, and
three companies of artillery : the whole under
. the command of gen. Prevost. The officer
; who commands ihe naval partitas not been men
tioned. It is supposed to be destined for some
’ secret enterprize in the first instance. Co],
j Houghton, of the Bth, is appointed a brigadier
i general on the occasion.
! Letters of the 6th ult. from Gibraltar state,
• that the French and Spaniards seem deter
{ mined to besiege that fortress.
Stocks this day at 1 o’clock—Consols 63 3-
1-4. Omnum, 2 3-4 3.
Glasgow, February^.
In Haddington market, on F’liday, wheat
was about Is. per boll dealer; barley, pease,
and beans, about Is. cheaper. Oats nearly an
last week.
Ycs’erday, there were 300 bolls of oatmeal
in Edinburgh market, which sold from 275. t
28s. per boll. Retail prices per peck of best
oatmeal, Is. lOd.; second, Is. 9 l-2d. There
were also 61 bolls of peas and barley meal,
which sold from 19s. to 21s. per boll.” Retail
prices, per peck, Is. 3d. to