The Augusta chronicle and gazette of the state. (Augusta [Ga.]) 1789-1806, October 19, 1805, Image 1
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.SATURDAY, oHotter 15, 1805.
AUGUSTA CHRONICLE,
GAZETTE. OF T °HE STATE.
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FREEDOM o» th* PRESS and TRIAL bt JURY small akmain ikvSol&tj. Cwjiitxtiox of Georgia,
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AUGUSTA: Printed by D. DRISCOL, near the market. £3 Dolls, per Annum.]
II TWf • r 11l —II
Prom the National Intelligencer .
IT can scarcely have escaped the notice
of our readers, that, notwithstanding the
loud and jnceffmt denounciations of the ad
ministration for not adequately proteXing the
commerce of the country, mcafures have no
(boner been taken with this view, than they
have met with the ridicule and condemnation
of those who previously were the moil
ilamorous for them.
Some time since, it was determined by the
administration to make an experiment of the
efficacy of Gun Boats. The experience of
I older nations had (hewn them to be of much
cfe } and circumftancca peculiarly applicable
to the United States seemed to recommend
them to us. A fnall appropriation was ac
cordingly mad; for this purpose, and a num
ber of gan boats built on approved models.
The profefTed friends of commerce and a
rowed enemies of the administration, denoun
ced the measure as weak and ridiculous.
They denied tie efficacy of gun boats, and
ridiculed the plan on which they were built.
The administration, on their part, made bo
boats. They acknowledged that they were
making an experiment, which might disap
point their hopes. This, it might have been
felt by their opponents was a generous appeal
to their candor. It might have been prefu
mei that before the experiment was nflfdc,
they would not have impeached the motives
in which it originated. It might have been
presumed that they would have suspended
their decifisn, or at least have withheld their
clamours, for a few months, that a fair op
portunity might be afforded to the friends
of the measure to disclose their plan. No
such forbearance was, however, manifeftei.
Uiqrilitbd condemnation, sarcasm over
whelmed the measure Sc its projectors. The
txclufive friends of commerce, jealous, as
it were, of receiving any effcXual protection
from thole whom their prejudice had con
verted into enemies, could fee in the measure
nothing but a fettled hostility to commerce,
a deliberate purpose, under the pretext of
aiding, to cramp commercial enterprise, and
to prevent any effectual protection being gi
ven to it,
it f« happened, that the Chief Magiftratc
was a man of philofphic refearcb, and ofcourfc
Ids habituated to fervilc imitation, than to
the adoption of whatever appeared on reflec
tion raoft advisable, the models on which
the b»ats were conftmXed were represented
by those who were supremely ignorant of the
common principles of mcchanifm, as totally
inadequate and impracticable. The lowed
species of art, charaXcrifed by mean, and
indecent allafion, was rtforted to. Why?
Becsufe the approved model did notprecifely
correspond with that of Englilh gun boats.
For it must have been remarked that on
mod occasions, the profeffed friends of com
merce have allowed all the credit to Great
Britain, which they have denied to their
own country.
Well, the administration, amidst the in
eeffimt fire of the enemy, advanced to their
object without returning the charge. They
thought that the measure would fpcak for
itfclf; or, if it did not, nothing which
they could prematurely fay would juftify it.
The gun boats were built, and the experi
ment tried. A number of them have croff
cd the ocean, and although they have en
countered tempestuous weather, they have
arrived at.their destined stations. In con
nexion with rbe larger vessels, they have
struck terror into the breads of the enemy,
have commanded peace, and have cffeXcd
liberation of our citizens. And, what is
still marc wonderful, fuchis the conftruXlon
that even Englishmen arc the firft to approve
and acknowledge them to be models of imi
tation, as well as greatly superior to their
own gun boats. Biufli, Americans, at be
ing surpassed in candor to your own govern
ment, by a nation, once your enemy and
till your rival, by a nation whose arrogance
rarely edndefeends to acknowledge equality,
much left fuperioity in any ore.
Here then is the just revenge of our ad-
Bilniftration, a revenge the more honorable
hecaufe unsullied by the indulgence of angry
or vindiXive feelings. As far as time and
occasion have allowed, the triumph is com
plete.
Os the untoward (pint of the enemies of
the administration, ws have another not left
conspicuous proof. In confcqucnce of the
depredations committed on. our trade, and
the infuits and outrages offered, in or rear
Wihatbor*, and of the loud complaints of
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i—■ißfm i— >—a»a——fa—’i-ww—iu 1 „ 'bhii..
| our merchants, several armed veflels have
been stationed on the coast. But no sooner
has this meaforc been taken, than they,
who most ftrcnuoully urged it, are the firft
to demand its use. What, it is enquired,
can this force effeft ? It is acknowledged
that it may prevent th« veflels of belliger
ent powers from aCfually entering our har
bors, and their committing outrage and
depredation j but what security does it af
ford, against the capture of our merchant
men a marine league beyond the fliorc and
within light of our ports ? Do cither the
laws of nations, or our treaty stipulations
authorife our oppofiug, under these circum
stances, refinance, to the right of search,
or to the fending our veflels into the ports
of the billigerent nations for adjudication.
Must not this indignity and injustice be sub
mitted to even in the face of a force equal to
its prevention ? If so, where is the mighty
utility of the measure ? Such is the langungc
of our cameleon, casuists, who, in the ex
tenlive wardrobe of party prejudice, can
find a covering fit for any purpofe } who
can wdth perfect nonchalance condemn in one
character wha t they approve in another, and be
the firft to reprobate what they wex» the firft
to recommend.
Because this measure wa» not at once un
dertaken, the adtniniftration was denoun
ced, and now it is adopted, its futility is
attempted to be exposed. Will these gen
tlemen have the goodness to recolleft that
it was not, perhaps, at firft adopted for the
very obvious rcafons they themfalves now
urge. Will they recoiled that until lately,
the administration were in good faith bound
toobferve the provisions of a treaty made
by their political appointments with Great-
Britain, from whole (hips of war we have
fullered the most exteafive fpolitadon ; and
that this treaty provides.
** That in all cases where veflels lhall be
captured or detained on jult suspicion of ha
ving on board enemy’s property, or of car
rying to the enemy any of the articles which
are contraband of war, the said vcfi’el lhall
be brought to theneareftor most convenient
port ; and if any property of an enemy
(ball be found on board such veflcl, that part
only which belongs to the enemy lhall bt
made prize, and the vc.Tel lhall be at liber
ty to proceed with the remainder without
impediment. And it is agreed, that all
proper measures (hall be taken to prevent'
delay,' in deciding the cases of (hips or car
goes so brought in for adjudication; in
damnification, adjudged or agreed to be paid
to the raafters or owners of such (hips.”
Art. 17.
The 18th article, after enumerating such
contraband articles as are declared to be just
objeds of confiscation, proceeds as fol
lows,
<( And whereas the difficulty of agreeing
on the precise cases in which alone provisions
and other articles not generally contraband
any be regarded as such, renders it expedient
to provide against the inconveniences and
misunderstandings which might thence arise.
It is farther agreed,, that whenever any such
article so becoming contraband, according
to the cxifting laws of nations, (kail for
that reason be seized, the fame fnall not
be confifcated, but the owners thereof lhall
be speedily and completely indemnified;
and the captors, or in their default, the
government under whose authority they
acf, lhall pay to the makers or owners of
such veflels, the full value of all such articles,
with a rcafonable mercantile profit thereon,
together with the freight, and also the
demurrage incident to such detention.”
By the 22« d article, “ It is exprelTly
Hipulated that neither of the said contracting
parties will order or authorife any aCxs of
reprisal against the other, on complaint of
injuries or damages, until the laid party
lhall firft have presented to the other a
ftaternent thereof, verified by competent
proof and evidence, and demanded juitice
and fatisfadion, and the fame lhall cither
have been refufedcr unreasonably 'delayed.”
Tha 17th article of oar treaty with <
Spain, ratified in the year 17951 dedates
that,
“ To the end that all manner of diflen
fions and quarrels may be avoided and pre
vented- on one fide and tha other, it is
agreed, that in case either of the parties
hereto should be engaged in a war, the Hups
and veflels belonging to the fabjeds or
people of the other party must be lurnilhed
with sea-letters or passports, expressing the
name,, property and balk of the ihip* as
GEORGIA.
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nmmmL-iyxiv riiliw -/rwwwi i m mu i i m ummrm ■ i jtm umm»
aUb the name and place of habitation of the
master br commander of the said ill ip, that
itraay appear thereby, that the ship really
and truly belongs to the fubjcfi of one of
the parties, which paflport (hall be made
out and granted according to the form
annexed to this treaty. They (kail like
i wife be recalled every year, that is, if the
(hip happens to return home within the space
of a year. It is lijcewife agreed, that such
fliips being laden,.are to be provided not
only with passports as above mentioned,
but alfa with' certificates, containing the
several particulars of the cargo, the place
whence the (hip failed, that s o it may be
known whether any forbade* or contraband
goods be on board the fame; which certifi
cates (hall he made out by the officers of
the place whence the fbip failed in. the ac
customed form : And if one (hall think it (it
or advisable toexprefs in the fald cemfioates,
the person to whom »h<» on Uwaia
(JMong, be ra a y fretfty do f*; Without
which requifues they may be font to one of
the ports of the other contracting party,
and adjudged by the competent tribunal,
according ro what is above set forth, that
all thecircumftances of this omission having
been well examined, they (ball be adjudged
to be legal prizes, unlcfs they (hail give
legal fitisfaftion of their property by tcili
mony entirely equivalent."
We have not the French treaty at present
before us; but its provisions, on the point
under confidcration, are not materially
variant from those already recited.
Here then are three treaties, by two of
which the government are still bound, and
by one of which they were bound until
lately ; all of which were negociatcd by a
. federal adminillration, and ratified by a
; federal Senate.
If the proviiions are injurious or unjufl,
who are to blame but federalifts ? However
improper, it is the clear duty of the present
admiftration to observe them. That there
is great injoffice pra&ifcd in carrying them
into effed cannot admit of a doubt. That
it is the duty of the government to re
monstrate against it is equally clear. That
they have remonllrated is extremely proba.
ble. Whether their remonstrances will
put an end to the evil is uncertain. Should
they fail in doing this, it reds with the
legiilature to apply the remedy. The
demand of justice and its refufal, neceflarily,
according to the theory of our government,
transfers ali ulterior powers to the Icgifia
ture. With them are deposited the revenue
and the armed force of the nation, as well
as the regulation of trade, and with them
it mud red to decide whether the case is of
such a latue as to demand an .appeal to arms,
or a restrained or interdicted intcrcourfe.
And fiiould such a case occur, can it be
doubted that those, who alfume to them
felvs all the patriotifoi of the country,
should the friends of the administration be
remiss in their duty, will fail to bring
forward such mcafurcs as an injured
insulted nation are called upon to purfuc.
Then the nation will be able to determine
whether the present administration are really
averse to the protection of commerce or to
the vigorous redaefs of violated rights.
Should they refufe to take the necdTary
measures, then, and then only will there
be reason to complain.
There are two important considerations
which on this as other topics, arc not duly
attended to. The firft arises from the aban
donmenc by the federalifts of the principles
that free (hips make free goods, which had
been previoudy adopted in several treaties.
While this principle was uniformly averted
by us to bo just, and while we refufed in
any (olemn ftipulatioa to surrender it, we
flood upon high ground. We were under
no obligation to allow our vcfhls to be
fearchcd, or font to adjudication, under
the pretext of hiving enemy’s goo Is on
boad. We remained free, in case the
hostile principle were after ted, to oppose
force to force without violating any moral
obligation.
The other consideration arises from con
founding the powers and duries es diflukt
department* of our government. Because
the Prefidem has high andextenftve powers,
it is often either ignorantly or preverfelv
inferred that he !us it 11 power. But so
difierent is the theory of the government,
that the very reason why he is denied fame
great powers is his being poffcfied of others.
Thus, though it is made his duty to e.w
cute all, he is prohibited from making aa y ■
VGH? e 'T'V
fVoL. XX. No. co 4
laws; and though it is his duty to ttfgoe’ate
with foreign nati»ns, he is prohibited from
uling the national force agaiuft them without
the express pcrmifGon of Congress. It is
great, the pre-eminently diilinftive
feature of «ur fyttem, that the nation,
which is to experience the complicated
evils es war, h likewif’e the foie judge of
its propriety.
Snppofe then tlic Executive, by overlap
ping his eonftitutional powers, by consulting
liis own indignant fc*licgs at wrongs com
mitted againlt the American nation, Ihould,
by. halt;/ mea fares, snatch from Congress
their great prerogative of declaring war,
would not those, who are now most clamo
rous for energetic measures, be the firit to
inititata an impeachment f Would not
the cry of ufurpaiion lufoani through the
land.
k A-m tbs nrfi.w/ixrgtjrrrt
WILLIAM EATON.
THE FOURTH OR MODERN AFRICANUS.
f ,
* This American general, who lately ltd
the army from Egypt through the detects of
Africa, againfl Tripoli, is about 44 years
of age, of middle ftaturc, and dark com
plexion, He is by nature and by educa
tion. a soldier : lies a countenance bold and
undaunted ; a constitution robust and con
firmed by cxcrcifoe and fatigues, and cou
rage of chat determined and invincible kind,
which, even amanglt Americans, or repub
licans of any age or clime, would be eftccm
ed extraordinary. He was born at Afhford,
in Connecticut— -in 1776, at the age of 15,
he enrolled his name among the soldiers of
freedom, and ftrved during the revolution
under the famous captain Dana, (now a
brigadier-general in the county of Scbflha
rie, in the date of Near-York) aruT
tkn W*v’*snttiL ftupwriaurfd vgtftran. general
Eaton learned the use of valor and the art of
war. At the dawn of peace, lie applied him
felfto study, to purfuc and explore thoie
grand objetts which the force of his untutored
genius prefentad impttffe&ly to his eager
view, and which he knew could be com
prehended, attained or enjoyed, but with
the aid of education. The lucubrations of
(even years, accquired Mr. Eaton the dip
loma of Bachelor of Aits, at Dartmouth
College in New-Hampshire, in 1799* Our
scholar now put off the gown and returned
to the camp with a cornnifUon of captain.
He fought under St. Ciair, at the battle es
Miami, and proved his accomplithmenta and
courage worthy of difiin&ion. Capt. Ea
ton was sent by President Washington, as
consul to Tonis, on the coast of Barbary, in
Africa, where, during their menacing at
titudes and insolent pretentions in iBot, the
consul fuppbrtcd the dignity and interest of
the American nation, and held, amidff a
despotic court, a language not heard on those
degenerate (hates tince the fall of Cato and
the Roman republic.* When a rupture
with Tripoli was inevitable, the consul sug
gested a co-operation with Sadi Hamit Cn*
rantvdi , the late bafnaw »f Tripoli, who
had been dethroned and expelled by his bro
ther, the present balhaw : He negociatcd
to this effeft with the ex-bafhaw, and re
turned to the United States, where, after
having matured his plan and efFifted his ar
rangements whh the fanftion of governrncnc
and the benedictions ot his country, he de
parted in July, 1804, from Washington, in
the American fpuadron deflined to humble
Tripoli and liberate our fellow-citizeus Hol
den therein 11a very, or to enforce the anci
ent Roman throcr, u DJinda et Carthago.”
He landed at Alexandria in Egypt, in De
cember lafi, and cohering a frnall army
with the assistance of the cx-bafhaw then
there, accompanied by a few volunteer A
mcrican officers, led h;s little band along
the coast of the Mediterranean sea, through
the defect of Barca—-and astonished Africa,
after a repose of 12 centuries, from the time
of Belifarius, again beheld a conqueror
come to reap her laurels znd her pow
er upon thafe fields where the Scipios and
Roman legions, against Hannibal and the
Carthagenian bands contended for the em
pire of the world--. Let Africa beware jA
rrcrica hn. her Irgvms and her Scipios.—but
fr.c, noHnnnib.ll, no band;.
There arc some anecdote# related of the
General, whicheifeovered the lofiinefs ot
his mind under various circumllanccs.
Soon after bis appointment to a captain
cy in the United Stares army, he paid .l.is
1