The American patriot. (Savannah, Ga.) 1812-1812, April 17, 1812, Image 3
n , IS by France? Although war that nation, would in a inan- In’ merely nominal, yet it would demonstrate to the world, that we “ „ld feel ami act as freemen and linericans. * \Ve will here observe. that Mr. Ma dison’s message, predicates its aggra vations of the measures nf England, entirely upon the execution of her Orders in Council, the impressment of seamen is not so much ns mentioned. A -rood reason may be assigned for this? fte wished Congress to aet unnn the view he gave of oar foreign relations, founded entirely upon the erroneous basis of the repeal of the French De crees. A mention nf any other promi nent as item cause for hostilities, would throw a shade upon the correctness or propriety of the one he wished te he adopted. His honor was interested in maintaining the repeal of the Decrees, he therefore makes the execution of the Orders of England, the most con spicuous feature of the message. Rut the Committee of Foreign Relations makes the impressment of our seamen a |oint eause for war measures with the Orders, very wisely thinking the latter ground not tenable; and it is rather surprising they did not ransack the archives of diplomacy for some other causes, or apply to the fertile brain of Monticello. Their modesty confined them, however, to the im pressment of our seamen. Tki3 charge lias invariably been used by designing men, to awaken the sympathies, inflame the passions, and arcuSe the resentment of our unreflect ing citizens. It is brought forward w ith the sole view to paliate or excuse the hostile measures against England. When other ground of accusation fails, this is thought invincible. All the ter /r.pin gentlemen make the most doleful allusions to this subject, in their creep ing speeches; but the dungeons, the chains, the indignities, the cruelties and the barbarous hardships, which are allotted to our unfortunate seamen be France, do not exeite one emotion of sympathy in their sensitive breasts, truly because France “doves the Ame ricans/’ In giving this subject a brief examination, wo will observe that we are as much alive to the fate of our seamen as any citizen, but think it our duty to expose the inflammatory exag gerat’ons, to which our government have thought proper to resort, to pro mote their sinister views. Great-Britain is lighting for her ex istence as a nation. Her navy is the grand bulwark of her safety Every Consideration urges her to watch with credulous anxiety the sinews of her maritime strength. Her seamen con stitute the yital portion of her re source-. and if she allow Tier right to these to be impaired, her power is un dermined, and the w hole fabric of her government w ill totter. France could desire no greater or more important service than to have the seamen of her enemy inveigled from her service, which would at once place tiie British Isles within her grasp, and open to her insatiable ambition the whole civilized world. Our country would then pre sent her soil whitened with the bones and stained with the blood of her sons, only perhaps to nourish the poisonous tree of tyranny. The world would fall prostrate before the corruption, the intrigue, and the power of France. The navy of Great-Britain is the har rier to this deluge, and the rampart of safety to the yet independent na tions. Is it not then the urgent duty of England to know well her maritime rights and to preserve them inviolate ? But what are her rights with respect to seamen ? The laws of nations sanction the claim of every government to the ser vices of its citizens. It is an essential part of sovereignty. And if the Bri tish government aeem the aid of her seamen of vital importance, when the safety of the whole nation is involved, she has a right to call upon them. The justice of this right cannot he questioned. And besides, no nation has any pretence to interfere in the regulations of another, affecting its own members. This being the ease, England requires the services of her seamen whenever the dangers which surround her, render it necessary. But it is said that she imprerses cur seamen. There can he no hesitation in .asserting, that if Britain avowedly impresses American seamen, knowing them to he such, it is an outrageous aggression and violation of our l ights, ami should be resented ; but is such the fact? so far from it. that in the exercise of her own acknowledged rights, if our seamen are incidentally impressed, upon ascertaining the fact, they are invariably released, lias she not also expressed a desire to conform to any regulations by which the mutu al rights of both nations might he se cured, by identifying their own sea men? And when she disavows any intention to impress our seamen, and has an undoubted right to the services ®f her own, where is the pretenee for the clamor raised on this subject : And is this a clear cause af war ? Is a pretension sustained ’y any coloring of justice, which asserts a violation of right, atoned for upon proof of such violation—upon evidence of the im pressment of oar seamen and a conse quent release ? The terrapin gentle men must he very impatient for war. when such is the best ground they can find. But France impresses our sea men. confines them in dungeons, and inflicts upon them every indignity, knowing them to he Americans. If then this subject affords cause for w ar against one nation, does it not exhibit stronger cause against the other? But we inns! not complain of France, for the “ King and Emperor,” the incom parable Napoleon, “ loves the Ame ricans.” Thus it is evident to any unprejudic ed inind, that as far as the edicts of the belligerents, and the impressment of gcamen are concerned, equal if not more cause of war exists against France than England. But in addition to the cause of war equally against France, must be enu merated the various causes arising from the Rambouiilet and Bayonne Decrees, the burning our vessels on the high seas, and her outrageous in sults—too humiliating to mention— where is the spii it of the nation! why is not the Imperia. Tyrant punished! AMERICAN PATRIOT. SA VANNATL APRIL 17, is 12. XVHCX anv thing dark and gloomy is to be done at Washington, then the same men who formerly reprobated secrecy in Repub lics, conscious that their deeds cannot bear the broad glare of day, retire into secret con clave, and pass laws highly injurious not only to the prosperity of our cilizeus, but the general welfare, and national interest. Thus has it been in the present caae. The embar go law was confidentially recommended.— And although immediately affecting so valu able a portion of community as the mercan tile, was hurried through the House of Re presentatives; rapidly passed the Senate and quickly signed by the President, is now in operation It produced a lamentable scene to an American eye, previous to its actual enforcement, to observe the general anxiety and eagerness to have vessels with their car goes on board not complete, free from its withering grasp, hastening down the river, and hurry ing front their own ports, endeavor ing to escape from their own country, to avoid the loss incident to its operation : and gene rally bound to the only market open to their free and secure reception. Tiie scene was rendered nigniy interesting, MV u ... r eriy adverse wind which detained several v h sols ready for sea, and forced them into the clutches of the terrapin. The Upas sheds its vapor through the Union, and as it is wafted from the tree, arrests commerce and dead ens industry. NO consideration however benevolently recommended by’ sympathy, suggested by pity, or excited by’ contempt for the un wort by conduct of administration with Florida, can reconcile it an honorable bosom. Every re flection upon this disgraceful subject, adds a deeper tinge to its color, ’till at length in the language of the celebrattd Junius, its base ness darkens black itself, and the mind Sick ened with its meaness, disgusted with its de pravity, and startled at its low unworthiness, looks around fer a retreat from such a dreary scene; but none alas! is to be found; the same striking features present themselves in every act of administration. In whatever light tills subject is viewed, under whatever circumstances considered, the dishonorable stigma it affixes upon the Amt rican charac ter is indelible ; an age of generous honor and liberal magnanimity could scarcely efface the foul blot. Let us for a moment suppose our country situated ..s Spain, struggling for her liberties, fighting for her existence,and bravely resist ing with heron valor the sanguinary savages of a relentless Tyrant, aided by the profuse generosity and dignified magnanimity of a nation. Let us suppose ourselves, as tiie Spaniards now are, compelled to abandon the silent c ottage, the hospitable roof, the endear ing and lovely objects of warm affection and friendship, to hurry to the field, and rally around the standard of Liberty, and fight for all that is dear and valuable in life, against the ravages of howling tygers, and the depre dations ofpeif.diuousmonsters: In such a si tea’ ion, v.'hat would be not only our sensations, but tiie indignant feelings of every generous breast, to behold the administration of a fret nation, professing to be guided by justice, and regulated by pure equity, at that eventful and awful moment, ncr recognising her exist ence as an independent nation, and presenting their claims for previous injuries if such exist not sympathising in her cause, nor extending to her aid the hand of friendship, but in an .nsidious and unworthy manner exciting dis m buncos in her distant possessions, in order ■o produce some base excuse for seizing upon a defenc elt ss province. Where is the man whose passions would 1 ,• deceitful and infamo’ would not be influr tompt at such degrading conduct! Yet in such a manner has the administration dis graced and insulted this unfortunate country Even allowing the territory of a foreign na tion adjoining our shores to be agitated with intestine commotions, originating from her own disordered state, and not caused hv the intriguesef external pusillanimity; in such a oit-o what right hove we to interfere! none. Fur as long as there is no danger of invasion, us long as there is no War exists against the nation whose colony tints situated, to seri ously pretend to tin* right of interference, and act upon that unprincipled idea, would be justified on the same principle as Buonaparte’s exciting disturbances in lamisiana, and seiz ing upon that territory. II • whose ntind is strongly biased by prejudice and injustice as to advocate the one, will be base enough to justify the other. Mr. Qu ncy—Tiie Navy question has excited considerable interest, anil lias been ably discussed. It is a sub ject of primary importance to this country, as a decision upon it involves a deliberate determination to protect or abandon commerce, and immediate ly effect the welfare of the planter, artisan, ami every branch of society. Yet congress have refused to increase our naval establishment, on pretexts the most unsound—calculated for the meridian of obscure ignorance and de signed to operate upon the passions and and prejudices of the people. The speech of Mr. Quincy which we this day commence publishing is entitled to the most serious perusal; it is beyond eulogium, not only for its analytic ingenuity, solidity and com prehensiveness of argument, but for classic purity of style. He ably de velopes the disastrous consequences likely to ensue from a policy systemati cally abandoning the most valuable in terests of one section es the Union ; and suggests to the mind a train of re flection, big with great events. He has done honor to himself as a statesman, and to his country as an American. The pusillanimous abandonment of all force, and a resort to unworthy expe dients, being the cause of the present state of affairs, as they encourage in sults and depredations and refuse to resent them; the remedy to (he evil is pointed out in a naval force with a firm resolution to employ it. Such an ho norable and manly measure would but little comport with the shameful ig norance and blind prejudice of con gressional demagogues. Let the peo ple look well to those men who pre tend to he alive to the character, the honor, and interests of the nation, whilst their measures disgrace the one, abandon the other, and invite w ith the prospect of impunity, encroachments upon the rights of our citizens. FRENCH FRIENDSHIP. THE following extract from a late London Courier exhibits a further in stance of the “ love’’ the “ incom parable Napoleon” entertains for our countrymen. Plymouth, March 4. “ The master and crew of the American brig Han nah. of New-York, Dawson, master, captured off’ the Start by the Persian, 36. which arrived yesterday, were most cruelly treated bv the crew of the pri vateer ; the Commander of which stabbed (lie American Captain in two places, and ordered his crew to cut the Americans from stem to stern, which they did most brutally , and when the privateer’s Captain found the Persian had taken possession of the Hannah, he forced them ali into a leaky boat half full of water, and turned them adrift without water, com pass, or provisions, and left them to the mercy of the pi less waves.— Luckily the Persian sa.v their sinking state, and bore down upon them ami picked them up, almost perished with cold and hunger.” Almost every arrival from Europe brings fresh evidence, of the burning of our vessels, on the ocean, and the savage, inhuman treatment af Ameri cans, by the express orders of Nano lean—and yet, notwithstanding this piratical warfare on our commerce, our government pretend we are in a state of amity with France, and her Decrees repealed. The present in stance is characterised by such an un feeling ferocity and hardened viola tion of natural humanity; that it can not hut awake the warmest sympa thy for our hardy, abandoned and dis tressed seamen, while it must excite xlarni at the infatuated and singular use of policy, pursued by our gov inent w ith regard to this Tyrannical Nation. What ! not content, with burning, confiscation, imprisonment— hat must stub a defenceless Captain, one of oui citizens, not once, but“ in two places.” And then as if a taste ol blood had inflamed their savage appetites. “ direct their unfeeling cru elty to honest unarmed seamen, and cut the Americans from slem to stern!!! ‘ Heavens! what barbarity! And is tliir lie “ love” and friendship, and justice, Democratic Demagogues boast of! How long shall our coun try continue thus deceived and iusuit eii on the one hand, whilst its unof fending citizens are maimed and mur dered—and their property plundered or burnt, on the other by their savage cruelty. But even yet their ferocity was not sa tiated—tin? American ('ap.tain and sea men after being “ stabbed” and “ eul” w ere “ forced into a leaky boat halffnll of water, and turned adrift without water, compass or provisions, and left to the mercy of (lie pitiless waves.” Thus by an exquisite refn-.ement in cruelty, and ingenuity in torture, were \meriran citizens, mangled, bleeding, and distressed, abandoned without nourishment, or means of preserva tion. to the dangers and inclemen cies of the boisterous ocean in a sink- ing boat. The annals of uncultivated and rude barbarism, can not produce more fre quent occurrences of hideous enormity than disgrace t his boasted age of civili - zation, for our city, and numerous evidence, attest a frequency of inhu mane outrage by commissioned assas sins, neither can the records of any country unfold a more astonishing aud deprecated policy w hic-h so tamely ac quiesces in such a career of insult, bar barity and piracy, thereby encourag ing their repitition, and inviting their continuance. COMMumrsPED, FRENCH PIRACY. Extract from Lloyd's List,furnished by a Correspondent. Dover. Feb. 13th 1813. Yesterday evening two Ame rican seamen (Richard Hewet and Thomas Dennis) landed at Sand Gale, from an open boat, in which they made their escape front France the 11th inst. they state that they belonged to the Ameri can brig Cornet of New-Bedford, capt. Prince Allen, with timber from Savannah, to Chatham dock yard, and on the 27th ult. they were taken by a French privateer, and carried on the 29th follow ing into Fecamp, the brig was lost near the harbour, cargo sav ed. Our correspondent further in forms that he has received advice of the American brig Shakes peare, capt. R aul of Newbury port, from Amelia for Chatham also with a cargo of timber, hav ing been captured and carried in to France. COM ; tfU.YICJ TET). An accounlby the lust Northern Mail states that in Baltimore, the Cartmen and Draymen were receiving One Dollar per Lrr.d, for trans porting- produce along the wharves, in order to facilitate tiie dispatcli of Vessels previous to the EMBARGO; and that Seamens Wages had risen to Fifty Dollars per month. A Correspondent wishes us to ask for what ports these vessels are dt si.nyd ; whether, as we have chosen our enemy, they are cleared All an enemy’s or a friendly port. On this sub subject we believe that the clearances will shew, that Nine-Tenths are cleared for Great- Britain, or ports over which he lias con troul. What then is to be the fate of our Commerc.al Men, in case of War with that Country should take place. The answer is evident to every man of discernment, and we wiLltold the reply. pCT* The words ‘scraped together’ in our remarks on Amelia were not in tended to reflect upon any individual, as is supposed by some. |CP A volunteer, is too late for this day’s paper, hut shali appear in our next. ERRATA in the. MORALIST, No, l. Lines 28 For -with read -worth, ■ 92 For drugs, read dregs, for beet, read lees, - 103 For there read them, MARINE NEWS, PORT OF SA r A NNA 71. High Ipatev This Day, 2 k. Bhi. ARRIVED, Ship Quincy, Glover, Liverpool 27 and. Sunuel Sk Charles H iwant; ballast. Lcander, Drummond, Waterford, Ire land, 35 and. Resolution, , Charleston, Mudulena, Williams, Greenock, 80 and. Brig Somerset, Bartlett, Plymouth, Mas. America, Uoekius, Philadelphia, Idler &. Perrv. CLEARED, Russian Ship Nicholas, Ad. lph, Tyson, Am sterdam, It. Richardson. Wmitred, Swinburne, l.i ert 001. Brig Hetty, Coffin, do. Portugese Schooner, El. PyA.ssel.ti, Kingston, Jamaica. Minerva, Reed, Baltimore. John, Ives, Aim ha, Dusty M Her, Spalding do. Stoop Jane, Hollos, Boston. Seniir. m ?, Rose, Prtn .deuce n. r. Orlando Ward, Si. R irtliolomems. M.d.er Sc Norris. Confidence, Jones, Amelia, XV. Mein Thomas, Win c, Si. Marys. Mercy, Holies d>. —— Paeki t, Luce, Darien, —— Delight; Beecher, Charleston. Port of Charleston, April 11 t/i. —Arrived, Shi]) Naiitdm, Vincent, Amelia Island 1 day. Revenue Schooner Gallatin, M‘N ;1! 1 day rom do. Schooner South-Carolma, 1) sbrow, New-Vork, 8 days. Schooner Industry, Phil bps, 5..ti11., Geo. 4 dais. SloopGolden-A*re, Phelps H .vatma 10 days. Cleared, Sch’r. Young, Soa-Ilo: so. Fowler,N. X. Sch’r. Ports mouth, Carter, Providence. Sch’r. Mary \nn, Sinclair, Boston. Scli’r. Marv-Palmi r, B.tsset, Baltimore. Sloop Packet, Lombard, Baltimore. . irmed April 13. Ship Bellona, Thomas Liverpool 28 days. Ship Hindostan, Cozens Gr , nock 38 and .ys, and 32 d.a s from the Clyde —Ship Juno, Crocker Liverpool 43 days - Schooner F.l.za M'Tllliennv, Washhigton, 3 days. Schooner F.tti|)* i'or, Houston Plymouth, N. C. Schooner Ab.gul, Anion, N. C. 4 days. Schooner American Coaster, Pa kcr, N. I’i 4 days. Sloop 11 pc, (of Phil.idrlpliu) Wai ling, Trinidad (Cuba) 18 dai s —C ared —. Ship Gn. Washington, Smith, N. Y. Sloop Ruby, Ross, Newport, U. I. OFFICE FOR THE SALE OF NEGROES. ? EMIK SUBSCRIBER having lorn 0 been in the habit of disposing of NEGROES, and being well acquaint w ith those persons most likely to pur chase in the states of South Carolina and Georgia ; flatters himself that he can obtain fair prices and speedily ef fect sales* His services are tendered, with an assurance, that candor will in ill cases be observed as to any enquiry made regarding the character and qual ifications of Negroes in 1 is possession, ami cure will be taken to investigate tittle as far as in his power, that impo sitions may be avoided and as he has made it a business will inform himself of the true situation of that species of property, liis attention will also he directed to the sale of lands, houses ami lots am! every article of merchan dize and produce. D. POLOCK. ?V. H. A comfortable house, ami a. person to take charge of Negroes is provided at 18-4 cents per day till sold. Have now for sale several valuable house servants, and field hands, singly anil in families. April 17 law tm 2 FOR SALE N\rw landing from brig Mart/'and, 73 Idols, tyen-Orleans SUGAR 73 coils hale ROPE 2 Hawsers, On liberal terms. DUNNING & ( LAY. April 17 p ATHWVATE SA i~l~ lit Idols. W. I. Rum 1.5 pipes Brandy 13 hhds. Sugar 30 pipes Gin 80 barrels Loaf Sugar 30 kegs FF Rag Powder 30 hlnls. y, H. Rum 13 do. Whiskey 100 bags Coffee ’ 60 boxes mould Candles 7 Idids. Molasses 8 chests Hyson Tea 2 do. Imperial do. 50 barrels Apple Brandy 30 piece* Kentucky Cotton Bageimr 4 elegant Gigs S 2 Mahogany square Tables 15 pipes Wine, Ike. DUNNING &. CLAY. April 17 3t 2 HpHE SUBSCRIBERS have e - fi. tered into partnership as prac titioners of Law, and opened their of fice in a part of the building lately oc cupied by Doctors Proctor and Bartow ou tlie Bay, a few doors west of Mr. John Moorelieads store. WILLIAM LEIGH PIERCE. ~ JOHN DKYBDALE Junior. April 17 4t 2 Persons having Demands against •Ship Palinurus, Ship William Carleton, Ship Caroline, Ship Franklin, Brig Rebecca, Will Please present them this Day to 8, & C. HOWARD, April 17 2