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tions 5 and many citizen? cue there
of our country, who rove through the
world, seeking that employment which
the restrictive policy robs them of.—
Does not the high spirit of American
Freemen disapprove it, and if founded
ou justice, demand for it, war, if not
call aloud for its desertion ?
Free, unreserved Liberty to com
merce, is the only honorable means,
which consults the true interests of
the country, of relieving it from the
measure under which it now groans,
in the present disgraceful state of
foreign relations.
THE events transpiring in the
Northern States are highly important.
Both Massachusetts and New-York,
lately favorable to the policy of admi
nistration, will now he arrayed against
it. The elections in the first, prove a
radical change in the sentiments and
opinion of the people; they were de
ceived, and reflection has restored
their intelligent discernment.; the plot
of Henry, and other electioneering
tricks, only served to awaken and
arouse them to a perception of their
true interests ; the rays of the eastern
sun have restored the light of day, and
the glodm of democratic night is rapid
ly dispelling. The bank question in
the other state, may he considered a
correct test of her political determina
tion ; a large majority of her inhabi
tants, through their representation are
favorable to it; Governor Tompkins,
in subserviency to views of administra
tion opposed it, and prorogued the le
gislature ; the policy and measures of
Madison are there denounced as inju
rious to her interests, and paralysing
to her resources, and a president who
would consult the one, and nourish the
other, has been determined to he sup
ported ; and lie who is named to re
ceive her voice, is He W itt Clinton.
Thus two leading and influeneial
states, are withdrawn from the demo
cratic ranks, and will raise the banner
of opposition to the ruinous and false
jw!icy of ft.'iojliiiairulloii. r f)*e pre
tended war, perhaps delayed to ascer
tain the event of eastern elections, and
the policy of New-York, may now be
considered as abandoned, at least till
the presidential election is decided,
since the voice of so respectable a por
tion of the Union is opposed to it; or
rather it may he considered as a kind
f trick, to itntuee the well meaning to
rally around an administration without
talents or ability to conduct it, but
which carried with it such evident
marks of deception and insincerity as
to have entirely failed.
The general character for intelli
gence in the Northern States is un
questioned, and to perceive in them a
simultaneous impulse to abandon the
boasted commercial restrictions, after
many years distressing operation, and
to pronounce the whole system impo
tent and ruinous, by directly support
ing an opposite course, argurs favor
ably for our ruined commerce. Hie
renovation ? this branch of industry
and enterprise, is indispensable for the
prosperity and honor of ti e country,
for its ramifications are so extensive
cs to affect the remotest individual,
and to leave it a defenceless prey or
draw it in the shell, instead of main
taining and protecting it, is not dig
nified retirement,” but cowardly pusil
lanimity. Although the novelty of
experiment, and the arts ol delusion,
for a time misled an unsuspecting and
patriotic people, yet the lessons of ex
perience have at length taught them
to distrust impostors, and they have
accordingly withdrawn their confi
dence. The New-Hampshirc election
has also terminated favorably; the
current.is strong and rapid, and will
lead to happy consequences : the east
ern instead of the western states will
now control a wavering administra
tion.
For the American Patriot.
THE Libehty of the Press, and
the Liberty of the People, are indisso
lubly connected. Tyranny must either
fetter or awe the press into silence
before it ean reduce the people to ser
vitude. The liberty of the press is
guaranteed by our constitution, and it
must and v, ill be exercised [notwith
standing the despicable threats of its
more despicable foes] while a drop of
blood circulates in the bosom of a free
man. “ Establish,” says Sheridan,
“ a free press in Turkey,” and you
would immediately transfuse into that
country a degree of freedom ; you
would powerfully counteract the spi
rit of despotism, if not subvert the
throne of the despot. It would shed a
ray of liberty, on even the darkest
regions of slavery.” But to the con
sideration of those with w hom Eng
lish authorities, however respectable,
have no weight, vve offer the follow
ing remarks of Petian, delivered in
the constituent assembly, at the com
mencement of the French revolution.
A Frenchman and republican he must
be heard with respect; a patriot phi
losopher and statesman, he may be
listened to with conviction, bv those
who blindly endeavor to place the
press under the control of a deluded
mob. Though he had been frequently
abused in printed libels, yet he still
contended firmly for the free circula
tion of opinions !
“ What liiore powerful, or more cer
tain means, can be adopted” said he
“ in order to cnerease knowledge, than
the Liberty of ti e Press ? It is a
sublime invention, vvhich makes the
ideas of one man common to all; which
converts them info a patrimony for
every nation ; which has already so
prodigiously extended the sphere of
our comprehension, removed the bar
riers of the human mind, and undoubt
edly is prepaiing new prodigies for
poteritv.”
The Liberty of the Press makes
the arts and sciences flourish, and
gives anew life to all the social insti
tutions ; by its means errors are dis
sipated, prejudices are chased away,
opinions struggle with opinions, and
after a combat in which they become
refined and purified, truth at length
< iuinplis.
“ The Liberty of 11* Press elevates
the mind, gives energy to talents, and
develops and displays genius.
“ The Liberty of tic Press is the
‘d of political t nd civil liberty.
Nothing hr, c.npply of this
species of public censure ; it watches
while the Into sleeps; it restrains when
the law cannot repress ; it denounces to
the public opinion, what the laic cannot
denowrice to the courts of justice.
“ The Liberty of the Fress, and (he
slavery of nations are incompatible.”
Those who minister in this Temple
of Freedom, have an high, a sacred
duly to perform, The performance of
this duty may sometimes be accompa
nied with danger, hut never can be de
void of honor. Reliance may safely
be placed on the cordial support, of
all good citizens, who must view in a
violation of the Liberty of the Press,
a direct attack upon their own.
A Free Press is the organ of the
public will, and the guardian of the
public rights. It must and will, if ij
shrinks not from its duty, expose the
errors and denounce the abuses of* go
vernment ; it must sound the tocsin
and mingle in the conflict When liberty
is invaded. It must watch with the
eyes of Argus, and contend with the
intrepidity of Hercules. Another Py
thon most be vanquished, and a new’
race cf monsters subdued.
Who are the enemies of a Free
Press i Is it for those who have strug
gled in vain for Liberty in their own
country, and have been welcomed to
ours, to oppose it, and sting like a
serpent, the besom that cherishes them r
Is it for those who justly exclaim a
gainst the corruption of England, de
plore the slavery of* France, and weep
with Emett over the miseries of Ire
land, to contradict the first and noblest
impulses of their nature, and give a
vital blow to public Liberty, by assail
ing that of the Press ? No! they will
defend it with firmness and intrepidity
and I will add with zeal and with
honor. They will stand around it,
with the best of our citizens ; a w all
of fir* unextinguishable and invulne
rable. Its enemies therefore, must he
those who are conscious that their mo
tives will jtot bear disclosure, their po
licy a free examination, their mea
sures discussion, their “ deeds the
light.” They must be the enemies of
mir country, and of all Liberty. Hut
whoever nmv be its enemies, whether
Jew or Gentile, whoever its friends, it
is a constitutional right, and will be
exercised while that constitution re
mains. ft cannot be invaded or relin
quish: and without imminent danger to
liberty; and, “ sains populi suprenm
lex esf,” to preserve freedom is the
first law and highest duty of both citi
zen and magistrate.
DION.
[The following interesting narrative, contains
a plain statement of facts, and places the
Amelia concern in its true light. We are
promised copies of documents, which will
prove to the world the port taken by con
spicuous actors in tb’s infamous business’
and further elucidate it.]
To the E.Utors of the American Patriot.
AMELIA, April 23, 1812.
Gentlemen,
THE Patriots have had a
revolution in their camp, and degraded
Colonel Ashley, and Major Cook, ap
pointing as Commander in Chief, Ge
neral MHntosliof the Georgia Militia.
There has been no attack yet made on
St. Augustine, and it is supposed they
intend to turn the seige into a blockade
It is to be hoped that General Mat
thews will now see that he has been
deceived, if he ever thought, the inha
bitants of Florida were, to a man, dis
posed to join in flic rebellion, as they
have been opposed wherever the least
opposition eould be made, and the ma
jor part of the inhabitants have hc-en
forced into the measure by threats of
confiscation of property, hut the inno
cent and guilty arc now equally in
volved and must go through with it £
they will be ruined if unsuccessful,
which is probable, as, should the
United States disavow the act of their
commission, anil withdraw their troops
these unfortunate people must fly the
country, with such part of their pro
perty as they can carry with them,
and on the other hand should the gar
rison of St. Augustine receive rein*
forcements, they will attack and drive
the Revolutionists out of the province.
The government of the United States
has much to answer for, and should
they ever disavow the act, their firm
est supporters must acknowledge them
highly reprehensible for having ap
pointed such a man as General Mat
thews, who has converted a flourishing
country into a wilderness. This man
has been employed for twelve months
past, in seducing the subjects of If. C.
M. from tbeir allegiance, in which he
has been assisted by J. H. M‘lntosh,
a restless man, without however any
portion of the spirit requisite for such
an undeitalfeug; after much persua
sion the latter induced Lodoviek Ash
ley, an ignorant man, whose character
has already been given in the Charles
ton Courier, George Cook, formerly
confined in the Fort of St. Augustine
for rebellion, and two or three charac
ters of minor value, to join ?h tlic en
terprize, and to induce the citizens of
the United States to engage in it, a
bounty of five hundred acres of land
was offered to the lower classes, while
it. was held out to the higher, that the
inhabitants of Florida were to a man
anxious for the change, and the gov
ernment of the United States were
principals in and would give effectual
assistance; —while such language as
this was held out to deceive those who
should base known better, it was
roundly asserted by the worthy Gene
ral Matthews that the United States
had no concern in the transaction and
would not interfere, [as will appear
hereafter in the documents relative to
transactions at Amelia.] To insure
suceess to (he enterprize, it was pro
posed to send a company of the United
States Rifle Corps in disguise, from
Pudia, to seize the Governor of St.
Augustine, and get possession of the
Fot in the night, and these men were
to be guided by Dr. J. Hall [formerly
a subject of the province l.ut expelled
some time since] while the sui disant
Patriots passed over to take possession
of Amelia, The very honorable eon
duct of Major Laval frustrat *d the in
famous attempt against St Augustine,
and the unexpected resistance at Ame
lia, obliged the General to order the
gun-hoats of the United States to an
chor abreast of that defenceless place,
in a menacing attitude, and three guns
being fired by the Commodore, the Re
volutionists embarked at Lowes and
got peaceable possession of the Island,
and in rather less than twenty-four
hours it was surrendered to George
Matthews, Esq. Commissioner of the
United States. The. Revolutionists
have since been employed in beseiging
St. Augustine, that is, faxing xvithin
four or five miles of it, and keeping
out r.f the range of their gnus, there
force consists by their own account of
about 380 men of xvhom four-fifths are
citizens of the United States and their
Commander, General M’liitosh, u citi
zen and officer of the Georgia Militia,
arrived from thence about ten days
ago. This is a hasty liuf correct state
ment of tlie so called Florida revolu
tion, hut which honest men will he apt
to denominate an invasion fly the
United States, as the mask is thrown
off; ami the ostensible actors displaced
for an American general. Will not
the honorable part of your citizens
blush for their country ? xvhfcti they
hear that General Commissioner Mat
thews with a body of* United States
troops , follows these men to receive
sncli part of the country as they can
seize without opposition; xiili it not
calf to mind the days of Robespierre,
of revolutionary France, when com
missioners were sent by the Conven
tion to fraternize, that is, to subvert,
to destroy a!! regular governments.
The writer will feel much regret
should he unintentionally have given
offence to Mr. Matthews by attaching
to his name the word General without
hue „ bonce the worthy Com,
missioner received that rank, hoi he
conceived it. a respectful mode of
speaking or w riting of so great a man,
and used ii. oi the same manner as he
would in addressing the Secretarx’ of
the Embassy say, Colonel Isaacs, w ith
out even knowing who that man is or
from whence he t ame, although he has
heard, from the Northern States, if so,
the friends of*Mr. Isaacs will acknow
ledge that he lias “ Played his cards
well.”
gCT’ You will please observe Mr.
Editors that this is only a fignrstixe
mode of xvriting, and does not at all
allude to the vile practice of gambling.
Your Obedient Servant,
A Native of Florida.
ammmmrmmnßtao'^itmaxaztmmrTmrprwr.iszmxiax
MARINE NEWS,
V 6 R T OF SA V ANNA If
High Water Thin Ray, 12h. lfm.
ARRIVED,
Brig Sally Barker, Hall, Boston 12 ds
J. Hat telle
CLEARED,
Ship Murmer, Aimihani, Boston.
Columbia, Stevens Wisrasset
Sloop Concord, Kempton, Philadelphia.
The brig Champlin, captain Donne, from
Nexv-Yorl, with a pilot on board, got ashore,
coming into the river on Monday last. Part
of her cargo is supposed to be damaged, and
it is expected she will be got off without ma
terial injury.
A sloop, we are informed, tvas seen Yester
day evening on Ihe breakers near the bar, in
a very dangerous situation.
KT M WANTED a Deck Freight
for the Brig OROZIMBO, for New-
York, to sail the first dax - of next
week. DUNNING & CLAY.
May 1. e
*=r A DECK FREIGHT,
for the Ship AMERICA, for Nexv-
York, xvanted, apply to Capt. Hall.
or R. RICHARDSON, & Cos.
April 24 3t 4
Notice.
THE subscribers;
HAVE removed thsr OFFICE,
from the Bay; to the south side of
the block of buildings, belonging to the
Estate of Hogg, a fexv doors east of the
store of Messrs. Low and Wallace.
PEIRCE &. DRYSDALE.
May 1 2t ft
Auction.
THIS DAY, Ist May.
At No. 3 Commerce Rou'\
Groceries & Dry Goods^
Sale to Commence precisely at ll
o'clock.
D. WILLIFORD. AucCr.
May 1
Henry W. Iliils,
No 8, Commerce Row.
has for sale,
10 Hhds. Boston Rum,
3 do. Old high 4th Proof Rum,
2 Pipes Brandy,
13 do. Maeella Madeira Wine,
2 Half Pipes Superior Madeira doi
3000 lh. Buck Shot,
too Boxes Mould Candles,
tl Bales Calcutta Piece Goods.
.10 Cases Wool Hats,
2.-1 Pieces Russia and Ravens Duck I
Writing Paper, Almunds, Travel
ling, House and Faney Trunks.
May 1. at (i
FOR BOSTON,
The Brig SALLY BVRKfefij
AHbWs Joshua Hall, Master will,
sail in r> or ft days, having mu- half
her freight engaged, for the balance]
or passage, apply f ( (be Master, of
‘<> J- BATTKLLE.
mo Offers For Sale,
100 Casks Lime,
Which x\ill be sold low if lakeii
immediately from on board.
May 1 fi
At Private Sale,
10 Hhds. Fairview Gin,
13 do. and 20 bids. Whiskey,
3 Pipes India Point Gin,
2 do. Spanish Brandy,
1 Pipe and 2 bids. Freiteh do.
4 Hhds. high flavored 4th proof
•turn,
4 do. and 5 hbl.U N. K. R um .
2.) Bbls. Philadelphia Beer [fresh |
10 do. Shrub,
3 I ipes Madeira V ine,
to Hhds. and 3 bids. MuseovaiW
Sugar,
12 Chests Hyson Tea,
20 Bags Coffee,
—o do. Liaeiv Pepper,
50 Boxes Soap and Candles,
Id do. Chocolate,
to Bids, prime Beef,
s.i Kegs Manufactured Tobacco,
0 f I lids. Glass W are,
5 Boxes Cotton Cards, No. 8,
too Pieces liiimhums,
20 Pieces Cotton Baggirig,
30 do. Toiv Cloth, ‘
to do. Ticklenburgs,
30 Reams. Writing Paper,
25 Colls White Rope,
3 Boxes Cotton Cards,
50 M. xvLite Chanel Needles,
1 Small Trunk Cutlery,
Cassimcre, Calico, India Bed-
Spreads, Handkerchiefs, &c. &e.
D. WILLIFORD.
May i fi
Situation of England,
Z,Y EIGIITEEN JHjjYDIt KO ELEVEN;
JUST RECEIVED,
From Ntrm-Earb,
BY SEYMOUR & WILLIAMS,
anew work translated from the
French of* M. Mir De Mont (halliard,
TUP. SITUATION OF ENGLAND
IN 1811.
Id we 8-0. Vat.
u We ought to be apprehensive, that
the mad pretentious, the tyranny and
the cupi.lily of our ministers will one
.lay open the eyes of’ali Europe. Let
us enjoy xvith moderation our com
mercial prosperity and not excite wars.
If a great man should lie seated upon
the throne of France, England would
fall, and w ould he of ho more impor
tance in the system of Europe, than
the island of Sardinia, for Bankrupt
cy is at the doorg.” Bolingbrolcc, 1732.
April 1. 3t 6
Administrator’s Sale.
YIIILL be sold, before tny store,
TV ori FRIDAY, the 13th day of
May, at the usual hour, all the person
al property of Thomas Harrison, dec,
consisting of Wearing Apparel, House
hold and Kitchen Furniture. By or
der Os the administrator.
I). WILLIFORD, Av.r.fr.
May 1 ft K
Mrs. RAMSAY.
A few Copies, for sale by
HARRAL $ COPPER, Bolton i
Centre Building, and at this Office.
dT This work comes particulaily
recommended to the pious, from iis
interesting materials, adorned by the
elegant pen of the celebrated” Dr
Kamsat.
April 14 *