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About Columbian centinel. (Augusta, Ga.) 18??-???? | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 1809)
COLUMBIAN CENTINEL. SATURDAY, AUGUST 19. IF success depended upon the just ness of a cause, we should long since bare ceased to notice the precious mor ceaut with which that Golgotha r* .ite rature (the Mirror) has teamed for some time past; but knowing that the edi tors were endeavoring with declamation and insidious calumny to rouse passion prejudice, th® most formidable enemies to the just decision of questions sub mitted to the understanding. We followed them through their different labyrinths, or by-paths and endeavored to expose the fallacy of their sophistry, correct their misstatements, and arrest them in their career. In conducting the Centihel, we proposed to act an in dependent part, iknn in this land of liberty and law, wc are firmly attached to freedom and independence; tutored in ker schools, “ we believe that all men are created equal; that they are en dowed by their Creutor with certain un alienable rights, that amongst these is 1 tin; protection of life, liberty and pro perty, and the pursuit of happiness.” We rejoiced at the ajustment of differ eftces between this country and Great- Britain, made by our administration with Mr. Erskine, and did believe they j would be fulfilled, nor do we think our ; government can justly be censured for ks failure. In this, we are no more fed eral than the National Intelligencer, •nrl many others of the most respecta ble republican prints in the Union.— We have not, like the Mirror be North American, assumed the spiiit of divin -1 tuion. Some people predict just such things as they wish to happen, and not jjfrom any probable cause at the time be iing that such wll be the case* May :n »t this have been the case with these •oracular gentlemen J We know there is • party in the United States, we know the editors of the Mirror to he the devo ee „ of that party) Who are prepared to condemn the conduct of Great-lki tain without examination. If the edi tors of the Mirror made such a predic tion as that for which they now claim credit, we cannot but think it must have resulted from that undistinguisliing spi rit of censure just mentioned, ratlitr than from 4 a perception of any circum stances which led to a rational belief that the negoeiaiion would eventuate as it has. Do these gentlemen claim more •agacity* ( Ur. Waggoner excepted) tbsnail the* American people beside ? Was it not generally believed that the I Uegociatioo was conducted by a spirit of Candor on both sides? What were the Circuisstances which evinced the insin cerity of Great-Britaiu ? Was it her known and acknowledged perfidy in Stations! t. ansae lions ? If so, it is strange that nobody should have known her character but the supient editors cf the Mirror. The t» uth is, we had as much reason to confi k in what was declared by Mr. Et skine, as one nation ever had to confide in the professions, promises •or declarations of another; and this pret* nded prophecy was the result of prejudice and not of sagacity, and it lias been accomplished as any other tvikl conjecture might be, in away Which could not be foreseen or ration ally expected. We are not unaware that we may be accused of partiality to Gieat-Biiiain, because wc have dared to speak with candor, and to say that ,e had notrea gou to distrust her professions; and we •re aware that ignorance 4nd malignity may attempt to distort our observations Into a proof of the charge ; hut we dis claim any partiality to any foreign na tion, and (what the editors of the Mir ror dure not do) we disclaim belonging to any /tarry We unite ivitn our coun trymen in condemning thi conduct of Great-Britain. Wc believe it to be atro cious almost without a parallel; and the more atrocious because we had no reason to expect, nor opportunity to provide against it. We are republican, but can never agree that >he mere habiliments of a name, without the substance, shall be the passport to promotion. We shall never become time servers. We have been charged with a dereliction from republicanism, because we dared to question some of the dogmas of the democratic party; and been called the apologists of Britain, because we rejoic ed in the prospect of an amicable settle ment of our differences with her. These charges have been repelled :—we view the liberty of the press as sacred, and believe an impartial enquiry into the conduct of public officers to be the in herent right of every member of this community. A real republican will never shrink from his duty, nor aban- don his rights, to procure the favor of any man, or any party. We no'ictd with regret, the entire devotion of ad ministration prints to all it measures ; and blushed for the violence and abuse with which those of the opposition were too often pregnant. We asked why this intolerance ? and why this proscrip tion ? And resolved that our press should bk ratr.. And Great Britain has disavowed and refused to ratify the negociation entered into between their minister and this country. An independent nation should ever be feelingly alive to wrung, but more rspecially when it is marked witli such treachery as has been the cSse in this instance. On the arrival of Mr. Jackson, who comes out to succeed Mr. Erskine, as resident minister, lie will no doubt be received ; and our govern ment will, we presume, with forbear ance await the arrival of lord Auckland, the envoy-extraordinary, who will pro bably be also received.—This however will depend upon the authority with which he may be particularly and sped.- allu invested to enter into negociation, and make reparation for the injuries we have suffered. 'I he ports of Spanish America, Brazil, Germany and Tin key are open tc the commerce of Britain— and she has received a quantity of raw materials from this country : hence she j would not now feel the effects of a non ! in-Ur course so sensibly as a little while since. We still hope to sec an amicable ad justment of our differences take place, and the calamities of war be averted ; but there is a degree of forbearance be yond which we would not go. Let the volume of history be unfolded and we shall find the annals of all ages preg nant with the melancholy fate of nations, which by declining or delaying to as sume an attitude of the greatest oppo sition to aggressions upon their sove reignty (and that nation whose citizens are Seized and enslaved, and whose trade is taxed is in such a situation) have succumbed the victims of parsi monious calculations, to a pressure much less than this means of defence. No nation has ever long survived the date of declining to meet by wak, de mands involving her sovereignty. An examination of the records of empirt s, states and kingdoms, sufficiently con firms this truth. Carthage owedjf the destruction of her empire to the sordid and mean policy of her commerce and wealth, to her lovj of peace, and conse quently temporizing resistance. The same untempered policy destroyed the fabric sos Grecian liberty. It was this insidious f.iend and not the arms of Ph'Jip tlftt caused tjie republics of Thebes, of Athens and of Argos, that once blazed on high, to fall oencath the horizon, to that place of oblivion where thc.pale ghosts of departed gradei r fleet about in sad lamentation of their former splendor I We should delight to close their history with the age of P<. i icles, and blot out the distressing pages which followed the period of corruption, fac tion and slavery; for then no time would shine more incomparably the pattern by which to shape the ch lracterislits of a great and splendid empire. The great prosperity of Greece roused the envy of Xerxes, and so nmy that of the United States kindle into fl me the ambition of ; G. Britain. Let us then continue to be animated oy a consci u» spiiit t»f free dom and unyielding independence, and the lance, tho’ it may be hurled, shall be shattered on an immovable rock.— Let us hear what Biitain may have to propose, and thereby drain the cup of conciliation to a still greater extent before wc resolve on war. This done, if reparation bt not made, let the Ame rican people awake from their slum bers and to arms! Let the states be united, for then will the independence of the nation be at stake ; let each man, warmed by the monitory voice of former times, stand by his country ; let him buckle on his sword and invoke Hie shade of the immortal Washington, to wakl) over the destinies of his coun try ; let him swear to triumph in the smiles of victory, or to be buried with the brave under the ruins of the repub lic. Let us not then wait the further advance of the enemy ; but strike in de fence of our freedom und independence, or our next step may be over the tomb of American liberty. For the information of our Carolina sub scribers we give the number of free white in habitants in eleven districts, agreeable to the late census, many of which, by a late law will be entitled to a greater number of Representa tives to the State Legislature The district of Edgefield, heretofore entitled to three Re presentatives will be entitled at the next elec tion, to five. Not knowing the number of re presentatives to which the other ten districts are at present entitled, we are unable to say what changes will take place j— there ie little doubt however that the number will be Increas* l ed. Ihe inhabitants cf those utstrcts will be informed by having the present census. CENSUS. Pendleton 19,936 Edgefield, .. . . ■ . 15 666 Laurence, .... 11,068 Richland, . , . . 3,482 Sparcenburg, .... 11,890 Union, .... 8,000 York 8 877 Newberry, .... 8,960 Grenville, .... 10 570 Barnwell, . . . . 7,646 Fan held, .... 8,800 White inhabitant* of all ages The Tax collected in the district of Edge field for the year 1808, amounted to £5443 39 cents. ATHENS, August 12. The Sixth Public Commencement of the University of Georgia was Imlden at this place on Wednesday the 2cl mat. Oh the preceding day an eloquent and impressive discourse, addressed to the Candidates for degrees, was deliv ered in the Chapel, by the Rev. John Hodge, Principal of the Grammar School. The Members of the Boaid of Trustees present were General Twiggs, Gen. Clark, Col. O'Neal, Gen. Stewart, Gen. Mitchell, Re v. Mr. Hull, Col. Carin a, His Excellency Govern r Irwin, Colonel Flournoy, and the him. Judge Early. At 11 o’clock, the Stu dents of the College and Gramnui School, in procession, waited on tin Board of Trustees and the Executive authority to th« new Chapel—Alter prayer by the Rev. Mr. Hull, various Orations 5c Dialogues, origin d 8c select { ed,were pronoun, ’dby Wm. Scott, V\ m. j Mitchell, J. Tail, L. Twiggs, P. Carey, ; J. Fraser, A. Fraser, J. Duvis, J. Piiini zy, B. Miller, T. Foster, and D. Callu j ham. "I he Degree of Bachelor of Arts i was then conferred, in the usual farm, on Charles Delucena Meigs, Creed Taylor | Strong and Robert Scott ; and the Pre-si* 1 dent declared the un unmous resolution iofthe board, conferring the Degree of Doctor of laws on the lion. Joel Barlow, Esq. of Washington Cuy. The Extr i eiscs concluded with the Valedictory Oration by Robert Scott. On tht succeeding day a number ot the Students of the Grammar School, exhibited specimens of their talents and proficiency in el ,cutioii. A very nu merous and respectful audience testifi ed their approbation of the Exercises which they hud honored by their pres ence. The Board of Trustees continued their sessions till ’Tuesday morning, tht 7th. The Board of Visitors was not formed, there being present of that Board only His Excellency the Gov ernor and Judge Eaily. Ext ret of a letter ffbm Washington City to the edi'or of the Vi>g nia Argus, da ted August Is/ I 8( 9. “ I give you the #umors of the day as they are abroad in this place. Mr. Coles arrived in town yesterday from France : He is said to have remarked that our affaira with Napoleon wore rather a gloomy aspect. Os this I have very little doubt, for they have worn that aspect fora long time. 'The President, it is now asserted, will not come to the city immediately ; in the mean time, however, he will probably . d> nriancl the opinions of his Secretaries, : in writing ; which you know, he is au thorised tedotvy theconst tutiun. When we contemplate the situalionof our coun try, singly, affairs do, in truth, appear critic! enough; but, when we compare the position We occupy, with that which is occupied by other powers, tli re ap pears to be no nation on the globe which is civilized, if we except China, but what is convulsed by the crimes and am bition of war and usurpation. We are not only free from war, but we are also ex nipt from taxation and have plenty of food aud raiment.” Boston, July 29. We understand that the honorable John Q. Adams, with h.s family and suit, will sail from this port in the ship Horace, on his embassy to Russia, on Tuesday next, weather permitting —he will be accompanied by William S. Smjtfh, of Baltimore, secretary of the legation, and Messrs Alexander Everett and Francis Gray, son of the honorable William Gray The republicans of Vermont have nominat ed the honorable Jonas Galusha, for governor of that state. We hope they will succeed in his election. Yesterday the district court of the United States closed its session in this place. The following vessels, libelled for breach of the embargo laws, were decreed forfeit, viz. Schr Two Friends and cargo; ship Com merce, of Salem; schooner Resolution, Ply mouth ) brig Hannah ; Boston schooner Fear and cargo; schooner Morning Star; brig Short Staple; sloop Caroline; schooner Glyed and cargo; schooner Hannah and cargo. Norfolk, July 31. Yesterday arrived in Hampson Roads, his Britannic majesty’s brig Coni *st, Heu r enant Gregorie. in eight weeks from England, with despatches far Mr. Rrskiof. There wsr- ' landed from her, we understand, upwards of 1200 letters for different parts of the continent. She proceeded up the bay this morning Prices of Produce in England, Letters received in town from London, da ted in June, state, that when the disavowal by the British Government of Mr. Erskine'c agreement with the United States, was made known, Tobacco experienced an advance, in price, at London, of tvxuty-fxe per cent, grounded upon an opinion entertained there, that the non-infercuui *e act would be immediate ly re-instated, or a rupture ensue between the two countries—Other American productions were also advancing in price. [Peterdiwg Intelligencer.] ' —«■ ■■ ■■■■'■ I ■ **'* WE are authorised to an nounee Andrew H a krison, Esq. a Candidate to represent the County of Richmond m the State Legislature, at the ensuing elec -1 tion. August 19. *** WE are authorised to an-' 1 nounce Obadiah Crawford, as a Candidate for the office of Sheriff of Richmond County, at • th c ensuing election. August 19. i 1 **•* Y\ E. are requested to an nounce William Kennedy, 1 as a Candidate for the Clerkship of the Inferior Court. August 19. *** Joseph Guirett res pectfully informs his leliow-citi zens ol Richmond County, that he is a Candidate at the ensuing . election lor a seat in the House of Representatives. . August 19. ; 50 Dollars Reward. RAN A WAY from the subscriber on the 20th instant, a iiigro n,„n n inied MOMS, about twtnty-five or or twenty-six years of age*, five feet right or nine inches high, slim made, branded on the right chei k withllie |. t ter R, and on the lift T; had on a white hat and homespun clothing, I be li> ve two or three suits; he took with him an old great dUaldaikish cob-rand pretty nucli worn; also, shot-makeis tools. Ihe above lew.oil will be paid to any person lodging him in any jail *n boutli-Curolii.a or Georgia. Y\ illiam Hughes. Paitjield District , 6. C. August 19. 6 Notice. ALL persons having demands a gams! the tstate of .Ylr. Joseph Reynolds, late of Striven county, de ceased, art requested to render in th- ir accounts attested accoiding to law— ami those indebted to the said estate will ! please to make inrim- dime p ynunt to the subscriber, otherwise an unpleasant mode will be resorted to. # Eliz -both Reynolds, Adm'x. August 19. 6- N otice IS HEREBY That an apportionment of the es tate of Mackey \l‘Noriil, deceas ed, lias been nmde by Samuel Sturgis, and J mes Jones; anti that the tlivi dernl due the creditors respectively, will be paid to each of them, or to any per son legally authorised to receive the same, on application to the subsetibers or either of them. Eielding Fryer, John f ryer, Admit s of Mackey M'NorriL Burke County, > jilt gust 19. $ ( WANTED, AN APPRENTICE to the Printing business, a smart active boy— one who can read and write, and is fiona tbiiteen to f urteen years of age. Ap ply at this Office. June 3. iiLANK sHrJHiT 1 l i LgS FOR SALE AT THIS OFFICE-
