tion to duft, and effected that change by the most deliberate cold-blooded murder of more than three million of their fellow citizens. And we now fee the very people who tore to pieces every one that fo much as mentioned the word King, and who rent the air with fhouts of " vive la liberty"-" vive la republique," now pay homage to a rigorous defpot, and flatter him in the language of idolatry. This is as it fhould be-this is the regular round which the mill of democracy goes-and this-God avert the omen-his may yet, we fear, be the fate of America.

A paragraph in the Political Barometer a Democratic paper printed at Poughkeepfie, New-York, contains an error or a falfhood too grofs to be paffed over in filence. After eftimating the town, ftate, fociety and school taxes in this ftate at 5 cents on a dollar, it adds, "Thus a man poffeffing a landed estate or other taxable property to the amount of one thousand dollars, pays, on the lowest computation, a tax of fifty dollars a year!" According to this ftatement, a gentleman, retiring from business, with a fortune of 30,000 dollars, the annual income of which is 1800 dollars, would en

joy but the trifling fum of 300 dollars per

Here then is a fchool for nations, if they will but take a leffon from it. Democracy, fweet democracy, what bleflings are thine! A ferocious band of democrats have exchanged the reign of the most mild, excellent, and beneficent monarch OUR public councils are too often turned into the moft mifchievous cabals that ever governed that country—a monarch whofe whole reign was one continued where the confideration is not how the natiffue of voluntary conceffion and benefittion's bufinefs fhall be carried on, but to the people, for the very worst defpo. how thofe, who ought to carry it on shall circumvent each other. Port Folio. tifm that ever ground down a proftrate na

Liberty of the Press,

AGAIN.

From the LANSING BURGH GAZETI E.

WE had fincerely hoped, that it might never fall to our lot to mention a repetition of the difgraceful attempt lately made, in a neighbouring county, to deftroy the liberty of the prefs. But the proceedings at a court of general feffions of the peace, held at Troy, in this county, laft week impofe on us the painful task.-Whatever has been the cafe in other counties, fince the commencement of the reign of the party at prefent in power, juftice compels us to fay, that the grand-juries of this county had been hitherto judiciously felected. Care appeared to have been taken to compofe them of nearly an equal number of each political fe&t. All honeft men approved of this meafure; for knaves only could be diffatisfied therewith. The confequences were falutary; party perfecu tion, except in one inftance, was known. Certain democrats, however, expreffed their diffatisfaction; and the fheriff was even threatened, unless more pliant grand juries were fummoned.

un

We have now witneffed the reverfe of the picture. The grand-jury which met laft week, was compofed of but three federalifts, and twenty democrats, a large majority of whom were of the most deci. ded flamp. The wishes of the party were therefore gratified; and the goodly work of perfecution commenced. But altho' from their own vulnerable fituation, and the direction which the bufinefs took, the event, perhaps, did not equal their expec. tations: yet, fo far as refpe&ts their favorite object, the deftruction of the liberty of the prefs, we think they have no realon to complain.

On Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning, the Lanfingburgh Gazettes, of the 16th and 231 of Auguft were prefented to the grand jury by the diftrict attorney; the former containing one of the numbers. of "Truth," with the fift number of "Diomedes," (faid to be a libel on the faid attorney!) the latter containing certain editorial remarks on the doctrine of

46

Truth a libel," and a copy of the article on which a rule was granted against Mr. Freer, editor of the Uljler Gazette, which had been read in the fupreme court of this ftate, and was published merely as a part of their proceedings. The object of this prefentment, we understand, was, that Teparate bills fhould be found against the editor for each of thefe publications. The grand-jury, however, tho't proper iffue their fubpoena, directing him to ap pear before them. On his entering the room, and taking the usual oath, the pa

to

per of the 16th of Auguft was prefented, cordingly David Allen, Efq. of this viland the names of the authors of the pie-lage, was indicted as the author of “Truth,"

(a moft unfortunate fignature in these times) James Dole Efq. of Troy, the author of " Diomedes," for a libel on the diftri&t-attorney:-The editor of this paper. for a libel on Morgan Lewis, Efq. chief juftice of the ftate of New-York.

The following are the words in the article copied from the Ulfter Gazette, on which the indictment against the editor of this paper is founded :

ces therein contained demanded. He re-
que fted leave of absence for half an hour;
when he promised to return, and give them
an answer. The object of this delay was
to have an opportunity to confer with one
of the authors, who was in town. This
was at first granted by the foreman ; but Foot, diftri&t-attorney, and public
almost immediately objected to by one of profecutor, who commenced the attack
the jurors. A difpute enfued among yet presented the editor ot this paper for
themselves. The editor then requested || publishing Diomedes' reply, was alfo in-
the voice of the board; but was told, that dicted as the author of feveral pieces pab.
if one objected, he could not be permitted
if one objected, he could not be permitted lifhed in the Farmer's Regifter, figned
to withdraw. He was, however, directed "D. A."" A Rod," and " Caftigator:"
to leave the room while the jury conferred And the editor of the Regifler, for a libel
on the fubje&t; but not to go out of the on the character of the author of Diomedes.
houfe. The conftable attending was or-
dered to confine him to an adjoining room,
and to permit no perfon to speak to him.
He was foon recalled, and informed that
he muft answer the queftions, or be im-
prifoned. He again remonftrated; stated
the delicacy of his fituation; expreffed
his doubts of their authority to imprifon,
but admitted his ignorance of the extent
of their power; and complained of the
peremptorinefs of their proceedings. He
was then informed, that he might again
withdraw into a room, and reflect on the
fubject alone. He replied, that if they
would not permit him to leave the house,
he had no wish to leave the room. The
jury, however, again differing, he was
once more fent out, and the conftable di-
rected to confine him as before. The dif-
trict-attorney was then fent for, and went
into the room: When he left it, the edit-
or was again recalled--informed that the
queftions must be immediately anfwered,
and again reminded of the confequences.
The names of the authors were then given
up.
up. Fruitful as is the fubject, we forbear
commenting on the proceedings, as their
legality will probably be determined by
the fupreme court in an action for falfe
impiifonment.

On his being difmiffed, the editor waited on James Dole, Efg. the author of "Diomedes," and informed him of what had taken place. This gentleman immediately went before the grand jury, confelfed himfelf the author, and to show the provocation he had received, prefented the Farmers' Regifier of the 17th May, in which the attack had been commenced by the diftrict-attorney; with feveral oth er papers, containing libels on his character written by the fame perfon.

"The judge, on the trial, refufed Mr. Crofwell the priviledge of producing his witnefles ;" (thefe are the words mentioned in the indictment, but the following complete the fentence)-" declared that he would not fuffer them, were they prefent, to prove the truth of what Crofwell had written; exprefsly charged the jury, that it was immaterial whether the libel was true or not; that it was not for them to confider whether the words amounted to fuch a libel as ought to be punished; that whether the motives of the defendant were good or bad, was wholly out of the quef tion; that if the jury was fatisfied that Crofwell was the publifher, and that the inuendoes were properly proved, they muil pronounce a verdict of guilty."

It feems, however, that on Thurfday afternoon, the gand-jury were either not fatisfied with the fubje&t-matter, of our indictment, or wifhed to add another to their lift. They fent a very polite letter to the editor, requefting him to fend them at file of his papers publifhed during the month of May laft; or in other words, to furnish them with the means of criminating himfelf! Perhaps we put a wrong but certainly the moft natural conftru&tion, on this application. It is, however, unneceflary to ftate, that it was not complied with.

Yet altho' for the conduct of the grand-jury, we might poffibly conclude, that a majority of them were foolish enough to believe that we might inadver tently lend them the papers afked for; ftill we are not a little furprized at obferving their letter, except the fignature of the The bufinefs, of courfe, now took a foreman, to be the hand writing of Albert different direction from what the diflrict-Pawling !-the papers, 'tis true, contain attorney at first intended, and the refponfibility for the publications was transferred from the editor to the authors. days confideration, the grand-jury concluded that bills must be found against all of whom complaint had been made. Ac

After two

nothing which would criminate the editor. This circumftance, however, does not remove the charge of meanness from the tranfaction.

We are told that the grand-jury boaft much of their impartiality. We fhall on

66

ly observe, that their treatment to the editor of this paper affords an excellent proof of it. 'Tis true, they indicted all, or, to ufe their own words, ferved all alike." O this we do not complain: Perhaps they have done their duty.-But this we fay, that no grand-jury ever before condefcended to take notice of a perfonal conteft carried on in a newspaper, between two individuals in the fame neighbourhood, who might have recourfe to private actions. Here the first accufer was also the aggreffor; and if his character was fuch that he dare not refort to an action for damages, he ought not to have been permitted, after commencing the attack, to arreft the pen of his antagonist, by fubjecting him to punishment, under the doctrine "the greater the truth, the great. er the libel."

But as it refpects the deftruction of the liberty of the prefs, and thereby locking up this great fource of public information, thefe proceedings prefent the most serious afpect. No one will hereafter dare to charge a public officer with improper conduct for in fact the prefent doctrine relative to libels, is a complete fhield for every fpecies of mal-condu&t. Certainly, no honeft man will refort to indictment when his character is attacked: He will compel his accufer to pay him damages in a private action: While the knave only, confcious of the vilenefs of his character, and not daring to rifk a perfonal action in

which the truth of the matters with which

he is charged might be given in evidence against him, will fhelter himlelf under the common law doctrine, by procuring the indictment of his accufer. Such will be the effect of the law which makes truth a libel!

Hudson, October 25, 1803.

We obferve and announce with pleafare, the decrease of the epidemic in New-York. It is however deemed im. prudent for abfent citizens to return at prefent.

The Knot.

MARRIED,

At Claverack, on Thursday last, by the Rev. Mr. Gephard, Mr. ROGER EVENS to Miss ELIZABETH BACKus, both of this city.

Postscript.

BY the Sunday's mail, we received the N.
Y. Evening Post, containing the

Prefident's Meffage,

delivered to Congress on Monday, the 17th inst.
when a quorum was formed in both houses.-
We make room for it, by wholly excluding the
foreign and domestic intelligence prepared for this
paper.

JOHN BROWN, Esquire, of Kentucky, is elected
President pro. tem. of the Senate, and N. MACON,
Esq. Speaker of the House of Representatives.

THE MESSAGE.

To the Senate and Houfe of

Reprefentatives of the United States. IN calling you together, fellow-citizens, at an earlier day than was contemplated by the aft of the laft feflion of Congrefs, I have not been infenfible to the personal inconveniencies neceffarily refulting from an unexpected change in your arrange. ments; but matters of great public concernment have rendered this call necellary; and the interefts you feel in these will fupercede in your minds all private confideration.

Congrefs witneffed, in their late feffion, the extraordinary agitation produced in the public mind, by the fufpenfion of our right of depofit at the port of New-Orleans, no affigament of another place having been made according to treaty. They were fenfible that the continuance of that privation would be more injurious to our nation than any confequences which could flow from any mode of redrefs. But repofing juft confidence in the good faith of the government whofe officer had committed the wrong, friendly and reafonable representations were reforted to, and the right of depofit was reЯored.

Previous however to this period, we had not been unaware of the danger to which our peace would be perpetually expofed, whilst fo important a key to the commerce of the western country remained under foreign power. Difficulties too were prefenting themfelves as to the navigation of other fireams, which, arifing within our territories, pafs through thofe adjacent. territories, pafs through thofe adjacent. Propofitions had therefore been authorifed for obtaining, on fair conditions, the fovereignty of New-Orleans, and of other poffeflion in that quarter interefling to our quiet, to fuch extent as was deemed practicable; and the provifional appropriation of two millions of dollars, to be applied and accounted for by the prefident of the United States, intended as part of the price, was confidered as conveying the fanction of Congrefs to the acquifition propofed. The enlightened government of France

faw, with juft difcernment, the importance to both nations of fuch liberal arrangements as might beft and permanently promote the peace, friendship and interefls of both: and the property and fovereignty of all Louisiana, which had been restored to them, has, on certain conditions, been transferred to the United States by inftruments bearing date the 30th of April laft. When these fhall have received the confti. tutional fanétion of the Senate, they will, without delay, be communicated to the Representatives, alfo, for the exercife of their functions as to thefe conditions which are within the powers vefted by the confti. tution in Congrefs. Whilft the property and fovereignty of the Miffiffippi and its waters fecure an independent outlet for the produce of the weftern ftates, and an uncontrouled navigation through their whole courle, tree from collifions with other powers, and the dangers to our peace from that fource, the fertility of the country, its climate and extent, promife, in due feason, important aids to our treafury, and ample provifion for our pofterity, and a wide fpread for the bleffings of freedom and t qual laws.

With the wisdom of Congrefs it will reft to take thofe ulterior measures which may be neceffary for the immediate occupation and temporary government of the country; for its incorporation into our union for rendering the change of gov ernment a bleffing to our newly adopted brethren; for fecuring to them the rights of confcience and of property: for confirming to the Indian inhabitants their occupancy and felf-government, eftablifhing friendly and commercial relations with them, and for afcertaining the geog. raphy of the country acquired. Such materials for your information relative to its affairs in general, as the fhort space of time has permitted me to collect, will be laid before you when the fubject fhall be in a ftate for your confideration.

Another important acquifition of terri tory has also been made, fince the laft feflion of Congrefs. The friendly tribe of Kafkafkia Indians, with which we have never had a difference, reduced, by the wars and wants of favage life, to a few individuals unable to defend themfelves against the neighbouring tribes, has tran ferred its country to the United States, referving only for its members what is fufficient to maintain them, in an agricul tural way. The confiderations ftipulated are, that we fhall extend to them our pat ronage and protection, and give them cer tain annual aids, in money, in implements of agriculture, and other articles of their choice. This country, among the mot fertile within our limits, extending along the Miffiffippi from the mouth of the Illi nois, to and up, the Ohio, though not fo neceffary as a barrier, fince the acquifition

of the other bark, may yet be well worthy dred thousand dollars, exclufive of inter- j'
of being laid open to immediate fettle- eft, and making, with the payment of the
me it, as its inhabitants may defcend with preceeding year, a difcharge of more than
rap dity in lupport of the lower country, eight millions and a half of dollars of the
fhould future circumftances expofe that to principal of that debt, befides the accru-
foreign enterprite. As the flipulations, ining intereft: and there remains in the
this treaty alfo, involve matters within the
competence of both houfes only, it will
be laid before Congrefs to foon as the Sen-
ate fhall have advifed its ratification.

With many of the other Indian tribes, improvements in agriculture and household manufacture, are advancing; and, with ell, our peace & friendfhip are eftablifhed on grounds much firmer than heretofore. The meature adopted of estab. lifhing trading houfes among them, and of furnishing them neceffaries in exchange for their commodities, at fuch moderate prices as leave no gain, but cover us from lofs, has the moft conciliatory and useful effect on them, and is that which will best fecure their peace and good will.

The small veffels authorised by Congrefs, with a view to the Mediterranean fervice, have been fent into that fea; and will be able more effectually to confine the Tripoline cruifers within their harbours, and fuperfede the neceffity of convoy to our commerce in that quarter. They will fenfibly leffen the expences of that fervice the enfuing year.

treafury nearly fix million of dollars. 0:
thefe eight hundred and eighty thoufand
have been referved for payment of the firft
instalment due, under the British Conven-
tion of January 8, 1802, and two mil-
lions are, what have been before mention-
ed, as placed by Congrefs under the pow
er and accountability of the Prefident, to-
wards the price of New-Orleans and oth-
er territories acquired, which, remaining
untouched, are ftill applicable to that ob-
jet, and go in diminution of the fum to
be funded for it.

Should the acquifition of Louisiana be
conflitutionally confirmed and carried in
to effect a fum of nearly thirteen millions
of dollars will then be added to our public
debɩ, most of which is payable after fifteen
years; before which term, the prefent ex-
ifting debts will all be difcharged, by the
eftablished operation of the finking fund.
When we contemplate the ordinary annual
augmentation of impoft from increafing
population and wealth, the augmentation
of the fame revenue, by its extention to
the new acquifition, and the economies
which may be introduced into our pub-
lic expenditures, I cannot but hope that
Congrefs, in reviewing their refources will
find means to meet the intermediate inter-
eft of this additional debt, without recur-
ring to new taxes and applying to this ob-
ject only the ordinary progreffion of our
revenue. Its extraordinary increafe, in
times of foreign war, will be the proper
and fufficient fund for any meafares of
fafety or precaution, which that flate of
things may render neceffary in our neutral
pofition.

A further knowledge of the ground in the north eastern, and north western angles of the United Sates, has evinced that the boundaries established by the treaty of peace, between the British territories and ours in thofe parts, were too imperfectly defcribed to be fufceptible of execution. It has therefore been thought worthy of attention, for preferving and cherishing the barmony and ufeiul intercourfe fubfifting between the two nations, to remove by timely arrangements what unfavorable incidents might otherwife render a ground of future mifunderftanding. A convenRemittances for the inftalments of our tion has therefore been entered into which foreign debt having been found practicaprovides for a practicable demarcation of ble without lofs it has not been thought thofe limits, to the fatisfaction of both expedient to use the power, given by a forparties. mer act of Congrefs, of continuing them An account of the receipts and expen-by reloans, and of redeeming, instead thereditures of the year ending the 30th of of, equal fums of domeftic debt, although September last, with the ellimates for the no difficulty was found in obtaining that fervice of the enfuing year, will be laid accommodation. before you by the Secretary of the Treafury, fo foon as the receipts of the laft quarter fhall be returned from the more diftant ftates. It is already afcertained that the amount paid into the treafury, for that year, has been between eleven and twelve million of dollars, and that the revenue, accrued during the fame term, exceeds the fum counted on, as sufficient for our current expences, and to extin guifh the public debt, within the period heretofore propofed.

The amount of the debt paid, for the fame year, is about three million one hun

The fum of fifty thousand dollars, appropriated by Congrefs for providing gunboats, remains unexpended. The favorable and peaceable turn of affairs on the Miffiffippi, rendered an immediate execution of that law unneceflary; and time was defirable, in order that the inftitution of that branch of our force might begin on models the moft approved by experi-ence. The fame iffue of events difpenfed with a refort to the appropriation of a million and a half of dollars, contemplat. ed for purposes which were effected by happier means.

We have seen with sincere concern the flames of war lighted up again in Europe, and nations with which we have the most friendly and useful relations, engaged in mutual destruction. While we regret the miscres in which we see others involved, let us bow with gratitude to that kind providence, which inspiring with wisdom and moderation our late legislative councils, while placed under the urgency of the greatest wrongs, guarded us from hastily entering into the sanguinary contest, and left us only to look on and to pity its ravages. These will be heaviest on those immediately engaged; yet the nations pursuing peace will not be exempt from all evil. In the course of this conflict let it be our endeavour as it is our interest and desire, to cultivate the friendship of the belligerent nations by every act of justice and of innocen: kindness; to receive their armed vessels, with hospitality from the distresses of the sea, but to administer the means of annoyance to none; to establish in our harbours, such a pice as may maintain law and order; to restrain our citizens from embarking individually in a war in which their country takes no part to punish severely those persons, citizen or alien, who shall usurp the cover of our flag, for vessels not entitled to it, infecting thereby with suspicion those of real Americans and committing us into controversies for the redress of wrongs not our own; to exact from every nation the observance, towards our vessels and citizens, of those principles and practices which ul civilized people acknowledge; to merit the character of a just nation, and-maintain that of an independent one, preferring every consequence to insult ard habitual wrong. Congress will consider whether the existing laws enable us efficaciously to maintain this course with our citizens in all places and with others while within the limits of cur jurisdiction; and will give them the new modifications necessary for these objects. Some contraventions of right have already taken place, both within our ju risdictional limits, and on the high seas.

The friendly disposition of the governments from whese agents they have proceeded, as well as their wisdom and regard for justice, leave us in reasonable expectation, that they will be rectified and prevented in future; and that no act will be countenanced by them which threatens to disturb our friendly intercourse. Separated by a wide ccean from the nations of Europe, and from the political interests which entangle them together, with ro ductions and wants which render our commerce and friendship useful to them, and theirs to us, it cannot be the interest of any to assail us, nor ours to disturb them. We should be most unwise indeed were we to cast away the singular blessings of the position in which nature has placed us, the opportunity she has endowed us with of pursuing, at a distance from foreign contentions, the paths of industry, peace, and happiness, of cultivating general friendship, and of bringing collisions of interest to the umpirage of reason, rather than of force. How desirable then must it be, in a government like ours, to see its citizens adopt individually the views, the interests, an i the conduct which their country should pursue, divesting themselves of those passions ard partialities, which tend to lessen useful friendships, and to embarrass and embroil us in the calamitous scenes of Europe. Confident, fellow citizens, that you will duly estimate the importance of neutral dispositions towards the observance of neutral conduct, that you will be sensible how much it is our duty to look on the bloody Arena spread before us, with commiseration indeed, but with no other wish than to see it closed, I am persuaded you will cordially cherish these dispositions, in all discussions a mong yourselves, and in all communications with your constituents. And I anticipate with satisfaction the measures of wisdom, which the great interests now committed to you, will give you an opportunity of providing and myself that of approving, and of carrying into execution, with the fidelity owe to my country.

OCTOBER 17, 1803.

THO: JEFFERSON