National Gazette

For the NATIONAL GAZETTE.

As a friend to mankind, I cannot forbear wishing success to the glorious cause in which the French are now engaged; as a lover of my country I desire her to adopt such measures as may be most conducive to the general welfare; and as a citizen of the United States, I conceive it to be my duty to investigate the principles upon which those have acted, into whose hands power has been intrusted, as well as to remark on such conduct as I may deem arbitrary, tyrannical, or inconsistent with those republican principles which should form the basis of our government, or an usurpation of more power than they are legally possessed of, or have a right to exercise. The period, I trust, is not far distant, when we shall be able with accuracy to discriminate between those who are the real friends and enemies of the nation. A spirit of enquiry seems to have animated our citizens, which cannot fail of being productive of the most beneficial consequences to the community. The intriguing machinations of emissaries, and designing plots of internal enemies, many patriotic and well intentioned writers are endeavouring to expose, and I hope we shall soon plainly discover the inimical dispositions and hostile intentions, now rankling in the bosom of the enemies to freedom. To every one who feels himself interested in the cause of his country, it must be productive of the greatest uneasiness to see some who have hazarded their lives, and sacrificed their property in the cause of liberty, now become the dupes of designing men, and labouring to establish those very doctrines which they formerly disclaimed as repugnant to reason. It is equally lamentable that certain measures should be pursued by our government, which by many honest citizens are thought to lead to a violation of solemn treaties, to infringe the unalienable rights of freemen, and perhaps ultimately to involve us in a war, unjust as to its inducement, and unnatural as to its object.

The President's late proclamation has been the object of much animadversion, and censure from some quarters. Not to bring into question the policy or legality of the measure, the ambiguity of its language has been a stumbling block with many. If a strict compliance with treaties was intended, nothing would have been easier than to have adopted such expressions as would have satisfied every mind, and not misled the judgments of such weak individuals as now suppose that those compacts which formerly united France and America, no longer exist. The want of explanation on this subject has induced many to put a construction upon the proclamation, wholly irreconcilable with the well known character of him who issued it.

The imprisonment of two Americans, who generously abandoned their country to combat the enemies of liberty under the tri-coloured flag of France, is an instance of outrage, which, I hope, will forever remain unparalleled in the annals of freedom. The right of emigration is one of the most invaluable which a freeman can enjoy. It is not delivered up into the hands of the community. It is one which, so far from being infringed, should be protected by the government. The very idea of detention, when no criminality demands a surrender to justice, is totally incompatible with the name of liberty.

When therefore citizens Singleterry and Fenner chose to abandon their native country, and engage in the contest on the part of France, on board of a vessel belonging to the French, commanded by a Frenchman, and acting under a French commission, was not the seizure of their persons an act of tyranny, an over-stretch of power, as unwarranted by the principles of liberty, the rights of freemen, and the laws of nations, as it was contrary to a solemn treaty, and disgraceful to a free people?

The detention of the prizes belonging to the French republic, has received too much discussion in the public papers, to admit of any animadversions, upon the present occasion. A mysterious darkness, an assuming conduct, intrigue and chicane have marked in indelible characters the whole of the proceedings relative to that affair, as well as the intended stoppage of the Little Democrat. The principles upon which the prizes were held in custody, and the calling out the militia for that purpose, were mysteries known only within the veil of the cabinet. Far be it from me to insinuate that every official act of the President should be communicated to the public immediately upon its execution: but in an affair of such magnitude as the one under consideration, on which the opinions of the citizens are so much divided, which may possibly plunge the country into a war, in which the militia force was brought forward to take possession of French property, the citizens should certainly have been made acquainted with the principles that led to a pursuance of such a measure.

When public force was necessary to be called out, was it consistent with the character of freemen to fight when they knew not for what they were contending. Yet this would have been the case had the French attempted to rescue their property from the captors, whilst invested by the Philadelphia militia.

Arbitrary measures, intriguing conduct, and dark policy are totally inconsistent with the generous sentiments and unassuming manners that should characterize a republic. It is time to enquire into the origin of those abuses, and when found, instantly to apply a remedy, or the ruin of the United States is inevitable. Since the re-establishment of peace, our country has made rapid strides towards aristocracy. It is high time to arrest her progress, lest at a future period it may be impossible to stop her career, without another effusion of blood.

Wherever may be its source, we are certain of its pernicious consequences. It has already induced us to bear with tame pusillanimity the insults and injuries of that tyrannical power which we formerly resisted, from whence it has been conjectured that too many among us still fear and honour their ancient master. It is apprehended too by many that the measures which have been pursued in conformity to this principle may probably plunge us into a war on the side of despotism; but notwithstanding every step which may be taken to prevent their designs, numbers are still ready to recognize the plighted faith of freemen, with the same energy that marked their opposition to tyrannical usurpation. There are thousands of honest citizens in the Union, who are ready to accomplish their part in the fulfilment of treaties; in defence of the cause of universal freedom; and should their nation ultimately show itself determined to pursue a conduct inimical to the rights of man, they are ready to adopt the maxim of the immortal Franklin—where Liberty is, there is my country.

ALCANOR.