The New Hampshire Gazette

From CHARLESTON, (S. C.)

At a Meeting of a number of Citizens of South-Carolina, held in Charleston, at Citizen Harris's Hotel, on Tuesday, the 11th of March, 1794.

A committee was appointed to adopt some mode to shew the public disapprobation of the political conduct of William Smith, and other members of the present congress of the United States of America: and having taken under their consideration, the debates of congress in a committee of the whole House of Representatives, on citizen Madison's proposed resolutions, were unanimously and decidedly of opinion, that the most pointed marks of the disapprobation of the citizens of this state should be given, respecting the conduct of the said William Smith and those of his INFERNAL JUNTO, in daring to speak with so much confidence a language diametrically opposite to the sentiments of their constituents.

The committee therefore, under a full conviction that the public at large feel themselves equally aggrieved by the unparalleled audacity of such representatives, do resolve that on Saturday, the 15th instant, at 6 o'clock in the morning, a stage shall be erected before Pitt's Statue, in Broad street, on which shall be paraded the following figures, viz.

In front, a WOMAN, representing the GENIUS OF BRITAIN, inviting the above described representatives to participate with her, the fruits of her prostitutions. Next on the stage of Corruption, appears WILLIAM SMITH, advancing with eager steps towards her, his right hand outstretched ready to receive her favors, his left hand holding a paper on which is written, in large characters, SIX PER CENTS, and on his breast, 40,000l. in the FUNDS. On the right of W. S. appears BENEDICT ARNOLD, holding in his right hand bank checks, under the signature of Henry Clinton, to the amount of 10,000 guineas. On his left FISHER AMES, with SIX PER CENTS also in his hands, and on his breast, in large characters, 100,000l. IN THE FUNDS. The rear is brought up by the DEVIL and young PITT, who are goading them forward. At a small distance from the stage are to be planted two flag staffs, having the French National Colours on the one, and those of America on the other, both entwined and surmounted each with the Cap of Liberty: underneath, and between the two, the British Colours reversed. In front of the stage a gallows is to be erected; under which, after the public curiosity shall be sufficiently gratified, this congenial group is to be burnt, or otherwise destroyed.

The last sentence is supposed to be given by the Genius of America, as a punishment which an injured country inflicts on those who betray her. The confessions of the condemned follow:

ARNOLD.

My crimes have once more raised my execrable carcase to the gallows. although I never equalled either of you in villainy.

AMES.

From the day on which I first commenced horse jockey, my Ames have been villainy. The cries of the wretched soldier, the widow, and the orphan, whom I have cheated, overwhelm me with despair: I must be eternally damned.

SMITH.

My sentence is just; the love of gold, a foreign education, and foreign connections damn me. Alas! why did I deal in scrip, or why dispatch pilot boats.

PITT.

Our schemes are blasted: Toulon alone would damn me. The letting loose the Algerines on the Americans, and a thousand other crimes, combine to consign me to infamy.

DEVIL.

Why my sons, ye have all acted as I could wish; it is now too late to repent, prepare to receive your rewards.

IN consequence of the resolves of the people on the 11th the morning of the 15th discovered a stage before Harris's Hotel (where a large entertainment was to take place, in the course of the day, upon the French successes) on which were several effigies. It being thought inconvenient that the stage should remain in that situation, it was removed from before Harris's door to the front of the Exchange, to the great mirth and entertainment of the boys, who would not quit the field until a total demolition of the figures took place.

At 3 o'clock, P. M. that scene ended; though, not before the boys had taken down the breeches of the effigy of the representatives of this state, and gave him repeated castigations, not to shew their love, but their hatred. *

P. S. All the before mentioned labels were properly affixed to the different figures; but most of them were obliterated by the heavy rain which fell on the morning of the 15th, before the citizens in general had an opportunity of seeing them.

On the evening of the same day, a very large body of citizens assembled before Harris's Hotel, where the British colours were displayed, union downwards. In order to shew, more pointedly, the hate they entertained of the piratical conduct of Great-Britain. the colours of that nation were carried to the scaffold which was already erected for the execution of the above mentioned group; and after being conducted back to Harris's they were publicly burnt, amidst the loud acclamations of an injured people: It is somewhat remarkable, that it was found necessary to dip them in oil and French brandy, before they could be made to burn.

* Alluding to a lesson in Rudiman's Rudiments— Castigo te non quod odio habem, sed quod Amem.