Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

From the New England Republican.

The following remarks were forwarded to us for publication, previous to the last election in this state, but came to hand too late to be inserted in our paper at that time. It is however believed, that they will not now be out of season, and that the candour and truth which they display, will gain them attention. At a time when such unwearied exertions are made to mislead the freemen of this state, let them pause and think upon these things.

To the honest and independent freemen of Connecticut.

It is often said, by those who are for revolutionizing our state, in justification of their conduct, that those who fill our publick offices are opposed to the administration of the general government. Before you join in the project, I ask you to hesitate a moment. and attend to a few facts ; facts which the writer of this address pledges himself are strictly true. I shall barely state them, and leave you to draw the inference, without any comments of my own. I hold it for certain, that the people of this enlightened state, when they know the facts, will reason upon them more soundly than I or any other can for them ; they will then judge and act correctly, for the best of reasons, because they could have no reason to act otherwise.

It is a fact, that Alexander Wolcott and Abraham Bishop (the fomentors of all the troubles and evils arising from the party spirit which has for several years past set at variance neighbours and friends, and destroyed social intercourse) each, as a reward for his past and present exertions, is enjoying an office bestowed upon him by Mr. Jefferson worth between 3 and 4000 dollars per year. Will you not at least suspect the purity of the motives of such men?

It is a fact that these men, and the other democrats, from Maine to Georgia. before Mr.Jefferson's accession to office. exclaimed about the exorbitancy of salaries, and the enormous expenses attending the support of civil government, and promised they would "correct the procedure." Have they fulfilled their promises? Have the men now in power reduced or curtailed one or the other ? Has more economy been practised ? Does not Mr Jefferson receive his 25.000 dollars per year? Has not every article of ordinary expense, for four years past, exceeded any four years during the Federal administration ? (for as to extraordinary causes of expense, it is not fair to bring them into the comparison on either side.)

The following statement, from printed official documents. will answer these questions as to one important item-I mean the salaries of our publick officers, and the other expenses attending the support of civil government. My limits will not permit me to extend the statement further.

During the four last years of the Federal Administration, the expenses of Civil Government were,

In the year 1797, dols. 483,233. 70

Ditto, 1798, 504 605. 17

Ditto, . 1799, 592,905. 76

Ditto, 1800, 569,940. 67

2,150,685. 30

During the four first years of Mr. Jefferson's administration, the expenses of Civil Government were,

In the year 1801, dols. 596,981. 11

Ditto, 1802, 564.235. 00

Ditto, 1803, 526,583. 12

Ditto 1804, 587,034. 60

2,274,833. 83

I mean merely by the above statement to show, that the former administration does not suffer in the comparison with the latter, and that the promises which were made to the people, were not, and perhaps could not be fulfilled. I presume to assert, that the latter have not practised more economy than the former.

It is a fact that the present administration have repealed the internal taxes upon whiskey, &c. &c. which obliged the southern. people to contribute in some measure towards the publick burdens. They thereby have attempted to render themselves popular, by declaring that tax to be unnecessary. But very soon after that repeal, they laid an additional duty.of 2 1-2 per cent. on all ad valorein goods imported, which raised about the same sum which was before raised by internal taxes. This last additional duty was laid professedly to enable the government to carry on the war with Tripoli, & to cease when peace should be made with that power. We are now at peace with Tripoli. A resolution was introduced into the House of Representatives, and carried, the last session to renew it.

It is a fact, that the present administration have paid 15 millions of our money for Louisiana--a purchase of no service to this country in general, except so far as it respects the right to navigate the Mississippi, and the right of deposit at New-Orleans; which were ours before, by treaty with Spain; a wilderness undefined in its extent-the terms of purchase vague and unsettled at the time of the bargain -a country which will hereafter prove a curse instead of blessing to the northern States !

It is a fact, that this purchase, which has been so much extolled by the Democrats, and which they said included West Florida, has already become the cause of a most serious dispute with Spain, or rather France who has the management of it for Spain; and does not entitle us to one inch of ground in West Florida, or east of New-Orleans. This is now agreed to by all of both parties who understood the subject ; this quarrel was the subject of three weeks debate in conclave, the last session of Congress. What was done, was for a while a secret, yea, a Republican secret. It is however, stated and believed, that additional millions are to be paid for it ; which statement has been repeatedly made ; and there has never appeared any contradiction or doubt about the truth of the statement in any of the democratick papers.

It is also a fact, that the Louisiana purchase has turned out precisely as the Federalists always predicted ; that it did not extend east of New-Orleans, and that it would be the source of future difficulties. It is true that the federalists never. thought Mr. Jefferson was a proper character to be President of the United States ;, that in trying times, such as the present, his inability and insufficiency would appear. It is a fact, that several of his former ardent and now professing friends agree, that he is not equal to the task of proposing and pursuing measures adapted to the present perilous crisis. . It is also a fact, that one of his former and most zealous political adherents, one of the most respectable and distinguished of the democratic party (I mean Mr. John Randolph) came forward the last session, and publickly, upon the floor of Congress, denounced him and the present administration. This gentleman has no
only confirmed what the federalists have uniformly said, but has gone much further than they ever have, in exposing the weakness and rottenness of the whole system of policy of the administration : He has declared before the American people, that the present men in power are leading you to your political ruin : He has. accused the President of, recommending measures in his public messages, and afterwards contradicting them, by signifying in a private manner, his private wishes, to his devoted friends in the house- calling these devoted friends interpreters of Presidential messages : he has publicly in Congress declared, that the republican party have deserted the principles they professed, when they came into power ; that patriots while in opposition, they have become courtiers in power; that they have become servile, and sycophants for office. He has charged the President with keeping back despatches and communications from our ministers abroad, for nearly a month, which, if they had been forwarded to the House, when our affairs with Spain were under consideration, would have produced a different decision : that several members had informed him, that, if they had known, of these. dispatches, they should have given a different vote. He has also publicly in Congress, accused the administration of not calling to account foreign, dishonest and unfaithful agents, either because they were too powerful, or were supposed to be too powerful, to be brought to account. These and many other charges which I cannot now mention, have in public debate been made by Mr. Randolph, against the present administration. What I have mentioned is not hearsay, or vague report-I pledge myself it is true.

What then, fellow citizens, will you say to these things, when a former distinguished friend, whom the democratic party have so highly adored, and extolled as an honest and independent man, comes forward, and not only confirms what.Federalists have so ,often asserted ; but. he goes much further than they have ever done, in exposing the incapacity of Mr. Jefferson and his administration ?-Will the Democrats in this State now say, that what Federalists have asserted-are calumnies?

These are facts--I leave you candidly to draw your conclusions-I leave you to say what and how, as-honest citizens, as friends to yourselves and your country, you ought to think and to act, in the present crisis.

A FELLOW CITIZEN.