Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

The apologists for the unprovoked aggressions of the French government, both in and out of Congress, have repelled the charge of French influence in this country, by loudly calling for proofs. If the existence of the facts was to be tested by the kind of evidence required in our courts of law, it might be difficult to substantiate the charge; but as the world has not yet become so incredulous as to reject presumptive evidence however strong, I trust it will be easy to show, that these modern apologists, have for once reckoned without their host.

To effect my purpose, it is essential in the first place, that the numerous acts of injustice on the part of France towards this country, should be faithfully and impartially brought into view—they are as follow.

She has endeavored by appealing to our passions to obtain our alliance in promoting her plans of aggrandizement—she has armed our citizens against nations with whom we were at peace—she has erected tribunals within our territory to decide on causes only cognizable by our courts—she has repeatedly violated our neutrality—she has refused to pay for supplies furnished by our merchants in pursuance of solemn contracts made with her agents—she has converted her West-India islands into asylums for pirates, more to be dreaded than the Barbary rovers—she has endangered the very existence of the southern states, by arming the slaves in those islands against their masters—she has let loose those slaves now become robbers, on our helpless commerce—she has attempted to influence our elections and separate the people from their government—she has by her ministers insulted and calumniated the constituted authorities of the United States—she has permitted the ships or vessels belonging to certain characters who prefer her interest to the interest of their own country, to pass unmolested—whilst the property of persons of a contrary description has been captured and condemned without the formality of a trial—she has imprisoned our seamen, and subjected them to the pains of death for acts over which they could have no control.—she has left no means untried short of force, to induce other nations to accede to her system of directing us—she has evinced her hostile disposition to this country by resorting to unfounded and ridiculous complaints—and that the measure of her injustice might be full to the brim, she has dismissed our worthy minister with every possible mark of indignity, and declared that she will receive none until the United States have redressed their grievances!

Reader! if you are no British Debtor; if you enjoy no pension under the French government;—if your vessels sail without certificates of your submission to French mandates;—if you are not interested in the immoral contracts for supplying their islands with provisions and receiving the stolen property of your injured fellow citizens in payment;—if you are no fugitive from justice;—if you are neither bankrupt in fame or in fortune;—if you have never cheated your creditors by fraudulent conveyances;—if you have never willingly overdrawn your bankers or correspondents; if you have never embezzled the public monies;—but, if on the contrary, you are just and an American by birth and in sentiment, tell me, if the conduct of those persons who are daily palliating, or justifying the long catalogue of insults as before recited, does not produce full conviction in your mind; that they act under FRENCH INFLUENCE. You will say perhaps that you are unacquainted with such monsters, because you do not associate with the enemies of your country, and that your avocations prevent you from attending to the debates in Congress—if so, permit me to call your attention to the following extract from a lengthy and turgid libel on the judiciary of the United States published in Mr. Bache's paper of the 5th instant, and signed SAM. I. CABELL, in which, speaking of the French nation he says—“I look with a friendly eye on their faults, but I admire their heroic and military prowess—till if that nation or any other on earth shall invade the independence and freedom of my country, I shall view the attempt as an independent American.”

Reader! mark well the candor and patriotism of this consistent and patriotic American, the unjustifiable and wicked conduct of the French towards our nation is by him toned down to mere faults—which faults he regards with a friendly eye although they are direct attacks upon our dearest rights. But lest you might under a wrong impression, be led to suppose, that there is but one man in the United States, who regards the wrongs done to his country with indifference or rather satisfaction—I recommend to your perusal, the speeches of those members of Congress, who in order to sacrifice at the shrine of the Directory, the claims of their plundered fellow citizens to compensation, attempted to get rid of Mr. Kittera's proposition by means of the previous question.

JUSTICE