Republican herald. [volume], April 22, 1843, Image 4

About Republican herald. [volume] (Providence [R.I.]) 1832-1852

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.
Providence.
T R RSP sSST S T '-'-""'-""“':.‘
OJ° The following is a Review, written by
Tuomas W. Dong, of an Oration pronounced
by Jous Wwirrrr, July 4, 1838, It was pub
lished originally in the Herald July 14, I=3.
FOURTH OF JULY ORATION,
. BY JONN WHIPPLE.
In our paper of Saturday last, we offered a
few remarks upon the oration delivered by
Johu Whipple Esq., on the 4th instant, and
we now return to the subject with the hope
of doing more ample justice to the perform
ance of that gentleman, than our limits then
permitted. lln so doing we shall make use of
the sketch which has been furnished to the
public by the Providence Courier.
The J'i'flicnlty of preparing for the celebra
tion of the 4th, whicrx arises from the frequent
repetition of the topics peculiar to the ocea
sion, while it presents discouraging embarrass
ments to the unpracticed writer, way yet be
converted into ene of the means of success by
a mind confident in its strength and resources.
Expectation is not raised by the hope of nov
elty ; but on the other hand the judicions ex
hibition and felicitous illustration of acknowl
edged truths, by one who is warmed with the
love of his country, and zealous for the pros
perity and permanence of its iustitutions, will
always command the attention of an auditory,
composed of patriotic Americans, asscinbled
to honor the birth day of their national inde- |
pendence. It is the misfortune of the orator,
on whom we shall now hestow a few moments
of our atteution, to doubt some of these ac
koowledged truths, and it may be to incline
toward a form of government more vigorous
in its character than that under which we live.
While therefore we may expect from him an
able political dissertation, we must not be dis
appointed at the absence of sentiments appro- l
priate to the day aod to the place, and dear to |
the hearts of a people who glory in the forms ‘
and the liberties of a republic. Mv. Whipple
does not believe that the American republie 1
will last ; it is not surprising, therefore, that |
he should place an inferior estimate upon
some of those men who have been most in- |
strumental in raising it, and in impiessing up- '
on its institutions the demoecratic character |
which they now sustain. No one, therefore, |
will be astonished on being informed, that Mr, |
Whipple excluded from the list of our great- ‘
est public benefactors recited Ly hLim, the |
name of Tuomas Jerrersos, the venerable |
author of the Declaration of Ameviean Inde- |
ndence, one of the guiding spirits of the |
Kevolmion, and the father of Awmerican de- |
mocracy. On a day conseerated to the mem- |
ory of that immortal Declaration, one might ]5
have supposed that party feeling would have |
been so far forgotten as to permit the chosen
organ of the public sentiment, if not to honor |
the principles, at least to repeat the name of |
Jerrersox. But it was suppressed. 1
Passing over an omission which must have J
seemed as inexcusable as it was painful to the |
survivors of the revolution who were present,
we may add that, takiog into cousideration !
the opinions of the orater, with regard to our |
republican system, there was as little reason
to be astonished that he should have under
valued the labors and services of the Revolu- |
tionary Fathers in geueral. If our Republic |
must {ull, and its place be recorded among
the ruins of States and Empires, after so brief
a term of existence, this fact will be cited as
a proof that the work of those who contended
for our liberties in the field of battle, and se
cured them by the wisdom of their subse
quent deliberations, was ill planned and exe
cuted ; and that after all, these men have
been overrated, and are not entitled to the
share of reverence and gratitude, which has
hitherto been so freely accorded to them by
their countrymen. It the fate of our Repub
lic be sealed, and the orator is the true proph
et, inspired, as he pretends, widh the visions
of evils that are to come, it may still be a
question whether the remnant of our gallant
armies should not be spared the pain of lis
tening to the revelation of a truth so afilict
ing—and on a day, net of despair, but of hope
and rejoicing, set apart to patriotic recollee
tions and emotions. and designed to revive
and strengthen the resolution to maintain and
defend the institutions which have been trans
mitted from our venerated ancestors, and to |
hand them down unimpaired and reinvigorated
to Our successors.
The orator commenced his discourse (sin
-su|arly enough when we consider the general
esign of the performance) with refuting the
rrevalent opinion, as to the duration of repub
ics in former times. He first stated that the
~ well informed and intelligent in Europe were
almost unanimous in arriving at the conclu
sion that the present form of government in
this country could not be permanent; and
that a large and increasing portion of our own
wealthy and sensible men concurred with
them. The orator did not distinetly state
that such a resnlt was more feared than de
sired by those whom he took the liberty of
representing on this occasion: but so far as
their expectation was founded on the experi
ence of former times, he proceeded to show
that it was not justified by a historical exami
nation. Dy a reference to history the orator
had ascertained that the duration of four of
the most famous of the ancleat repudblies, in
cluding those of Athens and Rome, gave an
average of 550 years for each; while the av
erage for seven of the great monarchies, was
555 years only. The Republic of Switzer
land has existed 530 years, and is likely to
continue for as many more. Aud the repub- »
lics to which he had referred, when the day
of their doom arrived, did not perish by ¢ re
publican diseases,” peculiar to that kind of
a)'vermnent. but by external frand and force.
e have made no examination of historical
works for the purpose of verifying these state
ments of the orator ; but if he is uo more cor
rect in this than he is in another, to which
we shall advert presently, the result of his re
search, favorable as it is to those who do not
despair of American liberty, may not be with
out a shade of doubt.
So far there is nothing to discourage the
most zealous patriot. If the Republies of
Athens and Rome, (such republics, with all
their defects) lasted so loug a time, why
should an American begin to despair, at the
end of 62 years from the date of the Declara
tion of lnc{;pendence.
There are some prelimivary reflections of
the orator, which must be briefly cousidered
before we apfimach. in their order, the grand
difficulties which he found himself obliged to
encounter. His attempt to undervalue the |
labors of our revolutionary soldiers and patri- |
ots, has already been alluded to. *Tle rev- |
olutionary wars of Switzerland and Holland, |
which ended in establishiog the freedom of |
these countries, were longer,” said My. Whip- |
ple, * were conducted with as distinct an as- |
sertion of great prineciples, and with more suf
* fering and greater trials of courage than our |
own war of Independence. It was not, there
fore, a ground of reliance, to assume that our ]
people were brave, and were warmmed with a |
greater love of liberty than the men of other ‘
ages and countries.” Without stopping to
vindicate the soldiers of the Revolution, or to
show I:[v a recurrence to our history, that the !
fortitude, bravery, and daring dicplayed in that
struggle (by women ts well as umn)' have nev- |
er been surpassed in any age or conntry, we
totally d.:l the assertion of the orator, that
the wars of Switzerland and Holland begy any
comparison with our own revolutionary strug
&- it regards the principles contended for.
wars first mentioned were wars of deliv
erance from the domination of erue) and bloody
tyrants, and designed to secure the rights of
person and r’eny. rather than those higher
rights, whic hb%.to the définition of re
publicim liberty. Swiss and Dutch were
wot contending for equal rights, as we under
otand them, under a commonwcalth, but for
‘their hearths and firesides, and for their reli
gion. All these rights were enjoyed by our
fathers, when the tax on tea, the doctrine of
* taxation without representation,” which,
while it imposed no actual hardship, yet went
to establish a precedent for future usurpa
tions,~drove them to arms. They severed
their connection with the mother country, and
trivmphed in the contest ; and the result has
been the establishment of our rights, not only
civil (the right of person and property) but
political (those which relate to the participa
tion®y the citizens in the making and admin
istration of the laws) upon a basis of equality
unknown to any government of ancient or
modern times, If our lunits permitted, this
topic might be profitably pursued at greater
length ; but we must pass to another.
Not only, says the orator, were no higher
principles involved in our revolutionary strug
gle than those which had distinguished the
wars of other countries; but there was no
new element of preservaton in the govern
ment which our fathers erected. Mr. W.
said that our constitution contained in it no
new principle, nor any thing that was not
known to the ancients and practiced under
their systems! "The hardihood of an asser
tion like this, made to depreciate the consti
tution, might seem strange to those who do
not reflect upon the servile deference with
which every thing that comes from the high
bench of the federal party is received for un
questionable truth. l'pun an assertion, which
is refuted, not only in the works of all the wri
ters who have commented at large upon the
theory of our government, but even in the
horn=books of the schools, it cannot be. neces
sary to devote more than a few moments’ at
tention. The three great molern improve
ments in the republican system of govern
ment are
1. The substitution, to a great extent, of
the action of responsible representatives, pro
ceeding with well defined powers, for the more
twmultuary action of the people assembled in
MAasses,
2. T'he careful and exact definition and se
curity of the rights of the citizen, and the pre
cise demarcation of the powers and duties of
the ditferent departments of government, leg
islative, judicial and executive, by a written
constitution.
3. I'he investment of a National Govern
‘ment, in a union of separvate States, with full
power to execute its laws within the limits of
those States, and upon the individual citizens,
to the whole extent of its jurisdiction.
~ These three great improvements in the the
ory and practice of republican government,
which constitute so marked a distinetion be
tween our own national republic and any oth
er, ancient or modern, which ever existed, are
at this late day to be disallowed and denied §
and the honor of detecting their non-existence
isvery properly reserved to an orator in a State
that has no constitution! With regard to the
two firstimprovements we need not say a word,
The third has always been regarded as among
the greatest modern discoveries in political
scicnee, bearing the same rank that the New
tonian Theory occupies in physical science,
And when we heard it discarded by the Orator
of the 4th, we conld not but recur to an equal
ly potent and sagacious attack on the theory
of gravitation, recently made in our General
Assembly, by the Philosopher of Johnston '—
Both of these philosophers will be remember
ed, when Newton and the authors of the A
merican constitution are forgotten !
The following passages were intended as a
note to be appended to the preceding portion
of our remarks ; and the attention of our rea
ders is asked to them before we proceed to
review the remainder of the oration. As Mr.
Whipple belongs to the legal profession, he
will no doubt regard with deference so high
an authority as that of (Yancellor Kent, an
eminent lawyer and distinguished federalist of
the old school.
“In imitation of @l the former confederacies
ol independent States, either in Ancient Greece or
i modern Ewrope, the Articles of Confederation
carried the decrees of the federal council to the
States in their sovereign or collective capacity,—
T'his was the great fundamental defect in the con
federation of 17515 it led 1o its eventual over
throw ; and it has proved pernicions or destrue
tive to all other federal governments which adopt
ed the principle.” Keut's comments, p. 19,
“The former Confederation of this country
was defective also in net giving complete author
ity to Congress to interfere in contests between
the several States, and to prevent each State from
internal violence and rebellion.” p. 202,
“The great and incurable defect of all _former
federal governments, such as the Amphyetionie,
the Achwon and Lycian Confederacies in Ancient
Greece; and the Germanic, the Helvetie, the
Hunseatic, and the Dutch Republics, in modern
history, s that they were sovercigntics over sover
cigas, and legislations, ot for pricate individuals,
but for commuuitics in their pofnicul capacity,’ =
p- 203,
We now come to the facts which indicate
to the mind of Mr. Whipple the short lite of
our Republic. The first fact which leads him
to doubt the long continuance of the Ameri
can Republic is the existence of “ Universal
Suffrage” in our States, with the exception
of Rhode Island. Suflrage, Mr. Whipple
said, was limited in the ancieut Republics;
whereas in the American States the danger
ous experiment was made of admitting the
people at large to vote for their rulers. This
was the most adroit portion of the orator's
discourse. T'he words * Universal Sufirage”
have been frequently used by politicians in
this State as the signals of alarin ; the orator
borrowed them at this time not se much to
put his auditors on their guard against an ex
tension of the elective franchise. the question
not being now before the people, as to make
palatable, under disguise, his favorite doc
trine, that in a well ordered State the many
should be governed by the few. This was
the doctrine of the tories who opposed the
Revolution, and of the high federal party,
who still maintain it under the other titles
‘which they have sinee successively worn ; and
it seems now again to be warmed into life by
the sunshine of an ephemeral prosperity, to
be driven back again to its old retreats by the
triumphs of the democracy of the country at
the election of the coming autumn.
Butlet us see for a moment how Mr. Whip
ple’s fucts will bear examinntion, and whether
he is more accurate here than he was in say
ing that there was nothing new in the Ameri
can Constitution. When universal sulirage
is spoken of] it of course cannot be meant that
cvery male citizen of full age, votes ; (or this,
‘asall know, is not the case in any State, there
being various disqualifications. "By universal
‘or free sullrage in this country is generally
understood the right of voting without owning
prbperty either real or personal, and without
paying a tax. In this sense the orator is un
derstood to have used the word. He spoke
“in another part of his oration, of demagogues,
'who stirred up the multitude against those
who have a stake in the country, from whom
he could not have excluded tax payers. Tak
ing then the ordinary definition of universal
suffrage, we find that Mr. Whipple, in saying
that the ancient republics excluded it, and
that our our own States have established it,
4 has laid down a proposition almost the reverse
of the truth ; inasmuch as universal suflrage
did exist in the said ancient republics, and
does mot exist in more than half of our own.’
~As it regards the constitutions of the two new
| States lately admitted, we are not informed
what are the provisions which regulate the
Cright of suffrage. Of the other twenty four
States we are able to speak definitely. In
cleven of these States citizenship and a cer
tain residence are all that is requisite to con
stitute a voter, In one othe:fl.!!gme the pay
ment of a tax, or a year's performance of mil
itary duty and a good moral character are re
(quired : Tn another an enrolment in the mili-
Ua, or the payment of a tax is suflicient. In
(ten of the remaining States, property of some
Kind, or the payment of a tar is necessary to
constitute a voter : In the eleventh the assess-
ment alone of the tax is a qualification, and
laboring on the roads is a substitute, We
thus see what reliance can be placed upon the
assertion that universal suflrage exists in all
the States but Rhode Island. The other as
sertion respecting the ancient republics is
equally unfortunate. There were three clas
ses of population in those States ; the native
citizen, persons not natives, and not entitled
to the freedom of the cities, and thirdly the
islawcs. In Athens, for instance, the persons
| not native born and the slaves greatly outnum
| bered the native citizens; but the great body
Lof the latter voted in their respective tribes,
cand the suffrage was as extensive as it is at
this day in the State of New York. The fact
that a great jealousy existed against foreign
i ers, and that they and the slaves together con-
Cstituted a majority of the population, does not
sustain the statement of the orator. In South
Carolina, where the slaves exceed in number
the free people, universal suflrage does not
less exist because the right of voting is con
fined to the whites, simple residence being all
that is required to confer on them the privilege
of electors. And universal suflirge did not
the less exist in Athens because the natives
were a minority, the great body of them being
voters. So also at Rome, the mass of the na
tive inhabitanes of the city were voters. "Bhe
conferring of the freedom of the city on per
sons not natives, was regarded as a great priv
ilege, was much coveted, and very cautiously
granted, till at length Roman citizenship was
extended by a decree of one of the emperors,
to all the people of the empire. It thus ap
pears that only about hall’ of the Awmerican
States have follmwed the example of Athens
and Rome. Of the four largest States in our
Union, New York alone permits her citizens
to vote upon mere residence ; Pennsylvania
requires the payment of taxes; Virginia ad
mits to the polls freeholders, leaseholders and
tax paying housekeepers and heads of families
only ; Ohio requires that the person claiming
to vote be assessed to pay taxes, or labor on
the roads. "T'o this should be added, that the
free suflrage States are agricultural States, in
which four-fifths of the voters are farmers,
who actually vote upon their land, so that it
is of little importance what their suflrage
qualification way be. Our orator may at
tempt to escape by saying that universal suf
frage does exist in all the States nevertbeless,
iasmuch as from the smallness of the tax, or
of the property, real or personal, required to
make a voter, a great majority of the people
do actually vote. He is thus brought back
to his trae but concealed position, that the
majority ought not to govern the minority,
and that the many should be controlled by the
few 3 to the full benefit of which, in the minds
of all intelligent men, we are willing to leave
him without further comment.
But the great object aimed at in thus drag
ging into his performance the bugbear of uni
versal sulfrage was apparent enough in the
pains taken by the orator to propitiate the
Jarming interest in the State. This gentle
man is of the ultra federal school, and has no
particular elaims upon the fariners, against
whose opinions and interests he has always
voted, as oceasion ocenrred, notwithstanding
the present demonstrations of regard and def
erence. But the tarmers of Rhode Island aré
Jealous of an extension of suffrage ; and My,
W. entertains, it would seem, so low an opin
ion of their good sense as to suppose that a
lusty outery of “free suflvage ! free suffrage !”
will atone for all obliquities of political opin
ion and practice, and bear him safe to the goul
of ambition! Aud here we may as well say,
once for all, to those who are ever ready to
raise the cuckoo ery of * free suflrage,” and
to denounce, as did the orator of the 4th, all
who are in favor of extending the elective
frinchise beyond a real estate qualification, as
knaves or fools, and as the **vermin” of the ‘
land, that they mistake their men, when they
expeet to overcome and bend to their purpo
ses the freemen of this State by such an ap
peal as this. Because our farmers are in fa
vor of retaining a landed qualification, it b
no means follows that they are gratified witfi
the abuse of the democracy abroad, or of their
fellow citizens at home, who entertain a dif
ferent opinion ; and they the more despise the
incense which is thus offered to them, from
having ofien noticed, that the very men who
offer it, are always amazingly delighted with
federal victories obtained in iree suflrage
States, and proclaim, as loudly as they shout
“free sutirage” on other oceasions, that these
victories prove the voters to be the most intel
ligent, virtuous and patriotic people in the
world! (Witness the exultations over the
New York elections last year!) The farmers
of Rhode Island have no jealousy of the me
chanics and working men of the State; and
when these men ask of the farmers to remove
a restriction on suffrage, which prevents them
from exercising the rights of republican free
men, the answer is not, as the aristocratic ora
tor would suggest—=Stand back—=we are better
than yourselves—and are made to govern men
like you, who are but knaves and fools and
vermin, (or as King Henry VIIIL, of England,
said to the people—=** brutes and inexpert folk"")
—Dbut the answer is, (7 that a very large part
of the limited population of Rhode Island is
accumulated in masses, and that the persons
(not mechanics, or working, or professional
men) who have assumed the prerogative of
ruling these inasses have given too much rea
son to believe thatan extension of the electoral
right would be made use of to deprive the far
mers of their just sharve of the politieal power
(such as is exercised by the agricultural com
munity in the free sufirage States) and reduce
them to a state of vassalage to a selfish and
heartless faction. 'We do not intend to stir
the ashes of the * Constitutional Party,” nor
to discuss the question whether the answer of
the *farmers to the mechanics and working
men ought to be satisfactory and conclusive,
We have said thus much in justice to the ag
ricultural body, and to rebuke the attempts
to disconnect them from the democracy of the
other States, knowing their heredictary attach
‘ment to the prineiples of a free government,
“and believing that none can feel mord strong|
than they do, a regret that any practical chj{fi}:
culty of the Kind suggested should prevent the
gratification of the wishes of men whose me
chanical labor and ingenuity contribute so
much to the productions and prosperity of the
State.
[ Concluded in our next.)
By Mail.
I’rom the New Orleaans Picyaunc Gth.
Larer vrom Camreacny.—By the schr.
Octavia, which left Sisal on the 31st ult. we
have dates from the seat of war to the 30th.
The Mexican fleet landed a large body of
troops at Tilshac on the 26th and 27th March,
alter having previously visited Salem, which
place was burnt by the Mexican soldiers. The
first place of action was expected to be Sisal,
off which the Mexican fleet was hourly ex
peeted. A body of Y ucatan troops, number
ing some 4500, had been detailed to meet the
Mexicans.
A brisk action occurred in the neighbor
hood of Campeachy on the 26th of March, in
which the l\lexicmuu sustained considerable
loss. The Campeachanos, after a three hours'
fight, retired in good order without effecting
any thing.
The cannonading continued upon the city
from the Mexican batteries, but little damage
has been done so far.
Deserters from the Mexican camp were con
tinually joining the Yucatecos.
The murderers of John Carrell, at Cincin
nati, have been tried and the following verdict
rendered: ** We the Jury find the defendant
Andrew Walton GUIL'T'Y, as he stands in
dicted, of MURDER IN THE FIRST DE
GREE, and Jack Dewment, alias Jack Brown,
NOT GUILTY."
New-Yonrk, April 14,
LATER FROM FRANCL.
By the arrival of Captain Castoff, with his
packet ship Louis Phillipe, we have a few da‘y
later from France, T'he firm position of the
Irench Ministry, which we announced yester
day in the Engfiuh news, is confimed. This
was considered highly satisfactory to the King,
asensuring harmony inthe action of the Cham
bers, and peaceable relations abroad,
T'he new ""arkish Ambassador, Nafi Eflen
di, arrived at Paris on the Gth.
The anniversary of Washington's birth, 22nd
Feb. was complimented by Mr. Jenifer, our
Minister to Austria, by a magnificent ball at
Vienna, to which the Nobility who usuall
hang around a Royal Court, were all invimd).,
The foreign Ministers, with many of the most
distinguished of the Austrian and Hungarian
nobility of both sexes, honored the day by their
presence. A fine marble bust of Washington
was conspicuously placed, surrounded by flow
ers and evergreens, which attracted much at
tention.
~ Galignani's Messenger, the English paper
of Paris, adds :==*"l"he company consisted of
about 530 of the elice and beauty of Vienna.
The night was gay and animated in the ex
treme, and the danee kept up with spirit until
five in the morning; in which their Highness
es the Princess Metternich and Esterhazy, and
the Princess Clary, occasionally juincd): and
imparted additional interest and animation to
the festivities of the evening. The absence
of Prince Metternich was deeply lamented,
having expressed his own sincere regret, at
not having been able to attend either of the
Court balls during the season.
Thus in Vienwa has Washington's birth
day been celebrated, evinicing that the great
and good men of every age are appreciated by
the intelligent and noble of every country.
The Americin Minister used every exertion
to render the evening agreeable to his distin
guished guests, and has ample cause to be
gratified at his success; and the American
nation shoul 1 be proud to know*ihat the name
of Washington is held in the highest respect
in Europe as well as America. The ball
opened with Washington's march, executed
by Strauss and his band. His Imperial High
ness the Archduke Charles and Princess Met
ternich headed the Polonaise.”
The birth day of Washington was celebra
ted, on the 22d, by the Americans in Rome,
in their usual manner, by a public dinner. A
bout 40 citizens of the United States were
present.
A letter from Naples states that on the 11th
ult. a passage boat, centaining 36 persons,
chiefly inhabitants of Pozzuoli, proceeded
from K'n;)lvs to the Island of Ischia, was sud
denly struck by a violent gust of wind and
went down. All the passengers perished.
From the New York papers of Monday.
FROM EUROPE.
FourterN vavs varer.—By the arrival
of the Packet ship Columbus, Captain Cole,
from Liverpool the 23d ult. we have our files
of Euglish papers to the 224, The (. has
made the remarkable short passage of 22 days.
T'he Overland Mail from India and Chinn ar
rived on the 12th, with late and important in
telhigence from India and China.
In Ireland and Scotland the wheats are look
ing remarkably well, with every prospect of an
abundant havest.
The Acadia arrived out on the 13th, mak
ing the passage in 12 days and 20 hours.
A man named Stevenson, evidently insane,
who said he came to London to remove the
Queen and Sir Robert Peel, had been arrest
ed and examined by the Lord Mayor. He
thought that a woman ought not to hold the
crown, and that if Victoria would not resign
the throne, she ought to be discharged. He
was of course taken care of.
Braham, the singer, was giving concerts at
Liverpool, with hisson Charles.
Arrivar or e CmiNeske Ransom.—l Her
Majesty’s ship Blonde, Capt. Sir T, Bouchier,
arrived at Portsmouth on Friday last from
China, having on board Sycee silver to the
amount of 3,000,000 of dollars. The Blonde
is the third ship that has brought a freight of
this description. It was packed in 523 cases.
Her Majesty’s ship Herald, having on board
silver to the amount of nearly two millions of
dollars more, is daily expected at Portsmouth
from China, and when this sum is received, it
will complete the first instalment of the ransom,
payable under the late treaty with the Empe
ror of China.
We find nothing new in the French papers,
except some articles in reference to the occu
pation of the island of Otiheite by France, in
virtue of a treaty with Queen Pomare, an offic
ial copy of which had been received.
EarruQuake IIN T West or KNGLAND.
—A smart shock of an earthquake was expe
rienced on the 16th ult. thronghout Lancashire
and along the line of hills which separate that
county from Yorkshire. Furniture was set
in motion, windows rattled, * rumblings" were
heard, and the concussion of the earth is svid
to have been as violent as is that produced by
the “tumblers,” a sort of earthquak-ces com
mon in South America. Two shocks, very
nearly simultaneous, were felt. They took
place between the hour of midnight and one
o'clock, A. M. The vibrations were strong
est at Manchester, where the tremulous mo
tion lasted about ten seconds. Some of the
inhabitants leaped out of their beds under the
impression that their houses were attacked by
thieves. 'T'he shocks at Manchester wgre ac
companied by a noise like the faint sound of
artillery, discharged at a great distance. At
Poulton and Kirkham windows were broken .
The earthquake extended to Cheshire, und
was generally noticed in Wales. It was also
felt throughout the Isle of Man, though sligit
ly=in Cumberland, but not farther north than
Carlisle. It also extended to the Island of
Guernsey.
Moxey Marker.—Great aniffation has
continued in the money market during the
present week, capitalists appearing to be daily
more confident of further advances in gene ral
prices, and of a continuation of the present
tendency of money to more varied investments
as there are numerous favorable circum
stances appearing in the internal position of
the country, and in the intelligence from
abroad. T'he extraordinary prospect of an
abundant and early haevest forms the prirci
pal consideration in favor of the future pros
perity of the country, since the Bank of E ng
land, and the general banking instituions of
the kingdom, are so furnished with supera
bundance of bullion, that in the event of no
reverse of the season, and of a harvest which
will render foreign supplies not requisit®, it is
quite impossible that so much treasure car. be
much longer allowed to be unemployed.
IRELAND.
Duerry, Thursday, March 16.—The repeal
cause appears to be progressing rapidly. Pe
ter Purcell at the late discussion in the corpo
ration, declared that the people of Ireland w ere
not for repeal, inasmuch as they were not fr ce
ly subscribing their money ; and this asserion
having aroused the repealers of Ireland, the
receipts at the Corn Exchange seem to "nave
been more than doubled.
FROM THE EAST.
The overland mail reached London on the
12th of March, bringing intelligence of the
riots at Canton.
A letter from Hong Kong, dated Decer nber
21, says that Sir Henry Pottinger had ap plied
for his recall, and that he had given his opin
ion that very ample powers should be giv en to
the government of Hong Kong, to count eract
the lawlessness of the smugglers. Difficulty
was expected in arranging the commercial reg
ulations under the treaty, from the Chiiiese
being likely to demand a reciprocity of du ties
on their merchandise when imported into P rit
ish territories. Mr. Thom, it is said, is to' be
the British consul at Canton.
Forty three transports arrived at Singapore
~on the Ist of January, having on board the
Sepoys employed in the China expedition.
They were accompanied by the frigates Endy
mion and Dido, K:wiug on board Sir Hugh
‘Gough and his staff, and by three steamers.
' There still remained on l{;e Chinese coast
‘ more than twenty vessels of war and five steam
ers. The land forees consisted of about 6000
(taen, most of them occupying the taken towns.
i A letter from Hong Kong, in the London
Times says that the censure of Sir Henry Pot
tinger (in the correspodence of which we gave
| # synopsis the other day) was well merited by
- the merchants, who in smuggling opium and
Call other kinds of goods at Whampon and Can-
Cton had outraged all former precedents, and
“ereated much distrust in the mind of the Chi
'nese authorities. The letter adds, * The
' whole course of proceedings in the Canton river
l has been and is a disgrace to civilizatiou, It
is admitted that, in direct contravention of the
'plvnipotcntiary's authority, ships have been
' despatched secretly to the new consular ports.”
‘ Akhbar Khan had returned from Kohistan
Cand taken v‘mscssion of Cabool without resis
tance, the Kuzzilbashes all declaring in his fa
vor. Shah Poor, the son and would-be suc
eessor of Shah Sovjah, fled to Jellalabab, on
his way to India. Dost Mahomed was on his
,"wuy from India ta Cabool.
Hayri.—The New York Sun gives the fol
lowing extract from a letter, dated Port Au
Prince, March 21:
President Boyer embarked on board an En
glish man of war for England, on the evening
of the 13th, having previously issued a proc
lamation, resigning all his property on the Is
land, for the benefit of the Republic. It is,
however, said that he has taken a quantity of
specie with him. His principal officers f’luve
also embarked in different vessels in the harbor.
Gien. Inginae, Secretary General, and Gen.
Vietor, Commander of tge Capitol, have gone
to Jamaica. T'he Patriot army, amounting to
the number of ten or twelve l{lous:md. toda{'
entered the city 3 atrinmphal arch was erected,
under which the army passed, and all were
very enthusiastic in favor of the new govern
ment. T'he national motto has been changed
from * Libeirty and ¥quality” to ¢ Liberty or
Death:"” and the national date from the ** For
ticth yearof Independence’ to the ** First year
of the regeneration.” T'he present Govern
ment is administered by a Committee, till a
new Constitution is adopted and a President
and officers are oppointed.- Every thing goes
on quietly at present. Gen. Reviere, of the
Patriot army, declines all honors which the
people desire to bestow, and declares his in
tention to retire, on the nomination of a Presi
dent.
The following is the abdication of Boyer:
Gentleman «f the Council :
I'wenty-five years have elapsed since I was
called upon to fill the post of President, then
made vacant by the death of Petion, the foun
der of the Republic. Since that I have en
deavored to carry out his views, which I had,
of all others, the best opportunity of knowing.
I have endcavored during my administration
to conduct the affairs of Government with a
strict attention to an economical management
of its finances. In proof of my labors on this
subject, there are now one million of dollars
in reserve, besides other funds deposited in
Paris to the eredit of the Government. Re
cent events, which I do not desire to charac
terize, have bronght upon me calamities which
I did not forsee, nor am prepared for. In this
emergency, | deem it due to my dignity and
honor, to make a personal abrogation of the
powers with which I have been clothed. Dur
ing my Presidency, 1 have adopted the policy
of quelling the disorders and divisions that
made Hayti a distracted and feeble Govern
ment. | have lived to see independence of the
nation acknowledged, and its territory united,
and now in voluntarily ostracising myself, 1
give another proof of my desire to remove all
cause of discontent and division. In cormclu
sion, I have only to add that I wish Hayti to
be as happy as 1 strove to render her.
(Signed) BOYER.
HorrisrLe.~The Norwich Courier gives a
brief report of a trial for manslaughter, reveal
ing an act of barbarity almost incredible. The
*prisoners were David Frost and his wife Mary.
It appeared in evidence that the prisoners and
the parents of the child lived in the same ten
ement. That they met in the apartment oc
cupied by Frost, on Saturday evening ; that an
altercation took place between the women;
that Mary the prisoner seized Sarah Gardiner,
tore her clothes, forced her out of door, and
took from her the child, which she retained.
When she forced the mother out of the door,
she told her she would burn up her child. In
one hour the mother returned, forced open
the outside door, went to her own room and
found her child lying in front of the fire, in
the agonies of death. Tt had been placed so
near the coals as to roast it to death. The ju
ry found Mary guilty, and she was sentenced
to 2 years imprisonment in the state prison.
Davaces For SEpucTioN.—A case of some
interest has just been decided in the Circuit
Court now sitting at Newark, New Jersey.
It was a suit brought b{ David Morehouse, a
respectable farmer of Morris County, against
William Kendall, a mechanic of New Provi
dence in Essex County, for the seduction of
his daughter under false pretences. After a
patient trial, during which the defendant’s
estate was estimated at $1,200, the jury re
turned a verdict of $1,500, which will of course
more than take the whole estate, and leave a
balance to be paid by his future earnings.
We are pleased to find that juries are doing
all that the laws will allow to punish the crime
of seduction, but the penalty for the ofience
should affect the person as well as the purse.
Navar.—U. S, ship United States, and sloop
of-war Cyane, were at Mazatlan, February 15.
Sloop Yorktown, sailed on the 14th for Val
paraiso. The sleop-of-war Dale remained on
the coast.
{7 A letter from Mazatlan of Feb. 22, re
ceived in this city, states that the United States
was to sail for Valparaiso on the Monday fol
lowing. Com. Jones was to give a ball and
entertainment on board that night, in honor of
Washingtdn's Birth-day, the preparations for
which were of a splendid character.
United States ships Falmouth and Vincen
nes were at Vera Cruz on the 21st ult. the
former for Pensacola in a few days, and the
destination of the latter unknown.
A~ Hoxest Woman.—A New Orleans pa
per says, that soon after the Treasurer of
Mississippi fled, his wife called onthe Govern
or of the State and delivered $36.000 in gold
and Treasury notes, with a parcel containing
State Bonds. Here isanotherinstance of the
superior honesty of the gentler sex. Doubt
less that wife persuaded the dishonest man,
for the sake of his family's reputation, to leave
his booty. K .
Advices from Mexico o€ the 18th ult. state
that Santa Ana had ordeved the re-captured
Texans to be shot. It was believed however
that he subsequently countermanded the or
der. Dr. Brenham and Archibald Fitzgerald
were killed in the fight with the guard when
the other prisoners esct:]l)ed. Santa Ana as a
personal favor to Gen. Thompson, had releas
ed Judge Hutchinson and I\Jossn. Maverick
and W. E. Jones. He had also ordered the
release of young Crittenden, son of the Hon.
John J. Crittenden, of Kentucky, at the inter
cession of Gen. Thompson.
M. Bardeen—of Providence—hassucceed
ed so well in making cork legs that he can
hardly prevent his neighbors from sawing off
their natural ones for s|e leasure of wearing
his, because the feet attacll)red to the latter are
never afflicted with the gout or corns, and are
just as convenief as those made of flesh, mus
cles, veins, blood, bones, &c.=Boston Post.
Republican fexald.
PRROVIDENCE,
Wednesday, April 19, 1843,
FOR PRESIDENT,
MARTIN VAN BUREN.
[ Subject to the decision of a National Convention.)
Demoeratic State Convention,
A Democratic State Convention will be holden
at the State House in Newport, on the first Tues
day of May, at 6 o’clock ». m., for the purpose of
expressing the opinion of the Democratic party
of this State, as to the time when a National Con
vention for the nomination of candidates for Pre
sident and Vice President, should be holden, and
considering the manner in which delegates from
this State shali be elected, to represent the Dem
ocratic party thereof in said Convention—and al
-50 to transact such other business as may come
before said State Convention.
The respective State Committees in each town
not represented in the General Assembly, are re
quested to call meetings therein, and see that del
egates are duly elected to attend said Conven
tion. A generdl attendance is earnestly enjoin
ed, as matters of the highest moment may be dis
cussed therein.
By order of the State Central Committee :
DEXTER RANDALL, Chairman.
(7" Our article in Saturday’s paper on the
“Flection and its results,” has given rise to much
animadversion in the columns of the Journal and
its ““calf,” and as usnal, is accompanied by the
grossest deception, subterfuge and prevarication.
If that paper will pervert our meaning we cannot
help it. When we said the democracy of the
other States ““ must come to the rescue,” we intend
ed nothing beyond legislative investigation, and
a resolution embodying an opinion upon the
Rhode Island question, in regard to the validity
of the People’s Constitution; and when we ob
served “ Congress must take the lead” in this in
vestigation,we intended nothing more than that the
highest tribunal in the Union, should pronounce
Judgment, whether the advocates of that Consti
tution were right or wrong. "T'hat Congress will
feel it to be its duty to enter upon this investiga
tion, we entertain no doubt. Nay, further, we
shall think our democratic President, John Tyler,
very remiss in his duty, if he does not recommend
it. Millions of free citizens expect it of him.
The above was all that was intended by our
article in Saturday’s paper, and the Journal does
but insult the common sense, of its readers by
placing a different construction upon it. We
said, and pretty near all we did say, was that
*“Congress must pronounce an opinion whether
the principle contended for by those who advo
cated the People’s Constitution in this State, was
in accordance with the doctrines of the Revolu
tion—yea ornay !’ "The idea of force never once
entered our mind-—all we desired was that Con
gress should consider the subject, and pronounce
a solemn opinion—which opinion the people of
Rhode Island would respect and therewith be sat
isfied, whether for or against us.
Should it be asked, what good an ‘“‘epinien”
expressed by Congress, would do, we answer in
the langnage of our article of* Saturday—* That
those who advocated the People’s Constitution,
now rest under the impuiation of having urged
‘“rebellion” aund the “ commission of treason,”
and are branded by every opprobrious ephithet
an Algerine vocabulary ean furnish. Let Con
gress decide whether these imputations are just.
If the people of a sovereign State have no right
to form a Constitation after the manner of the
Peoples’ Constitntion was, let it be so decided.
But if' they have, then will the Friends of Equal
Rights in this State be justified in whyt they have
done—for they have done nothing except what
they thought they had a constitutional right to do.”
Does the Journal suppose that if we were mad
or wicked enough to call in military force from
other States to aid us, that we should have been
such an ass as to have promulgated such an in
tention? No—they know better—they intended
to excite the people by a false arnd malicious fab
rication, withont a shadow of foundation.
All the fire and fury of the Journal and its at
tendant *“ calf,” is calculated for eflect—to keep
up the excitement and delusion, which has already
had a too fatal effect on the minds of the deluded
people. But their returning good sense will
soon correct these abominable frauds practiced
upon them, as in the last Presidential election—
and all will yet be weli. Demoecrats, stand firm !
Our cause is just, and it must prevail.
77" The Bay State Democrat contains an excellent
article in relation to our late election, which we
intend to copy, but which is precluded at present.
The editor speaks of the late visit of Gov. Dorr
to this place, and points out the vile use made of
that circumstance by the Algegines, in circulating
handbills of “ military movements,” &ec., but he
knows not the hundredth part of their falsehood.
Our friend must allow us to know more of this
matter than he. We do not attribute any blame
to Gov. Dorr in this matter, nor was he obnoxious
to any censure—it was the pursuit of his own indi
vidual concerns, that prompted his visit to this
place, without any reference to political affairs—
nor are we disposed to make him a scapegoat,
heaven knows—he has been most villainously
made so by too many of his enemises already.—
His arrival here was maude a pretext, by a most
unprincipled set of men, to work up an excite
went. Handbills of a most infamous character
were circulated in remote parts of the State, re
presening that Gov. Dorr had encamped on See
konk plain, with an army of' 2000 men—that he
was to marchin, break down the government, and
establish the People’s Constitution. All this, with
every bugbear tale which their vile ingenuity
could suggest, was printed in staring eapitals, and
circnlated among men whose minds had already
been poisoned against that most worthy, honorable
and patriotie citizen—and shame to say, it had its
intended effcet, even to a much greater extent
than its vile plotiers had anticipated. This, we
say, was one among the causes of our most unjust
and shameful defeat.
5" We have called upon the Chronicle to give
us an instance of a democratie paper that advo
cates the cause of the Algerine party in this State
=or one that condemns the course of the Demo
cratic party. They have not answered the call.
You wust look sharp, Mr. Chronicle—your Gov
ernor-clect would be mightily pleased, if you
could furnish him an instance of approval of his
conduet ' from a demoeratic source, out of this
State.
FOR THE HERALD.
Will the Journal explain what it meant, in the
Harrison excitement, when it called upon all good
Whigs to “come np to the rescue.” Did it mean
they should come in battle array with arms in
their hands, or in their moral and political strength?
Now, forsooth, because the Herald calls upon its
friends in the same way, this figurative language
means war and bloodshed and all that. Pop!
FOR THE MERALD.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
The right to take human life either by govern
wents or individuals, has been, of late and is now,
undergoing an exawination in the light of chris
tidn truth. In quite a number of the States of
this Union capital punishment has been abolished,
and in others it will be, as soon as the subject can
have a fair and candid examination, or there is no
christianity among the people. Recently the
people of Boston, Mass. and New York eity, have
been called to a eontemplation of the subject. As
the recent session of the Massachusens Legisla
ture, three petitions were presented, all worded
in nearly the sawe language, viz: T'hat their hon
ors would abolish capital punishment, or, if they
deemed it inexpedient, that they would appoint
to the office of Sherifi or hangman, such of the
clergy as had shown themselves most forward i
favor of judicial murder.
On the first of these petitions, leave was given
to withdraw, but the others were referred to a
select eomusittee, whe presented a long report,
which elosed with saying that the subjeet had been
under their eonsideration, but giving the petition
ers liberty to withdraw, onaccount of the langnage
of the petitions, making, as was suppeosed an at
tack upen an highly respeetable poertion of their
fellow citizens. It is truly nnfertnnate that the
clergy deem it proper, to place themselves in suels
a position; but it is no less true, that a large
number of the most talented of them, are arrayed
on the side of war, shvery, capital pumishment,
and almost afl sorts of oppression—hence there are
an increased and increasing number of the people
who befieve they are eperated npon by sinister
motives; and many of this elass also believe that
the reforme ir progress in our country eannot he
consunmated, =0 long as the people believe there
is any more divinity about them, than the rest of
the eomumunity, whe stand as fair as they de i
other respects: i
This position of theirs, they will find is wnfor
tumate for them, seoner or later—it is. however,
no faalt of the people; for the plaim and simple
precepts of christianity, ave most certainly at war
with their course in these respeets, and the peo
ple see it, and will not be duped wueh longer.—
The greatseets in this land are breaking to pieces—
their sectarian religion connot keep thew together,
while they eountenance and uphold these great
any erying evils. In the yeecent debate at the
Tabernacle, New York, on Capital Panishment,
we find @ D. Divinity Coz, aid Geo. B. Cheever,
both professed winisters of Jesns Christ, the
Prince of Peace ; Mim, whose imstzuetion to his
followers was, that they ““resist not evil,” arvayed
in faver of judicial murder, and on the othey, an
eminent lowyer O'Sullivan, and Horaee Greele
of the New York Tribune, endeavering to show
that the ehristianity of Jesus, their master, whom
they profess to serve, as well as the state of soci
ety, does not justify hauging wen up by the neck
for crime. "T'here are many who say “it is moth
ing but a mowkish sensibikity, or sympathy for the
criminal, which impell many good citizens teo op
pose capital punishmeit,” and this was the senti
ment, if not the very words ased by this Geo. B.
Cheever. Horace Greele says, ond so says every
one who looks at this subject rightly (leaving out -
the christian Jaw) “It is not mainly for the fifly
poor, gailty wretehes whe are executed annually,
that we ask the abolition of hanging; bat, first
that the imnecent are sometimes hung by wistake;
second, the guilty often escape, through the natn
ral and just repugnance of jurers (eventhose who
uphold hanging) to reruler a verdiet which involves
human life, nnless the evidence of guilt be most
indubitable ; third, because the community is bru
talized by public execution, (now geing eut of
fashion) and justice dishonored by pricate ones,
which put the law in an sttitude of skulking and
concealment, rather befiting gwilt ; fourth, hecause
the faet, that the conununity eherishes and inflicts
a penalty es<entially and obviowsly vindistive and
bloodgin its character, tends to stitnulate and sanc
tion in individuals the spisit of vengeance for in
juries, real or imaginary, and thus te wultiply
scenes of violence and bloodshed.’”
The last of these reasens alone, is sufficient to
abolish capital punistnnent ; but when the precepts
and examwple of Christ, condemns, where is the
truechristiau that will give bis influenee to continne
it? WILBERFORCE.
‘ The Providence Democratic Herald is exceed
ingly grieved at am advertiserwent by one of the
mannfactarers of that town, for laberers, econdi
tioned that they shall be v{ri«nd& of law and order.
Treason, o doubt. What muost become of the
largest liberty boys, im a country where the laws
are enforced, and good order preserved? Was
ever aet so monstrous perpetrated in a denueeratic
Lountry before ?
The above is eopied from the New-York Com.
Advertiser. The disingenonsncss of the article
is nubecowing the Editor of that paper—for he
cannot pretend ignorawce in the premises. It is
well kaown that the federal exaployers and agents
in wannfactories have, with a few honorable ex
ceptions, disunssed these work people, who had
dared to vote according to their own principles—
and when they advextise for “ friends of law and or
der,” to work in their mills, they mean those only
who will submit te their dictation and control at
elections. The editor of the €ommereial bas had
wuch te say of our affuirs, and in all he has said,
he bas manifested a striking degree of prejadice,
if not of ignorance. 2
[ The !!!demoeratie!!! Chromicle—[ Hea
ven save the wark’}—prates abont John C. Cal
honn. We should adrise neighbor Chareh te
semd to that distimguished Sounthern statesman
one of his best graplie deseriptions of the splen
did and sabstantial breakfast, provided for the
black voters, by their masters—we beg pardon—
by"skeir white hrethren, [for the time being] on
the morning of town meeting day—and then am
aceonnt of the procession te the polls, led on by
a white couduetor at the head, and a brown at the
tail! Then to see the white men open to the
right and left to admit their coloved friends—the
eager Wardens stretehing fovth the baliot box !
O, “twas glorious ! Show this up to John C. Cal
hoan, and you will compel him to love your
cause if he never did befove.
T Wil onr friends in the different towns take
‘the trouble of handing in te the State Committee
1 at this office, the mmes of these manufacturers
i whe' have proseribed their workmen for opinion’s
‘ sake, for the purpose of forwurding the particu
lars of ench emsw to Congress, (or the parpose of
showing the eflect of the high tariff, which this
’ privileged class now exjoy of driving and intimi-
Jdating the laboring elasses from the free exereise
“of their politieal opinions. These eases, giving
the particntars by affidavit, or stherwise, would
be abaolutely necessary to show by eonclnsive
~evidence, that a tarifl for the proteetion of the
manufsctaver is death to Yhe laborer.
57" The eontemptible meanness in attempting
to wmjure ns by the misrepresentation of an article
in our Inst, headed, “The eleetion and its resnlts,”
might have been expected from sueh a eoncern
as the Chronicle, but we conld hardly expeet it
from the Journal. That was little, very litile, in
you, meighber Journ:l.
57" The editor of the New Bedford Register
will see, by referring to Mr. Hazard's published
note, that he does mot deny the eharges made
agaimst him, although a publication, remarkable
for veracity, says he does.
An Hydraulic Engine, which-eminl‘y dis-
Renml with mannal power, is exhibiting in
vew York.