cans, our puritans in political faith and bandon or neglect-much lefs to abule We are members of the only free republic, that remains, perhaps, in the whole world. Athens, Sparta, and Rome, loft the liberty, which was their pride and their boaft, and which they prized more than life. France has paffed with an aftonishing rapidity, from the extreme of liberty to a condition of abject flavery. And from what fountain have proceeded those waters of bitterness? Who were the parricides that have ravished from republican nations their precious rights, and fpread a mourning crape over countries once free and happy?—They were cunning impoftors, who covering their exorbitant ambition with the pretence of the pureft pat. riotifm and unbounded philanthropy, deluded the people and even inftigated them to forge the fetters which they were doom. ed to wear. Poffeffing a dexterity in artifice and fraud, they begun with the fubtlety of the ferpent, and ended with the ferocity of the tiger. few exceptions, how much have they done After gaining the poffeffion of a pleni- In this country, we have long beheld in operation the lame fyftem of artifice, duplicity and dark ambition, by which all former free republics, ancient and mod-purfued; and with language of opprobrium ern, have been proftrated and deftroyed. Every art has been employed, that could work upon human paffion and frailty; every engine has been put in motion, to deceive the fimple, to allure the unprincipled and to lead the people into the fnere that has been prepared for them. A mere and infult; they have driven from public name has been ufed, with aftonishing fuc- midable ariftocracy with a view to bruife The Federal Electors of the city of Hudfon, are requested to meet at Booth's CityTavern, on Thurfday the 19th inft. a: 6 o'clock P. M. A general attendance iş We've heard that your IDOL's a genuine "trimmer," Huzza! Muzza! 'Tis the genuine part, MONOR AND SENSIBILITY. A gemine debt, may, with genuine pay, A CERTAIN Judge rather elevated with the juice of the grape, entered a barber's fhop in this vicinity a few weeks fince, to get fhaved. After the business was accomplished he tendered the barber fix pence for his labour, who took it and returned three pence change! But how is this, (exclaimed his honor) you have always charged me fix pence for thaving, and here you have charged but three pence! True, replied the barber, but you was now half fhav'd when you came in!!! A SERVANT ran quite frightened into the ftudy of the learned Bude, to tell him that the houfe was on fire. Well then, anfwered he acquaint my wife with it; you know I do not trouble myself with household affairs. HUMOROUS CROSS READING. A lift of the fellows of the Medical fociety-publicly whipped for fheep ftealing. Ran away from the fubfcriber in June laft-a two story houfe with an orchard adjoining. Strayed or flolen, a two year old fteerhad on a felt hat and blue overhalls. Several farmers are now fowing-nail rods, glafs, rum, fugar and brandy-owing to the high price of provifions. A good new milch cow-wants to hire genteel boarding and lodging. The houfe took up the fecret communications-relative to fome women of pleasure -the galleries were immediately cleared. The hon. court of probate for the dif trict of was brought to bed of twins, both likely to do well. IT was formerly the cuftom in England, for men only to appear on the ftage, it being tho't extremely indelicate and unbe ence. coming for the other fex to talk of and difcufs the tender paffion before, an audiThis ftrange idea prevailed even fo late as the reign of Charles the IId, who being remarkably fond of theatrical entertainments, always took care to be prefent at the commencement. His Majefly having one evening waited greatly beyond the u fual time, and the curtain not drawn up, he grew impatient, and fent into the greenroom to give orders that the play might begin immediately. The Managers conceiv ing that, with a facetious good natured prince, the real excufe would be the best, replied that "He hoped his Majesty would wait a few minutes longer, for that the Queen had not yet shaved her felf!" TWO clergymen, defcanting of the mifchiefs which had crept into the church, one of them faid that a large portion of his flock were tinctured with deifm; the other complained that many of his congregation were ftill worfe, being infected with "And I am fure," added a byatheifm. ftander, "that nearly half of our parish is, at this minute, fadly afflicted with theumatifm." The Election. THE HUDSON, (NEW-YORK) TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1804. HE election which this day commences in the ftate of New-York, has feldom if ever been equalled for its importance. The great queftion which this election is to decide, is of no trivial or common kind. The conteft is not between federalifts and anti-federalifts or democrats, as thefe parties formerly stood; but between a union of the honeft men of both parties, on one fide; and a combina tion of corrupt and hypocritical politicians, on the other. This election will decide, whether, in a free country, two opulent, powerful and extenfive families, without the leaft claim to public favor, can form a league fo ftrong, and lay their plans fo deep, as to rear and fupport a formidable aristocracy or whether the people have virtue and independence enough to refift the firft inroads upon their liberties, and to defeat the ambitious projects of the unprincipled invaders of their rights. It is impoffible to form any accurate calculation on the refult of the contest. Both parties are unufually fanguine; and it is difficult to tell on which fide the There is a greateft exertions are made. vast difference, however, in the kind of means used.—On one hand, we see a junto of proud, overhearing, vindictive ariftocrats, without a fingle quality that can entitle them to the name of republicans, affuming that title and claiming it exclufively for themselves. We fee them employing every despicable art, every infamous falfhood, to cheat the people, and destroy an opponent. We see them fup Judge Lewis has declared, that the perfe cutions hitherto fuffered by the federalifts, will be confidered as merciful, when com ported by a large circle of family connec- At Whatever may If Col. Burr fucceeds, a change of measures will be the confequence. The change cannot be for the worfe: But it is very probable it will be for the better. The federalifts may not, perhaps, as a party, receive any fignal benefits from a Burr administration. They will not fupport Burr under this idea. They will fupport with independence and firmness--becaufe him, becaufe they believe he will conduct they believe he will not give up the gov ernment into the hands of unprincipled zealots because he has not a horde of family connections and dependants to furnith with a livelihood, under the name of offices-because they confider him as an injured and perfecuted ftate fan-and, finaily, becaufe he is the man beft calcu lated to ftrangle the ariftocratic faction in its cradle. The federalifts have never hesitated to miniftration, without its benefits.-A pat- acknowledge, that amongst the democrats riot general with a rebel army. Judge Lewis has been felected from one of the noble families, as a man calcu lated to " cherish the interests of party." Should he fucceed in his election, he is there were some honeft men; and they have ever hoped that the time would arrive when thofe men would difcover the iniquitous defigns of the most active of their affociates, and revolt from their ftandard. It is believed, the time has now arrived; and the federalifts will conceive it to be their duty to unite with honeft men, wherever they may be found. I For my felf, I explicitly declare, that I hope for the election of Col. Burr. owe neither Lewis, nor Spencer, nor any other "genuine" democrat, a debt of grat MORE ECONOMIES. THE economies of our new government have been recently difplayed in a new and furprising manner in relation to the beacons erected at Sandy-Hook for the benefit of the navigation of New-York. It appears from documents publifhed in New-York, that the proprietors of Sandy-Hook, in 1801, gave notice to the collector of New-York, who was then about to erect a beacon, not to proceed without their confent, which would not be granted without a reasonable compenfation for the land. Two thou fand dollars were propofed as being, in the eftimation of the proprietors, a reafonable compenfation. To this propofiTo this propofi tion no answer was returned; but in De. cember a beacon was erected without further communication, The proprietors deeming themselves aggrieved, commenced an action for trefpafs, at the fame time offering to fubmit to indifferent and intelligent perfons in New-York, mutually chofen, to fix the compenfation, and that each party should be bound by their decif. ion. This offer was declined, and in Augult, 1802, the proprietors obtained a judgment for 100 dollars damages for the trefpafs. The fame offer of a fubmiflion to indifferent perfons was repeated and again rejected, and another fuit was inflituted for the continuance of the trefpafs. Inftead of acceding to the equitable and amicable propofal of the proprietors, the fecretary of the treasury, Mr. Gallatin, applied to the Legiflature of New-Jerley to pafs a law, compelling the proprietors to fell to the United States fo much ground as might be neceffary for the erection of a beacon, and a bill paffed ore branch of the legiflature authorizing the United States to take the land at fuch price as a fheriff's jury might decide to be the real and inrinfick value of the foil, without reference to the fituation. This iniquitous bill did not pass. The proprietors then renewed their of. fer of fubmiffion to indifferent períons, and addrefled it directly to the lecietary of the treafury. It was again rejected and another beacon was erected and lighted in a different place on Sandy-Hook. In December laft a fpecifick offer was application to the legislature of New-Jer- The lights were accordingly difcontin- Taking the whole of this affair togeth- Thus cofts and damages to more than pected to find them on their return, are expofed to shipwreck. The two fhips which run on fhore at Sandy-Hook, in confequence of extinguishing the lights of the beacons have gone to pieces. It is faid that the duties alone on the cargoes of the two fhips which have been wrecked on Sandy Hook in consequence of the extinguifhment of the lights, by order of Mr. Gallatin, would have amount. ed to upwards of twelve thousand dollars. A ftill further proof of that fpirit of economy which actuates the government. FROM THE CHARLESTON COURIER. AMONG the qualities which the antifederal papers mention as the requifites for the office of Vice-Prefident, as combined. in Gov. Clinton, is his fuperior military fervices. Is he to be elected then, by way of fhewing that the office of Vice-Prefident requires very different qualities from those of Prefident? Mr. Jefferion has every quality for a prefident-though rather la bouring under an abfence of military fame, Mr. Clinton has military fame, and therefore is fit for a Vice-Prefident Or is it from a congeniality of foul and fentiment in that way Mr. Clinton is to be chofen by the friends of Mr. Jefferson ? Or is it that there ought to be a little military fame between the two officers -and fo they are coupled, like rabbits by poulterers, a fat and lean one, to make them go the farther ? Which ever of thefe is the cafe, we admire the choice. As wifdom and war were combined in the perfon of the Goddels Minerva, fo war and wisdom will now be affociated in our cabinet, in the perfons of Meffrs. JEFFERSON and CLINTON, any That literally true. Ought not, then, our aged, and fober citizens, to fearch for the caufes of thefe evils? Ought they not to fet their faces against men who are thus involving us in confufion and ruin? Look back to the peaceful reign of federal principles-when Washington, and Adams, and Hamilton, and Jay, were at the helm. Do you find at that period, any thing like the prefent uproar? Yet that period has been called the reign of terror. period has been branded with every odious epithet, which the genius of calumny could invent. Let honest man com pare it with the prefent period. If that was a reign of terror, then this is a reign of every thing wicked and deteftable. It men prefume to judge for themfelves, at election, they are told by fome upstart apoftate, that they fhall be Jcourged with tenfold feverity. If a clafs of our citizens prefume to oppofe the pretenfions of fome aristocrat, who may be fupported by the two nob.e families, that cla's are denominated" a damned contemptible faction." In short, any man who shall dare to bid defiance to the mushroom nobility who are aspiring to abfolute power in this ftate, is at once profcribed by the hand of power. And every renegado rafcal in the community, who can controul a prefs, is let loose upon his character. This is the fource of all cur confufion. This is the fpark which has blazed into that party animofity, which now threatens our deftruc. On the subject of the liberty of the press, enough has been said and proved, to convince the people, that the democrats have been its greatest enemies, and that the federalists are its only friends. But we beg the attention of the reader to one more fact-a fact which serves to expose, in the most clear and satisfactory manner, the baseness, the inconsistency, and the hypocrisy of the democratic faction, under whose oppressive reign the state of New-York now groans.—It is unnecessary to go back to the time when the federal Sedition Law received the curses of every democrat in the country. The time is well remembered, and will not soon be forgotten. We can only repeat the wish, that that law now existed and that the federal printers might have the benefit of its mild provisions. We wish that truth might be protected by the law. We wish that our rulers could find some better shield against the censures of the people, than a law which declares that "TRUTH IS A LIBEL." We wish their conduct was such as to bear scrutiny and investigation.—But our wishes are vain. Under the present order of things, the sedi. tion law is not permitted to exist. We are deprived of its salutary provisions. Truth is not protected by the law. Our rulers shelter themselves under an old and musty British law, which forbids the promulgation of truth-they shrink from scrutiny-they dare not submit their conduct to investigation. We will only refer the reader to the prosecution & trial of the editor of this paper. The conduct of the Attorney-General and of the Chief Justice, on that trial, is well known.-We shall offer no remarks on that part of the business, at present; as our only object is, to expose the duplicity and hypocrisy of the reigning faction. It will be recollected that Ambrose Spencer, through the whole of the transaction, pretended to regret that the law under which he acted, was oppressive and tyrannical-that he pretended to regret that the truth could not be given in evidence. But, he said, such was the law, and he was bound to conform to it. Until the law was altered, he said, truth was a libel, and must be punished. But, he "thanked God" that there was a prospect of a reform in the law. He trusted, he said, that the le gislature would alter and amend it. Every petty democrat in the country soon took his cue from Ambrose Spencer. They all became lawyers, and swore the British common law concerning libels, was the law of this state; but, at the same time, acknowledged that it was very unjust, and ought to be alter ed. Even John Barber, "printer to the state," was as completely guiled as the rest of his party. He thought, poor simple man, that Spencer was in good earnest, and began to talk largely on the subject himself. He even went so far as to call the common law, which Spencer and Lewis had adopted, "a hoary system of fully, injustice and tyrranny;" and he said that "the friends to the freedom of speech and of the press, wished a reform." Well, this was all talk, a commodity in which democrats deal by wholesale. The federalists, however, had but little faith in these professions; and they were resolved to put them to the test. Accordingly Mr. Emott (a federal member) introduced in the house of assembly, last winter, a bill "concerning libels," allowing the truth to be given in evidence, &c. This was a dreadful blow to the democrats. Judge Lewis, Spencer, and all the leaders of the party, took the alarm. They held caucus after caucus What could they do? To permit this law to pass, would be opening a door to the investigation of their conduct. The very thought terrified them. To reject the law, would endanger their popularity; and of this they had none to spare. In the house, the bill was doomed to undergo amendment after amendment, until scarcely one of its original features was left, and, at length, it passed in "so questiosable a shape," that it could hardly have been suspected, that it was meant to secure the liberty of the press. However, we considered it as rather better than nothing, and therefore, sincerely wished that it might pass the Senate, bad as it was. But we were not to be thus grati fied. The bill, after struggling for a long time in the Senate, was finally lost! Now let us see if Barber will dare to call the common law "a hoary system of folly, injustice and tyranny." Now let him tell us, who are "the friends to the freedom of speech and of the press." The obsequeous hireling is dumb. Every democrat is dumb. They cannot open their lips on the subject. They ought to hide their heads for shame. They stand convicted of duplicity, hypocrisy and knavery. They have proved themselves enemies to the freedom of the press-enemies to truth-enemies to justice. We are still to be kept in terror by the common law. Truth is still to be pronounced a libel. We are still to be threatened with fines aud imprisonment, if we dare to lift our voice against the misconduct of public officers. -But, we regard it not. -The press shall nevertheless expose political villainy. Truth, liberty, and justice will one day triumph-and glorious will be the fate of those wbo are martyrs to their cause ! It is pretended by our " genuine republicans," that Mr. Burr's conduct at the presidential election, convinced them of his apostacy from republicanism; and that they have never placed any confidence in him since that time. Is it already forgotten that Mr. Burr, since the presidential election, was elected in Orange county, a member of our state convention for amending the constitution; and that he was by the unanimous vote of all the democrats in the house, (among whom was George Clinton) appointed president of that convention? This fact ought to strike his opponents dumb. It appears by Elmendorf's letter, that, the "genuine republicans" first nominated Mr. Lansing for Governor, because they supposed his talents and integrity would secure him a large federal support.— But now, when Mr. Burr is likely to obtain a large federal support, he is accused of intrigue and apostacy. The same that proved Mr. Lansing an honest man, proves Mr. Burr to be directly the reverse! Oh, what consistent republicans! "POOR BEHRENS." Last week, we really thought the world had turned topsy-turvy. Some of our oldest and most respectable citizens (that is, citizens holding respectable offices) were converted into hawkers and ballad pedlars, and were trudging round the streets with a doleful ditty, entitled "Poor Behrens," manufactured by De Witt Clinton and James CheetThis horrible story had a fine effect upon our gaping democrats. But the next day they were all cruelly disappointed :-For, lo, the tale turned out to be nothing but a mere Cheat'em. ham. The Hon. Judge Spencer has arrived in town, some say, to attend our election. This cannot be true. The man cannot be so lost to decency. |