The telescope. (Columbia, S.C.) 1815-1818, October 29, 1816, Image 1
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IIY THOMAS W.LOKRAtN.
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INTERESTING.
raw* Tim oMLnAMt OMtrrt, ursrrr. 31.
Pl*nUC MRRTINfl.
On Thursday ? very fiiimcroutt and respect
able meeting of citizcn* was held at Maspero's
coffee house, lor the purpose of expressing the
public sentiment in relation to the outrage lately
committed on our flag by the Spaniards. I he
resolutions adopted do honor to our state; and
tho' one of them formed for a while a topic ol
division, yet we are persuaded that on a fair
and unprejudiced review they will be found one
and all to bo auch as the present conjuncture
demanded. ?.
The subjectpf this meeting in one, we con
ceive, of no ordinary, of no trifling import. It
is one that ought nat to be treated with the
elil^hient degree of levity or carelessness. On
the contrary it ought to be approached with ten
timents of the profoundest solemnity?with
feelings of the most earnest, most awful indig
nation. It is not yet two years, it falls far
short of two years since our public meetings
hero were of a very different kind from the
present?since we were wont to meet, not for
the purpose of mortifying coinpluint like thisfl
but for the purpose of crowning, shadowing
with laurels the triumphant vindicators of our|
country's rights?-for the purpose of congratu
lating ourselvc* on huving defeated, humbled to
the very dust, the proudest, the most powerful,
the mo*t vindicative foe that ever was experi
enced either bv the freemen of America or by
the tyrants oflKurope. The time has but just
passed by when we were honorably measuring
a words, wore wrestling in manly, in victorious,
in glorious contest with the pro?fu.??cd Lord* of
the ocean, and like a whirlwind at every blow,
sweeping from the face of tint deep, every ves
ture of their arrogant pretensions to domination.
Tim time has just passed by when the very
room of assemblage on this occasion, was illu -
minated in every quarter with transjiareuces
and various devices emblematic of the immortal
8th day of January, and of the illustrious sol
dier who conducted the glories of that day?
when that very room resounded iu every quar
ter w ith joy and song and carousal, with the
impassioned accumulations of a triumph not to
be transcended cither ih military splendor or
in political effect by any of those which have
beet) distinguished with the choicest honors of
history.
Ann is it in this apace of time?" with all our
blushing honors thick upon us"?and is it, alaa!
on this spot, the scene of such animating recol
lections?in the very sight too of those en
trenchments of American Independence, of
that grave-yard of Kuro)>can folly and impu
dence?that we, the conqueror* of Kuropc, have
now to assemble to pour together our murmurs
at a new insult on our national honor, and this
insult not from the great and highminded ad
versary whom we have just driven from the Held
not shortly to return, but from a power not even
second rate, or third or fourth rate iu the rank
of nations ? Is it thus soon that this mighty na
tion without fear and without reproach, is called
on to consider of an outrage on our flag the
most savage and unprovoked, and from whom t
?from Ferdiuaud the 7tit?a weaver of flounces
?a tambourer of furbelows?a mere monger of
niumnicries of a nunnery. I am award that it
is not prudent or discreet for any people in any
circumstances to undervalue too far tho conse
quence of their antagonist. But on thi? occa
sion we may be permitted some latitude, of com-1
pamon, when we cast our eyes on u court that
is so far behind in tho travel of modern science
and modern improvement, as at this enlightened
day arid in thin condition of the world to per
mit their imaginations tn burrow in the anti
quated rubbish and evaporated dunghill of holy
inquisitions, of religious ranks and torture* and
all the other farrago of obsolete tyranny ;md
obsolete superstition.
I)i<l the injury ?c have buffered proceed
from ?i nation Known to regard uh with a ^cner
tl spirit of amity and courtesy* would be
some cause for moderating the first hursts of
our indignation, for n forbearance of all popular
interference, in the anticipation of a satisfactory
rt-milt froin tl?p cold-blooded process of negoti
ation. Hut this is not ho. The: nation who
have inflicted thin, wound on our honor, .ire de
liberately and systematically hostile j luvo for
many years without intermission ?xe.ei i from
inability, harrassed us with injuries ou?l insults
after insults, forming in the whole a catalogue
of grievances not to be endured by no inih pen*
dent people.?The v have besides lonjr persisted 1
in a claim which they well know nothing but
war can enforcc, whic'i we well know no war
to be willed by mortal pi owe*., can eve- e\toit
from our hands. They have demanded of us to
surrender to their dominion, to tlie domminion
of barbailstn. of tyranny and ol' r iipei^titioii, un
integral pait of this independent -i.ilej and
they once had the insolence tit expect that
Americans, tliat Louis!infans, that those brave
)?<iuisianians who met die lion at their threshold
and sent him back howling to Ids den, could
Kmsiblv deliberate on such a demand' By this
?t act of theirs they have manifested their di*?
petition to resort to arm*, and 1 see no motivo
whiter of justice or of policy, to forbid ?in from
gra^Xtig that disposition to its fullest extent.
On the contrary the prospect of a Spanish wnr
can be viewed only with emotion* of ploaaure,
anil its arrival, I think, will bo hailed by the
American people with unanimous delight.
Such a war will not oulv afford us an opportunity
of rcdreeting our injuries, of avenging our
wrongs, but an opportunity of rendering to the
c*u*e of Liberty and republican government
that support, which the monarchist* of the old
world never fall to render to their principles
and form of government whenever and wlterever.
found in dispute. It will afford us an oppor
tunity of acting like men, like Americans in the
common concerns of America?of pouring in1
(Mr powerful aid to those
*? nrmve men ftlriiggtinff with the storms or f*u?,
And greatly riving with a trUlng utatc"
?of offering to the cause of persecuted freedom
that aid winch but a few years ngo wo would
have well known how to* value ourselves?of
Haying to the world,
" Non ignara mali miacros Mirrurerc iliseo."
We ought to glory in the prospect of no (ivent
that will release us front thoso ungrateful^ un
natural, ignominous trammels of n frigid and
contracted pplicy by which we are compelled!
tamely to look on as cold, inanimate, shoulder*
shrugging spectators of a contest between
American liberty and Kuropcan oppression; u
content which may in its results involve the
final destiny *?f all that in dear to ourselves, and
all that is tlear to humanity. r avkttk.
T. S. I propose to present you in another
paper some remarks in justification of the fourtli
resolution of the meeting.
TO Til* Ml ST HI 01 TIIC om.Rixi tt txmt.
1 promised you in my last to present you
with sonic remarks in .justification of that reso
lution of our town meeting, which sanctioned
the course that would probably be pursued by
the commandant of tins naval station, in pro
coeding in quest of the authors of the outrage
on our flag and inflicting on them u satisfactory
retaliation. This course was deprecated by
one of our speakers in terms of earnestness, ami
with an eloquence and vehemence of style which
would have been much better adapted to the o
ther side of the question, mi which side alone
warmth nnd passion of expression might admit
of excuse if not of appluute.
Let us review the objections suggested against
this resolution.
It was contended that the t ommodorc has no
right to attack the hostilo squadron, and conse
quently to advise him to do so were to advise
him to do wrong. Now, sir, 1 maintain that
the commodore is not only justified in seeking
and disabling, if necessury, in exterminating
the squadron itself, hut in expelling all other
armed vessels found joining in the declarations
of that squadron, and prepared to join in their
forcible support. It is true we are ut peucc wijh
Spain ; but treaties of peace would soon go ofit
of fashion, were their effect to diminish instead
of increasing the security of nations. " A just
self defence does not violate a treaty of peace.
It is a natural right not to be renounced, and in
promising to live in peucc, we promise no more
than not to attack without cause an.I to abstnin
from injuries and violences, lie who is injured
by foreign subjects does himself justice by his
own power when he. meets with the oH'enders in
his own territories or in a free place : for in
stance on the open sea ; or?if ho pleases?if
ho pleases, he requires justice from their sove
reign."
Hits is nut law or my own idle manufacture.
It in the sentiments, the. word* of it very eini
iient and universally respected expounder of
national law. Let in apply tVeae principled to
tlie present cane. It is ini|H?rtunt to hear in
ntinu that the present is not a case of accident
al fracas arising from the passion anil quarrel of
the moment. Th?! attack made upon our vessel
is made upon principle. It i.? pnrt of a system
distinctly avowed ami most impressively exem
plified on the spot. A Spanish squadron beat
themselves in tiio Mexican hinih?proclaim
to the United Rtaten that they have taken exclu
sive possession of those, seas and are determin
ed to prevent by forre of arms our common
right of passage. Is not this invasion, in the
in the strictest anil most confined sense of tiie
word ? Change hut the vavy into an army, the
water into html, and what is the ditti'tence be
tween this cane and a forcible occupation of Mo
bile u il l similar intentions and declarations r
The only difference is that there i* an invasion
in the one case of an exclusive pro|tertv, in the
other of a common right) hut inasmuch as the
right we hold in common with others, may until1 ?
times he us interesting as those which are mat
ters of separate dominion, it is as purely an act
of selfdctence to resist encroachments on the
former as on the latter. Who could he so pu
silattiutooH or so traitorous as to sav that if the
Spanish standard were planted in \Vest-Florida,
?indei much hotter pretensions, hail as they are,
than any that could lie held on the hiuli sens,?
who could ?av ilmt our military should ? otiflnc
it* operations to a simple yeport of the fact?
and who that pretends to tliu name of a soldier
could In* so faithless to his trust, mo lo*t to hi
own honor, as to listen for a moment to such
doctrine.
For what puipose, I would ask. do we main
tain an armv and a navy ? For what purpose is
comtnodoio hitersoii placed on this station ??
For what purpose is ho Httpplied with ships,
with men, with arms, ammunition and stores f
In it for the put |tose of situply reporting the out
rages which may happen from foreian power* ?
l'en, ink and putter would suffice for that. 1
ask again, for what purpose is he placed here
with all these nr,live instrument* in hit hands ?
la it for nothing ? la it for the prontotion ef
Jus country'* glory, fn resenting insults on licr
flag by "wilingby" the offender*, when the
relative force ofthe parties may permit it? No.
lncso are uottho vife iuglorioua object* of the
American navy?it is not for object* like these,
it is not in impotent parade, that the proud flag
of America courte* the couuhon ocean. The
true and ouly intention of a navy is the protec
tion and security of the country ) and it mat
ten not from what quarter or What manner the
injury came, the country must be protected and
sccurcd.
All that our navy has to do on tho occasion,
says the orator of Iho opposition, in lo navigate
the prohibited water* " a* usual." Why, sir,
tlmt is what our navy did before this affair hap
pened. A signal occurrcnce takes place deep
ly affecting our national interest and honor, a
most flagitious outrage is committed upou us,
and wo ure told that the part wo have in conae
quence to act is to do iust as we did before. Hut
it so happens, that this is advice which it is im
possible to pursue. We cannot navigate those
sea* as usual?the Spaniards will not let ua?
and it is in vindication of this vory privilego of
navigating as usual, that it becomes necessary
for UH to apply foice to the removal of all unlaw
ful obstructions. We are warranted in doing so
by the principles ol national luw, just as an in
dividual is warranted by tlioio of the municipal
law lit the immediate demolition of a nuisance
in blockade of the highway. Navigation as u*u
ol. that is to say, go out ulways with a force su
perior to the enemy, take cure to keep all your
vessels in mutual convoy, and if per chance oc
casionally an unfortunate Firebrand be caught
wandering apart, by a Spanish banditti of fri
gates, wild lire into her without provacatiou and
without mercy, shatter her into a wreck, half
sink her, wantoiily insult her officers and in
inquisition stvlo castigate such of the crow as
they were not expert enough to murder iu fight j
| let her sneak back to the commodore and report
the lact: and then?what then? why, repeat
j the process, the formidable process of *? navigat
ing as usuul.''
It is contended that an attack upon the of
J fending squadron by our officer, would amount
to the declaration by him, or what is worse, the
I making of war. Now the original assault was
certainly one of two things?either authorised
by t ie Spanish government or unauthorised. If
lit were authorised then it ipso facto creates, or
conclusively evidences a stale of war j and in
that state our officer is empowerd, is in duty
bound, with or without instructions, to inflict
every possible injury on the eneiny. If it were
unauthorised, the.i it is not war j but then let
us take the same view of our officer's concern in
the business. His com uct too, in committing
acta of retaliation, is either authorised or unau
thorised. If the former, then he must bo right
at all events t it the latter, than he is wrong j
but it is not war any more than the like author
ised conduct in the other party and that was not
| war, or if it were, would by virtue of its being
| ho, ju?tify the retaliation. Supposing then,
I both parties to be entirely unauthorised, cither
I by previous orders or subsequent approbation,
| what is the amount ol it all ? a mere balance of
| injuries, with the serious difference, however,
<?l their huving begun the alfrav and l>eiug there
lore, in my opinion, chargeable with the whole
breach of the peace. The utmost that the moat
(subtle negotiator ever could flatter himself with
j obtaining from us in satisfaction, would be the
i same (('lantuin of concession which we \Cero al
| ready entitled to demand from them for the or
iginal outrage, or iu other words a reciiiracal
cancellation of accounts. So that the final re
sult to ua would be the taking of our satisfaction
iu our own way i.istead of receiving it iu a less
agreeable form.
| But this is not coming to the point. This act
l of the Spaniards is itself a .strong, very strong
indication of actual war. It can be considered
as nothing else until it is explained and repara
tion offered ; and on what ground are we to hope
for reparation from a nation that charges us with
having robbed them of their territory ? Are
they to add to their injustice the folly of satis
fying our demands whilst we reject theirs ? On
what ground are we to expert reparation for this
injury when wo have so many of elder date still
unatoiied for ? The present attack on our flag was
in all probability authorised by the Koverninent.
1 he gentleman who opposed the resolution in
question with such animation, uneqoivocnlly ex
pressed his own belief that it was; and if it
was not at the time of action, it is destined to
become ao,4hy the treatment it wil enevitnblv re
ceive from the Spanish government. Consider
ing, then, the remoteness of (his station, and
the importance of its concern iu a Spanish war ;
considering the known dispositions and temper
of the two nations; considering the peculiarity,
tho unexampled extra* usance ofthe outrage:
considering the necessity of our own safety,
which is ut lust the supreme law of nations and
of uioii ; and considering all Iho various cir
cumstances in which our commodore m placed,
1 am decided iu my opinion that he ought tu
(proceed to take immediate satisfaction ! If. uii
foi Innately, in doing it, lie .^lionhl in the event
do wrong to Spain, even that rail conclusion
would not Ims without iit consolations. The
wrong thus sufTered by Spain would only lie a
set-oil on her part against wrongs without milli
ner and without prospect of redress, except
from war. 1
Ah (o (lie npprclionftiou excited of our produc
ing or precipitating a war, by our passionate
proceeding here, it (a scarcely worthy <?l" an
swer. Ite&snn ought long *inco to have taught iih,
and experience has douhtlcn* taught u*. that
tcmponoing with nations m not the way to avoid
<v?r. A* ft i? with imliudiinlA ?oj? h vi'h n.i
tioua, (ho way to secure ihsaco is to m?ln
your dignity ugaitist the iirat approach of intrit<&
?ion. ^ rAtETTll^j|
POLITICAL. J
LHJilXJ 1
mux TUL LOl'UVILLK (k.) con??.?roxi>iWT.
ON l'ARTIKS.
In my former remarks on thin subject iig|
answer to (Vsar, the editor endeavored to show^
the substantial similarity of the pirtios of our
country in the great leading principled of govern
ment, religion and manner*, to a moat remark'J
able degree. I asserted the fugitive, porlsh-1
able nature of the former grounds of party differ-;?
ence, and the total transtormalion of parties at'
this time. To Hupport thin latter assertion, we
have only to recollect what we formerly diffbred
about. Were they not, alter the adjustment of
the objections to the present federal constitu
tions, banking, revenue, naval and military
establishment r?What the particular iuciden- <
tal reasons were, are immaterialj the essential
point is, thot the federal and republican parties
did differ about the policy of thus* branches of
legislation, which form the body and substance
or the administration of any government s and
that they now notoriously cease to differ about
the very identical topics. Why then, in thtv'
name of heaven, done still continue to revile
each other, and hold our respective parties up
to tho hatred and distrust of the nation? Parties
in the United States are at this time little more
distinct in political principle thnn they wero in
the empire of Liliput, where, according to Swift,
they were divided about whether thoy should
break their eggs at the big or at tho little end*
giving rise to most notable parties in the state*
colled the big-endians and little-endians. The
subject, however, is too serious for this strain
I of remark f parly proscription is a pestilence in
[ society 5 it poisons the public mind against tho
profoundest learning, the most exalted talents
and the purest patriotism, which is not within
the pale of party politics. Tlie dogmns of the
the passing moment, the slavish sycophancy of
party, these are the abominable substitutes of
virtue, learning and mind. It is strangling the
best faculties of society, and cutting of! the most,
valuable members of the community, whose
exertions would redound to the prosperity and
glory of the republic. Does is not then imperi
ouly behove every honest man, every citizen
attached to tho good r,f his country, (and what
virtuous man can be insensible to ft) to shake off
his party bigotry, and to despise the prostituted
press that exerts its influence over the public
mind, but to debauch it with party bigotry wpd.
exclusive pretensions ? Shall we neve , my
countrymen, put an end to this civil war. ? Why
should we not call into our service the hearts
and beads that arc best calculated to promoto
the welfare of our common country in dcjjpit'
and contempt of old differences. The dis
putes ought to be buried under the alliance
which has virtually been made by the parties of
the country pursuing the same plans of policy.
Hut how shall we effect this desired harmony?
bv adopting the idea of the National Kcgistei'f
to denounce every distinctive epithet, except
that of republicans. Tin* appellation is cer
tainly the most happily expressive of the whole
tenor of our government, and which is in thto
name, and for the good of the people, in opposi-l
tion to the interests of an hereditary princojr
and though the term federal is equnlly expres
sive of another feature in our complex system of
government, which is its confederate character^
it is unfortunately associated with such obnox
ious recollection* of ancient differences, (yet
given up by the republicans of late) that the
successful coalition of all good and capablo mon
is utterly desperate. Let, then, the federalists
imitate the republicans so far as the latter liaVo
notoriously, and to tho satisfaction of the nation,
renounced their old plans of government in re?*
gnrd to navies, armies, internal taxes and banks?
let the former renounce their name. The re
publicans are now substantially federalists in
the leading and permanent policy of gover^l
incut: Ict'tho latter, meeting their ohfadvei^]
saries on the middle ground of friendship, atwi j
moderation, and renouncing a name which hu
ceased to designate them exclusively, become
republicans in name, as well as in fact. y v
The republicans have abandoned the sub*
stance of old party difference, and now lot tho
federalism magnanimously abandon tlio form.,
l.et all unite iii tho holv band of brothers and
counti-v men, determined to exalt our admirable
republic to the highest pinnacle of happiness and
return n. What may not be anticipated of our
country when this shall lie tho ca*e ? What
glorious emulation of the proudest days of Gre
cian valor and Roman patriotism may not bo
expected ? Why, then, tlelay the blessed work ?
I .el us, in the language of the sacred volume,
| be up and be doing,in the pious labor of healing
! the wounds of our common country.
'? I fit I'ti T'iiii? J"?1'nder iltiit brad, tlicMa**,'
jn*tiiu *ett* Spy mal.es I!.?? followinjj; trifc ro
iiiiiifk"?" Hard time*. intloi'tl t am! time# will
I ?????!? i??u?* hard, mil it (tic people (urn over A new
[leal. They iTiu^t retrench their expenditure*-**
: They nr.Mt buy Io.ih than they well?Credit hat
| lu'i'ii the great ramo of their present emburras-*
j nx'iir??. I'eopb* have ventured beyond their
strength ; t|iev have pUHhed ton far from shore.'
They havertried ton many experiment*, lief
them <|tiit speculation for industry } extrava
gance tor frugality j intemperance for sobriety
and the time* will become speedily ameliorated i
the ncoplo will in n groat nteftfture Iks relieved
of their embarrassment*. UnWfts this bo done,
the timet*, eir ft<??v at ** hctlir* vill becotutu
1 ?? or?e fourfold.' v