The Boston Spectator: Devoted to Politicks and Belles-lettres

umns of his paper pleasant to readers, without their own officers, whenever.. derived distinction of party or sex. The few publications the established usages of civil..

knowlTO avoid the imputation of caprice, which in the eastern states which have assumed this It was from Hume that we

these might appear merited by my again presenting character, seem to have been either above, orrible barbarity practised on thi

kept myself before the public after having so re- below, the general taste ; calculated too exclu after the battle of Culloden. Fro cently withdrawn from an establishment, which, sively for the study or the kitchen. Is it not Fox's orations, as well as from Bis the for eight years, was honoured by their liberal possible to introduce a stranger, who may be we have been taught the enormitie patronage, I beg leave to state in my justificae welcome in the parlour ? This is my object ; and encouraged in India against th tion, that nothing would have induced me to and the contributions of the wit, and scholar inhabitants of Hindostan. relinquish the Repertory, but the absolute im- are earnestly solicited to give variety, ease, Shall America alone furnish no pat. practicability of conducting the mechanical part | elegance, and interest to a department which is ready to vindicate our nation fr of a newspaper establishment,consistently with may gratify many, and give offence to none. charge of inhumanity, by showing that the circumstances of my family.

The “ Boston Spectator" will be published well authenticated acts of injustice and b. Having made an arrangement with Messrs. every Saturday, on four large quarto pages, 1ity on our part, were the acts of individual MUNROE & Francis, which will not be liable the original form of the Port Folio ;....on hand cers, and were universally abhorred by the to that objection, nor interfere with any peri some paper, neat type, and correctly executed, I tion at large ? odical publication in this metropolis, or New- at three dollars a year....one dollar and fifty For ourselves we cannot disguise, and a England, and selected those departments, incents to be paid on receiving the first number. | would not conceal the conviction, that the ad which I trust my exertions may be most accep

JOIN PARK. ministration which has plunged this devoted table to the community, and agreeable to my Boston, January, 1814.

nation into an offensive war, have exerted nown pursuits and habits, I now offer to the

themselves to make the nation forget the enorpublick

mity and injustice of its origin, by exciting their 66 THE BOSTON SPECTATOR,

POLITICAL:"";

passions, and by provoking a system of retalia

tion, which would enlist their passions in a DEVOTED TO POLITICKS AND BELLES LETTRES."

FOR THE BOSTON SPECTATOR.

contest at which their sober judgments revolted. The Editor deems it unnecessary to desigConsiderations on the present unhappy WAR, in

Ohe point nust forever be recorded against

our rulers. That the first blow was struck by. nate the character of his politicks.... it is custom

relation to a single point, The Temper with

them, and at a moment too, when our relation ary for those of his creed to avow themselves which it has been and is likely to be carried on. with Britain led her reasonably to believe that disciples of the immortal WASHINGTON,

Dr. PARK,

the pacifick measures which she simultaneousthe father of the American republick. But the

Various charges have been made by our | ly adopted, the repeal of her Orders in Couno glorious circumstances unde, which he con!

h he con-' rovernment against that of Great Britain, oncil) would have precluded any pretest for hosducted our country have passed away..... Scarce- the subject of the violation of she principles of tility. jy any thing remains by which it can be recog

can be recog. | humaniiy and of modern warfare, on the part of
hu

It cannot therefore be credited, that she had nized, but its soil.....

that nation, and its departure from those estab. before prepared a system of Indian warfare, as " Darkness, clouds, and shadows rest upon it.”

| lished usages which, by common consent, have has been suggested without evidence by our

become a part of the laws of war between all | cabinet, at a time, when the whole course of The principles of JUSTICE, TRUTH, and ) civilized nations. These charges have been her conduct proves that she expected a speeCOMMON SENSE are however perpetual ! on their part recriminated, and we have been dy and honourable reconciliation. and unchangeable. By these the Editor will | held up to the world as having wantonly viola- ! I propose to consider all the charges mutu. edulously endeavour to be directed in all his ted these sacred principles.

ally advanceri, and without prejudice or affecspeculations, perfectly convinced that there Your publication, though principally literary, i tion, to discuss their merils. can be no surer guide to genuine patriotism." | will, without doubt, be in some degree open to The first one, on our part, was that Britain had

To this he will pledge his hopes of publick rational political discussions, and it is in my employed the savages in her difence; I repeat it approbation ; that the excitement of contro. estimation important to the honour of our | in defence of her and their own territory. versy shall never betray him into an a tack on country, that this question should be fairly and I do not mean to discuss the question of the private reputation. Doctrines and measures freely discussed.

propriety of employing "our red brethren,” as · afford an ample and interesting field of discus. There can be no doubt that in this case, as Mr.Jefferson quaintly and affectedly called them. sion. Generally speaking, errour, in the ab- l in all others of a like nature, very considerable | This would compel me to slow that these stract,has few self acknowledged votaries ; but faults are chargeable on both parties. The then colonies employed them most successfully when personified, and assailed, men's passions passions of men, excited by open hostility, in- | under Sir Williain Johnston against the French marshal a thousand advocates in her cause. | flamed as in this instance by incessant efforts in 1755. Decorum, as well as interest, will restrain the on one side, to produce a deep rancour and It would compel me to shaw that the revoluEditor from a desire, in any instance, wanton- | spirit of hostility: on the other, by a belief, that tionary congress addressed, invited and employly to outrage publick opinion, in advancing his the war is a wanton violation of the principles ed the Six Nations against G. Britain in 1776. own sentiments ; but he feels a relief, in priso of justice, and a determined effort to embar I l limit myself to the present war. pect, from temptation to temporize with pre: l'ass Great Britain in her struggle for the lib. llere it cannot be overlooked, and it ought judice, by the consideration that, in this paper, erties of the world, cannot fail to produce fre. I never to be forgotten, that before and at the there will be no question of securing advertis- quent deviations from the accustomed rules of breaking out of the British war, we were in ing patronage.....a dead weight on every ingen honourable warfare..

actual hostility with all the western Indians. uous political writer, the value of whose es. It ought to be the pride, as it is the duty of I have anxiously inquired, for the honour tablishment is affected by such support.

honest and intelligent men in each country, to and character of our country, of Mr. Quincy It is not intended to make the “ Spectator" expose and censure any departures from the and many other members of congress, whether a news-paper. Every number will however | laws of humane warfare on the part of their own they knew of any jus! grlunds for the invasion. contain a retrospect or summary of the prin officers.

of the Indian territory in the autumn preceding cipal events, which may have occurred, or They alone can do justice to the subject, be-, the Brirish war. I have been uniformly assurwhich may have been announced, in this place, cause the criminations and denunciations of ed that, they not only knew of no such just during the previous week. Such a chronolog | e chi party are supposed to proceed from par- | causes, nor of any authority of Congress for: ical index; it is presumed, may be both amus- tial and prejudiced views.

such an invasion, but that they were satisfied! ing and useful.

Able historians of every nation have been, as there were none. The editor will employ his utmost exertions I it were, the umpires between contending na- Yetitis a, lamentable and disgraceful lact that to render the literary and miscellancous col: tions, and have bestowed merited censure on our troops advanced into the ludian territory,

Seiflove_Boneohabitants, burnt their townsil: It is indeed a strong government! The plundered them of their property. and on Close of Lord it as an act of prowese, inerilo- melancholy revolution, which has taken place length by fire and carnage threatened their Asylum for durable. .. ... Á I in the fate of inillions, within a short time the termination. He lived secure through all Ancient Sewhere to stoia anţi ask ourselves prostration of a whole nation's prosperity, by enormi:ies, was reelected consul; died a nat

Ware.men, and have a claim to the the giant arm of democracy in power, too une- | ural death, and was buried with the utmost Reading to an

unanitý. ? Are they entitled to their quivocally prove their exultation well founded; demonstrations of publick honour.

Xs; and the fruits of their labour, or at leasty that we are now under a govern-1 Here was a very strong government. Was Forward

..' whites have not hitherto wrested | ment of the strongest kind. When was there this, properly speaking, the exercise of the Sibit? If they have, the invasion by Har- a king, bashaw, or sultan, who ever did, or consular power ? No. Sylla was the head of

tilalls we understand it was, unprovoked, I could have done the like, without calling to a faction. He and his party had long strug. Convermost barbarous violation of the laws his aid other resources than his individual pre- gled for the ascendancy with another, scarcely Alexisnity ever committed by civilized men. rogati e, even in its fullest exercise-without | less inhuman. His friends created citizens of Ventrestern Indians inhabit a territory con- having recourse to the very means, which, in every thing, to swell their numbers. He usurp.

to Britain solemnly by our treaty of our unhappy republick, have proved so potent?) ed power, in defiance of the laws, and when an Kins They are her subjects. She is bound Search the records of history, it will be found impeachment was moved against him, he en. Epotect them. When Hull invaded their that to make a nation suffer with impunity, re gaged in a foreign war, to shun accountability. Latory, he appeared to believe that he had currence must be had to the resistles sway of This put the military power under his control. Auch right to destroy them, as Livermore popular prejudice and faction. No man, ac- which he eventually employed to glut his own 1 Angier, the unhappy convicts, thought they quainted with human nature, will deny, that a vengeance, and to gratify the blood-thirsty hai to murder the ludians at Stoneham. DOMINANT FACTION in any country, may carry tred of his murderous partizans. Hull, the amiable representative of our cab- | into practice, a system of despotism, more. After the death of Cæsar, Octavius became det, in his proclamation on entering Canada, complete and effectual than that of the most the head of a political party. He triumphed. pefore one bullet bad been fired against us, de absolute monarch,

and proscription ensued, followed by the mas. clared, that if any white man should be taken I Could the king of Great Britain, availing sacre of Rome's best citizens. Out of faction i fighting by the side of an Indian, he should re- | himself of his utmost authority, compel his grew a despotism, which at last established ceive no quarter.

subjects to experience such a scene of sudden tranquillity, by exterminating, at once, opposi. This was the first scene of the drama of privation, as we Americans h. ve felt? We

mericans hve felt? We tion and liberty. But when Augustus ceased war. Let us examine it. If it had been truc agree with Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison, to act as a partizan, proscriptions and violence that the Indians never give quarter, it would he could not. He has been obliged to make a soon subsided. be no justification in refusing quarter to the treaty, against his convictions of justice and During the long list of Roman emperors. whites who admitted and allowed it. But it is national policy, because his people, excited by we see no instance of the strength of govern. on record, in the volume of British outrages demagogues, were uneasy at a supposed injury ment like these They sometimes tyrannized published by our government, that the Indians to their interests, and insisted on an immediate over a few individuals, but even, in such cases, do admit of quarter. Numerous cases are sta- | peace. They soon found their error-but until generally paid for their impotent cruelty, by the ted of their receiving large sums for the run- iheir caprice was indulged, the legal deposita. forfeiture of their lives. The empire sunk into som of prisoners. They do not therefore de ry of sovereignty was not strong enough to misery, and at last perished, by the gradual stroy them. Will our friends of the adminis- hold its course. Could' Louis the Fourteenth, progress of ignorance, and vice. The most tration be pleased to justify this order of Gen. the most powerful monarch ever seated on striking instances of strength, which the gov. Hull, the very first act in this unjust and throne of France, have deluged the cities of ernment exhibited in domestick control, were dreadful war ?"

his own einpirc, in the blood of their citizens- | the series of persecutions against the ChrisThe history of Genghis Khan, Mahomet, I could he tear the husband from tho wife-the tians, in which popular fanaticism, as is usual, Attila, Tamerlane, or Buonaparte, cannot af father from the son, and doom them to tho never spared its victims. Emperours could ford a parallel, except it be the murder of the I block :-or despatch thousands in a day, by the then show their energy, for they used the only Turks at Jaffa.

guillotine ? No-but Robespierre could do mcans by which a large portion of the people So much for this commencement of the it, or whatever was called “ the government," can be distressed and ruined with impunity. system of inhumanity, twelve months before the while the representative of a ferocious, trium-! It would be tedious to trace this principle burning of Havre de Grace, and the pretended phant faction. Bonaparte can lead on three through modern history, to the present time. rape of an old woman by some French soldiers hundred thousand Frenchmen to perish in Whoever has leisure to examinc, will find. at Hampton.

Russia, in the cause of his, and the nation's that in whatever hands, power is lodged, in It is indeed dreadful to record, in the youth

never can be strong in producing distress, of our republick, such instances of ferocity. | imperial will, even he durst not order five without appealing from constitutional authority 16 What," as Mr. Fauchet observes, « must be thousand Frenchmen to be butchered in to popular fury. the old age of a country, when its youth is so France ; to rid himself even of one obnoxious! Our constitution was in its nature, a weal decrepid ?" It is not the nation which is individual of distinction, he has first to gain one. The apprehensions of its friends friends, chargeable with this inhumanity. It is an hu-l currency for some popular pretext. But “ the as it was the best we could have were just, mane, liberal, virtuous nation. The charge government' of '92, and the two following and have been too truly realized. The incesrests upon those, whom the Almighty in his years, could set up murder as a national trade, sant recurrence of elections—the right of suf. displeasure, has been pleased to suffer to be and boast, as well as our Presidents, of their | frage extended to so large a portion of populascourges of this people.

energy. If a few military despots have gone tion, of that kind which can easily be deluded

far in tyrannizing over the happiness and lives or bought, foreboded the evil which would ruin FOR THE BOSTON SPECTATOR.

of their subjects, they have either effected it, our republick-the rise and triumph of facSTRENGTH OF OUR GOVERNMENT.

by inflaming religious or political fanaticism, tion. Washington commenced the federal

and thus becoming its instrument ; or their ca- administration with an immense weight of The late chief magistrate of the United reer has been short, and death, by violence, personal influence, which, at this day, few dare States, and his successor now in office, have

has proved their government insecure and say was not employed to strengthen and secure both had the cruelty to exult, in what they af

the government. Faction, however, soon apfect to consider the strength of the federal gove

It may illustrate the fact announced by our peared, and grew stronger every year In aternment. The former admitted that doubts formidable President, and show how far we tempting to enforce certain laws, he lost much had been entertained of its practical energy,

have reason to rejoice in what gives him so of his popularity. In suppressing rebellion, he but declared that he believed it “ the strongest

much satisfaction, to review some of the prom- found that all rebels in heart were by no government on earth.” Mr. Madison congrat.

inent features of strength in government, means in arms. It will not be said by those ulates the country or himself, that, in his when, like ours, it has been employed to make who boast of the present strength of govern. hands, it appears to be still acquiring vigour.

the governed miserable. It will show us the ment, that, during Mr. Adams's administration, The reader will observe that the strength, of alarming nature of this state of our country, he did not go to the extent of constitutional which our rulers boast, is not that of the nation and teach us to expect, at least as possible, I limits, to invigortate the government, and hum.

I think not improbable, calamities still more de. 1 ble opposition. One circumstance alone, among against foreign powers ; but that in which think not improbable, calamities still more de

a thousand, will shew, that the inherent strength they, unfortunately, feel a much deeper inter. I grading and distressing than any we have yet est ; domestick control. It was in this respect, / undergone.

of the constitution was at an end. A tax was the best friends of our constitution anticipated

The last Consul of Republican Rome was levied, a light tax too, for national purposes of its imbecility, and surely, on no other account | Sylla ; and a greater tyrant has seldom scourg-defence and has not been collected to this day ! can the executive express a confidence. ed mankind. He denounced his fellow citizens, The government surely must have desired the

re e

mobillalla:

weak.

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