Driginal. FOR THE BALANCE. TO THE PEOPLE. THE HUDSON, (New-YORK) TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1804. No. II. HE late attack on the reputation of Col. Burr, is perhaps unprecedented in the annals of ambition and political iniquity. The fecond officer in the government of the United States, ought not to be accufed of apoftacy and treason without pretty ftrong grounds for the charge; and even where thefe exift, he is entitled to a candid and impartial hearing. To impute to the Vice-Prefident, the bafeft conduct-to arraign him before the public-to condemn and execute him, without giving him an opportunity to defend himself, is to treat him worse than we fhould treat the meaneft culprit. The moft iavage people on earth, would be afhamed of fuch a proceeding. Fellow-citizens, I forbear to fay all that might be faid to you on this difgracefu! bufinefs. Were I to give it the colouring it deferves were I to paint it in half its enormity-it would raise your indignation too high. I would roufe your paffions, and excite your prejudices. I difdain to appeal to either. It is only neceffary to address your found judgment and fober reafon. I know you are not prepared to fanction the condemnation and butchery of a man whom you have raised to the fecond ftation in your government, without a proper trial and conviction. 1 know you abhor fuch cruelty and injuf. tice; and I know that you will, when rightly informed, render to Col. Burr that fupport, countenance and protection, which his talents, his fervices, and his attachment to republican principles, fo richly merit. Unfortunately for Col. Burr, the attack has been made under the name of the most worthless of men. His accufer is a contemptible foreigner, whofe name is fo clofely allied with infamy, that it is impoffible to feparate them. In fome countries, where two great men quarrel, it is no uncommon thing for one of them to hire a very honeft gentleman called a bravo, to put down his opponent by the poign. ard. The life of Co. Burr has not yet been taken; but an attempt has been made to affaffinate his reputation, which is dearer than life itfelt. Have you marked how this has been done? Have you obferved with what promptnefs the flanders of Cheetham have been copied into the republican papers in the country? Have you remarked with what extreme care ev. ery thing in contradiction, has been excluded from thofe papers? Have you noticed the threats and imprecations which have been thrown out against all who refuse to liften to the tales concerning Col. Burr? Have feen that horrid fentiment promulgated by Cheetham "that the man who would place any confidence in the vice-prefident, deferved to be stabbed to the heart, by the poignard of an affoffin in the unfufpecting moments of fleep?" — Yes-thefe things muft have fallen under your obfervation. And do they not look like the effects of a fettled defign? Does not the whole appear like a premeditated plan-a fubtle and deep laid plot ? Certainly. you And, do you afk, my friends, who inftigated the attack on Col. Burr ? you enquire who directed the arm of the affaffin? Who tipt the arrows of the favage with poifon? It would, at this time, be imprudent to hazard a conjecture. The whole affair is at present wrapped in impenetrable darknefs. But, my fellow-citizens, you have seen who is willing to ftep in and reap the harveft, which the labour. er has fown. You have feen who is propofed as our next vice-prefident fince Col. Burr is disposed of. Before I close this letter, I wish to call your attention, to a circumftance, which, I think may ferve to throw fome light on the myflerious attack on Col. Burr.— When the printer of a village paper made a charge of no great importance againft Mr. Jefferfon the vigilance of the public profecutor fought him out, and arraigned him before the tribunal of the law. Indeed, we have feen uncommon exertions made to have this printer punished: But when charges againft Col. Burr, of the moft ferious nature were made and reiterated in newspapers and pamphlets by a foreign defperado, at the metropolis of the ftate, and circulated throughout the union, the vigilance of the public profecutor flept. He looked on in filence, if not with fatisfaction, and faw the character of the vice prefident wantonly afperfed. He lifted not a finger to prevent it. Strange as it may feem the indignation of the people alfo flept! As Col. Burr is in nomination for our next governor ; and as another republican (I fhould have faid genuine republican) is fet up in oppofition to him, I hope to be indulged in a few remarks on that head, in some future letters. ARISTIDES OF COLUMBIA COUNTY. eaco. RLESTON COURIER. hich has appeared in a o the Northward, conlculated to alarm ail Ard the federal Conflitu. pendence and fecurity ons of the wild demonow fweeps every thing e it. It would feem as emplation nothing lefs ery judge who differs in uling party. ady know that the ConUnited States gives the on all laws, at least fo hem to refufe to act upey fhall conceive to be The letter before us, exnnfylvania paper, con3 paragraph on the fub. m as if the fupreme court entence upon one of the flature, and to declare aw or not! I hope the leThe conftitutionality of the art to abrogate laws, by power of Impeachment. a proper mode of punish- and when a court preLaws, inftead of executhe legiflature will have or the people, for juftice, es, as to punifh the ufur the judges of the fupreme ed to fan&ion certain laws oufe of reprefentatives of nd that the democrats who -s becaufe they will not m knee deep in dirt and ld have their right to obnflitutional laws tried ;y by impeachment-imhe refult of which they are - every thing is governed on, nothing by common mour, or integrity. We y, try the point by the ex. he conflitution, but we will chment-which word im. ns now to affume the tone volutionary tribunal, once France for its justice. dous prognoftic, and fpeaks the certainty of the ruin of ode of procceding-this terlding impeachments over e only men in the ftate who er to prevent the abufe or the conftitution. If the down, or if by this abomi right velted in them by the conftitution is cisely like the federal sedition i in our new law, we highly app it to the serious attention of hi is : A Be it enacted by the of New York, reprefente fembly, That on every tween the people of this fendant on the plea of no upon any indictment for lifhing any libel, the jur iffue, may give a general or not guilty, upon the in iffue upon fuch indi not be required or directe We will make you King!-And you and you--and you-my good friends, I will make Lords in return.-But hold! the Judges, with their conftitutional right of negative, are in the way!-Right; we will put them down, or make them fwal-judge before whom fuch low their words by impeachment. When that is done, what can flop or prevent us. --True; then down with them!"-And who (we afk) that regards truth, will fay that if the Judges fhall be filenced, there is refource left, or any power to preany vent the conflitution's being tumbled down, and a monarchy ercled in the place of it. We know that Houfes of Legiflation, intruffled by their conflituents to guard the exifling conftitution, have before now voted away the right with which they were intrufted. We know that the Houle of Commons of Ireland did it; for, without at all faying that the union was a bad measure for that country, we maintain that they had no more right to vote away the Parliament of which they were members, than a keeper of a livery ftable or inn has to fell a horfe that is at livery in his tables. Yet they did . It may be done again. So beware Americans! Editor's Closet. NEW YORK SEDITION LAW. In our last we had barely room to mention the however, be confessed, that the democrats, in their be tried, to find the defe ants guilty merely on the tion by fuch defendant the paper charged to be fenfe afcribed to the fam ment; Provided neverth ery fuch trial the court b indi&tment fail be tric to their or his difcretion opinion and direction to matter in iffue between defendant or defendants in other criminal cafes That nothing herein co beld or taken to deftroy way to impair, the right the defendant, to apply to the judgment arrefted, as practifed: And provided ing herein contained th conftrued to extend, to from finding a fpecial v cretion, as in other cafes Next comes the clause whi all the spirit of the bill: And be it further enač ry profecution by indict or publishing any libel a holding any office of truft under the governm States, or under the go flate, or who fhall be a pofed for any fuch office ful for the defendant, fuch indictment, to giv his defence the truth of t ed in the publication cha Provided, That the na of fuch publication be fu lifhed therewith.. We must here refer the rea paragraph, which appeared in of the 7th ult. "We are happy to LAW OF LIBELS, in this way to undergo that re prefent feflion of the legif long been wifhed for by bill for the purpose was introduced into the Senate, on Saturday laft, by a repub. lican member-and on the fame day another bill, on the fame subject, was brought into the Assembly, by a federal member (Mr. Emott.) By thefe bills the Truth is to be given in evidence in all cases of indiament for libel which may hereafter occur. Without recurring to paft times, and paft events, we rejoice, that the time is at length arrived, when both parties in this state are willing to unite in reforming this hoary fyftem of folly, injuftice, and tyranny." honor. Should the bill pass the Senate, we shall be And now, reader, let us see how merciful our And be it further enacted, That in any cafe of indictment, for writing or publifhing a libel, it thall be in the power of the court to fentence the defendant to be imprifoned for a term not exceeding nine months, or to pay a fine not exceed. Whether the "printer to the state," really tho'ting two thoufand dollars, or both, at the that the democratic members were in favor of a re difcretion of the court; or to bind the de- we shall rejoice to know the worst punishment that Lastly And be it further enacted, That from and after the paffing of this act it fhall not be lawful to profecute any perfon or perfons by information for writing or publifhing any libel. This clause is good as far as it goes-but it should have provided that every grand jury shall in future consist of twenty four good democrats. After all, we sincerely wish that the bill may pass the Senate even as it is. We shall be glad if we may be allowed to give the truth in evidence in any We will consent to go back and subscribe cvery article we have ever written against the present administration, "provided" this will give us an opportunity to substantiate its truth in a court of jus case. rice. form; or whether he took that opportunity to say state. AFFAIRS OF THE NATION. It appears that genuine republicanism prevails as much in the national legislature, as in that of our The members of the latter have condescended to direct the people in the election of their governor; and our genuine congress-men have, with equal propriety, pointed out the characters to be elected for president and vice-president. Whether the people will consider themselves bound by these nomi. nations, or not, time alone can determine. It is probable enough, however, that Mr. Jefferson will again be chosen president; though it is extremely doubtful whe her Gov. Clinton (the person propos ed) will be chosen vice-president. The genuine republicans who composed the caucus at Washington, were so far from being unanimous in his support, that they gave him but 67 votes out of 108. Indeed, it appears, by an article in the National Aegis (and it is pretty well known from what source that paper obtains its information) that the democrats have no great expectation of electing Gov. Clinton, unless the proposed amendment to the constitution should be adopted. 64 If the amendment fhould be rejected (fays the Egis) the friends of Mr. Jef terfon, who feel a greater confidence in him, as the Firft Magiftrate than in any other man, will not endanger his election, by giving an equal fupport to the candidate who might be defignated for the fecond office. By this procedure, they would place it in the power of their adverfaries (who would prefer any alternative to the re-election of Mr. Jefferfon) to defeat his choice by an infidious coalition in favor of the candidate, whom the Republicans might feleft for the office of VicePrefident. If the difcriminating principle is not adopted, it will probably follow, therefore, that the two fiil offices will be divided, and that the minority will be permitted to have a Vice-Prefident of their own. AFFAIRS OF THE STATE. We copy the following paragraph from the National Aegis, for the amusement of the reader : "It is believed, that if the federalifts of New-York fhould make no effort for them felves, they will either remain neutral, or coalele with the friends of Judge Lewis, who will, in all probability be elected." We cannot imagine from what source Mr. Blake has drawn this information. No man in the state of New York would receive less support from the federalists than Judge Lewis. As to his being clected, his warmest partizans have their doubts. Col. But is gaming ground with astonishing rapidi. ty. The federalists have no occasion to trouble themselves about the election--At any rate, they will never support Lewis. icultural. TRACT. EW WHEAT. poniterial Department. To aid the cause of virtue and religion. ---- EXTRACT. LETTER, ON THE METHOD OF READING FOR FE- 66 T were to be wished that the riginal Seed, imported by this country. The ftalk, As filled with a white pulp, gth towards the root, were been cut about two feet of the foil.-The ftraw, or r. Doran got cut with a erved to horfes as a fubftiwhich they greedily fed, hrive on it as well as on . The general produce refpecting the Seed, was ing fix pounds; on grind. on of Bran, refpe&ting the - pounds of the former, to e letter. Voltaire, is thick fown with now no other remedy than through them. The lon HISTORY, "The fift employs the memory, the Whenever you undertake to read Hif "Books on morality deferve an exact the flanderde of the Finalish They are manners and habits oft whom we moft frequer reading being, as it were. tion, we infenfibly wri: flyle of the authors we b read, and who have left fions on our mind. No tain what you read on th that fall under the he. would advise you to n whatever you find wo If a paffage fhould ft down in the margin; if a line under it; if a w fore-mentioned books, o are written in the fame need manner, make a first line. By these mez he most valuable, and l er in your memory than ed reading, by being c them. "The laft article is po diftinguishing good poet turn it out of verfe in whether the thought is words adapted to it; or not too big and foundin mean for the sense the This rule will prevent impofed on by bombaft a with many paffes tor fub verfes which run off the cadence and harmonious impofe nonfenfe on the like your fine dreffed be fine gentlemen. Divef outward ornaments, and fed they could have bee: "I have now, Mac rules, and thofe fuch on ceflary. I could have thefe will be fufficient read without burdening: yet with another view be ly killing time, as too m ed to do." You define matter to be “extenfion, in fome figure, impenetrable by other extenfrons. Euclid defines a figure to be, that which is enclofed by one or more bounda ries. Hence lines, furfaçes and folids, are figures; and extenfion is an attribute of them all. But, who, before yourfelt, fir, ever fo much as dreamt of extenfions hav ing figure; or, in other words, of figure's being an attribute of extenfion? If you mean the fame thing by extenfion that others mean by space, a definite idea may be attached to your learned definition. And, it I am so happy as rightly to apprehend you, it amounts to this; matter is space impenetrable by other paces!! learned indeed! You go on to elucidate your first thefis, by another, which is; "the idea of one quantity, or parcel of matter cannot be deftroyed by that of another." That is, by an idea of another,--one idea of matter deftroved by another idea of matter!!! Excellent! This is indeed a thefis; but, not as it should be, a definition explanatory of the former. You fay this is all you at prefent know of matter." If this be the cafe, I would advife you to retire from the eye of the Public, and " learn your book,” ere you trouble them any more with your philofophical thefes. A STUDENT, AT DUTCHESS ACADEMY. Poughkeepsie, March 17th, 1804. Literary Gleanings. FOR THE BALANCE. "IN their lowest fervitude and depreffion, (fays Gibbon) the fubjects of the Byzantuem Throne, were ftill poffeffed of a golden key that could unlock the treaf. ures of antiquity-a mufical and prolific language, that gives a foul to the objects of sense, and a body to the abstractions of philofophy. Since the barriers of the monarchy had been trampled under foot, the various barbarians had doubtlefs cor.. rupted the form and fubftance of the national dialect. But a purer idiom was Spoken in the court and taught in the college, and a learned Italian, who had been naturalized in Conftantinople, thus fpeaks: The vulgar fpeech (lays he) has been depraved by the people, and infected by the multitude of ftrangers and merchants, who every day flock to the city, and mingle with the inhabitants. It is from the difciples of fuch a fchool, that the Latin language received the verfions of Ariftotle and Plato, io obfcure in fenfe and fo poor in fpirit. But the Greeks, who have ef caped the contagion, are those whom we follow; and they alone are worthy of our our imitation. In familiar difcourfe they fill fpeak of the tongue of Ariftophanes and Euripides, of the hiftorians and philofophers of Athens; and the ftile of their writings is ftill more elaborate and correet. The perfons who by their birth and offices are attached to the Byzantine court, are those who maintain with the leaft alloy, the ancient ftandard of elegance and purity, and the native graces of language moft confpicuofly fhine among the noble matrons who are excluded from all intercourfe with foreigners. With foreigners, do I fay? They live retired and fequeftered from the eye of their fellow-citizens. Seldom are they seen in the streets; and when they leave their houfes, it is in the dufk of evening, on vifits to the churches or their neare ft kindred. On these occafions, they are on horfeback, covered with a veil and encompaffed by their pa rents, their hufbands or their fervarts. The enthufiaftic eagerness for the works of antient literature, which prevailed among the revivers of learning, is almoft inconceivable. A Byzantine Ambaffador, having prefented Petrarch with a copy of Homer, he acknowledges the favor in the following eloquent manner: "Your prefent of the genuine and original text of the divine poet, the fountain of all invention, is worthy of yourfelf and me: you have fulfilled your promife and fatisfied my defire. Yet your liberality is fill imperfe&t with Homer you fhould have given me yourfelf; a guide who could lead me into the fields of light, and dif clofe to my wondering eyes the fpecious miracles of the Iliad and Ody ffy. But, alas Homer is dumb; or I am deaf; nor is it in my power to enjoy the beauty I poffefs. I have feated him by the fide of Plato the prince of poets, near the prince. of philofophers; and I glory in the fight of my illuftrious guefts-of their immortal writings, whatever had been tranflated into the Latin Idiom, I had already acquired; but if there be no profit, there is fome pleafure in beholding thefe venerable Greeks in their proper and national babit. I am delighted with the afpect of Homer, and as often as I embrace the filent volume, I exclaim with a figh, illuftrious bard! with what pleasure should liften to thy forg, if my fente of hearing were not obftructed and loft by the death of one friend, and in the much lamented abferge of another.-Nor do I yet defpair; and the example of Cato fuggefts defpair; and the example of Cato fuggets fome comfort and hope, fince it was in the last period of age that he attained the knowledge of the Greek letters." doned to the foldiers, fuffered for feven days all the diftreffes of cruelty and avarice. No houfe escaped but that where Chevalier Bayard was lodged. At his entrance, the miftrefs, a woman of rank, fell at his feet, and deeply fobbing, "Oh! my Lord, fave my life, fave the honour of my daughters." Take courage, Madam, faid the Chevalier, your life, and their honour, fhall be fecure while I have life. The two daughters, brought from their hiding-place, were prefented to him; and the family reunited bestowed their whole attention on their deliverer. A dangerous wound he had received gave them opportunity to exprefs their zeal : they employed a notable furgeon; they attended him by turn day and night; and, when he could bear to be amufed, they entertained him with concerts of mufic. Upon the day fixed for his departure, the mother faid to him, "To your goodnefs, 66 my Lord, we owe our lives: and to you "all we have belongs by right of war: but "we hope, from your fignal benevolence, "that this flight tribute will content you;" placing upon the table an iron coffer full of money. "What is the fum ?" faid the Chevalier. "My Lord," anfwered the trembling, "no more but 2500 ducats, all that we have ;-but, if more be ne your money, and depend always on "me."-"My good Lord, you kill me "in refufing this fmall fum: take it only as a mark of your friendfhip to my family." Well,' faid he, " fince it will oblige you, I take the money; but give me the fatisfaction of bidding adieu to your amiable daughters." They came to him with looks of regard and affection. 66 Ladies," faid he, "the impreffion you "have made on my heart, will never wear "out. What return to make I know not; "for men of my profeffion are feldom op"ulent bat here are two thousand five hundred ducats, of which the gener ofity of your mother has given me the difpofal. Accept them as a marriage prefent; and may your happiness in marriage equal your merit." Flower of chivalry," cried the mother, "May the "God who fuffered death for us reward you here and hereafter." 66 66 66 On the fift performance of one of Voltaires tragedies, the fuccefs of which was very equivocal, the Abbe Pellegrin complained loudly that the auther had ftolen lome verfus from him. How can you, who are fo rich, faid he, thus feize upon the property of another ?" "What! repliIn the war carried on by Louis XII. ofed Voltaire, have I ftolen from you? I no France against the Venetians, the town of longer wonder that my piece bas met with B.efcia, "being taken by ftorm, and aban-fo little approbation." |