Political. In the present dearth of News, we cannot better employ those columns generally devoted to "the passing tidings of the times," than by re-publishing the following interesting article. Edit. Bal.] FROM THE EVENING POST. State Governments attacked by the Democrats. Of this production, it is not too much to fay, that under the disguise of candor, infinuations the moft unfair and illiberal are fuggefted; that many important facts are miftated; that others, neceffary to a due understanding of the subject, are cautiously concealed; in fhort, that the features of cunning and infincerity are thro'out fo vifible, and fo characteristic, that we clearly discover the ENEMY who hath done this. But although these obfervations are justWHEN one of the officers of the ad-ly applicable to every part of this perminiftration paffed through this city on his formance, yet, on this occafion, they are way home to New England, he told a gen- made principally with a view to obviate tleman, who communicated it directly to any inference which might otherwife be the editor, that they (the democrats) should deduced from our filence as to injurious not leave their caufe to the management of charges and wicked infinuations it confuch people as the printers of newspapers, tains against the former adminiftrationbut that, as would foon be feen, a battery Matters of much higher moment than the would before long be opened upon the vindication of the characters of any indifederalifts from a quarter they perhaps did viduals, however refpectable and exalted, not expect, but which would be found to now imperiously demand the attention of contain heavy metal, directed by experi the people of the United States. enced gunners. This figurative ftyle of fpeaking concealed a threat, which, at an unguarded moment, was fuffered to ef cape, that fome perfons of talents, high in office, intended to addrels the public through the medium of the prints, and level a decifive blow at federalism. Since that time we have kept a vigilant eye on Mr. Jefferfon's paper at Washington, the National Intelligencer, and we have feen these threats attempted to be carried into execution. First there appeared three numbers, entitled, "A Vindication of the Meafures of the Prefent Adminiftration, by Algernon Sidney" Next there came out a series of numbers under the figna. ture of Publius, entitled, "A Refutation of the Charges against the Prefent Adminiftration, that their views and meafukes are hoftile to the Eastern States this is believed to be from the pen of Mr. Jefferfon: These have been aided by feveral fingle pieces under various fignatures, all having the fame object in view. Thefe productions have been affiduoufly circulated through all the democratic prints in the United States. We have not been fo forgetful of our duty as to fuffer them to pafs by without notice, and we truft it will ap pear, that we have not been fleeping upon our post. With indignation and aftonishment beyond our powers of expreflion, we peruf- || ed a paper under the fignature of Greene, which appeared in the National Intelligencer, of the 6th inftant. As this piece has been republifhed in the Morning Chronicle of this city, we would fain hope that the intelligent editor of that paper, fo far from intending to countenance the attro. cious fentiments it contains, is merely defirous of promoting a difcuffion of principles in which honeft men of all parties are interested. This writer, after two columns of mifreprefentation, at length, very fairly fays, "a fuggeftion of great importance, and Republican will be offered," &c. which is of the deepest intereft to the heart of every followed by the fubfequent paragraph, verbatim "The condition of freedom and dif franchifement in the flate of Connecticut, will be found, on examination, to be a principal fource of danger to republican government. That flate contains about 250,000 perfons. The adult males amount, therefore, to more than 50,000. There are very few foreigners, fcarcely any non-naturalized foreigners, and few paupers from the healthinefs of the country, the cheapnefs of living, the abund ance of employment, the refource of navigation, the ftri&tnefs against the drunken and idle, and the facility of emigration. But it is understood that there is no inftance wherein 19,000 votes have been given, at the mofl warmly contested state or national election, though they poll in every township. It appears then that out of 50,000 actual freemen, about 31,000 omit or are not allowed to exercife the privileges of freemen. This fact is of the moft dangerous example to the U. States. So far as the votes are prevented by the laws, it is against what they called their conflitution, which gives an equal right to elect and be elected to all "freemen,' but the conftitution of Connecticut does not seem to have any regular or formal existence more than that of England. The lawful ftate of things is there called the conftitution of Connecticut. So far as the laws prevent the attendance of more than 19,000 of the freemen at elections, they are againft juftice and natural right, against the principles of the oppofition to Great Britain, the main one of which was, that "taxation and reprefentation arein. feparable." Thole laws are alfo againt the principles of the confederation, which was founded on the equal rights, in whatever ftate refiding, of all one people, and they are against the authority and fpirit of the federal conftitution, which declares that it is ordained and established by the people, and guarantees to every ftate in the union a republican form of government. That form of government, by which 19,000 freemen govern 31,000 is manifeftly and certainly not republican. The attention of the eminent AUTHORITIES of the United States is ref. pectfully drawn to this fubject. THEY are bound to fupport, maintain, defend, and carry into execution, in each and eery part, the conftitution of the United States. It ought to be a fubject of early, formal, and frict enquiry, whether Cor necticut is now in truth and in fact under a republican form of government? They are a numerous and valuable people, and qualified to make a refpectable figure under republican inftitutions. If vaft num. bers of upright, induftrious, native ci zens, and inhabitants of Connecticut, are in actual flate of disfranchifement; il they pay taxes and duties to the Union and to the ftate; if they are enrolled in the militia, perform duty therein, or pay the lawful fines, in fhort, if they are a numerous and efficient and perhaps a major part of the members of the body politic of Connecticut, and above all if they are friends to the principles of the conflitution of the United States, and have been and are willing to rifk their lives and ferv. ces in its defence, then to do jutte, duty under the conflitution and prudente require that the legislature and Prefe of the United States fhould take fair al cognizance of their cafe, and prot or adminifter the remedy tor the mali, whereof that important member of the American body appears to be difeafed." Serious queftions indeed are here pre fented to the public. Antient and jun damental laws of the State of Connecti cut are denounced as a principal fource danger to republican governments; a being contrary to the principles of the revolution, to the articles of confedera tion, and to the National and State Co ftitutions. The Authorities of our coun try are invited to confider, whether State of Connecticut is now in truth fact under a republican form of gover ment, and whether the Prefident of United States-and the National Leg ture, ought not to procure or administer REMEDY for the malady, with which member of the American Body is faid be difeafed ?-We reftrain the indigna emotions which this very extraordina paffage excites, while we give it a difpa fionate anfwer, by prefenting a fair còmparifon between the relative claims of Connecticut and Virginia to the character of Republican States. The fubject was lightly touched in a late paper, it fhall now receive a more ample, and we believe a perfectly fatisfactory difcuffion. Wetrufl the difpaffionate and reflecting reader, of whatever party, will not be difcouraged from accompanying us by the apparent length or ruggednels of the way. It will, we hope, amply repay him for his labour. In Connecticut, the electors of the govor, council and reprefentatives, are itiled Freemen." The qualification of a Freeman is quiet and peaceable behaviour, a civil converfation, and freehold eftate of the value of forty fhillings per annum, or forty pounds perfonal ellate in the lift, certified by the civil authority and felectmen of the town." Perfons thus qualifi. ed, on taking an oath of fidelity to the ftate, are enrolled in the town clerk's of fice, and they continue freemen for life, unlefs disfranchifed by fentence of the fupreme court, on conviction for mif demeanor." The existing regulations for defining the qualifications and privileges of freemen, were established foon after the firft fettlement of the country--the right of Suffrage has never been abridged." Alabouring man who enjoys health, may, in one year, befides a decent fupport, acquire fufficient property to become a Freeman." The privileges of a "freeman," do not depend on the continued poffeffion of property, as is the case in moft of the other ftates: when once acquired they cannot be loft by misfortune. Disfranchifement is only incurred as a punishment for crimes. It is notorious that many individuals who are fupported by public charity, actually vote for all the civil officers of the flate. no validity until they have been approved | [TO BE CONTINUED.] Be it our weekly task, To note the passing tidings of the times. budson, July 5, 1803. LATE AND IMPORTANT. On the 26th ult. the brig Union, Capt. Gage arrived at Bofton from Havre, from which place he failed on the 15th May. The Bofton Palladium of the 28th June contains two very interefling articles of intelligence brought by the Union, in fub ftance as follows: PROBABILITY OF WAR ! Letters from merchants of the first ref pectability at Havre announce the departure of the British Minifter from Paris, and the French Minifter from London. Lord Whitworth left the French capital on the 12th May. The expectation of the continuance of peace was therefore at an end. Englishmen were leaving France with the utmoft precipitancy.-We think this news entitled to credit. LOUISIANA CEDED TO THE U. STATES. A letter from Paris of April 28, ftates that Louisiana is ceded to the United States for a certain fum, of which the American credits are to be in part. A LETTER OF MAY 9, SAYS, "I at laft have the fatisfaction to inform you that the American Creditors are to be paid by the American Government in Exchange for Louifiana-THE THING IS FIXED. Five months are given for the ratification; and fix weeks after thofe accounts which are liquidated will be paid by Mr. Livingfton's Bills on the Treafury of the United States, and thofe unliquidated within fix months after !" The Houfe of Reprefentatives in Connecticut confifts of nearly two hundred members, who are elected twice in each year. The Governor, Lieutenant Gov. ernor, Councillors, Secretary, and Treafurer, are annually chofen by the people. The Judges of the Superior and Inferior Courts, and Juftices of the Peace, are appointed annually by the Legiflature. Military appointments, under the rank of field officers, are made in purfuance of Another letter of May 13, from a gen. the nominations of the privates of the re-tleman, "whofe fituation (lays the PallaSpective companies. The inhabitants of all the towns are incorporated with the power of regulating many local concerns. Five fixths of all the taxes paid in Connecticut, are granted by the people themfelves when convened in their townships or fociety meetings. Even in the incorporated cities the bye. laws proposed by the city councils, are of dium) will juftily confidence in the accu- thing was talked over, and the principles agreed upon. The 12th Mr. Monroe arrived at Paris. Every thing was clofed and figned the 30th before Mr. Monroe was prefented at court. A convention has been figned for the payment of the American debt, by France. They are ef timated at four millions, and are to be paid by the U. S. in part of the compenfation for Louisiana. We are enclined to believe this intelligence. Postscript.-Official. By the Sunday's mail, we received the New-York Mercantile Advertiser of the ift inft. containing a declaration of WAR, By the King of England, against France. On the 16th May, an order of council, directing letters of marque and reprifal againft the veffels and goods of the French republic, and another laying an embargo on all veffels belonging to the citizens of the French and Batavian republics, were iffued by the English Government. This intelligence came by the fhip John Morgan, from London, in which came paflenger, Mr. King, our ambaffador to the court of St. Jame's. The declaration will be given at length in our next. A gang of Robbers for fome days paft have committeed confiderable depredations in the city and county of Philadelphia.The flore of Mr. Stuckert, in Germantown, of Mr. Dorneck, in North Thirdftreet, Philadelphia, and the dwelling houfe of Mr. J. D. Hafs, in Bufiletown, have been recently broken open, and fundry articles of value taken therefrom. The latter gentleman was robbed of a confiderable quantity of plate. [Mer. Advertifer.] The United States has lately purchased feveral fma!! velfels, to be employed in the Mediterranean. Extract of a letter, dated the 18th April, from Copenhagen, to a gentleman in Norfolk. "An official notification has arrived here three days fince from the French government, ftating, that the Firft Conful will allow no neutral power, but that they muft either declare for or against the French republic. It has caufed confiderable confternation hére, and the re fult is not at prefent known." CHILL were the morning damps; the early star Lost, in the rising light, his dewy beam, I wandered in the wood-land lane afar, With rev'rence I approach'd a hoary seer, Patch'd was his coarse attire: his legs were bare, Scar'd were his cheeks, cold palsy shook his frame, And silv'ry honours deck'd his dew-damp hair, And velvet, antiquated, hid his shame. "Pray what could tempt thy wand'ring, poor old man, Thus early? sure no common cause," I cri'd; He started, wip'd a tear, aud thus beganResponsive, when he saw me weep, he sigh'd. "In younger days, bent on my country's weal, "I've been where thund'ring cannon shook the plain, (His kindling eyes now flash'd with youthful zeal) And, if my country calls, I'll go again. "was young, "My son" (tears stream'd afresh) was brave, "He fell at Monmouth in the heat of fight, "And, clad in weeds, o'er his untimely grave, "I've groan'd away full many a tedious night. "My country knew me-and was grateful too; An humble office fed my wife and me"But when a change took place, I scorn'd to woo "The feet of power and new philosophy. "Hurl'd from my place by Fower's unfeeling hand, "I griev'd-I lov'd my country and I lost my bread, "And now I roam a vagrant o'er the land For which my son was lost, my blood was shed." The truant cow-boy whistled in the vale"I once was happy too," the Patriarch said. My soul was melting o'er his piteous tale, While with my hand I strok'd his hoary head. Musing a while, he stood entranc'd and sad, Till hunger turn'd his eye from Heaven to me. A poor half crown I gave-'twas all I had If I had more I'd gladly pay it thee." "God bless thy feeling soul good youth!" he name of Rodriguez, took a barrel of pow der in his arms, and crying to his compan ions, cry'd, While grateful tears stole down his haggard face; "God bless thee too !" my swelling heart repli'd Soft nature could no more-I left the place. take care, I carry my death, and that of others," he threw himself into the midst of his enemies, with a lighted match in his hand. He immediately fired the barrel, the explofion of which, threw into the air, and destroyed more than one hun. dred of the natives. Rodriguez, by anaf tonishing good fortune, efcaped alive from this perilous enterprize, and continued to give fignal marks of his valour, [Bofton Magazine.] ALEXANDER the great, feeing Diogenes look attentively at a parcel of hu man bones, afked the Philofopher, "what he was looking for ?" "That which I cannot find-the difference between your father's bones and thofe of his flaves." [Ibid.] AN excellent character was engraven on the tomb-ftone of a lady, in thefe few words," She was always bufy, and always quiet." AN American Newspaper ftates, with fome degree of exultation, that excellent of Baltimore. Weftphalia hams are now made in the flate [Port Folio.] TERMS OF THE BALANCE. To City Subscribers, Two Dollars and fifty cents, payable in quarterly advances. To Country Subscribers, who receive their papers at the office Two Dollars, payable as above. To those who receive them by the mail, Two Dollars, exclusive of postage, payable in advance. A handsome title-page, with an Index or Table of Contents, will be given with the last number of each volume. THE Stage-waggon that ran between Richmond and Hampton, in Virginia, was driven, fome time fince, by a furly, rude Fellow. A Gentleman who had taken a place in it, being engaged in writing a Letter at the ufual place and time of fetting out, requefted a few minutes delay; but in vain. Mr. Whip was inexorable; he infifted on ferting off; adding, by way of reproach, he was fure no Gentleman would afk him to ftay a moment. So the Gentleman was obliged to leave his letter unfinifhed; and the Driver fet off at full ipeed. When they had run about half a mile, the Waggoner's hat falling off, he ftopped to pick it up. The Gentleman feized the reins and drove away, leaving Surlyboots Complete files of the first volume, which bave behind; who humbly requested the new been reserved in good order for binding, are for sale Waggoner to flop. This was refused with This was retufed with-Price of the volume, bound, Two Dollars and fifa fneer, and a remark, that no Gentleman ty cents-unbound, Two Dollars. The whole may would ask him to ftay a moment. Broth-be sent, stitched or in bundles, to any post-office in er Whip was then without remedy, and the state, for 52 cents postage; or to any post-of obliged to trudge on foot to Hampton, fice in the union for 78 cents. a comfortable walk of nearly 12 miles. [Poulfon's Amer. D. Adv.] IN the 15th century the Portuguese at the time of their conquefts in America, were befieged by the Indians in a city of the new world. A Portuguefe, by the Advertisements inserted in a conspicuous and handsome manner, in the Advertiser which accom. panies the Balance. PUBLISHED BY SAMPSON, CHITTENDEN & CROSWELL, Driginal Ellays. HUDSON, (NEW-YORK) TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1803. Hither the products of your closet-labors bring, Enrich our columns, and instruct mankind. FOR THE BALANCE. POLITICAL SKETCHES. So No. IV. lately even as the reign of queen Elizabeth, which terminated precifely two centuries ago, the British houfe of commons was but the footftool of royaity. The fpeaker of that houfe, fhould he have prefumed to appear in the prefence of that lofty minded princefs without kneeling, would not have failed to receive from her a fevere reprimand, enforced perhaps by a box on the car. The members of the houfe of commons, as well as all the other claffes of people, were expofed to arbitrary fines and imprisonment, according to the queen's capricious humours. She fcolded and threatened them; fhe bid and forbid them, with as much authority and freedom as if they had been her domeftic fervants-and they were ob fequious to her nod, and trembled at her frown. Yet it was during that arbitrary reign, that the feeds of republicanism were first fown in England. ence as had been only equalled, but never furpaffed, in the famed countries of ancient Greece and Rome. There was the cradle of modern republicanifm. The English touched with compaffion for the unmerited fufferings of the Hollanders, feized with admiration of their virtues, and united to them by the bonds of a common religion, at which a deadly blow was aimed; they infenfibly caught from them the republican fpirit. This fpirit, however, was for fome time repreffed and confined to the breafts of individuals. Eliza. beth, with confummate fkill and with a ftrong arm, repreffed and fubdued every eruption of a refractory difpofition in her fubjects. In her was beheld a girl of twenty five years, who mounted the throne, and from that early period till old age, held the reins of empire over a proud reflefs nation, with more prudence and fortitude, and with more fuccefs at home and abroad, than ever fell to the lot of any of her predeceffors or fucceffors in office. By the death of Elizabeth, the republican difpofitions and humours of the nation, difpofitions and humours of the nation, which long had been forcibly pent up, were fet afloat. The Stuart family, that fucceeded her, inherited her imperious haughty difpofition, but not her talents. James the first, tion, but not her talents. James the first, her immediate fucceffor, was fitted much better for a cloister than for a throne.- Pedantie, bigotted, inflated with the ideas of the divine right and unlimited power of kings-but having a head too weak and an arm too feeble to wield a fceptre; he became the object of the national fcorn The Dutch had caft off the Spanish yoke and affumed a republican form of government. Though few in numbers, contemptible in refpect to territory, poor and friendlefs, they had dared to brave the fury of the most powerful monarch and derifion. Charles, his unfortunate upon earth; and difplayed fuch an in- fon and fucceffor to the throne, who, avincible spirit of freedom and independ-mong the male part of the Stuart line was much the wisest and the best, knew neither how to yield nor to conquer. His lofty opinion of the royal prerogative, and his confequent contempt of the rights of fubjects, which he had imbibed in early education and inherited from his ancestors, withheld him, till it was too late, from making those conceffions to the people, which reafon and a general change of public fentiments required: at the fame time, he no wife poffelled thofe great, but too often dangerous qualities, and that energy of character, which were neceffary to make himfelt abfolute mafter of his refractory subjects. With the ftrength of but an ordinary man, he vainly attempted to wield the enormous club of Hercules. The leaders of the commons, whofe talents were equal to the vaft enterprize that they had projected, were not remifs in improving the advantages they derived from administrations equally marked with defpotifm and imbecility; and therefore equally expofed to hatred and contempt. A refolute ftruggle with the fovereign commenced foon after the demife of Elizabeth, which, conducted by men of the first abilities, was continued with increas ing animofity, till the throne itfelf was demolished, and the whole ancient ariftocracy was buried under its ruins. Europe then, for the first time, beheld a fovereign prince, arrefted, imprisoned, arraigned before a folemn tribunal, condemned to death, led to the fcaffold, and his blood poured out as an expiatory facrifice to an indignant people, whofe facred rights and privileges he was accufed of infringing. In the British island, "old things were now paffed away; and all things were become politically new." Royalty was abolifhed; the houfe of lords was annihilated; the ancient nobility was exterminated; the whole frame of the old feudal fyftem was rafed, disjointed, and totally demolished. Civil government was placed on its proper bottom: all authority devolved on the people, to whom it belonged, and by whom it could not poffibly be abufed their rulers proceeded from themfelves; they were amenable to them; and were liable to be curbed and directed by the ever-wife, ever virtuous plebeian body, as with a bit and bridle. Favoritifm had abfconded, and given place to equal awards of honour and preferment, according to the fcale of merit. Tyranny was buried, in the fame grave with monarchy and ariftocracy. The fources of juftice were to be fpeedily clarified of all impurities; and political righteoufnefs was to flow over the whole land! There can be no doubt, that fuch pleafing thoughts and hopes were cherished in many an honeft heart. Many fondly believed that the reigns of terror had ceafed forever; and that a millenium of political happiness had begun. In what manner these hopes and expectations of the politically regenerated Englifh were anfwered, I fhall notice in the next. Political. FROM THE EVENING POST. State Governments attacked by the Democrats. [UONCLUDED.] "IT appears (fays GREENE) that out of 50,000 actual Freemen, about 31,000 omit, or are not allowed to exercile the privi lege of freemen. This fact (he continues) is of the most dangerous example to the United States. So far as the votes are prevented by the laws it is against what is called the conftitution," &c. We have feen how far the cenfure against the laws can be fupported. But as to the omiffion with which the people are charged, it is certainly admitted that a great proportion of the electors have frequently omitted to exercife the right of fuffrage; but this omiffion has not been occafioned by apathy or an indifference to public affairs. In no community has the official conduct and private deportment of public men been obferved with greater vigilance. Till lately Connecticut has rarely been di!turbed by faction or intrigue. The people have been in the habit of believing that wifdom and experience were equally as neceffary for the proper management of public as of private affairs. It has been The flate of things above defcribed is from the individual that holds it :" that "All freemen ought to participate equally in political rights," and that "the prin ciple of invefting wealth with immode. rate political power has covered the earth with flaves." Were these pleafing founds intended, like the foft compliments to the mouth of labour, to produce any other effect than to procure popularity in the States where flavery is not known? Have the fupporters of the present adminiftration endeavoured to give these principles efficacy in Virginia? These questions fhall be now anfwered, not by vague affertions, but by fair quotations from Mr. Jefferfon's own book, his Notes on Virginia. "The majority (fays he, page 192) of the men in the State [Virginia] who pay and fight for its fupport, are unreprefented in the legislature, the roll of freehold. ers entitled to vote, not including gener. ally the half of thofe on the roll of the militia or the tax gatherers. Among those who share the repre fentation, the fhares are very unequal.Thus, the county of Warwick, which with only one hundred fighting men, has Loudon, which has feventeen hundred and an equal reprefentation with the county of forty fix; to that every man in Warwick has as much influence in the gov ernment as feventeen men in Loudon." He then exhibits a table for the ex. want more than prefs purpose of hewing that this inequality was not corrected by an equal interfperfion of fmall among large counties th ugh the whole State," and concludes with the following observations :— "An inspection of this table will fupply the place of commentaries on it. It will appear at once that nineteen thousand men living below the falls of the river, poflefs half the Senate, and want four members only of poffefling a majority of the Houfe of Delegates, a Jupplied, by the vicinity of their fituation to the Seat of Government, and of courfe the greater degree of convenience and punctuality with which their members may and will attend in the legislature. Thefe nineteen thousand, therefore, living in one part of the country, give the law to upwards of thirty theuland living in the The ground on which the inftitutions other, and appoint all their chief officers, of Connecticut are arraigned by Greene executive and judiciary. From the dif as anti-republican, is, that they do not reference of their fituation and circumftancognize the principle of univerfal Juf-ces, their interefts will often be differfrage. To contend for the theory of a principle, to urge it to an improper and dangerous excefs, and at the fame time utterly to difregard it in practice, is one of the fingular prerogatives of a Jefferfoni an. It has been recently declared in the National Intelligencer, the oracle of the adminiftration, "that property of no defcription fhould be reprefented diftin&t ent." Here then is exhibited a fair and correct portrait of the democracy of Virginia, drawn fortunately for us, by a hand that precludes all poflibility of any charge of prejudice. Let us beftow a few moments in examining its lineaments. In the first place, the right of electing members of the legiflature, who in turn, |