Miscellany.

PROFESSION OF PHILOSOPHIC

FAITH.

Tranflated for the BALANCE, from the
French of a Pupil of ROSSEAU.

[CONCLUDED.]

therefore culpable towards him. They

have cultivated the earth.

thus tranfgreffed.

They have

NOTE.

It could be wifhed that it was poffible to attack opinions fo dangerous and fo extravAnd I declare that all men are effential-agant without ceafing to respect the author ly equal. That Achilles and Therfites do and to admire the talents of a man of gennot differ in thought, or in courage that ius, led by imagination to write contrary to the principles of his mind and even the Cataline and Cato, Nero and Titus had precisely the fame morals. That dwarfs inclinations of his heart. It is our duty to and giants are precifely of the fame fhape, acknowledge that his works contain a maland that inequality among men has no titude of thoughts ufeful as well as virtufoundation in nature. I moreover declare ous and expreffed elegantly and ingenioufthat the first man, who faid to another, Ily-But the mixture of good only ferves to do not defire the field which you cultivate render the bad more contagious. Particuwas a wretch-and that the firft who faidlar confiderations ought not to be regardto his equal, I renounce the liberty of kil-ed when the very foundations of fociety

AGE of light! O brilliant funfhine of philofophy! A new day fprings forth; a divine infpiration elevates me a-ling you was a monster. bove myself. And I cry out with my mafter we have paffions and vices-we have nothing but paffions and vices. The lib. erty of doing evil is diminished by the laws, we then have no liberty; our conftitution increases abufe; our education has its defects. It is all corrupted-philofophers are often deceived-they are always deceived. We have frivolous and pernicious arts. They are all fo. A favage man has fome confolation and comfort, of all beings then he is the moft wife and happy. A man who exercifes his body becomes ftronger and more robust. An inactive man only fond of mediation, is a depraved animal'; yes, I repeat it in the face of the world. I hold as inconteftible all the decifions of my mafter, and I fwear that the truth of them is confirmed by his elo. quence.

Farther, it is well known that Corneille, Defcartes, Mallebrance, Fenelon, Pafcal and Rochefocault and other learned men of their day, were free from vice. In confequence I am well convinced that all faffins. That all fharpers are extremely adour academies are fhops of thieves and af difted to letters, and that Cartouche was the fineft genius of his age. This no perfon will deny at this day. For if the fciences corrupt the morals, the first of wretches is inconteftibly the firft among the literati. And I will prove if neceffary that in the ages of ignorance, for example,in the reigns of Fredegarde and Bruntheir morals worthy of the golden age. chaut, that the French were virtuous and

ful turtle dove, the fatal example of con-
stant love; and to extinguifh the in-
numerable race of dogs, the infamous mod
els of heroic friendship. And we will
content ourselves with imitating the un-
tameable tiger and the roaring lion.

I folemnly exhort men to deftroy the race of bees and of beavers, which have given the baneful example of living in fo1 perceive evil and good neceffarilyciety-to butcher without pity the faithblended together in all human things, and I fay with him that every thing is good in a ftate of nature, and every thing evil in a ftate of civil fociety. Society will be flourishing and I will groan. Harmony will reign and I will fee nothing but diforder. The people will not have the good fense to return to anarchy and I will have no confolation. Inftruction, confolation and edification will be fpread by the minifters of religion and I will not fee it. magiftrates will render juftice to the people, and I will fay without ceafing, that the people are oppreffed. Science will one day make new difcoveries, and I will maintain that fcience does not exift. Rich

The

es will featter benefits and I will fupport that they produce nothing but evil. I will fee innumerable acts of virtue, and will

affert that there is no virtue. Man will

feek it inceffantly and I will declare they hate it. They will add to the number of their natural and civil bonds, and I will affirm that they were deftined to fhun and avoid them. Nature affords the materials of all arts and I will affim that they were destined to avoid and fhun us--the arts are only a corruption of nature. Men ufe thofe faculties and powers bestowed upon them by the fupreme being. They are

And I affirm with my mafter that the human race for the space of fix thousand years, has not produced a fingle juft reaf oning-that men have taught and acted conftantly against nature. That the laws yoke-that fophifm ought to fway the fcepare at enmity with man-that I break their tre and reign over the earth till the confummation of ages.

are attacked and the most useful truths fhaken; when philofophy is no more than an abfurd and univerfal exaggerationwhen an inundation of arbitrary principles which cannot be understood, much lefs demonftrated-bear fway-when a fophiftical affectation of turning fenfe into nonfenfe, and delufion into argument exifts, It is then permitted without doubt to raise the voice. The agreffor of the human race ought to expect fome reprisals.

AMICUS PLATONI, MAGIS AMIGUS VERITATI.

Columbian Congress.

From the Gavette of the United States.

INTERESTING DEBATE
In the house of representatives, on the resolution of
Mr. Griswold, calling for information relative to
the cession of Louisiana to France,

Mr. Grifwold [Federalift] moved that the following refolution, which he had laid upon the table be now confidered:

nited States be requested to direct the proRefolved, That the prefident of the Uper officer to lay before this house copies of fuch official documents as have been received by this government, announcing the ceffion of Louifiana to France, togeth

Such are the principal articles of this heavenly doctrine which I will profess until my death; and which if neceffary Ier with a report explaining the ftipulations, will fign with my blood. A fuppliant in circumftances and conditions under which heart and in mind I have asked my mafter, that province is to be delivered up, unless who art thou? He anfwered me, thou fee- fuch documents and report will, in the ift in me, the genius of contradiction, the opinion of the prefident, divulge to the courge of evidence and the inventor of houfe particular tranfactions, not proper at impoffible remedies for evils which do not this time to be communicated. exist.

The house divided upon the motion to confider the report. It was carried in the affirmative, ayes 35, nocs 32.

I proftrate myself before him, in expectation that fome enlightened government will honor him with flatues as the Romans Mr. Randolph Democrat] faid the difdid to the fever in their temples.-Amen.cuffion of that refolution would involve a

"

fubject nearly connected with one which had arifen out of the prefident's meffage relative to New-Orleans, which had been recently difcuffed with closed doors. He fhould therefore move, that the refolution be referred to a committee of the whole house, on the state of the union, to whom was referred the meffage of the prefident relative to New-Orleans.

Mr. Speaker faid the motion was not in order. No fuch meffage is mentioned on the journals, and it does not appear that the committee of the whole on the ftate of the union have any fuch fubject before them. Befides, all references to the committee of the whole on the ftate of the union should be made general.

Mr. Randolph modified his motion, and moved that the refolution be referred to a committee of the whole on the state of the union.

tion which can be given upon a fubject fo
interesting to the nation. Why then delay
the fubject till a future day? Gentlemen
do not intend to deny us this information,
why delay it by unneceffarily referring the
refolution to a committee. The feffion is
rapidly wearing away, more than one third
of it is already paffed; it must close on
the 3d of March. It is important that we
fhould obtain this information and that we
fhould obtain it speedily, that we may have
time to confider it and to legiflate upon it.
Sir, I will venture to say that no fubject
equally important or equally interefting to
the people, will come before us this fef-
fion. Why then do gentlemen with to
keep it off? Why throw embarraffments
in the way and attempt to make a queftion
where there can be no question. There is
no queftion, there can be none, as to the
propriety of making this request.

Mr. Randolph faid he felt a total difincli-
nation to go into a difcuffion of the fubject
of the refolution with open doors; and
whatever might be his own feelings, and
whatever his folicitude to fatisfy the gen-
man from Connecticut, he should not in-
dulge them fo far as to ftate in public on a
preliminary queftion, those reasons which
he had already refused to ftate in public
on the merits of the refolution. The gen-
tleman, faid Mr. Randolph, feemed to in-
finuate, that by refufing to adopt the pre-
fent motion, we refufe the information. I
deny that this is a refufal of the informa-
tion. What I ftate is, that I have arguments
of a private nature which I wish to offer up-
on a difcuffion of that resolution, and un-
lefs I can be heard in private I am preclu-
ded from offering thofe arguments.
have not faid, that I fhall ultimately vote
against the refolution. Nay I will state
Nay I will ftate
that I came into the houfe this morning,

I

Mr. Grifwold. I hope, fir, the motion will not prevail. This refolution relates to a public transaction, a transaction mentioned on your public journals. Why fhould you keep fecret from the people your proceedings upon a subject of such vaft importance to the public? What is there, what can there be in a difcuffion of this refolution, which is improper to be known? If the information itfelf, when obtained, fhould be of a private or confidential nature, it will not be disclosed. But certainly there can be nothing of fecrecy in the queftion, whether we shall afk what that information is. No one will say that the papers asked for by the refolution are not important to the legiflature and to the people of this country. Does not the prefident fpeak of the subject as an important one, as one which ought to have weight in the deliberations of Congress, as one which may become a fubject of legiflation? He fays, "The ceffion of the Spanish province of Louifiana to France, which took place in the course of the late war, will if carried into effect, make a change in the afpect of our foreign relations; and will doubtlefs have juft weight in any deliberations of the legiflature connected with that fubject." Here the prefident fpeaks of the fact as officially known; Mr. Rutledge. [Federal] If I thought he fays it will make a change in the afpect the requeft propofed by the refolution the request propofed by the refolution of our foreign relations, and that it will could in any way embarrass the executive have weight in our deliberations. How or interfere with any exifting negociation, can it have weight unless we obtain the I would be the last perfon in the houfe to information afked for? Shall we under- make the request. I do not perceive that take to legiflate in the dark upon a fubje&t any embarrailment can poflibly be produwhich the prefident has declared to be of ced by it. What do we afk for in this fuch importance? If the information. refolution? We fimply afk of the Prefi. which fhall be communicated is not proper dent information relative to an important to be publickly known, the prefident will fact which he has publicly ftated to be a fay that it is confidential, and the house will fact. It is reafonable and important that confider it with clofed doors; but no one this information fhould be obtained. It can deny, after what the prefident has faid has for many months been ftated in the in his meffage, that congrefs ought to pof-public papers of Europe and America, that fefs this information, and all the informa

France. It has long fince been publicly fpoken of in the British parliament: yet the legislature of the United States has received no official information that fuch a ceffion has been made, unlefs, indeed, the flight mention of the fact by the Prefident may be confidered as official information. He ftates that the ceffion has been made, and fpeaks of it as important to the United States, as making a change in the afpect of our foreign relations, and as demanding the attention of the legiflature; yet we know nothing of the particulars and circumftances of this tranfaction, which is as important to the people of this country as any I can conceive, and about which, if this motion prevails, they will be kept totally in the dark. The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Randolph), fears that the difcuffion will involve fubjects which ought to be kept fecret: he is apprehenfive that the merits of the queftion will be brought into view in the difcuffion of the refolution. Sir, no limits of difcuffion can embrace the merits. The queftion is fimply, shall we afk for the information? If the refolution is adopted, the President is not even requefted to disclose any fact which, in his opinion, ought not to be known by the house. If he fhould make a communication of facts, the knowledge of which ought to be confined to the legiflature, he will give us notice that the communication if confidential; the doors of the honfe will be fhut, and I will answer for myfelf and my friends that the information will not be difclosed.-Sir, I can fee no good reason why we should go into a committee of the whole to difcufs this question, when it has been usual to decide fimilar queftions in the house where information has been de fired. I fhall give my vote against the motion.

Mr. S. Smith [Democrat] faid no gentleman had expreffed any unwillingness to receive or to call for this information con

with an intention to call for the order of the
day, that the house refolve itself into a com-
mittee of the whole on the ftate of the Un- templated by the refolution. The only ob-
ion, for the purpose of moving feveral ref-jection ftated, was to a difcuffion at the
olutions on the fubject of New-Orleans,
and the fecret communication of the Prefi.
dent; and if the gentleman would permit
me, I would now make that motion.

the province of Louisiana has been ceded to

prefent time, and in this particular mode. It was well known, that there were fubjects of a fimilar nature, referred to a committee of the whole on the state of the union. If gentlemen would confent to go into a committee and take up thofe fubjects, they might all be confidered at the fame time. He did not know but the houfe would be unanimous in adopting the refolution, if brought forward at a proper time, and in a proper manner.-He recollected that when a call for papers was made relative to the British treaty, certain gentlemen objected to the call because it was ftated, that a negociation might be pending, and that a call for papers under fuch circumftances, would be improper; whether a negociation might not now he pending, he could not fay. He knew, however, that the refolution in the cafe juft

mentioned, was referred to a committee of the whole houfe, and that had been the invariable practice in fuch cafes.

The

refolution. The gentleman from Virginia fays, that we are now prepared to proceed to the confideration of the prefident's Mr. Dana [Federalift] had heard no confidential meffage, and that we may at intimation that any negociation refpecting the fame time confider this refolution. Sir, the ceffion of Louifiana to France is pend. fays Mr. Davis, that gentleman may be preing. He pretended not to be in the fe- pared for this but I am not. So far from So far from crets of the cabinet: but he had under- being prepared to proceed upon that fubtood, that the negociation had been com-ject before I act upon this refolution, I pleted, in the courfe of the late war. want this information to enable me to act That fact was fo ftated by the prefident, and he understandingly upon that fubject. had never heard it contradicted. Though gentleman may have all the information the prefident had stated the fimple fact, that which he could wifh: I have not. Some fuch a ceffion bad been made, and had gentlemen may poffefs means ofderivingfecalled the attention of the legislature to the cret information from the cabinet: I have fubject, he had not given fuch informaI fhall give my vote, fir, against retion as could guide their deliberations.-fering the refolution to a committee. Befides the fimple fact, it was important to know, whether Louifiana was ceded to France according to its limits as defined, in 1763, by the treaty of Paris, or according to the extent anciently claimed by France. It was alfo important to know, whether it was exprefsly agreed to be holden by France, fubject to the ftipulations contained in our treaty with Spain, or to be holden in the fame condition as it might be in at the time of delivering it up.

Mr. Grifwold called for the yeas and nays upon the question.

Mr. Smilie [Demo.] was in favour of the motion. He well remembered, that when a refolution was before the houfe calling for information refpecting the British treaty, that refolution was referred to a committee of the whole houfe, and he thought this ought to take the fame course.

Mr. Davis [Democrat] faid as the yeas and had been called for, it became nays his duty to ftate the reafons for the vote which he should give, and to declare to the world the motives by which he was actuated. He faid the houfe was called upon by the executive to deliberate upon a fubject of great national importance, and one in which the people of the western country are particularly interefted. Had not the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Randolph) fuggefled his intention to move immediately to go into committee to confider the Prefident's Meffage relative to the fhutting of the port of New-Orleans, he was not certain how he fhould have voted upon the prefent queftion. He had now refolved to vote against it. He thought the information asked for by this refolution neceffary to enable the houfe to act understandingly upon the subject; he was therefore oppofed to any delay in procuring the information. He wifhed to know of gentlemen what was to be gained by referring the refolution to a committee. It the fubject needed difcuffion it might be difcuffed in the house and without delay. No gentleman would fay that he expected to derive the information called for from any diffcuffion which could be given to the

none.

Mr. Randolph faid he poffeffed no information upon the fubject but what any gentleman might obtain if he chofe.

Mr. Huger. Mr, Speaker, I confess I
cannot understand the objections of the
gentlemen who oppofe the adoption of this
refolution. The gentleman from Virginia
(Mr. Randolph) profeffes to have no ob-
ections to calling for the information, and
yet infifts that it fhall not be called for un-
lefs in a fecret committee with clofed doors.

What can be his object in this? It there be
no objection to our calling for the infor-
mation and indeed if it be proper to do fo
at all, it is certainly proper to call for it
publicly. No fecret of the goverment can
be difclofed by the adoption of the refolu-
tion, for the information to be given is left
difcretionary with the executive. Refer-
ence has been made to the adoption of a re-
folution calling upon the executive for pa-
pers relative to the Britifh treaty. I was
not a member of the house at the time when

the most cautious and refpectful terms, it afks for no information but fuch as may, in the opinion of the executive, be given with perfect propriety.

The fubject is of vaft importance to the nation and one in which the poople at large feel deeply interefted. My colleague (Mr. Rutledge) has very properly remarked, that it has for twelve months been a fubject of public notoriety in Europe and America, and yet the legislature of the Union remains in profound ignorance of it. Sir, I have felt, and do feel, great furprise that the documents relative to this tranfaction have not, before this been laid before congrefs. I pretend not to be as well acquainted with the concerns of the cabinet as fome gentlemen who fuggeft that there may be fome negociation pending which may render it improper to difclofe the information afked for. I can however, conceive of no negotiation, that can be affected by the information requested, but if and that will be a fatisfactory reason for not any exifts the prefident will fo inform us,

making the disclosure. If this related to

a tranfaction between our own government and a foreign nation, it would be rational to fuppofe that there might be circumftances attending it which it would not be proper to make public before the negociation was finally clofed. But that is not the cafe. It is a tranfaction which has taken place beeween two foreign nations: a tranfaction which involves our interefts, and in which we have had no agency. The feelings of the nation are alive upon this fubject-the people are alarmed and will not, nay they ought not to be fatisfied unless fomething is done. They properly confider the fub

entitled to information refpe&ting it. If there is any thing in the information which in its nature is improper to be published, the prefident will fay fo, and it will be fome fatisfaction to know that fuch a reafon exifts. If there is any negociation pending, which would render a difclosure of the information improper, a flatement of the fact will be a facisfactory anfwer from the prefident.

that refolution was adopted; but if I right-jeet as a very important one and they are
ly understand the fubject, the principles of
that refolution were very different from
thofe of the prefent. That refolution rela-
ted to a negociation between our own gov-
ernment and a foreign power. Papers, it
was underflood, were to be demanded from
the executive as a right, and to effect a par-
ticular end, which was deemed in its ef-
fence unconftitutional. The call for pap-
ers was confequently oppofed, as unnecell-
ary and improper. The prefent refolution
on the contrary, calls for information rela-
ting to a tranfaction, which has taken place
between two foreign countries upwards of
twelve months ago. No one however,
doubts but that the probable confequences,
of this tranfaction must deeply affect the
interefts of the United States, nor does nor
can any gentleman deny but that it is e-
qually neceffary and proper, that the repre-
fentatives of the nation fhould receive the
earliest and most correct information on
the fubject. What mode then more cor-
rect or proper than that adopted by the gen-
tleman from Connecticut to obtain this in-
formation, This refolution is drawn in

Mr. Smilie thought it very extraordinary that this motion fhould meet with oppofition from the quarter from which it comes. He could not fee any reason for gentlemen refufing to follow an example which they themfeives had fet in the cafe of a call for papers on the British treaty. He was very certain that the refolution upon that fubje&t was referred to a committee of the whole: Befides, he well remembered that the gentlemen who now bring forward and fupport the refolution calling upon

the executive for papers then denied the right of the houfe to make fuch a call. He thought there was fomething extraordinary in this.

no reafon at all.

[Debate to be concluded in our next.]

their trade, though they may refult in confequences unfavorable to the harmony of the Union.

Mr. Gregg faid no perfon could deny reafons which never can be known, or for deem calculated to enfure protection to that this was a very important refolution and deferved a full and free difcuffion. It was the first time that he had heard any objection against referring an important refolution to a committee of the whole. He thought it the ordinary courfe of fuch bufi. nefs, and the courfe which ought to be purfued in the prefent inftance.

Be it our weekly task,

To note the passing tidings of the times.

Hudson, February 1, 1803.

The Rev. TIMOTHY ALDEN, one of the miffionaries, appointed for the purpose of foliciting benefactions for the relief of the fufferers by the late diftreffing fire at Portfmouth, N. H. is now in this city. A fubfcription has been begun, and there is reafon to hope that a fum not unworthy of the opulence and humanity of the citizens of Hudfon, will be collected.

The ftate Legislature met on Tuesday last.
-The Affembly made choice of THOMAS
STORM, Speaker-SOLOMON SOUTHWICK,
Clerk-and EPHRAIM HUNT, Sergeant at
Arms. The Senate made choice of H. I.
BLEECKER, Efq. Clerk.The Govern-
or's Speech will be published in our next.

Mr. Grifwold faid, if the object of the prefent motion had been to give opportunity for a more free difcuffion of the refolution than it could receive in the house, he fhould not have the least objection to the reference. He was willing it fhould be difcuffed with all the freedom that any gentleman could wifh. It seemed to be the ideas of the gentleman from Pennfyl. vania, laft up, that this was the fole object of the motion. The gentleman muft certainly be mistaken. The motion is for reference to a fecret committee on the flate of the union, a committee in which the refolution may be rejected without the eceflity of giving any reafon for the rejection: the information may be denied, and the world can never know why or by whom. For this réafon I object to the motion, and not because I am unwilling to afford an opportunity for a full and free difcuffion. Another gentleman from Pennfylvania (Mr. Smilie) fays that the course now propofed was adopted in the cafe of the refolution calling for papers relative to the British treaty, and at the inftance of A memorial has been in circulation in fome of the gentlemen who now oppofe the Western country to be prefented to the this motion. It is true, fir, that refolution Prefident and Congrefs, on the fubject of was referred to a committee of the whole; the late infraction of the Spanish treaty, at but it was not to a committee of the whole New-Orleans. The memorial is couchon the flate of the union; it was not to a ed in bold and manly language, and ferves fecret committee. That refolution was to fhew with how much indignation the publicly difcuffed, and gentlemen did western people muft obferve the trifling not fhrink from affigning, before the world, and pufillanimous conduct of our governtheir refon for the conduct. If gentlemen ment towards the Spaniards.-The memowill take the fame course now, I have not rialists flate, that they owe the United the leaft objection; I will consent to go States arrears of excife, and other debts and immediately into committee of the whole, taxes, and have no means to discharge and if gentlemen are of opinion that the re- those demands, but the produce of their folution requires difcuffion, I fhould think farms. That, fhut out, as they are, from that the molt proper mode of proceeding; a market for their produce in the east, it but let the tranfaction be public. If gen- muft rot on their hands, unless the governtlemen intend to allow us the information, ment receive it from them, at a reasonable they can have no objection to allow it pub- price, or protect them in the profecution licly; if they intend to deny it, the public of a lawful trade. That, in their opinion, ought to know their reafons for the denial. prompt and decifive measures are neceff It is in vain for the gentlemen to fay that ary, and that they rely on the immediate the refolution may involve matters of fecre- interpofition of the United States.-They cy there can nothing of fecrecy arise out declare that they have a right to demand, of it it is comprised in a fimple queftion and do demand that the government either -fhall we have the information? Who adopt fuch measures as will fecure them in can fay that there is any thing of fecrecy in the profecution of their commerce, take this? I repeat, if gentlemen will deny us their produce from them at a reasonable the information, let them deny it openly, price, or otherwife relieve them from conin the face of the country, and let the tributions of any kind whatever.-They country judge of the propriety of the deni-clofe by obferving, that imperious neceflíal, and do not let them fend us to a fecret ty may compel them, unlefs relief is affordcommittee, and there make the denial for led, to refort to measures which they may

PROGRESS OF VILLAINY.

A moft extraordinary attempt has lately been made to break into the vaults of the Bank of South-Carolina. The robber, it appears, had entered a drain under one of the ftreets, which had been opened for the purpose of cleaning. From this he had dug his way to the walls of the vault, thro' which he was endeavoring to penetrate, by means of a chiffel and mallet, when he was difcovered. Aftonifhing as it may feem, this daring adventurer had been immured in his fubterraneous paffage nearly three months, without having once feen the light of the fun. He had received his provifions, confifting of bread and cheese, in the night time, from his accomplices, through a grate of the drain. He faid he had been driven to this defperate at by loffes at the gaming table !-An awful warning!

CONSPIRACY.

By a late arrival at Charleston, from London, intelligence is received of the discovery of a confpiracy which was first said to be of a treasonable nature, and to have for view nothing lefs than the murder of the king, feiging of the tower, and with the arms depofited there, the taking poffeffion of the bank. On examination, however, no evidence appeared of plotting against the life of his majefty, or of feizing the tower, bank &c but of feducing fome of the guards from their duty and allegiance. A great number of the confpirators, with their leader, Col. Defpard, were committed to prifon. The examination was going on when the laft accounts lett England.

ter. JULIENNE.