NEW SERIES NO 23-VOL. I] BALTIMORE, JAN. 31, 1818. [No. 23-VOL XIII. WHOLE No. 335. THE PAST THE PRESENT FOR THE FUTURE. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY H. NILES, AT $5 PER ANNUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. To dispose of some articles in type, the present number has been made to consist of twenty pages-and we have matter enough yet lying-over to make 40 more. The GENERAL INDEX is in progress, and will be published early in the spring. A confidence is felt that it will meet the wishes and expectations. of the friends of the WEEKLY REGISTER; and, that by it, immediate reference may be to any article in the twelve volumes now published. Additional subscriptions are solicited, as not many copies more than are engaged will be printed. The prospect respecting the volume of REVOLU TIONARY SPEECHES, &c. is not so flattering. Many contributions expected for it have not been receiv ed, and the editor is yet undetermined on the course he shall take respecting it. A little more time may designate that course-but, in any event, the valuable articles collected shall not be lost. CONNECTICUT. A Mr. Converse, who publishes a newspaper at New-Haven, has affected to laugh at my "ignorance" for having said that there had been an established church in Connecticut"-but he kindly excuses it, because I am "living in Balti more." The editor of the New-Haven Herald has politely interfered, and demonstrated that either the said Mr. Converse or myself have spoken fool ishly-by publishing the following extract from the laws of that state: James Otis. The editor of the WEEKLY REGISTER, and the puba QUINCY, January 14, 1818. Mr. NILES-In a former letter I hazarded an opinion that the true history of the American revolution could not be recovered. I had many reasons for that apprehension; one of which I will attempt to explain. Of the determination of the British cabinet to assert and maintain the sovereign authority of parliament over the colonies, in all cases of "This assembly do declare their great approbataxation and internal policy, the first demontion of such a happy agreement, [to wit, the Say-stration which arrived in America was an ORbrook Platform,] and do ordain that all the Chris- DER IN COUNCIL to the officers of the customs tian churches within this government, that are or in Massachusetts Bay, to carry into execution shall be thus united in DOCTRINE, WORSHIP, and DIS THE ACTS OF TRADE, and to apply to the suCIPLINE, be, and for the future shall be, owned and preme judicature of the province for WRITS OF acknowledged as ESTABLISHED BY LAW.” Vide ASSISTANTS, to authorise them to break and enter Stat. ed. of 1750, p. 169. all houses, cellars, stores, shops, ships, bales, casks, &c. to search and seize all goods, wares and merchandizes, on which the taxes imposed by those acts had not been paid. MANUFACTURES. The editor of the REGISTER was favored with and has attentively read, a pamph let addressed to the president of the United States, by John Mellish, on "the necessity of protect ing and encouraging the manufactures of the United Mr. Cockle, of Salem, a deputy under Mr. States." It is an interesting little work, and, so Paxton, of Boston, the collector of the customs, far as we are judges of what is true political economy, a very excellent one. Its leading principle is petitioned the superior court in Salem in Nov. bottomed on what must forever constitute the 1760, for such a writ. The court doubted its wealth of a nation-which is, the profitable employ constitutionality and consequently its legality: ment of its population; and he also clearly shews us but, as the king's order ought to be considered, that we cannot long continue to pay the present bea they ordered the question to be argued before vy difference between the value of our exports and them, by counsel, at the next February tering imports, in favor of Great Britain. There is nothing new in those positions; but Mr. Mellish's elucida in Boston. tions of the facts appertaining to them are pleasing, The community was greatly alarmed. The and it is impossible that they should be too often merchants of Salem and of Boston applied to enforced until we have agreed to act upon them Mr. Otis to defend them and their country as we ought to do. We shall probably interweave against that formidable instrument of arbitrary some extracts from this pamphlet in the remarks that we had in a state of preparation on the same power. They tendered him rich fees--he ensubject before we received it, and which we de gaged in their cause, but would accept no fees. signed to publish under a hope that congress JAMES OTIS, of Boston, sprung from families would not rise without doing something to ensure among the earliest of the planters of the coloa sufficient protection to our manufactures. Much nies, and the most respectable in rank, while has been done, many millions have been spent for the word rank and the idea annexed to it were commerce-and we are content to say it is well: but manufactures, many times more important, have tolerated in America. He was a gentleman of been suffered to struggle for themselves; the du general science and extensive literature. H ties upon foreign goods having been levied for the had been an indefatigable student during the alyp urpose of raising a revenue. whole course of his education in college and VOL. XHI -24. at the bar. He was well versed in Greek and Although Mr. Otis had never before interRoman history, philosophy, oratory,poetry and fered in public affairs, his exertions, on this mythology. His classical studies had been un-single occasion, secured him a commanding sually ardent,and his acquisitions uncommonly popularity with the friends of their country, great. He had composed a treatise on Latin and the terror and vengeance of her enemies; prosody, which he lent to me, and I urged him neither of which ever deserted him. to print. He consented. It is extant and may At the next election, in May, 1761, he was speak for itself. It has been lately reviewed in elected, by a vast majority, a representative in the Anthology by one of our best scholars, at a the legislature, of the town of Boston, and conmatu e age and in a respectable station. He had tinued to be so elected annually for nine years. also composed, with equal skill and great labor, Here, at the head of the country interest, he a treatise on Greek prosody. This he also lent conducted her cause with a fortitude prume, and, by his indulgence, I had it in my pos- dence, ability and perseverance which has session six months. When I returned it I beg- never been exceeded in America, at every ged him to print it. He said there were no Greek sacrifice of health, pleasure, profit and reputatypes in the country, or, if there were, there tion, and against all the powers of government, was no printer who knew how to use them. He and all the talents, learning, wit, scurrility was a passionate admirer of the Greek poets, and insolence of its prostitutes. especially of Homer; and he said it was in vain Hampden was shot in open field of battle. to attempt to read the poets in any language Otis was basely assassinated in a coffee-house, without being master of their prosody. This in the night, by a well-dressed banditti, with a classic scholar was also a great master of the commissioner of the customs at their head. laws of nature and nations. He had read Puf- During the period of nine years that Mr. fendorph, Grotius, Barbeyrac, Bulamaqui, Vat- Otis was at the head of the cause of his countel, Heineccius; and, in the civil law, Domal, try, he held correspondences, with gentlemen Justinian, and, upon occasions, consulted the in England, Scotland and various colonies in corpus juris at large. It was a maxim, which America: He must have written and received he inculcated on his pupils, as his patron in the many letters, collected many pamphlets, and, profession, Mr. Gridley, had done before him, probably, composed manuscripts, which might "that A LAWYER OUGHT NEVER TO BE WITHOUT have illustrated the rising dawn of the revoluA VOLUME OF NATURAL OR PUBLIC LAW, OR MO- tion. RAL PHILOSOPHY, ON HIS TABLE OR IN HIS POCKET." In the history, the common law and statute laws of England, he had no superior, at least in Boston. After my return from Europe, I asked his daughter whether she had found among her father's manuscripts, a treatise on Greek prosody? With hands and eyes uplifted, in a paThus qualified to resist the system of usur- roxysm of grief, she cried, "Oh! sir, I have not pation and despotism meditated by the British" a line from my father's pen. I have not even ninistry, under the auspices of the earl of "his name in his own hand writing. Bute, Mr. Otis resigned his commission from she was a little calmed, I asked her, "Who has the crown, as advocate general, an office very "his papers? Where are they?" She answered, lucrative at that time, and a sure road to the" They are no more. In one of those unhappy highest favors of government in America, and" dispositions of mind, which distressed him engaged in the cause of his country without" after his great misfortune, and a little before fee or reward. His argument, speech, dis-"his death, he collected all his papers and course, oration, harangue-call it by which "pamphlets and committed them to the flames name you will, was the most impressive upon his "He was several days employed in it." crowded audience of any that I ever heard I cannot enlarge. I submit this hint to your before or since, excepting only many speeches reflections. Enclosed is a morsel of verse, by himself in Phanuil Hall and in the House written soon after Mr. Otis's death, by a very of Representatives, which he made, from time young gentleman who is now one of our exto time, for ten years afterwards. There were cellent magistrates. If you do not think fit to no stenographers in those days. "peeches were print this letter and that verse, I pray you to not printed, and all that was not remembered, return them to JOHN ADAMS. like the harangues of Indian orators, was lost the time. in air. Who, at the distance of fifty-seven On the death of JAMES Oris, killed by lightning, years, would attempt, upon memory, to give Andover, soon after the peace of 1783, written at even a sketch of it. Some of the heads are When flush' with conquest and elate with pride, remembered, out of which Livy or Sallust Britannia's monarch Heaven's high will defy'd; would not scruple to compose an oration for And, bent on blood, by lust of rule inclin'd, history. I shall not essay an analysis or a With odious chains to vex the free-born mind, sketch of it, at present. I shall only say, and On these young shores set up unjust command, I do say in the most solemn manner, that Mr. Then Oris rose, and, great in patriot fame, And spread the slaves of office round the land; Otis's oration, against writs of assistance, To list'ning crowds resistance dared proclaim. breathed into this nation the breath of life. From soul to soul the bright idea ran, Then men grew bold, and, in the public eye, "The Drawing Rooms." QUINCY, Jan. 20th 1818. 66 attributing to it an offensive article about Drawing Rooms;" while I have to regret that this is not the first time in which my secret pride has been humbled by a similar misapprehension. And such mistakes are easily committed, because another paper is published (at another place, however,) in which the form and manner of the "WEEKLy Register” is attempted to be copied, probably, that it may pass for mine with the honest and unsuspecting. But of that paper, madam, I never opened or examined but one number, and do not ex. pect ever to examine, much less to read another. I see it only by accident, because it is refused an admittance into my office: nor is my curiosity excited about it, although I am told that its ostensible editor, through a hireling pen,* has several times attempted to honor me with his abuse. I cannot see how I have deserved such marks of respect---seeing that I never have mentioned that editor or named his paper in this; and that i yery seldom appear to be wholly sensible that such a thing as the one or the other exists at all. I perfectly recollect to have observed some. thing about "Drawing Rooms," copied from it, (in another paper) and remember to have read three or four lines of the piece; when I discovered that its subject was not suited for my own taste or that of my male readers, and cast it behind me-I could not believe that the public was any way interested in the domestic arrangements of the president's wife. Hence I did not know until now that it was so rude as to wound the feelings of a lady---who, in every Mr. Niles---Upon taking up your Register rank and condition, is entitled to courtesy and the other day, a communication respecting protection, but especially commanding it as the drawing rooms, attracted my attention. Your worthy consort of a venerable and illustrious correspondent must have been misinformed patriot of the revolution, who has also filled the when he states, that there was any distinction most honorable office in the gift of any people in of party made at the drawing room while I had the world. And if, madam, I could have comthe honor to preside there; any gentleman or mitted myself so far as to publish in my "Regis lady, of either party, who chose to visit there, ter" a thing like that, please to believe that I were received with equal civility. And from would have been incapable of adding insult to your correspondent, i have now for the first injury by intruding it upon you. President time learnt, that any person withdrew from po- ADAMS receives my work only in volumes. litical motives. The gentlemen of both houses Not being decisively instructed, I have only of congress received and accepted the invita- to hope that in publishing your letter I have tions of the president to dine with him, and but one of the whole number ever so far forgot the character of a gentleman, as to send an incivil refusal. I am, sir, your humble servant, ABIGAIL ADAMS. REPLY TO MRS. ADAMS. MADAM---It is with high respect that I have the honor to assure you, you have mistaken my "REGISTER" as well as its character, in Salus populi, was the motto of one of his essays. met your wishes on the subject---The record of *I acquit the ostensible editor of writing any thing that appears in his paper as original-because I know that he is not competent to it-no matter what is its quality. Representation of Baltimore. "NOR SAFETY." time of the legislature-the members become "HE THAT GIVES UP ESSENTIAL LIBERTY TO PURCHASE impatient with it: and, instead of striking at "TEMPORARY SAFETY, DESERVES NEITHER LIBERTY the root of the evil, which a strange jealousy against this city has planted, by liberally enIt is not our practice to meddle much with larging the powers of the corporation, they rail local matters. But, although the following at us, and heap upon us every opprobrious remarks specially apply to a peculiar case of epithet that presents itself-without reflecting, hardship, they involve considerations interest-possibly being too ignorant to know, that Baltimore is as the soul, or vital principle, of ing to every friend of freedom, The right of suffrage equally extended to Maryland. Blot it from the map "sink it in the free citizens of a state, is the moving prin- the basin," as has been charitably wished, and the value of the real property in the state would ciple of a just administration of its concernsthe corner stone of the republican edifice, and be instantly diminished fifty percent. It would only safe depository of power. It is a right be felt from the mountains of Alleghany county that cannot be guarded with too much jealousy to the pine swamps of the Eastern shore.it is a right that cannot be legally compro- There is no other market for the products of mised or bartered away; because the exercise agriculture-no other depot to supply its wants --no other resource in emergency. Baltimore of it is essential to the general welfare;-and any agreement that is not in accordance with city, at present, contains about 65,000 inhabia full enjoyment of it, is, in justice and equity, tants, of whom, I suppose, 57,000 are free What was asked? To give to null and void. A bill was introduced into the legislature of 57,000 freemen a power of legislation equal to Maryland, two or three weeks since, to alter 4068 persons in Calvert; or 6289 in Alleghany; the constitution so as to give to the city of or 6794 in St. Mary's; or 7201 in Kent; or Baltimore Two additional members in the 7810 in Charles; or 7953 in Caroline, &c. &c. house of delegates-say four in all. This bill has been rejected. I am sincerely glad of it. 1 regret, however, that, when affecting to consider the merits of the bill, soine "honorable gentlemen," as they must be called, descended to the use of language about Baltimore that would have caused a Billingsgate-lady to blush for her deficiency of tongue!* It was to be hoped that a spirit of justice had superseded the rage of party. Baltimore has tico delegates in the general assembly of Maryland, or a fortieth part of the power of legislation in the popular branch of the government. From the limitted powers of the city corporation, and the daily manifestation of things required to be done for the convenience of a rapidly increasing population. it is almost impossible, if not absolutely so, that any two gentlemen can attend to all the local matters required of them in the legislature, as they ought to be attended to-many of which, of no importance whatsoever to the public at large, could and would be much better managed at home, if there was an authority so to manage them. The business presented from Baltimore occupies, perhaps, one fourth of the white persons. or 28,766 in Frederick, which is the most populous county in the state! Let us see how many counties, having four members each, it will take to make up a population equal to Baltimore city, to which it was proposed to allow four members: I Counties. : : Free persons : : 6,794 7 201 : 59,755 Delegates. 32 The great favor was that Baltimore, having more wealth, and nearly the free population of EIGHT counties, sending THIRTY-TWO members to the legislature:--and with a greater population than ANY THREE counties in the state, should have the weight of ONE County! There was as much modesty in this request as there was of something else in the refusal to grant it. should like to hear upon what principle it was refused-it must have been for the old woman's eason, "I won't, because--I won't;" or for that which governs monarchies wherein power is right, and the accident of birth cenfers peculiar privileges. This is apparent-for no other than a monarchist will have the hardi“Mr. Speaker—there is no member of this house hood to say that one man in Calvert county who has a more sincere regard for the prosperity ought to have the influence of twenty-eight of Baltimore than I have. That city, whose gallant men in Baltimore city, which is the fact as the defenders foiled British demonstrations, and prov-representation of the state stands at present. el that, under the "star-spangled banner," Ane Nor can Calvert claim it for her wealth; we have ricans must conquer, has a strong hold on my affec tions; nor do I ever approach that "home of the many streets, and, perhaps, one or two lanes brave," without feeling sensations of delight and for alleys, either of which are worth more than the fee of the whole county. reverence." The whole population of Maryland in 1810, members of political parties, I think it may was 380,000 of which 103,000 were slaves. be agreed, that our general assembly possesExcept from Frederick and Washington coun- ses less talents and much less common sense ties and one or two others, there is a constant than any other in the union-a few men annuemigration to the more fertile fields and more liberal governments of the west; and it is pro-extension of Pratt street. At present we have on bable that, by the census of 1820, it will be ly one leading street from east to west, which is found that the half of the increase of the state other carriages. The opening of Pratt street, oftentimes dangerously crowded with waggons and for 10 years, has centered in the small spot therefore, became on object of the utmost import whereon is erected the city of Baltimore-ance, and the only question about it, one might which, in spite of its own misfortunes, and have thought, ought to have been for the just comthe malice of its enemies, foreign or domestic, pensation of those whose property was injured by in war and in peace, steadily marches to popu- tension is demanded by the public good)-but other lation and wealth-ranking as the third city questions have been considered, which should have the extension, (as no man can deny that such exin the union, though only a scattered village 50 had no more influence on the subject than a disyears ago. It now has a fifth part of the free cussion about the properties of diamonds as applipopulation, a fourth of the wealth, and two-cable to the building of a wheelbarrow. I am justhirds of the floating capital of Maryland Upon every principle, therefore, it is entitled the speech of Mr. FORREST, a "federal" gentleman, tified in saying this by the following extracts from to a fifth part of the power of legislation-that and member of the house of delegates from Montis, sixteen members of the eighty which com-in the "Federal Gazetie" of Wednesday last. For gomery county, which is copied as it was printed pose the house of delegates, and a proportion- such sentiments he was superciliously called "the ate interest in the senate-and I would have third delegate from Baltimore." this, which is our right-or nothing. I WOULD NOT BARGAIN WITH INIQUITY. Let the evil (if it is not honestly remedied) go on-it will accumulate force in its progress, and in due time command redress. a would have confined themselves to argument upon "I had hoped, Mr. Chairman, that gentlemen voice of justice in the storm of political passion; to the subject before the committee, and that no at. tempt would again have been made to bush the I have considered Baltimore as the soul of drown the judgment of a legislative body in a sea of sacrifice right at the shrine of political fury, and to the state. What would the state be without faction. I had hoped that gentlemen would not it? Many parts of it would become a semi-de-have suffered themselves to forget that they were sert, covered with scrubby oaks and dwarf addressing a deliberate body, whose decision was pines, for the want of a market for its little to their political feelings and passions. That to be influenced by argument, and not by appeals surplus productions. During the war, the state they would have recollected the oath which they wished to negociate a large loan-it would had taken to vote upon all questions without favor, have been applied for in vain to the counties; affection, or resentment towards any man, or any but in the city it was negociated and fixed in a section of the state. That he (Mr. F.) was deterfew hours. And as, during the war, the state mined always so bear in mind the sacred obligation authorities did not fully and frankly take earth should ever induce him to legislate upon under which he acted, and that no consideration on part in the cause of the country, though both party principles. That if he were to be governed shores of the Chesapeake were conflagrated by by such unworthy feelings, he should not only dethe water-winnebagoes, a large amount of mo- serve to forfeit the good opinion of his constituney expended ($295,912 61) yet remains un-ents, but would deserve to be drummed from the settled at the treasury of the United States; ranks of any party to which he might be attached." some part of it, perhaps, has a character si-I admire the city of Baltimore; she is the pride and milar to that of the claims of Massachusetts, ornament of Maryland. I respect her people for Speaking of the city of Baltimore, he said "Sir, and will never be paid. Hence, there is a de- many reasons; and, although I am not prepared to ficit in the annual revenue of the state, which assert the fact that "she was the salvation of the it is proposed to supply by sales of the reserv-state in the memorable year 1814, when the prouded rights of the state to subscribe to the capi-est monuments of the arts were rudely destroyed tal stock of the banks in Baltimore-by a tax dency from which the country was awakened by by a public enemy, and during a period of desponupon lotteries drawn in BALTIMORE, by a com-the shouts of rejoicing for the repulse before Balti..mutation for duties or taxes upon auctions, more," yet I am not disposed to contest it, because &c. in BALTIMORE, to be paid by the city. I do not profess to be sufficiently acquainted with Baltimore is the alpha and omega of the hopes her military history. But, sir, if it be the fact, of the legislature to relieve the state of its dif-the faithful page of history shall record it, and ficulties; and for this we are abused, and de-when the splendid edifice in which the assembled nied the natural right of representation accord-hold their deliberations, shall be crumbled into representatives of the treemen of Maryland this day ing to our numbers. my voice, shall have descended to the tomb, the dust, and you, and I, and all within the sound of conduct of the people of Baltimore at that epoch, will Without immediate reference to the present Legislature of Maryland,t or any regard to the The present legislature has passed an act of great importance to the city of Baltimore. It is for the reflect honor not only upon her citizens, but upon all |