The

COLUMBIAN

<s HAIL SACRED POLITY, BY FREEDOM REAR'D !

66 HAIL SACRED FREEDOM, WHEN BY LAW RESTRAIN'D!"

Original Elays.

Hither the products of your closet-labors bring,
Enrich our columns, and instruct mankind.

AND

FOR THE BALANCE.

HUDSON, (NEW-YORK) TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1803.

the foil exceeding rich, on the banks of
the river Miffouri; which empties into
the Miffiffippi, one hundred and ninety
five miles above the mouth of the Ohio,
and eleven hundred and fixty miles North
of the gulph of Mexico.

No. I.

A COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE DISADVANTA
GES AND BENEFITS, WHICH WOULD PROBA-
BLY ACCRUE TO THE UNITED STATES, FROM
AN ENLARGEMENT OF THEIR TERRITORIAL
LIMITS BY THE PURCHASE OF EITHER

LOUISIANA OR THE FLORIDAS.

Balance, REPOSITORY.

Louisiana is moftly a foreft: the greater part of its white inhabitants are Roman catholics, of French and Spanish extraction; but neither their number, nor that of the negroes whom they hold in bondage, is known. The metropolis of Louifiana is New Orleans, which is fituated on the Eaft bank of the Miffiffipi, one hundred and five miles from its mouth.

BEATTIE.

convenient and effablifhed place where to unlade and depofit their cargoes. In the year 1796, Spain, by a folemn treaty, flipulated that New-Orleans fhould be open and free for the people of the United States, as a place of depofit. In 1802, Louifiana was ceded by Spain to France; and the Spaniards, after this ceffion, and while ftill holding poffeffion of New-Orleans, denied to the people of the States the privileges of depofit, which they had facredly pledged. The treaty having been thus violated, on the part of Spain, many thought the national honour required that the perfidy and infult fhould be resented and punished; and that New-Orleans ought to be wrefted from the hands of its

"The Floridas (according to Mr. Liv. ingfton's defcription) are a narrow ftripperfidious poffeffors. The administration of barren land." Lying Eaft of the Mif- purfued an oppofite course. Mr. Monroe, fiffippi, they extend in length about one furnished with two millions of dollars, was thousand miles; and in no part are more dispatched to France to open a negotiation. than a hundred and fifty miles wide. Previous to his arrival, Mr. Livingston, They are fituated South of Georgia; and refident in France, favoured by a most forare bounded by that State, by the Atlantic tunate concurrence of circumstances, had Ocean and by the gulph of Mexico; and already presented his memorial to the first conful, and was negotiating for the purchafe of Louifiana; which purchase was finally made, for the fum (it we have it correct) of fifteen million and about a quarter of a million of dollars. Report fays, that Mr. Monroe has repaired to Madrid, to negotiate with the Spaniards an exchange of Louifiana, or fome part of it, for the Floridas.

LOUISIANA is a

OUISIANA is a vaft tract of
land, Weft of the Miffiffippi; and is
bounded Eaft by that river, South by the
gulph of Mexico, Weft by New Mexico;
and to the North it ftretches to an indefi-
nite extent, as its boundaries in that di-
rection are unknown. Mr. Livingston's
memorial describes it to be an infalubri.
ous marshy country, in a burning climate.
This defcription is fuppofed, however, to
have a particular reference to the South-Wefierly they border on the Miffiffippi,

from its mouth to the Georgia line. The
principal town in Weft Florida is Penfa-
principal town in Weft Florida is Penfa-
cola; in Eaft Florida, St. Auguftine.-
The inhabitants are masters and flaves.

ern parts of Louifiana; which are expof-
ed to the heat of an intenfely fcorching
fun, and are fo marshy and unhealthy, ef-
pecially at and near the gulph of Mexico,
as to be uninhabitable. Oppofite to the
Natchez (a diftri&t belonging to the Unit-
ed States, and lying at the diflance of a-
bout three hundred and fifty miles from
the mouth of the Miffiffippi) the foil of
Louifiana is declared to be fertile, and its
climate pleafant and falubrious. In the
narrative of Capt. Ifaac Stewart, who, led
captive by the Indians, had traverfed that
wilderness, the air is reprefented to be
pure and ferenc; the climate healtby, and

The river Miffiffippi, together with its Eaftern branches, (as Doctor Morfe fays, in his Universal Geography,) waters fiveeights of the United States. That noble river being the only road to market for a vaft and fertile country, whofe inhabitants are rapidly increafing; its free navigation is of primary importance to this nation t and almost equally important and neceff. ary is it that the people of the States, paffing down the river, fhould have fome

This is a concife hiftory of the fubje&t; and in this authentic fhape it comes before the public.-It is a fubject of vaft importance, and applies to the intereft and bofom of the whole nation. In the en

fuing difcuffions, it fhall be canvaffed coolly and candidly, on the grounds of

Liberty of the Press.

IT

T will be proper, before we give a
hiftory of the trial, to bring into view,
briefly, the feveral events by which it was
It will be recollected that the

its own merits, and without any irritating.
appeals to party feelings.-Should the wri
ter's remarks prove incorrect, or his argu-
ments be found to be inconclufive, be will
readily acknowledge his obligations to any
one, who, in a decent manner, hall point
out the errors of his principles or the falla-preceded.
cies of his reafonings: if, on the other charge in the paragraph felected from the
hand, his obfervations and arguments fhould Wafp, as a libel, originated in Richmond,
be correct and weighty, it is hoped that Virginia, immediately under the eye of
even thofe of the oppofite party, who Mr. Jefferfon and his officers; that a pro-execration and infamy.
make truth the object of their enquiries,fecution was there repeatedly and public-
will not faftidioufly reject them; but that ly challenged; that it paffed through al-
they will give them their due weight, tho' moft every federal newspaper at the fouth-
they are ushered into public view from a ward; that in the northern ftates, prior to
federal prefs.
its appearance in the Wafp, it had been
CALCULATOR. published in papers, whole circulation is
ten times more extenfive: Yet this little
paper, limited in its circulation, remote
from the fcene of action, was felected for
the victim, and a court chofen whofe pro-
cefs could not reach the place where it was
well known the witnelles refided.

HARRY CROSWELL's TRIAL.

The question for a new trial, in the prosecution against the Junior Editor of the Balance, is not to be argued and decided until November next ; and, from the disposition which is shewn by democratic printers to misrepresent and distort the facts, it is evident that the public mind will be

misled on the subject, unless a fair and impartial

account of the whole transaction is
given. The Albany Register and the Bee, two
papers which are prostituted to the views of the
ambitious and designing, have already published

the most false and unfair statements and animad-
versions. The Plebeian, too, a paper said to be ed-
ited by the notorious Armstrong, has pursued the
same course. The statement in the New-York Citi-
zen, mentioned in the Balance of last week, is so
palpably false, that Cheetham has not even dared
to answer the remarks made upon it in the Ete-
ning Post Nor has he (which was, however,
hardly to be expected) had the candor to acknow.
ledge that he was mistaken. Even while an im-
portant question was pending in the Supreme
Court, those papers were making the most base
and wicked attempts to raise a prejudice against

Croswell. The publishers of those papers seem to feel (for what reason we know not) a kind of security in such conduct. They seem to believe that they may transgress the rules of decency, decorum and justice with impunity. We, there fore, caution the public against placing any rell. ance whatever on their assertions. They are made with a design to deceive. They are the last paltry refuge of men who are afraid of fair investigation-who dare not let the people know

the truth.

We shall spare no pains to render our statement correct in every particular. All the facts are drawn from authentic sources. After having the whole truth before them, we beg our readers to weigh the matter well, and judge for themselves.

RECAPITULATION.

It will also be recollected for what purpole the paragraph in queftion was inferted in the Walp. Holt, the editor of the Hudfon Bee, had publifhed a paragraph beginning with the following fentence ;-

The burden of the federal fong now is that Mr. Jefferson paid Callender for writing against the paft adminiftration." As the Wafp was established for the particular purpofe of correcting Hok's habitual deviations from truth, it was thought proper to expofe this, moft palpable falfhood. Accordingly the paragraph in question was publifhed, viz.

out them; and his trial was preffed with fuch vehemence that a poftponement was with difficulty obtained.

"Holt fays, the burden of the Federal fong is that Mr. Jefferson paid Callender for writing against the late adminiftration. This is wholly falfe. The charge is explicitly this-Jefferfon paid Callender for calling Wallington a traitor, a robber, and a perjurer-For calling Adams a hoary headed incendiary; and for moft grofsly flandering the private characters of men, who he well knew were virtuous. These charges, not a democratic editor has yet dared, or ever will dare to meet in an open and manly difcuffion."

It will be recollected that a violent at.

tempt was made to bind Mr. Crofwell in thoufands, to his good behaviour, and thus, in the very face of law and liberty, to im pofe a previous reftraint in the form of furety" upon the prefs, which, in England, at this day, would doom its projector to

It will be recollected, that at the June feffions, an attempt was made to prevent the allowance of Cercioraris-to keep the indictments in a court no way competent to decide the various points of law which muft neceflarily have arifen on the trial; and that, on account of fome verbal, though immaterial error in the recognizance, Mr. Crofwell was forced to ftipulate to bring the cause to trial at the next Columbia circuit, which was to be held on the 7th of July fucceeding

By this ftipulation, every thing which the public profecutor could defire, was ob tained. The fpace was too fhort before trial to afford any probability that witnell es might be obtained from Virginia, even if permiflion had been given to introduce them; and no application could be made to the fupreme Court, because in the interval there was to be no term of that court.

Hence, on the 12th day of July, when Mr. Crofwell appeared at the Circuit, i was well known that he appeared deftitute of that proof, which, had time and permiffin been given, he might eafily have obtain

ed.

Before we proceed further,, it will be proper alfo to give a copy of the indic ment. This is done, verbatim, as well that the public may know the names of that Grand Jury who found the first bill in this ftate, under the common law of England, States, as that they may judge more correctfor a libel on the prefident of the United ly of the fubfequent decifion and proceedings.

[COPY OF THE INDICTMENT] Columbia County, to wit.

AT a Court of General Seffion of the Peace, holden at Claverack, in and for the County of Columbia, on the tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thou fand eight hundred and three, before Stephen Hogeboom, Jared Coffin, Jonathan Warner, and others their aTociates, Juftices of the People of the State of New York, affigned to keep the Peace of the faid People in the faid County, and allo to hear and determine diverfe felonies, trefpaffes and other mifdemeanors, in the faid County, committed by the oaths of Peter I. Vofburgh, Abraham Vofburgh, Bartholomew I. Van. Valkenburgh, Rob ert Folger, James Wyngart, Lambert Claw, William Dickie, Thomas Law

||

E. FOOT, District Attorney.
A True Copy,

rence, Cornelius Van Allen, jun. Stephen President of the faid United States) a
Race, Peter Mefick, Daniel Warner, hoary headed incendiary, and for most
David W. Patterson, John Foot, Andrew grofsly flandering the Private Characters
Abrams, Joachim Müller, Afael Lee, of Men who he (meaning the faid Thomas
Spara Andrews, John Wager, Martin Jefferfon) well knew to be virtuous," to
Adfit, John Beeba, Jofiah Ruffel, good the great fcandal and infamy of the faid
and lawful men of the County aforefaid, Thomas Jefferfon, Esquire, Prefident, of
then and there fworn, and tharged to en- the faid United States, in contempt of the
quire for the People of the State of New-People of the State of New-York, in op-
York, and for the body of the County a- en violation of the laws of the faid State,
forefaid, it is prefented that Harry Crof- to the evil example of all others, in like
well, late of the city of Hudfon, in the cafe offending, and against the Peace of
County of Columbia, aforefaid, Printer, the People of the State of New-York,
being a malicious and feditious man, and and their Dignity.
of a depraved mind and wicked and dia-
bolical difpofition, and alfo deceitfully,
wickedly and maliciously devifing, con-
triving and intending Thomas Jefferfon,
Efquire, Prefident of the United States
of America, to detract from, fcandalize,
traduce and vilify, and to represent him
the faid Thomas Jefferfon, as unworthy
of the confidence, refpe&t and attachment.
of the People of the faid United States,
and to alienate and withdraw from the faid
Thomas Jefferfon, Efquire, Prefident as
aforefaid, the obedience, fidelity and alle-
giance of the citizens of the fate of
New-York, and alfo of the faid United
States, and wickedly and feditiously to
difturb the Peace and tranquility as well
of the People of the State of New-York,
as of the United States; and alfo to bring
the faid Thomas Jefferfon, Efquire, (as)
much as in him the faid Harry Crofwell
lay) into great hatred, contempt and dif-
grace, not only with the People of the
State of New-York, and the faid People
of the United States of America, but alfo
with the Citizens and Subjects of other
Nations; and for that purpofe, the faid
Harry Crofwell did, on the ninth day of
September, in the year of our Lord, one
thoufand eight hundred and two, with
force and arms, at the faid city of Hud-
So, the hand of Juftice has at length
fon, in the faid county of Columbia,
wickedly, maliciously and feditiously print taught you to know that Guilt tho' often
arrested you in your flanderous career, and
and Publish, and caufe and procure to be taught you to know that Guilt tho' often
fcreened is not forever exempt from pun-
printed and publifhed, a certain fcandalous,
ifhment-Hah! you infamous wretch do
malicious and feditious libel, in a certain
you now begin to realize your fhip-
paper or publication entitled "The Wafp,'
wrecked" ftate-" the fhipwrecked mari-
containing therein, among other things,ner"-do you take ?-Pleafe to pay the
certain fcandalous, malicious, inflammatory
and feditious matters, of and concerning
the faid Thomas Jefferfon, Efquire, then
and yet being Prefident of the United
States of America, that is to fay, in one
part thereof, according to the tenor and
effect following, that is to fay, "Jefferfon
(the faid Thomas Jefferfon, Elquine,
meaning,) paid Callender (meaning one
James Thompfon Callender) for calling
Washington (meaning George Wailing
ton, Efquire, deceased, late Prefident of
the faid United States) a Traitor, a Rob-
ber, and a Perjurer, for calling Aders
(meaning John Adams, Efquire, late

New Ark Aug; 5th 1803

66

K. HOGEBOOM,
Clerk of the County of Columbia.

Balance Closet.

:

To answer, at once, the enquiries of our friends, and to correct the false statements of our enemies, it may be proper to mention, that the suits brought against the editors of the Balance, by Foot and Spencer, are mere civil actions, on the trial of which the truth cannot be shut out. On account of these suits we feel no apprehension. Let us give the truth in evidence and we shall never be heard to complain.

DEMOCRATIC TRICK;

OR A NEW SPECIES OF THEFT.
Last Wednesday, the following letter, directed to
"H. Croswell, Junior Editor of the Balance," was
received through the post-office in this city from
Newark, N. J. charged with one shilling postage.
We publish it to exhibit a true picture of a New-
Jersey democrat.

A YOUNG DEMOCRAT and an enemy to dirty rafcally and villainous flanderers

Tender my refpe&ts to the parfon.

This << young democrat" has been a conspicuous writer in the Newark Centinel of Freedom, and, as such, his exposed himself to our ridicule. He has seogh revenge by robbing us of a shilling, in a Maner which shews that he has strong claims to a

birth in the gate prison. For we hesitate not to

declare, that a fellow who would purloin even a single cent in such a way, would rob on the highway or steal sheep, should opportunity offer. Yes, the unprincipled wretch who would draw money from one man's pocket, would, with equal readiness, draw a watch from the fob of another. But perhaps this " young democrat" thinks it a laudable thing to steal money to " support government.” Yes, yes-this is patriotism-this is democracythis is genuine economy! Rob the federalists to "support government!" Serve 'em right !—Êxcellent plan! Well worthy the attention of a NewJersey democrat.

But, to be serious. Is it possible that a "young democrat" could be so hardened in villainy, as to sit calmly down, and commit a crime, which, in point of principle, falls nothing short of burglary. Or is this pretended "young democrat" some old experienced knave, whose back is already marked with stripes, the reward of former crimes. Or, was the deed committed in some moment of intoxication or delirium. Let the "young democrat" answer. And, if he thinks he is paid the principal and interest of his sbilling-let him repent, and sin no more.

In the year 1803, H. Croswell had his trial for

of age--It does me good to draw money
from your pocket to fupport government libelling the said Thomas Jefferson, by a publica-
-I wish it was all you're worth, for
merit nothing

you

tion, the truth of which he offered to prove, but was not permitted.Now put this and that together, and learn to admire the consistency of de

mocrats.

That ridiculous fib-maker, who amused himself, a few weeks since, in manufacturing "three falshoods" for the Bee, concerning our affairs, will still insist upon it, that he knows more about the Balance-office, than the proprietors themselves. It is a little laughable to hear him complain that we declare his assertion false, merely because—it was

not true.

Agricultural.

EXTRACT

From a Memoir of the Honourable ROBERT R.
LIVINGSTON, Esq. American Ambassador in
France, to Dr. MITCHELL, for the Agricultural
Society in New-York, dated Paris, October 10,
1802.

66

Messrs. EDITORS,

IN

THE

N an excurfion I lately made
HE following inftance of char-
into Flanders," writes Mr. Livingston, "Iitable induftry deferves to be recorded-
obferved at fome diftance from the road, perhaps it is without a parallel inthis coun
feveral large beds of earth, that appeared to try. Notice was taken of it in the Mid-
me to emit fmoke and flame, while two dlebury Mercury of May 18th, which
men were tending it. 1 topped the poft-paper is ftill by me. But a more partic-
chaife and went to examine it. I found ular relation of the circumstances having
that it was Pyrites. fufficiently impregna-been given me on the fpot, I have not
ted with fulphur to burn when dry. This merely tranfcribed the note alluded to, but
was laid on beds and fet on fire. They have rather enlarged; and pledge myfelf
endeavored to extinguifh the fire when the for its corre&nefs.
alhes were of a red colour. If it burned
longer, it became black and the quality was
not fo good. This earth fo burned, was
eafily reduced to a powder by a woodenburgh,
mallet, and in this ftate was carried on the
backs of Affes forty or filty miles as a
manure, and was ufed particularly for grafs

at the rate of about six bufhels the acre.
The feed grain was alfe covered with it, as
with gypfum in our country. This cir
cumftance induces a belief that the fulphur
in acid is, both in this and in the gypfum.
the fertilizing principle, and may fuggeft
inany other ways of applying that cheap
material to the purpofe of agriculture. It
is very prefumable that in this very flow
combuftion, the fulpheric acid is abforbed
by the afhes, or other earth, while the in-ed
flammable matter is diffipated; and that the
union of the alkali and the acid forms a
falt not unlike in its chemical relations, to
gyplum, or perhaps one that is more folu-
ble, more impregnated with the acid. Per-
haps diluted vitrolic acid directly applied,
would be found equally ufeful, or render-
ed more valuable by being combined with
wood afhes, when native gypfum could
not be conveniently had. If I rightly e-
collect, Du Hamel mentions that fulphur-

ic acid fcattered over weeds with a view to
deftroy them, made them grow with addi-
tional vigor. From the place where they
were turning the earth, I proceeded to the
ore bed, which I examined, and found the
earth very fimilar to what I have feen on
my own eftate in Clermont, and, which may
indeed be found in many of our black

FIRE.-On Saturday, the 30th of A-
pril, a fire was kindled in a field at Hinef-
Vermont, for the purpofe of def-
troying fome brufh, &c. but the weather
being dry, and windy, it was driven with-
fuch rapidity as to baffle every effort of
out its intended limits, and proceeded with
the inhabitants to arreft its progrefs. In
its career it deftroved a new barn belong-
ing to Mr. Stephen Hollifter, together
with a quantity of wheat, a new fleigh and
barn fs, fome valuable farming utenfils,
and about three hundred rods of fence.
On the Wednefday following a number
of Mr. Hollifer's neighbours, provided
themtelves with food and drink for the
to the adjoining wond lands, when they
day, and with proper implements, repair-

felled, Lewed, and framed, timber for a
barn 30 by 40 feet-the timber was drawn
to the fpot as fast as prepared, and toward
evening the hands collected, and raifed the
taken from the flump that day, and ali
barn.--The timber having to a flick been

under the direction of Mr. Abel Leaven-
worth, the carpenter. What adds to the

merit of fuch conduft is, the confideration
whole bufineis was contrived without his
of Mr. Hollifler's, neceffity, and that the
knowledge, and executed without any ex-
pence to him.

Had it been fome great man's great barn, and the work undertaken for a great barn, and the work undertaken for a great fupper, and much rum, the whole would have worn quite a different appearance. I have been the more particular, as I have

Your correfpondent appears to be offend ed that the word flavery thould be applied to the English nation; and altho' he acknowledges there is much corruption and abufe in the English government, yet de. clares there are no vaffals or flaves: that as foon as a flave fets toot in England, he is free; but in this land of boafled free. dom there are more than 600,000 flaves

bought and fold annually. Without en
quiring into the correctness of his ftate.
ment, as to the number of flaves bought
and fold here, I would merely obferve
that the flavery alluded to in fuch ftrong
terms by your correfpondent, was eitab
lifhed in this country long before we
claimed our rights of felf-government, as
a nation. It was fo firmly established.
that, in the moft ardent moments of
patriotifm, the founders of our conititu
tion, judged it not prudent to abolith it at
once; but were careful to provide in that
very inftrument for its gradual abolition.
Several of the fates have already abolished
it, and there is every reafon to believe that
the reft will, with all practicable feed,
follow their example. Of the dangerous
effects of liberating fo many flaves at once,
we have had many recent examples.-
What! would your correfpondent wilb
to fee the fanguinary fcenes of St. Do-
mingo re-acted in this country --But is
there no flavery in England ? or if there
is, is the fame cure prepared for it?

Paffing over bribery, corruption, op preflive taxes, &c. what will your cor refpondent fay of the law (if there is one authorizing the imprefs of leamen,* which expofes the fubject to be torn from his family, and to be put under the dominion and difcipline of a boatfwain, during the King's pleasure? Oh, he is paid for it.