CONNECTICUT COURANT


HARTFORD, BY HUDSON & GOODWIN, OPPOSITE THE NORTH MEETING-HOUSE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1800. [NUMBER 1863]

For the CONNECTICUT COURANT.
No. XV.
To the People of the United States.

I HAVE at length, my countrymen, completed the plan which I originally laid out, by attempting in a variety of particulars to shew -- That Mr. Jefferson is an enemy to the Constitution of the United States, and wishes its destruction -- That if he is elected President, the Constitution will fall a sacrifice to Jacobinism -- And, that the result of its destruction will be dreadful to the United States. If I have succeeded in exciting the serious attention of only a few of you, to the dangers of our situation, I shall not have laboured in vain. That your attention ought to be most thoroughly excited to this subject, no one who watches the progress of this great enemy of human peace, prosperity, and happiness, will deny. The Jeffersonian party boast, that the increase of Jacobinism has been great in the Northern part of the United States, within the last year. Encouraged by this belief, or by some other circumstance, it is certainly true, that they are more bold, more assiduous, and more determined, in their attempts to seduce the people, and destroy the Government. Even in the state of Connecticut, where the people have hitherto been the most firm, contented, and Federal, by innumerable artifices and falsehoods and by every other species of wickedness, we have been threatened with the entire subversion of all that is dear, and valuable in society. With a bold and undaunted front, the leaders in the conspiracy, proclaim the downfal of the Government in the streets; while the peaceful, and unsuspecting citizens, are summoned to the nocturnal orgies of this pestilential band, to listen to the promulgation of sentiments bold, base, and blasphemous, uttered only to bewilder, and deceive, and calculated only to infect, corrupt, and poison all the blessings, and virtues of man.
These are evils, which call for universal attention, and the most effectual counteraction. When once these sentiments obtain a stedfast foothold among us, they will spread like wild-fire; and like wild-fire they will destroy. They are levelled with a sure, and deadly aim, directly at the life of society. They will enter your dwellings, deprave the minds of children, estrange the affections of parents, and pollute the bosoms of husbands and wives. The propagators of them are active, subtle, persevering, and fearless. Against these foes of the whole human race, let the virtuous, and patriotic of every age and character unite, and exert every possible power. A moment's relaxation in this defensive warfare, until the enemy is subdued, and driven from the field, will be highly dangerous. Nothing is more hazardous than a truce; nothing more fatal than a compromise. This FEDERAL UNION ought to be open, and avowed. We need not hesitate to declare, that it is for the safety of our peace, our families, our Government, our morals, and our religion. For their safety, who will refuse to hazard his all?
I have said that the Jacobins are active, subtle, persevering, and fearless,in the propagation of their sentiments, and in the execution of their destructive plans. No other description of men, can so justly lay claim to these traits of
character, as Jacobins. They are active, in ranging from one end of the country to the other, in pursuit of objects to delude, and tools to employ, in their mischievous work.Regardless of obstacles, fatigue, or hazard, they "compass sea and land to make proselytes, for the purpose of rendering them" if possible, "tenfold more the children of hell than themselves." "They cease not day nor night," to labour in the mighty task of ruining mankind. They are subtle, in addressing themselves to the foibles, the passions, and the vices of human nature, and of enlisting them all in their service. They converse only with the frailties, and the crimes of men; and the first step towards gaining a convert to their cause, is sapping the foundations of his virtue. They are persevering; not discouraged by defeat; and tho'often routed, they are rarely vanquished. The disasters of yesterday, only serve to stimulate the efforts of to-day; and tho'disgrace, obloquy, and abhorrence, are heaped upon them to-day, they will rush with undaunted courage to the mischiefs of to-morrow. They are fearless, not only of the finger of honest scorn, but of the terrors of guilt, the remorse of conscience, and the justice of God.
Can you, my countrymen, rest, when assailed by foes of this description? Do you indulge the chimerical belief, that your liberties will be safe in such hands as these? Will you listen to the man, who attempts to lull you to sleep by the pretence, that Jacobins, in power, will prove the cherishers of your peace, the guardians of your property, the protectors of your freedom and independence? Is there a man among the principal Democrats, whose example you would not be ashamed to follow; whose character all honest men do not abhor? Are their habits of life economical, their lives pure, or their virtue spotless? Are they celebrated for private worth, in the circles of deomestic life? Are they distinguished for their integrity, their morals, or their regard for religion? If not, what have you to expect from their elevation to the offices of Government? Do you believe in the strangest of all paradoxes, that a spendthirft, a libertine, or an Atheist, characters which none of you would trust with the most trifling concern in your own private affairs, is qualified to make your laws, and to govern you, and your posterity; to be entrusted with the treasure, the strength, and the destiny of the nation? "He that ruleth over [illegible] must be just, ruling in the fear of God," is the language of [ins?]piration. We ought to be extremely cautious, how we deliberately contradict a maxim, propounded by God himself. It has been the pride, and the honour of this country, that our Chief Magistrates have hitherto been men who feared God. The influence of their example, has spread like a charm, thro'out the sphere of their Government; and it has become a mark of reproach in a ruler, that he disregards the obligations of our holy religion. Mr. Jefferson, the idol of the Jacobin party, by the common voice of his countrymen, wears this stigma. His partizans, for the accomplishment of a temporary purpose (his Election) pretend to deny its justice, and from the remotest sources, attempt to derive evidence of his belief in Christianity. They know that he has no claim to the character. They know if he had, that he would lose all popularity with his party. If he is a Christian, it is capable of proof. No man ever lived in this country, until nearly sixty years of age,

without furnishing the most indubitable evidence that he believed in the Christian religion, if it were true. Let them produce this evidence; or at least, some one authenticated fact to oppose to the irresistible weight of evidence in proof of his real Infidelity. Where is the man, even among his bosom friends, who has ever heard him acknowledge his dependence on God, his accountability to his Creator and Judge, or who has seen him enter the sanctuary, to join in the duties of holy worship?
Is there a Christian in the United States, hardy enough to lift his hand for the Election of such a man, to preside over a Christian country? Let him bear in mind (if such a man there be) that it is a solemn thing for a nation, where the glad tidings of the Gospel have been heard, thus to discard all reliance for support and protection on divine Providence, and voluntarily to declare, that they will not have God to reign over them. When we have heretofore been in national distress, we have bowed in deep humilitiation before the throne of Heaven, and supplicated the Almighty to save us from destruction. National distresses may again overtake us; again we may want Almighty protection. But we have every reason to fear, that we shall seek for it in vain. For tho' HE pardons the penitent offender, who has backslidden thro' the imperfection of his nature; yet, he shuts his ears against the cries of the bold, and presumptuous sinner. His language to such is -- "Ye have set at nought all my counsel and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh: When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction as a whirlwind." "Them that honor me, I will honor; but those that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."
Let us then take warning ere it be too late: The die is not yet cast with us. We have still the opportunity of profitting by the example of all other nations who have been seduced by the fatal phantom of Jacobinical freedom. We have been a highly favored country, our blessings have been numerous, our advantages for getting wisdom and happiness, great. We cannot plead ignorance as an excuse for electing Mr. Jefferson as our chief magistrate. We know his character, and the characters of his partizans. The path of duty is so plain before us, that "the wayfaring man, though a foot need not err therein."..."Should we act wisely, we may hope for the blessing of God. Should we act foolishly, and wickedly, we shall have no consolation left to solace us under our calamities, but a bitter recollection of our folly and perverseness. Let us remember, and faithfully apply to ourselves, the affectionate, but awful address of our blessed Saviour to his own country, when he beheld, and wept over it, just plunging into the abyss of destruction--"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! which killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under wings, and yet would not BEHOLD YOUR HOUSE IS LEFT UNTO YOU DESOLATE!"

BURLEIGH.





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