Portland gazette, and Maine advertiser — Portland, Me., 1810-01-01 00:00:00, page 2

'The al-rmng deficiency in the
will dcaumftrate to our
Teon.imy two important pc tuts, to
the 6«R of * h;ch, they are probably
tv»» drainers. 1 he Ides of their
producc have flrisingly diminilhed
vithm the lafi t.vo years. The
foppfies of uvenue which muft be
iurniRud in h me way or other, and
which commerce ump!^* afforded in
>e.*r» pad. have now fallen (hoit of
the demands of government f
l'Ue nett revenue from commerce
\:\ v3o7 amounted to above 26 mil*
1 or)s of dollars.
The fame in 1808 amounted to
hut about 10 and a half millions,
difference about 15 millions ! !
The lum pla -d in the ‘Treafary, j
after refunding above 10 millions on
account of debentures to importing
merchants, in 1807 was 16 millions.
The fame in t8:S was little more
than to millions.
In Odober 1807, Mr. Jefferfon
informed us in his fpeech that the
preceding vear had Jeft a furplus in
the Treaf .ry of five millions of del*
lars, exdufive cf all appropriations 9
and that there was then a furplus of
8 millions, which he was at a lofs
how they fliould expend !
Mr. Gallatin now Rates that the
receipts in the Treafuty, for the
year ending Sept. 30 1809, have fal
len fliort of the expenditures of gov- 1
trnment nearly i million 3 hundred
theufand dollars ; and that for the
enfuing year, a loan will be neceflary
of four million dollars ! ! 1
This is a fa£l, which in fpitc of
all the opiates that have been, ad
miniftcrcd to lull us into patience
and fecurity, muft roufe the attention
ot the people. By the obftrtffions
under which commerce has laboured,
the people have become poorer. It
h. s become difficult for many of our
farmers to procure the common nec
eflarics for their families, and pay
the ufual taxes. A loan of four mil
lions Is now required for the federal
government ; tnd this unlefs com
merce is again free from its rc
ftriclions, mufl eventually be paid
with intereft, by direct taxation !
Such is the profpeft prefented to
confole us, under cur increafing pov
erty.
What good effect has this ruinous
fyftem of commercial reftri&ions
produced ? There is not a man in
the United States who does not nsw
fee, no good whatever.
But it will be faid by the apolo
gifts of government, that without
reftri&ions at home, we (houid have
met with ohftacles abroad. Have
domeftic reftrictions removed them ?
Are they like'y to re move them ?
Becaufe we cannot make a clear
gain of twenty millions a year, (hall
we refufe ourfelves the chance of
m aking 12 or 15 millions ? This is
the mod prepofttrous of al! pcffible
objections. Notwithftanding the
impediments abroad, our merchants,
who . know their own biffinefs and
their own rilks have been kept at
home by fine. Gun boats, cruifeis
and cnor nous bonds have ail been
employed to ftop our commerce.
Judge then, intelligent citizens,
whether the appalling itaremenr by
Mr. Gallatin, has not refuited from
a policy wantonly diftrcfllng.
And now what is your voice ?
Notwithftanding the critical iituation
into which our country is brought,
by the refufal to negcciate with Mr.
Ja in, and the lnfulung difmiilion
©t him onJiclitiOns pretences ojoffence,
Mr. Gallatin dares not contemplate
the exigencies of war. 11 is alterna
tives are—to remove all the dom;f
tick [hackles on commerce, cr to re*
rev the embargo in all its violence,
fie mud have revenue, by cu'loma
ry duties ; or by the piunder of ciri
z:ns, who may be expected, under
the prefTurc of neceflity, to expofe
themfclves to the forfeit of violated
laws. Will the democratick party
ik w acknowledge the fuperior wif*
i
I dom of their ipponetus—will they
I abandon a rriferable fyfterh of policy,
which has colt this country a clear
lofs of more than the expenfes of the
revolutionary war ; or will they ad
here to their errors to our total un
doing ? T^eir decfiion may probably
i be affeOed by the publick voice. If
i they can cxpe£f to be juftified by
! the people, they will not retreat from
! their ground. Give them your
I countenance, and their pride and pre
■ jndices will not be voluntarily facri
| heed, but when our deftru£tion is
maniftfi, they will plead your afient
as their juftification.—Repertory.
•xa mmrm HI, — —■mmc■*—«i■ ■ ■ »* mi ww —w——
Clitrmlj Congress? 2 J. Session*
HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES'
FRIDAY, DEC. 15.
Mr. Sonthi rd moved a resolution, appoin
ting a committee to inquire into the expedi
ency of passing a law to prescribe the
mode of taking evidence in cases of contes*
»ed elections of members to this house. A
dopted.
The bill for the relief of the refugees
from Canada and Novascotia was read a
third time, and passed
The house took up Mr. Sheffey** resolu
dons relative to the Batture ; and after con
siderable debate on the dispositions of the
it okuioas, a motion was made to dis
charge the committee on the public lands,
from the fuither consideration of the me
morials from New-Orleans on the same
subject, and carried —[The house did not
dispose of the resolutions at all to-day ]
A message was received from the presi
dent of the United States, transmitting a co
py of Mr. Jackson’s circular, as published
originally in the “ Independent American,”
and also a copy of Mr. Canning’s despatch
to Mr. Erskine—Ordered to be printed.
The house adjourned at four o'clock to
meet on Monday.
■* /-%
MOXuAT, DEC. ItS.
The house resumed the consideration of
the resolutions relative to the Batture at N.
Orleans, and referred them, together with
two memorials on the same subject, to a
committee of the whole, on Friday next.
The house resolved itself into a commit
tee of the whole, on the resolution from the
Senate respecting the conduct of Mr. Jack
son, and approving that of our executive in
putting a period to all communication with
him—Mr. Basset in the chair.
Mr. Rhea moved, that the committee rise,
and report their agreement io the resolu
tion.
Mr. Gold moved, that the committee rise,
and report progress, with a view to obtain
the information requested from the presi
dent, respecting certain communications &.
conversations between Mr. Canning and
Mr. Pinckney.
During a short debate upon the latter
motion, in which Messrs. Gold, Gardenier,
Dana, Pitkin, Bacon, Wheaton, and New
i ton, supported—and Messrs. Rhea and Al
1 ston opposed it, a message was announced
from the President of the United Stales.
The committee then rose, reported prog
ress, and obtained leave to sit again.
The message, with the accompanying
documents, consisting of extracts from four
letters of Mr. Pinckney to the Secretary of
State, which contain statements of official
and Inofficial conversations between Mr.
Canning and Mr. Pinckney, were read, and
ordered to be printed.
Mr. Smilie moved, that the house now a
gain resolve itself' into a committee of the
whole.
This motion was negatived.
And tue house adjourned at half past two
o'clock.
TUESDAY, OUC. 19.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Mr. Macon, from the committee on so
much of the Message of the President of the
United States as relates to our Foreign Re
lations, reported a bill respecting the com
mercial intercourse between the U. States
and Great Britain and France ; and lor oth
er purposes.
[The 1st section prohibits all public ves
sels belonging to Great Britain or France
from entering the harbours of the United
* States, subject io certain specified excep
tions.
The 2d section prescribes the punish
ment of those who shall aid the infraction
of this provision.
The 3d sect ion prohibits all vessels sailing
under lh»* ring of Great Britain or France,
1 «* owned in whole or in part by any citizen
of either, from entering the harbours of the
United States.
The 4»h sectirn prohibits the l'mporfation
into the United States of goods from t» eat
B.iLaui or Ireland, an l France, and their
C; 1 lines i or of goods from aov foreign port
which are ihe growth, produce, or manu
facture ot Great Britain or France ; unless
in vessels owned wholly by citizen;, of the
United Stales.
The above provisions to take immediate
efFec».
T.u 5th section prohibits, after the 15th
* f April next, the importation of goods
fr m Great Britain and France, and their
cpio.iies, unless imported directly there
from.
1 he 6ih, /th and 8th section* a/Fx penal
ties to the infractions of these provisions.
The 9th section authorizes the President
incase either France or Great Britain shall
so revoke o:- modify her rdic's as that they
shall cease to riolnte the neutral commerce
i of the United Slates, to declare the s itu :
► by proclamation, after which the prohibi
! tionsol this act on the pommerce of the ua.
lion so doing shall cerise.
Hie 11th section ret.eals the act to a
mewl ar.d continue in force certain parts of
tl <; act entitled an act to interdict the com
mercial intercourse between the U. States
and Great Britain and France, and their de
pendchci s, and Ijc other purposes.
The Utli section limits this act to the end
of the licit session of congress.]
The bill was racd a second time, refer
ted to a comm, lire of the whole, and nude
the order ©* ihe day for Friday neat.
I
Mr. Maew. frem the r name'.tee appoint
cd to prepare at l r> f** •'t rules nod orders
lor the government of the H< use, rt ; o: led
the same.—Referral to the Commiuee of
the whole H'use to trltich was refer N't]
Mr. iiaecti’s motion on the subject ot or
der.
FOREIGN- LICENCES TO TRADE.
Mr. Newton, from li e committee ot com
merce and manufactures, reported a bill so
deprive, in certain cases, vessels of lUt ir#A
inerican character, and to prevent, under
certain disabilities, any citizen of the United
States taking a license to navigate the ocean,
or trade with any foreign or independent
power. Twice read and committed to a
committee of the whole.
Mr. NfMoifrom the committee of com
merce and manufactures, reported a bill
authorizing the issuing debentures, in cer
tain case;:; (viz. in cases of accidental taii
uie to comply with the terms of the law
| nec' ssary to obtain them.) Twice read and
j re ferred to a committee of the whole.
Extrac: of a letterfrom Washington da*
ted) House c/ RefiresentmLives Dec, 19.
In the moment of writing you, I am
fora moment diverting my attention
from the speech of Mr. Dana, on the
resolutions from the Senate. It is
conciliatory and good natured : but it
is perspicuous, forcible and overpower
ing beyond any thing f ever heard in
this house. And I venture to say the
man who can titlier hear or lead it,
without being convinced of the impro
priety of passing the Resolutions, must
be determined to plunge the country
into war—in truth, the people of this
country are now to decide whether
¥
they will suffer themselves to be plun
ged into a war,at once unnecessary and
ruinous, or shew the administration the
danger of persisiing in its destructive
projects. Goa grant, that the Ameri
can people, hitherto equal to self gov
ernment, and self preservation, may
now, in the most perilous moment,
which has succeeded our glorious revo
lution, rise to the magnitude of the oc
casion.
The point of decisive importance,
insisted on by- Mr. Dana, is that one
government has no right to conclude an
arrangement with a minister resident,
as such unices he exhibits to them,
specific instructions authorising him to
make the specific arrangement ; and
that therefore it is no argument far Mr.
Smith to say he did not know, but that
Mr. Lrskine might have been autho-ised.
io bind the British government, he
should he aide to prove, that Mr. Er
skine was authorize- make the ar
rangement wi.ich he lake.—This
point he It is most < iusively and ir
, resistablv established—Of course, all
Mr. Smith’s logic ;s cut up by the
roots. I hope you will feel anxious to
read this ir resist able speech—for the
perusal of it, will answ er more than the
expectation, I have endeavoured to ex
cite in you.
Extract of a letter from Washington,
dated Dec. 14, 1809.
u The public sentiment here, relative
to the rupture of the negotiation, is
very different from the first impres
sion.—Most thinking people conceive
the government has been too hasty ;_
| or that the President has had bad advi
i sers. They look in vain in the corres
pondence for those very offensive ex
j pressions, which could authorize break
| ing ofi' so important a negociation ;
! and the rupture is attributed to a variety
1 of causes, rather than the pretended in
[ suit—Some suppose the 44 family com*
| pact *—that the Senator’s./owr hundred
i thousand dollars, in the hands of the
French, and the late Despatches from
that Country, have had thur influence.
But we are most astonished at the no
; tice taken of the “ Circular Letter.”_
That a man accused of such an enor
mous oft'ence, which almost subjected
I him io a coat ol tar and ftalhers us he
! passed through Baltimore—and against
j whom the democratic presse s teemed
i with such vile abuse ami denunciations,
; could not be allowed the privilege of
j even pleading not guilty, smacks a lit
tle of want of mercy. He regrets that
offence was taken by the American
government, wdien no insult was inten
ded by him ;—and this is said to be an
appeal to the people ! 1 !—This is truly
magnifying a mole hill to u mountain.
1 tear We shall have reason again to say
“ there is something rotten in the State
1 of Denmark.
“ Farmer Giles seems to have “ let
• the cat out of the bag*’ too soon. A
j war with Fngland and alliance with
J Franee does not appear to cool, consid
erate men,to be the best possible method
oi promoting the happiness of the peo
ple :—the freedom of Holland or Swit
zerland has no charms for us. We had
fondly hoped (my friend) that we had
tot rid of French intrigue ; and that
french influence would no more have
j dominion over us. Alas; how preca
rious, how uncertain is the fate of man !
l or a most trifling dispute in which it
docs not appear that any insult was giv
en, or intended, we are likely to be
plunged into a war which we most ab*1
hor.
“ Verily, verily, 1 say unto you, that
offences will come, but woe unto him by
whom the offence comcth.” Wilkinson
is ordered home to lake l.:»trial, and it
I is odd he is collecting c\idcurc to vin
dicate his character—and it i* m moil ret.
that he says,u if he is trie d he will hi tug
out some who think themselves secure and
hold their heads very high.” I do not
pretend to vouch tor the accuracy of
this, nor can I rrace the origin ot the re
port ; but in this age of wonders, the
fact would not be surpiiiingf. And in
this way we may account lor the favoi
iiisni exercised so long towards thu
man. Bot notwithstanding the wishes
of many of the leading democrats, who
jexpress openly their desires that we
may have war with Great Britain, I
! hope and trust they will be frustrated
in iheirnefarious designs. The South
ern people know that New England
must bear the brunt, and this may be
the cause of their unreserved declara
tions, and if insulting language towards
the British government, can efiect their
object, they certainly will insure it.”
jlortlanth |
Monday, January 1, 1810.
•. t .....
TIIE NEW YEAR.
|j^7* The Editor of the G.iXETtE pre
sents the compliments of the season to his
Friends and Patrons, solicits a continu
ance of their favor*, and punctual pay
ment from those indebted to him for his
labors of the year past.
LATEST FROM EUROPE, j
English accounts a few days later (to
Nov. 14) have been received since our last,
but they furnish no news of Importance, j
The Spanish Patriots still contend with the
French invaders- The account of the de
feat of Gen. Marchand who is the successor
of Marshall Ney, is confirmed. When
Gen. Marchand left Salamanca with an ar
my of 10,0 00 infantry and 1200 cavalry, he
declared that he would destroy 30.0C0
Spanish peasants that day before noon, but
after a contest of setien hours the French
w*re compelled to retreat with the loss of
2000 men, 5000 muskets and a large quan
tity of military stores and accoutiements.
On the other hand the Spanish forces un
der Gen. Vinegaa, have been defeated and
driven out of the province of La Mancha.
It is aLo stated that the brave garrison in
the city of Gerona, after sustaining a siege
with the most heroic courage and perseve
rance, have been compelled to capitulate.
Lord Wellington has assumed the com
mand of the Anglo-Portuguese army, which
is at Badsjos.
Rumours continued to circulate in Eng
land, at the Last dates, that a general peace
would soon take place-—hut the general
opinion was, there were no reasons to ex
pect such an event at present.
At the date of the last accounts from
Fi ance, Bonaparte was preparing to set out
| for Spain.
L05DC.JJ, KOV. 14.
The Times, (a Ministerial paper) says,
Walcheren is to he abandoned.
The Funds continue to rise astonishingly.
The three per cents of the consolidated fund,
are at 70 1 4:
The Prussian army is now estimated at
60,000 infantry and 20,000 cavalry. A torce
too large for the limited territories of that
kingdom.—Pant paper.
Several ladies, lately arrived from France
where they have been inhumanly detained
ever since tha war commenced, assert, on
the information of an American gentlemen
from Paris, that Napoleon, notwithstanding
the assertions of the newspajiers, had been
attacked by epilepsy ; but that he had re
covered, and was as active and ambitious
as ever.
A French paper stales, that the popula
tion of the cessions made by Austria in the
late treaty, amount t*> 3 400,000.
A seriousJact.— For tive jears last past,
according to official returns, it has cost
France alone, beside her subsidiary states,
no less than 100,000 men annually, to sup
ply the losses in her armies, by deaths in
battle, by sickness and casualties. And
these have been supplied from her young
i tricn. No doubt the losses iu proportion
i sustined in other nations who have
been actually engaged in the wars.
PARIS, ocr. 21.
The Court-Martial recently hitting* at
Rochefort has been dissolved.’ After pu
lsing sentence of death, by a majority of 5
to 4, on Capt. Jean Baptiste I.aban, for hav
ing in a coward!} manner, abandoned tile
t Calcutta ot 50 gun*, during the attack of
the English on me 12th of April. [r^» KiS
sentence vs as executed in about two hours'after,
on board the ship Ocean. ] And after se.iien
cing Capt. Lacailie, for having momentarily
quitted his vessel, the Tourville, to two
years imprisonment, and to being degraded
from the Legion of Honour.
Communication*
TOR THE GAZETTE.
Mr. Shirly,
Every citizen must be sensible, that
by the late conduct of our cabinet, in
relusiug to negociate with the British
Envoy, the prosperity and peace of the
nation are unnecessarily put at hazard*
We say, “ unnecctsari/y.” For tho’ it
is granted, that some of the claims
and pretensions of the English govern
ment are not to be admitted, we, by no
means discern that they inaixt upon
conditions injurious to the welfare or
derogatory to the independency of the
country. It is not intended, therefore,
to apologize for all the acts or claims
ot the British—but rather to shew, that
they have done nothing to justify our
Eulers in provoking them to hostilities
—and that the principal causes of our
picscnt embarrassed situation may be
found in the ch.-sand infet«ncV:cl V
our own government. ' ** 0
Wiion men deviate from a crM!rv. * M
honest politics, &nd calculate uJxmi
cevs from intiigue thev sn.H,
t he m sc I vt s i a vol v t d i t> tl i fife \ i It U s ^
Secretary Smith says, our go\t «T,nif r‘
knew not what were Mr. Ul*
structions. But is adnaiaisuvrfoj,ln<
ware of the conclusion to he (],a **
from thii concession ? Then it *
Mr.Mmlfoon made an arrangement
entered into stipulations with the ]/-■ I
hit minister, deeply affecting ^ *
ests and welfare of this countty,
out knowing whether that nn*urtr \Via
instructions and powers to authorL
him in his agreements. Mr. Smit/t j 8
bors hard to shew, that this arranj*'
ment was very different from a treaty*
1 in order to fasten his charge of ill /oik
on Great Britain. Surely then
Madison Was bound to know whether
the British Minister acted agreeably t
j his instructions in this affair. In justice
| to this country and in support of 0UP
commercial rights, he certainly ought
i to have fully ascertained the fact, that
Mr. Ersl.ine was clearly empowered to
make or agree to the propositions, on
which the arrangement was bottomed
It was not only the part of prudence
but it was his duty, to have acted with
j his eyes open in this business. He
ought to have refused or postponed
making such as important agreement
until he was certain of the British a.
gent. Instead of censuring the Eng!
lisdi, then, for not performing on their
part what they, never instructed their
agent to propose or agree to, have we
not reason to charge our administration
with imprudence and haste in making
the arrangement under the circ- instan
ces of the case ?
It is admitted, that Mr. Erskine did
state to Mr. Smith the terms and
conditions, in conformity to or connex
ion with which, the agreement was to
be made. Our go vein ment, then,
knew of these terms. But they $av
they supposed or understood Mr. Er
skine had others. Why did they not
request a view and inspection of them ?
Suppose they could prevail on Mr.
Erzkine to believe,that his government
would probably agree to other terms,
& that the conditions which were sub
stituted were in substance or effect the
same as he was instructed to agree to,
this does not justify—this does not ex
cuse them for their conduct. Before
taking so important a measure, they
should have something more than
“ su/i/ioziiwns or uncUrztantling*
They should have known that the a^ent
of the other nation had full and precise
powers to authorise him in the step*
taken.
We insist on this view of the subject.
I or we think it very important. I;
shows that the difficulty and the em
barrassments now existing are chiefly
owing to want of discernment and of
caution in our Rulers. It would be
painful to suppose for a moment, that
this state of things was designed by'our
Cabinet—that, knowing Mr. Er.skint
had exceeded Ids powers, they consen
ted to the arrangement, with the view
of having new cuuzez of complaint a
gainst England, who, it was foreseen
could not, unoer such circumstances,
fulfil the agreement.
Eet it be here noted, that the friends
of administration predicted at the tiro?,
that the British would not abide by the
stipulations entered into with Mr. in
kinty and that they rejoiced tl*e mo
ment they heard the English had disa
vowed the transaction. And the clam
our of course now is, that the British
government has fterjidiouzly refused to
confiim the doings of its authorised a
gent. But the fact really is—not that
they refuse to compltte a bargain or
fulfill promises which they authorised
any one to make ior them. But they
disavow or deny the authority of their
agent to make the promises or agree to
the terms he did. And is this perfidi
ous ? It is worse than childish to com
plain ol this. Who ever imagined a
mun bound by the conduct or overture
o! even his real agent, if that agent had
particular instructions and powers del
egated to him to do certain things on
certain conditions, but not power to
bind him in ail cases, or to act on con
ditions different from those particularly
given ? Ii «ne should in this case r#
fuse to fulfill an agreement not author*.
11>t(‘ to ,)c made, certainly he could,nob
f reasonably be blamed.
s it not enough, then, in the Brit-.
i? Jr!lnistcr to sa>' and prove that Mr.
j hiskine was not empowered to agre*»
'■ l!lc a, langrnient of April last, with
ttie condition* which were annexed to.
u - Does not this do uv/ay the charae
o) perfidy ? Mr. Smith did not think
it appears ; (or he repeals the in- .
situation agum and again_He com*
P ains further, that the proper explana
tions have not been made, the string
reasons have not bttn pm u for the
isuvovra!. hut can we insist, Qr can
vve expect, otherwise than as a tmue?
of cour tesy, that they uo.l M detail the
reasons of the disavowal f If. asitfp
pear>, / »*- r.vf did transgress his or*
deri, can w_* justly complain, tl at 1 is