The gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1798-1799, 1798-04-23

ton that iome hing more than mere fearch is
intended ia ali cafes. Their treaty with US has
been broken and annulled. Our Captains
therefore Rand indicated in confdering their
pretences of f-arch, as hottie aggrelfons, and
in defending thennelves BY force.
Butt is faid to be probable that the COM
manders Of our veGels may fomelimes be dn
pofsd to act ofsrfvely againRthe vedels Of that
Republic. Ineref, or the impnlfe of patton,
are the only motives that would aauate cap
tain to, commence conai6e with one of their
vedels U0der prefent circumstances, neither
his owner or h;ml-lf could find an interea in
fuch rencDntre. The voyage would be de
layed, the veGl, cargo and crew endangered,
and il the event Of victory, he could not cap
rure or hold the vefI of his adve fairy. Nor
can great danger Le nationally aPprehended
from the palIlons Of an officer. M5A owners
will be focitous TO ieled difcreet and feady
mento take charge of their velIels, WHICH TO
bear the expence of arming, Will commonly be
of comfortable bufthen and richly ladened.-
The Captain too will find an advantage in OBJ
tanning The appreciation Of his employer tie
has ulullly property in fome part cf he car
90, and cOuiequently an intercf in making biz
voyage fate and expeditions, If be attacks,
even with hyperion force, Il IS Poaible that he
may be defeated, or at Leaf meet With hard
blows, andheavy damage; AID he matt Yea
ingular commander who prefers fighting, Tor
the love Of it merely, To tight hull, found
fpars, whole rigging, and quick paGlge; and
ltill more rare mutt be tho.c chlraders who By
beginning an engagement would cxpoie them
lclves to the ri que of being treated as pirates
# taken either by thei- adv IEi,.s Or by Other
vef4ls Of the fame nation. Thefe confiL rations
would have a powerful ope alton upon the
minds of mott men, and if few mad and in
confederate petlons fhould prove to be beyond
their influence The natias coal2 nos.bs jufy reT
bonE5ls far tbe5r condGR. A nation is not bound
to relpond or the crimes Of its citizens unlefs
committed under its fanGtion or authority. This
remark is alto an anlwer to the 1ug8efion tia
perfans who have been naturaiized in this
country may fl out ve1els to gra ify national
altipathies and relentncnts. 1t is perhaps
bet er aniwer, hat fuch cafes are not to be fup-
poled. Merchants, wherever they refde, do
not undertake voyages for the fake Of fighting
public enemy. The natives of Greatbiitain
Especially know that the admirals and officers cf
hat nation, manage that buinefs better than
they can hope to manage it.
4 OCAS CaulGS Oi Wal may DC &c uCN unlui,
which are afumed as pre.ences TO commence
hohitities, with views 70 crafty the luh OF an
bition or conqueR. Whenever the rulers of a
nation are inclined to levy war, and ale il
condition to prolecute It with proipeH Of uc
cefs, 70 fertile is Invention that Pre,ences are
eafly found in fpite Of all the caution and of ali
the concellinns, which can be uied TO avert this
fatal calamity. A libel, carcature, a pre-
n n
cdulcs The mott trivial and contemplate have
given birth TO cruel and detru5tive wars
While prudence and policy forbid the United
States to fuinih to any ma ion jutt caule Of
war there is no realon TO hope that the mott
timid caution and circumtp9tton will avail to
req rain theFrench Republic from proceeding to
the lat extrcmiries againf this country, when
ever ihe fhall be at feature for this purpofe, and
fh,ll be CONF med IN the belief that our inter
nal divisions, and blind infatua;ion in her favor
will enable her if not to conquer, at leaR to di
vide the Union. She will make no other war
uron us but mari ime war, which, God knows,
10 bad enough at prelent until he feels aHured
Of that refillt. War is not the mot efe6lual
narument nor the hrR which France employs
II the manufacture Of the Rights Of Man Spies
EmiG-res Executive Patriots and the honeR
but deluded MATS of the people, are the tools
with which In other countries lhe carves revo
lutiOns out Of the rough material. The Gene
rails ard Soldiers are relerved 70 give the 6ni(h-
ing droke, the LAT podh but the main Job Is
accomplished before theie are taken in hand
IF our American Hearts Of Oak can be ihiver
ed and fplin;ered by inaruments Of the Era def
criptios, war will not be wanting to ahimlate
il 10 models already before our eyes but ii il
hould prove too tough and tenacious for thoie
the French will not attempt to hew the block
with fword, or pierce it with bayonet. The
obje6f, fir, Of The prefant Diredoly is to divide
the people from the government, and lubdjvide