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

A few, happily contemplate few,
Proitituted to foreign enemy, feem
willing that their country fhould be-
come a province TO France. Some of
theie dare even to intimate the treafon-
able and parricidal fentiment, that in
cafe of invafon they would Join the
ltandard Of France. Another and a
more comfortable part are weak enough
TO appear dilpoled to iacrifce our COM
merce, to endure every indignity, and
even to become tributary, rather than
to encounter war, or increafe the chan
ceS Of it; as if nation could preferve
any rights, could even retain its free
dom, which fhould conduct itlelf on the
principle Of pafive obedience to injury
and outrageS /; as if the debalement of
the public mind did not include the de-
debalement of the Individual mind and
the dereidion of whatever adorns or
exalts human nature ; as if there could
be any fecurity in conpounding with
tyranny and injufict by degrading
compliances as if fu5miiIion to the
exiting violations Of our lovereigntv
would not invite fill greater, and whet
the appetite to devour uSby the allure
ment of an unreflting prev; as if war
was ever to be averted by betraying unc-
quivocalIy a puhllanimous dread Of it
as the greateR of all evils.
The conduit of our government has
correfponded with the cegelt induce
ments to a pacific fyfem. towards
Greatbritain it difplayed forbarance-
towards France it has fhewn humility.
In the cafe of Greatbritain its nodera-
ton was attended with fuccefS. But the
memorable arrogance and rapacity Of the
oPPrefors Of unhappy France barr all
the avenues to reconciliation as wdl to
redrefs, accommodating upon us injury
and infult, till there is no choice left
between refiltance and infamy.
My countrymen can you heftae
which to prefer? can you content b
tate the brutalizing cup Of difgrace-
toWear the livery of foreign minifers-
to put on the hateful letters Of foreign
bondage? Will it make any difference
to you that the badge of your fervitude
is cap rather than an ebaHIet Will
tyranny be lets odious becauie FIVE in
fead of ONE inAi6 the rod What is
there to deter from the manful vindica-
ton Of your rights and your honour
All amicable means have in vain been
tried towards accommodation. The
problem now to be folved is, whether
we will maintain or lurrender our fov-
ereignty. Tomaintain il with frmne1$
is the mott 1acred Of duties, the moft
glorious oftafks. The happiness of ou1
country, the honour Of the American
name demand it. The genius of indie,
penderfrU aSRorts to it. The iecret
mourning. voice 81 opprefed millions If
the very sguntry whole dsfbots menace
us, adm0Nesto it by their fufGring
example. Tfesofended dignity Of man
commands us not to be accelIary to it,
further depreciation. Reverence to the
fuPreme governor Of the univerGe en-.
Joins us not to bow the knee to the mo-
dern 1itans who erect their impiou2
crefs againlf him.
But It's not enough to reGf. Ills re-
QUITE to refilt with energy. That will
be a narrow view of our fituation which
does not contemplate that we may be
called, at our very doors, TO defend our
independence, and which does not pro-
vide againlf it, by bringing into activity
and completely organizing al the r.