The gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1798-1799, 1798-06-11

OF the harmony and friendly intercourse
which had 1ubflted between the Re
publicS, and of his fncere defre to re-
fore them to dicul8 candidly the
complaints of France, and to offer
frankly thofe of the United States ;
that he had authorized a review Of ex-
iiting treaties, and fuch alterations
thereof, as lhaIl confit with the mutual
interett and 1atisfa6tion Of the contract
ing parties -" AT the fame time
warmly exprefing the happinels theY
ihould teel, if their exertionS could i'll
any degree contribute to reGore that
friendfhiP and mutual interchange Of
good Offices, which is alike their Win
and thor duty to ehed b~sWecn the CT
tizonS Of the -wo republics - But n
ltoad OF lif~aing to thofc re{pe5,fuI,
concilatOry oVertures, cur envoy have
been treated with mark. .-zs-+-t7rgN
heretofore unknown among cl.iEz-J
nations, and exorbi5an. .lu,- 81 -oar-
demanded-on what prerc~ce / --1ly
not, unIlls it be to compenlate the ci-i-
zcnS Of France for the trouble th4y
have been put to, in capturing and con-
domning our property.
The calarnities Of war, I'VE fncerelyde-
Frecate, but are fully Iatished that every
effort has been made, fhort Of national
dilhonor and degradation, TO prevent
them. The United States, contented
with the Gation which Heaven has been
Pleaied to align them, have no unreal
tOnable with for ACKNOWLEDGMENT, no
deiire Of cOnqueG or eXtenGon Of ter
ritory; but are only folicitQus for peace
and that tecuritY to their Property and
independence. which the God OF Ma
ture hath given them right to claim
and ENJOY and while the ears and
hearts oI the citizens Of thele States
Will always be open to every reaGonable
proposition for accommodation BE-
Ileve, | am not miltaken in laying, they
are determined never TO lubmit to plans
OF coercion For they well know that
a people united in a iuf caule, and
routed by injuries and indignities to re-
lentment, cannot be eafly conquered.
notwithstanding individual citizens
mayha entertained different opinions.
as TO the motives aud consequences Of
the wars and revolutions in Europe,
yet | am confident, they will not difa-
gree in one point; mean the neccllity
of union among ourtclveS, in order fuc-
ce1sfully to defend our liberties and in
dependence. Iheic incftimable bIef-
llngs have been tranimitted To us intire,
~7T the vittuous fruBgleS of our fathers,
who deipiied every danger and encoun-
cred every difficulty in their juf de-
-enCe; and 1hould we reign them TO
ny nation on earth, without 9 one
uanly itruggie," ihould We nor be coa-
idered as unfai hful guardians 1T the
acred rult F? Rather let Us ondeavour
aonOurably to dilcharge the deot by
united efforts 10 traulInit the fair i1
lcritancc unLimin lhed To poitclitv.
In luch a contc,t, all nations WI 5o
rs the ju0ice to believe, that nothing
hath been omitted on our part, to pre-
vent the evils and diltreHes Of war
nd that if a fincore deGre to maintain
he rights Of neutrality, and to keep up
friendly intercourse with all nations
if exemplary moderation and forbear-
ence, under accumulated injuries-if
he candid and liberal declaration of
our Executive, that " if We have COM
mitted errors, we will ratify thom''-
if the mott fnccrc and reiterated al.
tnrnntc ~ Erie-,LLr 11no.c-iatinn al any,,