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

Is bnt l;ttIe (h.rt Of one hand'ed fcventy thou
End tons, which are worth three millions tour
hun red thouflnd dollars, and give employ to
ten thouflnd feamen. The whole OF this ihiP.
ping becomes ufelefs 10 the owners, unleis pro-
tested from capJurcea nd worie than uieleis as
it will be iubiea 10 have the damagfs and char
.ces. An. i1amenie number Of Mechanics in
diFe~eat branches, and Of labourers who de
pend upon the employment Of this maratme
capital would be reduced 70 datreis, and the
fail Of produce would not only operate as di-
rect tax upon land, but, as the revenue airing
from imports and tonnage would be deficient,
the dehcit mat alto Be levied upon land. TO
tbs Gate of things we are forcibly imPelied BY
the condua Of France, which advances as we
recede, which requires our caution and TO- bear
ance with renewed outrage, which plUndeIs
our veiies on The feas, and waits only tor
convenient feafon to follow them into our ports,
and to ravage our COATS. In peenniary view,
let me ak, could your fituation be "orie IN
time of war You, hr, am certain wall agree
| with me that this commercial capital IS not TO
be abandoned. The coed people OF Roxbury
mutt alto be fenGbIe that to the circulation OF
this capital by means Of foreign commerce, the
augmentation Of the value Of their lands and
produce, and the fourihing rate Of their town.
are 10 be imputed. Indeed the vote Of TIL
town holds up an expectation Congress will de-
wife Tome adequate means to protect our COM
| merce. Three modes OF protection are all that
occur TO my imaginatiOn-An Embargo, a
public Naval Armament, and an armament OF
private veaels. A g>Sral Embargo would not
protect either our commerce or navigation, but
defroy both, and produce the evils above emu
merated in their full A partial EmbaF-
90 upon our own vdiels, while it puts an end
to our navigation, you'd materially affect our
commerce, and all that remains would be car
ried on by the belli5erent nations or by neutrals,
under great additional charges and expenses
France, one Of TIL belligerent n&ions, would
be thus deprived # our commerce in American
bottoms, and ha no fhips Of her own engaged
in trade. Greabritain on the contrary, having
many fhips, would derive an immenfe beneh
| from becoming our carriers. Her trade would
| be increafed, and thus the only obRacle on tn
part of Frame to declaring war againIt US which
| is her want of our commerce, would be reno
we'd, as herenemy would monopolze hewhole
of that ben6t, excepting that part which nigh
till be carried en- by neutrals. Gould you, fir,
as an Auerican, fit patiently and fee the ihiPs
Of GreaDritain, or from Sweden, Denmark or
the Haue Towns riding triumphan'ly in our
ports, md by means Of few guns enjoying
the wble carrying trade of the country, while
| or own lhiPs would be lying in the docks, a
prey o worms, and their owners and builders
idle n our ltreets prey to that devouring can
ker which feeds upon The heart ltrings ! ! will
not believe that gu are willing 10 iubmit TO
thj humliating fPectacle.
A public naval armament is in itfelf the mott
Jatural, fate, ard believe frugal defence Of
American commerce. 1t is however mighty
tbulwark which Cannot be created in day, and
which too many with ihould never be created.
A growing jealoufy Of commercial influence and
intereR mutt be corrected or lubdued, before
this noble Object can be accomplished. Some
thing, however, might and trult WILDE effect
ed towards it. Revolutions are before US, for
he purchaGe or building Of number of fhPs
that may mount from twenty 10 thirty guns.
In the fame degree that evidence is afforded Of
. fncere dipoGtion to provide a naval force,
any objections to multiply re(triaions upon the
right OF private armament will fubfde. They
will not however be entirely removed. A part
Of this force NUT be employed in the defence
Of the coat The reidue distributed among
the larger fsaports, would be occafonally uieful
in taking charge of fnlall fquadrons Of r1er-
chantmen, whish being alto armed, might TO
gether dIplay respectable force bur without
this co operation Of private ihips, any convoy
that can be provided within reafonaSle time
would be inadequate to ths protection Of our
various and eItenGve commerce.
The remaining relouroe, and hat which with
the greatea facility and dilpalch can be put in
operation is the armament Of private vefes.-
All objections to this meaaFe=are reduced to
one, the fear LETT the individuals with arms in
their veGss lhould afford to the French Repub-
lie cauie for declaring war againR the United
States. a oifinGion between the jult and IN