Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1801-02-02
Speech
I'D "a the Scnate. -

gems and the appearance of general and pro-
grellive Improvement which preient thsmieves
70 our view in the various parts on the Com
monweath, afford Us lubjeas of mutual con-
graduation.
In the eourfe Of the la9 year the f.afous.
through the greater part of orr country, have
been fruitful our trade and flheries were gen.
orally prolperous, and the people Of this State
have not again been vGted with that alarming
dileale which has fatally prevailed ID fome parts
of the United States. Thele aud many other
provideniial bleiings, will on this occaGon oc-
cur to our remembrance, and demand the graf
itude Of eur hearts.
But while We rejoice IL the public PROPERTY,
il will be our duty 20 reA:es, that we owe TO our
tellowctizens our vigilant and faithful endeav.
ors 70 prelerve their preflnt advantages and
promote their laaing reputation and interef--
to.check the growth Of vice and impiety, 70
cheriIh the inlfitutions for moral infru qion and
the education Of youth and 10 maintain the
principles Of jutlce, and provide for its equal
naturalization in every part Of the Common
wealth
AT the Fame time our obligations 70 fuppore
the Federal Contribution wSl require Us, to ar
tend 70 the public national affairs, and endeav-
or TO dilute correct information concerning
them among our fellow citzens--lo remove
groundleis Prejudices to circumference the
ipirit Ut party, and undue attachment, 10 any
foreign nalioD; and % do all in our power 20
inoreaie the reipe9lbiliJy of the American char
a1er.
From the commencement ofthewar inEurope.
il has been the policy Of the General Govern.
meRt TO cultivate Peace with all nations-to Oh
ferve an exa9 neutrality between the powers
at war, and by the ful6llment oc treaties and
rsipe9 for the Law Of nations, 70 maintain il
felt in that Impartial conrle, which lis duty and
interea preicribed. Bat notwthRandinr thsf=
cautious meaiures, our interc0urfe with other
nations has been obRruaed, and 10 iullify thefe
| obftru6tions, our reipea for the duties owing
from one nation TO another, has at different
| times been drawn into queition by one or 9TH
sr Of the bllgerent powers.
| AT length a regard to the public fafety com.
| PEELED the government 10 have recourfe 20 de-
fenhve uealures, and the ihclefs Of our infanr
navy in preventing depredatons upon our COM
merce, will ferve 70 convince the people, thar a
| fyltem of maritime defence will be the noa ca
| ~ and eheacious, whenever their rights ihall
be in danger from external enemies.
The predicament of a neutral people Il fire.
| quently delicate and hazardous for when a
war is Prolecuted with great acrimony, the con-
tending parties are extremely apt TO eonGder
] thole who are not for them, as againR hem.
But whatever apology may be formed for
wrongs that proceed from the heat Of patton,
| there can be none from deliberate and author-
lied injuries Still, however, an honorable
accommodation is always to be preferred 10 a
| itate Of hoaility for wife and humane gov
| eminent viii never ref0rt 10 the calamitous ex-
pedimenr Of war, until every advance towards
a reconciliation which the national dignity will
| permit, has proved Intellectual.
Ii mutt, | think, b. allowed, that The gov
eminent OF the United States, in the cafes +
aIlude 10, have conducted with moderation,and
with a manifea preference OF mild and pacific
meaiures.-While preparations were made for
the unhappy alternative Of war, no method
confident with the public fAfety was LETT unas-
| tempted, 70 obtain juItice by negotiation
Before tho ConIttution Of vbs United States
was adopted, the union between them had be.
| came little more than nominal ;---they had in-
terterng interetls, 1ud in fome cafes we're hard.
" relrained from expreiions Of mutual reiens.
ment,--lhe Congrefs at thar time was only
authorized 70 make regulations upon the tever-
al States, and the latter exereiled he privilege
of refuiing to comply with thoie requiitions,
IF this tate of ghings had continued during
the dltuTbances in Europe, il Is E1arcely 70 be
! inppoied rhat all the States would have remain
ed neutral--it is nor unlikely, that fcom acci-
| dent or motives of parIiality OF mialkcn inter-
/ ct, they would have arranged rhemlelves IN.
| der opPoiite ftandards. The pnGpiity pfIach
ID event mutt, in our eRimation, enhance the
value OF that torn ct Government which has
connected us together.
| But Il has been often faij, thar however ven
adopted ths Contribution was 70 OR sirSuua-