Jenks's Portland gazette., 1802-02-22
EXAMINATION
OF THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
NUMRER I.

NOMhER l.
INSTEAD of delivering 5ceaB to the Houfe of Con-
grcls the opening of the preent felton, the Pref
dent hss thoush Il, to tranfmit MeQags Whcther
this has proceeded from pride from hum ty, from
temperate love Of reform, from wild pir of nnova-
tion, IS ubmted to the conjectures Of the curious
fngle ohlervaton lhal be nduged-nce all agree that
he IS unlike his predeceiTors in eGentlal points it 10
marx OF conftency &c differ from them IN matters Of
form.
Gatisfed thai this meage is likely add much to the
popularity Of chief magiarate Il conforms far
would be tolerated this early agc Of our progrels
in Poca perfection, TO the bewitohing of that
Illuminated doctrine which promifrs man, ere Tong,
emancipation from The burdenc and rcrants Of govern
ment; giving oretale Of that pure felicity which the
sPoles cf this doctrine have predicted. After having
with infinite pains and afiduity, formed the public
tae for this Pecies Of fare il certainly right for thoe
whom The people have oholen for heir caterers be
attentive the qualification Of that iatc And houd
the vIands which they may offer, prove banefu poi.
lons nlead of wholelome ailments the notification il
both plsa and eafyGo0d Pari't 7'af az az evea Sts
bs Psspk, But thofe whole parictilm il Of the oLD
SCHOOL, Uho differ 70 widely from the dcipes o the
new creed, that they would rather rifk ncurring the
dpeaiure OF the people, by PeAkng unpata5.e truths
than betray their intere by foRering their prejudces
will never be deferred by impure tide of popular O.
Pinion. from honey pointing out the miltake5 the
faults Of weak or wicked men, who may have been f.
lected as guardians of the public veal.
The Mefiage of the PreGdent by whatever motives
it may have been dictated, is performance which
ought alarm all who aRxious for the fafetv of
government, for the refpeGtabty and welfare of
our nation. II Makes aims making mott prod
igal facrlfce Of conitutona energy oflound principle
ami of public inserett, to the popularity Of one man
The sra thing in il whch exces furprife, is he
very extraordinary petition, that though TrbOE bad de-
sa,ed form aganf the United Ststee and had en-.
forced it by actual hoilty, yet that there was not
power for want Of f6s aoT f Cozgr5 to capture and
detain her cruiers with their crews.
When the DewfPapers informed u.s. that one Of thefe
eruiers, after being fubdued in bloody conhi6t had
bsen liberated and permitted quietly to return home
the imagination was perpered % divine the reafon-
The c'njecfure naturally was that purifying policy,
too refined perhaps for barbarians was intended bv
that mcaiure 70 give the enemy ltrong mprefioa Of
our magnanmity and humanity. No one dreampt OF
fcrupe as to the ygf to fez: and detau the armed
yeici Of open and avowed foe, vanquisd in battle
The enigma is now folvCd aud ps rented with
one OF The moif fnguar psrsdoKes advanced by
man claiming the character Of ltatefmaa. When an
ayzed amounts nothing eis than this that bt4Us
two na'Ions there may exf fate of complete war on
the one hte--of peace on the other.
War oliie!f gives the parties riuua! right 10 kin
m hate and 10 capture the perfans z1d properly of
each oheT. Thisis rule of natural law neceaary -
y rule OF natural s~; neceiTary and inevtahls con-
i5sTiIsbs coniequer ths fate Of war; This Gate be-