Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1805-12-16

neceiary 10 equip force, to cruiie WITHIN
our own ftas, 10 arrcit all vellcls Of theic de-
icriptions found hoveripg on our COATS, with
IN thclmits Of the gulPh stream, and 10 bring
them in for trial.as pirates.
The fame iyitem of towering on orr coats
and harbors, under colour OF 'ttekihg enc
mics, has alfo been carried on be public arm
ed lhips, TO the great annoyance and oPPrci-
tion OF our commerce. New principles too
have been interpolated into the laws OF na-
tons founded neither in juftice, nor the
ufage, or acknowledgment of nations;
according TO thefe a beligerent takes
to itlelf a commerce with its own enemy,
which it denies to neutral, on the ground OF
It's aiding that enemy in the.war. but rea-
Con reyoltS at iuch an inconhttency---and the
neutral having equal right with the beiger-
ent to decide the queftion, the inrereit of our
conltituents and the duty of maintaining the
authority Of reaion, the only umpire between
juft nations, impoie on us the obligation OF
providing an eae6tual and determined oppo-
iition TO doctrine 10 injurious to the rights
Of peaceable nations.- the confidence
we ought to have in the juitice of others, till
countenances the hope, that a founder view OF
thofc rights, will of itielf induce from every
beligerent almere correct obiervance them.
With Spain our negotiations for iettlement
of differences have not had satisfactory il
tue Spoliations during the former war, for
which ihe had formerly acknowledged her
4elf re1pon1ible, have been refuitd TO be com
peniated but on conditions affecting other
claims in no wife connected with them. \ ct
the fame practices are renewed in the preicnt
war, and are already of great amount. On
the Mobile, Our commerce Palling through
that river continues TO be obitru6tcd by arb-
trarv duties, and vexatious iearChes. Propoh-
tions for adjuiting amicably the boundaries Of
Louitiana have not yet been acceded to-
: While the right is uniettled, we have avoided
changing the fate Of things, BY taking new
potts, or strengthening ourielves on the dli-
puted territories, in the hope that the other
power would not by contrary conduct, O.
blige us to meet their example, and endanger
conflicts Of authority, the ihue Of which may
not eaGly be conrculed but in this hope
we have now reaion TO lefitn our conf
! dence-Inroads have been recently made
into the territory Of Orleans and the Mf-
| ffippi; our citizens have been GeZed and
their property pllsldered in the very ports
of the former which had been a@pally de-
livered up by Spain, and this BY the regu-
lar officers and folders Of that govern
ment | have therefore foun4 it heceti1y
at length, to give orders to our troops on
that frontier to be in r6adinels to protect
our citizens, and repel by arms any iimilar
aggrefions in future-Other details pecef-
fairy for your full information of the itate
of things between this country and that
3haIl be the fubjeGt Of another communica-
! ton.
In reviewing thofe injuries from fome OF
the beligerent powers, the moderation, the
frmneis, and the wiidom Of the Legislature,
will allbe called into action.
We onght fill to hce,: that time and a more
correct Ultimate Of interef as we'll as of char
a6ter, will produce the jultice we are bounC
to expect. But ihould any nation deceive
itfelf by fane calculations, and dhappoint tha,
expectation, we mult join in the unpro6ta
bic CONTEXT, of trying which party can do tht
other the mott harm iome Of the1e injurie
may perhaps admit peaceable remedy, ,wher'
that il competent, it is always the moit defr.
ablc-but tome of them are Of nature TO b.
met BY force only, and all Of them may leac
to it. | caniot therefore bat recommend
tuch preparations as circumstances call for
The frit Object is to place our fea-port town
out Of the danger Of infult. Meaiures have
been already taken for furnifhing them with
heavy cannon for the iervice of iuch land bat
teries as may make part Of their defence a.
gainf armed vehcIs approaching them In
aid oftheic it is detirable we ihould have q
competent number of gun-oeatsi and the
number TO be competent mutt be contidera.
bic. If immediately begun, they may be ii
readiness for farvicc at the opening Of the
next teliIon. Whether it will be necei1ary
10 augment our land forces, will be decided
by occurrences probably in the courle of our
Sei1ion. In the mean time, you will coniid-
er whether il would not be cxpedient, for a