Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1807-12-14
MONDAY, DECEMBER "A, 1907.

disagFeeable and these were COnhdehts
in the Executive p and e British Party
Mr. Nelson was opposed to referring
the petition to any committee. He tho't the
house ought not to hesitate moment about
throwing under the table all applications tor
a repeal Of the law in question particularly
now, when we were, he feared on the eve
Of war, and after the British government
had boosted that we dare not put it in force,
as she would consider it as declaration Of
war
NJ. Rhea (Ten) spoke against referring
the petition. He observed, that when these
colonies presented petitions to the British
parliament for redress of grievances, they
were thrown under the table. He thought
that would be the most proper course Cd the
present occasion.
Mr. Randolph observed, that attempts
had been made to denounce his friend from
Penn sylyania, (Mr. J. Clay)-a man, he said
whom he would not disgrace by comparing
either in regard to the talents or patriotism
with any Of his Recommendations Mr.. Crown
inshield rose to explain but he was twice
called to order by Mr. Randolph. He said
that it was the induDitable right of the citi-
zens of this country refusal TO refer those
petitions was a refusal to consider them.
lie never expected to hear the conduct of
the corrupt and hireling majority OF Lord
North brought forward to Justify similar
conduct i'll that house. We had exercised
the right Of petitioning the Br. parliament,
and they had pursued the very conduct
which was now recommended here-our
petitions were treated with derision and
contempt.
If the prayer Of the petitioners was In
proper would it not be better to expose their
errors in a masterlyreport from committee,
than to slam the door in their faces, and af.
fecting all the airs of an Asiatic sovereign.
refuse to hear them We were he believed,
on the eve of war with Great Britain, and
we were treading in the very footsteps of
the British ministry on the eve Of the A
merican war, and on the eve Of the French
war.
Even the commanding genius Of Mr.. Fox,
would not be listened to in the house of
Commons-he was obliged to 60 out-and
what was the consequence He was called
by the unanimous voice Of the nation to cor
rect those very mischiefs to expose which
he was refused a hearing when he first rais-
ed his voice against them. But it was said,
that the language Of the petitioners was
disre5Pectlul What do they say That
they do not wish us to make any sacrifice of
our national honor and independence And
what i the great bulwark Of our national
honor and independence Why, a miserable
non-imPortation law
The house, Mr.. r. said had now been in
session five weeks and on the eve of war.
they were discussing whether we should
import looks with brass nobs or locks with
iron nobs They were sitting there looking
At one another, reading newspapers, writing
letters, receiving bank checks, and counting
their money: AMI the nation precisely in the
same situation as it was when the house
first assembled.
IF we were e have war with Great
Britain, as he believed we were, 1t would
become the house at the outset to concilate
those by whom that war was to be carried
on-he meant by" thOse," the great body
of the American people-and not the rich
merchant more than the l,ndholders, but
not less. The house were beginning war
onthe same principles as Mr. Pitt did his war
with France,-by prescribing every man
who dare TO question one title of its mo-
tiges. But he trusted If it began in the
same way, it would not have a similar end.
Mr.. Crowningshield hoped the house
would do him the justice to believe that he
did not wish to derogate from the character
Of his frIerd from Penns. Mr. Clay Il lie
had always entertained the highest esteem
for that gentleman, ard he always should
He had stated that the language Of the peti-
ton rgas disrespectful, and he wished it To
lie on the table but that was surely not
it. He had since; however, discov-
cred sentiment in the petition which lad
escaped him before, and which confirmed
him in his opinion Of it. The petitioners
say, they hope the peace of the country
will not be endangered by an adherance 20
doubtful or unsettled principles" Was it
an unsettled principle that national vessel
could not be searched He thought not
He had always considered national vessel
i National TERRITORY, and that it should Be
inrinlate. lie had formerly