Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1807-12-14
Ofpeace. He had heard nothing said thai


the season for a nation which had so many
valuable points to prepare for war, and place
| itself in a condition to repel attack. In
state Of war, and it seemed to be seriously
approaching, it would be impossible to lay
out money to SO much advantage as in
state Of Pe2ce.-It was in the time of peace
! Peculiarly that they could erect Barries a
gainst some Of the most dreadful evils of
war he would here apply the maxim of
Washington, quoted by gentleman from
Maryland some days since, :" that to preserve
peace, we should be prepared for war"
Surprising It shouldhappen, improbable as
it was, that the country should remain at
peace, were they on that account to relax
in the fertilization Of our ports and harbors
How could they, acting in this way, expect
eyer to be prepared for war, when it should
actually arrive A country whose coasts
were so much exposed, and whose cities
were 90 rich, so valuable, and therefore SO
tempting, should never be unprepared but
if, said he, We should be persuaded to post
pone the defence Of the country, while we
are waiting for neyes and hoping far peace,
the enemy may be at our doors our cities
may be sacked, and nothing left in them,
worth defending; it would be too late then,
because it will be to no purpose to. fortify,
and the n0rsy we talk Of appropriating may
be saved, while our cities are DESTROYED and
desolate.
g Gentlemen seemed to take great de
light in Aattering themselves that they might
yet escape war they wished, and from wish
ing, hoped for peace. Mr.. G. had no hopes
that at a period when all the world was
convulsed, Kingdoms and thrones were over
turned in such rapid succession, when all
,thc free states of the iworld bad persisted
as it were before our eyas, that we should
be able to escape without enduring some
part of the general calamity. He entertain
ed now the same opinion which he had done
ever since the attack on the Chesapeake was
made, that the country would be compelled
to go to war, or sacrifice its honor forever:
They could not avoid it, unless they would
accept Of peace, on terms, to which no in
dependent nation could listen
The Presidents Message, though it had
communicated to them information of the
attack on the Chesapeake, did not state,
whether it was in the opinion Of the execu-
tive most probable that we should have war,
OF that we should not have war it merely
stated, that peace might not continue. They
were left, therefore, to deliberate as they
could, uninfuencedand undirected By an ex-
preston Of what was the opinion Of the exec
utive. But as from their own impulse, they
had at last arrived At the subject, he hoped
they would go fully into it. Our ports, lie
said, ought to be fortified, whether we are
ultimately to have peace or war.ABut If on
" in case Of war seeming inevitable, he en-
treated gentlemen to consider, whether the
prospect was not as gloomy as it could be
IN any state of things short Of actual var
But if, contrary to all sound calculation, our
I peace should continue, the determination to
fortify ought in his opinion not to Be given
up that, at another time, we NAV be better
preparedtha we are now He hoped, there
fore, some opinion would be expressed as
to the sum to be appropriated for forsIfca-
ton tie must profess his conviction that
neither of the sums mentioned by the chair
man Of the committee were enough to for
| tify that part of the people to whose safety
/ efectual Notifications were so essential
/ The sum Of 10000 dollars had been men,
toned as a sufficient sum if they once at
/ tempted to fortify, they must do it eifectu-
! ally if they appropriated sum for defence
! it must DC sufficient, or the money they did
expend, would be completely thrown away.
He hoped the House would resolve effect
' ually to protect our ports and harbours
when they did that, they did what their
country demanded and had right to de-
k mand Of them. When theyonl half fortif-
/ ed, they made show TO induce the people
to believe thy woulddo something for them
He should as soon expect farmer to fence
but half his ground, and thus leave his crop
exposed, as that they would 20 but half
way in terrifying against an enemy He
hoped they would not squander away mon
ey 10 no purpose for his part he would not
vote for less than sufficient sum for ifhe
did, he should consider himself as violating
those principles Of economy which should
always be attended to in government. Mr..
9. wished the House not only to make
sound, but act as though they meant to do
something. Upon this Subject his constitu-
ents were feeIinply alive to every tb;roc