Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1807-12-07

From Washington, WoU. :


C The testimony in the case of Aaron
Burr, has been transmitted to the
House of Representatives, by the Pre-
sident.
The petitions, from the Inspectors
of New-York, Boston and Baltimore,
have been rejected.
Tuesday, -NoU. a." Mr. Blount
from the committee to whom Yves re-
ferred so much of the message Of the
President Of the United States as re-
lates to aggressions, &c. reported fur
ther in part.
hat the numerous aggresslons
ana violations of our jurisdiction, re-
Gently committed within our ports and
waters by British ships ofwar, whether
they are 10 be regarded as the effects Of
positive orders from the British gov
eminent, or as proceeding from that
unrestrained insoience and rapacity in
British Naval commanders which pre-
viously produced the murder OF our cit
izen John PearCe, and the preparation
Of many other well remembered, out
ragtous, and irritating acts, are convin-
cling proofs Of the necessity Of placing
our ports anG harbOrs IS speedily as
possible, in situation TO protect from
insult and injury the persons and prop
erty Of our citizens living in our sea-
port towns,or sailing in our own waters,
and to preserve therein the respect due
to the constituted authorities Of the ma.
ton.
That the committee, having ma
turely considered the subject, are of,
opinion that the protection desired
CAN be best and most expeditiDusly af-
forded by land batteries and gun-boats,
as they have been induced to believe
that by judicious combination and
use Of these two powers, effectual pro-
lection can be given, even to our most
important seaport towns, against ships
of any size unaccompaniCd by an army.
"That our most important ports and
harbors, and those requiring the earli-
est attention and the most expensive
notifications, are, New-OrIeans, Sayan-
nah, Charleston, S G. Wilmington, n.
9. Norfolk, Baltimore, Philadelphia,
Ncw-York, New-London, Newporl, R.
|. Boston, Salem, Newburyport. Ports
mouth, N. II. and Portland,
And that the oth3r ports and harbors;
being Of minor importance, may be
protected by less expensive works
Wherefore your committee holding
themselves bound by the tenor of the
resolution referred to them, to report
hereafter their opinion of the expedi-
ency of interdicting the waters of the
U. ). to foreign armed vessels, accord
ing as circumstances, now unknown,
may when known, seem to require,
submit the following resolutions, viz.
Resolved, That it is eXpediert 10
authorize the President of the Z. ). 70
cause such Notifications to be erected
as in addition to those heretofore built,
will, with the assistance of gun-boats,
afford etfectual protection to orr ports
and harbors, and preserve therein the
respect due to our constit uted auIhOri-
ties ofthe nation, and that there be, and
hereby is, appropriated for that purpose,
out Of any monies in the treasury not
otherwise appropriated, the sum Of
-----doliars.
Rescued, That it is expedient 10 au-
thorise the President of the U. S. TO
cause to be built an additional number
OF gun-boats not exceeding and to
arm, equip, man, fit, and employ the
same for the protection Of our ports and
harbors ; and that there be, and here
by IS appropriated for that purpose out
Of any monies in the treasury, not 9TH
erwise appropriated, the sum Of
dollars.
The report was referred to a committee OF
the whole on Thursday
a..