Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1807-12-14
Philadelphia Memorial.

To The President, Senate and House d Repre-
fyeseHahres eftIe United STATES.
THE MEMORIAL
Of merchants and traders Of the city Of
Philadelphia,
REsPEcTfunIY REPRESENTS,
THAT a strong confidence in the neu-
trail position and character OF their country,
and IN the pacific policy of its government,
has encouraged and induced many OF your
1nemorialists to embark their property, eX-
tensiyclv, in foreign commerce-and 10 adj
venture large proportion OF their wealth
1,pon distant VOYAGES that recent and uneX-
pected events so far affect the security OF
their enterprises, as to lmpel them 10 make
known their sentiments and wishes to Con-
gress
Your mcmorialists cannot but view will
extreme solicitude, the apparent state OF the
nerociation between their country q Great
Britain. upon the events OF which, the safe
~ Of their property so materially depends.
Their alarm and anxiety, increased by re-
norts (perhaps untounded) OF the rature and
extent of the demand made by the govern
mpnt of the l.. States, cannot out be great
while they are wholly destitute OF lntOrma-
ton from official sources, calculated TO d.
rect their conduct. They mean not, hOwev-
er "a intimate a wish, Tor disclosures IN
cNrnnatihIe with the due reserve of govern
ment. but candldly TO present to its view
their difficulties and embarrassmeGts-
In common with their fellow citizens, your
memorialists entertain the strongest sense
fine necessity Of supporting the honor and
independence Of their country, they feel
that the national interest IS mscParably con-
nected with such support and although IN
the event Of war, as individuals, they must
be deeply affected, they have not wish
that considerations of private interest should
;nduce \ sacrifice of national honor and In
dependence-But, from the wisdom and
patriotism of the national legislature, they
conceive the expectation well founded, that
the commercial interests OF the U States,
with which the common welfare Is lnsep-
arably connected, will not be committed by
an unyiclding adherence 10 doubtful or un-
essential principIes-They therefore, with
confidence, submit their hopes that, while
essential rights, To which as an independ-
ant nation, we are indisputably entitled,
viii be maintained TO the last extremity
matters OF seeming interest, bat OF less nm
portance will be referred TO 4 more prOpl-
tiOus and less hazardous moment for ADJUST
mont
Under these impressions, your memorial
lists deem it an indispensable duty to them
selves, and TO their telow-cltizens of the
landed and other interests. most respect
fully 10 suggest to congress that the act Cat
present suspended) entitled " An act to
prohibit the importation Of certain goods,
wares and merchandise, passed the 18Th Of
April, 1906" should 1t go INTO operation,
will not tend to promQse the desirable re-
suits of national rcparatIon and amlcable adj
iustment Of our differences with o. Britain.
In eject, that your memOralists consider
the said act, in It's application 70 this coun
t,y, as extremely embarrassing ; and. IN It's
operation on the government and people of
Great Britain, as irritating and Inefficient
That the repeal Of the said act would be pro
ductlve Of beneficial effects, inasnuch as il
would relieve tsir own citizens from embar-
rassment, demonstrate a q spOsition 20 treat
on terms Ct lIberality, and be considered as
a pledge Of canlor and magnsrimity in the
CCaducJ Of the ncgUClaIiOn-whlle, III the
event Of failure To produce fair and honor
ak'e accommodation, the evils of war, which
must severely. ana equally, affect the farm
er, merchant and mechanic, would be borne
with less regret as being rendered inevita-
be
In submitting their opinions TO the nation
N Legislature, your memoritlists have not,
they ooncelve, overlooked the delicacy OF
tn subject 10 which they rclatc-aud they
have anXiousIy endeayorcd, in Representing
the Oh ects OF this memorial, to connect the
..t.oral honor and interest with their indi-
yiGual claims and privileges.
tying on the exercise Of a wise, Just
AID dignifed policy, your momorialists res
pectfully refer the matters, herein stated,
To the consideration s decision Of Congress.
Signed BY the merchants and traders Of
Philadelphia