Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1807-02-02
31oIitieal sDisfeIlanp.
FROM THE BALTIMORE GAZETTE

Tine, that monitor who never deceiyes,
Is daily bringing before our eyes, some cir
cumstance Of fact. which serves to eymce
| that the system Of defence for the United
States, recommended in the speeches and.
measures Of che great Washington, vas
founded on the soundest policy and most en-
hghtened views of our liberties and interests
Against this system, and the federalists
| BY whom it was advocated and supported,
all the arts Of calumny and defamation, have
been called into action. If our merchant
| men are captured by British crIiizers, it is
| the work OF the federalists if french cruz
GERS do the same thing, it is caused by the
| federallsts if the Floridas cannot be obtain
| ed by purchase, it is owing to the iederalists
1 If treason erects her standard, it IS sur
ported by the federalists i, All this is said
| with noise, arrogance and impuniJy, and re
| pested ten thousand times IN ten thousand
| newspapers till it is believed BY the ignorant
multitude. Thus taught, those who cannot
| think, or will not think for themselves, feel
| a degree of horror at the sight of federal
| list, & readily ascribe to them every disaster
| which happens to the administration Thus,
\ the Pagans, i'll the decline of the Roman
| Empire, considered the Christians the
| scources of all its mislortunes -" TO the
| gospel they imputed the disorders of the
| universe, and made the christians answera-
| BILE, both for the dryness Of the season and
! the Overlooking Of the Tibcr."
! Il IL far from our iItention 70 cast the
least blame on the multitude in this case !;
but we cannot fOrbear expressing ourselves
F. fully on the conduct Of the men who have
given this direction To their passions. False
\ hood ard abuse are never allowable, and in
every instance where they dctract from the
honest fame, OF wound che character Of a
single individual, they are criminal 1t we
look into the columns of these ne spapcrs,
which the directors Of the multitude supply
1 with political matter, what do We md
| Are the measures OF tue federalists discus
| sed with candor, end lIberality, tested by
| facts, and the evidence on Doth sides heard
! with patience and without prejudice No
we find assertions which have never been
substantiated insinuationss unsupported by
the slenderest proofs reproacheS, for argu-
ments ; insults for demonstrations Illlber-
\ :.iIity for csndor and a cruel and Persecut-
ing spirit, instead OF a spirit Of charity and
/ Cancellation. .t
( " We shall not attempt to conceal that
this conduct has generated temper in soci-
ETY., the most hostile to social intercourse,
and that may be productive Of the most inv
rious consequences TO our common Country
That charity which bears all things, and
submits to all things, IS hard 70 learn, and
difficult of practice. Men whose principles
and conduct are every day belied or misrep-
resented, who are treated in their news-pa-
pers with ABUSE the most gross, and calum-
MES the most wicked, cannot feel respect
r Il
these outrages on decency, hberaGty and
moderation, are encouraged o. permitted.
Is it not evident that such a procedure Is
calculated to render one half of the commu-
nifty regardless to the fate OF the other half;
at least TO beget an indifference for their
country, tat must paralize its efforts, should
| a srisis er arrive to require the united eX-
ertions Of the people. And, can It be posi-
bic that this is done, that few men, Tor a
| short time, may exercise little bnet su-
| thority
" viii not those who can think for them
selves among the multitude, look into these
things, and practiC able, correct the evil
! 1t is not, it is 10 be hoped, too late. The
measures of the fedcrahstS are well known.
! Let them be candidly examined by their "a
tlity, by the times which called for them
" and by fair comparison, with such a. have
\ been substituted in their place.-The teder-
! alists laid the foundation Of navy, built fri
! gates aud employed them in the defence of
our rights. Was this deserving Of cslumny
and abuse The federalists expended con-
| siderable sums Of money in commencing a
| system offortifcations for Our harbours and
| frontiers. Was this a useless waste of the
| pubhck treasure The federalists provided
the ans, passed the laws, and pledged
\ suficiency Of the public revenue, for dis
q arging or paying of the public debt, in
pursuance olwhich law the debt Is in train
of exunguishment. Did this look as If they
| considered public debt to be apublic bles-
| sing The federalISts equalized the bur
! dens Of the people OF the United States. by
| duties upon trade tax upon land and hovGS-
| es, and an excise. Did this SAVIOR Of favor
ing one part Of The community az the rxbeuce Of
| the other part ? The federalists proportioned
! the regular force 70 the a5uaf statr of tk;ngs.
| increasing it whenever the country was
threatened with danger, and reducing il
! the. moment its tranquility was assured.
| Did this Shew any inordmate tondness for
a standing army !
/ " People of the United States, examine
| this system Consider how much of it their
successors, Notwithstanding their abuse Of II
have been obliged to retain, and how little
Of It they have ventured to pull down; and
| whether in some form or other, they viii be
| Obliged, sooner or later TO adopt all that they
have thought proper to reject, and 10 give a
much greater extent 70 our Notifications.
pur navy and our army, if they would save
our country from domestic traitors, Or for
eign domination
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