Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1808-08-15
p Tzcmas Jtfersor, President Of the
United States 0f.fnericE.

10 EhcBlGS Jt1eTS9nS FIeMaeH u H4S
United States Of .4mericE.
The Petition Of the Inhabitants Of Ntw
sg--5ort. in legal town meeting assembled,
RESPECTFULLY REPREsENTs
That they have severely suffered from
,he operation Of the laws laying aud enfof
linr an Embargo OH all ships and vessels 2
,be ports andharbours Of the United States,
nn only in common with their fellow cIti
.ypps throughout the Union but partica
laslq from their local situation. their large
;b,erest in shipping and merchandise, their
dependence on commerce, and the perisha.
he nature Of their principal exports. They
s,,-er themselves that they are and ever
,v,n be ready to manifest their patriotism
n making every necessary sacrifice tor the
GOOD Of their Country, and they have yield
Cd to these laws unlimited respect and sub
mission, whatever dG! ference ofopiaicn may
have existed, as to their expediency or CON
stitutionality. But so distressing are the
endorsements produced BY the Embargo,
that they cannot contemplate its c0ntluU-
ance. without serious and alarming appre-
tensions. Il Is surely needless 70 detail 10
your Excellcncy the various evils that must
result from = tota. suspension OF commerce
% peopie long habltuated TO 4 u.Aratline
trade and enterprise, whose resources de-
pend no less on tue ocean than the ianG,
whose shipping and commodities are thus
left 10 waste, aud perish on their hands, not
only to the immense loss Of property, but m
some Instances the danger Of health and
life. Feeling, as your petitioners DO, the
snrttmuiating press &c q these evils, and
confident that your Scellency is disposed,
20 far as YOU are constivUtionally authorized,
70 grant them relief, they are happy to find
that by the laws Of the United States It APP
pears to be withinyour power TO suspend
tile embar y in whole or in part, whenever
events in Europe may IN your opinion rem.
der il safe and exPedient. Your petition
ers rejoice in the belief that such events
have new taken place. They also rejoice
that these events are Of 4 nature 50 honour
able to humanity, and 50 propitious to the
freedom aud Independence of nations.
Spain is emancipsted, and has asserted her
ancient dignity and Independence with q
shirt and resolution thst promises success
70 her glorious ezertionss An immediate
peace Of course takes place between that
nation and Great Britain and Spain with
her immense colonies, 10 which we may al
50 add Portugal and her dependencies, viii
now invite TO commerce interdIcted by no
DEGREES or orders OF the beliigerents 4
commerce beyond example important 10 A.
mericans, which 1T opened TO them, would
furnish a ready and most lucrative market
for their surplus and perishing commOdi-
ties which would afford them ; relief from
present sufferings and source OF Incalcu-
liable future benefits, and which if now neg
lected by them may be seized and enjoyed
byothers to their perpetual exclusion.
Your petitioners cannot deny themselves
the pleasure Of congTatulating Jour Excel
lency on the pleasing opportunity Which yov
row have, Of restoring your suffering coun
tymen to the blessings Ct commerce, anC
at the same time putting it ID their power
70 indulge their sympathies for 4 gallan
people molly struggling against oppression
and who were among Tie first To afford then
assistance in their 0wn struggles for Ma
Sional Independence.
Your petitioners there fore, pray your Elk
oslency, in pursuance Of The powe, vested
in you by the Congress Of the United
States, to suspend The operation Of the en-.
barge, at least, 50 far as Immediately to adj
nit free intercourse with Spain and POr.
tugal, and their respective colonial dcpen.
denies. And IS II duty bound viii eyel
pray.