Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1808-06-13

I The Legislature OF the United Sta, =
adjourned to next November but before
| the Adjournment Congrefs pafied an at for
authorizing the PRECEDENT Of the United
States, to fufpend the aet laying Vie En-
brgo.--The act for authorizing fufpen-
lion declares, g That in The event of 4
peace, or fhpenfonof hoftiiities, between
the belligerent powers Of Earobr, or fuch
changes in their mealur6s, affecting neu.
| trails commerce, as may render that of tie
United States efficiently fate in the Judge
ment Of the PRECEDENT of the u. States, he
| IS authorized during the recefs Of Conerefs.
to fnfpend the ACT in whole or in part, un-
der fuch exceptions and refretions, and
on fuch fecurity as circumstances may re.
quire. "-Thefe are the words OF the AT
upon the confitutionahty or utility of
| it, give no opinion.
In concern 70 highly intertfing 10 this
Commonwealth, as It's commerce ia, the
intire arref of its navigation. and the -
teryuption of its trade, mutt produce great
anxiety in all, and no doubt ftrong teal
ouiies with fome of the people III trt-r-
fore have confdered il ydaty, to a., this
fmple ftaiement, at this time, before nv
fellow citizens, without exprcfIing any fen
tirfent upon itsconfequencea. This Com.
monwealth, with iryen hundred miles VI
9eacoaft, principally fnll of inhabitants,
NUT be much affected by an Embargo
yet there has been, under its prefTnre. an
exhibition of tranquility and good order,
that could flow fromn other fource, than
that of an enlightened understanding, and
pure love Of liberty, conducted by law y
government.
Though the cnntroul Of the aet for law
ing An Embargo is with the General Gov
eminent, yet il may be well 10 INQUIRE.
whether it is not within the power of the
legi1ature Of this fate to amtIiorate the
condition Of the people during its contin-
nance. i underfand that attention has
been paid to this in lome Of the States, but
do not feel myfelf authorized to fay any
thing more, than that lRall rejoice to u
nite.with you in any meafnre which YOUR
wiid0m lhall point to, for the fupport of
our f,Alow-citiZens under the embalraE
ment of their commerce, either hy an
Embargo, or by the aggretiiOns of foreign
powers.
The a6, as has been obfervsd, was ia.
tended as an expedient- as well H. fave
our immenfe navigation from the dcaruc-
ton which then was in wait for ii, as to
| induce the nations with whom We had
been in commerce to leave our rights r-
| tire and not to involve our trade III the
depredations of their wars.--It is eafy to
conce We, that the appearance Of divIGons
arnongf oDrfelves, on the propriety of the
mcaflre if realized in Europe, may pre-
vent one of the valuable effects intended 10
be produced by it and cannot there
fore execute myfelf frorl iaying, that if the
European governments fhdll rely on ap-
pearances Of this nature, they muit be DIFF
| appointed (; that our nation will not Weld
its independence, or become tributary 70
| any other power. In this folemn appeal
70 heaven, we nuf rely, under Cod. for
the fupport OF our national honour, upoa
our own internal arenstt ard in our own
unconquerable iitnafion; and defend our
ielves with that energy which our unani.
nifty alone can produce