Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1808-05-02

advantage-Men Of their understanding
with their extensive foreign correspondence
backed too by the principle Of self interest,"
may be safely trusted on this subject they
well know TO which Ports produce n AZ
| safely 60, without The intervention Of this
honorable body and if Sir, the Merchants
should rot be sufficiently on their guard,
the Pulse OF Sca-Risque, of Destination. and
of Capture, viii be safely Ieh--through the
Medium Of our Insurance Companies they
will regulate the riscue with Judgment and
Precision IL would therefore confGe 70
them the Commerce of our Country in the
Exportatic7 Of our Produce, unshackled by
an Embargo law.
But Mr.. Chairman let us review this law
and its effects.
In a'commeTcial point Of view.
1t has annihilated our trade.
In an agricultural point Of view.
1t has paraiised industry j have heard
that the touch of Midas converted every
thing INTO gold; but he Embargo law, ike
The head Of Mecusa, turns every thing to
stone Our most fertile lands are reduced
to sterihty, SO far as it respects our surplus
produce.
AS measure Of political economics,
1t will drive (if continued) our sea-
men into foreign employ-and our Fisher
men to foreign Sand Banks
In financial point OF view,
1t has dried up our revenue, and If
continued will close the sales Of Western
Lands, and the payment of installments Of
past sales-for unless produce can be sold,
payments cannot be made.
As a wal measure, the Embargo has not
been advocated.
II remains then e consider the efects al
peace measure,
measure, inducing peace.
grant sir, that if the friends Of the En-
barge, had rightly calculated its effects-if
It had brought the belligerents of Europe to
sense of justice and respect for our rights,
thro' the weakness and dependence other
West India possessions, Il would have been
infinitely wise and desirable, and that they
voted for il with such noble views have no
doubt. But sir the experience Of near four
months has not produced that effect; and
have endeavoured to shew that from the sit
uatlon of our country, the manner in which
the law is executed, the demand for sub.
slstence, the consequent rise in price and
the facility Of supply, that tie West Indies
(BrltIsh) will be supplied.
1t that Dc the case; If such should be the
result then will the Embargo Of all meas
ures be the most acceptable to Britain--by
occiuding or ports, you give TO her shtps
the exclusive use of the Ocean And YOU
give 70 her despairing West India Planter
The monopoly Of Sugar and Rum and Coffee
to the European world. Il is il vain to say
sir, that their produce win not find its way
into Europe. Sugar and Q flee, become
necessary from habit, will find their way 10
every portion Of the continent, in spite Of
human regulations. Nay some neutral point
will be cOnnived at 10 obtain them. But III.
who are we What are we peaceable
agricultural people, Of simple and I trust
'lrtuous habits, of stout hearts and willing
minds, and brave, powerful. but badl,
disciplined militia-unarned and vitbou,
troops and whom are we to come n I'm.
met with The master of Continental Fu
rope IN the full career Of universal dominion
and the mistress Of the Ocean contendino
lot seIf preservatiOn-nations who feel no,r
er and forget tight-What man can \,
weak enough to suppose that a sense of ius.
tce can repress o. regulate the conduct ot
BonaParte. We need not resort 70 o,be,
nations for examples Has Ne not n
manner as fagrdnt az fagrtiors, directly. oben-
y, PabltckJ viOiatcd and brohen solemn tyea-
y enferea into Veith us F; did he not STIMULATE
that our property should pass free even 70
enemys ports, ard has he not burnt orr
ships at sea under the most causeIess IRE I
text Lo'k to England see her conduct
70 us--do we want any further evidence of
what Size will do in this hour Of imDend;ro
peril than the attack on Copenhagen tba,
she prostrAtes ali rights that come IN COLI
SION with ser own preservation Strange.
| ~ infatuated we should be 10 make our -
PeaiIng the Embargo, TO depend On the acts
q governments, which will Be annuIed
whenever their interest or their danper
prompt them-No Sir-Let us pursue the
steady line Of rigid impartiaHty. Let rs
hoid the scales Of impartial neutrality vy;,h
high and steady hand, and export our
products z bring back supplies to, and VIII.
rom all Will trade with US. Much of the
world IS yet open to Us, and let Us prof, u
tLe occasion.