Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1808-01-18

DOlllCal happiness dS wei as 10 our
public and private prosperity. Our ma
lonal government has beeen conducted
on the principle that we ought to re-
main in q state of perfect neutrality, as
ID the controversies Of Europe. This
is, certainly, our wisest policy--It is
found among the maxims of the illus
triou5 Washington, who made the glo-
~, and happiness Of his country, his
particular study.
The convulsiont Of Europe, result
ing from great, aid unexpected revo-
lutions and cala-rcs3us t4lrs among the
nations there, have caused them 10 as
sumo policy too peculiar and novel,
and 70 project plans too extensive, and
interesting, to allow Us, though at 50
great distance from them, 10 remain
in that security and quiet, which our &
quail indifference, as government, TO
them all, encouraged W to hope for.
he rights OF neutrality, founded in
moral principle, and unequivocalIy es-
t4blished as law, by the common con-
sent of nations assured the freedom
Of commerce to ntutrals with all places
that were not besieged by an enemy,
with an expectation u q surrender
he idea Ut holding the whole Of an en-
,my's country under q siege by words,
and pro, iJiIing the commerce Of neu-
trails by proclamations, has been lately
adopted, first by one, and then by an
other power but this il noting less,
than an assumption Of the prerogative,
to controul s dircc. the affairs OF other
nations against their consent.
As TWO Of Tho most pow erful nations
in that quarter OF the globe, have adopt
cd such ln extraordinary principle, and
the United States remain the only neu-
tral power that can be affected by il,
we are in danger Of being drawn int
the vortex Of their general, and expcn-
sive war-Thus situated, our govern
ment has passed I'D act laying al En-
barge on our own outward bound navi-
cation Why should our vessels 20 10
sea 7 If France takes all that are going
TO England and her provinces and
Great Britain takes all that are going "a
Fraucc,& Ell dependencies, or the ccun-
tries-of ncr allies, wfEcre are eur vessels
to be sent 10
This lmbarFo operates IN a griev,
Gus manner, upon those, who depend
on commerce, or any Of its appendages
for support but VIZ can have no rea.
son 10 believe, that this measure IS a.
dOptcd either wantonly or with wrong
intentions in our governmtnt-lf those
nlockading DEGREES are to be vigorously
enforced by the powers who have issu,
ed them, our government wants time
to consider OF the measures we ought
ultimately to adopt, and permanently
pursue.
70 suffer our country to be stript %
lis maritime property and seamen, be-
fore we deliberate, would ID the height
Of folly-If we arc to contend with
more than one power, We need not hHr-
~ To the contest II with one only,as an
incidental ally against the other, VIZ
ought % proceed with caution, under q
compact Of alliance, and not TO rush
with rashness and without due prepare
uon to the combat. 10 extend our
hand To either Of tine beliigertnJ powers
as N ally, without d preliminary myi-
tation, would lay Us completely 1t the
foot Of that power, and ma I her enc
mics. the enemies Of the United States
The Act Of Embargo is measure 81
our constitutional government, and can
be done away IN dav whenever our ma
tionaI situation Shall render it eligible
w IN 81