Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1808-06-20
lWzoIe No. $50.

the opinion expressed BIZ your Excellency.
that we ought tn be :" prepared for war;
i 1t peace cannot be secured without diss
honour # any nation, however formidable.
should persist in course of conduct hostile
to our Known rights, and injurious to our
national honour; the people Of Nrssaebn,e,t.
| win always be ready to ioin their fellow
| citizens throughout the United States IN re-.
slstlng such aggresSions. They win cheer
fully endure every Priyation, they viii make
| every exertion and every sacrifice necessa-
| ny TO maintain that national character. which
| your Excellency 80 Justly appreciates. So
! lohs as these sentiments pervade the IJri-
Ied States, our National Government ,.1H
| not want the means of vigorous sna mar
| defence OF our rights, and NFe trust thew
viii never think it necessary TO abandon the.
all-important interests of commerce &C nm
worthy OF protection, Ut incapable of de-
Your Excellency has bees pleased "a No.
tee, az considerable length, the Embarg,a
imposed by the government in DacAmber.
last, and TO remark that "the power of y,
Embargo was exercised under Che adm;n;s.
tration Of President WAsHrSoroN Nth.
out scruple." The Embargo to which vouy
Etcellency alludes, was laid II rer;o8
when our commerce was Suddenly invaded
on the ocean, and for short and limited
tune. AS soon as the merchants were sup
posed to be properly apprized Of the dan.
geri and TO have taken measures cF precaus
tlonl the Embargo wal removed. Bat the
present Embargo was imposed when Con-
6rSss itself possessed no official evidence Of
new dangers Ut mas been continued near
SIX months. 1t would exceed, NAV it
please your Excellehcv, the limits which
inc mouse 81 Representatives have prescri-
hed 70 themselves, 10. inquire whether N
commercial treaty might not have been ne
Eoclated with the Power most capable Of
inJuring our commerce, or TO consider what
causes led to the perplered state of things
which induced the Government to resort en-
tins distressing expedient but the House
OF Representatives cannot do Justice 70 the
interests Or 70 the feelings Of their constit-
uentst without observing, that a ong con.
tlnued embargo imposed under the power
TO reg ulate commerce, and with view az
protecting our seamen and vessels, has near
ly snRihilated our foreign trade. II has re-
strlCted the people OF the interior. and ON
the frontiers from pursuing their accustorn.
ed business with the Ae:ghbourinqr co.n.
tries. IL has imposed new, and we conceive.
! unconstitutional restrictions upon the coast.
ing trade. In fine, il has spread distresl
through AL classes Of society. and most
deeply affects the interests of this great
commercial State. There has been. AZ your
5xceilenoy has observed, under the nrea-
sure OF tins public calamity, = an exhibition
o. tranquility and good order, that could
now from 10 other source than that of am
enlightened understanding, and pure love
OF liberty conducted BY law and eoyern-
ment. We hope and trust that the peonla
OF TINS Commonwealth viii continue " -
hibIt striking example OF fortItude ana 4.
oedlence to the laws so long al the Gov.
eminent shall continue these restrictions.
we cannot, however, but hope that TIE mol.
ICY OF our Government will be such. Al ~
suffer our merchants and mariners 10 our
sue their accustomed business, leaving
those most Immediately interested to iudes
Of the hazard.
40 answer 70 your Excellency's sugrest-
ion that it may be well to inquire. whether
It Is net within the power of the Lepisla.
tura Of this State to ameliorate the condi-
tor Of the people, during the continuanca
Of the Embargo. we would reply. that pla-
ced in situation SO totally novel. ard fnd-
ing that the distress occasioned bv this
measure has extended itself % al parts "
the Commonwealth, we are unable AZ this
tine TO devise any safe expedient ADEQUATE
to the object But If, at any time hereafter.
any such exPedient can be devised b. vopr
Excellency, or either branch If the f.eg;s.
lature, It will afford peculiar satisfaction "a
the House OF Representatives.
Mdy a. please youy Fxcegley-v!
The House or Representatives. moss IN.
eqIvocally reiterate the opinions express
ed by your kIceliency, that il the Europea.
governments shall, IN Consequence Of anv
difference OF opinion which nav exist "
mong us, calculate upon making an inpres-
SION or acquiring an interest unfavourabic
TO our liberties, their hopes VIII most assn.
redly terminate in disappointment. " The
American nation will not yield it's indepen-
dencs or become tributary to ary other
power" Although they may differ in opin-
ION upon important subjects, vet, upon tho
appearance OF danger, they will instantlv
unite IN defence Of their government, their
liberties, and their country.
On the question 70 accept the report. X
was rtoved by Nj. Morton, To strike out the
words in the 9Th paragraph, beginning.
$ The E",Burgo 10 zohicA yenr Excellence W.
Izass," and ending, " and nlost aee5ly e5ecAs
the interests u this .yysai coRtmesciat S.a,e -
After debate, the question " strike out was
negatiyed, 1sas ll4-Nlys ISL The Ad-
dress, reported, then d. .sed and me
Committee was drected to present u 10
the Governor.
"a ut h.. g.