Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1808-06-13

ueinen tell Us THAI TIC lOoo vi -AHlSIl'
can commerce win coeree foreign ma.
tons into sense of justice il viii
compel them to respect our rights as
neutrals, and this win ever be our bes,
policy. Sir, the idea is too childish anc
absurd TO be advanced in this house.
There isno such thing as permanent
justice between nation and nation. WE
may carry on paper war, respecting
cur neutral rights, and ii will end IL
smoke. 10 law but cannon law viii
ever insure us justice. IF we look a
Europe what are we to expect One
nation is struggling for universal con.
quest, the other for her political exist
ence, and the defeneeiess are exposed
TO both. To attempt 10 coerce either,
under our present circumstances, ia too
absurd proposition to be countenan-
ced by men of informstion.
believe one great object, which in
duced this state TO adopt the federal
constitution, was, that their CONNER
cial interests might be better secured ;
that il was expected that Congress
would, from time to time, SO regulate
the concerns of eur trade as might be
productive Of its greatest prosperity,
but never that they should have pow
CT, at will, to aflnihilGtc it. MIR. JeiFer-
son told lis, that his object in recon-
mending the em'fsszo, was to protect
ships from capture and our seamen
Observation-Disclosures was he sin
reNsfn this declaration No, Sir -
Though l would be cautious of deter
mining on any mans motives, yet we
must believe the language Of mems
conduct. It appears by subsequent
acts that his real object was to impose
On his country q NONlNTER-
COURSE LAW. Every supplement
tary law OF the subject shews that the
design was not to protect but to des-
troy commerce.
Another subject alluded 70, in the
resolutions on the table, is the late reg
ulation or rather embarrassment of our
Coa8hng Trade and, Sir, ] challenge
any member present to shew any clause
in the constitution, by HIGH the Pres
ideHt could justify his interference, in
this business, in the manner we have
Witnessed, since the rising OF Congress
Where will he find authority for those
absolute, discretionary powers he has
vested in newly created and unknown
instruments Of the Executive will 4
cannot but consider 1t, Sir, as a tla-
grant usurpation of power, tending to
introduce a system of court tavourit-
ism, and to establish monopohes, which
strike at the root Of that system OF E.
quail rights and privileges, on which
our free government is founded. II is
of no consequence, should Gov. Sulli-
van exercise the power delegated 10
him with the purity of an angel. care
not whether the licence cost one cent,
one dollar, or hundred dollars <
look al me trTacihie. What . are we
come to this, that our bread IS TO be
dealt ont to us by the pound, and BY
subordinate officers of government,
having no constitutional power And
why-.-for fear we shall sell pennv's
worth to the Nom-Scotia man or Can
adian. AS we'll might the President
forbid our farmers to grow an article OF
produce more than he could consume
in his family, far fear he might dis
pose Of it to the citizens or subjects OF
some other country. To such doc
trines and such regulations ! have ever
been opposed. do not believe there
is man in Massachusetts, who values
his freedom and his constitutional
rights, who is not opposed to them. On
account therefore of the unconsritu-
tionality and dangerous tendency Of the
measure, in principle, and with view
to express, SO far as it depends On me,
what I am persuaded is the prevailing
and growing sentiment of the people,
/ shall give my cordial appreciation to
the Resolutions on. YOUR honors fable.