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


SeHbeSEeR 81 nc oendte, and
Ceatls"ea u tie Ho.js sf Rebyssafesiv.,,
HAVING been informed by your Joint
eommitee, that the two bi anches Of the Lee
gliiathre were ready 70 receive any communi-
cations from the Governor, which he might
have TO make TO them; Irequeted you to al
low me the honor of meeting you at this time
and place This, Practice has been relpected
N the days of iafety and PROPERTY, as well as
N the periods when our country was involv-
ed in dangers and difficulties Il might be
Fulfilled by common ufage to fubmit to your
conhdes alton the particular bufnefs which
conceive TO be neceflary Il your deliberations
IN the prefent iefion, and 10 call your atten-
non to ne other fubiech.
The me1hod, which am urged by the Ell
gencies Of the country 20 Pa-fue, DIES oy no
F.eans exclude me from laying before you, by
special meilages, tbs particular concerns of
the Commonwealth Bur IN the prefent crit
icat Rare Of our national asIairs, the commune
cation made with this formality, to the Senate
and Houfe ofReprefentatives, by the Govern
or, IS 70 be under1ood as a communication 10
their Conflituests at large. Our fellow citi-
zens itand arziousy waiting for that inteIH-
Rence, which fpeech from the chair, and the
replies from the two Houles may give them, at
shis momentons crihs.
Holding in fzcred refpea, the morality and
policy Of the Declaration of. Independence,
QubscrIbed with unexampled fortitude by the
members Of OR General Congrels, on the 9Th
day of July, i776,l as the foundation Of our
Rational and fate contributions OF governRent !;
ihall give yOn, IN as few words as pohible,
my ideas ct the importance Of fupporting our
rank, ia the full exercife of our fovereignty,
As one Of the nations Of the world my appre-
henilons Of the dangers by which our nation
al character may be overthrown; and my fen
tlmsnts of the meafGres necedary 10 its pref
ervation.
Though all true Americans would deprecate
the idea of becoming fubjscts of a foreign
power, YET our itazfion, in regard to ousfor-
eign relations, IS fuch, that the public opin-
ion, formed from the prefEing feelings of a
temporary neceiIity, or from a milaken view
of the advantages Of foreign connections, may
beTray US into errors, which may involve Us
and our Polerity, in difgrace and mifery, for
many years 10 come.
When our highly refpeaed leader, Prefdent
WAsRIEeroN, retired from the laborious
charge Of public duties, he did not lay aide
bis anxiety for bis country, or ceafe TO exprels
his approximations Of thar danger which might
sefult from her foreign connections, as well as
from her internal divi6ona--The addreis Of
that Patriot, on his retnemect, ought TO be
fiudied BY faceeeding generations, aud held in
high reipect as the perfect creed of American
politics
Whatever may be the advantages or one ma
ton over another, as TO climate, numbers,
wealth orforce, yet, in point of national rights,
all mut be on the fame grade of perfeta equal
ity--To depzrf from this rule, in the moi
minute degree. would lay the nation departing
fror il, proltrae at the foot of another
Sovereignty is the vital principle of national
.exifence and though in its exercife, over its
own lubiects, IL may, for their convenience
and fafefy, admit of notifications as TO its co.
'ercive procedures, yet in regard to other ma
tions, the principle mult remain entire, exer.
cited By lis own will, controlled by itieIf alone
or the marion loies its character, and ceafes tC
exift as q fepara,e power
From the erroneous iBprefhons that may
be made on the public opinion, in the prefenl
evenrful age OF the world. arile apprehension
OF the dangers we may be in from foreign re
latious.
Foreign relations originate, primarily, IL
the law of nature and narions-principies O.
this law eilabIiih the rights Of ieparste powers
But with the greasef part of the Europear
nations, our relations, a. foreign power, arl
enlarged or modified, by treaties of amity snc
commerce s-Yet the exiting embzrra1nent
of our trade, refrlt, as well from unprece
denied heterogeneous cf our claims, founded
u tbs laS Of nations, az in the violation D