Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1809-01-30

possessing and protecting property and
whenever these great objects are not OBJ
taiped. the people have a,ighi TO alter the
government, and TO take measures for their
safety, prosperity and happiness FIR the
very idea of all legitimate government i'm
Ilies social compact, by which the whole
people covenants u protect each citizen in
the enjoyment of these natural rights, as
well as each citizcn the whole people -
Now is it not right for all the individuals
of the communit, IN their own ships TO nav-
igaic TIE seas, the common highway of all
mankind more especially when we are at
peace with all the world and has cur gov
eminent afforded tins protection has 1t not
rather required The citizens 10 surrender
these natural rights altogether
Considerations like these under our pre-
sent anexampled embarrassments aud priya.
lions, naturally lead Va. to inquire lato the
causes winch have produced them and
upon retrospective view Of the different
measures OF the federal government since
II Mas established, more particularly as 1t
regards our fol e:gn relations, We Cannot
tat no,ice with pain the striking contrast
,tader the administration ofthe great WASH
lNGroS and his succEssoR. agrieulture,
commerce and the tisaefies ti3urished, we
were respected u q and prosperous at
hom., all the power AND lntrigues OF foreign
courts to tie Contrary notwithstanding but
can this be sad with truth TO be the case
nov d. we not witness system Of policy,
calculated, as appears by The result, 60 exalt
our nesale' Ut we have aas) u humble, de-
press and Inpoyerish ourselves We have
experienced for more than year, the Ope-
ration of the obnoxious embargo laws, by
which, instc sd of coerclng oiher nations To
respect eur rights, (Which was not hover.
or the os;ensi9ie reason assigned tor impo-
aing lhose lows, but we believe the real
one) we have, An the view OF ali the world,
abandoned them, and taught the enemies of
our rising prosperity a lesson, which they
have been long DESTROYS OF knowing, that
instead OF thslf being dependent upon US,
rheg can be very independent.
When the present administration cana
into power, we were promised bettertilnes
than We had then before experiencea-ihat
our burIhens woul be hghtened that we
should avoid an approximation 10 tire forms
Of mOaafehici and arissocratIcai govern
ment---that in tae, the political mii.ehial
state WAS to commence but experience
has taught tho sad reverse In AVOIDING
acylla, We arc about being swallowed up
by Cnary Dds, Oar ration fallen forn an
exalted rank to situation the most hum
bling. We find the means Of cur Individual
subs,stence every day declining, aud the
OBJECTS OF Charity multiplying. Having
nemorialzed The president of the United
States we asked bread and were gwen a
stone--on the meeting OF congress, we ask
ed ish and they give us SCI pent!
RtsolseJ, That we deplore tie measures
Which have been and ere about To be adopt.
ell he present session, Notwithstanding the
eloquent remoasraneos and the unanswera-
bic arguments of our Senators and many Of
our Representative whosc characters and
Abilities would 10 honor to any nation in a.
ny age. Being threatened not only with
the continuance Of the Causes Of our pres
cslsmities, bnt an increase of them, by a
tyrani.ss military despotism, with other en-.
eroaehmeats Ola our liberties and peacc--by
having the treasures of the nation squslier
ed away in paying q host OF astom house
officers and their tools in raising armies
in time of peace, and making warlike pre-
para;ions, apparently with no o,her view
than TO enforce the embargo laws, and &c
turn our guns against our own citizens, and
having no means of replsnishing the natsona
treasury, but by rssorting ultimately to 6i
rect taxes.
We cannot therefore but avail ourselves
of our constitutional right, in an orderly ant
peaceabe manner to assemble and consult
upon The common good, to petition for re
dress Of the wrongs done US and the gfiev
ances we suffer.
Resolved, That since The supreme exec
ntiye Of he nation, as well as congress, turI
deaf ear To Our suppl cations and remon
strances, we will lay our complaints an.
suilerings before the government Of tina
state, which first resisted European tyran
NY, at the commencement of the revolutio,
that ended in our independence, and stil
knows how to value, AMI to defend our {
quail rights from British or Gallo usurpa
tion.
Resolved, That a committee be appoint
eG TO make out, sign and forward. III th'
name OF this .own, respectful address Il
the Legislature of MASSACHUSETTS,, at thei
next session, setting forth the dlstresscs W
experience under the embargo and othe
laws Of the general government, and th'
fears we entertain, that liberty aud happi
ness are about TO lie exiled from this orc
happy land giving our unqualified appro
baton Of the measures adopted Ivy them il
June last, ana praying them to take sucl
further steps, as in their opinion will b.
best calculated 10 restore TO us our ssfme
rights OF traVe ing the ocean, and otpre
serving the union aud prosperity Of the u
r;led States.
Resolved, That as we inherit the soil or
which our ancestors landed in 1907. being
freemen Of the oldest town in the county
and when called upon in common with on
brethren tp resist the encroachments OF G
Britain in l77j, we were united in opposing
sbcm, 30 now, we would cheerinliy conse
crate every cent ofproperty we possess, s
tile last drop Of blood in our veins. to thu
service, and in the defence Of Our beloved
country. wouic oar government use sucl
..l E nfIAiIl q.