Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1809-08-07

sion Of pretenders TO public favor. We
have Witnessed the display of self-complai.
cency and Accommodation, among null
tiiudas assembled to be deceived and Sc
dueed 10 the support OF their deceivers.
The commencement OF a arrangement so
extraordinary, could not but attract the no.
,ice of Europe. Under such manifest i'm.
beoillty, we were in no condition to assert
our national rights, with effect, against for
eign aggressions and an act of usnrpation
was not long delayed. The Port of New.
Orleans was wrested from us in violation Of
a treaty. Was redress demanded of the
aggressor for this outrage No. The dig.
unity OF the nation was Frustrated before the
throne of France in humble memorial.
soliciting permission to purchase The terri.
tory where the outrage had been commit
ted
This act of yassalage was most gracious
ly accepted. Tie request was granted,
and millions Of tribute were squandered I'M
der the name of purchase OF a wilderness,
that now exhbi heavy claims on our treas
ury for protection.
When Rome first acquiesced in the VIOLA
ton of her territorial rights, by purchasing
the rhearance of her savage invaders. her
character sunk to insigniiicanee, ard she
eventually fell prey to the rapscious avar.
iee, that she in vain attempted 10 satisfy.
1t is not merely the pecuniary sacrifice in.
sol,ed IN this transaction, that occasions the
most serious cause OF regret but Ike eye-
~ other tributary act OF one nation TO ano-
Their, it laid the foundation for more arbi
trary claims.
Our lucrative commerce with ST Domin-
go became offensive to the Emperor; his
dis leasnTe was not to be incurred for the
want of an acceptable sacrifice, and thai
commerce WAS relinquished at his nod
Still tho was not sufficient +; our neutrality
appeared TO him sluggish, our spirit mean
and asaricious he discovered tina, we were
enemies to the liberty of the seas, a love q
which glows in his breast with burning
ardor, he trowned with indignation on on
base loye of gain and ease and 10 pacify
him with one more offering, our cabinet, IN
the plentltude of its devotion to bis viii,
compelled US to abandon the commerce u
the ocean.
At this last act of humiliation, the spiri,
of the nation was aroused from It's lethargy
At so near an approach OF so deadly an enc.
my, i, awoke to sense of danger. One STEP
further and our Liberties would have vanish
ed forever.
Had his soldiers been admitted to cur
shores, We might have seen our youths
manaeled and torn from th.,r parents, to fill
up the ranks of the slain. Extorton would
have wrung from our hands support for In,
ravaging legions. The chastity of those,
whom affection has rendered essential t.
our happiness, would have been violated b,
the lawless invaders and every scene oi
horror that has been acted on the continen,
of Europe, would have been exhibited On
our own.
But the mercy of heaven has ayerted SC
dreadful calamity. A prospect OF the re-
turn Of happier days now opens to our vie w
And may the dim clouds of the political
philosophy, that have shed their poisonous
dews, IN cop,ous eiinsions on our land, new
er return to observe the sunshine Of our ma.
tional prosperity"