Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1809-02-27
Ne4v. Giouce4er Tosvn Meeting.

At legal meeting of the freeholder, and
other inhabran,s of New. Clouceiter, in the
c,unty OF Cumberland, qualified as the law
directs, TO vote in town affairs, holden at the
meeting houfe in the FRI parifh in faid New.
G louceiler. on Monday, the 18th day OF Feb
ruary, Ammo Domini 1907
Ysfei, That Col. Mslss Merrill be moderator
of laid meeting,
Yotei. To petition the Legislature of this
Common wealth TO interpofe their influence
wish the general government, to raife the En-
barge, and repeal the feveral laws relative to
the fame. and afford US fuch other relief in
thefe days of d,ltreis, As ,dey IN their wiidon
fhall deem mete
Y.fsd, That Peig Chandler, jun Nstbsaid C.
Aiies, Daniel HsrDs,d, Efquires, Mr. Zsbslea
Ro.us, and Doe 7is.osby Liffit. be the commit.
tee to draft faid petition
The committee Withdrew fhort time, and
then returned and reported petition which
was accepted by the town.
Then, Ysses, Tha, the fame committee Ign
and forward the faid petition to the Legila-
ture Of faid Commonwealth
THE PETITION.
To fbs Besersbs bs Sesafs asd Hss/s Of Rsprsfes.
fafips effbs CemmssspssItb Of MAJ seS.jsa,, ~
Ce.e,si Court sDsmbied
We the inhabitants of the town of New
Gloucefter, in the county of Cumberland, in
legal tows meeting aflembled, deem il our du-
ty RESPECTFULLY TO addrefs your honors on
fubject in which our interelf and liberties arc
deeply involved.
For more than thirteen months pa1, we have
been fubjected TO the privations and diirefes
confequeni upon the feveral Embargo laws,
mpofed by eongrefs Although thoie laws
appeas to have been introduced into, and
forced through the national Legislature in a
manner totally without ecsdent--Although
great and ferrous doubts were entertained of
their coniti,u,ionality and eIpediency; and
although we were NOT informed of the -eaions
for. impo6ng them; yet we relied for time on
the 6ncerity Of our national rulers, and fub-
mitted TO great and mutual priva'ions, becaufe
they conGdered them for the general good
We had fone reafon to hope that the reftric-
ton. on our trade and commerce would ceafe
at the riGng of Congreis; bu, in this we were
deceived. We were fiil nattered with the
hope. and gave credit to the poiisve anurances
of ,hofe whom we con6dered, in fome mealure,
in the fecrets of the naturalization, that all our
iuflerings would foon he terminated. Finding
that thefe afTurances were alto illuiive. and
calculated rather to influence our elections,
than to afford relief and peing wearied with
fuffering and delay, we addreiled an humble
petition TO the PreGdent of thefe United States,
RESPECTFULLY rating cur grievances, and praying
that he,would eIert,ie the powers vefted in
him by Congrefs. and fufpend in whole or in
part the feveral laws laying an Embargo.
To this humole petition an indirect anfwer
was returned, inducing us however to believe,
that the repe al of thcie fevere laws would be
one of the FRI acts of Congress at its then
next FELTON, but when we looked for relief,
a llill greater evil was added Inltead of find
ing a return of refpect for our natural and
chartered rights, we are doomed to bend to
the firong arm Of power our energies palied |;
our houles are liable to be fearched at the ca
price of fuhal.ern officers of the national gov
eminent, withou, warrant ifIued on probable
caufe. or supported by oath or affirmation !;
our property 10 liable TO UNREASONABLE fixtures
and transportation The mere will and plea.
fure, nay, the fecrct inflructisn of an individ-
ua are to have the force If law, by which We
nun be bound without their PRONUNCIATION,
and of which we are TO take notice without
any poflible means OF knowing their import.
Exorbitant rewards and encouragements
are given TO informers, aud fyftem of zpi0"ags
is eiiablIfhed difgraeeiul to a free government,
fabverlve of our liberties, and itain on our
republican inilitu;ions. Our fuhcrings are
immenle The produce of our farms will
fcarcely fell for the expence of cultivation.
We have but very little circulating medium !;
that little is notify paper, and to the Ian degree
vita ed. Our lumber y unfaleable, We are
unable to meet our fpecie contracts, made in
better times; made in days when we lad con-
fdenee that the government we had inflituted
would rather prove our fhieid and protection,
than flaming fword 10 deisroy us.