Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1809-01-23

mind. 1t is inconteltibly proved,
by reference to official documents
now before the public. Firit, we
have demanded the reitoration of our
impreiled fcamen, and to coerce
Great Britain into compliance with
that demand, we pailed non-im-
portation law. Secondly, we rejec-
ted a treaty, (as have underitood)
becaufe that demand was nor fully
complied with. And thirdly, in
coniequence Of the horrid outrage
committed upon the frigate Chefa-
peakc, our PRECEDENT having iiIued
a proclamation prohibiting all Britiih
armed vefels from entering our
ports, refufed to revoke that procla-
nation till reparation was made, or
at leait till 4 plan was propoied BY
the Britih envoy, which fhould be
conGdercd adequate to the purpofe.
Let thefe facts be contracted with
the offer made by orr President
(which was laid before this houfe in
his public medage) to the Briti!h
Cabiner, that upon the Jingle revoca-
ton of their orders of council, our
Embargo fhould be raifed 70 far
as refpeeted that nation; Nc condi-
ton annexed, Of returning our lea.
men, or making reparation for the
outrage upon rhe Chefapeake /! i!
Can any rational being, poaefed of
common fenfe, and not perfectly
blinded BY partially, miiunderitand
this language No, MIR. Speaker, it
is TOO pIain-fo plain, that he who
runs may read, and clearly underitand
What is its genuine meaningf Why,
when itripped of its deceptive cove
ring, and expofed in its real form, it
will read thus =" We are convinced
by woeful experience, thar our coer-
Give plans are futile-that they re.
bound back upon our own citizens
with redosbled force --that there
fore, we are now willing, if you will
be GRACEFULLY pleafed to grant US lib
erty, to renew our former trade with
you, even under all the emba<rais-
ments of which we have 70 long, and
70 loudly complained the murder of
Pearce, and the outrage upon our ma
tional fhip, to the contrary notwith-
Handing"
Twill no, long detsin the ihoufe with COM
menting upon tie anfwer returned, but briefly
obferve, that il was iels infultng, and more
humane and iympathiiing, than might have
been expected from that naughty nation.
The purport may be comprifsd in few
words to this effect F" We are forty for the
fuffering of your citizens, produced by your
own imprudent conduct and would gladly
relieve them, were il in our power, confident
with our national honor and dignity; but
as that cannot be done, we muR, for the pre-.
feat, leave you TO devife means for yourielves
to releale your citizens from their rrefent in
asing distrels, and truly deplorable hssa-
tion." The foregoingis not = picture too
highly colored.-Woud TO God, for the fake
of my fufFering eountry that it was But asss !!
!, is the lfc--it is the original-it is a tate.
ment of facts contained in Official documents
gone out to the public, and therefore can
neither be controverted nor recalled.
Mr. Speaker, in this deplorable 6tuation,
let me earneity call the attention Of the imme-
date representatives OF the people, to FERROUS
and allimporant qucitiou, q 9ueftion on
which, in my opinion, not only the prefeat but
future union, peace, ftrength, sndprofperi,y
of thefe U. States much depends Shai! the
laws paiIed Ian fefIion, that have become 70
difreiIing to the people, not ooly be eontinu-
ed, but more rigoroufy enforced Will our
government continus the. futile attempt, to
compel great number Of our hardy, brave
and patriotic citizens TO abandon habits which
our eworthy PreGdent lin the quotation be-
fore adduced) admits TO be impolible will
repeat IL: I" The actual hzbits of our eoun-
trymen attach them 10 eewwsses, they s0iH ssey-
sijs It for themfelves" Nun shefe brave CT
sizens be driven to acts Of defpair or DEEPER
atic,,, either TO aba( on their country or to
evade laws under hch they are unable to
live Mutt their petitions and memorials be
treated - the prsdud of enemies to govern.
ment, a. Britiih partxans aud diicontented
indgni6cant malcontents, who deferve no fur.
ther notice than to have their tlamours lIen-
ced by the ftrong arm of government, and
their ps~ended wants fupplied by the apph-
cation Of fharp pointed bayoness Ipray the
majority Of this hcufe leriou1y TO confider the
inevitable consequence Of perfifting in this
line Of conduct,l pray them not barely to
paufe and reflect upon pan conduct, bu,
Immediately reduce to practice the excellent
nrecert of our prelident contained In his