Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1810-08-13

- tLtoft 90 a - ~ tftHtftCC'
The Editors Of the Argus and other
Jacobin papers, presuming on the ig-
norance and stupidity Of their patrons,
after publishing Erskine's late letters,
/. draw this sage conclusion that they
afford additional proof Of the exist
ence Of a party in this country devoted
to the interest Of Great Britain -
Had they have withheld these letters
from the public and came forward with
the assertion without furnishing them
with the power to Judge for themselves,
ii could not have excited Our surprise,
because 1t is heJectiu ia character with
them but that they should have the
tiirontery thus TO insult the understan-
ding of their RAIDERS, in the face and
eyes OF common sense, is what we did
not apprehend even from them Had
magician, had Mr.. RanUe played such
deceptions on bis audience, it might
pass for harmless amusement, because
II IS what they would naturally calcu-
late upon but that the readers fthose
papers should suffer such libels 10 be
imposed on their under standings, is
somewhat remarkable. How far they
were authorized by Mr.. Erskine's let-
ters 10 Infer that the federalists are
governed by British influence" may be
seen by the following extracts from his
letter of December, l9o8.-It viii like
wise be seen whether il goes rarthest
to establish the existence Of British CT
FRENCH INFLUENCE.
E" 1t Is we'll known that MIR. GaIlatin
has long thought that the restrictive
aud Jealous system OF non-intercourse
laws, extra dp:'cs, and other modes Of
checking free trade with Great Bri-
tain, have been erroneous and highly
injurious TO the best interests of Amer
lea. lie informed me, distinctly, that
he had always entertained that opIn-
ion, and that he hid uniformly endeay-
ored to pursu4de the President 10 piece
the copducJ 81 Great Britain and France
towards the United States in fir
light before the public. He seemed to
check himself At the moment he was
speaking upon this subject, and | could
not get him to express himself more
distinctly, hut | could clearly collect
from his manner, and from some Slight
inslnuations, That be thought the Presi-
dent had acted with Partially towards
France, for ne tnrned the ohversatiYn
Immediately on Mr. Madison, and said
tbat he could nor Ne accused cf having
any such bias towards France and N:
marked that Mr.. Madison was known
10 be an adnirer Of the British Consli-
tuition, to be generally well disposed
towards the nation, and 10 be entirely
Tree from any enemity to lis general
prosperity"
These observations be made az
that time for the purpose Of contrasting
The sentiments Of Mr. Madison wiki !
laeSe ofthe President, as he knew that
inust have observed that Mr.. Jefier- |
son never spoke With appreciation Of |
any thing that was British, and always !
TOOK up the French topics in his ccnvcr-
saton, and always praised the people !
aud country OF france, and never lost |
an opportunity Of showing lis dislike |
10 Great Britain"
We cannot have stronger proofs Of !
Inc corrup; motives Of our adninistra- |
uon, says the editor of the Waterford |
'azette, than is detailed in these para
Graphs, and We ate not At al surprized |
mat the publication Of such sentiments |
should have produced schism in the |
eaoinet' and the denunciation Of Gala |
~ ~ the lie leaders OF democracy. |
j Is g1il known that schism conmen- |
ls0 10 TIE early part Of The last session
p. congress. This is an sddi,ioaal
PROG that his Correspondence was then |
- 'Fe possession 81 our administration, |
7 .lFt similar ssn,:msnts had been 40