Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1810-01-08

FOk THE GAZETTE.
Mr.. SHIRLEY,
RECLUSE.

F0R The GAEE TIE.
Mr.. SHIRLEY,
Mr.. Secretary Smith insists much ca an
~nher circumstance respecting the effect Of
she Arrangement made with Mr.. EfsiHe,
,yhich upon examination will perhaps, ap
near less a matter Of complaint against Eng
land. and operating as favor.,bly to the IN
teres,s Of the United States. His statement
Is that G.. Britain, having derived great
benefits from the arrangement, Is to sup
niles from and trade with this country, it
ceased to be 50 highly concerned for the
ratification Of the articles agreed to by Mr.
.EysEine and after ha'ing enjoyed the ad-
yantsges Of the convention, refused 10 per-
form its part Of the arrangement. That
England was aot bound IN Justice to fulfil
PROMISES aud conditions, y.hich she never
authorised her agent to propose, has before
been shevn, and must be evident to ali
candid men. But further, was hot this
sountry, were not the merchants and peo-
pie of the Y. States as much benifitted BY
the arrangement as England could possibly
be We know it has been Popular to repre-
sent g. Britain as Stayvirg and sinking for
want oftrade with the Y. States. But we
doubt the truth of the representation. That
nation is, indeed, benefited by trade with
this country. And so is Ibis country with
that. And England suffered in some in
stances BY the prohibition of commercial in
tercourse on our part. But who suffered
most And what would have been the
present state Of our nation, had not the
shackles been taken off from Commerce in
May last Many, very n of our citizens
had been bankrupts lone before this. The
Treasury would not have received millions
which have now been deposited in it-and
the people had wholly Withdrawn all conf
dence from the administration.
All this must have been foreseen by our
Rulers. And they made an arrangement
not agreeabiy to the instructions given the
British Minister by his government-but
according to terms Of their own proposing
And thus the fulfllment Of, and the readi.
ness to carry into effect the convention
made, on the part Of our Rulers may Justly
be considered as arising from wish to do
away the odium to which they were expos
ed for the Embargo, Non-intercourse, &c.
For il is admitted by candid Democrats,
that the President was not fully authorised
by Congress to do what was done by his
proclamation. Is it then proper to complain
of the disavowal on the part of England, as
tho it were done after receiving ali the adj
vantages from the arrangement, which ii
was calculated to afford
There is still another act Of our admins.
tration for which we do not see that they
can be possibly justified, calculated to en-
bitter and provoke g. Britain. We ask, if
i be not very improper, if it be not unfair,
ii If be not novel proceeding, after refu-
sing to hear further from the English Min
ister, to publish long statement and rep
the letter from Mr.. Smith 10 Mr.. PHkaey)
when no one can reply TO that statement,
and when we are forbid 70 hear what may
be said on the other side. This, la truth,
Is sne-sided representa- fion, il which there
rs much of mistake, Of imcorrectness ard Of
sophistry, with view, il is fearc !, TO OK
cate The prejudices and passions Of the peo-
Pie,and to PREJUDICE this important case, On
which are suspended the peace and pros
psrity OF the country. This letter, 10 doubt,
our Cabinet had right TO address through
uielf agent to the British government. But
1t Is not fair or manly to send forth this doc
nment, at time, when the person who was
authorised to reply to it, IS excluded from
the privilege of being heard:
But whether these charges of improprie-
~ fasten on our administration, or not of
Tins we feel assured, that all candid men,
all who love their country's welfare viii! not
approve of the late conduct Of our Rulers in
refusing to negotiate with the new British
Envoy. IMPARTIALITY.
FOR THE GAZETTE.
MR.. SHIRLEY,