Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1810-04-30

members would have slighte their duties
20 heir constituents. who had right 10 cX-
,ect that their qpatchnien would not only be
.iriIant 20 descry, but honest to commune
cate their dangers.
The members Of the legislature seem
however TO have been fully aware OF the
misconstructon, which might be put upon
their expression Of their sense OF the alarm
ing state of our foreign relations. In the pres
ent discord Of party it was not TO be expect
ed, that those, whom they regarded as the
unfortunate authors Of our snfe'igs, would
patiently submit TO a scrutiny into their eau
see; or that they would approve of tie means
suggested to prevent the evils OF impending
zsar, which were in direct opposition to TIE
measures, that had brought us to this CRISIS.
The legislature has therefore stated at
length the reasons, that induced its express
sing in imitation Of our sister states its sense
of oar evils and dangers, as well as the
means Of averting them. Among candid men
of all parties the only questions are, IT they
have assigned sufficient reasons for the ex-
preston of their opinion on our great nation
al affairs and if 50, whether they have dis
covered and disclosed the true causes of our
evils and dangers, and suggested the sure
means of preserving our peace and revivlng
our prosperity A dispasslonate investiga-
ton of the Report on our foreign relations
will enable US TO decide these questions by
our fire sides, with no other instructor or
commentator than our experience.
The Pebort first states, that the sudden
dismissal of the English Minister, the 'es0-
luton of Congress on this subject, the re-
sentiment discovered and measures propos'
ed bv the friends of the national admlnistra-
ton, had materially changed the posture OF
our relations with Great Britain since the
last meeting of the Legislature, and disclosed
a poAicy, gvhose tendency zuas to produce an open
rupture qrith that nation. The facts from which
this policy was inferred, we all know. And
that the measures of government almost ne
cessarily led us to war with England, Mr.
Giles, who is the friend and advocate OF
Mr.. Madison, has most explicitly and hon
estly avowed. His opinion was, that in con-
sequence of the misunderstanding and DIS
pute between our cabinet and the English
Minister, and our political resolutions, &c.
Great B,itaia must and zrould declare zrar a.
ygai1st Anpe,ica and If she dil not, that a.
the house of representatives the same inten-
ton of hostility was as unguardedly repeat
ed. And the resolutions OF Congress, III
which we were made TO pledge or lives to
support the administration, seemed TO threa-
ten something more than the empty buster
of resentment. Was the Legislature wrong
then in this suggestion respecting the ttn-
dency Of the measures Of the national govern
ment to produce war with England?
The REPORT next states, that 7var
with ENGLAND zvo1id in It's consequences
endanger our liberty and indetendence.
Can any man who has any knowledge
ofthe power and views of France, doubt
the truth Of this position Suppose ia
such a contest we should cripple and
humble England, should sc alone be
better able TO secure sale asylum for
the rights and liberties of mankind,
than we now both afford against the ty-
rant of continental Europe No man
will believe, that success In such a war
would not put our liberty and indepen-
dence in jeopardy. Was not the leg
islature then justified in an attempt to
allay those hostile trohenSitieS, which
seemed unfortunately to impel some Of
the state governments, in harmony with
the national administration, to approve
of measures, which Mr.. Giles and Ms
friends ertfcity avo7ved must inu9lue
us in zoar sOith England ?
The legislature, under these impress
slons, next proceed to notice the DISPUTE
and misunderstanding 6etqUeen The En-
.sASh minister and oar ozvn cabinet, zvh7ch
terminated IN The rutture ofthe negoia-
ton. Does the report here contain one
improper expression, one illiberal in
slnuatlon A difference of opinion is
expressed with that frankness and deli
cacy, In which enlightened minds avow
dissent from the opinion Of others. And
surely In a land of freedom and inquiry,
no man or body of men has right TO
set up standard OF uniformity. With
different Passions, prejudices, PARTIAL
ties, and systems, we find it impossi-
bic TO make honest men unanimous in
support OF any one system Of policy.
When we open the Bible to them, and
read with them the same scripture, we
cannot make them unanimous in the
belief OF any one system of religion.
May not, cannot the Legislature Of Mas
Sachusetts therefore honestly differ
from our cabinet at Washington in
their CONSTRUCTION IF The letters ot MIR.
Jackson Was every member in Con-
gress, or IN the legislature Of Massa-