Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1810-02-19

The peop!. of this Commonwealth, bslIcv-
ias II 90 be the Indispensable oaiy OF the
States 10 contribute TO The exigencies Of the
Union, have been accueomed 10 coniider il az
a reciprocal duty Of the general government,
20 by,1ils for the common defence, snd know
ing Ina, the United States contain the moit
amp military and naval refources-and con-
liderug the imminent dangers which threa-
ten, We cannot bu; expreis the deePet con
zero, that our extenlive frontiers are 10 defen-
ceIels-and that our naval force is 70 utterly
incompetent 10 the purpoles of national iecuri :
;y-and unbecoming the juit CLAIMS and the
dignity of cur counry. 10 this alarming fit
uAtion of our public affairs, our immediate re'i-
ance mutt be on the militia Of tie State, and we
allure your Excellency, that " TO render tbif, 10
fay f5s lean, CIR f,e ,eisRyee for dtfenee, az sF-
fent a. pogis,' we conlidcr 10 be, not merely tbe
d,ctGte u prudsee, but TIE inPeriOps call neesty
inpst4 BY ei.esmfaaees, zrbieb, nay baVs
cont opI."
The policy of the United States was
peace-To preferve this bIefiing it became
necefarv not only to defend the rights of
neutrality, but to refpe6t the rights of the
belIigerents. The federal administration
did not, originally, ref fatisfed with ap-
pealS TO the reaion only ofthe great pow
ers at war-but made adequate proviiion,
and unaffected a determination to main
tain the rights of their country by the
fword.-Hence refuted fate of national
glory, and Of unexampled PROPERTY.
It would unquefionably be the policy
of a neutral nation to fubmit to the incon-
venencies and privations neesBariiy Incl
dent to colli6ons between belligerent and
neutral rights-but a neutral, pol1cfling
the means of reiiitance, and yet acquiefc-
ing in fuch aggrei1ions of the one party to
the war, as would juftify meafures of re-
taliation by the other, mutt be conhdered
as having abandoned or forfeited its ncu-
trial petition and privileges. The people
of this State will fupport with their accuf-
toned energy and Promptitude, the mea.
fures neceffary to maintain an honef neu-
trality-eyen If they fhould involve iuft
but neceflary war-6ut JDcb quar- only,
eviH haze their encouragement.
While we concur with your EXcellency
in opinion, " that in the periIony fate of
our foreign relations, it SVoHid be the extreme
" HSEeJtNfs ~ 6Ofa/11Gb NVNf cJ BVfpI OONOIC,
we are obliged frankly 70 declare our ap-
pTehenliOn that this war will inevitably
lead to an alliance, which would be the
preface of dearuction that this war is
menaced againit nation. which oppofes
to the necefiity Of an immediate conflict
with the tremendous power and defpotifm
of France, which has already overwhelmed
the liberties of the old world.
And when it ihall appear, that the Ad-
minifration of the general government
puriue policy towards the great belliger-
ent powers, which ieems to conceal and
paliate the wrongs and infultS Of the one,
and TO magnify the injuries, and difcolour
the views of the other-to fubmit to the \
cruel aggreiiions of the one, committed in
contempt and violation both Of treaty aud
public law--and to refuie to accept from
the other party, reparation for unauthorif-
ed injury, and profers of adjultment, that
might be Reasonable and juf, the people of
this Commonwealth will conflder it ga
dnty too imtsratiUe 10 Be Neglected, to exer-
sic al confitHtiOnal means, either to pre-
Vent impending eaiamitieJ, or to prepare TO
meet than in a becoming manner"