Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1810-05-07

IefSOn aIu A1rs MADISON assert however,
that the ruin Of commerce was effected by
the DEGREES of France, and the orders in coun-
ciI Of England, and not by our embargo and
noniHtercOurse laws. But one single fact,
well known to every man engaged in for
eign trade, refutes this assertion. Since the
repeal of the embargo laws, we have csrri-
ed on great and lucrative mercantile nego-
tiations throughout the world, If we except
the ports of France. Mr.. Gray alone has
probably cleared half million OF dollars.
If the non-intercourse bill had not been con-
tinued, our trade would have been more ex-
tensive and more profitable. But this law
has not only cramped our enterprise and d.
minished our gains, but France has made it
the pretext for Selling and sequestratiDg
all our ships aud cargoes within her grasp,
The fact on which we rely, reiutes all the
arguments of the friends of the administra-
ton, for all this trade is now earned on in
spite of the DEGREES Of France, and the or
ders IN council. The non Intercourse law
is the only reason, that il has not been more
extensive "a law too which has been os-
tensibly the cause Of French piracy and de-
probation. AS a conclusive evidence q the
correctness of this statement, the papers
! devoted to the national government endea-
yored 10 help their can ~ 4tes at the late G.
lection by asserting rC.Lt'~iy, thar their par
y ia Congress spas rs eager 70 TcfeaE the non
intercourse iazv as the FeaeraIias. Can there
be a stronger proof, that the whols country
was at length convinced Of the perniCious
effects of our restrictive system
The Report then asserts, 4" that the belH-
| gerent nations regarded tie embargo s nom
/ intsrcourse laws as partial and harmless"
On laying the embarFea. the French minis
| ter Champagny congratulated the world on
| the cooperation Of America with Bona
| parte in his commercial warfare against En-
gland. On the raising Of the embargo, the
! French abused us as much a: if we haden-
tered into an alliance with England--they
| pronounced it an English measure, al obi
Gus cortrivance, and the reacheyy Of joc,JsGaji.
Gus tfienas. The embargo therefore was not
| merely harmless as it respected France it
was the measure she desired, and it seconded
| all her political schemes. The embargo al
SO uas partial, as it was directed only
| against England. But partial rs it was, it
| did not at all affect her possessions as Mr..
! Jefferson and his friends expected. The re-
venue Of England has been large beyond ex-
| ample, since The operation Of this mistaken
4
SO Furnishing and thriving a condition and
Canada owes its prosperity wholly to our en-
barge. The English ministry would not give
up any part of their system TO effect lis re-
| peal AT home, on our own farms, in our
shops, by our fire sides, we felt the evils Of
! tins restrictive policy and our distress, s.
the Improvement of Canada, are now the
only evidence OF its existence. Is the Ian
g tla Al.
| strong /? confess think it TOO zseak.
After observing, :" that during the con-
| tinuance of the embargo, &c. the French
! have plundsred the American trade where
| ever they have found IL within their grasp,
and that the English during the same time
had respected our flag, and convoved our
Ships" the report proceeds TO consider the
| consequences of war with England, which
Mr.. Giles and his frt>ads said we must and
should have, as if England zsORid aot declare
qUar, we ought to. The loss OF commerce
| would be certain. Ii the nsyics Of France,
| ard Spain, and Russia, and Sweden. cannot
afford projection to single ship, if they
cannot keep merchantmen ahoat out of
| soundingS, what should we do without any
maritime defence ? Our fisheries would Be
destroyed our agriculture ana our farmers
would decline and become Impoverished
and instead Of active, useful, cheerful IN
dustry and profitable enterprise. we might
be employed in complaining Of our distress
es, or wasting the blood Of our citizens IN
foreign conquests- And for whom We
might take Canada and three hundred thou
sand French citizens to transfer them 10
France. We should prepare Bonaparte a
field and fertilization for his soldiers.
whence he would rush upon us at will, and
overwllelm our country. This war would
necessarily lead TO an alliance with France.
1t IS in the nature Of things, that two nations,
enSGSea y Svar against a third b0zpey, Should
| unite. In war we .hould wish 70 nlure our
enemy, and III this strong desire, excited BY
present interest, and confirmed by our pas
sions, we should forget our fears And to
what would an alliance with France lead
IN what would il result Ask the wretch
ed slaves Of Switzerland, the oppressed
merchants of Holland, or the bleeding VIC
TINS OF Spain. The calamities, the massa-
ere, the murders of people, who have deyO-
ted their blood and treasure TO the triumpiis
OF France, teach las what We are to expect
from her alliance. We should soon be come
mere French garrison, which under the
preteEce OF protection would ensiave us.
Our religion which gives us lessons of lib
erty, our morals which consist In truth aud
kindness, would be obnoxious and hateful
othe tyFant, who needs slavery and treach-
cry 10 support his empire. These ne would
sap and undermine by suphistry and pcrse-
cution. He would ann 10 secure supreRlA-
cy by The annhilation OF every thing dear TO
as IS freemen Of every thing, which in
spires taose feelings and sentiments, which
viii lead us to struggle for our rights. And
shall we condemn our legislature for warn