Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1812-09-14

il or 10 the nation that au.horises IT,
In the beginning of war some rich
ships are surprised and taken. This
encourages the first adycnturers 10 I'll
out more armed vessels, and many 9th.
ers do the same. But the enemy al
the same time become more careful (:
arm their merchant ships better and
render them not so easy 70 he taken /;
they go also under the protection 81
conveys. Thus, while the priysteers
to take them are multiplied, the vessels
subject TO be taken, and the chances OF
profit are diminished; so that many
cruisers are made, wherein the eXpen-
ses oyergo the gains and, as is the
case in other lotteries though particu-
lars have got prizes, the mass OF adven
turers are losers, the whole expence Of
fitting out all the priyateers during a
war being much greater than theswhole
amount Of goods taken.
Then there is national loss Of all
the labor OF SO many msw during the
time they have been employed in rob-
bing who besides spend what they get
In riot, drunkenness and butchery lose
their habits of industry are rarely fiji
for anv sober business after a peace,
ana serve only TO increase the number
of highwaymen and house breakers.
Even the undertakers who have been
fortunate are by sudden wealth, led into
expensive living, the habit Of which
continues when the means Of supporting
it cease, and finally ruins them a Just
punishment for having wantonly and
unteelingly ruined many honest, inno-
cent traders and their families, whose
substance were employed in serving the
Common interest of mankind"
" Ii has been for some time a gener
ally received opinion, that a military
man is not 10 enquire whether the war
is just or unjust he is to execute his
orders. All princes who are disposed
10 become tyrants, must probably ap.
prove OF this opinion and be willing to
establish il /; but is il not a dangerous
one since on that principle, il the ty-
rant commands his army 10 attack and
destroy, not only an unolfording neigh
bour nation, but even his own subjects,
the army is bound 10 obey A negro
slave IN our colonies, being commanded
by his master to rob or murder neigh
Dor, or do any immoral act, may re-
fuse; and the magistrate will protect
bin IN his refusal. The slavery then
of a soldier is worse than that Of q ne
gro A conscientious officer, if not re-
strained by the apprehension Of its be-
ing imputed TO another cause, may in
deed resign rather than be employed in
an UNJUST war, but the private men are
slaves Tor life, and they are perhaps in
capable Of Judging for themselves.
We can only lament their fate, and still
more that of ssilOr, who is often drag
ged by force, from his honest occupa-
ton, and compelled to embrue his hands
IN perhaps innocent blood. But me-
thinks It well behOyes merchants (men
more enlightened BY their education,
and perfectly free from any such force
or obligation TO consider well of the
justice Of q war, before they voluntarily
engage gang ofruffians to attack their
fellow merchants of a ueighbou,ing ma
ton TO plundcr them Of their property,
and perhaps roin them and their fami-
lies. il they yield it; or to wound, MAIN
and murder them, if they attempt to de
fend il. Yet these things are done by
christian merchants whether war be
Just, or unjust; and it can hardly be
Just on both sides. They are done by
English and American merchants, who,
nevertheless complain of private theft,
and hang by dozens the thieves they
have taught By their own example. II
is high time, for the sake Of humanity,
that a stop were put to this enormity"