Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1812-09-14


FELLOW CITIzENs-A Convention
of Delegates, from the several towns in
said District, being this day holden at
the house of Mr.. David Cobb, in Cor
ham, for the purpose of agreeing upon
gentleman TO serve as Representa-
tive in the Congress Of the u. S--the
members Of il consider il their duty 70
call your serious attention to the very
alarming situation of our beloved coun-
try. We address you not as Federal
lists or Republicans, but as the Friends
Of Peace, concerned equally with our
selves IN the preservation of our rights
and interests-we disclAim, on our part,
all motives which have not for their OBJ
jet the public good-and we appeal to
no feelings on your part which are not
honorable and ingenious, The pres
ent is most interesting crisis-our
country calls aloud for help in this ex-
traordinary time of need.
From peaceable & prosperous state,
1t has been unhappily changed 10 state
of diScord and affection. To what
cause this change Is 10 be ascribed, but
to the partial feelings or weak and err
roneous policy Of our national rulers,
we are unable 10 determine. Be it,
however, what i: may, it is our opinion,
and we believe it will be yours, that un-
less a change of measures should take
place, their effect will be increasing and
intolerable distress but this change
we have no reason TO expect while the
men in power hold their seats.
Reflect, fellow-citizens, on the dispo-
sitlon of those who have managed the
affairs of the nation since they were
administered on the principles Of that
lilustrious man whose name was re-
| spectedwherever his deeds were known.
Alas since the spirit of Washington
inspired the Representative of the peo-
pie, the land has mourned-its glory
has become dim and seems to be vanish
ing away. May not the evils we now
suffer, be imputed to the want Of those
qualifications in our rulers, which are
required Of such by the Supreme Cow
ernor OF the world Are they " lust
men, ruling in the fear Of God" and
without Partially ? If so, why have
they, instead of supporting strict neu-
Irality with the beIligerent powers, ex-
ercised bitter temper towards the
government of one, while they have
manifested seryile compliance with
the wishes ofthe other. Why have they
artfully endeayoured, by means of the
| papers, devoted to their views, to preiu-
dice the people against Great Britain
and thereby induced many citizens of
the northern states to support their
measures, which that temper has in
duced them to adopt !--NVhy have they
disregarded the interest OF the northern
states, and IN manner destroyed that
commerce which has been the means of
their prosperity, while they have pre-
tended a regard to the interest and ar
| aim 10 remove the Instructions il has
met With 4! Why have they adopted, las
their conduct proves they havc) the sem
tlment of the late President Jefferson,
as expressed in his answer to the Lee
gislature Of Newhampshire that " ID is
ansUlse 20 SO 10 foreign countries Jor the
cShUeniences Of Life ?"
Why have they rejected the over
lures Tor an accommodation with Great
Britain, and treated her ministers with
GOODNESS and disrespect ? Why have
they patiently borne the injuries and
insults ct France, and not only SO, but
endeavored TO palliate them, while
they have exaggerated the injuries done
US by Great Britain, with whom it was
our interest to be at peace And why
have they declared war against that
power which is so deSirous Of being at
peace with us-and, as we conceive,
disposed TO remove every ground Of
! complaint, as far as reason and Justice
could require lis this war necessary
70 the attainment Of any object condu-
Give TO our interest, which could not be
obtained without il Are the causes
alledged in the declaration, the real
causes which induced Congress to un.
dertake il !
1. I<the Orders in Council were the
principal cause, why was war declared
at time when it was known that the
Parliament was debating upon the ex.
pediency ofrepealing them
Q 1.-THE impressment Of our Seamen