Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1812-07-06

An such crisis, when not only our pros
perity and security, tAt even our :R&cpcn-
dence Is a nation ana our existence as a free
people are II 81 ke, every American, who u
worthy ofhs ancestors, viii share The gen.
eral anxiety. and take part in tha general
exertions. If lie feels injury or Insult 10
provoke bin 10 war, he will be handling the
sword and hurryng % the field if he feels
but Hllle If wrong, and sees perdition be
fore him ii tie path towards vengeance, lie
will pause ere he proceeds, and caution his
countrymen to 5ewAre oftAe precipice they
are approaching. If we are drawing upon
ourselves the vengeance Of the only power
which can inlure US ii we are barring Our
bOsoms and spreading our arms TO an inside
GUS and bloody usurper; IS he faithful 20
himself or his country, who does not even
raise his voice TO avert the blow ! II is In
vain TO urge, that argumentative opposition
10 administration IS defeating Us measures
and to cOnstrue such opposition into REBEL
ION is controverting the fundamental prIncl-
pie of free government. The majority is
our political sovereign, and to that our hands
and our arms shall be obedent but our sen.
tIments are free, and that magistrate, VI
that subject, who would suhe.them IN our
breasts, IS invading our unalenable rights,
those rights which every citizens sword
may legally defend. In the field of arms,
we will implicitly obey our rulers we will
be the first on our posts, and the last 10 re
tire; but IN he field Of aygumen. we will
marital all Our forces against them, and Can
We vauquish, they shall retreat or perish.
Il is bold defiance, but honor, which al
ways avows its designs, and our national
prosperity now at h zaId, demand he dec
laration- Every vehicle OF public or private
sentiment should be made the means OF
commun eating 10 cur rulers The information,
that we are not disposed 20 war; 1t they
have expected our concurrence IN such
measure, they should be hastily undecei.
we'd if they have hoped 10 terriiy US into
silent acquiescence, they should learn from
every sOurse, which can inform them, that
we are nationally firm. Every newspaper
throughout the union should echo ii manly
tone the sentiments of its supporters.
The reasons we have on points of honor to
make war with Great. Britain, The la port.
ance of that nominal respect for our rights,
IN which II IS said she has been 0ut-done by
France, her obstjnacy in adherlng TO her or
ders, 70 this injury Of our commerce, are
subjects which have been sbly and abun
dainty discussed, and here would be unJime
ly and unintere5ying. Reasoning Of such
nature has hide effect on community in gen
eral, for it is seldom comPrehended and new
er duly appreciated. Our people, free in
their opinions as Ia their pursuits, will form
judgments for themselves, and {. ON con.
siderstiOns, Of which ,hey can estimate the
importance. Every man perceves the diff
a rfah.f
by an unfortunate merchant, and total prI
Walton Of market for bis produce between
beng sometimes piundered Ut venture ~
sea, and beng Al once cut Oft from half his
wealth and all his employment: and seeing
these, does any man deliberate on q choice
between them Our merchants do not
our farmers do not, and they regard the re
cent mt sure OF government IS death blow
TO lher prosperity, and even threat 10 their
subs stence.
The argument grounded on The value OF
national dignity Is certainly important, and
Will be duly appreciated wherever 1t is ap.
JhcaDle. but who does not know, that TO
fBi for honor, and come Oft with shame II
the most etiectual disgrace Event has
demonstrated, that these considerations Of
profit and PRIDE can now produce but little
effect on our people. They do not expect
the gain and have hardly felt the insult
Bu. viii 1t produce ID effect 10 lead them to
,he verge Of the precIpice before them, and
point ou, The bloody and disastrous sceAe
already in view % show ,hem the lortex,
which has engult'd every republic on earth,
and IL even now under their feet We
would not advert ID the commoA calsmities
Of war, famine, bioodshed, plumber, aud
bninings 10 many among Us. memory viii
recall such scenes with every emotion OF sa-
guiSh End dismay. Oiher dangers await Us,
ID avoid which we would cheegfully endure
far greater than lhese
The violence Of our political animosities
las long been increasing the breach be-
tween j2rrlng Interests m our country has
tong been widening pcrtinsclly and pgeju-
dice have opposed strOng barriers 10 recon
Citation " : have already heard whispers
0i resistance, and inumailOns u stronger
arm than reasons 10 silence opposition. we
would touch Lightly oa 50 dangerous SUD
ject a. tile possibility Of a Ciyi war. Should
50 nidcvus spirit 0e lurking III our coun-
icy, we would H0teyen sur b. esin 20 arouse
the monster. But When tie possession Vt
actual force has heightened tie nsuIence IT
ons party, and the Jealousy Of the olher
when pressure Of tGNrs, total sLagH1iion u
business, lncessapt calls for soldiers have
exhausted the patience Of the 0sq5o.efs II
war when The danger Ut dag acetii .nd
gulnous alliance, and dest AIR u ob aiming re
hef BY gentle means have drfeu : m o ia
~, h4y1 W. MOI reason % fear. that their pre-
en-. animosities viii klndle to fame, and
that fame rage 70 q conAagrauon The
designs ot our government we csnnot iathom.
We Can only say, actual usurP4uon done