Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1812-08-24

the friends 70 the measure were absent. !
700 persons were computed 10 bel
present, and the subject underwent
considerable deliberation. The speak
els upon the question were Messrs
Bradbury, Kinsman, Porter and Cobb, \
unon one side and Messrs Widgery
Ridley, Butts and Clap upon the other.
Nv the courtesy of the meeting the
Two latter gentlemen were INDUCED IN
the privilege OF speaking az some length
after the question had been repeatedly
called for-wIth degree OF llberallty
which was exercised to the exclusion oil
advocates for the petition who were pre-
Dared to refute the positions OF the sPea-
hers Of the administration bv the sound /
Is, argument * the strongest evidence,
kut were deprived of an opportunity by
The perlinacity of their opponents and
Welded to the impotence OF the town
70 have the question taken. BY this
mode Of proceeding one kind OF advan'
tage was gained by the enemies OF the
meeting, which may be chiefly ascrlbed
10 the adroitness of Colonel Ripley, and
the ability OF his seconds A complete
discussion upon one point was entirely
precluded By their waste of time, and
the town was taught to doubt whether
il was possible to obtain relief from the
restrictions upon commerce. The
manruUre was certainly executed in
mastery style, and giving the author
credit for it noE0, the measure itself
shall be duly noticed presently.
The opposition to the meeting was
conducted in very enterprizing man
ner and upon a very extensive plan.
In the first place, it seemed to be a very
great point with gentlemen 10 gain time,
and the consideration of the question
was vehemently urged to be postponed
for a few weeks or longer period, up
on avariety of grounds which were shift
ted to meet every form Of emergency
lit was observed, that we only had
the news of the revocation by the pa
pers, and therefore the intelligence, it
was intimated, might not Be true. The
repeal itself, it was suggested, was only
conditional, and that we had no securI-
~ for its execution but The ,falth Qf the
British Government. AS good citizens,
we were instructed, that we ought TO let
our eyes wait upon government, and
not embarrass them at such critical
season with the Glamour OF our COM
plants. War was but Just commenced
and every thing depended on Its vigOur-
Gus prosecution. To petition for peace
when the enemy was suing for truce
was exceedingly iIl-timed, and at this
particular period might have tendency
10 defeat its own object. Besides, it was
new thing to step forward in this way.
There was not an example of the kind
any where upon the continent, and
should we DC che first 20 be siege the
government with our petitions To
wait little while would do no harm
In short time we might be able to see
clearer, and perhaps in month or such
amatter all occasion might be happily
removed. In answer TO all this il was
said upon the other hand, that now was
the appointed time--Thls was the crisis
cfour iate-Our suHerings were great
Our grievances were pressing--an1
yetwe had only seen the beginning of
evil. The present seemed to be The
proper season to ihterpose with any
prospect of success--The Orders In
Council were of-And fthis golden Oh
hortanlty were overlooked or neglec-
ted, the result of its loss might be a Sc
ven years war. 1t was obvious also TO
remark, that procrastination might be
dangerous, because if much time should
elaPse without any motion Oh our part
towards negotation--the orders in
council might be on again, and then it
would be perfectly nugalory to call up
on the President TO exercise an authori
ty which would be extinct, as it is only
under the actual revocation Of the orders
~ council that he is empowered 10 re-
move the restrictions upon commerce.
This therefore was the only time to pe-
sltion for that benefit. Another great
point would have been gained by DELAY.
In four weeks the administration will
probably have taken its stand upon the
revocation, and then petitioning, while
now denounced as premature, would be
opposed as useless AS 10 the futfer-
ing Of the English on the frontiers, il
was very singular thar government
should grant an srmlstice for an indef-