Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1812-08-17
10 James Madison, President oftte q
nited Stafes of .ameyTca.

f""GG St1tco " SNHcFfGu.
The Freeh0ldeFs and other inhabitants OF
the town Of Biddetor, in the District If
Maine, in legal Town Meeting Assem bled,
having seen your Manifesto, the act Of con
gress declaring War against tie United
Kingdom OF Great Britain and Ireland, and
your proclamation OF the same, feel IN duty
bound respectfully 10 state some OF cur
IDEAS respecting this subject. Some Of US
bore heavy buvthen "a the revolution
which achieved our Independence but our
heads are now hoary anu our limbs enerya-
ted by hmei cur young men have heard
what their Fathers have told them concern
ing these days Of Old, these years Of vista
ticn- The most Of us lock back with plea.
sure on The prosperous wears that succeed cd
the adoption OF our EsdeFal Constitution and
ask, why has our Gold became dim why
are thooe Happy thrice happy times chan
ged we see no sufficient reason for X the
great 5eIligerents Of Europe ever cordially
mated each other, their trade and their de.
iight ~ IN War, and when they get engaged
therein, the smaller STATES and X nrd0ms
are obliged to give way, in smaller matters
the Emperor Of France il at this time max
ing m0nstrous Strides over the Continent Of
Europe. We view with horror and regret
The tate Of Holland reduced TO a Province Of
France, as we'll as the other Renubiics on
The Continent Of Europe nay, several 81 lie
Kingdoms of Europe are obliged 90 bow 40
tais mighty Emperor. We see him shed
ing The blood ~ millions to gain Supremacy
over SPAN and Portugal. We view Great
Britain As ilghting al this time FIR her very
existence. II this mighty Emperor suhiu-
gates Europe, we shudder, we tremble at
he thought. when will bis pride Be satiated /
Will re rs SATISFIED with Europe will he
not spread ms conquests round the Atlantic
we trembe when we contemplate these
things we abhor an alliance with a Nation
whose ambition knows no bounds, we re-
member what our Father Washington said,
"why, by Interviewing our destiny with that
OF any part OF Europe, entangle our peace
and prosperity ia the tolls Of European Am.
bition," we frequently hear how This Mon
arch daily sre4.s as, by burning, sinking and
destroying our Commerce on The Ocean,
without amy legal Process, but by the cap
rice q an Individual mas er OF aD armed YES.
sci belonging 10 This aspiring usurper tor
universal dominion. We see also mauy
things arbitrary in Tie conduct OF the Gov
manders Of British armed vessels dOmineer-
ing over oar unsrmed Merchantmen, press.
ing and forci5ly carrying away our seamen--
their Government Us We underst ard) never
justified such conduct, but always restored
the men a. soon As il was asccrlained that
they were Americans, and we sle tEught 10
believe, thar they ever have been ready,
wiling and forward 10 make such arrange
menIs with oar Government as 10 prevent
abuses on this subject; we know hat mum
Der Of our SeafsFing brethren in this port
have been pressed aud restored rs above
stated. Another great grievance Is stated
TO be The British C.ders III Cuoncil we
find upon examination that The French De
crees of Berlin and Milan were anterior TO
these Orders IN Council, and that they were
20 be rescinded IN their very nature, when
ever these DEGREES should be revoked, De
ing only retaiIAtury. "a ! 10 their stirring up
The Savages against rs, we see TO proof
The United States being then III Treaty with
IA these tribes and under ohlig cations 10 sup
ply them with al tie nrcesAares Of life.
AZ 10 the Henry Plot, We see no evidence
Of his, with any person or persons, affecting
4 separation Of cur happy Union tlis would