Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1813-06-28

the I'M erysls Of peace, to prepare tor wsr, Us
the best way either TO avoid or prosecute It
with success But the government, Of the
limited states seems to have reversed this
decision of all Iormer times. and have sub
ver,ed IN reace, 10 reesiablish in war, the
only sure mean of defsnce to o CONNER.
ciai nation, suIl IL WAS OPP lonsi with tbs
sdminis,rat;a ssber ~ postpone The war
10 the prss q Ere.2Iar shc prepa alton 10 the
ear : 49, .ss iat.sr Cd tissgs vtr
upon this peo(sfe, whom they were bound
To protect, without first furnishing that pro
lection, is. in the judgment Of your Com
mittee, but one remove from declaration
Of war by the gevernmen, itself against the
people of his commonwealth. II is the
same in effect IL Is not distinguishabe IN
principle.
A rich and maritime state. without ade.
quate protection, exists only by sulferance
AS she is a lure to rapaciiy, so she will be
come vic i'm TO power, whenever, accord
ing 20 the Gale ulations of interest, i, may be
expedient TO bind Der for the sscrshce.
Hence it becomes subject OF deep and IN
eresting consideration 10 the people OF THIS
c mInon eslth, how they are 10 provide
for The present defence & future security
The most common and approved means
Of Ia ionai defence are,
lst. BY regular and permanent forthcs-
tons garrisoned by regular and well d'sci'
pinned troops. .
2dly. BY an dequate number Of vessels
Of war, and
3dly. BY temporary Notifications and
batteries with the aid to be derived from
the militia. =.
Neither The fsst nor second method can
be carried INTO effect in season for the cmer
gencies OF the present wsr They are oovi-
ously yond the reach and means OF this
StA,e' But, in the opinion OF your Commit.
tee, IL 10 doubtful whether we have tie right
% fit out vessels of war BY the authority aud
under the commission 81 Nhe Commonwealth.
II the conduct Of the government OF the
United States he correct, in sending from
The coast the public ships OF War, and ne
glecting to provide and substitute smsllei
vessels in their place, i, onSttst least 10 be
doubtful whether it would be expedlent.
But IL we have the right, your Committee
would enquire, whether 1t be right, which
ough, to be exercised IN the present. unjust
md destructive war Whether it is not
-su.y Of high. ippprt End binding osligst,on,
not TO become pa. tners OF its guilt, by vol
unfairly embArking m its prosecution And
whether \ naval fol ce, 6ited out by this
Commonwealth, and stationed of our ports
and hstbouis, would not necessarily come
in CONTACT with our adversary, & by irt queni
COLLISION create mutual asperlty, and uili-
mateIy involve us, as voluntary ard scuse
pArti2 ms, III the war Your Committee are
of opinion that such a measure, consider
ing the limited force which the Common.
veal h is able to furnish, instead of dinn.
ishing would augment, If possible. the ex
is,ing e,'s, and instead OF accomplishing
would defeat the object IN uew ,-the pro.
lection of the coas INK trade.
The only remaining mettod o. defence,
which seems to be expedieht, is By erecting
temporary Notifications, and establishing
batteries at such important places, IS are
most exposed 60 the Casualties of war.
Should the President OF the United States
sill refuse to furnish tins Commonwealth,
with The arms to which, by law, we are tn
titled, il will be necessary for The Common
wealth o furnish itself. According 10 he
last seiu,n, there is n deficiency OF 5,668,
which we ought to be able 10 supply from
he public srse.Isl.
Your Comrti,tee also beg leave to state,
that although he m,lria OF Tins Common.
wealth. is general will disciplined, yet II
is in vain TO ex, eel fiom AZ, that subordi-
nation and skill, which constitute the
strength and efficiency of Il regular army.
In he present stat. Of our country, your
Comm, tee deem il necessary, that a por
llun oi the m,li'i. should be organized mo
district colps, for the purpose of theoretic
nd practical ms ruc,,on in the military art.
he 4, al ,,i Al. n
purl cses, your Committee recommend the
adoption OF he following resolutions
Resoisei, That the Governor, with advice
Of the council, be and he is hereby author
ized, 10 erect such 81 tfc stions aud es,sb
lish such batteries, as may be deemed ne c.
essary Tor the defence and protection OF
such towns within thus Commemorative as
are mosteYposed 10 the invasion oil an me.
my, and tine ossu.lties oi war. and to pur
eli .se. mount and f,rn,sh for the use of sue h
town OF towns, competent number Of piec
es of ordnance wi h other suitable munitions
war. And To establish upon the head
lands, cspes and other con, enient places, =
line OF slgisis. by which to give timely no.
lice TO YES els Navigating along the coast,
of sh enemj's approach
Aud in case tie President Of the u.
States should refuse, or neglect 20 trans
mt 70 ,his Commonwealth the proportion
II arms, to which the same is entitled by
a la~ Of Congress PASSED April sd, 1903,
hen aud n dat case. the Governor IL here.
by authorized ana Empowered to purchase
such number otte ann. for the ose of the
Commonwealth, as from the returns Of the
Mlli ia thereof shall appear 10 be ne ce sssry.
And in order to carry into effect the pur-
poses aforesaid. the Governor is hereby
authorized TO employ oiT or more discreet
and faithful persons, who shah be skilled in
he science of engineering aud gunnery. K
pensation tor their services
And lhe Governor is hereby further au.