Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1813-06-07

TAI fytcm OF ner cncmY VIC nave w
preiied uft fympathy for our .tamen who
are detained in Brtiih fhips /; but have We
J flown like feniibility for thoie, who are
confined in French prifons, until difcharg-
ed by emitting on board their cruizers
When the war commenced, had we not
received as many and grievous infults from
the French government as from the britilh;
and in what manner have we refented
them Although in proportion to her
martin means of annoyance we had iuf-
fered much greater lofses from France than
from England, has not our language to
the former been mild and conciliating,
and have we not TO the latter INDUCED IN
offenlive reproachcs and uodeferved afper-
,y Men who hncerely deGre peace, will
not employ themfclves to multiply the
canies of difpu,e, and excite jealoufy aud
irritation between the people of the two
countries they will rather allay the PAT.
nons than inhame them, and will think II
no diminution of our dignity, il in doubt
ful cafes we recede fom fuppofed right,
rather than fupport It by arthce and yo-
lence.
IL has been often anerted that our ma
tonal honor compelled us to engage in
war with Great Britain. The honor OF
nation confiits in the diiplay of its wiedom.
iuhice, moderation aud magnanmity 1t
requires the government tn regulate its
conduet for the grea,ea advantages OF the
fiate, and to pnrfue that ferries of meafures
which moft effeefually promotes the well
fare of the people. But that fpecies of
honor which would prompt US to wage
war for every fnppofed inaance of abuie
or difrefpett,is not the honor of wife and
moral people. A proud or paiiiona,e in.
dvdual will fometimes claim right to
fport with his own life by putting il in
hazard againit the life of another. But,
few mea viii avow that government has a
right to txpofe the fatety of the ftate, aud
the lives, aud FORTUNES of the citizens,
merely to indulge lis pallions or crafty lts
ambition.
So far as conqueft may be confdered as
the Object OF the prelent war, its policy, TO
fay nothing of the jaalce oft, mutt be ex.
iremely doubtful A few individuals may
gain by an Objective war, but the great
body of the people have nothing to gain
or hope for IN republics, the lncreAie Of
power and wealth mas often accahoued fe-
we're caami,ies. by iucreaiing their pride
and arrog ance, and lnfpuing rain countels
and txtravagant meaiures. But when they
have been iuccefsful in foreign war ana
acquired the title ut conquerors, j think
they have invariably and fpeedily loh their
form Of government. a man who has
large army at his controul NUT have the
virtue of Warrington, not to make ufe
OF il for his own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The
national contribution was formed and a.
dopted for our own defence; there 10 not
a claufe IN il, in which an exienfion OF our
territorial limits was contemplated. The
congrels indeed were authorized TO admit
new ifates into the Union !; but every man
knew that under the confederation II had
been propelled 10 form number OF ltates
in the weitern territory, and Vermont was
even then a candidate for sdmiilioD. j
prtfume that no one thought of giving
congrels the power To stain by purchafe
or conauee the territories OF other nations,
and annex them 10 the United States, and
form them, or fubdiviiions OF them, into
conhiiuent parts of the union.
4 fufpicion has been intimated that the
nobility Of the Indian tribes was excited
by Briiiih influence as no proof has been
offered TO us on this fubjett, II might be
efficient to fay, that regard TO vague
and uncertain iuipicions expofes nation
10 becone an unjuf asgredor. Blu, has
not our conduct towards thoie tribes been
often oppryflive and unjuit /; and have we
not indnigod an eager dtire to obtain pot
ieilion OF their lands, when we hac already
millions OF acres which we could neither
cultivate nor difpoie of Perhaps the late
unfri, Idly dilpolitions Of the Indians may
be accounted for, by the match OF hottie
army in,o their country and the battle
which eniued, many months before war
was dscla,ed againa England.
IL the pfeienl moral fate OF the world,
il would ietm that cur political f'iend.hips
ihould be formed with tome regard t. that
fate. But are we encouraged by the
moral qualhirs of the French go,. rpment
To take part in its ws,s Or will any one
FAY thar the caufc Of france rs more juft
than that OF Spain, Portugal or Rphla. or
! that ber fucceis would be more conducive
TO the Happiness of mankind Or ihould
we cultivate the friendIhip of France be-
cauie ihe can do us more injury than Eng
| land, or ttcauie her manners, religion or
policy are more coneenial to ouiS' In our
cmhauadrd and alarming ftustion, it is
indeed i, very favourable clrcumhance, that
the people have 10 generally exprened their
utter aytrGu. TO French alliance fuch
an alliance would be the greatcit calamity
and mua produce the mott fatal effects.
il is my with, Gentlemen, in making
theie oblrvations, that they may lead to
a dfpadiona,e review Of orr conduct to-
wards England and France, and Of theirs
in relation to Us. While we attend 10
what is due to ourfelvss we are not TO for
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