Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1814-10-31


ale N the House of Representa- YES, on The
Report Of he Committee OF both Houses, TO
~nom was referred the Messgse Of his Ex.
ceiienc,
Mr. SPEAKER,
ON ordinary occasions, Sir, feel a
,erfect satisfaction in representing my con.
s,isuents by a silent VOC, but so deep is
their share IN the present evils that infes,
our common country, and SO deep an inter
est do take in the report OF the commit
tee, now under consideration, that nope to
be pardoned while exercise for lr~ mo
ments their right oil being heard. Howe,-
er diiiident may be in addressing this hon.
ora6te H1use, shall never, while have the
honor OF seat in It, be guilty Of inhdelIty
10 The interests Of my constituents III con-
sequence OF that ditfidence. Having been
upon the committee that offered 10 this le-
sisiature the report now upon the table
ieel sohci,ous to give it my appreciation on
the floor OF this House and in the tace oi
the world. As to that part OF the Report,
winch relates TO immed iate provision for the
defence oflhe Commonwe alth,l did appre
bend ti'at there could be NO diversity OF SEN
:Im,nt /; did believe thss union Of opinion,
80 d. sirsble OH Ill occasions, would be had
upon tsis par, oftse report oil Your eommit.
tee; bu to my extreme moruheatiOn ind
myself mis- AIKEN. Jealousy, that "greeh
monster, that makes the meat it leeds on,
Is a,Irlbulng 10 your committee motives,
,ha, never existed, and converting 10 the
base pup SEES OF patty, measure intended
only fot Inc common good. Sill, Sir, lit
Tie neeG be said IN convincing candid nen Of
the propriety and necessity OF raising the
troops Tor the defence OF the state agre eabiy
to the Report. It's certainly an important
object 10 relieve the burdens OF the militia
and the raising Of the contemplated force
Will have tendency to do this, while 4: rem
ders more effective defence to the State.
But, Sir, wall. on this subjectI anticipated
un- lrimity OF sentiment, confess TO you
that did expect, and the expectation was
natural one that, as to the great object OF the
report, that which goes to a national reform,
to radc.l relief from our present emDar-
rassmenls, there would be opposilion. 1t
could not nationally be presumed that those
men, who had been voluntary agents in
bringing the lncalo ulable evils, under which
we groan, upon US, would be very ready to
devise "a way OF escape. No, Sir, what has
proved the tacl, was rather 10 have been be
.ieved that the, would not only exercise the
common iv'lege OF pleading not guilty
but would defend themselves agains, every
impuiaion, that might endanger the ''cratt
by Which they have their living" with ali
that ri, cunning and dex,erity which have
already been so successful in deluding the
AmeGican people 10 my mind, Sir, the
report carries within itself 1T. own jusiGca
ton. he PREAMBLE contains developement
OF causes, that moi only justify, but demand,
tmaertously demand the proposed conyen-
ton fer the purposes contemplated in the
report. 1t strue, Sir, that the unparrallel-
ed situation Of distress and disgrace to
which our common country is reduced by
the prsscnpwar and its accompanying evils,
demand. our interference. Shall We while
the groans OF our constituents are sounding
in our ears, remain silent as the grave and
inactive as death Among the distresses OF
the war none have been more severely felt
in the section OF the country, which rep
resent, than the calling out of the militia to
go in defense oil the sea coast. The recent
alarm on the sea.board oil Maine OCCASION
ed general call for the militia in our part
OF the country. Farmers were Obliged to-
leave their crops, ripe for harvest, standing
in the field Mechanics were compelled
to abandon their workshops in most busy
season. They repaired to the standard o.
their country with zeal and alacrisy which
did them the highest honor, and evinced
that every selfish consideration was made TO