Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1814-03-28

tight to Grip Us o. the hspI earned
fruits of our indu(try; to reduce US b
tate of begsary and ttarvation to vio-
late the fanctity Of our habitations at the
direction of the PRECEDENT, and to trample
on the perfonal liberty Of the people of
this Commonwealth, for the general
goad. and becaufe they have right to
makewar ? wiInot believe it. will
not believe that "the right to groan &
liberty to ftarve" is the mighty boon for
which our fathers itruggled through an
eightyears war. will not believe that the
inltructions of the PRECEDENT, in all cases
under this law, fhall fanction the deitruct-
ion of all thole precious rights, 70 carefully
guarded in our admirable state contribution
A patient submission TO his Embargo, is
not one in the catalogue of virtues, which
venerate The people of this Common.
wealth have long borne, with a patience
bordering OH insensibility the most grievi-
Gus burdens; the most oppressive and cru
el wrongs 1t is now time TO arouse from
our lethargy. The time has now come, (if
we do not intend 10 be slsves) for this Lee
gislature to assume that high and disnifed
ground 10 which Massachusetts is entitled
in the nation-to speak a language which
shall not be misunderstood, nor dirsegarded.
II is high time to afford protection to our
citizens.
And as think understand the disease,
SO also will not fear to propose remedy
would advocate the passing Of a law, ma.
king it highly penal to stop any person or
search him or his baggage, without a
war from the proper officer, issued on
a complaint under oath. would inflict the
most exemplary punishment on him or
them presumlng TO stop any ship or vessel,
owned by citizen Of this Commonwealth,
in passing from one port thereof to another.
| would establish custom houses and clear
out our vessels from one port to another of
this Commonwealth, on giving proper
bonds. / would secure the right peaceably
to travel on our roads, and to FISH in our
harbours This isnot rebellion.
But we shall be told this will bring us
into immediate collision with the General
Government. l see men affecting to trem
bic at the commotions, which would insue
these measures; and to sicken at the blood
which they anticipate would be split Men
too, whom, could | Judge them from their
writings, Marat and Robespierre would EN-
brace as worthy coadjutors in the work of
prescription and revolution. / do not be-
lieve in any OF these consequences The
civil arm will be strong enough to vindicate
our laws and restrain those who would dare
violate them. But should it not prove SO,
we have aid ut hand Let any dare set our
laws at dehance-le, them refuse to answer
in our courts Of justice,-le, them raise the
arm Of rebellion against the Commonwealth
We shall be ready TO crush it. thirty
thousand Of our Militia shall teach submis- |
sion to our laws. Let the General Gov.
eminent attempt 10 crush US, they will |
find the Yeomanry of New. England have
not forgot the use Of arms. II our Com
merce is to be desiroyed-if The habits of
two hundred years are to be changed-itI
the administrators Of our General Govern |
ment are determined to filch from US The
poor remains of our weal,h--if they are de-
termined to enslase Us, the quicker they
come into collision with us the better. We
shall never be better able 10 defend our
selves For one, hope am ready to lake
che United States, and State Constitutions
in one hand for my guide, and my sword in
the other, and march forward TO death, il
def,nce OF the rights and privileges guaran
Iced to US by those compacts.
But We have not this to fear. Let the
Legislature adopt the measures propose,
and Congress will recede from their op.
pressions. Then we shall not see our pop
llation travelling westward-we shall not
see beggary in our towns, and misery in
,ur villages-This will prevent the efiusion
1t blood SO much deprecated For let it
&c remembered, there is point of oppres-
ion, beyond which it is not a virtue to bear,
,eysnd which il is not in human nature TO
~ ffer.