Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1814-12-26
Massachusetts,)

N''NN'
measures of'Ge ADMINISTRATION.
Mr.. SrEAKER-I think it a duty to
make to rnc houfe fomc obiervations on
the bill now under dpcuilion, in connex.
ion with other military bills and fomc OF
the revenue bills, which have been report.
ed +; as | deem the whole your war iyi,
tenn, either againlt the enemy or the
people of this country lhis mode OF
coniider;ng the iubjeet will do jultice to
the administration, and to their friends
in the REFLECTIVE hou(ss of congrels. And
this juitice | am diipo(ed to render 70
them, notwithstanding, l believe, that,
by fome of their paft acts, they have prov
ed themielves the very WORT enemies Of
the American people. This view, fir,
with to iubmit to the houie, & if it be poi.
iible deadly to look at this lyltem of mil
itary con!cription, and of oppreiiive tax.
alton, and not ltartle at the deitruttion
with which it threatens our country.
A fagacious political writer, in lpeak.
ing of the errors and oppreiIions OF ru-
lers, has remarked thar the neceiIty OF
any government is the greateit reflection
upon the virtue of the people ; but, Gr,
with all due Difference, never ihall Con,
ider that as the .greatsf reflection, as long
as peoE.c can be found, 10 degraled, 10
rcgaI diets of their own intereit and i'm
portance, as to tolerate an naturalization
after they ihail have failed to acconpliih
the very end of their inltiiution, and iEa!l
have ra,ted their paricidal arm againit the
vcly intrur,ent by which they have theii
exlltence. That this is the cafe with
the pretent adminiitration, little more
reflection, and Tome more fufferinx if i,
be poiiible to add to it, Will convince the
American people.
lake, IT you pleale, Gr, the ordinary
evidence o! a well adminihered govern
ment; refped abroad, and PROPERTY at
home ; and aik yourfelf, if this adminiis
tration have continued thefe blelIings to
this nation.--Ihar our form of govern
men,, when correctly admioiAered agree
ably to the contribution, is capable OF
producing. and for a time continuing,
thele national bieiIings, we have the
fpicndid example OF tncs administrations
of Waihlngton, and Of Adams before his
fal;.-Are you now retpected abroad
No, FIR, there is not nation, not crown
ed head in Europe, that is friendly to
wards you. ak pardon, fir, there is,
perpaps, one mean the great Emperor
Of the l,,tle iland Of Elba but even hr
is now faid, like Millions devil, to eye YOU
aikance, and to grin horribly at the def.
truction which he has brought upon you.
How you a!icnated foreign nations from
you, is now matter OF hiitory ;-by con
i,anrly aiding uhe attempts Of the late
fell tyrant OF Europe at universai empire,
your csitinies were united with his, and
you mutt now expect 10 thare with him,
the general dcte.taion of mankind. But,
fir, what will forever fix your character
in Europe, and think, your doom at
home, is your raih declaration Of war, ar
the time you did it Thus, like willing
faves, binding yourielves 10 the then tri
umphal Car OF the cnAaver Of nations.
Yes, fir, you couraseouAy declared your
war when you fuppofed the imperial tys
rant had his victim bound at his feet I; and
the fword out and wheted, that was to
be plunged into her vitals. You then
magnanitnouAy expected to be in at the
death and fharc ti< fpoils.
Sir, the rafhress and folly Of the ad.
minifration, on that occaiion forcibly
reminds US Of the fable OF the madnan,
who undertook to fhcar wolfe. What,
exclaim his friends, fhear wolf have
you coniidsred the danger and difficulty
of the undertaking. and the little profit
you are likely to gain if you fucceed |?
No, fays the madman, have coniidered
nothing but the right the Sovereign OF
the Univerfe has given to man dominion
over the beaits OF the toreit and Of the
field, Therefore have the right, aad will
lhear the wolf.
So this administration, believing thai,
the imperia. Robper OF France had the
Royal Bull of England by the horns,
though. they had right, this a favorable
opportunity, and attempted to ihear him |;
but mott unfortunately for them, the