Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1814-09-26

A
| moment. She is just reposing from an ardu-
ols conflict on th- continent Of Europe in
which she has been eminently conspicuous IN
restoring the liberties Of the Kingdoms Of Eu-
rope, and has no other employment for hec
vast naval and military strength, but to defend
| herself against our aggressions, and to make
! the war as uncomfortable to us as possible.
Are our administration competent to carry it
on with elect, and thereby obtain peace ? Let
three years defeat, disgrace and wanton waste
OF blood and treasure furnish to candid minds
the answer. Let the objectionable neglect of
the constituted authorities OF the nation, 70 put
our most exposed and vulnerable positions III
a posture OF defence furnish an answer. A
Dove all, let the base and cowardly desertion
and abandonment OF our national Capital to a
force OF five or six thousand men furnish an
answer. In advcrtiny to this Notifying Ca
lamity the convention cannot .forbear to ex-
press the most severe animadyersion upon the
conduct of the administration, whose duty it
was to have provided against so disgraceful
| result. The history of the world is not black
ened with solitary instance of Capital of a
nation as populous as the American, surren-
derng after a faint effort of one or two hours
to force OF five or six thousand men. Why
was not the city put in proper state Of de-
tence2 4 here can be no possible reason given.
lis local situation was such as to have render
cd Its defence perfectly easy. 1t cannot be
pretended that 1t was attacked by surprize for
we have now been at war three years, and had
every reason to expect it. The responsibili-
~, great and awful as it is, rests upon the Pres
ldent and his advisers, and of them we must
require satisfaction for the loss Of treasure, and
the accumulation Of disgrace brought upon
our country by this event. VIII our govern
msm seek Of Great Britain peace in the spirit
OF peace, and upon terms to which both MAJ
tons can honorabIy agree? Their former
management affords us but little ground for
hope that this will be the case, but rather leaves
Us to conclude that the same rash spirit, which
induced the declaration of war will operate its
continuance although to our destruction. What
then is to be done ? The answer is obvious.
we must begin at the foundation. The happy
resort OF republics must be tried. A change Of
rulers must take place. Those men who have
declared war, and are pledged to support it must
be removed from Office by the irresistible
mandate OF the voice of the people, expressed
by their sufiages, and men elected in their
stead, who will pursue the road to peace. The
history OF ages informs us that when one ma
tional administration have declared war it re.
qulres another to make peace. An entire
change in our national administration being
the only door at present open to the introduce
tlon OF peace to our country, the convention,
IN order that they may contribute all in their
power to SO desirable an event. recommend to
their constituents the more active exertion in
endeavoring to procure the election of SAM
OEL A. BRADLEY, Esq. and to prevent
the election of any candidate that may be sup
ported by the war party. Let it not be said
that our efforts will be in vain, for the con-
vention firmly believe that exertion is all that
will be necessary to the attainment of the OBJ
Jcct. The convention conclude this address
10 their constituents by expressing their earn
est prayer to Him who is seated on the throne
ofthe universe, that the citizens ofthese United
States, while their rulers are prosecuting a
disgraceful and improbable war, may be led
to interpose their strong arm, and by the con.
s,itutional exercise Of their elective rights, to
save their sinking country before her doom is
'unalterably sealed, and she is added to the cat.
alogue OF fallen Republics.
SAM'L. FAKNSWORTH, President.
TIMOTHY Oscoo Secretary.
-%-