Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1815-01-16


Ter 10 avert, and to reign tiis iair remnant
Of their indultrious earnings, 70 be dill
patcd ia fuppo1t Of meafures deIt1uctive
of the brff interelfs of the nation.
This convcntion will nor tfult them
frlves Il cxprcis their conviction Of the
caiaitrophe 70 which fuch . fate OF
things inevitably tend. Conlsious OF
their high responsibility TO God and their
country, folicitous for the continuance
Of the Onion, as well as the fovere'gnty
Of the States, unwilling to furniih obitas
clcs to peace-rrfolu:c never TO fuomit
TO foreign enemy, and confding in the
Divine care and protection, they will,
until the lait hope fhal be extinguilhed,
endcavour to avert fuch conlequenccs.
With this view, they fuggeit an ar
rangement, which may at once be con-
liItcnt with the honor and intercf ofthe
National Government, and the iecurity
of thefe States. This it will not be diff
cult to conclude if that government
ihould be 10 difpoied BY the terms of
it thcfe States might be allowed to ahumc
their own defence by the militia or other
troops a reaionabIe portion, alto, OF
the taxes railed in each State might be
paid into its treafury, and credited to the
United States, bat 20 BE- appropriated 70
the defence of fuch State, to be account
ed for with the Unised States. No doubt
is entertained hat by fnch an arrange
ment, this portion OF the country could
pc defended with greater effect, and in
mode more confident with economy,
and the public convenience, than any
which has been practifed.
Should an application for thefe pur
poles. made to Congrefs by the State
Legislatures, be attended with fuccefs,
and ihould peace upon juR terms appear
TO be unattainable, The people would
lfand together for the common defence,
until change cf Administration, or of
deposition in the enemy, ihouid facilitate
the occurrence of that auipioious event
Il would be nespedient for this Conven-
tion to diminiih the hope OF .uceefsfuI
iilue TO fuch an application, by recon
menaing, upon fnpro iticn Of q contrary
event, ul:enor proceedings. Nor IS 1t
indeed within their province. 10 fate
Of things 70 folenn and trying as may
then ari!c, the Legislatures of the States,
or Conventions Of the whole people, or
delegates appointed by them for The ex
preis purpote in another CONVENTION,
mutt act as fuch urgent circumstances
may then require.
But the duty Incumbent on this Con-
vention will not have been performed,
without exhibiting fome general view OF
fuch meatures as they may deem ellen
'iai to fecure the nation againf relapfc
into difficulties and dangers, fhould they,
by the blefling Of Providence, eicape
from their prefent condition, without
abfolute ruin. 10 this end concile
retrofpect of he fate Of this nation under
the advantages of a wife administration,
coAtraIted with the miierable abyfs INFO
which il is plunged by the proRisacy and
folly of political theosiits, will lead to
fome practical concludons. On this
fubjea, it will be recolle6ted, that the
influence Of the Federal Con-
ititution upon lis hrif adoption, and for
twelve incceeding years, upon the prof
peri.y and happineis Of the nation ieem-
cd 70 countenance belief in the tranfs
cendancy Of ifs perfection over all other
human ioititutons. La the catalogue of |.
bleilings which have fallen 10 The lot Of
the mott favoured nations, none could be
enumerated from which our country was
eluded "A free Contribution, adminiiter-
cd BY great and incorruptble itatcfmen,
realized the fonleit hopes of liher,y and
independcnce-The progreis of agri1ul-
ture was ilimulated by the certainty of
value in the haEve.t--and commerce, af
ter traveriing every iea, returned with
the riches OF every cline : A revenue,
iecured BY a senie of honour, collected
without oppreilicn, and paid without
murmurs, melted away the national debt
and the chief concern Of the public cred
itor aroie from its too rapid diminution-
The wars and connections of the Euro |
pean nations, and the Interruptions of |
heir commercial inre,courlc, afforded 10 /
fbnfa xr,hn k,l