Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1815-03-13
NO III.


and we shall not forget the promise; but
we are first to dispose of the enumerated
objects, for which the war was declared. 1t
remains 10 discuss the last: indemnify tn
certain cases Of CAPTURE or Selznre under the
Orders in Council and IN consequence OF
blockades. In the first letter of Instructions
we find these claims stated mthe following
manner.
indemnify for losses seem to he FAIR ola' ~
on the part ofthe United States, and the br.t'sh
Government, if DESTROYS TO strengthen' me fe!A-
tons of friendship, may be willing to make H.
In bringing the claim into view, you Will not ie'
i defeat the primary object entrusted 10 you
lis nor peYceved on shat ground Great Britain can
re8is this clam a, least in the cases in favor
of which she stands pledged. Of these note
will be added"
Instead OF note however, here IS break
in the instructions; something follows
which was not even laid before Congress,
is not fit TO be entrusted to the eyes OF the
National Council, nor has it been published,
as being equally unfit for the people.-Well
but certain claims, which, it is said, Great
Britain stands pledged 10 provide Tor !;
what, they precisely are, we are not allow
ed to be informed. Il is enough, however,
TO know that they are claims that cGnnot be
resisted claims that Britain has actually
pledged herself 10 admit !; and yet they are
abandoned without ceremony, and treaty
made without once 6 lancing at them. The
Commissioners had hint given them, not
to let these claims, undoubted as they are,
stand in their way. Having left sailors
rights TO saiit for themselves; the abandon.
ment of merchants rights followed Of course
Q, bur honor if we have done nothing else,
we have rede emed the national honor and
that is worth all the rest. 1t shall be con
sldered.
In the first place then, should be glad
to know when, and how, we lost our nation
al honor ?-This seems to be the first en-
quiry in order because it it was lost, by
the same men that boast of redeeming it,,
there certainly can be 10 claim for applause
Under The federal administration OF
Washington "the American name (says
writer) was rising rspidIy to dignity and
emnence the fame of our resistance to
the wiles and the arms Of France, exalted
our reputation at once for wisdom and Coug-
age. The proulest of nations took us with
Joy by the hand ; and opened every avenue
that could lead TO political consequences OF
commercial prospect y Under these
auspices. the instruments of our trade whit
ened every sea, the produee of our industry
crowded every port, and our ensign waved
in every harbor of Tie known world" But,
under his successor, in 1898, the wind chan
ged, the weathcrcock turned: Adams seiz.
cd with paccXism Of folly, rage and mad
ness, apostated from his former principles;
involved himself in ruin, and dragged down
his party so far along with him, that it has
not yet recovered the lofty eminence on
which it TO merly stood. From that mo-
ment the national character has peen sink
ing Jefferson has accelerated the rapidly
of itsdescen;, and Madison his succeeded in
TreCipuatiDg it to the bottom. 1t has long
been mark for the Sio7v and m9Uing hand
Of lime 10 hofnt his finger az" 1t was stated
to the public, as TACT, in pamphlet which
appeared in June, Is 10, and which now lie S
before me, that MIR. Adams had then " e-r-
tlreSSiy declared his conUicN0n, that a 7oqr
gvsth Great BRIAN gpas The only means Ter 81
reeoncihng harHes ~ his country" Per-
haps his words may be now verified, but in
a very different sense from what they i'm.
porttd, A war with England has been the
INCREASING labor of bis successors, during
their two presidencies they have at length
effected their object; war has been waged
with Great Britain and they have been
to make precipitate, and 20
them dishonorsble peace. he nation,
however, is now able 10 consider both the
war and its effects, in one view, and and to
pronounce their verdict on this measure ::
a measure projected by distempered pas
slons ; adopted without cause declared
without being prepared, and carried on for
more than two years amidst every disaster
and disgrace. And am mistaken, very
much mistaken, it, in pronouncing iudg-
ment, parties are not more agreed, more IL
nted IN opinion, than on any event that has
since the reign of democracy.
A minute examination of the system Of
that have been resorted 10, for the
purpose OF bringing the country TO declare
this war, or those subsequent 10 that event,
Tor stimulating the passions Of the people,
to continue it, would be foreign to my plan,
| shall therefore conane myself TO some &C
the principal events of the war itself, as les
poets our national character.
The following resolve of Congress has
rendered it unnecessary TO prove the failures
hat ..Ffa Fls.I ~,