Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1816-12-14

/ Amidst the advantages which have snCceeued ,he
peace of Europe, and that of the United states WIN
G. reat Britain in general invigoration p. iEaus'ty
among u.s. and in the extension OF our tromheres
the value Of which is more and more die closing Il
self to comm srcia nations it is to be regretted hs'
| a depression is experienced by particularly hes
1 of our manufactures aud by portion Of on anS ci
CATION AS the ifst proceeds in an esseniiah Ut Y"
/ from an excess Of imported merchandise, R1s,;c
carries check in its own tendency, the cause,sss
its present extent, cannot be ofvcty long duration.
| The evil will not however, be viewed by Gong,ess,
thont a recollection, that manufacturing estab-
| Ishuepts IL suffered to sink too low, snguish
| too long NAV not revive, diter the causes snail
have ceased and that, in The vcisetudes Of hp.nan
affairs, situations may recur in which dependence
Oh foreign sources, fer Indispensable supplies, may
be among the most serious embafrassmenis
The depressed state of our navigation, is 10 be
ascribed, in material degree, to its exclusion from
the colonial ports Of the nation most extensively
connected with IN commerce, and from the indi--
rect operation OF tbat exclusion. 8issi
f'rceious Il, the late conventions at Isond..n bs-
tween the United states s. hiica Britain the reia-
tive state of the gation laws OF The two countries
grow ing out of the treaty of iI9l had given the
British navigation q material advantage over the
American. in the intercourse between the Ameri-
can ports and British ports in Europe. The COM
vention of London equalized the laws OF the Two
countries relating to those ports leaving the inc
tercour.e between our ports ard the ports OF the
British colonies subject, as before, to the respec-
tive regulations of the parties. he British Cow
ernlnent enforcing. now, regulations which prahib-
it trade between its colonies and the Uuited
States, in American vessels, whilst they permit
trade In Brtish vessels, the American navigation
loses accordingly and the loss is augmented by
the advantage which is given to the British COM
petition over the American, in the navigation be-
tween oGr pe,is and British ports in Europe by
the circn;tors veyages, eajoyed by the one, and
not enjoyed by the other, 4
The reasonahieness OF the rule of reciprocity.
applied to one branch of the commercial inter-
course has beer pressed on part. equally ap-
plieabie to both branches: bat it is ascef aimed.
that the British Csbiuet declines all pcgociation
ON the subject with disavowa however, of any
disposition to view, in an unfrendly light, whats
ever countervailipg regulations the United States
may oppose TO the regulations of which they
plain TIE wisdom of the Legislature will decide
on the course. which, under these circumstances is
prescribed by joint regard to the amcsble rela-
tons between the two nations and to the just inter-
es,s Of the United States.
have the satisfaction to state, generally, that
we remain in af,ity with foreign powers.
An occurrence has, Indeed taken place in the
Gulf of Mexico which. If sanctioned by the Span-
ish government, may make an exception as to that
power. According TO the report Of our naval cofu-
nander on that station, one OF our public armed
vessels was attacked by an overpowering force un.
der Spanish commander, and the American flag,
with the officers and crew, insIltesf 10 \ manner
calling for prompt repara ion. his has been de.
nianded. In the time, ffigate aud smaller
vessel of war have been ordered into that Gulf for
the protection of our commerce. 1t would be inn
proper to omit that the representative OF his catho-
lie majesty in the United States lost no time in Civ
ing the strongest assurances, that hostile order
could have emanated from bis government, and
that il will be ready to do, as TO expect. what
ever the nature of the case and the friendly rela-
tons of the two countries, sfali be found to re.
quire.
The posture of our affairs with Aig;ers, at the
present moment, is not known. The Dey, drawing
pretexis from circumstances for which the United
States we're not answerable, addressed a letter to
this government, declaring the treaty last conclu-
died. with him, to have been anpulIed by our viola
ton of III and presenting, as the alternative, war,
Or renewal of the former treaty, which stipulated,
among other things, an annual tribute The am
swer, with an explicit declaration that the United
States preferred war tribute, required his recog-
milton and observance of the treaty last made.
shcb abolishes tribute and the slavery OF cap
tured citizens The result Of the answer has not
been received Should be renew his warfare on
our commerce, we rely on the protection it will
find in our naval force actually in the Mediterrans-
an. az. .....4. ...
With the other Barbary states our affairs haye
undergone no change. M t.
The Indian tribes within our limits appear also
disposed to remain at peace. From several of them
purchases of lands have been made, particularly
favorable to the wishes aud security of our frontier
settlements as well to the general Interests Of
the natien In some instances, the titles, though
not supported by due proof, and ciashing those Of
one tribe with the claims OF another have been ex-
tinguished by double purchases; the BENEVOLENT
policy of the United States preferriag the auginen-
ted expense to the hazard OF doing Injustice, or to
the enforcement of Justice against feeble aud un.
tutored people. by means involving or threatening
efsusion of blood. am happy to add, that the
tranquility which has been restored among the
tribes themselves, as we'll as between them and our
own population, will favor the resumption OF the
work Of civilization, which had m ade an encoura--
ging progress among some tribes; and that the fla
city is Increasing, for extending that divided and
individual ownership, which exists now in movea-
Bile property only, the soil itself; and of thus
establishing in the culture and Improvement of il.
the true foundation for transit from the habits Of
the savage to the arts and comforts of social life.
AS subject of,the highest Importance to the
national welfare, Imust, again, earnestly recon-
mend to the consideration OF Congress, a reorgaui-
zation Of the Militia, plan which will form il
into classes, according to the periods OF life more
aud less adapted to military services. An efficient
militia Is authorized and contemplated by the con-