Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1816-08-20


that would fall upon their trade, without such
provision might in that way be avoided. When
these deceitiul insinuations were detected, by
showing that Congress were prevented by the
express words of the constitution from afford :.
ing any relief IN this respect, they boldly set
the complaints of this industrious class of citi-
zens at defiance. Even our Senators and a
majority OF our Representatives from Maine,
state the interests OF the eoasting trade that arc
TO be impaired by Separation, to be " triAes
indeed."*
Is it a " triGe" that the numerous jnbabi
tants on our sea coast and rivers, extending
from New Hampshire 10 New Brunswick, en-.
gagged in the coasting trade, should not only re
neglected by those whom they have elevated
to power, but that they should be insultcd in
their struggles TO avoid impending evils Is
ii strife" that their families depend for the
necessaries OF life on the very means that are
about to be impaired by the rapacious hands
that are grasping at power! Is it in short
" trifle' that their wishes expressed in their re-
monstrances, against this fatal work of Sepa-
ration, should be repealed as oblrusive, by
those who are expected to be the guardians of
their rights and interests Measures attempt
ed to be carried with such high hand, and
an open ayowed disregard for the vital inter-
ests OF so large a portion of the community,
can be ominous Of ITO good.t
But let US attend for moment to this inn
portant subject. Ii is the coasters, and those
connected with their particular trade who best
understand it-their opinions are worthy Of
respect and SO far as we have been able to
obtain information from those whom we con
slider among the best informed and most expe-
rienced of them, there will in all probability be
an outright loss, by the Separation, of one
sixth part OF their coasting trips, at least, in
year. Its the loss of wind aud tide, OCCASION
ed by the delays Of EMERY and clearance, par
| ticularly where custom houses are remote,
| which will be the great misfortune of that
trade. Experience taught this fact during
our former restrictions, and no assertions how
ever bold can controvert it.
The farmer and the mechanic as we'll as
the merchant, can easily judge how hard it
would be for them, in addition to all their 9TH
er taxes, to sacrifice, every year, one sixth
part OF all their earnings, profits and produce
and yet we are told that the sacrifices OF the
coasters would be g trifles indeed'!
We cannot insult the feelings of that nu-
merous and mertorious class OF citizens by
descending to nice calculations on this SUBJ
ject. They know the evils they must suffer,
and the sacrifices they must make, if separa.
tion is effected and we know that they must
be great indeed. Gladly would we prevent
these evils and sacrifices, but the advocates of
Separation have determined to sacrifice your
interests 10 their ambition. The means ofpre-
venting it are in your own hands-your friends
in the country are ready TO assist you. Give
your attendance then, al your town meetings
on the first Monday Of September, and by your
votes against Separation, humble the ambition
of those who are endeavoring 10 ruin you.
The arduous duties enjoined upon US re-
specting the great and important question,
soon 10 be decided by the people of Maine,
have been undertaken and pursued with sim
cere desires to perform those duties in man.
ner conformablyto truth. Some branches Of
our enquiries abound in full evidence, by
which to arrive to satisfactory result others
depend on the comparison Of similar cases, to
guide the judgment in forming the best under
standing Of them; and there are particular
future events, in relation to the concerns of
government, which must ever rest in opinion,
until experience shall furnish accurate infor-
nation, by which to determine the exact truth.
II that experience should prove disastrous,
knowledge comes too late to remedy the evil.
1t is therefore Importantly all means to judge
with care and with caution, and without the
bias Of particular interest or feeling. The de
liberate calculations of statesman, made from
the experience Of states, and the known ext
gencies of all governments ought to be the
rule of judgment. aa. ae44 a..
After mature reflection, and with all the
evidence on the subject we have been able TO
obtain, we have come TO certain conclusions
which we respectfully submit to the public.
We are not conscious Of any errours in the
important facts which we have exhibited
and il any have. accidentally happened, we
shall cheerfully correct them in "a public man
ner, when made known to us.
In general we have referred the reader TO
the documents on which we have depended
for Information, which every man may exam
inc for himself. The propositions, of the most
definite kind, which result from our investiga-
tions, we will briefly state, and leave the rea
dor IN eonuar e then, ith the evidence appIi- |