The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-05-26
POLITICAL.
For the Portland GaEette.
Federal Opposition.
T Continued from oar last Gagei

Continued from oar last Gazette.
But OF all the measures of the administration
Of MIR. jefferson, no one was more calculated TO
annihilate our prosperity, no one more destruc-
tive to our interests, than the celebrated enbar-
go of 1908 and 9. This measure, we were told,
was enforced for the purpose Of securing our
property from the depredations Of the heiligerent
powers. Even this pretenee was tacit ac-
Acknowledgement Of the impolicy and misconduct
Of the administration in neglecting to provide
efficient naval force for the defence of our com
mercial rights. Wen, this experiment was adop-
ted our seamen driven into the interior Of the
country the greater portion OF our citizens de-
prived of the means of procuring subsistence
pov rty and penury regned in places which, cut
q few years before, abounded In prosperity and
plenty This very town, not TO mention other
places, still witnesses and feels the effects Of that
ruinous and impolitick measure. Before that Pc
Rod, it was generally acknowledged, the most
growing and thriving seaport ia The u, :. Tie
contrast which, ever since that period; It has
presented with its former condition, must be OBJ
yious to the most superficial observer-too many
of us still feel that contrast to our sorrow. That
By an embargo we could bring g. Bitaln TO cur
feet, and make her accede to whateEerterms we
pleased 70 dictate, was an assumption admirably
calculated to work on the minds Of the unthink-
ing and uniformed and secure their support On
the measure, though ruinous to their private M
terests. Their mistaken love of country would
lead them to swallow eagerly any bait Of the
kind they were pleased with these false notions
Of her Importance and power; bat time has at
last proved the fan of these expectations ard the
absurdity of such opinions We found, by expe-
rience that G. Britain coult bearit as well, if not
better, than ourselves that it was destructive to
our vital interess-that ii taught other countries
lessons 1t would have been for our Interests they
should forever have remained ignorant of--that,
if it even injured her. it was certainly detrimsn
tai, nhot ruinous to our own interests-that such
measure on our part, was equally as wise as
TO set our own habitat9ns fire, IN order to in
rolve a neighbour against whom we had cause
Of complaint, and upon whom we are desirous to
be reyenged, in similar calamity- We have
since received from those Fery countries we once
attempted to starFe by non~intercoussa laws, EN-
baFgoes, sc. many necessaries of life, such as
beet, pork, butter, potatoes, &c. Having failed
of verifying the predictions of its authors, the
barge was at last repealed, after having, from
state of almost unparalleled prosperity, reduced
us to poverty and almost utter ruin, having given
our national interests 2 blow, from which, for
years to come. they will be unable to recover.
Even, the embargo had ever So essentially inju
red G.. Britain. yet the fact, that it would pro-
duce similar effects upon our own country, this
consideration alone, ought to have operated a.
gainst its adoption, independently OF its uncon-
stitutionality, which was 50 decisiyely and elo-
quently proved, by many otour ablest statesmen,
and by none more so, than by the late Mr.. Dex
fer,
It might Justly have been supposed, that, hav-
ing witnessed the effects OF the first embargo the
administration would have been deferred from a
similar attempt in future Had this been the
case, there would have been some palliation or
even excuse for their first error. similar meas
uFe, however, was again repeated in the spring
of 1912, three months before the late declaration
of war. During the course of the late war, an
other embargo again enforced by act Of Con-
gress, in the winter OF 1871. This act appear
ed to every rational and thinking man pc
caliarly rash and impoiitick When the enemy
had ceased blockadilg our ports, and was repair
ing to his winter quarters, when our vessels had
a fair opportunity Of escaping the pursuit of his
cruizers, and arriving safe N our own hafbours,
before his return again in the spring, they were
detained by thru embargo. But, as soon as
the period arrived, when the blockade Of our
ports was again commenced, this measure was
repealed, and our negcnantmen left at perfect
Liberty To so whittier they please. This measure |
certainly capped the climax Of the folly of the
reigning party, and evinced. beyond a doubt !
their deep rooted hostility to commerce, as well
deprived the treasury Of no inconsiderable |
augmentation q its revenue.
The late war was another measure opposed by |
federalistss They believed it might have been
easily avoided-that, with treasury empty, it |
must not only incur upon The country, large
national debt, but that to support il, taxes must
be levied, which, in their depressed condition |
while suffering the evils incidental to a state Of
war, the people would be poorly able to meet |
These circumstances. were, however, disre- !
garded- War was declared to effect certain OBJ |
Jects. We were repeatedly told, that, until those
objects effected, the sword should never be |
sheathed. Thus, we were told, that, to procure |
indemnifcatioa for the spoilatons on Cur COM
merce, to oblige G. b. to renounce. officially, the
right she assumed, Of taking her subjects wherev-
Ell she found them, the conquest Of Canada, &c. |
the ostensible objects for wsssh the late
was undertaken, and that no pe:s should ever
be made in which they were not frfclassea This, |
we say, was the general Language d4fthe party. |
During period OF nearly three yeaTsvs thousands |
olives we're sacrificed and millions 81 treasure