The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-05-19

From the accession Of Mr. Jefferson TO the pres
idercy, to the peace Of Client, the federal party
perserered in an uniform opposition, and express
ed an open disapprobation Of the most prominent
measures which were adopted from time to time
by the general government. But the question to
be decided is, as we have before observed, wheth-
er these measures were calculated to advance
the happiness and prosperity of the country, or
TO produce in their nature and tendency effects
dramatically opposite. The latter ground was
assumed by the federalists, and assigned as rea'
for their opposition to them, and for withhold
ing from them, as far as possible, their SUPPORT.
These consequences were depicted by the ablest
statesmen our country possessed, in the most
glowing colours, and the impolicy of these meas
ures demonstrated in the strongest terms. But,
regardless OF these circumstances, the admins
tration proceeded to the adoption of their favour
lie policy. Those experiments which had been
tried with such success. those time-tested sys-
TENS, whose adoption had conducted the count
~ to peace, happiness, and prosperity at home,
esteem and respect abroad, were abandoned, to
prepare the way for others, whose absurdity was
demonstrated at their first proposal, and whose
mistakes, time and experience amply proved.
navy for the defence and protection Of our extern
sive commerce, which should procure us the resi-
pect On the ocean, due to large and growing
nation, our commerce was exposed to the depre-
dations of every corsair, flag nsulted, the law
passed towards the close of Mr.. Adams admins
tration. for increasing naval force suspen-
ded, the materials provided fer that purpose if
not converted to other uses, permitted to remain
useless. Under the ridiculous and fallacious
pretence Of economy, number of wretched and
paltry gun-boats were built and equipped, though
it was amply proved at the time that every gun
on board them, cost the country more than dou-
bic the amount oftheir number on board frigate
or ship Of the line. ~
But this was not the only measure suggested
by our philosophical chief, who at that time held
the reins of government, which furnished just
grounds for opposition and complaint: Most of
those who had been appointed to Offices under
the two former administrations, were immediate
ly dismissed from them, upon the most frivolous
pretences, many of them without the smallest
reason being assigned fer their removal. Among
those removals, were many officers and vetrans
of ourrevolutionary contest, appointed by Wash
ington himself, who looked upon these appoint
ments as the only proof of the gratitude of the
country for their services during that period, that
could be given Them These incumbencies were
generally filed by men inferior in every respect
to their predecessors, the greater portion Of whom
had not the smallest claim upon the gratitude Of
their country, many of them foreiga ers, of the
most infamous and notorious characters /; many
Others, tories and refugees of the revolution. A
mong this latter class, the name of TENcH COKE
appears conspicuous, The national Bank vas "a
polished, our army establishment almost totally
destroyed. On account of our commercial differ
ences with G.. Britain, our commerce was inter-
dicted with all the world, an embargo of IS
months duration laid upon our shipping, which
was followed by 2 series of commercial restric-
tions, and finally, by the late war.
1t was to measures like these, that the federal
party objected, and against which, they evinced
warm and vigorous opposition. The authors Of
such measures were, in justice, accountable for
the opposition made to them, by enforcing laws,
whose direct tendency was the destruction of
cur prosperity The testimony borne against
them at the time of their enaction, was as hon.
durable to the federal party, as their result was
disgraceful to their authors. These results fully
verified the predi ctions of the opposers of those
measures. AS strong justification Of federal
opposition as could be offered, was the abandon
ment of those measures by their very authors, af-
ter time and experience had demonstrated their
inutility and impolicy. Thus, we have seen the
navy, upon which every stigma had been thrown,
which had been so often styled " the beat NTH
the great BELLY" the rofton system, Of Old Eng
land, with numerous appellations of similar
nature, grow into favour, and meet with patron
age from the same quarter which had formerly
opposed its growth, and avowedly plotted its ru-
in and destruction. Gun-boats have become so
unpopular as to be sentenced to the hammer OF
the auctioneer, and have become subjects of rid
icule, with their former supporters, as with their
constant and uniform opposers. A national bank
has been re-established in fine the ruling part
now cling with as much zeal to those very meas.