The Portland gazette., 1821-03-15

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Tie Executive, 10 carry them inro effect.
The advantage Of these forti6ca,ions, and
Of an augmented naval force. in the extent
contemplated, in point of economy, has been
fully illustrated, BY report of the Board Of
Engineers and Naval Commissioners, lately
communicated to Congress, by which il ap-
pears, that in an invasion by twenty thousand
men, with correspondent naval force, IN
campaign of Sly months only. ihe whole ex
pense of the construction OF the works would
be deirayed by the difference in the sum nee
esssry 10 maintain the force which would be
adequate TO our defence with the aid OF those
works, and that which would be incurred
without them. The reason of this difference
il obvious. If Notifications are iudiciously
placed on our great ineis, as distant from our
cities, as circumstances will permit, they will
form The only points Of attack, and the enemy
will be detained there by small regular force,
sufficient time to enable our militia TO col
Ieci, and repair 10 that on which the attack is
made. A foLce adequate TO The enemy. col
lected at that single point, with suitable prep
sration for such others as nigh! be mensced,
j. all that would be requisite. But, if there
were no Notifications, then the enemy might
GO where he pleased, and changing bis position,
and sailing from place 10 place, our force must
be called out and spread in vast numbers
along the whole coast, and both sides OF every
bay and river, as high Up in each as it might
be nsvigable for ships Of war. BY these for
tIicaiion., supported by our navy, to which
they would afford like support, we should
present 10 other powers an armed front from
the ST. Croix TO the Sabine, which would pro-
tect, in the event Of war, our whole coast and
interior from invasion /; anu even in the wars
of other powers, in which we were neutral,
they would be found eminently useful, as, by
keeping their public ships at distance from
our cities, peace and orcer in them would be
preserved, and The government be protected
from insult.
II need scarcely be remarked, that these
measures have not been resorted TO in spirit
ofhostiliiy 10 other powers. Such disposition
does not exist towards any power. Peace and
good will have been, and will hereafter be,
cultivated with all, and by the most faithful
regard for justice. They have been dictated
by love OF peace of economy, and an earnest
desire to save the lives of our fellow-citizens
from that destruction, and our country from
that devastation, which are insepsrabe from
war, when it finds US unprepared for il. II is
believed, and experience has shown, that such
preparation is the best expedent that can be
resorted to, TO prevent war. | add, with much
pleasure, that considerable progress has al
ready been made in these measures Of defence,
and that they will be completed 10 few
years, considering the grearextent and i'm
portance of ihe object, if the plan be Jealous
ly and steadily persevered in.
The conduct Of The government, in what re-
lates to foreign powers, is always an object OF
the highest importance TO the nation. It's
agriculture, commerce, manufactures, fisheries,
revenue; in short, its peace, may all be af-
iected by it. Attention is, therefore, due 10
this subject.
At the period sdverted 70, the powers of
Europe, after having been engaged in long and
destructive wars with each other, had conciu
ded peace, which happily still exists Our
peace with the power with whom we had been
engaged, bad also been concluded. The war
between Spain aud the colonies IN South a.
merica, which had commenced many years
before, was then the only conflict that remain
ed unsettled. This being contest between
different parts of the same community, in
which other powers had not inIerlered, was
not affected by their accommodations.
This contest was considered, at an early
stage, by my predecessor civil war, in which
The parties were entitled TO equal rights in our
ports. This decision, The first made by any
power, being formed on great consideration of
the comparative strength ard resources of The |
parties, The length Of time, and successful OPP
position made by the colonies, and Of all other |
circumstances on which il ought to depend, |
was n strict accord with the law Of nations. |
Congress has invariably acted on this princi-
pie, having made no change in our relations
with either party Our attitude has, there |
fore, been hat OF neutrality between them,
which has been maintained by the government
with the stTictest impartIslity. No AID has |
been ofofded TO esher, nor has any privilege
t1en enjoyed by the one, which has not been |
equally open 10 ihe other party; and every
exertIon has been made IN IFS power, 10 enforce
the execution oi he laws prohibiting illegal |
with equal rigor against both.
BY this equality between the parties, their
public vessels have been received Ia our ports |
on the same footing they have enjoyed an
equal right to purchase and export arms, mu
niions of war, and every other supply-he
expectation Of all articles whatever beng per- |
miled under laws which we're passed long
before lhe commencement of the contest; our
citizens have traded equally with both, and
al
tected by the government.