Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-03-09

Ier subject, the importantly Of the East, on
that occasion, was far greater hold in
my hands the evidence of the fact. Here
are petitions, memorials, and remonstran-
ces, from all parts Of New England, set
ting forth the injustice, the expressions,
and the depredations, the insults the out
RACES, committed by Great Britain, against
the unoftendlng commerce and seamen
OF New-England, and calling upon Con-
gress tor redress. Sir, cannot stop to
read these memorials. In that from Bos-
ton, alter stating the alarming and extern
slve condemnation of our vessels, by Great
Britain, which threatened " to sweep our
commerce from the face of the ocean,"
and to involve our merchants in bank
ruptcy," they called upon the Government
to assert our rights, and to adop, such
measures as will support the dignity and
honour of the United States.'
J From Salem we hear language still
more decisive; they call explicitly for :" an
4 appeal to ARMS, and pledge their lives and
property, IN support of any measure which
Congress might adopt From Newbury-
port an appeal was made "to the tirmness
aud justice of the Government, to obtain
compensation and protection" 1t was
here, | think, that when the war was de-
clared, 1t was resolved, g TO resist our own
Government, even unto blood"
In other quarters, the common language
OF that day was, that our commerce and
our seamen were entitled to protection,
and that 1t was the duty of the Govern
ment to afford it at every hazard. The
conduct of Great Britain, we were then
told, was san outrage upon our National
Independence" The clamors, which
commenced as early as January, 1919,
were continued up TO 1912. In mes
sage from the GOVERNOR of one of the
New-England States, as late as the 10th
October, 1911, this language is held ga
manly and decisive course, has become in
dispensable--a course TO satisfy foreign ma
tons, that while we desire peace, we have
the means and the spirit to repel 40 gres-
sion." "We are false TO ourselves when
our commerce or our territory is invaded
with impunty."
About this time, however remarkable
change was observable, in the tone and
temper OF those who had been endeavour
ing to force the country into war. The
language of complaint was changed into
that of insult, and calls for protection,
converted into reproaches. 4" Sn,oke
smoke" (says one writer "my LIE on
IL our Executive have no more idea Of de-
clarlng war than my Grandmother" "sThe
Committee of Ways and Means, (says an
other have come ont with their Pando-
ra Box of taxes, yet nobody dreams of
war;" " Congress do not mean TO de-
clare war,--tsey dare not" But whv
multiply examples. An honorable mem
Der OF the other House, from the city of
Boston, (Mr. Quincy,) in speech deliv
cred on the Sd April, 1912, says, "Neith
er promises nor threats, nor asseverations.
nor oaths, will make me believe that YOU
will 60 to war. The navigation States
are sacrificed, and the spirit and character
OF the country Frustrated, by fear and av-
arice." "You cannot, (said the same
gentleman OH another occasion)" be kick
ed into q var."
We'll, Sir, the war at length came. and
what did we behold ! "he very men who
had been for six years clamorous for war.
and for whose protection it was waged, be-
came at once equally clamorous against
it. They had received miraculous visi-
| tation new light suddenly beamed up
on their minds the scales fell from their
eyes, and it was discovered, that the war
was declared from subserviency to
France" aud that Congress and the Exc
cutIve had sold themselves to Napoleon; :
that Great Britain had, in fact, done us
no essential injury y that she was "ihe
bulwark of our religion )" that where " she
took one of our ships, she protected TWEEN
tvs" and that, if Great Britain had i'm
pressed few of our seamen, it was be-
( cause she could not distinguish them
from her own And so far did this spr-
it extend, that Committee of the Mas
sachusetts Legislature actually fell to cal
culation, and discovered to their infinite
satisfaction, but to the establishment of
all the world besides, that only ELEVEN
Massachusetts sailors had ever BEEN inn
pressed. Never shall forget the appeals
that had been made to the sympathies of
the South, in behalfof the " thousands of
impressed Americans" who had been torn
from their families q trends, and " immur-
ed in the floating DUNGEONS of Britain"
The most touching pictures were drawn of
The hard condition Of the American sailor,
treated like slave" forced to fight the
battles OF his enemy, "lashed to the mast
to be shot at like dog" But, Sir, the
very moment we had taken up arms in
their defence, it was discovered that all
these were mere fictions of the brain"
! land that the whole number in the State
Of Massachusetts was but ELEVEN, and
even these had been "taken by mistake"
Wonderful discovery! The Secretary Of
Estate had collected autheutick lists of no
less than sir thousand impressed Amer-