Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

FOR THE GAZETTE.

To the People of Lincoln County.

IN my last I promised something further of our administration's management of our country with France and England. I will now just touch at some leading features.— But first, I know there are many who will think these things of little consequence in our determination of voting : but, they are much in error. If Mr. Jefferson, and Mr. Madison, (who expects the next seat in the presidential chair,) possesses political opinions or principles which may lead them to a management detrimental to our interests, those who support them would not be placed in a situation to encourage or assist, officially especially, their measures. Besides, we all know that at present something in the administration of our government is wrong, and is it rational to suppose that the same persons whose favourite policy has produced this wrong will throw their plans aside and remedy the evil they have wittingly brought upon us? No: as I said in my last, if we wish these present embargo, gun-boat & such measures changed for better, we must change our rulers for better. But he who does not think it necessary to change, certainly ought to act his opinion—ought in fact to act as he pleases. That's the liberty I wish for myself, and shall never wish to withhold it from others. Freedom of election is all that saves our excellent government from an overthrow.

Our present administration have, firstly, shown a signal and very uncommon favour to a French frigate in Boston harbour. This frigate, called the Berceau, was taken at sea in a combat with one of our American frigates, and was as much a prize to our vessel as the Insurgente was to Com. Truxton, which every one knows was a lawful prize and always has been considered such. This frigate, Berceau, was repaired by order of Mr. Jefferson, at the American people's expense, with the sum of Thirty-two Thousand Dollars! This showed partiality to France, or it did not show partiality to France, one or the two.

Secondly, Louisiana was purchased of France for Fifteen Millions of Dollars.— This tract of land was worth nothing to us, but the purchase helped France to cash, and pleased Bonaparte, which was enough undoubtedly for those who made the purchase. If this don't show partiality to France it shows a folly in our rulers.

Thirdly, every dispatch ship that has been sent to England for one year at least, last past, has been sent by the way of France, and has returned, whenever "permission" has been granted by Bonaparte, by the way of France. This looks "squally," indeed. It looks like paying a little obeisance, or so.

Fourthly, those papers that support our present rulers and in return are supported by them, have excused all the conduct of Bonaparte towards this and the countries he has conquered, and sometimes they have applauded it, particularly the Aurora, printed by a native of Ireland, which paper said that the noted, infamous Letter of the French Minister of foreign affairs to our Minister resident at Paris, as it related to Americans, spoke "the language of friendship and liberality."—Does all this conduct of our rulers and their party appear to have been dictated by a love of country, by patriotism, by wisdom, by the principles of WASHINGTON and the heroes of SEVENTY FIVE?

Now look at the conduct of France towards us : we have a treaty with her, but she pays no attention to it, yet I wish you to remember we have a treaty with her of Bonaparte's own making. Two years since Bonaparte issued his new fashioned blockading Decree from Berlin, Nov. 1806; This was a violation of his own treaty.- Secondly, he issued his Milan Decree, Dec. 1807, still further violating his own treaty with the United States. His cruisers have burnt, sunk and destroyed a number of our merchant vessels at sea, and he has sanctioned it. He has confiscated our property detained in his ports which is to order sale of property without any kind of trial, whether it was legally captured or not, whether his own courts and laws would condemn it or not. He has said we must declare war with England, or he should consider us as at war with him. This he said to the United States by his Minister, Champagny, in a letter to our Minister at Paris, Gen. Armstrong. He has detained an American government ship in one of his ports, and countermanded the orders given to her by our government, He has issued his Bayonne Decree of April 1808, subjecting all American vessels to the seizure of his cruisers and the condemnation of his courts. He has condemned and is every day condemning our vessels carried into his ports under sanction of his three unprecedented and monstrous Decrees ; and all this in open violation of his own made treaty, pledging the faith and honor of the French nation. I have barely named these things, hoping they will awaken a spirit of enquiry in him who reads. If the people would seek for information they might obtain it ; and that obtained, I should rest happily assured that a change of rulers would take place, and all would be well.

I wish the reader to enquire into these favors shown to France by our administration and their party, and into the aggressions of Bonaparte, and in my next I will give a brief sketch of acts towards England and of her aggressions.

ROLAND.