Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

Portland,
Monday, September 15, 1806.

The purchase of Louisiana, that delightful country, abounding with "Salt Mountains," "Prairie Dogs" & "Magpies," has been extolled by all the worshippers of Mr. Jefferson, as one of the prettiest feathers in his cap; we have been told again and again by these disinterested patriots, that with the possession of this garden of America, all disputes respecting our southern boundary, would cease forever; but has the acquisition of this territory verified these wiseacre prophecies we appeal to the proceedings of the last session of congress, and the present situation of our affairs between the United States and the government of France and Spain. It is said, dispatches have lately been received from Mr. Monroe, stating that the negociation for the Floridas has failed.

Vote more tribute money, we presume, will be the saving policy of our present saving administration. Mr. Jefferson must now find himself in a sad dilemma: more money must be taken from the "mouth of labor" and given to France; or the strong arm of government must be put in operation; unless we are already reduced to a "colonial sense of fear," and prepared tamely to submit our sovereignty and cash to the modern Alexander of Europe. But Mr. Jefferson's wonderful sagacity has enabled him to foresee the storm that is gathering round him. The southern papers say he will decline a re-election.

Strange as it may seem, for once in his life he has resolved on quitting the post of danger. Whoever may be the next President of the United States, we hope the choice will fall on a character possessing energy and ability to protect the interests and independence of our country.

We have been informed that the negociation for the FLORIDAs has failed. This information was received from Virginia very lately. It seems dispatches from Mr. Monroe, our minister at the British Court, were conveyed to Monticello, by one of Mr. Monroe's family, who lately landed at Boston. —This gentleman mentioned the failure on his way to the President's.—Washington pap.

Bonaparte will never relinquish his design of possessing either the Floridas or Louisiana. Disappointed by Great Britain in taking possession of Louisiana, he sold it to the United States for the sum of Fifteen Millions. The boundaries were however unsettled, and on receiving possession, Congress passed laws creating Collection Districts within the limits of their purchase. Spain took umbrage at this procedure, obstructed the navigation of the Mobile, and refuses to settle the boundaries. It was our opinion, from the purchase, that the ceded territory, would be a bone of contention between the two countries. We think a rupture nearer than we first imagined. Are we prepared to give up our rights, or will we in our desire to preserve peace, verify the assertion of Mr. Randolph that in our zeal to purchase Florida, or in other words to purchase peace, cast the national pride into the scale. We must either pay, relinquish our rights, or unsheathe the sword. The alternative is before us. One or the other we must do. Negociation is now out of the question -ibid.