Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

No American ship consigned to any foreign port, and even our coasting trade we subjected to great vexation. His Majesty by his prudence declared that every American vessel which violated our embargo should be lawful prize. This law he enacted as Lord Paramount of this list of his Empire, for which Jerom and Madilon render him homage. So we see in the first instance we were treated worse than his Majesty's other nearer dominions. Lately his Majesty has ordered the seizure and burning of all British goods to Hanover belonging. This is executed amply on the European continent—the party loses only his goods. But when his Majesty ordered Viceroy Madison to conform to this order, he is not contented with the cat and her kin, he insists upon hanging his American subjects, and demanding 40 shillings for the expense of it. In other words he demands the whole property, and a penalty of three times its value besides. We challenge and invite any of his Majesty's servants or douaniers to deny this comparison, or to show any instance in which his European subjects suffer as much as his American.—Still we have been as loyal and submissive as the best of them. We have given up all our property which he has been pleased most graciously to seize, without a single refractory murmur or complaint. So monstrous is the Non Intercourse Act, that not one man in ten thousand ever believed it would pass into a law. It did pass. The Merchants who are the victims of it, after they read the infamous act, believed it impossible that it ever should be executed. They sagaciously asked, do you suppose the government mean to put this law in force? They had the weakness to believe that the needy patriots who had offices given them, that they might prey upon the people whom they had betrayed, would forego the certainty of making immense estates, to please the industrious and opulent, whose worth they evinced, and whose virtuous resentment odium on their vices. The vessels arrive, their navigators in profound ignorance of any law for confiscating the property. The vessels and cargoes are instantly seized. Bonds are given. The kind and merciful officers of the revenue, rather than have the property lie at their risk, and intent on keeping the sufferers quiet, are disposed to permit the original owner to have the custody of his goods, on receiving security to twice or three times the amount, that they shall touch the cash in a few months. The merchants still undertake to flatter themselves that their property will not be condemned. Some base and interested democrats assure them of Men who a few days ago thanked God that this act was to be under the sole authority of the judge, that no foolish jury could interfere, and of course there was no chance for those who were plundered of their property to get clear. Notwithstanding no Congress will meet until next winter, it is confidently reported Congress will restore the goods seized. Can men be so weak and foolish as to dream, that they who would pass so oppressive and tyrannical a law, without the smallest apology, will sacrifice all the fruits of their wickedness to those who have not spirit enough to suggest that harm is intended them, and who until stripped of their property, and confined in prison for life, will never believe the government is in earnest, or that their most virulent and deadly enemies, will keep them from a cent of that property, which they so good naturedly surrender, without even a wry countenance. The government of the United States gave up the Embargo when compelled to by Massachusetts, and not one instant before. Even then, not a single prosecution was dropped, and hundreds of our fellow-citizens are now groaning under the lash of petty tyrants, who in the name of the United States, and under the garb of Custom-House Officers, are oppressing them with prosecutions and penalties, to the utter destruction of themselves and their families. If any doubt this fact, let them examine the records of the District Court, and many will doubt no longer.

We are humbled to the dust—we are meaner than the worm; for when trodden upon he attempts to turn. We are commanded, and, shall undoubtedly with suppliant subserviency obey the commands of our magnanimous Chief Magistrate, and mock high heaven with thanks for the prosperity we enjoy, under the protecting Shield of the Federal Government, and for the wise and patriotic administration of our national rulers.—We wanted not this to make it a day of humiliation. If loss of freedom, loss of property, and loss of character could humble us, we may surely call this a day of humiliation; but to be obliged, in the presence of the God of Truth, to call the men WISE and PATRIOTIC, who have so degraded us, and so scourged us, is drinking the cup of disgrace to the very dregs.