Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

York County Convention.

Mr. Cutts' constituents all for war.

THE FRIENDS OF PEACE from the several towns in the First Eastern Congressional District, assembled at Major Jefferds in Kennebunk on the 23d inst. and there formed a procession of about six hundred persons, mostly independent farmers, and proceeded to the Meetinghouse, where the Convention was organized by electing Hon. John Lord, Esq. Chairman, and Joseph Dane, Esq. Secretary. The blessing of Heaven was invoked by the Rev. Mr. Fletcher: several citizens then addressed the meeting and passed in review the alarming posture of our National affairs, and discussed the leading causes of this eventful crisis and the policy producing it, with a zeal and ability, which would have honored our country's more prosperous days. An assembly of Nine Hundred freemen listened with a watchful silence, which indicated the anxious cares that encircled the heart of each individual. A large Committee, consisting of a member from each town in the district was then chosen to report a suitable candidate for the next Congressional election, an address to the electors of this District, and resolutions expressive of the feelings and sentiments of the convention, who, after an adjournment reported unanimously the recommendation of CYRUS KING Esq. as the Congressional candidate, which report was accepted without a dissenting voice. Mr. KING being present, signified his consent in the following patriotic language; as nearly as can be recollected.

"MR. CHAIRMAN,

"Permit me, with profound respect and gratitude, to offer to this assembly, my acknowledgements, for this expression of their confidence;—equally dear to me whether successful or not: Were I to consult my private feelings, interest and happiness, I should, without hesitation, decline a nomination; but as I hold these subordinate to the public good, I yield to their request: And next to the smiles of Heaven shall esteem their approbation my highest reward. And be assured that he who now addresses you is neither a Frenchman nor an Englishman but an American; one who loves his country, and her republican institutions; and here before God and the people, pledges his life for their support."

After which the following resolutions and address were unanimously accepted and ordered to be published in the newspapers.

Whereas it is the right of the people, which they have from God and their ancestors, peaceably to assemble and consult for the public good: to point out to their rulers the grievances they suffer, and to claim from them redress—And whereas it has now become our sacred duty to exercise this right, since our national rulers, regardless of our interest, feeling and happiness, have precipitately plunged us into an unnecessary and ruinous war, without money and without the least prospect of obtaining the objects for which they contend: a war, in which we have yet experienced on the land nothing but disaster and disgrace, and from which we have nothing to expect, in future but calamity. Under these circumstances, we the people of the first Eastern Congressional district, have met in convention to express to our fellow citizens and the world our feelings, views and wrongs—Therefore

Resolved—That we hold those men, whether in public or private life, enemies to our republican institutions and to the liberties of the people, who would by the arm of government, otherwise restrain the citizens from exercising the right, peaceably to assemble to redress the grievances they suffer

Resolved—That while we submit to laws constitutionally enacted, we do not believe that patriotism commands or duty requires that those which are unequal, ruinous and oppressive, should receive our hearty co-operation and applause—That the obligations imposed on us, under such circumstances, do not extend beyond simple acquiescence.

Resolved—That we view with deep interest, the continued and systematic course of commercial restrictions imposed on us, by the present and preceding administration; measures hostile to the prosperity of the people of New England, and at open enmity with a leading object in the adoption of the national constitution.

Resolved—That any administration which shall lend itself to the views, wishes and interests of one foreign power—or shall cherish and encourage feelings of animosity, or adopt measures for the purpose of provoking the resentment of another, has no claims to the approbation and esteem of the people— That such has been the course of our present rulers, a variety of considerations present themselves to our belief in the history of our foreign relations. Every circumstance which might tend to interrupt the commercial and friendly intercourse between our country and Great Britain, seems to have been eagerly embraced while the insults and indignities, the lawless aggressions and wanton outrages on our neutral rights by the Emperor of France, have not received that indignant reprehension and manful resistance, which their magnitude and atrocity demanded.

Resolved—That the President of the United States, in refusing to issue his proclamation repealing the nonimportation law, after he had received official notice of the repeal of the British Orders in Council, and thereby subjecting to seizure and forfeiture the property of our citizens to an immense value, deserves and receives our severe reprehension.

Resolved—That the war into which the nation has been plunged against our interest and as we believe against the wishes of a majority of the people of the United States, is inexpedient, unnecessary and ruinous, affording no prospect of obtaining the object for which it is declared.

Resolved—That the men who have thus involved us in an offensive war, are no longer entitled to our confidence, and ought not again to receive the suffrages of a people whose dearest interests they have wantonly betrayed; and that the good of our country requires that they should be permitted to retire to private life; and to effect this we will use all honest and constitutional measures in our power.

Resolved—That we will cherish with anxious solicitude the union of the States, believing it to be essential to national and individual prosperity; and that we will "look down" any attempt to break or under the chain which binds us together as one people.

Resolved—That the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, being the first to resist British territorial inferior oppression to wealth of few and of her commercial point sister of states population emerge her president right to of be the beard United in the States election and of the conduct of the Senate of this that the an wealth abuse in attempting to reposed defeat in that Common righ them b the people and should be marked with cu respondent resentment.—And Whereas, a number of our fellow citizens tenth convened of September at Alfred inst in this resolutions in which tutions high action wn public country are That menaced functionaries and our enlist with under ruthless schemes of tion fatal consent of our own with citizens conduct federacies are plotting ic lessiy interest repeatedly of State made backed Statesman this to hunted and Common by and break intimated stafe drive honor down every down authority from wealth of byan advocate that the their his That seats every the parin Senan if the existence principled they authors are of faction in and such possession accomplices projects Therefre of and of them desigas the and themseves and their country tomay and detailed developement theren and that a relusal so to comply, willbem incontestible and proof of the of the malignant feeling and wicked views of the persons wholad the principal agency in preparing said reo lutions. That the persons composing thi meeting will not be behind any of therfel low ciizuns in suppreasing faction, inman taining, in their full vigor, the national and state constitutions, in giving the alarmd treasonable conspiraces; in protectinginn late, the persons and seats of the Semated this Commonwealih; In guarding fromob loquy and repro.ch every patriotic stales. man, and advocate our owh country's rights interest and honor:

To the Electors of the First Eastern Congressional District.

FELLOW CITIZENS—

When the object and end of government were perverted, when oppression, instead of protection, when ruin, instead of preservation, and the chains of slavery, instead of the badges of freedom; were attempted to be forced upon our fathers, did not they rise correspondent to the crisis. Their history records achievements when assailed, unparalleled in ancient or modern times—Their freedom was dearer to them than life—their liberties were more precious than rubies—They resisted and the God of armies crowned their efforts with success. With us similar circumstances should call into action similar energies In times of public calamity, to assemble to consult for the common good—to deliberate for the public safety, is a natural and constitutional right. Where general gloom saddens the countenances of our citizens; when the murmurs of disaffection and complaint are loud and general; when we see a decay of trade. an almost total suspension of business when poverty and distress approach with rapid strides: when confidence in the wisdom of measures and in the capacity of rulers is destroyed, duty demands that the people investigate the causes and apply the legal remedy To secure and render durable what had been purchased by the best blood of the nation, did you delegate a certain portion of your natural rights; where the end is perverted the intention is frustrated. To you then, fellow-citizens, the appeal is made—Have the guardians of your country's rights been faithful sentinels over the sacred trust? Have they led you to peace, prosperity and happiness, or your country to safety and glory? Have they given you union or disunited the pillars of your national fabric? Have they strengthened and cemented home or respect abroad? Have they allayed the rancor of party, or blunted the asperity of dissention. During the administration of the immortal Washington, the situation of the United States was truly enviable. To the nation were men of virtue, of morality and religion. men selected to direct the destinies of Public faith and public credit were established—Es were the characteristics of the government—obedience, union, industry, the of the people. A new era commenced. Other men this change the ears of the honest and intelligent were excited. As was ed issue of national disaster, deas- witnessed commercial pursuits have bee openy ment and calamity. Opinions against avowed and advocated. been made to array agriculture against Attempts hav hostility to naval defence has been still is cherished-n early and disin her handmaid commerce. A settled cipledyto for France and of ou chaims for spoliations on the goe abandonment of 180s; a refusal to resist her thrat country coininercial and arbitrary edicts; y and commercial intercourse b our country and Great Britain; fixed rrsut:
Fellow-Citizens—Is it possible that you have forgotten the refusal of the French government to renew the temporary articles of convention entered into by Messrs. Jay in his treaty; the rejection of the Pinkney and Monroe, negotiated by the favorite ministers and under the special instructions of Mr. Jefferson; the gun-boats; the laying of large sums of money to build and non-importation laws, under the enacting the non-intercourse weak and miserable pretext of protecting commerce; and finally, as if the measure of your sufferings was not full, though you had not drank sufficiently the cup of political suicide, the waging an offensive War without soldiers, without money & without credit.

WAR, offensive WAR, has been proclaimed under such circumstances? Has the sword of America been unsheathed at the command of an ambitious and lawless chieftain? Does an unseen hand direct the destinies of your country? Has the freedom of debate in your councils been controlled? Have your citizens been butchered in the press by its influence?—The avowed object of hostilities is the defence of maritime rights—Such is the pretended subject of the Continental system. The Emperor had long since issued his bulletin, that in this war there should be no neutrals. The command has been obeyed—it has now progressed for a period of two months, within which you have seen its effects in the surrender of one entire army to your enemy—loss of nearly the whole range of fortified posts on your western frontier.—Every channel of enterprise, except that of blood, dried up—every avenue of business closed. Are you solicitous to bring to a speedy termination this greatest scourge of man—to restore to your bleeding country its former peace and prosperity—to cut the knot which the French Emperor has tied about the necks of your rulers—to heal the wounds inflicted on the freedom of the press and of debate, those grand palladiums of your dearest rights?—If so, your electoral privileges must be exercised with a single eye to your country's good. The spirit of party, that demon of national and individual happiness, must be exiled—Party animosities, party feelings and political bickerings are unworthy the sons of renowned sires, and dangerous to free states.

You must now in your collective capacity firmly and constitutionally assert your rights, or perhaps make a slavish surrender of them forever—You must resist foreign influence and foreign policy—To one who loves his country there can be no doubts. You owe it to your ancestors to preserve the dear bought inheritance which has been delivered to your care—you owe it to your posterity not to suffer it to be destroyed. Being now convened on the eve of an important election, with no motives but those which true patriotism inspires, and with an anxious solicitude to see our country rise to her former dignified attitude at home and abroad, we do recommend as worthy the confidence and as deserving the suffrages of the electors of this District,

CYRUS KING, ESQ.

as a representative in the thirteenth Congress of the United States—He has been educated in the principles of civil liberty under the guidance of a brother, who is an eminent disciple of Washington and whom the great and good man delighted to honor—His habits, manners, feelings and attachments are American—To such as feel the importance of elevating to important trusts men of sound principles, of correct morals, of capacious and liberal minds—To those who are friendly to agriculture and its honourable pursuits—To all who are desirous of bringing to a speedy issue the contest into which the nation has been plunged—To those we address ourselves

Regardless of the threats of placemen, of the denunciations of pensioners, and despising the vulgar epithets, the opprobrious appellations of faction, Tory, Traitor, &c. which they scatter round them with liberality and profusion; and disdaining the trammels of party, let us renovate the councils of the nation with constitutional weapons—let us purge them of foreign attachments and domestic folly—then will our country rise to its former proud standing among the nations, and our citizens be free, prosperous and happy.

JOHN LORD, Chairman.

Attest, JOSEPH DANE, Secretary.