Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

The warning voice of Wisdom.

The following is an extract from the Hon. Mr. Randolph (once a zealous advocate for democratic rulers) on the passage of the Resolutions for levying new Taxes.

"Mr Randolph said, he would attempt once more to dissuade the house from their dangerous course, and from this odious system of taxation which will be so distressing to the Southern states particularly. He said, he had within a day or two, seen a letter from a very respectable gentleman in Georgia, which depicts, in very melancholy colours, the distressed situation of the people of that state, that money is not there to be had, and that they were about petitioning the executive of that state, to convene the legislature to stop the courts of justice. He then shewed from official documents, the decrease of our revenue, since the commencement of our commercial restrictions He said, the present disgraced situation was predicted in 1806. What then was prophecy, is now history. He knew it was always a subject of complaint, that those who are in opposition are not apt to project substitutes He had a project which he was ready to submit. It is, that we cease to do wrongs desist from annoying ourselves; repeal your nonimportation law In this way you may avoid extortion, and he might say every other dirty measure to supply your treasury. Your revenue will then increase immediately. In this way we shall save the backs of our constituents from the blister plaister which we are about applying—In this way, we shall cure the disease under which we labour. He said, the orders in council were now a mere punctilio, a mere etiquette between the two nations. He then called the attention of the house to the abuse which is practised and permitted in our ports by French privateers which are fitted out, and which depredate upon American commerce ; and also the spoliations committed by Danish corsairs under French commissions. He said the Constitution had arrived, but had brought nothing. Why ? It appears the reason is, that the Emperor, having returned from visiting his Empire, had not been in Paris but six weeks, after our minister arrived there, and had not time for six weeks to make up his mind, whether he would give up the American property and stop the hands of his spoilers who are constantly inflicting such deadly wounds upon our commerce. He said if we lay these taxes, the next must be war."