The New Hampshire Gazette

From the Trenton True American.

THE CRISIS.

We ask only the free and undisturbed use of the ocean as a public highway for our vessels, citizens and property.

We have as unquestionable a right to this, as one of our people has to travel our common roads and streets unmolested.

No power has a better authority to stop or search our vessels, to impress our citizens, or seize our property, than one man has to stop another along the road, overhaul his wagon and take what part of his loading he chooses, and force his son or servant away into his own service.

Yet this our undeniable right Britain has repeatedly and systematically violated.

These heinous and insufferable wrongs Britain has unceasingly inflicted upon us.

She has seized our vessels.

Plundered our property.

Impressed our seamen.

We have negotiated for redress.

She has prolonged the negotiations for years; and when brought to a close, clogged the compact with such supplementary conditions that it would have stamped everlasting infamy on our government to have acceded to them.

Instead of doing us justice, her insults and outrages are repeated and aggravated.

Her pretended right of search is extended to coasting vessels within our own waters; and a master of a coaster is wantonly murdered for not instantly obeying their insolent command to heave to.

Her practice of impressment is carried even to our ships of war—a national frigate at the mouth of our own harbor, has broadside after broadside poured into her, and her seamen mangled and massacred, for refusing to submit to the ignominy of having her crew mustered by foreign officers, and her men taken away by violence.

Adhering to its pacific system of policy, our government remonstrates.

Our seamen are not given up.

The murderers of our citizens are not punished.

Her squadrons are not withdrawn from our coasts and harbors.

Our rights are not respected by her cruisers.

But a minister is sent under pretence of treating with us.

Meantime her American possessions are fortified.

Her army in her adjoining territory is augmented.

The Indians are collected by thousands on our frontiers, and incited by drink, and presents and promises, to take up the tomahawk and scalping knife against us.

New orders are issued by her government cutting off our trade with the greater part of Europe.

A proclamation is promulgated, setting up a claim to take every person who may have been born in the British dominions, though such person may have removed to and settled in the United States, and become a naturalized citizen or even an officer thereof.

Yet after all these unprovoked and unexampled wrongs, heaped one upon another, either of which to any other nation might have been the foundation of a war, our government takes only pacific steps—and consents to receive and to treat with their minister.

Americans! do not these things fully prove, on the one hand, the implacable hostility of Britain, and her determination to force you into a war, or to wrest from you your dearest rights, your very independence itself?

Do they not evince on the other hand the sincere desire of your government for the preservation of peace, and their resolution that nothing but the maintenance of your national sovereignty and essential rights shall induce them to enter into a war?

Will you not rally round and support your government, while thus supporting your rights and interests against the iniquitous usurpations and lawless aggressions of a foreign nation, which has been your insidious, uniform, unappeasable foe?

Every thing which could be done by a government to preserve peace, has been done by yours—and if after all, a war is unavoidable, will you not every one contribute your aid to make it terrible to your enemy and glorious to your country?

Unworthy must we be of the innumerable privileges and blessings we enjoy from a free government, if we will not use the means God has put into our hands to support and protect it!

Degenerate indeed must we be, if the rights which cost our fathers a seven years war to establish, are tamely surrendered by their children without resistance!

Affairs have now reached their crisis—men's souls are once more to be tried—and let those who are found wanting in the hour of trial, never be trusted in the returning days of prosperity.