Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

Yesterday a Committee from the Boston Marine Society waited on the President of the United States at his seat in Quincy, with the following ADDRESS.

To the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA.

The Respectful ADDRESS of the Boston MARINE SOCIETY, in the State of Massachusetts,

Sir,

At a time, when the existence of our independence is struck at; the sovereign rights of our country violated, by the refusal to receive our Ambassadors, especially commissioned as the ministers of explanation and concord; and this haughty and hostile step, accompanied with the most indiscriminate depredations on our commerce, grounded on their false contemptuous opinion, that we are a mercenary, defenceless, and divided people; it surely becomes the duty of every citizen, and of incorporated bodies in particular, publicly to express sentiments, which may convince the world, as well as the French nation, that they indignantly feel, dare resent, and hope to avenge the injured and insulted character of our common country.

Although it is not for nations to complain, they certainly may deserve success. The arms of our country have too recently with effect resisted the claims of the first maritime power the earth ever knew, or her sons now meanly to crouch to the insatiable cupidity and distant domination of an insolent and inferior foe.

When friendship becomes insult, or is permitted only on exclusive terms, dictated and imposed by a corrupted and corrupting government, it is time to shake off such a debasing yoke. Better at once to commence generous enemies, than maintain a deceptive and precarious connection with such insidious friends.

Had the French people confined their efforts to the annihilation of their monarchy and all its collateral props, and to the erection of any other system of rule, the business and its local consequences ought to have been left to themselves. But when we find this nation, after having completely attained the professed object of their warfare, with savage hostility, in many instances, and in others, artfully aiming at the utter subversion of the political, religious, and social institutions of all other governments, which time, experience, and even freedom, have sanctioned, they become the enemies of all mankind, and ought to be opposed by every country that has any pretensions to principle, spirit, or patriotism.

The love of liberty, and a just sense of injury will nerve the arm of every man who puts his trust in the principles they actuate, and glow in the breasts of that great mass of the free and enlightened citizens that compose the American nation; and who rejoice that their beloved Washington has been succeeded by a plain, upright and able statesman, so strictly devoted to the welfare of our country.

Extensive as the commerce of the United States has become under a popular government, well administered, and distant as our shores are from the European continent, wooden walls are, confessedly, our best defence. You, Sir, appear early and justly to have appreciated this system of protection. Many of this society have been engaged in maritime warfare; and when their country again calls they trust, that under your pilotage, they shall not be found wanting.

A life like yours, so long successfully employed in public service, and patriotic exertions, has now become an important object of preservation. May heaven preserve it with invigorated health; and a kind Providence enable you to augment your well founded claims to national gratitude, by a faithful, firm discharge of the numerous duties, and momentous services, committed to you by the constitution and councils of our country, and in which Europe and the world, may be so much interested.

By order and in behalf of the Boston Marine Society.

THOMAS DENNIE, President.

WM. FURNISS, Secretary.

To the BOSTON MARINE SOCIETY.

GENTLEMEN,

I THANK you for this respectful address. The existence of the independence of any nation cannot be more grossly attacked, the sovereign rights of a country cannot be more offensively violated, than by a refusal to receive Ambassadors sent as Ministers of explanation and concord: especially if such refusal is accompanied with deliberate indignity, insult and contempt. In public and notorious circumstances of indiscriminate depredations on our commerce, grounded on the contemptuous opinion that we are a divided, defenceless and mercenary people, are not so egregious and aggravated a provocation offered to the face of a country. When friendship becomes insult, or is permitted only on terms, dictated and imposed, it becomes an intolerable yoke, and it is time to shake it off. Better at once to become generous enemies than maintain a deceptive and precarious connection with such insidious friends. Whatever pretexts the French people, or a French Prince of the families of the first quality, with officers of blood with his train, or a combination of the army, had for their efforts, for the annihilation of the monarchy. We certainly, far from being under any obligation, had no right or excuse to interfere for their assistance. If, by the collateral props of the monarchy, you mean the nobility and the clergy, which has followed the annihilation of them: All their revenues have been seized and appropriated by another prop of the old monarchy, the army; and the nation is become, as all other nations of Europe are becoming, if French principles and systems prevail, a congregation of soldiers and serfs. The French revolution has ever been incomprehensible to me; the substance of all that I can understand of it, is, that one of the pillars of the ancient monarchy, that is the army, has fallen upon the other two of the nobility and clergy, broken them both down; the building has fallen of course and this pillar is now the whole edifice. The military serpent has swallowed that of Aaron and all the rest.

If the example should be followed thro' Europe, when the officers of the armies begin to quarrel with one another, five hundred years more of Barons wars, may succeed. If the French, therefore, will become the enemies of all mankind, by forcing all nations to follow their example, in the subversion of all the political, religious and social institutions, which time, experience and freedom have sanctioned, they ought to be opposed by every country, that has any pretensions to principle, spirit, or patriotism.

Floating batteries and wooden walls have been my favourite system of warfare and defence for this country, for three and twenty years. I have had very little success in making proselytes. At the present moment, however, Americans in general, cultivators as well as merchants and mariners, begin to look to that source of security and protection; and your assurance will have great influence and effect, in extending the opinion in theory and in introducing and establishing the practice.

Your kind wishes for my life and health demand my most respectful and affectionate gratitude; and the return of my sincere prayers for the health and happiness of the Marine Society at Boston, as well as for the security and prosperity of the military and commercial marine of the United States, in which yours is included.