The gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1798-1799, 1798-12-17
NUMBER 4.

A1reyiaaa
IN EVER was there a period in the ,bif
tory of nations, when public fpirit and public
virtue, were more neceh4ry than at the prefent.
Contrary to Paf experience, and to every
rational calculation, our mild and happy Gov.
eminent has been adaulted by the arts and
lntrgues of France, and menaced by horde
OF internal enemies and had it nor been for
the peculiar frmnefs Of our national Execu-
tive, our rights Of fovreignty would have
fallen miieldble iacrhce, and the guilt Who'll
ly imputed to tome Of the leaders in our
public councils, and to many exalted citizens
in the community.
To inveaigate the caur-s Of this national
defe6tion--to unfold and explain he remedies
requlltc 70 heal he prelent dilorders-to drag
lurking Jaoobins from their dens, and 10 ex
Poie them to public fcorn, is one great defgn
OF this publication. Jutifyed by truth-by
the extremity Of the times, and by fair deduc-
ton, perlonal ia,ire, railery, and ridicule, viii
be freely INDUCED for 70 names We thall
pay no rerPed: The Senator, MagiRrate,
and Citizen, if corrupted in their principles,
ihall be humbed; and the whole tribe of Ia
Goblin, and their facilities in the revolutionary
work, held up in fsrrorss p2paG
But the authors Of this paper have f5me
thing Of much greater coalequence to effect.
Rightly to Ultimate the views Of our Govern
msnt, truth NUT Be diHuled; aod il this
dlttulon, the principles and operation Of the
public ltaIutes, and the policy Of the Supreme
Executive, mutt be elucidated and explained.
Iheid itatutes and this policy are reprelented
by JacUbins as tyrannical, and as the reGult
OF a fixed deGgn to impoverih and enlaye the
people. Mankind have bcen extremely Jealous
OF TIE reigning powers in all ages ;-and this is
The tavorite topic Of complaint and opp0ftion
IN all nations. In oher countries complaint
and oPpohtion leem necedary to refrain the
enormous influence of hereditary governments
-wh Oh fuccciively encroach on the liberties
OF the citizen, and accumulate fome items Of
authority. But In the American Government,
where the choice Of rulers annually or ben-
nally devolves on the people, no fnch necedity
exits. Our rulers are bound by principles ef
tabliihed and marked out by their conatu=nts,
oeyondwhlch they cannot PATS, without expoiing
themielves TO ceniure and to the lois Of Office.
NO other country can boat Of check hmilar
70 thls-iufficient Of delt, 10 ordinary cafes, to
induce the mott corrupt Of fatelmen to exhibit
at ieaG The appearance of honeR integrity.
Hence this conclulion then will follow, that in
hereditary States many political dangers arila
from the crown, and none from the peope-and
that in representative governments the cafe Is
totally different her many political dangers
may be aPprehended from the people, and none
from their national councils.
Perhaps this is a political axiom not eaGly
digeited: We know it to be contrary to the
belief Of thofe enlightened patriots, who make it
buiineis to heap their cGlumnies on men in
office, and unfortunately to oppole every
mealure adopted BY them. This very circum
ttance fnrniihes at leaf prefnmptive proof Of
the legitimacy of The principle-and in the
cou-ie OF theie papers it hall be more fully
evinoed and exempli6,d.
The reader NUT not exPea in thefe ehavs, A
Long dull procefs Of dilieItaton-nor much
congrpity il the ieveral parts Our obi & On
this point IS % ZACH BE manners Evizg ~ tEry
'jF--neiher too prolx to fatigue the patience,
nor 70 ooneiie as 70 he unintelligble We ihall
vary our msthod and Ryle according as cilcum-
frances and incidents nav happen to diaa,e !;
and we allure the public thar, in the in-
+ tlion Of ch1tizeme1t or ia the beltowment of
commendatiOns We VIII never barter truth fcE
falhood.