Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1799-08-05
portlano,
Communication.
MoNDAr, A0cUsT S, 1899.

|4nomentous period in which the American mind
Is painfully producing an idea of its new cir
cumtances, and of its future duties and oblisa.
tons. Discharged from pupillage, it is entering
. world where every Rep will generate care
and explain furpriing dangers. The miracu-
lous union Of fifteen independent iurifdietions
in one representative agency, while il is an un-
I pars.!elled honour both to the heads and hearts
Of my eounuymen, is a BATS for conaant
thoughtulnefs and meditation as we'll as for a
high minded forbearaiee which ought to digni-
) ~ the national character. Safely may every
one indulge the honea pride of feeling in his
own perfon the Rrength and honour of the
whole, ifevery ore will learn his new condition,
that of an American at large, and lay up trea-
Jare' in federalifn. 1t is mean and unfit for
men who have acquired by the blef1ing of hea-
ven fuch dilfinguiihed privileges in peace and
harmony, to fall out about the remnants of
their old feelings. 1t is their duty to take the
honorable place aligned them and to behave in
it as isteqiires Danger and death become
nothing when We are acting properly from pro
per uouycs--Bu. another confederation is that
they fgbefore determined reelitude, and har.
yafs only Eneannsis and milaake. 1t is yet in
the power Of ny country to FAY tia, her Coun.
els have never been dihononred, and while her
fnfering.is g f,rrighteoufnefs fake" fhe has a
fsntnent in her heart which is of ineHimable
worth. Never fear that fubmiflion or coward.
!ee will enter where that fentiment is; for the
generous difdain of moral purity is bravery it.
felf. Without fpot or blemih yet, what in
ducement to preferve an untitled glory, and
with fuch precious confeioufnefs, how lucid is
the commencement of our career !-Certainly
Heaven NUT behold i. with complacency, and
pronounce its bel1ing!
But fair as is the Rruaure, and fpotlefs as yet
continues tobe the fame of our infantgovernment
the blening of Heaven is net to be expected IN
Iefs itbe -defrved. God only knows whether
in the nature Of things our eonfederated union
can arrive to longevity buff we with it du
ration, the confident line of conduit will b,
emulation in duty as we walk together in the
broad and luminous path of candor and nteg
,ity. The citizen muh frankly admit that ODE
.dieuce is even more emnently binding upor
him than if he were the fabjea of defpotic pow
Grand that while free to do his pleafure, he j
but the more nrongly obliged to act with Rrit
propriety.- Away with the idle and very con
tcnptible error, that government and the PEG
pie, like attion and reaction, were made TO
mutual refiance. Let us have the indepen
dence to fee the truth OF new maxim, that TIL
government is the life and foul of the people
an the administration of it the vital breath o
every moment. Let US defpife the forbid po
pulari;y which 70 long has affected to give u
law, and have the courage to FAY that, as fol
Us, we will have no eaeem which will not ho
npur US, and which we ihall not honour. Il
fhors let US only do juaice TO the truth, and W
ihall either have nothing to fear, or meet dan
ger with contempt.
Never again let us fee our government pu
In Rate Of felf. defence by a daring unprinc
pied rarity. We may be certain that while W
chcoie to wanton with our own government
other natous viii be very ready TO accept tn
offering we fem to make. Should anothe
moment ever occur, in which it fhall be doubt
ed whether government or fsaion poAefss III
grcaier flare Of pub.ic confidence, that momen