Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1800-04-28
Fran ID. Gazetts IF tie UaitslSt1te5.
THE. CRlTERION.-No. |.

4 a property, ana permanent SosGtBHCul.
Unfortunately ours is not formed. Two great
..s.ies, aJ Ing themGelves Federalils or Conlli-
gudonali0s, and Democrats, or Republicans,
Sieeide every thing 10 Congre(s. But The fact
Is, neither Of them a1 agreeably to their Profel,
zion. Therefore a reformation in both is necef-
Gary to the well being Of government, and the
pubiic welfare. To talk in the vuiger fyle Of
" Federalias and Auti- Federalilts," is throwing
i @0Gs to the wind Every American who car
Tie any fntimeuts in his head, will look at
\ mas atdons and Ak upon the great points,
f'oawbich real republic is founded. IF perfo-
y n4l rights, If property are not iecnred by per-
:. Ieanent laws, the people do not enjoy civil
libtrty. In fuch government, whatever be is
sname, the frong bear down the weak; inhu-
I ence in tie Legislature, is every thing wealth
and art prevail over law and equity anda-jR
tce mutt be purchaicd, Hence the influential
men in the legi1atnre may obtain foI themlelves
and friends, more than their legal rights, whill
he poor and f1iendlels lole theirs. To this
sorruPtion all governments naturally tend /;
and is not ours going il THIS road to delpotfm ?
But it NUT, Ike ether republics, pats through
de Whirlwinds and fire OF democracy before it
Alls into monarchy, its 6aal deaination.. That
al parties are putting the government to this
pin, Let faas fpeAk. Do We not fee Gate le
glatues exerciie the fuPreme judicial powers,
IA deciding upon their own legislative contracts
ard obligations, directly lubverGve of the fur
dsmentaf principles Of g government oflsws,"
ard in violation Of the letter or the uftonal
contribution, which ordans that 9 no 2ate hall
PATS any expoh fado laws, or law impaidng an
obligation containing a contract" And do We
not fee Congrels ccuntenaGce thOfe infra6ions
OF the contribution, by exercGng ia the f4me
manner judicial power over it. own legislative
engagements Hence the Prsvion il he coz
5 lbtudon that all contracts made and engage
ments entered into by the former government
lhall be equally binding on this" amounts to
iothing, as it gives no fecurity to the creditor,
nor in fact can any of the notes or CONTRACTS IF
the preleat Legislature, give legal fsluriy, 70
il long as il claims power TO decide upon lis
49, contrads.
4 enc- :sis clearly evident that our legislatures
do nor at npon the principles Of free govern.
I 1nent. What avais then the high pretences
ano long fpeeches Of our projecting republicans.
vile in fact the rights Of the common people
-saot 70 we'll iecured as are the rights Of the
/ ubjeas Of monarchy 10 England Where is
II The difference between the Ties and AatiaJ when
4 ali unite to deprive the common citizens Of their
Y legal rights We fay common eitz=ns, bscaule
! the rich and influential Of all parties may com
/ monty obtain their rights by their influence in
4 the legilIture bat the poor and frieadefs
I have not this hope. Numerous facts might Be
/ mentioned, but We will felea only two at pre-
I sent, and We name thofe becaule they are 0oto-
i 5aus to all who pay any attention 10 public
\ Vranfadions. The lale Of lands BY Gate L.
giGature and after receiving the money for
them, declaring the fae void !: by this opera
\ tion many citizens in different Gates are de
+ f1auded, and TeducedfIo afHuence to poverty.
F 2 Certain contracts Of theUnied States, pledg-
ing their faith in the mott lolemn manner 10
pay the intereit on them annually, have lain
many years IN the treafur for payment and
the creditors have from year TO year petitioned
in vain for the fulhlnenr Of the national en-
Gagement Now We ak where is the remedy
for the injury fufered by theie defrauded cti
zens In government really free, there is a
remedy iE LAW, for every injury, and all prop
erty IS 1ecuEed 70 its legal owner. But where
ARE theie injured citizens to look for protection
ct their legal rights Is there any oiher than
che wfetched hope of making friends in the le-
+ 2iuatuTe What chance is there for few poor
citizens, after having been deprived OF their
property, to obtain friends and create an inhn.
ence by begging for juaice Is not thar beg.
carly government, where legal rights NUT Be
!. ought IN this way' The lubje6s in England
twAo we~haye been taught TO view as mere
slaves, compared with our free citizens) in fuch
."aieS As thsie' might appeal to the judicial &c.
Z PaTtmenf' and their leg'llture although com
Poied OF the maleltic names Of king, lords and
commons, would rot dare to refule them their
legal property.
How vain then is our boaa of free govern
rnent, Whit the citizens are deprived ofrights
feeursd even by monarchicai power How in.
4 corffant Ie amufe ourfelves with names, while
Z we loie things Hunt the lhadow Of liberty, and
ioie the lubdlnce. Why then are our wars