Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1800-06-02

ELLow-cITIZFNs
4 ITO remove at once all doubt and caab,
Il Efh confidence between US, think it
roper to Rate chat | was born an American,
nd that my forefathers have been born in this
orntry for more than an hundred and fifty
ears | add TO this that | have been no ndif
trent obierver Of public affairs for nigh twenty
ears, and from the refult Of all have feen
~ hearty friend Of the prefent government #
~ country. Under theie circumstances, l take
be freedom to lay before you a few as think
iniely oblervations upon the moi important of
Il elections, and if the cAndor and uprightne 5
grhich ! feel do not fenfibly appear il the whole
ssourfe Of them, iball be more Gnfortunate than
& anticipate.
1t is humiliasing thought, and if the reR Of
be world had not at Preient abundant cauie TO
se ATTAINED Of iTielf, it would be in the eyes OF
4oreign nations dilgraceful faa, that on eve
isleGion of any importance among us we have q
truggle which does not at al depend upon the
merit Of candidates, but upon their inppofed
principles and as If fomething were necedary
o fet off and hnilh this public fpedacle to the
sligheR advantage the bone of content on IS our
:xiltence a nation, viii h one party IS viii
ing to prelerve, and the other feems TO think i
,ea to delroy. This, though we cannot fee it,
the figure We make 10 diintereHed foreigners
mo the mdchef is that by length Of time and
" taking various names and forms in obed ence
Q all the cravings of individual vanity, and the
peaneR qualities Of our hearts, the true nature
IT CONTEXT which would have ihocked US had
| aI been abrupt and definite at hrR has not only
iservaded our whole fyQtm even 70 the minutelt
@amidcation, but by this difufon has become
D incorporate and imperceptible as even to be
fenied.i It IS nothing irange for men TO fde
INTO htustions Of which they are unconiciou ,
md which they themfelves detet and defpfe
s0ut the iniidous nature Of this Propenlity makes
worthy Of more frequent notice than it re
eeives, as there IS nothing more important to US
han that we ihQuld be often apPuze6 Of what
sse are leaf likely to perceive. | fay then that
ddPute in thi> country wh Oh at different times
JAS taken all the current and even fome anna
lie forms, has finally degenerated without oar
being conltantly aware Of The gradual Perverion,
o quarrel about our national exifence. 1t is
d be hoped that there is honeity enough left to
make Us ihudder at this alarming leduaion, and
read back the may path to lome right petition
lSith luitable humility.
| n lis pity that there is fuch cloud over
hvhat is called The public mind at times at leat
re cannot but feel forty for it though it's the
sill of heaven-but believe MAJ mutt be
ndde Of extraordinary materials who. at this
Tefent time cannot be impreGed with fome be
JEFF Of what fay. There IS, however. another
hlgracelul truth which mutt lay down before
advert to evidence which IS that human IA
rcre is great ielf deceiver in the concern which
. i takes about public affairs and that the con
| HnQ rs kCt a = !
Indifference. than 10 any active intelligent choice
= is by means Of this Incidence and fuper6cial
ttenton that we REIGN ourfelves to the direc
ton OF chance or deGgn and having obferved
hat things so right enough little while, trou
ne oulielves no more about them. IF it were
'7oulhle to route the Auggard faculties Of this
ort OF people to the degree of retrofpeaon and
omparion, till there is more to be done for
Is 70 De feared that, after all, our patriotifm
2 general IS but remote nteref, and that with
he exception of few, mankind facrifice to amoa
~ OF their bafer Padions more frequently and
sith better will, than to this. But while that
w continue virtuous and active, it is to be
.oPed that the true faith will be prelerved as
A'fell in politics as other things.
If four years ago it was fufpeaed that Mr..
sferfon was in full concert with the French re-
oiutonilts, that he was at the head of the NAL.
sontents in the United States, that their princ
le was averlion to the contribution, that they
90 lei out to overturn it, and that they had
~~pade iome Progrefs in the public mind for this
anrPo'e fay, if this was then fufpeled, il IS
o~ certain Four years ilencc under fuch
IfeeniAtlons would be enough to imply the diff
Splty OF retuting them. Surely that party have
gen often enough challenged TO the honorable
pen field. They do not profels to want men
abilities, at leaf ioreignere; and vet thew
ave not, and l do not "a, it at a venture. re-
lied at all to the charges againa them, which
Re quite ineligible and pretty black. PerhaDS
Is nor accurate to FAY 10 for in the cour(e of
aeie four years. their writer's have 70 far over.
pine that fear which made them tremble even