Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1800-10-27

MAI ~ J.pCe u the Fe3Ce III nOdeTn IIneS. -
If this fupPoGlion be true, the fentiment may
Pertinently be applied to civil officers in our
cities and villages. In fact, the chara9er Of
mankind is 70 nearly the fame in all ages, that
we ihall every where find men, daRitute Of mo-
raj principles, uiing means to raiCe themfelves
into feats of jufoe, and often not without luc
ceis. In this way vile men become great fcour-
ges 10 the community Of which they are mem.
bers. We may, without breach OF charity, at
firm, that, in many of our towns, there are
Judget, or Jgfcf5 Of the peace, who JfGr not God,
neither regard man. The truth Of this obferva-
ton IS eaempd6eds by men cloathed with the
iniignia OF jultce, whenever inltead of labor
ring to promote the peace Of lociety, and cal
ling to account all offenders, as their duty and
mott folemn oath oblge them, they endeavor
70 toment dlcord and diviion and to increaie
the virulence OF parties upon any quefion Of
debate in the c0mmunifyto which they belong
whenever they withhold their attention from
religious in0itutons and religious worfhiP, and
intead Of noticing thofe who tranfgrefs the
laws, IN |acb cafes made and brovideA they fet
an example Of contempt and direfped to d.
vine and human Riundions-whenever they
are heard to utter profane and blafphemous
e1Prehions-whenever they engage in fcenes of
rot, incompetence, and excefs. A iuaice of
the peace, whois guilty Of any Of che above
irregularities, mutt be claGed with the ancient
judge, who ffarsdn God, neither regarded man.
1t is An evil greatly to be lamented that fuch
characters are to be found in a chriRian coun.
country, But, alas -" flch things are"
Some may perhaps fuppofe that juices can
not have much more influence on the commu-
nity at large thar, even fome Of them are
vicious characters, focirty vii not Be much
efeded thereby; yet, vixen We reflect thar they
are, 10 ferfe the org ms Of jutce--that 10
them the injured repair for redrefs-!hat The
execution OF the laws, which are the bulwark
OF focal felicity, depend, in a great deqree, on
their fidelity in Office, it will appear that the
happiness and wellbeing Of the community
mutt be more lenibly effected, By their conduit
and character, than might al frR be imag ined
Bur the great queRi0n is, where is the RENE
DIV for theie evils Julices are commidiored
by the Chief MagiGrate, and how (hal private
individuals prevent their appointment IF the
Chief Magtrate would attend to the advice
formerly given TO the Je~ilh legnator, and
brovide able men, /acb as fear Goa, mra Of truth,
hating c0Vef03latjf, and appoint only fuch char
aGers to civil Offices, The above evils would Be
prevented.-Very tue and no doubt this
would be the cafe could the Firf MagiRrate
have perfoaai acquaintance with every per-
lon Such knowledge is out Of his power be
is of coude obliged, in his appointments, to
rely on the recommendations Of others. In
this way the matter does in fa6t depend On The
g. n
elea one Of their number TO reprelent them in
the Legislature Fond Of the h4tterng dianc-
ton, and willing 70 fecure their future lufFrages,
he will BY bis intereh, procure appointments
for perfons, whom he knows will exert them
felves in his favor By fuch methods, govern
ors are often deceived, and grant commi1ions
70 men, whole characters, did they know them,
they would execrate and deteh. Il is not then
becaufe the Fua MAgiRrate is guilty of mifcon
duo, that fnch appointments are made bat
the people are in flult, BY eleaing men to re-
prcfent them, who are guided by partial inter.
efed motives, who are CONTINUALLY Iaboring to
increafe and perpetulte their own popularity
This at once brings to view the Importance Of
uiing iudiciouGy the right of outrage; ouec.
ton, which has often been dfcufcd by ADLER
pens:
One method Of procedure, which would tend
10 remedy the evils, aforementioned, is this /:
Whenever an unworthy perfon, by any means,
obtain, comrnlaion Of the peace, treat him
with pointed nege6-never apply at his Office
for any bafnels. This may be inconvenient in
fome places but among the multiplicity of
TuHices, in moe Of our towns and villages, GER
tainly one, at leaG may be feleaed, who Is a
man of gular life and converfation. Let flch
be employed and let others fink into merites
oblivion, loaded with the virtuous lcorn and
contempt Of their fellow citizens.