Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1801-03-23

minG, let us fettOre TO focal intercourse that
harmony and affection without which liberty
and even life it(elf are but dreaiy things. And
let us refled that having banilhed from our land
that religious intolerance under which man
kind 70 long bled and fufered We have yet
gained little, if We countenance a political in
Tolerance, as delpotic, as wicked and capable
of as bitter and bloody pelecntions During
the throes and convulfons Of the ancient world,
during the agonizing fpalIns of Infatuated men,
fecking through blood and laughter his long
loft liberty, il was NOT wonderful that the agta.
ton Of the Elbows fhould reach even this diHant
and peaceful Aore that r1is fhould be more
felt and feared by fome and lels by others and
fhould divide opinions as to mealures oflafety ;
but every difference of opinion is not differ
ence of principle. We have called BY different
names brethren Of the fame principle, We are
all republicans We are all federalls. lfthere
be any among US who would win to dGolve
this Union, or TO cbange its republican form,
let them ltand undiRurbed as monuments ofthc
fafety with which error of opinion may be toll
Grated, where reafon is left free to combat it.
l know indeed that fome honeR men fear that
a republican government cannot be frong !;
that this government is not Rrong enough. But
would the honef patriot, 10 the full tide Of fuc-
oefsfnl experiment, abandon government which
has 10 tar kept US free and firm, on the theoiet-
&c and vi(ionary fear, that the government, the
worlds bef hope, may, by Podibility want en-
ergy to preierve itlelf trult not believe
this on the conuary,is the ftrougef government
on earth. believe it the only one, where ev-
cry man, at the call Of the law, would fly to the
In nd ar1 IL.
OF the public order as his own perfonal concern.
Sometimes it is fad that man cannot be
trutted with the government Of himfef. Can
he then be truRed with Ia: government Of 9th
ers? Or have we found angels in the form Of
kings, 70 govern him Let hiRory anlwer this
queRion.
Let us then, with courage and confidence,
Puriue our own federal and republican princi.
pies ; our attachment to union and reprefenta :
tive government. Kindly feparated by nature
and wide ocean from the exterminating hav-
&C of one quarter Of the globe; too high mind
ed TO endure the degrsdations Of the others,
poileliing choien country, with room enough
for our defendants TO the hundr-dth and thou
hndlh generation, entertaining due fenle Of
our equal right to the ule of our owl faculties
5
or and confidence from our fellow citizens, re-
fulting not from birth, but from our Actions
and their fenfe of'them, enlightened By be-
nign religion, protected indeed and pra9ded in
various forms, yet AL Of them inculcstng hon
efty,truth, temperance, gratitude and the love of
man, acknowledging and adoring an everything
providence, which by all its dfPenlAtions proves
that it delights in the happiness Of man here,
and his greater happiness hereafter with all
thele bleiiings what more is neceHAry to make
US happy and prosperous people ? Still one
thing more, fellow-ci.zens, wife and prudent
Government which fhal refrain men from in
Turing one another, fhall leave them otherwGe
free to regulate their own Purluits Of indufry
and improvement, and ihall not take from the
mouth Of labor the bread it has earned. This
is the fun Of good Government and this is
neceG4ry to cloie the circle Of our feliciles.
About TO enter, fellow citizens, on the excr-
cife Of duties which comprehend every thing
dear and valuable to you, it is proper you fhould
underltan what deem the eHtntial principles
of OUT government, and consequently of thole
which ought TO ihape It's adminiltration.-I
will comprefs them within the narrowed com.
pats they will bea-, Eating the general princi-
pie, but not all its limitations. Equal and ex-
act iuIice to all men, Of whatever fate or per-
fnaiiou, religious or political peace, com
merce, and honeR friend(llip with all nations,
entansling alliances with none the fupPort Of
the fate governments in all their rights, as the
mott competent administrations for our domer
tic concerns, and the fIrtR bulwarks againt
anti-repubican tendencies the preiervaton Of
the general government IN IFS whole conaitu-
tional vigour, as the fleet anchor Of our peace,
at home and fafety abroad Jealous care Of
the right of the eleai N by the people, mid
and fate corrective Of abuf-s which are Topped
by the fword of revolution where peaceAble
remedies are unprovided .--ablolut1 acquief,
ceuce in the deciions Of the majority, the vital
principal Of republics. from which is no appeal
but to force, the vital principle and immediate
parent of defpotfm "a well dilciPlined militia,
our belt reliance in peace, ard for the drR mo