Jenks' Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1803-1805, 1804-09-24
A Defence of the Legislature Of Maaachufett:,
Or, the R;fbis Of .Vsau Esrian Y;aaieateg

i A pamphlet under this title has lately been
'p1b flied at the Report ory Office in Bottom. l.
is written III a clear, cool and C sndid manner,
and is well worthy the perural of all WHO viii,
tt unaeritand the operation Of the Northetn and
Southern Tntrelts upon The aaAcs OF the Union
Hts ob;eG Is, to- utlty two aleafiircs Of the lie
giGature which have been aHailed, w :" the
!, p-oocG,icn to amend the con.itutcI uf Tie Uni-
ted otates, by appointing representatives s'nong
the States according to the nunber of free IN
habitants !" and the ''prov,ding for the choice
of Electors of prelidcnt aud v;cs- PRECEDENT by q
general ticket" :,
j The pamph!e, ccnGders the principle of the
votes derived from lavcs as never having been
approved of by the people Of Ncw-Engiand, but
as iabn,it.ed 70 at the formation of the Coiit
turion as dictate ofneccll,ty, as means with
OUT which @e fhould have failed to obtain that
/, inhrunert wh;ch had become necehary to the
rrelerraton Of the Union. "Details are given,
! to ,lcmoniiratc how iniurouy this principle oP-
| crates to the Northern !ta,cs; who yet would
; have patiently iacmitted to it, had 1t not Been
FOR the alteration of the contribution III re'peet
TO the preGdsntia! election, and other concpr-
rent meaiures, whereby tina. Balance Of ntercitss
which was the grand principle in the compact
that was expected to hold the fatcs together, is
dc1royed, the whole weight and powe! of The
government thrown INT, TIE ca,c # the iou'hern
Gates and TIE northern ftates become the mere
colonies Of Virginia" Under thefe circunaan-
ces it is neceGary for New land to take care
NJ b-,isif; and the propoicd amendment is IN
tended to be applied as :" remedy 20 the fource
of he evil, in reducing the disparity in the ma
:ional experimentation
The impolicy, generally. Of making changes
in the contribution Of a country, undoubtedly re-
auires that COOL rea(ons fhould be given for any
tha: is propofcd the people Of Maaachaletss.
! in examnsing thptc f:ated il the pamphlet,
! viii, be able TO judge whether their reptefunta-
,iycs have AIDED upon fold grounds. The
merhod ptefcribcd for the choice of presidential
electors did not, we conceive, 70 mperiouAy
tequre an explanation as the propofcd amend
/. nrnt becaufe there is no doubt but il is in
conformity with the :n,er,ion of the Cohisitl-
ton. which is, to procure the voice Of The State
as TO who ihall be PRECEDENT and interpretations,
| and il is at leatt doubtful whether that voi.e
would be completely expreaed by choice IN
| ditrGs CThis however is iaid in great differ
cnce to the opinion Of our Salem Reprcieuta-
tves, who rroteit, thar TO vote by dillriets IS
mott agreeable to the contribution, though they
have never yet digned to flow how or why
The writer of the pamphlet has however taken
,,ains TO place the fubjeet in very clear light,
and given it, think, fatisfadory explanation
FIc lhows that the different ftates kave choieII
!, their electors i'll various modes, as they Judged
either mott convenient or mott likely TO exprefs
III. will cfthe fate; and as long as there is an
oppo,icn in hi: refpeet, there is Certainty that
no one method could be ado ted that would not
be obie61ed TO by individuals. But the writer
very ;uitly obierves, that " where duty is en-
Joined upon Lcgiiiutute, it is foleciim TO con-
tend for fuch mode Of performing IT, as well
not fccure to :heir own majority, nor to major
iry of their coniaitucnts, detired objett. bat
probably carry into effect the projects OF thoic
who are moa deniaedly a minority OF both. II
would BE ridiculous novelty ofboth. 1t would
be ridiculous novelty to behold Legislative
aaembiy deliberately making laws 10 difappoin'
the views and wif1es of its owH continents,
and promote the deGens Of another fate"
| The pamphlet cloIes with the confolctsry
opinion, that there is no natural caufe Of oppo.
/, frion or hoftility between the different fates ;
i that is to be hoped they will have the wilton,
to difcern the artificial caufes which have ten
dency to annihilatc their importance and TO
raiie colsAol power on our common iuo]uga-
ton.
"Mona,eby! bo,rid MONARCHY = snow the
" yago h.ad aud bleody 6ooei" which the hired
! democratic fertilizers are nom directed 70 exhibit
to friehten the semgbted' yeomenry of New
Hampfhirc and Maffachufetts. In the profccu-
ton of his daily AaSor, the ngDfonary Editor to
| Wajpole, has been at the itale trick of turning
and twiitng Mr.. Ada'ns's :" Dstsnce," to induce
the citizens who have known the tx Pr ciident
above thisty.6ve years. to believe, THAI he is a
/ friend TO Monarchy m America. This spe-
cies of dull yonicnte has "a cfren oeen expo
fed fcouted and abandoned and the experience
of every day aiFordmg 70 many new dsmonitra-