Jenks' Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1803-1805, 1804-04-28

81 1sstEc crinlOft OF men OF political
fcience, siiar no marion has uoiverfally
niaintaine1 aohara6ter foinlmaculate, ex.
emDla.v. rand coireident with the rules of
r;gsft reaion, viidom, and national honor,
as the Ilnitet! States.
The faIn,aryfo.m of government Of this
highly favored. republic, has preierved
peace and good understanding abroad,
concord and national happiness at home.
il has promoted indu.try among her fub-
iects, shesexteniion.of her commerce over
! The gIohe,, nurtured ard cherillled her,
unit. re has become great and eminent
afnongthe mahons Of tie earth. Her brave
fons who fought and bled for thefe blei-
GAgs,shape iince given birth to a genera
: tion,zSshofe bodies are replete with manly
vigor, Whole minds are expanded by ufe-
acknowledge, and Whole hearts overflow
Nsirle a brave and patriotic fpirit.
Uhacrthe banners ofthis happy nation,
CHI lians Of every denomination enjoy
FAtlie;avs!uable privilege of worfhipping the
/. Divine Being, agreeable to the dictates of
their own condolences. Here, the huff
bsnd.aan~may repoie under the lhadow Of
bis own gine, without an unwelcome gue!t
Or intruder, to molel or diaurb his en-
ioyment. Blei1ings too valuable not to be
held in facred vene1ation by every Ame-
Hcan citizen.
Forbihc attainment of thefe Invaluable
privileges. our anccitors ventured to en-
|sbarif6n feas of difficulty, and cultivated
and, now chcckered with magnificent
.S(1ss and populous towns, but then, a ia.
wage dcfsrt the habitation of barbarians
and ferocious beats.
letthsle1onliderari be written in
legible characters on the heart of every
American, and prompt him to maintain
thoic principles, which have rendered our
nation 10. dilsinguifhcd and fupport thofe
conGiiu,lonal rights and privileges which
have been the lource of 70 much happiness,
from the invafon Of taetious rulers or
daring foreigners.
prepo!tcrous as it would appear to pro-
pofe, that all denominations of chriitians
ihouid embrace the fame religious tenets,
il is clear thai all are capable OF o5ferving
certain rules cf conduit, which our wife
aneeitors have eitablilhed. As thefe rules
have been found ulcful IN their operation,
and are fanetioned by the public approba
ton ofgthe wife and great, it would be
criminal, if not wicked in US, to attempt
/ an invaiion.
- fror,lhe earlief periods, nations have
been infected with clafics Of men whole
/. conduit has been guided by unbound and
wicked principles, malicious and immoral
pYopenii,ies. The United States in this
Nrefpstt, have been peculiarly favored.--
The confequence is, many internal trou-
bles and difficulties incident to other ma
tons, are hcreunknown. 1t is however
MOTTO be expelled that thele faaious diff
turbcrs Of human repofe, can long be pre-
vented from gaining habitation, in fuch
an extenive territory. Yet, while thefe
evils are in fome meaiure averted, let us
rejoice and fay, happy, thrice happy for
US, thar in times palt, when the feeds of
vice and folly were taking deep root, our
wife rulers forefaw the consequences, and
by their exemplary conduct, ihielded us
fronrimpending deitrucfion.
Certain is, that the manners and even
the principles of aTepublic, are not little
dependant, on the characters Of thofe who
are placed at the helm ofpublic affairs
\ When thofc, who are Considered as the
hthcrs of the people, and are intrulted
with their deareit prerogatives. fwerve
flon, the paths of rectitude, there is rca-
sfon to fear, that the wife and virtuous, as
well as the weak and ignorant, arc in aan-
ger of being corrupted, betrayed, and led
altray By their example. Painful experi-
encc teaches US, that the beitowmsnt of
potts OF honor and trult, on notorious in
faeh, l,jSiuious and debaacbed characters,
is deArustive of religion. morality, and