Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1806-08-18

A following Uf6lF cAcAAitA1 .IA- -
lic aueht to know that politics had no
| concern in the business f; federalists as
wen as democrats deplore the act
| which sacrificed the life Of fellow cit
izen., In the name Of reason and COM
mon sense, why are illusions made to
acts that reused a-nation's spirit OF re-
sentiment? Do the democrats wish 10
arm one class of citizens against anoth-
er and introduce the horrors OF civil
war if not, why mike these frequent
attenptsto inflame those passions which
have a.direct tendency to set al law and
order in society at. defiance. Most Of
the Boston papers have been silent up
on the death, or murder, as the jury
Of inquest found, of mr. Austin, the
reason for which the Editor ct the Re
hertory gives as follows -
Though the outrageous attempts In
the Chronicle, from day to day, to tempt
us from the path of duty, with respect 10
the late unhappy affair which took place
in this town, are n0t nnHoficed, they do
not and cannot incline Us to enter upon
discussion which is forbidden by every
dictate Of justise, and regard to the
laws Of our country. The surviving
party has not 'absconded, whatever
were the circumstances of the case,
land with respect to these we are bound
still to give DO opinion such were his
impressions, that he has surrendered
himself to the executive Of the laws,
and Voluntarily immpred il prison, hy
awaits a serious trial. Is il for as 70
tamper With the public mind I; OF AL
tempt to make premature statements
which would reach those who are to 81;
as an impartial jury Gea forbid
Whatever exertions are made to mis-
represent the motives, which led to the
reserve we have adopted, the evident
proprictv Of such z course cannot. be
rpisaPprehended, nor can the opposite
condact fad to naeet with the. deserved
rePrehensioD, Of all lust. men We
mourn with those who mourn We see
two unhappy families involved in the
consequence IF an event which We re-
gret "a All its Connexions, but we know
of nootribunal qualified To decide on the
nature of the deed before plry has
heard the whole truth and pronounced
81 opinion.
Strong allusion have, once and again
been made to the 5th Of March, T77O.
We're thi3 a. national affair, III which
there wasno Acknowledged umpire, we
'shon!d feel ourselves justified, nay
more, required II take decided ground.
But here, an individual, ii a,c5ountry
where justice between man and man Is
insured 10y, The EiscSt regulation, is in
.C.ustndy {; and aNsits4Ae decis.onof laws
Which he cannot resist. Here the
State -oI-,Aa as sacbusetts Is enc party. and
one man. hcked up in prison is the
other; and tiiereis an efficient tIabu-
mai provided.
. lnhammatory illusions have likewise
been made to the case. of Col. Burr
and the comments made IN the public
papers, atthat time, are quoted as ii
Justification Of the course which Oh one
part, has been pursued On the present
occasion. The cases were however, as
dissirnilar, as they coaId be-. Oct. Barry
HeG. fran Justice. He never intimated
~ intention 10 surrender himself; he
never has submitted To t1ial, nor lis il
expected he ever wiz. Hs left the pub
lac to form their opinions, and never
oontded his case 10 q jury. We know
II to be fact that on the mere Tunour.
circulated by some. Of. MIR, BurI's
friends, thathe would deliver himself
up for nial, Mr.. Coleman suspended j
publIcation:he was then making. rcIa-
ting.to the merits Of the cause ind
for no other reason, than a sense of Gu.
ty and decorum.
In common disputes, in which mere
title to property is at issue, who does.
not know, that it is considered uniusti-
habte IN either party to hold any pre-
mature communication with Judee or
Jury, pr to aim at influencing pubic
opinion II this conduct isl deeme W
improper, III afiairs where there Is lit
lie opportunity Of deeply interesting
Pubhck feeling, how Infinitely more
anbeconlng Is it, in a case-of life or
Death. and under circumstances, where
considerations might easily be iIaproy-I
ca, excite the strongest passion. Need
we say any more TO repel the flsgi6ous
attacks, which have been.made upon ne
ana I Others for not anticipating Mr..
ESelfridge's trial I