Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1807-03-23
SEPARATION or MAINE,
FOR THE PORTLAND GAZETTE.

FOR THE PORTLAND GAZETTE.
THE people of the District Of NJ inc are
rallied upon to vote, on the 1st Monday of
April next, upon the question, whether
the viii instruct their Senators and Repre-
sentatives to apply to the Legislature for
its consent to the separation OF Ma n from
Massachusetts
This measure has not originated from the
pecple themselves. There have been 10
petitions to the Legislature upon the sub
5ec& for several years. Thenew spa"CIs have
been perfectly silent upon the subject. |,
hasheen put in motion By few individualsnf
both political parties, who seem to have
certain purposes of then own in view.
Fis a very happy circumstance that this
important question does not depend upon
uartv considerations, and it is Of great i'm
portance to a fair consideration IF the sub
iect, and proper determination that party
politics should not intermingle with the dis
cussion.
Massachusetts ought not to BE divided
until there shah exist some pressing neces-
sity for its dismemberment. A large state
IS powerful and respectable. 1t acts with
unitv, force and effect and its relative in
fuence is much greater than that Of two
small states. Hence We perceive that the
states Of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Newyork
and Massachusetts have always held the first
rank in the union, and we hear Of no propO-
suions to divide the three former Of these
states. Massachusetts has the same inter
ests. and should adopt the same policy in
this respect.
But there are several important consider
atoms which render 1t the interest Of Maine
20 remain for some time longer connected
with Massachusetts. The people Of Name
see and feel that they enjoy all the aivant-
ages Of good government, paying but light
taxes: and that a new government would
bring with it great expenses and heavy axes.
II might aggrandize and enrich few but
this z5ouLd Be at the expense ot the people at
Largg. Maine is connected with the west
ern part Of the state BY many ties, but esPe-
cially in commerce, which is carried on al
most entirely In small cOasting vessels
These vessels, at present, pass from one
part of the state to the other with papers
which require renewing but once year.
If Maine were q state, coaster passing
from Maine to Massachusetts, as it must
pass by Newhampshire, must renew its pa
pers every voyage, and would also be subject
be a great embarrassment and expense in
their coasting business. Time viii dimin-
ish the force Of this argument, as Maine
will probably, at some future period, have
a commercial capital which will be ade-
ouate 10 the trade Of Maine or the greater
part Of il. But, At present, in the coasting
trade between Maine and the ports Of Bos
ton, Salem and the other towns in the west
ern part of the state Is immense.
It is understood that some Federalists in
the western part Of the state would favor
the separation, because, If Name were lOp-
ped of, Massachusetts would be decidedly
federal in all its branches. Il is hoped,
however, that the subject will be conside1ed
upon broad and liberal principles and that
no temporary objects will occasion the sac
rifce Of great and important advantages
advantages which once lost oan never be re-
gained The people of Maine can be sep
ara1ed when they find it for their interest ;
but once separated from the parent state,
they are separated forever.
The subject admits Of great enlargement
The object of this hssty sketch IS to lead
those who are interested in the question t.
reflect with GOODNESS and deliberation, with
that view to their permanent interests which
the magnitude Of the subject demands IT
tie people Of Maine should suffer themselves
to De guided by designing interested men,
they may part with substantial advantage,
for imaginary benefits. They may regret
100 late that they have injured themselves
in the most material points without any con
sideration TO compensate for the loss.
LINCOLN