Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1807-03-23

ling their choice, which plainly and dis
tinctly appeared from the returns of
votes and by palming upon them a
man whom they had not chosen, and
whose character and conduct had rem
dered him an object of distrust to
great portion Of the community. A
committee, composed principally of his
friends, was accordingly called for the
occasion, who, instead Of reporting aC-
cordmg to former usage, on the second
day of the ession, consumed several
days in pretended scrutiny and exam
ination Of the returns, and at length
made a report filled with captious and
frivolous objections to thei returns Of
votes from many towns, and artfully
contrived to give majority Of votes to
lanes SuLiUan.
by this report the votes Of some
towns were rejected for the mispelling
Of letter, and others upon suggestions
equally frivolous and shameful, which
are plainly aid simply stated in the pro-
test Of the minority Of the Senate,
which was read in the presence Of all
the members, and was never contra
| dicted IN any one particular.
While posterity will hardly credit
the existence Of a stratagem SO bold,
and yet 80 weak and scandalous, it is
nevertheless true, that majority of
your Senators were pledged to support
and give it effect and though it j. be-
lieved that some few Of them were fill
ed with compunction and repentance
before they accepted the report, yet SO
completely were they drilled, mana
cled, and intimidated by their leaders,
! that they surrendered reason and con-
! science, and asscntcd to this fragrant
and unprecedented outrage upon the
rights Of the people
1t is fully under stood that all the
leaders Of the democratic party in the
House had agreed to follow up this
deadly blow at your Constitution, and
that they eXultcd in the confidence Of
their majority III that body. But the
delay, created by the debates III the
Senate, afforded time to ascertain the
public sentiment. The honest men of
all parties cried shame uhon the mca-
surc /! The enOImity Of the crime
found no apologiots Or defenders begon
the walls Of the State-house, and the
well meaning but deluded of the party
7yithiH the walls, began to finch and
though the execution Of this worse
than gunpowdcr-plot, had been resolv-
cd upon al all hazards, and the inaugur-
al speech of Mr. SuHiUan was known
to be prepared the intiguers in the
House, alarmed at the rising indigna-
ton Of the people, for a moment reccd-
ed, and arrested the progress of this
new species Of despotlsm, not with any
compunction at their own conduct, but
merely for the purpose of varying their
means, that they might more securely
arrive at their end.
To these causes alone, fellow-citi-
zens, are you indebted for your preser-
yl,ion from a violent and lawless usur-
patton Of the Chief Magistracy by
Friend Of the fe0hle.
BY means of this plot, the organiza-
ton OF the Oyernment, which the
| Constitution intended should be COM
pleted in one, or at most two days, was
proCrastinated fifteen days, at a useless
eXpenCe Of more than twenty thousand
dollars TO the Commonwealth and
such confus sion and animosity excited,
that the whole session was in effect con-
sumcd without the dispatch ct any Inn
portant public business.
When at length His Excellency was
qualified for the duties Of his office, the
same men, who were foiled in the at
tempt to exclude him from the chair,
renewed their Vaccinations TO sur
round him with a Council that should
efItctuaiIy shackle him in his ordinary
functions, and render his station I'M
! comfortable TO himself, and less useful
to the people. Accordingly the old
CounstIlors were prescribed without
exception KNOX, the veteran revolu-
tionary hero, who now slumbers at the
side of WAsHIEGToN, his patron and
friend CoBB, their companion in dan
ger and in honor, and other tried and
respectable patriots, who for years had
graced the Senate and Council boards,
were pretermitted,a and the little resent
ments Of party were graGiad by send
ing up to advise the Governor men
known to be dlsaffected to his person
and administration These, as was
fnresern. have cahalled 70 DELAY. oD-