Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1807-06-08

4 eide, have had great influence on the Peo-
| pie. We obferve with great Pleaiure the
| erection OF edi6ces for public worihTp OF
] various denominations in Chriftianity !:
teachers every where settled and fupported
and public devotion generally attended
| upon.-Thefe circumfanceS, under an
eltablifhed form of government, which ex-
cludes all perlecution and intolerance on
principles of religion and modes of wor-
! ihip, give to our ltate a very honorable
appearance, in the view of the enlightened
part Of the world. The principles and
PrecePts Of the gofpel, if they are attended
to and improved for religious and moral
purpofes only, will always; make good men;
! and good men can never be bad citizens.
Upon the literary and religious nititutions
of the State, our happinefs as people,
efientlally depeuds;- and | ihal rejoice In
! teelng the legislature attentive to their en-
couragement and fupport While, at the
fame time, that freedom of opinion, and
thefe rights of confidence, which are fol-
emnly recognized in the Contribution, are
iacredly maintained.
GENTLEMEN,
Government, in its nature, IS a concen-
tration of public opinion to a certain
form Of public rule.-This may be main
tanned, in defpotifm, by terror but in
a republic, it mutt be fnpported by an at
tachment of the people 10 their country.
BY public virtue. nTOProduce this attach
ment, the powers of the government
mutt be exerted to give equal advantages
TO all its fubjects: not to create wealths
or executive privileges to any but in fe-
curing to all, ,relpeetively, as far as it can
be done by general laws, well executed,
the enjoyment OF the various gifts which
God eeftows upon them. For, to ufe the
language of our declaration Of rights,
" no man, or corporation, or ahociatiOn
or men, have any other title to obtain ad-
vantages dlftin6 from thole of the commu-
nifty, than what arifes from the confidera-
tIon or fervices rendered to the public"
Where the laws fecure to every man the
lame privileges 10 acquire and hold pro-
perty, the with to accumulate wealth, by
fair means, and honef iudufry, is infep-
cradle from patrioti(m. Enterprise and
induRry are in the clals of public virtues,
becauie they are the unfailing fource of
wealth to a nation.
retpect to civil authority, correct re-
gard TO the rights of others and a ready
ObrdieRce to the laws, confer on people
q dignity Of character, which is intimately
blended with the focal virtues and ha-
btually becomes the ftrength Of civil
community.
SlOul1 any one be daring enough to
fuggeit the IDEA, that the peops of Maj.
fachuietts are not, in the enlightened fitu-
alton God has befowed upon them, under
the advantages they are favored with, and
the habits acquired from the manner Of
their education, competent TO the fuppOrt
OF free government, BY their fuffrages,
frequently excrciled, fuch perfon ought to
be rcitralCe~, as a dangerous inCendiray
becaute It is as efientially wrong to fpeak
as TO act treaiOn. Every citizen has an
unalienablc right 10 eXprcls his opinion
upon the administration Of the government,
and the conduct of his rulers But there
are certain primary principles, which con-
ftitute the leading, edtntial, ditinguifhing
features of an elective republic Thefe
arc to 5e treated with folemn reverence,
and fupported by religious refpect.
GENTLEMEN,
| embrace this opportunity, to eXprefs
the fenfe have of the honor done me by
my fellow citizens-and to allure them of
my firm attachment to the principles Of
the Commonwealth. They may reiy with
fafety, that it is my determinations to ex-
ert myfelf, uniformly, to maintain the dig
nifty and faithof this State, and to ftrength.
Ell and confolidate the National Union,
on the principles of the National Govern
ment. At the fame time, | allure you,
Gentlemen, that, on mypart, nothing ihall
be omitted, which will render this fsf1ion
Plesiant toiyou, and b enehcial to your
couftituentsy Z.
t JAMES SULLIVAN.