Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1808-01-18

Country $500 IlC SOFCillillSlISo w 90 ~
der may err--The people may make
wrong choice of rulers but neither OF
these errors can Justify an opposition
TO, or an attempt to change the nature
| of the governmental i the hrst pr1n-
cipIe in the social compact, to submit
to the voice of the majority. The Sec
ond is an entire and ready obedience, to
the voice of our Rulers, issued within
the authority given them BY the consd-
| tuition.
At this important crisis, when our
wiscst and best men cannot decide With
| satisfaction TO themselves, what arc TIE
best measures to pursue, We ought TO
be instructed, as people, from this,
not rashly to condemn the measures adj
opted, or suddenly 10 censGre our Lead
ers for their decisions.
1t is clear beyond all controversy,
| that no measure can eHcctuate our Sc
curity, unless we are firmly united a
mong ourselves. A division OF the
States, would instantly dissolve the ma
ton and destroy every obligation 70
civil and social duty. This our enc
mics see. They know that if the pres
ent national constitution was dissolved,
| the u. States could never again exist
as a sovereign and independent power,
but must fall contemplate victim to
foreign desPots, or what is more likely,
become the abiect dependents of petty
tyrants among themselves Under
those circumstances, our contests ar
bloody civil wars, which might with
sound reason be expected, are too DIS
tressing To bear description.
AS our security, and even existence
as 4 naion, depends on our union and
as union cannot De preserved, without
IN efficient vigorous government, It IS
very extraordinary, that men, under
any party designation, OF political APP
pellation, should assume the character
Of friends to their country, while they
are tndeayouring to destroy the nation
al union, and to overthrow the Princi
pies on which the federal government
is founded.
To furnish powers with whom we
are engaged in controversy, with argu-
ments against MS. 10 expose to them
our weakness, TO originate and dress
I'D new claims, which those powers
have never conceived Of to CRAFTY our
enemies by treating our own govern
mcnt with contempt, and its cohstitu-
ton with ridicule, must be a strange
kind of patriotism. If this is the bu-
siness Of men, owing allegiance to the
! country, it is highly crimlnal.-lt 1t IS
BY few Foreigners, who have gained a
residence iii the country, as no doubt a
greater part Of it may be, it must be
considered as base misuse OF the IN
diligence they derive from their situa-
ton.
Under these circumstances we rely
upon the intelligence and good under
standing of the great body OF the A
merican citizens. They know that
men will differ III their opinions, on the
principles and the administration OF
| governments, as much as they do IN
their statures and countenanCes and
that the exercise of a prudent candour,
I Is necessary in relinquishing their own,
s acquirccing in the opinion Of con-
sututional majority.
1t is time that our eyes were opened
not only to our danger, but to our true
interest. 1t istime thatwc had become
one people without, invidlous disunc-
tons having no appropriate aPpelia-
ton but that of American Citizens.
We may rely upon il, that az elective
government can never destroy our ma
ton, or overthrow our liberties f; yet We
may be assured, from the naturc "a
things as well as from ancient and mod
crn history, thata want ofunlon among
ourselves, will inevitably involve "a in
slavery and ruin.
GENTLEMEN,
This is an important crisis,in our ma
tional concerns. Our country, filled
with enterprise and industry, delights
in commerce but lately, adverse cir
cumstances have opposed themselves
to It's accustomed success some ct
these ! have already mentioned
There are others, (amonS which, may
be numbered an unsubstantial and ex-
cessiye mediun) which have resulted
from the economy of the particular
States. The disastrous consequences
flowing from these, are now, unfairly
ascribed to the administration Of The ma
tional government The design is APP
parent--but am happy in being salts
tiad. that YOUR proccedings and sentl-