Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1809-06-12
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'<afismss Of ibs Senate, and

Cs.fis~s" Of tie HSyt If Rsp,efn,asiOn,
CALLED to the Office of Chief magiRra,e
of this great and important Commonwealth,
permit me to embrace the eArlieil opportunity,
TO e1prefs the deep and reipectful fenfe 1 en-
rertain of their confidence and of the iolemn
obligation il has impofed, for the exercife of
al my powers, TO fecure their rights, advance
their intcreLts, ard encreafs their happineis, by
all the means, which are afforded by the con-
ili,u,iou, and the laws Of the land.
Educated at time when the principles Of
civillibcriy were inyoitigatcd and difcuhed by
che lages and heroes, who conceived and ac-
comptfhed our glorious revolution, my ftron-
geit aud earliea i,npreilions were in favour Of
that well regulated freedom which 10 fecurcd
by our excellent conififution-An abfence of
eight wears ia The fervice Of our common
country, by he opportunity il afforded o: re-
marking tie circumstances of other nations,
ierved to confirm, and, il pofIible, encreaie the
refpeet and reverence had previouoy imbi-
bed for the religious and civil inilitutions Of
my native ifate. A comparifon of our condi-
ton. with thar of any other people, mutt con-
v,nca every one of the enviable iituation, in
which we are placed, and of the hyperion means
afforded 10 rs, for enjoying all the bleihngs
of which iocizi life is capable While this
confederation Cannot fail to inlpire US, with
profound gratitude TO the Almighty Ruler of
the uniyerie, il ought TO awaken us to a fenfe
OF the awful Responsibility we are ucder, to
tranirni. unimpared &c our fucceilors, .lis val.
uzble inheritance, derived, through the pro-
videEce of God, from the tolls and iseriiices of
our pious aucellors. .g.v
To perform this irit of duties, "a to preferve
the advantages of liberty, and to maintain
free government, we nun follow their example
in a conitant adherence to the precepts Of pie
", iultice, moderation, temperance, irfuitry
and fruaality," and man facredly regard the
Fundamental principles of our contribution, of
which none are more evident, none more ex-
plicitiy afierted, nor more frequently recogni-
zed, thar tAa, all power re.ides in the people,
and thai government is infsituled for their
protection, iafety profperiiy and happinei'
TIER iublt,,ute, or agents, entruited with
,he adminilt alton of government. cannot, then,
81 their ,wu immediate acts, nor IN the APP
pointuaent, nor continuance in Office of others,
righfuliy iutier Themselves 10 be influenced
ny any considerations, but iueh as promote
,hefe jait, and declared objects. -
Al ci,i2ens, who poileis the requhte infor-
Iration, talents aud integrity, have fair claims
20 public confidence whatever may be their
f,n' ,,nents on tie political doctrines which are
clIcu,ied IN the community, And 10 long as
men in elise perform the duties aligned them
with adequate ilill, pdeIity and imparrisiiiy
ther political ienIinents ought nol 10 be the
ground Of removal. f-
While entertain no Ioubt of the ioundnels
Of this opinion, an, equally well iatshed, that
when periocs in office dc nor execute their
t.u'ies with hdeliiy, or conduct ,hemie'ves IN
amannsr thai il injurious TO the reputation OF
government and 60 the interetts of The people
or become OF erwie Unqualified, they who are
~n,runed wuh the naturalization OF govern.
meni. are ho,.nd .agoo, .Aith to their country
"a remove them. undeterred by the fear, thai
hch act may be inquired to political prejudice
OF TO any improper motive
10 adopt a rule, that no nan ~ 10 be ielec
Ted for Office, uGlels he Ne oi tie parnou'a
fect, or party of ihofe, who adniuIiser th'
government, or lubfcribe TO their politca
creed, is to ei.a5liill prilcipls, not only no
recognized Nv hut directly repnpnant 10 nh
contribution. |. is moreover highly unJui' q
the people a. i: narrows the choice Cor Office
aud NAV frequently cxc...s- 49,, cher fervicc
RE pu-el. inf cgriiy, the highell capacities, ar'
hea,ilpoGiions' 1t is eouhdering go,ernmeu
asiniltu,c,l no; for the semo'ss good ,but for ,h
ercluliye advantages of An aiioeia;lon OF part
Of men.
should they, 10 whor. Is depa'ed the authc
ri,y Ut the Commonwealth, inrrender then
,e;vcs to tuch motives, they would deieen
Iroea the diIauguiihed elevation of rulers,
sfree people. TO the level of faction, dtp'
a.. u ire honors ard enploymens ct &.