Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1809-01-16
argus INDEPENDENCE!

BAsC 90 L. LIZ 4 Cd D--stIE
The following communication was hand
ed to the editor of The Argus, ard refused a
publication. although The writer has profess
sedly been one Of the democratic party, and
given his vote, several years past, in favor
Of such men as Jefferson, and the advocates
Of his policy. Out the writer thinks he has
lad more than enough Of the politics Of
hese pretended exclusive friends Of The
ieop,e" The embargo, and such like mea
sures, have opened his eyes, and lie wishes
1t those, who, like himself have been de-
cs,ved, would return from the evil Of their
ways. But the leading dc mocrats of this
country, use the people much in the
same way, as dlyines tell Us, the Great
Duceiver Of the world, does Sinners first
cajole and aatter them, till they get them
in their power, ani then severely
punish them for their folly.
sIa,
An very DESTROYS of reading all the
public papers that can find. have been
N this han.t for number of years. have
seen man, things IN them truly pleasing, &
many thnss truly profitable. But bitter
spirit, have more or less fund, in the
whole, from the city cf Washington, to the
province of Maine.
The fairest and best characters, which
our nation and land can boass Of, have been
shamclully vil;6ed, and grossly abused.
Names, in tins Case, are needless. Detrac-
ton is SO frequent and harsh, that man
well qualified for public employment, would
not wish To have his name in the public pa
pers.
Now, Sir, can see no reason at all. for
all ibis. believe that the term Federalism,
is an honorable one. You know, Sir, that II
is taken from the Latin word falHs, which
signifies league, or covenants or in other
words, it is defined "to promote more
perfect union, to establish justice, to insure
domestic tranquility, to provide for the
common defence, TO promote the general
welfare, and to secure the blessings Of Lib
erty 10 ourselves, and to our posterity."
= Nh,.t political design, can be better
than tAis Here is The security Of seven
teen States, Cor Of about sx millions Of peo-
pie ITO defeuI you, me, aid every one, with
in the union, in the enjoyment Of life, liber-
ty and property. 1t seems to me, that man
might as well wish the total annihilation OF
himself, AID his posteri,y TOO, as to wish the
total eradication Of the preceding principles,
and their political influence. al
Did ever any people flourish as we have
done, within the last twcnty.f five years. since
the light FIRST shone upon this terraqueons
globe The question naturally implies a
negative answer-No, not one. To attempt
an illustration Of this. would be like burning
tapers, to assist the light of the blazing sun.
am, Sir, in favor of real republi canism
Republcamsm. according to lexigrAphers,
signifies popular government. which ] can
not better define, tLan in the following
words:
/" he people oftliis commonwealth, have
the sole and exclusive right Of governing
themselves, as free, sovereign and indie
pendent state and do, and forever heresf-
ter shall, exercise and enjoy every power,
jurisdiction and right, which is not, or may
not hereafter, be by them expressly delega-
ted to the United States Of America in
Congress assembled" Here we have CON-
piete independence with our liberties and
privileges, completely asserted; and this
too, guaranteed to all. under the protection
of the laws Of the Commonwealth Of Massa-
ehuset,s. 1t is guaranteed by near six mill
ions Of peope. 81
Is It possible for any people under hea-
v.n. TO have better government in theory,
than we have >
Our State Constitution. which is truly re-
publican, is g,a1aaie' u us. by the Ma
tiana Constitution, which is truly federal
Both constitutions are in complete III ison
with each other. All good people are sat
isicd aud pleased with both. Why then
should they not be pl, asei with the names,
whichthe national and state constitutions
gi,e' Or are we, as people, determined
10 run the length, that all republics Lave
dune before us Have we forgotten the
fate Of all the republics in Asia Minor =
Have we forgotten the fate Of the repub-
lies of Greece, Rome, Switzerland, and Ce
neva Have we forgotten the blood shed
in our revolutionary war Have not our
houses and cities been lad in ashes by an
unrelenting foe Has not Napoleon. En-.