Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1809-02-13


difficulties. and apparent indications ct
greater ones" have, as in former memo
fable period of cur history, reused the spirit
of our citizens bu. we trust with you,
Honour that their chars cter is not marked
with prof. ens.tes to outrage, disorder and
hloode On the contrary that as they cor,
rectly understand their duties, they VIII
steadily, anti resolutely maintain their
rights.
The people of New-Epgland perfectly
understands The distinction between the
constitution and. The administration. They
are as sincerelyattached tothe former as
any section of the United States. lhey
NAV be put under the ban OF the empire,
but they have no intention of abandoning
the union. And we have the pleasure ex-
plicitly 10 declare our fun concurrence with
vour Honor, that such suggestions are not
less a lbel upon the great body ofthe New.
England people, than on their PATRIOTISM
As the government Of the union is con-
fcaesa;ion of equai and independent states
with limited powers, we agree with your
Honor "that it is not unbecoming any
member Of the union with flrmness and
moderation TO question the business or poi'.
CIV OF measures while they are pending and
ripening for adoption" and that we learn
with concern from sou Honor, "that there
are stages when questions -w'thout even
excepting questions involving unalienaole
rights" can be no longer open to contro-
versy and opposition" stages when an
end must be put to debate and a decision
thence resulting be respected by its prompt
and faithful execution, or government loses
its existence and the people are ruined.
Even If your Honor's principles were cor
rect, can il be imagined that I've are" las
your Honor Is pleased to intimately "now
in this stage, on the great questions OF ron-
intercourse and national defence !" These
measures are " still pending and ripening
for adoption" 1t is then unbecom'ng
for this state to question their business Or
policy! -
But with great Difference tn your Honor
we arprehend that this principle il carried
into effect, would render our free govern
ment despotisn, and bring inevitable
ruin upon the people" live apply II to
one Of the cases mentioned by your Honor,
the embargo, the principle presents itself IN
some OF It's deformiiy. 1t is well known
that the act, imposing the embargo passed
the Senate OF the United States in the space
of a few hours, and passed ell the forms OF
Legislation in four days, after that measure
was recommended by the President.
The People ofthis State, therefore, could
not by any possibility have mad an opportuni..
ty /" to question It's Justaess or polcy," And
even Senators, IN Congress, were not allow
ed the time they requested for that purpose
And are the People of Massachusetts to
understand, that " decision" Of this nature
" must be respected by its prompt and faith
| full execution !" that il is too late tor them
| to question its /" justness or policy" Are
| they to believe that the " Stage" has passed
and that indeed nothing remains for then
| but quiet submission We owe il TO our
selves and to the people distinctly to den,
this doctrine, q, once novel and perm
| srDs~.~.>, svn.u .r'~,s WIN Srrsy respect, u
express our mingled regret and astonish
ment, that your Honor should seem to doub
the capacity ofthe people TO decide on ques
tons involving their unaienable rights
your Honour is pleased To ask " If citizens
IN the streets--in town meetings-in multi
tudious assemblies, pressed with deep per
sonal interests, are capable of deciding oI
| great complicated and constitutional ques
tions !" and to observe that from hence on,
| peril.
May we be permitted to ask, who shall
decide when the public functionarcs abuse
their trust I'VE need not inform your
Honour. that the meetings to which you
allude, have been attended by men second
to none in the United States for their legal
and Political knowledge-for their love Of
orler-and for their patriotism many Of
whom have grown grey in the public service
and cnntidence-Inany OF them now hold
ing high and important ot6ces in the State
and that these meetings have been conduc.
ted with great order and decorum.
Can such assemblies Of the cjtizens mer.
II censure in republican government ! But
You will please to permit US to remark, that
your animadversion upon these meetings,
appear the more extraordinary, because in
another part Of your communication, your
Honour is pleased to observe, "that il had
been the arducus task OF o,lr rulers TO collect
the diversified sentiments of their eonst,tu-
ents, and to assimilate snd concentrate them
as far as possible to an according system
pre- Aicatcd on the prevailing opinion"-a
measure indeed very proper, ,but which
couiu oniy DC SneCtua', ny TIC Irec inter-
change OF opinion, and .hose very meetings
Of the citizens, from which your Honour
seems afterwards to apprehcnd so much dan.
ger. Your honor may be assured that we
"question not the sincerity of the opinion"
which you have been pleased to intimate,
ofthe incapacty OF the people-But you
will permit us to declare, that upon their
knowledge OF their rights and duties, and
their firHness and perseverance in maintain
ing them. our hope is placed. They will
ultimately form just decision. Hence our
Ark--not our PERIL
We beg leave to observe, that those
rights, which the people have no, chosen 10
part with, should be exercised BY them
with dclicacy-only in times of great danger
not with abstraction anil confision"-