Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1810-05-28
Letters upon French Influence.
NUMBER III.
10 the Peohle of The United States.

Previous TO an lnVeSuSattOn vi tHS " Is ~
and character Of what has been deemed by
the.writer. in common with great proper
ton Of his countrymes, TO be the influence
or a fear of France, if nothing worse, opera
ting upon the executive and legislative de-
partments of the government OF the United
States, several Introductory, explanatory,
and incidental points, naturally claim consid-
Grafton and demand attention.
This course is rendered the more indis-
pensable by the peculiar situation OF the
writer of these papers.
The constitutional power Of the President
of the United States TO impose upon the Re
representatives. ofthe people, and the rights
of the majority of those representatives TO
impose upon the minority, a perpetual IN
junction of secrecy, in relation to matters
Of great national concern, will form the first
subject Of examination
The constitution Of the United States,
politically speaking, should be regarded
with holy reverence. 1t rs the most Illus
trious of all the monuments OF human Wis
dom. Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, and others,
whose names are written on the list OF the
wisest men Of ancient times, did but dare
to dream of even faint outline of our pre-
sent political system. Could the genius and
the greatness of the present age have been
80 far anticipated, as TO have presented to
the view of these sages, general idea OF
the American constitution, they would al
once have pronounced the system too pure
and perfect ever to fall, in practice, TO the
lot of human nature. They would have de-
clared that it was the vision Of theorist or
set of theorists great and magnificent,
but delusiye and impractlcable.
In paying the tribute of his highest hon.
age to the wisdom of the authors, and the
excellence of the character, of the consutu
ton Of his country, the writer must sgain
stop for one moment to impress upon the
minds Of his readers the sincerity Of his pre-
sent attachment TO that glorious instrument.
II cannot be concealed that he was once an
anti-constitutionalist, in other words, q
French partisan. No one should blush 10
recollect the errors of youth, when those
errors resulted from purity of principle, and
the most ardent wishes for the happiness OF
the whole human race. Especially should
the recollection be cherished, when those
errors have been discharged from reflection
and experience. In political science az
least, never TO have erred is never 70 he wise,
| for political wisdom is not inherent in our
nature. Experience cannot develope 1t, bNt
| must create il, even in the strongest aud
soundest minds. The writer knows that not
only many Of the youth of our country, but
some Of the aged also, have abandoned the
strange dreams of the revolutionists Of
France, from a perfect conviction Oh their
futility and folly We hailed with Joy the
opening dawn Of what was fAncied to be the
coming day OF human perfection. We were
| among the widest of all wild enthusiasts.
Compared with the purity of French demo-
crazy, the constitution of our own Republic
was deemed corrupt mass of aristocracy.
Jefferson was believed to be better and a
greater man than Washington. These re-
coilectl0ns indeed can be connected with no
pleasant emotions. Jefferson and w ashing-
ton . Compare the ant with the elephant
Compare the little rill which travellers de-
nominate the Scamander of Homer, with
the Danube or the Mississippi
1t were 10 be wished that the late Presi.
dent OF The United States, whose nower 20
close the lips of the representstiy Of the
People, upon subjects vital 10 the indepen.
dence OF the Nation, is about to be question.
ed, had in all cases squared his conduct bv
the provisions Of that sacred instrtmen,
wnIch ne as wen as those representatives,
had taken solemn oath of office to support
put a.as' he who, while gradually mounting
inc '''lie steps OF " young ambition lad
uer, was the most sdroit and oily of all IN
natterers OF the Populace, since the days D
Juiius CSSar, was the most odicus despo
when IN power He cid not, indeed, alto
gether soon the base degrees b. qvhich Re al
dsceno' lor oaseness was the most prominen
feature OF his presidential chara cter. Il
some instances positive evidence, in man,
strong clrcumstantial evidence, will aprea
10 tue course OF these letters, should tina
course he completed. proving that the Pre-
sIdeht OF the United States did carry On
most degrading correspondence with him
Wnem he ought 70 have considered the de-
| clded enemy of his country, did implore
mere! OF him when lie ought 10 have de
manded justice, and, instead of claiming
and commanding The respect due to the III
| mied States, as all independent republic, dIC
| deprecate the wrath Of a foreign power IL !
manner the mcst cowardly, mean, and sub
massive. Strong assertions these, but the,
shall be supported by arguments which
VIII not be deemed feeble, and BY The nigh
TIER powers OF evidence For the presen
we return TO the constitutional question.
Thomas Jefferson was never sincerely at
tached 10 the Constitution. One Of M
strongest objections TO It was that the Presi
cent na'Sht be re elected Strange that lie wa.
not even then calculating to become Presi
dent himself But 1T is possible that he wa
AT that day an honest man. None of "A
need blush at having been deceived B.
Thomas Jefferson, for be deceived eveI
! washington. That great and good patrio
gave HIM the first office in his power, am
thus advanced him far in The path Of his II