Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1811-11-25
~ hole No. 700.

IS instituted for the common good. ana
not Tor the profit honor or private interes+
OF any one man, family, or class Of men,
These are my sentiments-and although
lbey may not be correct, they are serio,,ely
formed from the knowledge / possess ana
The information have been able 10 obt.;n
and is it not possible that those who tL;nL
Inherently, may have formed theirs from
mistaken views Or erroneous Judgment
ne events o. time will hereafter deter.
Inihe. CERTAIN 1t IS that in this part Of The
state our suiferlngs have been great and
u cannon be SAID that the laws Of our nation
al government have not occasioned them.
But though my sentiments may have been
formed from weakness of my rational pov-
ers, from wrong view of our public affairs
or from an ignorance of the motives which
produced the measures disapproye. thew
are not injurious as respects the operation
OF them-~for they do not Influence me 70
any degree Ct opposition, other than occa.
sional land IN public. rare) expression &c
them, and the exercise Of the privilege ~ -
lection allowed me BY The Constitution and
the Laws.-ls it then q crime n ,h;nL
with others who have wisdom n d;ecerr,
and patriotism 70 feel) that our rulers have.
done wrong Is 1t consistent with republi-
can principles or unbiased Justice. that .
man who conducts as a peaceable citizen.
! ana IS sworn TO support the constitution NJ
the ~ilted States, should in time ofneac@
De prescribed on account Of his opinion
publicly condemned without a trial or /.
! hearing, and made to suffer such a pnnisb-
ment as you have thus inflicted. especiallv
When TINS opinion (whether in or cut Of of-
hce) could have no different effect for the
removal from the Office will! not change. nor
would retention Of il induce me to amos
tatlze from the cause ! have esponsed.
were IL offered TO me on such conditions.
At the commencement Of the late war
which terminated in the establishment of
our Independence, you and sat in council
together IN the Representative assembly,
ofthe State ; and whether you recollectit Or
not, we were OF one mind as TO the measures
which were IN contemplation to defend our
rights and liberties. We not only enioyed
the privilege ofthinking, for ourselves. but
OF making known our thoughts without re-
straint. In those times which tried mems
souls We were Jealous as well ss united in
thought, word and deed, TO save our or
pressed country. Your Excellency NAV
'"i''" 'HS tco 4dcIlious III tIls COmmuDlCa~
ton but ask you to reflect on the nature
OF the cause u refers TO aud the effects il
Will be likely 70 produce--not asst respects
my case only, but IN more extensive view,
when The patriotic Hancock and Adams
were prescribed, was it for their sentiments
only, or was It not on account Of their resis-
ting oppressive lsws--yet did not lie act.
inspire IS with increased feryor IN the
cause Of Liberty and shall prescriptions
now for the exercise IF thinking, be consid.
cred cOAsonAnt TO her then esteemed prin-
ciples But l will not aggFayate the feel
lngs which retrospection Of those things,
and consideration Of your late revolution.
ary conduct, cannot fail 10 excite.
am with respect,
Your Excehency's most obi servant,
SAMUEL FREEMAN.