Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1812-06-15
SPEECH {:
Ccntlemen oftbe SENATE, and

StHSfeff+h" ~ 49, @~''-~"~'
Gentlemen eftks H. ofRebrelSnfotiqe5-
AS | have not been engaged in the
public buGnels Of the fate tor the lat FIVE
years, and had no expectation that ihould
again take part IN administering the gov
eminent have paid no other attention
TO the proceedings of the legislature, or a.
ny public tranla6tjonS than my duty as
private citizen required. | an therefore
unable 10 lay before you the Rats oF our
affairs. or TO lugget far @0ur confederation
thole fubic6ts If particular lntered which
ia other cirCumfa3ces might have occur
red Ia me. But | have no reatou to re-
yret this inability irveral Of you gentle
Escu IN each hcute have been many years
employed in the government, and will rea-
div dfcern what m6aiuTes ar pccJtiary
cor ire -luyral good.
Blu though | have no particular knOwl-
edes oflhe ate Iegilatrc proceedings, i e
impcfii1lc for any mea 11rOt the tate 10 he
ignorant. that q fpiL 0f divihon has exit
ed fot feveral years. and has become 70 pre-
valeut, as ~ diminih individual haPPlnets
and endanger the tranquility q the com-
monwealth.
The opinions Of men are as various us
their features, and there IS generally no
more caule Of complaint in the one cafe
than III the other. This difference ofOpln-
ION would happen if all were furniihed
with the fame evidence; but on many po-
litical iubie6ts the evidence offered To dit
fereut perfons is not only diverie hut Oppo-
lite It would ~ UNREASONABLE, therefore
u to expect that all lhould think alike. II
our information IS wholly derived from
one Source, and that happens to be par
tial one, our opinions may be honett,
though it IS hardly poiiible they could DC
q correct.
In fome cafes this diveriiy Of fentiment
may promote the proErels Of truth. At
leaf, it may teach Us hlbitually, 10 prac-
ticc that mutual fobearance without
which focitty could not exit. But the
danger arifrs from the warmth and Ca
gernefs with which political diiputes are
conducted. On fuch occaHons men are
tempted TO violate the rules Of dec1ucY, &
call in queaiOn The rrCtitude OF others,
merely btcaufe Of difference in judgment.
Such offeufve imputaiions arc injurious
to the peace Of the tate, and threaten KS
future PROPERTY forif party abuic thould
become general and indIiCrlmlnate, we
fhaH Iofe one Of the mott powerful motives
10 meritorous conduct the viItuous and
vicious will be placed in the fame hight,
and men Of unidentified Characters wIIl
with TO have as little coucern in public ar
fairs as poiiible, that they may PyrirTve
their reputation.
When parties are numerous, the indi-
viduals often appear to Re 5ut httIe aPpre-
heniive Of reproach; they arc apt 10 think
that the rules IF candor and even Of truth
nav be difpenled With, in prop3gatng
their political opinions. But though tl1
difgrace Of each individual may be lciIca-
ed whcp " " fhar5d by many Others, his
perf1nsl guilt "A the fame as if be was The
only offender; and the example thus fur-
nilhed by afIOciatrd numbers mud have A
peruicious influence Un the morals Of tbs
wholc people.
Should We at any time fud.- ouullvcs
20 be inHucnCed by A Spirit Of party, US
Ihali be il danger OF facrihciug the Publsc
good to our own attachments and ammo
fities and lhall be incapable Of dhcerning
the NE that may b made ~ ouf own pre-
cedehts agaiuh 0urlelves. We may titab-
lifh rules BY which we fhal obtain mo-
mentary aceendancy; but which III the
ifue will prove injurious 10 our own in-
terea, as well As to the peace and order
of aate. II the party opPoiF4 10 rs
lhould afterwards Prevail, they wll be
temp.ed 60 retalate with increaied fsveri-
IL, II hopes Of more durable p hciliJn Of
povtr. But il is ia vain "a eXDe-t that in
a fire. government the Predomaance Ot a
party can " pgeisrved by d,ingenuous