Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1812-06-15

pTOV@CauOns more agGfdVtttui tuS NtN"NI
they happen, and If peTited in NUT
eventually terminate in ruIH.
Thefr animoGtirs have ALTO direct ten
dency to weaken the fate and render Us
incapable OF felf defence. Within few
wears All the republicks in Europe have
become a prey to military force; the peo-
pie were divided into factions and thoie
who thought themlelves oppreiled, afiited
a foreign power TO overwhelm, both their
opprenors and themfeves, 10 one COM
mon ruin. The forms of government
have been exchanged for deipotiim, and
their ramts are bIOtted out from the lift
Of nations.
I The people of thefe Rates ftemto have
been placed ~ Providence, in fituation
of peculiar fafety. Our territory Is iuttl-
GENTLY exteuiive either for tecurlty or con-
venience We are remote from the ma
tians of EuroDe, who for feveral years have
been involved IN fatal and extentIve war.
As commercial people we have had IN
tercOurfe with all of them, and as neu'
trail nation, mutt have expected, IN 1uch
mighty conflicts, TO fuHer injuries from
each. If however, the merchant hndS
that any branch Of trade is too hazardous
10 be purified with advantage, his own
prudence will induce him 10 rehnqniih 1t.
But | think we can have no reaionable
motive To Join in this ruinOus cOntelt, and
thus initiate th0fe Princes, who hazaid all
that il dear 10 their iuljects, merely TO
difplay their fpirit or crafty their revenge.
We may pofibiy be engaged hereafter
in iut and recellary wars OF felt defence,
and We hope never to be engaged IN any
other but "a long as the people are u
nited III affection, there S no danger that a.
nv foreign power will think Of reducing US
10 their dominion. This tecurItY Will be
diminihed in the fame proportion as the
violence of party increaies for a tate
with ten millions of men may be conquer
cd ae ealily as one with ten thouland, If
the people are divided, aud one half are
willing to afIit in iubjugating the other.
Such dfpoftions / preiume are not any
where cheriihcd at the prefent time; but
IL the fDirit Of difcOrd ihall increaie and
become more exatperated, we may hereaf-
ter BE- As frantic with PATTON and as blind
TO our OWu interef, as thOlt nations
whole governments have been iubverted
BY the violence or treachery of their citi'
ztns.
1t would be difficult to enumerate all
the mischiels thst Cow from this spirit
Of party. We have seen that it alien
ates the minds OF men from each other,
ana has a tendency 10 excite the most
maleyOlent p ssions History will in
form Us, thai when under no restroint,
il produces civil wars, and terminates in
the destruction Of free States. These
c0nside atoms have been suggested by
rel1cting men Of all parties; and it
seems to be the duty Of all, as far as
THEN influence extends, to prevent an in
crease If the evil
Nothing is Of more importance to
thls purpose than a Just and impartial
administration Of government, The
principles vi equity and justice are the
foundations Oi society and the great
end Of government IS 70 provide that eve
~ cilizen snail have his light Bus it in
making and executing the laws we dis
regard the rules Of equal justice il We
endeayor 10 elevate one portion OF the
community and depress another, we
lose sight III The object for which We be-
came united, and render every principle
that can be employed IN the govern
mert utlhc State Of no effect except
far and compulsiOn. In such cases the
people never ODE" but with reluctance /;
nor shall We have any .evsOn 10 COM
plyin Ill they are intrac,able We are
as much bound to preserve their rights
as they 10 obey The laws; md until
their spirI.s arc broken they will make
continual forts III recover what belongs
to them for il is not in The nature Of
Freemen 10 submit without complaint
10 unlqusI regulations.
Our Constitution lorhids any eXclu-
sive prelensi0ns 70 the hOnors Of the
Stale every class Of men ar entitled
IL Dartake w the same advantages and
have uu equal and common 1Eht II
this riAh. is'inlrinyed We may be sure
that sediments Of discomfort and ami
mostly vii prevail We ousht indeed
10 select persons Of ability and integrity
Tor public employments; but i We
make il rule 70 advance only our Pollt-
ical friends, We Shall become tlt heads
Of j party, and he incapable ri prcsrT-
wing with equity and moderation tbs
rights OF the whole people In Mon
arches the Prince il the source OF ali
power and the fountain Of honor and
Office; b Therefore, thinks himself au-
( L,.I,,-rtt,.r.