Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1814-05-23

connection with speculative opinions as to future
existence; but The length allowed to this paper
is already exhausted. x.
To TIE Bat.ists In Massaehusetts and Maine.
No. I.
RESPECTED BRETHREN,
IESrEEM it great happiness to be
in connection With you as religious peo-
pie, and as denomination, and apprehend
nothing shall ever part that golden tie,which
birds yoa SO fas, to my heart. And altho'
arm Obliged 60 differ in opinion from some
of you respecting political men and meas
ures, yet am not sensible OF any abatement
of christian affections on that account.
beseech you therefore to give me your at
.eI,ion, while freely express my views
concerning our national affairs.
The two parties, which now divide our
nation, improperly distinguished by the
names Federaists and RehubGcans, have ex.
listed from the close Of our revolutionary
war and this division now threatens the
destruction Of our independence have
the following reasons for my dissatisfaction
with those calling themselves Republicans
First. 1t is fact that they have discov-
cred much opposition to our federal consti.
tuition, which is justly considered under
providence as the bulwark OF the nation
The insuficiency Of the old confederation
is evident to all,who have any remembrance
of the ruin, which under j, threatened
our country for want of stronger political
bonds to the union and the utility Of the
present constitution is as eviden, from the
happy consequences, which soon followed
its adoption and operation. Yet the party
opposed to it, even after its adoption, "was
strong and numerous, and several Of them
were elevated into the new Congress"
which was the occasion OF great trouble a
that time. Some were clamorous for
new convention, and the most moderate for
amendments OF what had been ratified"
That Mr.. Jefferson was amongst the op-
posers OF the Constitution, appears BY his
letter to NJ. Mazzei, a citizen of Virginia,
bot then residcn, in Europe. He says, an
stead OF that noble love Of liberty, and tha,
republican government which carried US
through the war, an Anglo lMonarchico, .Ay-
isfocratick party, has arisen. Their ayow-
ed object is to impose on US the substance,
as they have already given US the form Of
the British Government. 1t is suffcien,
that we guard ourselves, and that We break
The Ad3sutian ties, by which they have bound
US in the FIRST slumbers which succeeded
our labors." Three things are TO be noticed
in this quotation from Mr. JeHcrson's letter.
He implicitly calls the constitution the form
efthe British Government, and its friends
are stigma.ized as an .Anglo, Monarchieo,
Aristocrasic, farfv, and they have been call.
ed by his votaries British harsizans, tories,
and other ye1troaehful names TO this day.
He not only estimates the ties Of the Con
stilution as weak, but recommends il as
incumbent on its enemies 10 break lhsm.-
He also shows his hatred to England by at.
tempting to lessen the value OF the Consti.
tuition on account of its resembling in form
that Of the English nation.
Mr. Gerry (now our Vice Presiden.) was
a member OF the convention, which framed
the Constitution; but disliked it so much,
that he refused to signit. When the del
cGates from Massachusetts, met to decide
upon the question Of adoption, Mr.. Gerry
was palmcd upon the convention by the en-.
mics of the Constitution, for the express
purpoee living weight to the opposition.
These and others like them are now
set up as the exclusive friends Of the peo.
pie, and The effects Of their friendship shall
be noticed in the sequel.
Seventeen sail OF transports, with seamen
4