Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1815-02-06
MONITORIAL.


Were more so.icitous to maintain or
der and system IN these Essays, than TO en-
force the necessity Of = reforma,ioa,i sho'ild
in this place state long train Of facts TO
show, that the practice Of tpling = the pre-.
vslencc Of in,ozicalion have already spread
to an slarming extent. Dui no one, unless
lie re<ists The wisdom Of his senses, and tri.
fes with The convictions Of bis understand
ing, will, for moment attempt 70 contro-
vert ,he'fsct He must fss, site every
better feeling Of the heart, before be can &C.
ny, that they lead misery, poverty, crime,
and apprehension in their train, Every
heart susceptible Of compassion blceds at
the sight; and without stopping 10 consult
the cold calculations OF prudence, or 70
weigh our abilities Tor the undertaking, we
invoiunsarily start up as at the cry OF fire,
and use our exertions 10 check the coolia-
grafton, which is laying waste all before i.
Though private calamity ION such
foul practices stsres US in the face, wherev.
er We turn our attention, and few have the
hardwood to deny il; yet we are not aware
Of the full extent Of their operations upon
our political institutions The most distant
danger in this respect justifcs jealousy and
apprehension, and silence at such time
would be a kind Of ,reachery against socie-
y.
That virtue IS an essential support Of re-
publican States has been thousand times
reiterated. and is substantially true. The
laws in stcha government derive all their
force from publck opinion and when des
i!u,e Of this support, they are mere dead
letter. The convictions ofthe understand
iogsre not alone sufficient 10 maintain good
]awss they must also engage the affections
ofthe heart I; for men are swayed BY their
desires. When Philip of Macedon threat
snstl the 'Athenian Republic with subjuga-
zion, she had wealth and citizens enough
to wit stand his enterprises but her wealth
was converted TO the smusements Of the
people. and she chose rather to surrende l
her liberty, than to give up her favori,e
games and slows Demosthenes sounded
tho alarm, and carried the most powerful
convictions 10 their minds almost in vain
She made few fsint efforts but they on
" served 10 exhibit IN boldcr relief her de-
8eneracy from her ancient virtue.
What Is all this to Us! We are not A.
;hcnisns and no Philip threatens US with
suDjection. True, but we arc men and
corruption shall have once gained the as
tendency, we shall not be obliged 10 go in
search Of Philips beyond the limits OF our.
own country fought rather to say, some
daring Cataline will start up, and collect
round his standard every abandoned and
disaffrcted member Of the community.
Then, ye, who are Indifferent, 10 the pub'ick
nora's, and to the authority Of the laws,
look well to your property and your lives.
Or should you escape, and sleep secure 10
the very day Of your death, your sons viii
be reused by arguments addressed TO their
sensibility. How do you reason : Are
we not at this time making one vast stride
toward that vortex, which has swallowed
up all republics before US! When and
where will you make stand Every days
delay Strengthens and mulsiplies the inter-
es's Of vice, and weakens the power OF re-
sistance Do you expect to satisfy their
demands BY ,iclding As soon will death
be satisfied with destroying Affirm, and
I am supported by the experience Of ages,
that every inch Of ground we yield is q, the
peril Of our safety. The danger may be
thought remote I; but even this strange
tbnfortjs without any reasonable founds.
ton. Arc no, magistrates already threaten
ed With the loss Of their places for doiag
their duty The time is fas, approaching,
wien there will be no longer choice b.
tween successful resistance 10 .ice and cor
ruption, aid unconditional submission to
shcir sway.