Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-02-01
FRoH THE BosroT PATRIOT.
4 SPARK FROM TIE Altar OF rs:
CONVENTION IN MAINE,

IL
The Portland Argus of Thursday las,
contains the truly patriotic and spirited pro.
ceedIngs ola Convention of Delegates from,
the several towns in the Comfy of.Oxford
District of Maine) on the disgraceful and
ruinous policy which has so long been pur-
sued by Massachusetts. We venture To
predict, that uness different Course Of
proceeding is adopted unless, instead OF
thwarting the National Government in all
Its efforts for the protection and defence of
me country instead of attempting 20 make
lnroads upon our free and happy Constitu.
ton, and appointing ConUentions to "eDfce,
Die the sacred bands" which unite onr
great and powerful conEederacy unless.
instead OF all this, they speedily take A.
merlcan ground, and Cooperate with the
National Government in its efforts 20 erhek
me enemy trpm Mime unless, we repeat,
a state Of things like this is produced, We
nave no hesitation in predicting that Maine
9viH land Of right oughtto BE-" absolyed
from all connection with British Massa.
chuset,s. The people of Maine, as well as
their leading men, possess courage, patriot
ism and energy in an eminent degree. For
months and even years, they have seen the
constituted authorities of the only free coun.
try in the uniyerse the men oftheir choice
and the choice of al immense majority OF
their country men +; beared, insuited, oDDo
sed. and even threatened by factious Mas
sachusettsi And what is the fou ndat;on Of
those disgracefui proceedingsf Simply he i.
cause Congress, in obedience to the loud Il
reiterated calls of their constituents, whose
gallant spirits could no onger brook the dali.
ly accommodating injuries aad indlgnities O f
England, declared war against that haugh.
ty and overbearing power
The people of Maine deserve great cred
It for their forbearance, Although thev
have seen the Constitution, that great re
ward of all oar Revolutionary tolls and suf,
feriAgs, basely attacked although thev
have beheld Massachusetts in opposition ~
the most solemn injunctiOns of Washington
busiy employed in undermining the great
fabric of our union although they bave
witnessed repeated and deadly blows aimed
at their liberties, still they have forborne to
do themselves justice, by assuming that
rank and Importance in the Union to which
they have so just claim. 1t was not until
one third of their territory had been suffer.
ed to remain, month after month, in posses.
sion of the enemy, without any effort TO ex-
pei him it was not till tn y beheld Massa .
chusetts eraeavoring to thwart the Nation-
al Government IN its effort for the recove
~ of this territory, and even appointing
Conventions, which can only have a ten
dency to assist and encourage the enemy
that the free and hardy citizens of Maine
resolved to summon the energies of their
District into the cause of their much Injured
country.
The following is the Concluding para
graph of the Report of the Oxford Conyen
ton, and the Resolutions
It remains for you. fellow citlzs ms. 70 opnose
an impenetrsble barrier 10 the aspiring hopes of
disappointed men Invite your republican bre
thren throughout the District OF Maine 10 q
General Convention; Your Legislature has set
you the example. Unitew lth zeal in the cause.
and rally rodnd the Standard of Union. Il. firm
and watcbfu, and your LIBERTIES are SAFE
Peace will again smile upon your land, in spi e
OF your foes at home and abroad ever, nation
must have its rise and decay Great Britain is
At her zenith Of prosperity and power, but an
overuling Providence, or circumstsnces as IN
expected as her acquisition OF strength, will
wres. it from her, she will abandon her un-
just Preten'ions, and your country will tri.
umph.
Therefore Resoiveg, That II is expedient that
the District Of Maine constitute part of the
State Of Massachusetts, no longer than the
State Of Massachusetts gives support to the
Union.