Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1816-04-02
SEPARATION OF MAINE.

To the People Of the District Of Masne.

To the People Of the District Of Masne.
HAvISc in the preceding numbers takena
cursory view ofthe several reasons which haW
been assigned and urged by the advocates r
the independence of Maine, and briefly a.
sidered and answered the same, and havi4
in the last number given a full and fair star
ment and display OF the expense of maintas
ing government Of our ozyn which amosrt
to the enormous sum Of SEVENT Y-ElGlf7
THOUSAND DOLLARS per ann um, now
proceed TO the consideration Of another ob.
lection, which in its nature is Of momentpw
import.
An independent and permanent JuD1cIxsr,
is justly esteemed as the safeguard Of our
ngbts-the grand preservative Of our liberties;
subject to none o: those changes and derange-
ments incident to the other branches Of gov
eminent; and feeling its own elevation md
security, il is constant and sure protection
in those g troublous" times, when the pas.
sions OF the community are inhamed. This
proud a nd conscious independence has rendered
the Judges in England such firm supporters d
the laws and steady protectors Of the rights
and privileges Of the subjects.-It is this which
has given such celebrity to the British Courts
Of Kings Bench and Common Pleas, that their
decisions command the respect and confidence
OF the civilized world.-ln this Common
wealth we have hitherto had abundant reason
to rejoice in the possess on e this in
valuable palladium of our liberties. Though
the storms OF party violence have ragged abroad
and at times beat upon the e1fermai walls Of
the TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, yet, 5vithin those walls
| all has been calm and undisturbed.- Though
party prejudice and passion have in many in
stances disgraced the proceedings in our pub
tc councils and given the most wayward ten
dency to erecmioe measures; yet in our Su-
preme Judicial Court, innocence has always
found protection--justice has always been
administered with purity Of heart and &C.
kuowledged impardality Though in The
other branches of government, the spirit Of
party has attempted the subjugation Of our
dearest interests to its unhallowe. influence
yet here, truth and justice have m .iniained
their steady sway, mclouded by the mists q
political prejudice; u,aaed by the menaces
OF poaper. We can hardly estimate the yalue
OF this blessing, and perhaps never shall, until
eSfAi'Se Vi ~. licdstu gram we IlcNcI shay
be but should Maine be erected into an
independent government, how long shall we
enjoy the blessing I'VE must judge Of
tree by its fruits II mean not by any remarks
which follow to throw imputation upon The
motives of any one but merely to look At
human nature, and draw conclusions from what
we are daily Witnessing around us. There's
fds's'oa IN opinions as well as in dress-and
FASHION is always disposed to command-and
people are disposed to obey its die atls.--A
canno: be disguised, that for many years there
has been among certain class ofour citizens,
prevailing opinion that OUR JUICES are TOO
independent: that they ought TO be accounsa-
BILE to public feeling and opinion as Legislators
are; and be chosen at short periods or be re-
movable at pleasure, whether they have been
guilty OF misconduct or not. The want o.
this power has often been subject OF COM
plant within the walls of Legislative bodies