Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1816-10-29
For the Portland Gazette.

MEssRs. EDITORS,
In your paper o64he 22d inst. " SPECTATOR who
processes not to have been in situation distinctly
to hear all the arguments, has given you sketch
OF the debates in the convention at Brunswick, on
the report relative to the votes returned. Among
other gentlemen stated to have addressed the con-
vention, perceive certain remarks ascribed to me.
so di.Jolnted however are they reported, that
can recognize in them faint resemblance to what
was really urged by me on that occasion. Ifthere
was no intention to misrepresent, justice is hardly
to be expected where the remarks of gentlemen
are condensed into tenth part of their original
compass. The spectators desire. to he corrected.
lnone or two particulars you will allow me to do
ii. am represented 70 have said that "Massachu-
sets cannot obect TO the construction hy pc hetic-
ally minated by the committee 1 did say that
from the whole history of the proceedings, from
time TO time, relative to the separation Massachu-
sets was Virtually pledged to give her consent,
whenever majority of the people Of Maine desired
It iEatsthis position was distinctly acknowledge
ed by the committee Of the Legislature in their re
port, which being prehxed to the law by their or
der, may be considered also as recognized by the
Legislature itself. That from the intentions of the
Legislature as expressed IN the report thus prefix
ed and thus sanctioned it rot to lie doubted but
their assent would be given by sappletory law,
upon the actual majority. That otherwi-e SO large
majority having been given in favor of seprration
upon the abstract question, and ono so respectable
upon the terms and conditions "A sense Of inius-
tce, to use the language Of that report might and
would be ielt BY the people of Maine. am stated
to have intimated distinction between right and
exped'ency in the construction OF the law In this
am misrepresented, but not l presume, Intention
ally by the SPECTATOR" recollecting remark
somewhat similar to the one reported in relation
to the Lyman votes. did observe that on. that
part OF the report, felt less embarrassment in Civ
ing an opinion; because was happy TO perceive
that, either in the view OF the Subject taken by the
committee, or by other gentlemen, the admission,
or rejection OF those votes would not change results
SO as to affect the decision of the main question
That it this had been the effect, should have he ST.
tated for although it was always just to do right
II was not always expcdient to insist upon the APP
plcation Of abstract principles of right in all their
consequences. That the conduct of Lyman, actu-
ally dictated by majority of the town and impu,a
bic to them. being violation of the right of vot-
ing secretly, which constitutes the very essence Of
balloting, and affords the ouly adequate protection
TO the tiniid and ditlent against the powerful and
overbearing, indispensable in republican govern
ments, il would be no injustice to the iswn to re-
ject votes, given under such circumstances. That
the expedient suggested of applying the corrective
only to such votes, as might be proved to have been
unduly influenced, would be Intellectual inasmuch
as the same dependence, which occasioned II, added
to sense of shame would restrain the persons in
jured from making the avowal.
NATHAN wEsToNjr.