Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1816-09-24

,erye local interests, or crafty political am
hilton. Under all these circumstances there
fore. let il be left to the sober judgment of the
p,bIic, whether il is too much to say, that the
,,oral majority of the district is against the
measure. An extraordinary concurrence of
unavoidable causes prevented a full and ade-
ouate expression ofthe real public sentiment
upon the occasion but it's still a fair and
sufficient expression of it according to the
principles adopted in the act ofthe legislature,
and il is therefore entitled TO be regarded as
an equal expression of the legal and moral
sense Of the people of Maine upon the ques-
ton OF separation. Should the question be
taken again tomorrow, there is no doubt there
would be great majority againstit. Perhaps
II is not going too far TO say, that upon anoth-
er experiment there would be two thirds of
the votes thrown in the negative. In fact, let
almost any ratio whatever he established
now on vote to preueu its taking place, and
The people would take care TO see that the
II ratio should be satisfied. For they now I'M
( derstand the subject and the object. They
are now conscious of their strength. They
are convinced OF the correctness of their cause.
They know their auxiliaries and they know
also their adsersaries.
hetruth is apparent, that the party them
elves are dissatisfied with the leanness of
their numerical majority. They hardly at
empt to conceal their discomfort aud disap-
pontment. They are sensible, that the result
Is neither what they expected, nor near what
they pretended. They promised themselves
an Overwhelming majority in favour of the
measure, and they perceive with confusion
and astonishment, that with all their arts and
efforts they have failed in obtaining even the
poor FIVE ninths. Their chagrin and NORTH
cation therefore are inexpressible. Hence
their houncng and laundering about the cal
culations, their trial Of all the rules of ari,hme-
liz, and their despair al discerning that they
must experience an abortion. They know,
that the question is decided against them, and
they are now ready to fly off the handle, and
il fraud should fail, TO carry the thing by main
force. The fact is, they have driven this
thing too hard already. The people cannot
bearsuch pressure. reaction has been pro-
duced by its own violence. They attempted
ocary il by storm, and is rage has recoiled
ed upon themselves. The fire, which wa.
threatened to be kindled, did indeed return to
scorch where it was least expected - They
are defeated in their object by their own ac-
knowledgement, and they have accordingly
to submit 10 the disgrace of baflled design.
There never was more perfect discontinue.
Their defeat has been fully equal to the tri-
uuph they anticipated. Accordingly their
humiliation and shame are in proportion to
their former confidence and exultation.
The matter therefore may safely be consid-
cred as put to rest for another ten years
Thatseems TO be about the regular period in
owpoitical system for the revolution Of this
question. The legislature of Massachusetts,
. presumable. will not be willing 10 consume
Me session in every year upon this eternal
subject; and the people OF the commonwealth
would probably object to the expense, vexa-
. ton and delay Of business accustomed by a
constant recurrence OF this ncessani question.
ltwould finally become as ridiculous claim
upon the attention Of the legislature, as that
oiAmy Darden's horse in Congress and to
prevent their having any further trouble from
i, II this children's play is pursued much
longer, they had better pass perpetual statute
authorising the question to be taken annually
on the first Of April. Ia Maine however il
will not do to try it again Immediately. The
people will not endure TO be harrassed upon
this subject any longer. The delusion is over
and any further attempt to revive it will be
speled with resolution and Reproduction.
Butt is minated. that although the
question has 5s.n decided by the people, j,
has not been determined by the convention,
nd the Argus expresses its con fidence e, that
oaan isvssiiga'ion IF The voice, the requisite
humber will be found to be in its favour.
ihis last attempt to appeal from the people
stamps the character OF the measure, and
sAe~s that al the party wants is power to
carry It's projects into execution. The wei
hrs OF the people is only their prctext, and
expression Of its will is only used as .
'om TO obtain the controul over them. Ii
maniiests that if possible they are determin-
m'o carry their point without regard to
principle, and since they canno, succeed by
Ms means TO- separate the district, az al,
s'sH'' to effect the object. How foreign
from The language Of those, who only a few
C'n since were the faithful servants of the
puol'c and anxious only for the benefit ofthe
/ HAL