Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1816-05-14

when the people OF Rhodc-lsiand were desir-
Gus to obtain the privilege of going in the
same way to the city Of New-york, CONGRESS
COULD NOT GRANT 1T because the state OF Con-
necticut lies between that city and the state
of Rhode Island. The constitution OF the ~
nited States, Article lst, Section 9, expressly
declares, that f" all duties and imports shall be
uniform throughout the United States" And
in section 8, of the same article that no pre-
ference shall be given by any regulation OF
commerce or revenue to the ports OF one state
over another The vessels OF no state can,
by law, by an annual coasting .licence go be-
yond g an adjoining state on the sea coast, =
and consequently, if Maine were separated, a
eoasling licence would authorize our vessels to
go to Portsmouth only. This would be the
extent of their privilege. II greater could
have been hoped for by coasters, It would
have been ofsuch incalculable advantage to
many OF the atlantic states, that they would
long before this have sought il; for it would
save them not only the expenses attending en-
terng and clearing, SO frequently, but, what
is of intellectually more importance, the travel
to and from custom houses, the time while ves-
sells must lie idle whilst the masters are gone
to enter or clear, the losses of wind and tide,
and the various other Inconvenience and losses
which must necessarily follow. But Congress
have not the power to grant the privilege.
Therefore. IL Maine should ever be represent
ed in the national senate, as state, the price
of this new dignity will be felt on our sea
board, and rivers, from New Hampshire to
New-Brunswiek. Entry and clearance, delay
and perplexity, will be The destiny OF hun
dreds Of vessels that now float at freedom with
wind and tide under the salutary privileges
now secured to them. Shall we then give up
our connection with Massachusetts, and aban-
don the numerous and valuable class Of citi-
| zens, whose interests are thus peculiarly Sc
cured by it, to all the burthens incident to
such a measure Shall we hope, yainly
hope, for new constitution that will ever
reconcile them to such sacrifice No, tor we
are convinced that no substitute would be ac-
ceptable, and that nothing but necessity will
bring them to yield 10 it.
Nor is the prospect less hopeless and dis
couraging in view oftbe subject in relation 10
the whole community and the past may fur
nish salutary lesson of instruction to every
man of reflection. AT the time when the
question Of separation was last taken, the peo-
pie OF Maine were in very different ccndi-
ton from the present. Our means and re-
sources were then abundant--every class OF
citizens had full employ and adequate COM
pensation--ihe public eApenses were light,
and easy to be discharged, from the facility
with which mony was earned and obtained
commerce was in fourishing state--the
husbandman found quick and profitable
market for the fruits OF his industry.and
Maine was, in every part Of it, fourishing and
prosperous. AT such period, the important
question of Separation was taken, when our
ability seemed in good measure adequate to
the support of a separate government land
yet under all these advantages, the voluntary
and unsolicited suffrages Of an immense ma
jorty Of tbs people were against the Separa-
ton only THREE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED
AND SEVENTY votes were given in favour OF IT,
But the scene is greatly changed, and our con-
dition is materially altered we have just en-
erged from an expensive war--our commerce
is far from being restored toits former activity
and pyo6t-the scarcity OF money is felt by
every class in society-the public debt, aud
the taxes incident 10 it, have been already in-
creased to an amount that sensibiy affects Our
interests under all these disadv anlaSes, q
policy, which should involve US IN further ex-
penses and sacrifices, would be that OF the
prodigal, who plays deep to retrieve his d.
minished fortunes.
All these considerations, we are sensible,
can have no influence in forming the opinions
of those who have fair prospects, and CORES.
ponding hopes and desires, Of receiving the
honours and emoulnents OF Office or Of those
whose local situation may be greatly enhanc
ed In value and consequence by the Separa-
ton. The reasons OF such men are unanswer-
able--.heir purposes are not to be changed
their ardour and perseverance to effect the
Separation will far exceed the utmost exer-
tons Of those who are opposed to ito them
we make no appeal. aud OF them we require
no hearing s.
But it is the great body Of the people who,
we trust, will be willing to pause and reflect
before they venture. on so rash measure.
We feel assured that they viii deliberately
compare their present security with their fu !,
ture prospects in case Of scparation--that
they will compare the privileges and advan-
tages they now enjoy, with the sacrifices which
the ,uax, ha raits1 u,,on IN cf}a IN AZ the al.