Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1816-02-13
SEPARATION OF MAINE.
NO. I.
To the People Of tie District of Maine.

"e eopte " We Dt@ffct % Name.
THE question Of separation having for
some months occupied your attention and
as you will probably in the course of the en-
suing spring be required by the legislature to
express your opinion upon this interesting
subject; you will, hope, listen with candour
and calmness to some observations, calcula.
ted, humbly hope, TO enable you to fern
correct judgment. would not be thought as
Stunning or more wise than others; but having
thus Tar attended to the proposed measure and
the arguments in favor of it, with feelings of
perfect moderation you will permit me, in
the most respectful manner, to solicit your at
tentlon. Hitherto the newspapers have fur
nished you with arguments on one side onfp.-
The warmth of feeling on this subject which
has been produced, has in some measure SUBJ
sided and you are now at leisure to examine
the arguments which present themselves on
The other side.-A calm and upright judge will
always hear both SIDES before he forms Geci-
sion; and the more attention he bestows upon
the question and the more candour he brings
with him to the investigation and decision Of
the cause, the greater probability of correct
and impartial judgment With these feelings
on my part and hope of meeting similar feel
ings on yours, am sure we may both profit
by the discussion.
Before examining the merits Of the subject
It's proper to notice few circumstances at
tending Notwithstanding the number of
petitions which have been lately presented to
the legislature praying for separation of
Maine, It's well known that last summer and
autumn the good people Of this District were
perfectly satisfied with them situation as re-
CARDS their connection with Massachusetts,
They were at ease in their possessions they
made no complaints of oppression-express-
ed no murmurs or dissatisiaction-bu were
quietly enjoying the comforts of peace and re-
turning prosperity: whence then this change
What has SO suddenly disturbed those who
are now so anxious to be diuorced from Massa-
chusetts Proper What cause of jealousy OF
alarm Without impeaehing The motives of
any one, permit me, fellow citizens, to ask
you whether many measures have not been
employed to awaken public attention wheth-
er 1t has not been necessary tG apply unusual
stimuionts to rouse the people from their
peaceful slumbers j; and numerous arguments
to convince them that they are unhappy and
degraded.--lt would seem that some motives
OF interest or ambition have had their inllu-
ence on this occasion.
Again 1t is avowed with great apparent
candour by those who are urging measures for
separation, that no party viesvs have origina-
ted those measures and that no party feelings
should ever be mingled in the enquiry or de-
cision. And yet, believe it cannot be deni.
ed, that the arrangements which have been
made were all produced by the exertions OF
few gentlemen of the Republican party, with
out the concurrence or even knowledge OF any
OF those who entertain different political opin-
ions. In dsis particular, those who espouse
the cause OF separation, will excuse me in say,
ing, there is want Of fairness and frankness
there is an ayowal of feelings which are not
neutrality-suspicious. and practice do moi
gree.-Again-A similar want of openness
and candour appears in this. The people have
been persuaded TO believe that in case OF sep
aration the e,pences Of our government would
not be half so great as they no,g are. And
yet different stile of argument is adopted
when addressing those who would be proba-
BILE candidates for office to such, strong as
surance is pledged that handsome salaries will
be gwen so as TO command and reward dis
tinguished talents and patriotic exertion.-
Again-various are the accounts respecting
the seat q gorernment-the people of York,
Cumberland, and Oxford are assured that
Portland will be the happy tozvm. The cas-
tern counties are assured that Hallowell and
Augusta w'il,without any question, be the seat
OF government.-There is untairness in this
mode OF reasoning; not COMFORTING with those
professions OF candour which are so constant
y made to us.-Again-There is in the mode
OF discussing the question in the Argus, too
many illusions to the tyranny Of Massachusetts,