Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1816-11-05

Yesterday the election tor members Oh Lon
gress was holden in this State. The votes III
.this7townwere for the
Hon. EzEk1EL WHITMAN, Qed.) 251
q" Marx Harris, (demo. 28e.
+ Mr.. " Scattering IL.
The separation contest having closed, and
the doings of the convention being shortly TO
be laid before the Legislature, we cannot
forbear Offering a few remarks upon the course
we as editors Of this paper, have taken during
the agitation Of this important subject.
1t was our conscientious belief in the out
set that a separation was not wished for by
the people of this District, that they We're
contcntcd and happy under good and whole
seme laws wisely administered and impair
TALLY executed; that as we had no grievan-
ces TO complain Of, but what would be read
lily listened to and promptly redressed by our
existing government so we had nothing to
hope for in change in which our chances OF
forming good constitution and having its
laws administered by our ablest men, were
at best, problematical. Although thus deci-
dedly opposed ourselves TO revolution, we
were by no means unwilling that the subject
OF separation should be fairly discussed by
friends as well as opposers in our columns I;
but finding the Argus unwilling TO take this
liberal and fair ground, We were compelled,
in justice to ourselves, to take that side we
believed for the interest Of the district, when
we found ours almost the only press iawhich
that cause could be advocated. Those who
have taken the trouble to read the Argus,
since the commencement OF this controversy,
will recolleet with what intempe:ate zeal,
not to say baseness and dishonesty he cause
was supported. Those who presumed TO
doubt the utility Of separation were assailed
with all the abuse that vulgar jnselence and
personal hostility could supply. The minor
ity, as we were gratuitously called, were de-
nounced as pitiiul herd OF Office holders
too contemplate to be treated with decency.
The opposeIs of separation were hiding
their diminished heads" Yet after all this
vain glorious boasting after using every art
OF threatening, cajoling, deceiving, denoun-
cling and abusing, the people could not be
wrought up to the phrenzy of q few Of their
ambitious leaders, or rather drivers. The
requisite majority did not appear in favour Of
their darling object. This being the result,
when the votes were known in convention,
plain common sense honest man would have
believed the powers OF that body at an end,
by the terms of the law that created it. But
il was reserved for certain necrornancers Of
their committee to copjure up the ghost Of
Noble bags or some other lying spirit TO en-
able them to make majority on, OF figures
aud sums, that according 10 Dilworth and Pike
were too stubborn and unyielding. The
well known device has been seen and derided |
from one end OF this continent to the other. |
No political opinions or passions have been
applied to the consideration Of this pitiful
tarce. For its meannsss it has generally |
been treated with Vpntempt and scorn--for
its effrontery and falsehood it has been re-
ceived with deserved detestation. II re-
mains only for the Legislature to consign ii
infalny.
q We are happy to notice that the Hon.
Judge Widgery in the last Argus has, to his
own satisfaction, done himself justice in rela-
ton to his speech in the Convention at BIuns-
wick. We believe the public will be satisli- /
ed, on comparing it with the sketch we gave.
that we did him no injustice. The sen,i-
ments IN both are substantially the same.
1t now appears that he considered he had
a precedent hrpoint in the doings of the Con.
yentlon who formed The constitution of the
U. States. This is the only parallel case that
IN all his acquaintance with men and things.
Tor with books we believe he has none, he
could adduce-And how parallel that was 10
The proceedings Of the Brunswick Convention
Will appear by simple history Of that event,
which was as follows.
The old continental Congress found, by wo-
lui experience, their powers were wholly in.
adequate 10 the purpose of rational govern