Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1817-11-25

toffiier, New y DIX. Will rake great iutSI~
eft in the latter, We fhould fuppofe the
interea would be of an oppofte charac-
ter, unlefs As the fudden and alarming ad
dition TO the States" lhould be confirmed
Into a reafon for accelerating their in
crease. La the Houfe of Representatives,
the powerful aid of ~ delegates will et-
feet the paiIage of the improvement bill (;
but ia the other Houte, the little, almoit
unheard of STATE of Mlihiippi ranges up,
like picaroon along Eide of line of bat
tie fhip, and commands her to irlke her
nas-the bill is loft in the Senate. On
the other hand, the Executive makes a
treaty with Spain, in which il is itipulat
ed 70 pay FIVE millions of dollars for the
Floridas. BY the contribution given TO
treaty making power, the tioufe of Rep
refentatives have nothing to do but to
pats the appropriation bill, or rather to re-
cordlt, for they are allowed no free agency.
he treaty goes 10 the Senate foi ranti
cation Pennfylvania and New York,
with free population of two millions,
are not fatished with Its terms but
while they are held in check by Louiiia
ma and MiillihpPi. with motley popa-
lation of 70. COO, the treaty is confirmed,
a warrant is drawn on the ueafury for
FIVE millions of dolars; and thus the
foundation is laid for three or four ne7v
Safes. We fay nothing of any repug-
nance of Manachuletts to the terms of
luch treaty; for having recently been
foothed by the blapdifhments of Virginia,
it is probable her affections will travel
further fouth- nunc n,ibi, nune ali 6enig,lo.
Are we all born free and do We not
pchcfs eqsal rights ? and can this practis
caIy be the cafe in government, where
one man 10 his private capacity flor it re-
fults in this) mas the fame power in the
deGgration of the fiji It officers of govern
ment, and in the appropriation of i'm
men(e fums of money from the treafury,
as twenty ? This part of the Conititu-
ton mutt have been conceded by momen
tary necefIity. and il poilibe to have pre-
vented it, ihould never have extended to
new States. q You had your foot on my
neck" faid the Dey of Aigiers to Com.
Decatur, I" and what could do ?" 1t
is esfy to believe 1--WE fpeak of human ma
ture as it isl that New York. when ihe
aiks from the ten millions ihe pays into
the treaiury. hundred thoufand, for in
ternal Improvements, finding her requef
fruftratcd by fate infinitely fmaller than
herfelf, lituated perhaps on the Red river,
or Miaouri, would feel mingled emotions
of disguf and indignation.
Whether the fubjects above alluded TO,
be or be not prefented 10 the con6dera-
ton of Congrefs this next feiiion, they
(erve as an calculation of the proportions
have laid down they thow where the
power lies; that it is unequal-and it is
we'll known that power is not long dor
mant. 1t ihould alto be particularly noted
that it will not be long before the itates
in the iouth and welt will have il in their |
power to control every executive appoint
ment, from foreign minilter to secte-
'sry Of legation, from major general to
an enGgn. The part which Virginia has
taken-her internal political lituAtion--
and the intereR which IN feels in the
erection of new Gates, We ihall referve
for future inquiry. Anxious as we are
for the prcfervation Of the union, belev-
ing, as we do. that it is indispensable fer
our growth and PROPERTY, as great and
fiourlthing nation-we invite the atten
ton of our ltatesmen, to the important
fubjett, that they may adopt meafures
which will countera6 the evils we antici-
pate, and the consequences we fear. The
Contribution pohesses within itielf the
remedial power, and it fhould be exercis-
ed for no one acquainted with the char
acter of the people of the north-the
fpirit and independence which actuate
them-their enterprise, induitry and har
dihood-their love Of liberty and inyinci
bic determiration--bnt knows, that, If |
there be a general fent;ment land this can
only refult from circumstances that war
rant III that they are eppreDed, no matter
wether by the hand of depot, or by un-
equal laws, no matter by whom, or from
what fource, their indignation would be
as vivid as the lightning which nafhcs on