The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1819-09-21

-" NV ia' 'uS PUBIC SeDfimon.
has been declared upon the present suI,ierr !.
may 'ecur 10 the course oi lie ques,ia., We
!. was agitated in 8I6. propor,;o, Sc, ,'nNc
70 tour was then required for tie peon,a =
Name to express their consent 10 seoa,.,;. y
Though thai ratio was not obtained u 80.
actually was, greater than the nlurabt,, II.
was made the condition on tue late nc...a 'a
IN Other words the legislature thought ,I.a 1s
give The sa'ss plurality upon auolb.r ~,
wonld furnish sufficient evidence IL NJ nm! 'a'
OF the people "'S
snch requisilion was perfectly .eason,t.
u was just and equitable. 1t was u, ~
sary 10 require larger plurality ,b,n
actually obtained beioe, ii there VS. rs
er object than to ascertain The sense !, ~, -,
people II after that interval they re,,.;s
precisely IN the same proportion of the
mind trey were then, Inc district was e,,,,,''
to independence. L might LARRY be pres ,r'
ed IN such case That The proper ne,,oa =
separation had arrived. A sufficient -,
bad intetrened for consideration AMI I,
same time short enough 10 make ,.p ,ecaas
vote he act Of the same parties. Tia NH,
nwfy, it might be well supposed. eop,s }.
willing to acquesce In the delerm,nato, u
The same decided majority ard The ,e.nl,
might certainly in that case be prona,,,.e.s
the deliberate voice Of Maine The t.rt 80" ~
that such a majority had once been oh,.i.,'
might rai'onaiiy be supposed 70 enter INTO II.
Judgment to De formed by individuals unan
the succeeding trial. Il was couslderalon
Which among others might have its proe,
share OF Influence
IL Is tue, that from single trial nc ~.
sort the conclusiou might not be 50 decisive
great majority might suddenly be Nh.
tanned by species Of accident or surprise.
as may be supposed TO have been somewhat
the case with regard to the vote of Nj I 1915.
10 lake that as criterion Of the clear senst
OF the people on the subject would certainly
be erroneous, il any effect j. 10 be ascrihei
to The subsequent revision Of Tue question Iy
the people in September ofihe same year. It
may be granted, II would not be entirely cor.
rect TO bring the two votes into absolute com.
parl<on with each other as the sense " Tie
people was taken in the one case upoui lie
SIMPLE, abstract, inpependent quesliun, AM in
me other II was required D. on he same qIes-
ton IN connexion with the terms.
But il cannot fairly be denied, that Y.
pedted expression of the sentiments Of na.
3oraty, continually on The same 'site. though
varying, as II necessarily must ID Us reIatlse
proportion, deserves to be regarded as te-
Iberate and decisive indication ot pubic
pinion. II sscerfsins and esi bllsbes the fact
haiti IS not accidental 10 dispute the eiElct
ot such expression, when once clearly ait
distinctly manifested, would not only he con
trary to justice, but 10 call 10 question tie
hrst principles Of republican government II.
may still retain their rights Of ofia-
ion but whatever may be their private j1ls.
ments, it IS the part OF good citizens % suO-
NIT 70 necessary political laws. That there
are some who lead and others who are nRu-
ence in such questions. is fact thai always
exists on. political occasions and apples H.
discriminatory 10 all party divisions.
In relation 10 this il ) pertinent 10 notice,
that when the question OF separation was pro-
posed TO the people in the month o. May 1916
the numbers IN favour were 1854 to G,49i
against and.wheu it was submitted TO them
again in the September OF tie same year th4Te
were 1869 on the former side ano f0,547
on The latteg-it has also bearing 10 remark
that considerable majority Of Tie memttfs
Of both branches of.lhe legislature elected that
year from Maine with reference ID measure
10 this subject, were in favour OF separation;
and that Of those elected The present year, all
The senators and six sevenths VI tie reprssen-
atives OF this district were on the same side
Admitting that all the exerton was on one
side. it is evident there was little interest ex-
cited 10 counteract il on The other. And
though It may be granted, that ibis i an lrre-
Suar mode Of asceltaining the public VIII on
ms particular point, still 1t j. entitled 10 some
consideration. II was fact, which IN con-
neson with The equally numerous petitions Of
he same complexion from The same quarters
received al Inc same time slgnIEcaiion ana
confirmation.
But the result of the last vote puts an end
Q the question forever Il was fairly put 70
he people with the whole Of The subject be-
ore them, and all The foregoing circumstances
resh in recollection. They were told distinct
y, that unless they gave plurality OF lsecln
avour OF the measure, II would MOI idhe 81
ect that such an excess was SINE qua non,
condition upon which alone separation wou'a
De the event. This was an equitable aho
,onciliatory texture of The act. 1t was ionce
1 just provision for the security Of me minor
ty, and proper Precaut:on for the Interests
,f Maine. And il is natural 10 suppose 'aSs
/ might have attracted The sutfiages q n'aif
=; r,o,ndad and raA.ci;ng individuals in tbs