The Portland gazette., 1819-05-04

.ions, more inconsistencies and evdslons than
We should have thought the papers could
contain: that "the most obstinate oppo-
nenls' of separation are convinced that II
will succeed that I" "the public voice is
most decidedly in its favor = that the over
whelming sentiment is such as TO prevent
it from being even party measure, and to-
secure il tranquil success that this Is
special reason why IL should now be adopt
ed:--and yet, that the issue Is too pgecan.
-oas 10 be trusted to the consciencss and ua-
derstsndings of our Representatives, too.
desperate 10 be hazardcd 10 The result of de-
liberation and conviction, and as party
contest so doubltully Balanced thai, "ths
neglect of one town TO be sully represented
NAV defeat The measure ?" Is il that they
have requested usto drain our town tres-
su.ies by hiring men 10 aid their scheme
under the guise of Representatives, and
prostitute the Legislature each 10 support
theConstitution,b a.direct dissolution oil 1T?
When virtuous people see important
plans sgitaled, depending on few plain
reasons easily undersl sood /; and attempts
TO bury these reasons under great heap
of confused words nothing to the. purpose,
prudence requires them To be cautious. In
the present instance halt dszen short
questions would be worth more TO shew us
whst will be for eur good than all the eau
Gus precepts that have been printed.
In case of separa alicn should we have q
better government No. Should we have
cheaper one2 NO. For ten years it
would PROBABLY be a hundred per cent.
dearer, and fifty per cent, ever alter. Are
there any weighty reasons IN favor Of it
| None, as respects the people at large.
Who then are the movers OF il : About a
hundred, more or less, OF diseontented men,
who want what they have not got. If they
had been quiet, would the people be now
contented and happy! AS perfectly 60 as
any people on earth. Indeed, they are so a
few men half distressed, quarter despon-
dent,, 4 quarter betwixt hope& fear, pri-
ately proud crazy petitions for separation
into peoples hands or pockets, and all 9TH
ers mind their business. When we send
Representatives to the General Court, what
ought we to send them for ! 10 make
good laws. What men ought we to send
Such as will inquire what is for the public
welfare, act according to their best under
s.andings,and regard their oath y their duty.
The signers of The caucus precepts, If
fthey have half the good sense and prudence
which we; believe they have, will not fancy
that We are making a personal attack.
Their doings. made public by themselves,
il is respectful, as well as rightfuI 10 can
vass. The character OF caucus proceedings
is no secrecy. Some object is got up as
the ball to be caught. The question is no
longer whether the object is right and just,
but how i. may be seizsd upon no, what
means are fair, but what means will sue
ceed. The business is considered a sort of
game, in which moral scruples are laid
aside, as boxers lay aside ,she iuw, and. ne
/ who is the most cunning at expedients, is
the best fellow. The most violent man In
the concern is the most ready to write
something in favor of the object and with
the consent of the others, or without it,
puts their names to IL, and sets it in motion.
! rhis course others may think justifiabIe !;
we do not. But in justice to the signers of
the precepts, we believe that most of them
would sooner have singed their fingers than
given their signatures to the thing, had
they considered themselves personally res
ponslble, and their characters pledged tor
It's correctness. One of them, we know,
did not attend the meeting whence it pur-
ports to be issued we doubt not this was
the case with others: and we charitahiv
hope the rest may find an apology as good.
Difference in opinion is not contention
/ We differ from the gentlemen it is true.
They say 10 thepeoples in substance, : We
know what you ought to do trust US :"
On the other hand We desire to hear the
peopls reply, We will try to learn our
own duty, and trust ourselves. If on ex
amining ourselves we do honestly bSlieve
We ars well, We will not take pbysic even
though the doctor seems con6dent that The
price OF it would make h,m better"
Several gentlemen, after rejecting and
tconferring,a as free ciuzens, offer TO the pub
lie the above remarks. They cl,im moi
the power, and have not the inclination,
and are not under instruction." TO enlist
men into service at public expense; nor
any service 10 enlist men in, They do NOT
array. their, nAmesin capitals to influence
free people. free people are infuen-
ced by facts and reasons :; not by names
and acquisitions. We speak as to wise
men; Judge ye whatwe say 4,
/, EXTRACT OF A LETTER.