The Portland gazette., 1819-02-23

your arguments, say the democrats land il having
! been made party question how can il be ex-
pected they should D we do not acknowledge
the authority Of your court or respect the opinion
| a your legislature, say the genera government,
| and therefore we cannot allow your claim on
that account.
2. suppose then, on the democratic ground,
that the opinion and conduct Of Governor Strong
were erroneous in relation to his obligation 10 or
der the militia INTO service whenever called up-
on by the President, does this error invalidate
our claim for services subsequently, rendered.
when there was and still is no diversity Of opin-
ion respecting the necessity and efficiency Of
the services No, says Gen. King, his being
wrong makes no difference ; bat your thinking
mat ne was right, makes avery great difference.
Yoa-ought to be paid because you rendered ye-
ry essential seryice-all the service that was
needed-and in the most efficient and econo.ni-
cal manner; but you cannot and ought not be-
paIu, " until you put yourselves into a proper
condition 20 receive itn by making public de-
ciaration that Coy. Strong. the Supreme Court
and youfsolses were nssstshel III yyttr conStrue
tion Of the constitution It i true, what il past
cannot be mended, il is true declaration oft this
legislature will not be binding on a future il IS
true the resolve even OF future legislature can
not be binding on the conscience or conduct Of
the Governor for the time being yet since YOU
have thought, and publicly declared the course
pursued by the governor to be right though
whether he was right or wrong does not aFect
the real merits OF the question, there i pfopr-
ETY. IN your now declaring that he and you were
wrong. You will thus put yourselves IN a stu
atIon Ia which the government can allow your
claims with perfect propriety
Now this kind ofargument isn0t entirely new.
we have often heard tyrant school-boy on sei-
zing has weaker fellow by the car, oxclan
]" acknowledge yourself fool and wont pinch
you" or TO humble beggar, Saw Won lont de-
serve it and don't knew 5nt I'll give vou sone.''
But as addressed to full grown and honorable
men, this kind OF reasoning is we believe without
precedent Is il possible that Gen King could
seriously demand Of the Senate Of this State.
composed IA great part Of the sane members
for several years past, that they should as con-
dition of obtaining their rights, disayow opinions
which they haverepeatedly and publicly declar-
ed that the representatives of the fedefalsts of
this state, by whom Gov. Strong has been re-
peatedly reelected since the adoption Of the
course complained of, should pass a vote of CEN
sure not only upon Governor Strong. but upon all
who have advised, aided and supported him
We cannot believe that he seriously thinks 50
mesnly of the party opposed to him
But the Patriot says that the adoption ofthe
resolutions would in all probability be the
means of helping us to million Of dolarsD 1t
this were true, it is not the 1ind Of language
which we should expect to hear openly address
sed to the people Of Massachusetts,. Shall we
do a base and degrading act, seat our own
words" and censure our own conduct III 0ppo-
sition to our honest convictions, because it nay
be the means Of helping us to a miIlioa ofdol-
lars''? But it is not true, unless the general
government are more dishonest and corrupt than
under any administration we have ever suspected
them of being. it cannot be true b. r<t4v olsfeF
supposition than that they are holding this claim
in suspense, that they may use it as rod over
us@that they may use it az the means Of hum
bling and degrading the people OF this state.
On this supposition, the language Of the Patriot.
and of several of the gentlemen who urged the
adoption of Gen. Kings resolutions IN the SEN
ate, is perfectly Ineligible and appropriate.
The claimis equitable, say they, but We have
the staff in our own hands. We will never ac-
knowledge that you are right, until you have
yourselves acknowledged that you are wrong.
"a great part ofthe claim.'' said Gen. King, in
the Senate, $ is as equitable as any claim ever
presented to Congress, and have not the least
doubt that it will be granted as soon as we have
placed ourselves in proper condition to receive
it, by making some acknowledgement similar to
that contained in these resolutions Humble
yourselves say the advocates ofthese resolutions.
and you will be in proper condition to receive
your equitable rights from the general govern
ment. Dsavow your : principles and meas
ures,n says the Patriot. 6 an it will induce the
general government to allow the greater part. if
not all the claim - although Sir. Moody, in the
speech to which these remarks ofthe Patriot are
an introduction, declared : ersry dollar 50 re-
eeired, Should consider, as The rsteard Of ma
quity."