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


fined more to its merits, and less liceuce was
allowed 10 addresses, that could have no other
tendency than to irrltale and inhaine. Where
such decided character prevailed upon the
whole, it may be unnecessary 10 aliude 10 ex-
ceplions. The beneficial Effects Of Ibis
mode Of proceeding mayste supposed to have
appeared in the result. The same spirit has
continued ID the interval since The question
was determined and il ls TO hoped lhatits
influence will extend throughout It's conse
quences, and be carried into The convention
The period Of separation was undoubtedly
question Of political erpsdiehcy. Questions
of this kind must ever be IN some measure
matters of speculation. There must always
be il all human probability difference OF sen
inenl on such subjects aud individuals who
may feel perfectly clear at one time, may he
reasonably led TO doubt, not TO modify their
opinions and adapt them to existing circum-
stances at another Because separation va,
not expedient in 1916 it does not ioliew that
IT neTer lO0ltid be.
Separation might be expedient in itself, aud
yet not absolutely 50 under all circumstances.
However clear political principles may he il
the abstract polIlcal questions are necessarily
mi1ed and complicated, AMI sometimes of 4
nature not entirely free from difficulty. Tn
der certain circumstances particular objects
may appear to be desirable, which under
others may entirely cease 10 be so; and mea-
sures NAV be expedient under particular as
pect ol affairs, which under change OF situa
lion may be completely divesled Of all their
recommendations In the same manner, what
may not be altogether expedient at one time
may become sufficiently 50 at another
Without undertaking 10 shew that separa-
ton was especially expedent at the present
period more than it might have been five or
even ten years hence, IL IS at least evident ID
the first place, that a more favourable season
OF tranquility could hardly be expected 10 &C.
cur within twice that time and it NAV be
safely assumed in the second, that the qucs-
ton was very different now from what il was
in l8i6-different IN its terms and conditions
and totally different in its tone and temper
Such calm as has succeeded to the turbu-
lence OF that time and cast It's spell ever he
political elements, bad never before been On
Joyed since the question has been agitated.-~
Without undertaking therefore, il may be re-
peated, 10 settle the absolute exptdiency Of
this question 10y any prior reasoning, there is
still train Of reflection into which the mind
may now be led upon the subject, which
will naturally and justly have the effect of re
eoncling il 10 the measure.
1t may be observed, that upon subjects of
this kind in general individuals will originally
be apt to form their own opinions, as il Is
right and proper they should. The opinion
Of any individual, it is obvious, al the same
time, may be right or il may be wrong. And
so the opinions oftwenty persons OF one side
may be wrong, while that Of one person on
the other is right. But as there must be some
rule observed upon su.-h subjects, and the ra-
tional presumption is that the greater proper
ton will be right, the principle OF political
law which prevails n all republican commu-
niies is, that the opinion of the majority shall
prevail--Or in other words as some aier atoms
must be taking place in the condition OF eve.
ry political community, and the majority is
the necessary representative Of the society,
the opinion Of the majority is taken TO be the
opinion Of the whole. Some opinion must
necessarily prevail and the will of the pub
lie, which must be ascertaned by some prin-
ciple, is determined like that Of an individual
by The inclination OF balance of opipion.
But though the balance Of mere majority
may be sufficient to settle in all matters of an
ordinary municipal or parliamentary charac
ter, TO facilitate the despatch and secure the |
decision ofpublic business, yet there are some
questions OF great political nature, such as
those which relate 10 a change in the condition |
or constitution of community, in which |
something more than a simple majority, may |
De considered requisite; more especially wnen
the effect Of the proposed alteration is final
and irrevocable. la such cases something
beyond the Turn OF copper, or common
casting vote, is certainly necessary. Ii $. ne
what more than an actual, possibly accidental,
plurality does not concur in the policy Oi The
projected change, it certainly would seem 10
be a sufficient consideration N favour OF thing
remaining in their existing State. Such a
principle is Of perfectly constitutional char /
acer. for il is contained and re recognised in all /
our political charters. The precise positive
ratio, to be sure, is arbitrary. The CONCUR
renee Of three tonrths Of The United States Tor
instance was required to the adoption of the
Federal Constitution. 1'sro thirds OF both
branches OF the national legislature are requir-
ed 10 agree i, proposing amendments TO tina,
instrument; or tzvo thirds of the several states
must concur IN calling convention Tor that
purpose and before these amendments be-