The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1819-07-13
SEPARATION.
FEVERS

In the years 13 5 and 1916, there was very
strong current OF emigration setting from Maine
10 Ohio. Every man in the least dlscontented
with his situation and many who had no reason
TO be so,-all who were tickle minded and I'M
stable, were for selling out at any price or no
price al sll,-and going TO Ohio. Paradise was
in Ohio. Many fine farm was sold OH for
Wagon and span of horses; and farmers that TO-
day were comfortably seated in the midst Of large
possessions, by tomorrow had melted them all
into just trash enough TO convey them to Ohio.
1t was really a raging epidemic, which our far
mers significantly STYLED the = Ohio fGrsr.n This
disorder was artfully enough excited. There
were spectators and agents in all parts OF this
county. Some encouraged it, in order 70 pur-
chase the farms of any who were fools enough to
sell them for quarter Of their value. Others
were paid for their services by Ohio-iandhOlders
Every tavern and grog-shop had its advertise
rents. plans. and hand bills, and the country
post Offices were full ofthem lust arrived "a the
mad. 10 the post master-wlth little note at the
bottom &c Sir, please TO put this up IN some
conspicuous place in your fice." The agents
and promoters Of tins scheme were all instigated
nv private and selfish views. The inconven-
fences peculiar 10 our climate. and even few
cold summers. were continually harPed upon, and
artfuIly presented in all possible discouragng
shapes and colours till the people were fairly
t.razed-stark, staring ad-and began almost to
believe that in Ohio pigs did really run about
ready roasted aud that chimnes were indeed
built of pancakes
But mark the result After while we began
70 hear of Que aud another that did not find all
they expected in Ohio One was rather sober
about il. another wished he had his farm in Maine
again. another cursed his folly and loudly warn
ed his friends here to beware of the like, and to
keep we'll while they were so. In fact it was
found TO be the ruin of many for the gain Of few.
The Southern winters were indeed not so long as
ours, nor so frosty-but they were wet and sick
Iv-the soil was deep aud rich and needed no
manure, butt was full ofpUtrid vegetable sub
stances which being exposed for the first time
to a burning sun, bred malignant fevers and swept
of the people like rotten sheep Corn, TO be sure,
was 25 cents the bushel but then Salt was 3
to dollars. And wild grapes, peaches, bears
and Indian neighbors. were found to be poor
substitute for the apples and cyder, salt fish,
kind neighbors and excellent institutions of New
England.
But tres tless spirits are never wanting IN society
There are always some who delight in change,
and others who rest their hopes of preferment and
gain upon political revolutiOns-and the people,
strange as it may seem, are too apt 10 listen TO
cajoiing proposals of some new and untried
scheme which barely processes, truly or not, to
make them happier than they are. 1t Is the ma
ture of man. Wise or simple learned or I'M
learned rich or poor-he undertakes present
solid advantages, and IS prone 70 catch at any Of
Ter of change. Comforts and blessings innumer
able avail him nothing, so long some untried
felicity is presented in specous colors before him
and solicits his enjoyment. This Ohio fever is
but another mode Of appearance of the same Ia
tent disease, and there is no cure so certain
to eradicate it from the system altogether, by
dose or two ofreason &common sense, taken few
mornings fasting Once it was all the rage to buy
ND lands here in Maine. speculation. And
in consequences, lands were forced up to a price
they would not bear and many found b, sad ex
perience, their error. Sometimes field is thrown
into house lots by the opening Of new street
and no man is happy till he owns one. The sell
Ter pockets handsome sum-the buyers-only
burn their fingers-thats all. have heard that
this vas once the case with the land on the point
at the east end of Piscata9aa bridge. few
years ago portion of the country was beJugged
after rights in the Pemaquid lands. The sellers
made a penny--the lawyers also got iees-l be-
lieve the BUYERS don't like to say much about IL.
There also was formerly silver mine said to be
found in Freeport. The good people there and
about there can best tell who made money by it.
Yet all were in rage to own shares. One
Harris Ransom was employed to open and work
it-and some silver-s miths, it was said, sold
spoons half pewter as Freeport sttrer, which were
eagerly bought up at great prices Ito encour-
age American manufactures
might instance turnpipe madness, factory
madness, &c. &c. but the reader will recoilect
hundred of them for himself.
Now what is this separation scheme but anoth- !
er sort of Ohio fever. We are perfectly well if |
we did but know it--all our institutions are four
ishing ard on firm and solid foundations. The |
= hp IN,
good hands and well managed. The taxes are !
light. and the people, to say the least, as happy
under their own government as the people in any
State in the Union-and the friends OF separation
themselves acknowledge that our present consti-
tuition i most excellent that except per-
haps limitation in the number of represents
tives, or some other trifing amendment which
nav Just as well be done without separation as
with, they would choose the Constitution ofMas-
sschusetts as the Constitution of Maine. And
all are agreed that the public officers ought to
be honorably supported, and that we cannot get
along without taxes. Indeed there seems to be
no definite object proposed which this sepsra-
ton is to efTect-ony il seems we are 10 be
Ionlehoic or other kind OF better of, as it were.
But after long and dspassiopste reflection, am
convinced that the chances much against US.
We shall RISK great deal-and are not certain
Of gaining any thing. We may hnd, like our
Ohio friends, that corn is 10 be had for only p
cents a bushel-but it wont seem SO pleasant to
rive dozen bushels of corn for one Of salt.
Separation, depend on IT, viii turn out to be the
yain of the'few. but terrible hoax to the ma
ly.-I.ike the Freeport silver, 1T may shine
while it is new. but in the end it will prove at
least hall pewter. JONA lHAN.
TIE INDEPENDENCE Of Name.
80 ~