The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1819-09-14

HE union could not have lasted '0na'y
ed much longer. IT. inconyeniencas "'pr
have been found 10 Increase. and ~ AL "Ouio
ges 70 diminish. With The growing s,ra -
OF the two estremiies Of the stale t6sv "s si
10 while have been separated ~ tbe,r H."
! weight Each section would have ,oc... '"n
the patriotism of posi4riIy. If not If ~ ,.-'i
| dence Of he present period the mono - W..
ate and auspiri2ns influences OF local rovs,,
mentand central Legislature. ''
II we had formed . compact part of NJ.
chusetts. II Maine had not been nahr.ll,
arated from the rest the state BIZ The ;a, sp
vention Of an independent soyereion,r
certainly would have arisen some solid ;s.
insupe rable, oh jectons 10 the measurs III
mong The principal would have been ,b,. =
/ ceasing 70 form part Of great and novel,,
! commonwealth OF the first and ,,a., s..S'
| nectahie IN the union--all whose ipst;n,,;,n.
/ Ike the orders of ancient architecture ,,a.s
the finest proportions and composed u
most durable materials. If the event con,l j;
fectually have been ayoided-snd he 6ncs,
Of natury did not point, a. il were. d;st;och,
TO hnal separation, the furest prineinles ~ y.
ely and patriotism would undoub,edlv b,ra
prompted the citizens of both sections IL b.r.
united IN respect 10 their present copnect;o,
N the aspiration Of Father Paul Of Ven;ea -
the prosperity Of bis beloved country Fsro
PERiETUA J The PRAYER might have been
applied in that case with the same feryour "
to the union ofthe states, and lis spirit cher.
Ished upon The same principle. The mos,
virtuous and enlightened individuals in an
parts Of the stale would have emulated p.-l
other on cultiyaiing those sentiments. whicb
had so long bound its various Interests locelbe,
in 50 much happiness and harmony. Morris
il probable that to any consideration. excens
the inevitable necessity Of final separation 80
MANY OF our best friends in Massacbusel,.
would have consented to make the sacrifice.
TO which they submitted. In the same spiri,
OF purity il may be pronounced with conG.
dence, that so great majority Of the GOOD
people of this district would have Welded he
maintenance of the connection to nothing bat
the firmest conviction, that its independence
would promote tbe prosperity Of maine more
than il would impair The welfare Of Massachl.
sets.
That we have experienced important sna
substantial benefits from our long connection
with Massachusetts,, sufficient 10 compensate
al least for many Inconvenience, no intelf-
gent and rejecting citizen Of chs district will
ever deny. They were the natural advan.
tsges resulting from such connection wtbp
great and powerful state These advantages
have been experienced in peace and in war
through The varioas vicissitu1es az rnIoniaf
and provincial dependence, Revolutionary ne.
Ri and republican liberty. A state ofinfancy
is naturally stale ofpupiiage. Accidents
may have originally connected us under he
same government with Massachusetts. Bat
at no time has Maine had any cause 10 com
plain of any failure of parentai attention and
benevolence. Long has she experienced he
faithful, guardian, fostering care Of Maseachu.
sets Even now if she has obtained ma.
turlty sufficient 10 authorize her emancipation.
every principle of houest gratitude and SELF
respect requires on her part The hearty and
spontaneous acknowledgment. that she labours
under no positive grievances from her present
situation.
Ii may be asked why ifit was ever expe-
dent that we should be united with Massa.
chusetts we should not have remained So
and what reason there was for separation now
more than existed an hundred years ago ? 10
answer To this it NAV he observed that we
were united originally hv negotiation be-
tween the great Territorial propriefors Of he
different parts Of the province, and hoslv By
The arbitrary act Of the sovereign Of Great
Britain; that the union was entirely involun
tarv on The part Of the population Of Maine
and that they had it not 10 their power 70 Dis
solve il until the period Of the revoluticn-
And why, II might also be asked, was there
any necessity for severing our connection
with The mother country Had not the rela-
ton been advantageous Aud was there not
The same reason for continuing i that there
was for establishing IL The answer i. no.
simply that we were oppressed and threw %
The woke, bot that Che fine had come Tor ouf
and independence-hat We
courted powerful protection while we wanted
il, and chose to take the sword into our own
hands when we were able 70 WELD IT, ne
answer i substantially the same now We
the connection as long as II seemed
to be for our interest For any tUrihfr an
swer il IS easy for the inquirer TO look a. mo
scale Of our wealth and ponn'aT
ton at the different periods 10 which the guess
ton relates.
But though the condition Of Name y ~
with Massachusetts might SOAR
have been perfectly competent TO he o'o'ps
~ purposes OF its political welfare. It IS eqos,,
lr nhYinns that IL fililre nosltfre pr0sPeIL.t