The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-02-01
THE GAZETTE.
PORTLAND. ItespAY. FLp. l. le9o.

fas and tho Ecr,e<ehihtiye OF that District IN
Congress, to use All means in their power 60 OBJ
tain restriction On slavery in Niesouri even
though it ! 2 obtained at the expense Of the adj
mission of Maine. We publi1h their proceedings,
10 show the spirit which vi are happy TO sre
prevalent upon this subject lin this District it
discovers a spirit OF indie pentcnce, which a ror-
lion ofterritory 50 respectful asthis demanding
itsrig- q lis tights oily, at The hands of the ma
tonsl government, Stout. feel e. express. They
declare tliat though they ace, and always hive
been, FIRM irnds Of the separation, still they
wnh moi to gain The boon by the sacrifce Of
principle. We ray let such meetings be held
throughout this lli-iriet LET show that we
have the spirit Of fiseaen--thai NC are worthy
oi the sfaiirn which we claim To occupy. Let
oar motto fs .fH jusnsr, ra,f coeium y
m tie LEGISLATURE OF Massachusetts,.
5lessrs. Quincy ard KING. Of the Senate.
and Messrs. IAwrrsor, Johnson and
AYEr, OF the House. have been appoint
cd a committee to report on the expedi-
ency of repeating tho clause IN the Sep
nraiion act, which makes the admission OF
Maine into the Union hy the 4th OF
March, a condition CT separation from
the Commonwealth. We have no doubt
their repols viii be in favor OF the repeal,
in which case. the motives 10 induce our
members in Congress to vote for the adj
mission of Maine. without the incum-
brance of Missouri. will be almost entire
ly removed, and they will be left. in a
great measure. free from the bias of pri-
vate and local feeling on subject OF
great national importance. 1t has been
thought by some a strong asgument. and
one which ought to influence our Repre-
sentatives. that as all the measures adopt
ed under the act of separation would be
void. if VIC were not admitted by the 4th
of March. and as considerable trouble
and expense would be the consequence
of repetition Of these proceedings, that
some sacrifice Of principle ought to be
made, to avoid this evil and to procure
the desired object. We have not hest
tatcd to avow our disapprohation of such
doctrines, they lie at the foundation oil
our political fabric and will surely un.
dermine it. If such sentiments prevail
their fruit will be ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF
this Union! A republican government,
will perish under the corruption which
make monarchies and despotisms -four
ish: and we can conceive of no greater
depth of corruption. than Cor those to
whom the whole power of the people is
delegated, to advocate measures, which
they are convinced have decidedly
pcrnicious tendency. in order to procure
any object not of vital importance. But
the members from this District will be
relieved from a dilemma, if that is di-
lenma where wrong is one side and right
the other, by the rercal of the limiting
clause, in the separation act; then if we
are not admitted during this session OF
Congress, we shall, notwithstanding, be
an independent Stale, in the enjoyment
of our local government, under the OK.
cellent Constitution lately framed by our
delegates in Convention. and accepted
by the almost unanimous voice of the
people. And this must be our situation
uIll1l (oIi2Itoo Siitli tDoost 10 1tkTlONl-
edge us, as a legitimate member of the
American family. Aud TO this we must
assent, rather than sanction, in the slight
est degree, the Illicit connection attempt
ed TO be imposed upon US, by our politi.
cal step-fathers.
The argument drawn from the danger
Of slave population, during critical emer-
gcncies, frequently receives practical H.
lustration. In the great fire in Savannah.
for instance, and in similar calamities in
slave-holding States, that part of the pop
nlalion, which is the most useful and ac-
tive, is requised to protect the property
and the lives of the citizens from the
plumber and instruction Of the Blacks.
So il has been and would be in foreign
invasion; and instead of being of any
utility at such times, the slaves may be
ranked, in one case with the destructive
fury of the element, and in the otherwith
the sweeping hostility of the enemy.
Their knives, instead Of being drawn to
resist invasion or rebellion, would be
Whetted with connibal satisfaction IN PC