The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-04-18


best but law, Of one legislature, repeaable
AT the will of another.
| But is this territory ever to be settled ever
by sYhifes On this subject some doubts seen
to be entertained by gentlemen. who may b.
supposed 10 be in the secret. But Of this there
may be occasion to say something turihel
presently. For the present il may sutfce II
observe. that communication in The last .ir
gus represents it as I" short sighted polio,
10 think of settling 50 The northern part OF The
vale of the Mississippi )" in p'eiereace l,
| which il proceeds to recommend the - settle
ment Of the south" And for The further ad
ditional advantage which this scheme will give
To The south in the balance OF power, II pur
poses TO take our pay in traffic for g butter,
cheese, potatoes, &c" In plain English, II
is a mere barter of orr birthr'ght tor mess
of pottage This curious production bears the
signature of kennebec. But the manuscript
never travelled so far from the general manu-
factory. II is the old spirit simply assuming
new form. Nor will it be recognized by
any individual in that county in any Other
light
What then, il may be asked, has been gain
ed by this great compromise, and what is the
boasied equivalent, which is 10 content US Ter
this immense sacrifice Of national honour and
political principle, A territory restricted
| from slavery and the restriction rePealabe a,
pleasure restriction at all events necessar;-
| " Terminating with the condition OF the terri
tory. A territory restricted, If you please,
from slavery--yet never TO be settled by the
free and the Immortal Ordinance, as il Is
called, is after all only to be extended to a
perpetual desert For what is thus called,
g. the northern Gale of the Mississippi mus,
necessarily Include the principal portion q Tie
restricted territory On the contrary the
north is stimulated 10 become sub-ervient to
the south and make itself tributary to its pros
perity and as bonus for this colonial mo.
nopoly it is promised its pay out of the shop.
While on the affair Of trade, it is amusing to
notice the credit claimed on the part OF the
south for the protection Of commerce, just as
| il they had not too much sense TO quarrel with
the ir own bread & butter. Commerce isthe COW
that has supported m soveEdlnent these thirty
years. Il is the resource which has regularly
supplied the ordinary demands Oh the treasury,
| T. relieved the public almost entirely.irom lhe
burden Of direct taxation. So that the south
ern states are in fact fully represented for
their slaves without having any taxes TO pay
for them. This was never contemplated 10y
the Constitution. Enormous sums from this
source have moreover gone over the noun
ta.ns. Nov behold the reverse-half OF The
Immense amount Of The importations made for
three years after the close OF the war went
into the national treasury. The consequence
was the beggary Of the importers and bank
ruptcy of their mercantile connections. The
fact has been stated in Congress in support
Mt only Of the policy and necessity but OF the
national duty OF establishing bankrupt sys-
ten. The consideration was urged in the
Senate by Mr.. KING, Of New York, and press
ed upon the Justice as well as humanity OF the
south and west, whom he reminded of the
further liberal extension Of credit which had
just been granted 10 their vast purchasers Of
the public lands. But in vains Il was music
to the deaf adder. The system fails from
heir opposition. Not satisfied with holding
their own slaves free from taxes, they must
| also make slaves of our merchants for life.
Fise OF the members Of Congress from Maine
viz Me.srs WHITMAN, LINCOLN, CusHMAN
KlNsLEy e. PARKER, voted against the admission
of M .souri without restriction not only on the
main question but on all the subsidiary form.
in which il was presented, and at all hazard.
whethe to their own personal popularity OF
the immediate Independence OF Maine. A.
mong the iailhless they were faithful and
their motto appears to have been, FIAT Jus
TIrIA, RuAr CGLuM. They were not how
ever insensibe 10 the strong and lively inter
est felt in Maine for its admission as state
neither eau it be supposed that they were IN
apprised Of the vigorous and intelligent sense
generally entertained by their constituents oil
the merits OF the Missouri question. They
certainly could not be ignorant OF the univer'
sa Indignation excited in the community al
the projected attempt TO fix an everlasting
brand OF nfamy upon The forehead OF our in
lsnt state by coupling its fate with that o
Missouri under these circumstances. Bu
these gentlemen seemed TO be affected by nc
external considerations. Through evil re-
port and through good report they magnani
lnously pursued the firm and even tenour q
their way, and maintained their integrity ip.
dependent alike OF inlimidaiions or allure
ments.
Four OF these gentemenn have thought prop.
or TO publish an Address TO their constituents