The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-01-18
THE GAZETTE.
PORTLAND TUESDAY, JAN. 1s, 1920.

fOtitAND tlH'oDhi, 'Ttt 'o' io>o
The subject before Congress which most par
ficulary I'M rests the citizens of this portion OF
the country il the admission Of Maine into the
Union, on the footing of the original States. A
bill for this purpose has already passed tn" House,
but in the Senate Il was read twice and referred
to the committee on the Judiciary, consisting Of
Messrs. Smith, of s. c. Leake, of Miss:Iogaa, of
Kentucky, Burrill, Of r. |. and Pinckney, Of Ma
rylsnd On Thursday the 9th inst. this commit
tee, Burri only dissenting, reported the bill "a
mended, by aiding to it the bill giving power to
Missouri 10 form constitution without the re-
strcton ofslavery. The further consideration Of
the subject was then postponed to Thursday, the
18th inst. Il is understood that the members
Of the Senate opposed to the restriction in Mis-
souri,, are determined to let Missouri in, Or keep
Maine out. II is believed that majority Of the
Senate are Of this opinion, and that consequently
the bill with the amendment will pass that body.
There will then be disagreement between the
Senate and the House. IL must therefore return to
the latter body for lis assent to the amendment.
This will probably produce some little embarrass-
ment in the minds Of the members from this Dis
trict, but which can be relieved, as we conceive,
only by pursuing that course, which principle and
honesty point out. We believe aud hope the
members from Maine will adhere TO their integ-
rity, and that they will MT sacrifice their princi-
pies on the altar of private or local interest; we
should have but An i'll opinion Of that man, who
does what he knors to be wrong, to accomplish
decidedly good object much less should he do
wrong, when the issue Of his efforts will unques-
tionabIy be perncious, or even of a donbtfulchar.
scter. "God forbid, that we do evil, that good
may come" But il is said that the members
from Maine can turn the question in favour Of
this District by conserving to the amendment !;
Ard that It 10 Of no consequence to as whether
they have slavery in Missouri or not. We say TO
them, you were not sent there merely to procure
the admission Of Maine, but to legislate for the
best interest Of all the people of this extensive
Union ;-the admission of Maine is not an object
to compel you to act aga inst the honest purpose
Of your judgment, or against po'itca and natural
rights. II Maine is not admitted at this time, the
Y. 8. suGer no injury, she herself sustains no ma.
terial damage, and the Fundamentals, principles of
the constitution are not violated but il Missouri
10 admitted without the restriction of slavery the
political rights of the North and Fast are impair
cd the constitution receives shock, and moral
and political stain is indeibly fixed upon our re-
public. What then is the equivalent for the ad. !
mission Of Missouri. and for the eniailing these
lasting evils upon this country? Why, forsooth,
Nj, .h.Il ~ ca
frict, and ito Legislature shall meet at Portland
instead Of Boston.-1his is grounded upon the
suppostion that the Maine bill viii not pass with
out carrying Missouri along with it, a position
however, which we very much doubt we can
not believe that such legislation will receive the
sanction OF Congress; 1t is connection Of SUBJ !
jscts totally dissimar in their nature and which +
wear not even an external resemblance yMsine
Is part Of the original Union, and sustained its
part Of the revolutionary burden, and its consti-
tuition is cefore Congress, which declares all its
population now and forever free, and the subiect,
ofequal laws; .M's"ur', on the other hand is far !
removed from the ancient limits, and took no part /
In the contest for liberty, and now she complains
because Congress, in the emphatic language of
the Constitution, wishes TO secure to them and
their posterity the blessings flibortyn We hope,
therefore. that all the members from Maine. who
are opposed to slavery in Missouri, will hold fast
their political integrity Cor as much as we wish
success to the Maine bill, we confess we had
rather it would sink, than bear up so wicked a
freight a. the slavery of missouri. We acknowl-
edge eur establishment, that the Senate of the
U. 8. body, to which in all cases, we Lave look
cd for 6rmness, integrity and impartiality, should
suffer 90 foul blot, as the amendment to the
Maine bill presents, to stain its e.outcheon. We
hope the proceedings Oh Thursday last have wip-
cd wholly away. Ifnot, let the members of the
House from this District look to it, how they triae
with their conscienecs how they sacrifice real
good and entail a real evil upon the country. TO
accomplish an imaginary at least an object not
vitality important.
We give the Governors message entire in this
days rsper. He states the existence OF the CON-
mer' ~ embarrassmsnts in the Commonwealth