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

the ancient difficulties between the neighbour
ing State of Massachusetts and the general
government of the United States. together
with numerous other antqus'ed. ediiying, and
entertaining topics. not extending however
quite 50 far back as The food, and falling
somewhat short of the wars of King Philip and
The Pequods.
| Original sin may undoubtedly be traced as
| far back as the age of adam-but that has
nothing TO do with the Missouri question. A
thousand things may be perfectly true, and
yet moi have the least conneyion in the world
with thousand 0,hers.--Wha are called
facts, moreover, il may be remarked, are Of
ien'ines only matters of opinion and they
are .lwsys susceptible of a strong colouring
| from warm political feelings. Decisions Of
tina, sort are perfectly natural and it is an
easy thing. under the influence IF such bias,
TO denominate views facts. II is an obvious
and familiar ariifice to attract attention. Every
one knows what a solemn poIt and imposing
attitude he may assume upon the comfortable
credi, of pretended statement Of FACTS
But on some such basis abundant pains are
taken to prove that. properly speaking. there
can he no legitimate question of power and
| influence between the northern and slave
holding States and practically il is under
taken TO produce the impression that no such
character ought to have been given 10 the re-
cent keen contest between them on the sub-
| iect of slavery-and tia il was fl,grant in.
! Jury, If not downright treason 10 the supreme
| ;nteres. aud paramount principle of union. 10
treat j, in any such light, or invest it with
any such aspect.
In respect 10 the actual importance of main
tanning our national union according 10 the gen.
nine principles of the constitution, there is no
disagreement with the author of the article in
question. His sentiments on this subject are
Just, and expressed with dignity. felicity. and
force. II is certainly irne, that the union. as
consecraied in the constitution, was the result
of concession. Ii is possible. that its main'.
nance upon its true principles may still require
concessions. But it may be doubtful how far
these concessions, in order to be elhcacious.
should proceed altogether from one side. II
is even questionable, whether the union itself
| is capable of being preserved on1bose con
di,ions. Again, il may be still more serious
question how far concessions ought TO he made
of the rifat principles of the constitution. Can
there indeed be any constitutional question
whether FREEDOM itself, for example, shall be
sacrificed for the sake NJ UNioN--f propfer
uitom perdsre causos ofuendi!
But IL appears to be denied in Ibis instance
ibal any sacrifice has been nude; or that al,
all events il has been fully compensated by
the eguivalent contained in The COMPROMISE
OF that insidio,is and insignificant thing which
some men have agreed 10 call compromise,
il may be difficult TO speak with The discretion
suitable TO the character of what has gone
through The forms of becoming law of the
land, and with the respec, especially due TO
that intelligent portion OF the national 'rgis-
lature, which voted TO pass il off under that
ingraiiating appellation.
Our representatives however in their Al
dress, have toll! us that il is no compromise =
that il is all a hnm-a mere matter Of moon
shine That the Indian title to the tract oi
territory non,inniiy restricted is moi exiinguish
ed, aud probably. with the good will of the
Senate, never will be as the title can only
be acquired by treaty, which requires t. be
sanctioned by two.,birds of that body. They
therefore treat il as a clear victory on the
part of ibe slave holding interest, attended
with no alienation to those who resisted it, but
the calm consolation of having done their duty
in the cheering conviction, that they were
fully representing the real sense of their col.
siiiuents.
Men and brethren of Maine. are these things
so q? Were your representatives right in acting
on this ground, and are they justified in the ir
conclusion Or have they been, on the other
hand, in such an unfortunate and irrcdeemable
error on this subject as justly TO subject them
to all The opprobrium which has been so lib
orally bestowed upon them from certain
quarler?
But you may not be disposed TO take these
things entirely on trust from your representa-
tives and confidence in the best of men may
sometimes undoubtedly be carried too far
On this point then it may be instructive as
we'll as satisfactory to ascertain the sentiments
that are entertained at the southwark. The
southern gentlemen are keen sighted with re
spect to their own interests, and are infinitely
too high minded to practise any petty con-
cealments. Let The southern people them
selves be the judges. Reference might here
be made 10 the broad and explicit declara
tons of their leading Gaze'tes, the National
Inteliigencer and Richmond Inquirer, in both