The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-02-01
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of this country, concerning the genuine
character that Convention. The very
name is a bye-word, with thousands who
never read its proceedings, which by a
talismanic influence presents at once to
the disturbed and irritated imagination
the spectres of disunion and civil war
and treason. And many, who upon
perusal of the printed documents, could
discern no sentiments deserving repro-
baton, (though at variance with their
own) have been unable TO diyest Them
selves of a Jealousy that the report was
either mere gloss for some dangerous
Vaccinations, reserved for future execu.
ton, or the abortlve offspring of cabal,
convened for purposes which some Of
the oonfederates had too little of nerve
or too much of virtue, to accomplish
In word, it is the finn persuasion Of
many, that the design and tendency of
that Convention, was a dismeinberment
of the Union, and that the event ofpeace
alone prevented the ripening OF this
combination to full and fatal maturity.
! This illusion is pot confined TO minds
which are rendered, by prejudice or Gre
dulity, receptacles of gross and vulgar
errors. In many instances it has be
guiled the understanding of men, gifte-
with powers of discrimination, and dispc-
sed to the exercise of candor, but habit
| ually reposing too exclusively upon par
tial sources of Information. 1t is no re-
proach to persons of this description
| (Which is not common to our nature.) that
they have not always investigated the ev-
idence by which their Judgment of the
views and measures of political antago-
nists should be regulated. Amid wars
and the dissensions which grow out Of
them in free states, the portraits which
contending factions draw of each other
are always received as likencsses, by
those who are unacquainted with, and
disposed to think i'll OF the originals. Mu-
tual iealousies arc entertained Of inten-
sions to proceed to violent extremes, and
the most obsurd ictions Of malice and
party hatred are swallowed with implicit
faith by the "wisest," as well as the
meanest Of mankind" The wretch
ed fabrication of the .popish plot, diffus-
ed throughout England preposscssions,
| against which no yigor Of intellect was
proof; and an implacablc hatred of
Catholics, which time and the execution
er were necessary to ,appease. False
plots and conspiracies, traitorous CORES
/ pondencc and seditious conclaves, con-
stitutc important parts in the machinery
of all wars, whether fereign or civil, and
it is through the instrumentality Of these,
that the most powerful appeals arc made
to the imaginations and passions ofmen.
| ~ 1t can. hardly be supposed that the if
ritation produced by the conflict of o.
pinion respecting the late war, has So.
entirely, subsidized, that a patient hearing
might be expected of vindcation ofthe
conduct of the states or individuals who
approved of that measure And no dis
position is felt, at this moment, to under
take their defence, or even to disturb
the opinion of those who protest against
the legitimacy ofallconventions states,
OF against the special acts of the Hart.
ford Convention. But as the distinction
of the great parties of the nation no long
CT appears in conflict of opinions and
interests, bu. has assumed the character
of mere personal competition and, as
the passions which perpetuate the con-
tentions for civil and religious rights, in
governments where these are at issue.
ought not TO rankle, long after their caus-
es have ceased, in the bosoms OF peo-
pie who differ only in regard TO the means
ofpromoting national welfare, of which
all are equally entitled to partake it is
hoped that it may not be too carly to at
tempt to rectify errors an fact, which
originate in misconceptions, and which,
without afording support to any system
of political opinions, are calculated to
infuse stain upon the character of ono
part OF the nation and 10 cherish acrimo-
NOUS feelings and contentious, from
which no advantage, but probably dis,
credit and injury, may result to the
(b) II was matter of regret ard astonishment
TO me, 10 discover. about two yeats ag, for the
first tims1 that exti of New. ,leland many feder-