The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-05-23
MISCELLANY.
FOR THE GAZETTE.
TO MARK LANGDON HILL.


was surprising. your late circular is more so.
We did hope from you more decision aud less
versatility. You boast OF your exerlion 10
separate the Missouri and Maine bills, but you
made no use of the separation, except 10 yield
yourself Internationally 10 the slave interest.
The only useful object in separating the bills
was to ADM, Maine, OF whose Just claim to
admission there was mol doubt, and settle
the question Of slavery in Missouri atterw ards
but you made yourself hostage by admitting
Missouri fSrt, though your mode Of expression
iniimates that Maine was first admitted. You
assert tina, the Missouri bill was in conform
lily TO the ordinance of 1897 You know that
in the North West Territory slavery was by
that ordinance, forever prohibited. and that
that territory is now formed into states under
acts Of Congress, making express provision
that their constitutions shall not be repugoant
10 tina, ordinance. In Missouri slavery is per-
mitted and what you assert TO be III conformi
IN, is directly the reverse. You imply that
the consequence of the restriction would have
been 10 ''et the negroes loose" in Missouri.
You know il is not true the restriction, as full
" expressed in the bill, did not effect the pres.
ent slaves, but provided for the freedom of all
others hereafter to be removed thither, or
born there. After noting, as samples, these
gross Interpretations, either direct OF eva
sive, and you are welcome TO the choice, it
would be too low to follow you through your
cold booded calculation OF the loss OF proper
~ to the shareholders, your mental terrors
which would fan induce US 10 cover and
shrink al the threats OF s. a half doZen' slave
holders TO dissolve the union and your like
ming The right TO send members to Congress,
to the right TO hold men in slavery. We are
sick 10 nausea when We hear You repeat the
stale sarcasm abou, their removal 10 Missouri
Uiih their families. You are, hope, the only
yankee who has chosen 10 be quizsed with this
burlesque OF domestic endearment, and send
il home to bis constituents as sober apology
for his vote. Mr.. Holmes, in has appeal 10 the
peopie, represents that the slave holders love
the dear negroes very tenderly, and that es-
,ablishing slavery in Missouri will make them
love the dear negroes more tenderly still !;
that almost their sole motive Tor slavery is to
defend the Liberties of the slaves, and these
Liberties they will defend at the expence Of
blood and thunder. Blu, he makes no apology
throws on the representatives OF the Tree states
the accusation OF insidiously asssiing by their
votes on that occasion the rights OF slavery.
:" The north and The east,' he says, were to
be alrayed against the south and west.
Should re hereafter persist in provoking
union of these states, the slave states ace
should at last oonsummate the hopes OF ,yranis
by destroying the union, and Frustrating in
The dust he temple OF liberty" The inter.
dction of slavery in half the states, old and
new, has done much toward supporting the
union, and preserving from deflemcnt &" the
temple OF God" How The prohibition of sIa
very in Missouri was 10 IS destroy the union,
and PROSTATE in the dust the temple Of liber-
iy," or what sort of temple this temple of
liberty is, we do not exactly know and we
ought not IN charity 10 presume that Mr..
Holmes meant We should understand what be
conld not understand himself. Hundreds on
hundreds of miserable victims, who have as
sacred right TO liberty as their masters are
10 be driven manacled through The long tract OF
hundreds or hundreds OF miles into vast viii
derness, there with faterine, fainling tot! 10
abour through Me at the point of the goad,
HiiUbul d I'c1t'''i INV JUG 10Y
OF freedom will ever cheer them or their chill.
dren, with certainly that !" the iron vii en-
Ter into their SOUL il The, dare move finger
10 protect parent, child, wife, brother, sister,
or their own life and all this that master
may enjoy the right TO riot in iyrannical
domination, and revel in q fountain OF luxury
collected from drops OF torture. This is re
moving 9th has family and your inquiry is,
whether "io abolish that right would be just ~
Gracious Heaven Such a question ought
rather to have been expected from those who
are 81 reserved in everlasting chains, under
darkness"
You say you assign the reason for your
vote 4" in conformity with the example OF some
other gentlemen" II you mean the example
OF Mr.. Mason Of Boston, you are truly We
ny humble COPPER. He talks about 8" the die
taies of conscience--the Obligations at bis
ENTHUSIASTICALLY of conduc,--tbe
purity of lis motives" and then soberly be
lieses that slavery could no, be prohibited IN
NJ issouri, without violation OF the coDstiiu
ton and OF conscience but, though the adj
joining territory wa. held under the same IT,
tie and the same purchase, and 10y The same
tenure and authority, he says he discharged