The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-04-25
l!IIESQB,LI.AMY
FOR THE PORTLAND oAzEr L.
Hon. Mr.. HILLS LETTER.

A. he people OF Maine have lately been
favored with the Hon. Mr.. Holmes, sentl-
ments on the great question, under the disguise
OF anotber ren, in reply 10 the address Of the
majority OF their members, they are now in
du,ged with those of his fellow laborer the
Hon. Mr.. Hill, unser bis own signature -
not bis own original sentiments however,
which he carried with him flesh and pure
from Iii. Constituents, but such as he has &C.
quired since his arrival at Washington
When he first went to that CITY be observes
that the subject was almost new to hun. He
had read some OF the debates indeed of the
former 5, s-ion. 9 but entertaining oil those
strong feelings against siavery IN every possible
shape, zvtic. characterize the people Of .Neu,
Engiand. tie land Of has nativity he -vos aa,ur-
ally led TO form opinions IN tavor u ,estricting
Missouri But seeing the " serious aspect"
which the subject soon assumed, aud after
reading and listening 10 every thing that be
found or heard upon the subject, the result of
his reflections, alter mature celebration. led
him TO the admission OF Missouri az well as
Maine without re.irction-- aud Ultimately all
those " sirqng feelings &c. which be had
originally entertained, travelled west Of the
subject aud became reduced to thirty six
and half degrees north latitude"
1t Is true mat the honorable gentleman was
amaiden member, and therefore it may not
be altogether 80 surprising that Ibis subject,
as well perhaps as some others, might have
been ~ some measure new 10 him. But il
could hardly be supposed, thai be was such
youth "a 10 be absolutely incapable Of making
up ms mind beforehand on any given subject.
50 AZ to be oh ICED To come entirely north
bout at the fret southern breeze,-more es
peciaily as The honorable gentleman had been
membtroi The convention, which met at
Portland N i795.'
The honorable gentleman Moreover state.
That N consequence Of the Straits 10 which he
was thus reduced upon hi, SUBJECT. he sp
plied 10 his Constituents FIR instruction OF
ADVICE and seem, DISPOSED 10 complain
liltie OF their silence bui consoles himself
upon HE whole by supposiug that - they TOO
were either doubtful of the cour,p 10 pursue.
or too nagnaoinou> 10 wish 10 oopiroul hi.
judgment in the dl.obarge If highly res.
pon'lbie duty Z This is a very grand con
sideraiion. aud pre- enis very hartering sup
psiion to his northumberland too natter
Ing perhaps. II does no, quite follow to be
sure, iha' they too were IN as quite as great
perplexlty "a he wa, but what If they were
not il was all to the credit OF their magma
niuin But there again The gentleman ma,
be Too fast; Tor this pleasing conclusion i,
implied from their supposed unwilllngness
To controul hi. Judgment" And how does
u appear wbs judgmehi he had 10 eoniroul p
fni lie short answer =, that his constituents
we're well enough satisfied Of his sentiments on
this subject when he v ent away; and they
were supple or good nstured enough Ia sop
r'se that they could irlsl HIM as far a. Wash
iDgion one session at least. without particular
instructions. Could tbev imagine him 10 be
such novice as TO require leading strings
every step OF The way And must tliev
gather themselves together a the corners and
upon the highways 10 instruct their youthful
representative upon the perpeiuallv ,srving
changes Of the great Missouri question . In
struct one Too. who had read 80 much already
upon he subject and entertained such out
rageous feelings against slavery in everv
possible shape Ilwould have been loo much
tor man 10 require, or for flesh To endue--to
say nothing of The proud fe,h of tour tender
and sensitive new elected members of Con
,ress.
though representing only section the hon
orab'e gentleman has The gface To plead la the
presentation on the part OF the whole STATE.