The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-02-08

such want OF principle, such disre-
gard to Justice and humanity, and such
want Of respect for the opinions and
wishes of his constituents, as to have adj
vocated the extension of slavery for
maintaining that Congress has no con-
stituti5nal rieht 70 restrict slavery IN
Missouri, is nothing less.
Who, that reads the declaration of
independence, will for a moment hesitate
to affirm that Congress is empowered
and compelled to project the rights of
the citizens and guah them from OPP
pression? By the treaty Of cession of
the territory of Louisiana to the Amerl-
can Government, it was, required, that
the inhabitants should enjoy the privle-
gcs of American citizens, that as soon as
possible they should be admitted into
the Union or the principles of the federal
constitution and when formed into
States 10 have guaranteed to them, q
republican form Of government. Is that a
republican form of government in a
half of its population The idea is
absurd. lfthe Constitution ofthe United
States, sanctions the proceedings of any
State, in the enacting laws to enslave
black man, does it not also give the same
sanction to the enslaving of a white man !?
1t does without doubt. | then hesitate
not to affirm, that the attempts which
have been made in Congress by the
southern and western, and some of the
eastern members, is disgraceful to hui
manity and dangerous to liberty it is
mere trick of Spectator to rid him.
self of a combustible article, which he
fears, will explode and endanger his life /;
or worn out and perishable material,
which is no longer of use, and will be a
dead loss to him if kept on hand.
And now, while the people in the other
parts of New-England are raising their
voices, and putting forth their exertions,
to stay the further progress of this for
fmidable evil, we, the inhabitants of
Maine, Boosting of our humanity, repub-
lican spirit, religious principles and NOR
al rectitude, because we fear, that ex-
pressions of disapprobation of vice and
wickedness, might impede the admission
of Maine into the Union, blindly and
tamely swallow the " bitter draught,n
mingled with an opiate, which, fear,
will bring on fatal lethergy.
But what benefit does this member
from Maine expect to receive, for we
Judge from his former conduct, what
office, what emol,ment, for being an adj
vocate for slavery9 Can he expect by
Harvesting the black team, to be carried
triumphantly from the Representative
hall to the Senate chamber, or to some
more exalted station Or does he fear
the thunder ofimpassioned eloquence or
the flashes of indignation. which he ex-
perienced last session, if he opposes the
Boanerges of the south and west Does
he remember those "verbera lingua,"
the lash of that satire. which so CALLED
his pride and humbled his pretensions
And does he now come with knee SER
vice and servilely crouch to the choice
spirits, and endeavour to court their
suspicious smiles, by basely abandon
ing the principles of Justice, liberty and
humanity, and regardless of the interest
and wishes ofhis constituents /? Let us
pause for moment and consider, wheth-
er it is not time for us to be up and do
ing. Let US obey the dictates ofreason,
justice and conscience, and clip the wings
of vice before it scars beyond our reach.
Let US pump the bilgewater from the
ship of state, before we commence the
voyage, and before the putrefactive cf-
iluvia shall have spread contagion and
disease, and threaten the safety, comfort
and lives of the crea.
PHILO JUSTiCIA.