The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-03-21


. Isaac ADAMS, Esq. was chosen moderator, and
the following gentlemen were elected selectmen
without opposition, viz.
ISAAC ADAMS,
JOSHUA RICHARDSON,
BENJAMIN ILSLEY,
WOODBURY. STORER, Jun and
MARK HARRIS.
The latter gentleman in the room Of Capt.
PEBBLE, who is absent at sea, the other four svere
Of the Board last year.
Thursday, the 10th inst. the day in which the
dependence Of Maine upon old Massachusetts
was completely dissolved, and she assumed her
rank as sister in the American Family, was
ushcred in by the discharges Of cannon, and
closed by splendid public ball. Union Hall in
the evening was filed to OVERLOOKING with all that
Portland can produce Of elegance and fashion
and beauty, its walls were decorated with ma
tional and military colors tastefully festooned,
giving a rich appearance to the room, and filling
the soul with enthusiasm and patriotic feeling.
In front Of the orchestra our national armorial an
eagle. lately killed in this neishbourhood, spread
his capacious wings, bearing on his breast bril-
liant star, signifcative of the addition now made
to our national constellation. The company was
honored in the course of the evening by Mr..
KING, President Of the late Convention.
The Missouri Gasete, printed at Saint Louis,
advocates the restriction as expedient aud salu-
tary, which Congress, out OF a pretended regard
10 the rights Of that territory, refused to adopt.
A writer in that paper states it as his own opinion
and that Of an intelligent planter and slave hold
er Of that vicinity, that majority Of its nhabit-
ants were dec dedIy in favour Of the restriction.
The editor also makes some remarks which show
the motives which probably induced the slave
L Il -. 49, se.<s
He says, those plantations in which tobacco Is
cultivated are almost worn out, the soil % ex-
hausted by that plant, and the planters are now
anxious TO find some other spot to WHICH they
may remove with their slaves, and pursue that
system of agriculture which has been productive
Of 70 much profit. Personal and political interest
hsvc undoubtedly been the foundation Of the
majority in Congress, but we hope the people Of
Missouri will have the wisdom in their constitu
ton to ccunteract the avaricious and interested
views Of men who pursue Their own aggrandize-
ment with more zeal than the welfare Of the
public.
Our relations with Spain are not in the most
nourishing situation. Mr.. Forsyth our minister
at that court, hiss rendered himself xtremely pm
popular by the violent and abpive course he has
pursued, in his communications with that govern
ment, which has certainly been wholly descga-
tory to the etiquette Of diplomatic correspon-
dence. His proceedings have been laid before
Congress anil are now before the public. In his
last letter to the secretary Of ate he states that
he should les,ve Madrid by the lst N January,
unless something transpirsd to render his con-
tinuancs proper and necessary. Gen. Wives has
been appointed minister to this country bat there
docs not scent to be much probability Of his arri
ring before Congress closes its session. In antic
ipation thstefsre of the failure Of any conclusive
arrangements under the spanish treaty during
this session !; the committee Of foreiea relations
have reportsd q bill for the purpose Of taking
possession Of he Floridas, and putting the pro-
visions Of the treaty into execution. They also
throw out some hints Of looking to the west,
(Tsxa.,) ifthst Florida lands should not be suf
hcient to supply the fund for which they were
pretended to- have been Transferred. We for
bear to make Remarks upon this report; but It
looks like iorskalling public opinion, so that the
without fear Of losing popularity,
may by and ~ extend their ambitious grasp to
Texas and p srhabs even to the silver mines Of
Mexico and sts seats Of the ancient and heroic
Montezuma. 4
The news from Spain relating to the revolt Of
the soldiers destined for South America aud their
success are worry contradictory. At one time We
wsre assured that the mutiny was general, that
the troops w<se progressing rapidly in the attain
ment Of their object-thAt Cadiz had opened It's
gates, and nzliy that the spisit Of revolt had
extended to- Madrid and that the xiug's own
guard had Joined the rebels. Later ,secounts
however co, nradict, in some measure, these re-
ports, and Dough they come principally BY the
way Of Mss6rid. still we are induced g believe
that the ofsncr stories were little exaeHeraAed.
II was yer natural in the FIRST place to give full
rredence y any report that would oncoura 60 the
dea that the imbecility, superstition and dos
potism Of Ferdinand's government, had At leusth
xhausfril the patience Of his subjects, and tISt
a reacti y should follow the depression which h1s
10 long &esradsd them. With these impre ssious
we tho<sght il would be only necessary TO raise
he sta sdard Of rebellion, to destroy dynasty
shose blood has Lost all its spirit, and is now
ipon As very lees. We thought the administra-
ION q the spanish government possessed no re-
'ourc]os to resist popular or a military commo-
ion- We do know that Ferdinand has lost
he 1--we and respect, which his nation enthusiast
lea ily cherished toward him during his nnfostu-
,at4s exile; and that they also learnt durina the
spse period, under the free government Of the
Co ytes some Of the privileges Of civil and rcIig-
q as freedom. II could not therefore be surpris-
6x lion the frat motion Of revolution, there
5,ould have been general burst Of indignation
against all those whe had with malicious ingenu-
ity revived tho obsolete tortares Of the inquisi-
Lion.
II seems that the Mayor Of Savannah has re-
turned the donation, over $4,000 besides articles
OF clothing, &c. sent by the citizens Of New FORK