The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-05-02

feelings" What has any alusion OF This kind to
do with the merit of votes on the question of sla
very Where is the /" decorumn Of holding
language OF his kind with regard to gentleman
Of Mr.. Nhiiman's standing IN the community ?
With regard to his vote relatng to the restric-
ton of Arkansaw at the last SC .sion, il is very
certain thar the general question of restriction
had not assumed the same form it has since. Its
nagn,fttde arose in every rejecting mind from
the ambit,on and boundless pretensions Of the
South. and the determination they discovered TO
give TO great moral and political evil, which
hey thought proper to identity with their own
sectional interest, an extent not only Indefinite
IN itself, but UNNECESSARILY injurious TO the equal
political rights OF the free non-sayeholdiug
states. Al the last session OF Congress the epi.
dence of this disposition not apparent
but at the present If has n asbed conviction upon
every intelligent mind and he must be stupid
10 the last degree who cannot perceive, aud
something worse it may be dee med 10 deny, the
immense importance which the question had
acquired at this sestion in comparison with the
last.
In such case therefore rs this. there nigh
possibly seem TO be dlsoyepance when in fact
there none. The cases were materially
different. The questions were substantially dis
tinct One whether slavery should be toll
Grated in a territory. The other whether il should
remained under the controul Of Congress in the
other it escapes forever. Besides, the immense
importatons that have been made into that re-
gion have given an entirely new complexion TO
the topic and the knowledge Of the fact might
have considerably affected Mr.. Whitmah's opin-
ion upon the subject Of the last session, which
was altogether predicated upon the existing slave
population.
II is only necessary TO place ourselves there
tl,ot r.,I
and proof, in order to discover the real consis-
tency and compatibility OF the different snfrages
given by him pom the two distinct occasions. A
difference may seem at first TO be sensible but
il is only superficial +; il vanishes upon nearer
approach aud examination.
The difference is not so much in the Object as
1T is IN the eye. II is not change of place, but
simply in the point of view. In word, il is not
the alteration of comet, but only the parallax
of a star.
II is said however that the expressions, that
have been excited in favour Of MIR. Whitman, do
not discover ANY remarkable ability" Perhaps
so. The cause does not require II. II Is sufficient
10 support itself IL really requires great Ia
bour for his defence, however industrious may
be the habits OF those who give occasion for 1T.
II is also minated that he will feel under no
great obligations for the volunteering in his be-
half. Very probably. The SURFACES in his ia
your have always been free and unbought amt
he has occasion to be under any obligations
TO those Of his Constituents who feel impel lied to
step forward in support Of hi. uniform political
integrity, purity and patriotism. II is dsty that
they owe themselves. None OF the defects Of
their poor performances are therefore imputable
at all TO him. lie is not responsible for any OIL
oionsness on the part Of friends.
But the differences drawn from the attacks
upon him are ascribed to Ignorance, meanness
or malignity.n II is a pity that expressions Of
this kind should escape iron, gentlemen. They
are seldom indicative of any thing but the tenn
per with which they are used. They sometimes
possess point but SAVIOUR little of GOODNESS.
Besides, such terms Subsfantia,e ne charges.
They by means dIsproye the nioiires of the at
tack on Ar. Whitman-and are therefore not
strictly relative to the issue.
CUMBERLAND. /