The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-04-18
sPDIaIIIOAEa
FOR THE PORTLAND GAZETTE
CONSIDERATIONS

grss frop, Maine IN relation to the
Missouri QUESTION.
IT matter of sufficient nooriety, that the
newspaper printed in Portland, called the
ARGUS, has for some time past srrayed lfse'I,
in defiance of public sentiment. In defence OF
the course pursued by two OF the representa-
lives in Congress from this Slate in voting for
the admission O! Missouri without restriction,
against the conduct Of the majority OF our
members who voted on the other side.
There is in taking this bold stand something
10 admire hardihood OF character and
pliabiliiy Of principle mol often discovered on
any occasion, and forming altogether COM
bination Of qualifications for playing despe.
rate political game, which would be absolute
" consummate, if only accompanied with
talents sufficient 10 compensate tor The absence
Of the ordinary aud salulary restraints OF JUS
,ice and morality.
In perfect consistency with the opinions
expressed in that paper before the proposition
was made, its conductors have openly declar-
ed their sentiments in favor Of he COMPROMISE,
as il is phrased As cold water was conlnu-
ally thrown from that source upon the main
question. while it was in agitation, 1t IS not
surprising that they should be pleased with the
final modification which it assumed. II car
red WITH il In some degree the semblance OF
Cancellation aud it wrapped up The subject
in form favorable to disguise the workings
of spirit alien 10 the interests OF the north
and ,reacherous to the sentiments OF Maine.
II would have been impossible long TO have
maintained with success. the odlaus and nn.
e 4. hot uertb uattSf
cr6ce liberty To the soulh.-Sueh state Of
the question might well be deemed TO border
on distractions.
To appreciate the character and estimate
The importance therefore Of the sutfrages thus
dangerously given from that quarter IN favor
of the compromise, il is certainly proper to
understand The relation in which the opinions
there expressed stood to the original question.
Gentlemen may be glad now r. change their
ground but the fact cannot be concealed,
that thew were willing Missouri should be adj
miited without condition. Ii was called CIV.
ing them the right Of self goUsrnment- secar-
ing 10 them he same privilege za'hsch ne claim.
ed on, selves Of making such constitution as zee
liked, &c. Accord TO these expressions their
complete necessary effect, and SLAVERY might
slrl have been going on for ages, silently dur
kening The whole immense regions Of the ssesf
Much credl, is claimed in the same quarter
for not having assented to the monsrous union
of MAINE and Missouri, engendered IN the
Senate and The principal merit OF its final
solution is actually ascribed to the agency OF
an honorable member from Maine, who was
shrewdly appointed chairman Of The commit
tee on the part OF the House, which induced
the Joint committee TO recommend 10 the Senate
a separation of the two bills This is long
process Of induction aud il is at least strictly
logical. II is difficult to determine exactly
what to say on this subject; but it is impos-
sible not to he pleased with the ingenuity Of
the spposiion II may be- cruel to deprive
the honorable gentemsnAf the wreath with
which he is thus fondly entwiDed. But . il
Kind 10 attempt TO decorate him with it We
do not mean 10 express any scepticfsm as to the
cordialtv Of his interest IN The admission OF
Maine bu, il it no, too great trial for ere
du'ity itself to he required to believe, that Mr..
Holmes was az his heart ayerse to the combi-
nation?
But this heterogeneous connection was dis
solyed--And il must have been dissolved. II
was destined, like Nebuchsdnezzsr's image,
10 dissolu'ian and no matter to what cause
in is composition il was owing whether brass
o. Clay. The truth is that the public sent
rnent would not endure it and Us voice, like
the resisiless trumpet, had already shattered
II. It fell to the dus, in disgrace and some
were compelled 10 assist in it's prosiration.
whose real prayers were not expressed in
theirpriatea speeches. But i was done, and
MAINE was admitted. And MfssouR' was also
admitted, as free as the wind that waited to
all The world the news Of an open and eternal
market for slaves!
Blu, the extension of this curse 10 tina part
Of The country was attended by the consola-
ton tina, all .fur,her slavery was forever to he
restricted north of.a certain latitude and saw
ing the question off genuine expediencv OF
compromising with right and justice. this
seemed to be regarded by many as some re-
lief to the evil. BY looking at the map, how.
ever, it appears, that Congress has only re-
strcted country already restricted by nature.
The bulk of it lies so far north as to unfit il
forthe common products of slave labour and
the climate itself is too braciDg for the con-
situations Of slaves. But if'ii were Otherwise
and the norticn INN, o diatelv south and west