The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-02-08
ron THE PORTLAND GAZETTE.
Gotham. Jan 80, 1870

foedius noe sliqussq oandaqne audebii.o
lu tune, to great, taseness he'll proceed.r
SIR-The depravity of human nature.
the prevalence of vice and immorality.
the mperious sway with which self-in.
terest preponderatcs over the actions Of
man, and the ftcinty 18th which it bias.
ses his heart, and perverts his judgment,
are subjects, whIch have engaged the
attention Oh the wise and good in every
age.
1t has been asserted by some, that
self-lnterest influences and determines all
our actions; while others contend. that
some actions arc, in themselves, purely
disinterested: Some affirm, that mankind
are free moral ags nts; others, that they
are merely machines operated upon,
without the power of wiling or acting.
Some say, that the declaration of inde-
pendence means what it says, where it
declares, 6 that all men are created eunal
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienabIe rights; that
among these are life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness others declare,
that this means those only who are Gre
ated with .uhits skins and sleek hair. But
let US leave the more ample discussion
OF these subjects, 10 profound netaphy-
sicians, grave moralists, and suitle poll
ticlans, and suggest few inquiries.
Did Mr.. II. a member Of Congress from
Maine, act freely, or from constraint and
necessity, in opposing the restriction on
Missouri? or in other words, which are
synonymous, in advocating the extension
of slavery?
Was he raised up for this very purpose,
that the wrath and vengeance of offended
heaven, towards guilty race of Airi-
cans equity, because born with black
skins and wooly hairy might be manifest.
ed in him Or has he assumed an irrcv-
erent usurpation Of the prerogatiye of
nigh heaven, by endeavoring 10 perpct.
tate the curse of bondage, ,ervitude and
wretchedness on the miserable descend
ants of Ham?
Should we draw an argument from
"the fitness of things" il might be urged.
perhaps, that there could not be found.
in this quarter, more suitable deposi-
tory of wrath and vengeance but rca.
soning from the unerring rule of right,
and firm belief, that " God has created
of one flesh all the inhabitants which
dwell on the face Of the whole Garth. and
Is no respecter OF persons" we are led TO
conclude, that this is an act influenced
by self interested motives, the spirit of a
demon, or depravity of heart seldom
equalled, rather than by any agency
divine.
AT a time, when the prospect OF eman-
cipating from slavery, and amelioraiirs
the condition of many of the unfortunate
sons of Africa, had inspired the breasts
of numerous of the humane and bencvo-
lent inhabitants of almost every State in
the Union: when societies. for this rur-
pose, had been formed, and money llbc-
rally contributed, to carry the benevo-
lent and humane work into operation;
when much good was reasonably oxpec.-
ed TO result from the combined energies
of generous benefactors; it is a subject
deeply to beregrettod, that any mcIpbers
OF Congress from Ncw-England, should
have endeavorcd 10 counterfeit this la,l,
dable and praise-worthy undertaking,
and it is peculiarly mortiiying TO the
pride, and shocking to the humanity Of
the inhabitants of Maine, that one Of
our delegates, should have meriEfs'eA