The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-04-04
ORIGINAL MISCELLANY.
FOR THE PORTLAND GAZETTE.
THE HON. MR.. MASON.

ioiibudee Ioiiie'dh u ehiitieu 10 De hedrd III
his own defence, and IT it be well founded be
ought TO be relieved from public censure.
And what is The amount Of Mr. Mason's de.
fence II Is simply thi,--ihat the dictates OF
his icason and conscience aud the threatenings
Of the slave holders TO dissolve the union i! lie
did not vote with them, were motives too pow
eriul 10 be resisted. These motives, il would
seem, are more than were necessary TO de
iernne any one 10 disregard the united voice
Of his constituents, and of the whole of the
moo slave holding states. For when the judg-
ment is convinced aud conscience approves.
there is no occasion for The aid OF terror to
the motives 10 decision, however
repugnanl il may be 10 the judgment and con.
science of others. He says, sthese never
was So much hatred and animosity, SO much
public excitement, threatening the most fatal
consequences in any deliberative body that
ever preceded the one in which this question
was discussed One hall Of the Union COM
pletely in array against the other )" and fur
iher, the dissolution oil the Union threaten
ed &c. II was not exactly correct 10 say
that one hall was arrayed sgainst the other !;
but il is perfectly true that every slave hold.
ing slate, to man, was arrayed in habiliments
OF the darkest vengeance against every state
where the blessings Of freedom are guaranteed
10 the wreiched sons Of Africa. The slave
holder empbalically said 10. the advocate OF
freedom, you shall vote with me, or aud
my friends will sever the Union." And this
we are 10 understand Is an evil so horrible
that We ought 10 be sotsened into compli-
ance, tor Tear this threat should be carried
INTO effect. The lime was when language
like this 10 representation Of the county VI
Suffolk would have been heard with less ten.
derness aud doc,iiy than Mr.. Mason seems 10
have experienced under its imposing influence.
But he was under very great mistake il he
supposed that such kind Of threats produced
any such fears in the public mind as he seems
to have experienced; although il cannot be
doubted from his own account, had his own
fears been contagious, that the public must
have been 10 stale Of great mental distress,
when the FIRST vote in the House of Represen
tatives indicssed1he exclusion Of slavery from
the extensive territory Of Missouri ]; and yet
nothing is mole certain than that such a pros.
psct was the cause Of great satisfaction 10 the
mass Of the people in the freedom states, who
were iondly induced TO believe that they fore.
saw in the measure, should it be ultimately
carried, the happiest presages Of The future
glory Of the nation.
But Mr. Mason's reason convinced him that
Congress had no power 10 impose the restric-
lion, aud his oath bound him TO support the
u these motives, only, had ap.
peared in his vindication, they would have
been entitled TO more respect than they are in
The company Of their da'k and menacing CO.
adjuter; but motives, as well as men, may
sometimes be duly estimated by such as are
known TO be associated with them and il the
Of the slave holders brought such
Ierrors to bis mind that he foresaw in il the
dissolution Of the Union, il may well be
doubted whether he acted under the free aud
unbiased exercise Of his judgment; for it is
we'll known that fear, especially that which is
|ounded in misapprehe Of danger, is al
most miserable guide Of the understanding
his guide is easily mistaken for conscience in
he moments OF agitation, and with equal "a !
:ility is The subject Of il 6a,tered into belief
~ his own peculiar feelings, that he has act
ID in obedience 10 the impefious mandates Of
Judgment aud conscience.
II will forever remain subject Of the great |
sst regret, TO every rejecting individual Of the
reedom states, that ever any Of their mem
'ers lent helping hand in erecting new
heatre for master and slave TO act upon. The |
yround already occupied was. sufficiently
broad and the miseries Of the enslavet, un.
der the rigorous hand Of the enslaver, have |
been sufficiently notorious 10 The world to ex
cite the conmiseration Of The just and humane
in all quarters Of il. This bubble Of dissolv.
Ing the Union would have instantly burst, had
every meWber from the freedom states took
he ground which their constituents, the con.
'iitution and the rights Of humanity demanded.
The idea OF the slave holders dissolving the
Union because enlightened statesmen do their
duty is false and illusory. The moment they
should have the madness to attempt disso-
luton for such a cause. their slaves would
conceive the idea OF becoming masters; and
the scenes of degradation would be changed
changed by the rash folly of those who have
been but too successful in humbling BY terror
or by false alluremenis the minds Of men who
should have known no fear but that of failing
in The performance Of their duty to their con.
stiiuenis and their country.
But NJ. Mason in the plenitude Of bis
goodness hss cast an eye Of conmiseration on
the condition which Maine, as well as Mis-.