The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-01-29

tnese years nave uOW uepAltu, iuG NDafy Tine
that passes away imperceptibly, has scarcely
them. In vain s-deayoured to call to mind the
particulars Of scenes Of which memory could on
" furnish the outiines-in vain | tried TO recol-
iecf events which were ouce fresh in my ac llory
but it was useless they had vanished like a
fading DIR cam. SPECTATOR.
To the Independent Members Of Ne Legislature
of Name. g.
You are about to execute al. important Of
fee The election OF a Senator 10 represent
his State 10 Congress for The longest cooslilu
tional term, 10 lie highest legislative office 10
tie United States. A'.j VOC have therefore a
lulghiy responsible duy 10 perform to your
constituents and to your country You have
@ select person for tina purpose, from whose
talents and principles as testified by the uni
form enor Of his past political conduci, you
can cherish sufficient confidence, that be
Will form an upright and faithful representa-
tive of the State III the council of the nation.
! If this were matter for any private con-
sderatoD you might be free to beslow your
| surfaces upon any one that should solicit them.
! II you had only your own convenience 10 con
/ suit, you would be accountable TO nobody
but yourselves. Or even II the question were
% be determined by the personal popularity
or odiousness OF any individual, you would
honestly be at liberty 10 Indulge your inclina-
ton or to exercise your independence. But
vhen the interest of your constituents are
concerned. when the Integrity of the consiilu-
ton is affected. when in fine the liberty of the
people IS al stake and the great principles of
! the declaration of Independence NAV be in
volved in the result ; you are then to be suPe-
rlor 10 a u seduCtions, and make your selection
with single eve to those paramount objects.
unlnfiue0ced by any sinister considerations Of
lear, favour or affection.
Ii IS certainly no objection % any candidate
in this country, that he IS republican il the
highest and puFes' sense of the word nor that
ne mas been SUCH IN the party phrase from the
hrsl foundation OF the distinction. Whe Their
we are all tederstiss OF not, we are undoubi-
edly all republicans But COW in the grand
triumph repubiicsnism, when all parties are
emulous 10 rally under its standard, it Ger
tainly makes but little difference in regard to
merit, al what period any individual abjured
bis political hereses aud embraced the more
popular tenets.
RepubIIcanism certainly existed before
1912, from which point however it is fashion
abe TOR many, who are now in it front ranks,
10 reckon their departure. But The burden
and heat of the day were then over. And al.
though with those who torsook the errors o
federalism Whereabouts, all our political hiso
ry dates from that epoch The war which The
| republican party had 10 wage with Its new
auxiIarles against he enemy OF our rational
independents was neither so critical, nor o
80 desperate character nor ct 20 long con-
| tinUance, - ,hat which it had 10 carry or
without them against the party TO which they
formerly belonged -What would have beer
the relative position of these important aux
iilares. had The original result been different
| conjecture onlv can determine.
But since all these old things are done away
and we have become a new Sta te, our local
politics have also assumed new complexion
As we profess TO have but one object in view
the prosperity Of our vousg and rising com
monWeslth. we have agreed 70 discard all dis
tIDctons that may he lnmical to 1t. Wheth
er such happy harmony as now generally
exists, should be disturbed, or should not "a
Their be improved and cultivated, there car
probably be but one opinion prevailing a.
mong all the real friends 10 It's welfare.
| II is well known. however, 10 the people Of
thus State, that new doctrine has been
preached in Congress, which not only does
actually disfranchise portion of its popula-
ton, but virtually gees the whole length o.
subjsctiDg every other portion Of it 10 the ike
distranchIsement This doctrine also, il i
generally known. has had the singular fortune
20 fad advocates from this State IN the Senate.
while il has been rejected by every one of il:
members in the House OF Representatives
As the latter are chosen directly by the peo-
pie OF the State, in their primary capacity,
The question that has thus existed between
them and their Senators in Congress, is now
shifted to the seat of their own State Legisla-
ture; which, in The office that devolyes on il
TO exercise, has 10 determine between the u
unanimous voice Of the Representatives in "a
vor OF The just and equal rights Of their con
stituents, end the united suffrsges Of their SEN
ators on the otter side.
| As the term OF one Of these Senators ap-
proaches close, and he is presented a candi
date for reelection, il becomes interesting tc
| ook back, and II may be important to reflect
upon The mode in which he has already dis
charged The duties of that office. Although he
has not thought proper TO make an exposition
10 his csrstiluenls of The ground OF his vote
g contained in bis speech delivered in the
A Al A.