The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-08-14

( and IN proportion as the religious observance oi
/ the Divine Laws contributes 10 the welfare,
peace and happiness Of Society, II becomes the
duty aud interest Of all Government. to difFuse
the benign influences Of Christianity, BY strength
eong the hands, encouraging the hearts and
I giving aid and support TO those who are engaged
! in proclaiming its truths and glad tdings, aud
persuading mankind to the practice Of the duties
which il enioins. As prize and cherish our
/ Liberty, we have, as Citizens Of a free country,
peculiar reasons for cherishins and advancing
the Christian Religion. In illustration OF this
/ truth, cannot express myself 50 happily as ia
/ the words of distinguished Divine and excel
lent man. " Religion" he observes, beiriends
liberty. Ii dimlnishes the necessity of public
restraints and IN great measure supersedes the
use Of force in administering the Laws, and this
is done by making men law to themselves -
Take away the purifying and restraining infu
ence of Religion, and selfshness, rspacity and
injustice will break out into new excuses, and
amidst the increasing perils OF Socisty, Govern
ment must be strengthened 10 defend t-Di-
minish principle and you increase the need Of
| force ia community. In this country, Govern
ment needs moi the array OF power which you
meet~in other nations. No guards Of soldiers
no hosts of spies-no vexatious regulations Of
police. But it accompanies its 5enefcent pur-
poses by few unarmed Judges and civil officers
and operates so silently around that many Of
enjoy its blessings with hardly thought Of ITS
existence. And this is the perfection of Freedom.
We owe all this TO the power of those Laws
which Religion writes hearts - which
unite and concentrate public opinion against in
justice and oppression which spread spirit Of
equity and good will through the community.
Thus Religion is the Soul OF Freedom and no
nation under heaven has such an interest IN it as
ourselves"
a. II ~ he Ercf
Judicial Court now commences il sessions 10 this
fourshirg and respectable County, by whose
commendable exertons this elegant and commo-
dOus Hall Of Justice has been erected. The scene
is adapted TO produce feelings and impressions Of
a peculiar nature, and awaken many interesting
reCollections among those more immediately con
cerned. Our Legislature has made it part Of
official duty to hold a session of the Courts in
this town for the greater convenience in the al
miuistraton Of Justice in the midst Of the cit
liens Of this County. The occasion presents an
object worthy of special notice and remark as
well as of respectful consideration. ltreminds Us
of the rapid advance OF general Improvement and
wide diffusion of social blessings in this our Coun
try az large, and Of the extending means Of edu |
cation-the internal harmony and order-the de- !
lighttul landscapes-the cultivated fields and
bountiful harvess of his section IF it particular.
IL reminds US of the thousand advantages result
ing from the prudent steady &persevermg pursuits
Of honest industry OF the Importance of AGRI-
CULTURE to the solid happiness and comfort Of a
people, apd of the wisdom OF deyoting time, tai |
ents and attention to the honorable employment |
Of enrichng the earth by cultivation and gather.
ing the abundance which it yields in return. II
reminds as that in these peaceful occupations,
health, cheerfulness and innocence most sure
ly pre- served and the better feelings Of the heart
generally called into exercise And let IL be
membered that the present occasion reminds
also cf the disposition Of government 10
guard the interests Of all portions OF our State
and as the time has now arrived Of its readiness
10 extend TO the people of Somerset the same az
commodations which other counties have long en-
joyed in the establishment Of Supreme Judicial
Court within their respective limits, and thereby
10 enable them to obtain promptly aud without
delay a vindication Of their rights and redress
Of their wrongs. The occasion may be profit bly,
improved, and il is the part of wisdom to i'm
prove it.-While it leads our minds to the con-
temptation Of the unnumbered blessings which
we are constantly enjoying under the government
of our choice, il should admonish all of the du
tics, which, as citizens, we owe TO it of the
contributions which are bound TO make 10 the
general prosperity and happiness by exorting our
selves to cherish and dfuse love Of Justice,
Morality and Peace. We should RENE mber our
erence those principles which give them their
gre attest sanction and we have peculiar reasons
for so doing, when the citizens Of county as
semble TO witness or aid in the administration or
those Laws.
Besides the duty devolved on Magistrates and
Grand Jurors Of watching over tho lives, liberty
and property OF all by detecting crimes and pur-
suing offenders-an obligation i imposed on all
virtuous citizens in the community q lend the
countenance and aid Of their sober counsel and
good examples, 10 strengthen the laws and in
crease that benign influence Of them, so sautary
in its operations and necessary TO preserve the
blessings Of social life ard well ordered govern
ment.
/ Let US then, whatever may be our stationsor en-
plovments in life, endeayor 10 act our respective
parts with fidelity and uprightness never for
' getting the memorable maxim that " the highest
lc,sdom i TO kr'ow duty, aud the trEest plsas
IRE isto perform a."