The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-07-17

poTat0n----nnofCndlng except indeed IA num-
bering among its population, Gen. Wingate and
other enteFprising capitalists, II ~ proper for
70 show this I" arrogant pretender," that he can
not scatter his gross caunnies and vulgar asper-
siOns through the State, without contradiction
and reproof
Mr.. Holmes is rendered bold, and has efron-
terry seems TO have been increased, BY bis haY-
ing been secured in a comfortable ofhce, above
the popular breath, for period Of six years /;
but he has yet perhaps 70 learn, If he do not al
ready feel 1t, that if lie be secure In Office, he i
not secure from contempt.
Mr.. Holmes never sticks al exPedfents, If he
once embark in a cause he suffers no cOn.ld-
erations 20 impede his progress its attaining,
and with degree Of meanness and shameless
ness seldom equalled, he can cIInge or browbeat,
as bis crooked and narrow minded policy NAV
dictate. His life has been spent in ! course Of
intrigue, and his whole study has been to perfect
himself in the best method of quilting the people;
and, TO give the devil his due we must admit,
that in this he has been but too successful.
Mr.. Holmes, in his late address, refers TO this
town in the following courteous manner:
" From the insoence, which members Of the
Legislature have already experienced at the seat
OF government; from the attempts OF individu-
ais To tamper and influence dciberatioh and de-
Cision and from the allurements and temptations
held up by rich oifice-seekers and powerful and
arrogant pretenders, lie unprecedented that the
safety Of the republic would very soon require
that the Legislature should be removed 10 Y
place Of safety"
This is serious charge, and should BE- met
seriously it involves the moral and civil charac-
ter of 5000 people, who now labour under the
heavy accusation Of having insulted the repre-
sentatNes Of the people, and poisoned the foun-
tain of public law. If this charge be true, and
i is presented by high authority, then this town
deserves Acknowledgement; for if the charge be
true, it goes to the destruction Of the principles
OF republican government. But let the rem
tleman beware how he advance such daring
accusations, without specification and without
proof However he may be accustomed TO wit
ness his general assertion circulated by his dis
ciples, and received as truth, he cannot but be
sensible Of the baseness of the deed. which at
tempts TO asperse the character OF q whole civil
body, by unloundcd and malignant insinuations.
10 lnslnuaton, or vague and general charge,
1t Is impossible TO direct satisfactory argument
The bllI OF rights has wisely provided for indiUid
aGt safety, by declaring that the accused NAV
have copy Of the nature and cause Of the accu-
sztioD, and be confronted with the witnesses a.
gainst him." A town should be defended BY y
like barrier But ii never serves Mr.. Holmes
purpose to be direct. Demagogues rant with
out book, and asslssins stab in the dark
Ii IS SAID that eXertions were made to inhu-
ence the members Of the Legislature. We be-
heve there is some little truth In this CHARGE
but SO far from their originating in Portland,
they came all the way from Washington, and
the only influence we have heard Of, was thatcx-
erted to secure the election Of JOHN HOLMES as
q Senator OF the U. ;. To accomplish this great
object OF that gentleman, the eastern mail groan-
ed with papers and letters from Mr Holmes TO
the members Of the Legislature. before the
question was decided. There was a time when
The gentleman felt doubtful Of his election and
Oheh no care, no management was spared by
men high IN Office IN this State, by l05bg mem
bers, and by the Senator himself, with all the aid
derived from the free postage and gratnitous STA
tonary Of government, to bend the representa-
uyes OF the people to his darling purpose. He
succeeded, and being safe moored for six years.
the mail was immediately relieved, the loJ6y
members mum, and the representatives were
left to obtain news from the Capitol, as time and
chance afforded. And now, can il he believed.
this same John Holmes comes out in a public
meeting, and accuses /. e town of Portland with
tamperng with the legislature Yet such Is the
fact
Apart from the falsehood Of the accusation, Il
was not to have been expected, that q man in
the elevated official station which Mr. Holmes
occuPles----a representative Of sovereign state
ID the highest council of the nation, should have
condescended, merely for electioneering purpos-
es, TO the pitifu Office Of attempting to prejudice
the people IN the country against their fellow cit
lzens OF the capital. The attack is ungencrous,
and cause which requires the aid Of such means,
ought not to receive support. The injury caIum-
ny does, is not abated, when the caiumnv is ex-
posed, for before the exposure come, the preu-
dice IS imbibed fasehood will fIy from Maine
70 Mississippi while truth IS putting her boots
on"
Ma. SHIRLEY-It has been intimateI II lata