The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-02-01
GENERAL VAN RENSSELAER,.

ter Of Albany, and the appointment of General
Van Rensselaer,, TO the office Of the former, has pro-
duced political fernent, which excites as much
surprze as regret. We know little of the par
| ties, except what we learn from the papers. One
thing however We presume is true; for it's plain
ly asserted, and as far as we know, uncontradict-
ed, that the former incumbent had been for some
time in arrears to the government TO the amount
of some thousands ofdollars, and that ample time
and sufficient opportunities had been allowed him
to settle bis accounts and make up the defcien-
cy, until the patience Of the government was
wearied out and exhausted. Under these Cir
cumstances, which we suppose to be true, VIC
cannot feel any wonder or surprizc chat his re-
moval should be determined. 1t was certainly
an act of duty on the part of the Post Master
General. A y. Yorl, paper states, that when il
was known that the office was vacant, twenty
two members from that state, large majority of
them republicans, recommended General Van
Rensselaer, to the Post Master General as suit
able person to fill it," 1t is indeed well under
stood that Gen. Van Rensselaer, has always been
firm fcdcralst.-But the Post Master General
with magnanimous firmness, very honorable to
bis character, disrcgarded circumstance Of this
sort and being satisfied with the qualifications
and the integrity OF Gen. Van Rensselaer,, has ap-
pointed him.
We have often been told, what we wish were
more generally true, that political difference in
opinion ought not to be the cause of exclusion
from Office. Political apostates, we believe, have
never made the best public officers. And poit-
ical tolerance will DO more than any thing else
to quell political hostility-and promote the best
interests in the community. General Van Rem
selaer has been Revolutionary oficer-and, we
believe, has done more for his country than hun
dreds who have shared the loaves and fishes Of
Office, for no other reason than because they had
meanness enough to become political hypocrites
We deeply regret the party bitterness, which
is SO intolerant to vent its rude Censures, be-
cause worthy revolutionary veteran is appoint
ed to an Office. Censures for which we see no 9TH
er reason, than that lie darcs be independent and
honest, even at the hazard of popularity. And
we honor the magnanimity, which is superior to
| the meanness of political intolerance.
A law has just passed the Legislature
Of Massachusetts, making every person who
shall become member of any manufacturing
corporation established after its enactment III
that State, liable in his individual capacity for
| all debts contracted during the time OF his con-
| tinung a meAber of such corporation.
In Massachusetts, the Senate have unanimous
ly accepted the report OF the committee ON the
.uGryLdnd Resolutions the report was untayor-
! able to their adoption.
On the 2lst inst the House of Representatives
at Washington, commenced the discussion of the
Bankrupt bill. Mr.. Sergeant of Penn. opened the
debate in favour of its provisions. A motion was
made on the 23I that the time of the meeting of
the house should be changed from IL to ii o.
clock, and we learn with surprise that it did not
succeed. The house adjourns usually between
| 8 and o'clock /; the session has not often been
continued after o'clock this winter making
the time they are together about hours, about
| lHc VI OHC SpSCthJ Io4 d.
equal Sl472, the speaker Sl6 $l438, to which
| add the pay of the Clerk, assistant doorkeepcrs,
sergeant at arms, messengers and fuel, and we
shall have pretty sum for speech; sometimes
however, to do them Justice, we get two or three
speeches for the same amount. And yet it APP
pears that although business begins to press, the
members are unwilling to meet one shor! hour
before noon, in order to discuss the most impor-
tant subjects within easonable length OF time.
This mode of protracting session is really an
evil Of no inconsiderable magnitude.
SIMON FoGG, Esq. of Limerick, and DANIEI.
CooDENow, Esq Of Alfred, have been commits
stoned as Aids de Camp to Major General Nc
DONALD, ofthc first Division Of Maine Militia.
! Major General RIPLEY, of the 9th Division,
has resigned-and this day is assigned, in the
House, 10 ill the vacancy.
An ac; passed the House Tuesday ard son
CURED in the Senate Yesterday, authorizing the gov
ernor with the advice Of council appoint Scceta-
~ OF State that office should become By
d aih. resignation otherwise. Ii significantly
asked in the Senate if there any particular
for the passage Of this this time II observed
that the present Secretary healthy locking man,
and might be considered perhaps rather rejecting
upon him. provide for filing the vacancy Of his Of
ce when there did not appear 10 be much reason to
apprehend that a vacancy would take place. Howev-