The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-02-17
cLAIM on MAssAcHusETTs 1 MaTNr

II IS a singular circumstance atteRdin.
this celebrated claim, that its success il cnnrpiv
ed 10 depend not 50 much on It's own intrinsic
merits, as upon the principles on which N n
maintained; or IN other words, either upon The
opinions OF is authors, or che nOltics NJ hs
advocates. While, therefore, the facts upon
which II IL founded have never been contested,
the conclusions which they afford in support al
the sOHndness az the claim upon The Justice w
the nation, have been excessively embarrassed
by the imputation 20 the measures themselves W
the original sins Of their parents And the ser
vices OF the militia, which are ACKNOWLEDGED "
have been rendered patroticallv. and effect
lively, are deemed to have been tainted bv crr-
tain unconstitutional sentiments supposed a.
that time 70 have been entertained ~ TIE Ey-
eeutive Of Massachusetts,, with the sanction III
the Judiciary, respecting the legal faculty Of con
trout over that species Of force.
Accordingly Il was insisted, that the claim
cORld never he recovered SO long az the rrins re-
NAMED IN the same hands under which the ~.
penditUFes had been made and until tie nrinc.
pies adopted BY the republican party should be-
come predominant in the councils az the Com
mOnwealth. The same idea has also been ex-
tensivtly circulated IN Maine before and since
the separation, and Il has even been made use Of
MS a topic at our popular elections that the for
tune of the claim might be influenced by the
character Of the representative inducements w
this kind urged with infinite zeal and persever-
ance have probably not been without their im-
preston and opinions opposite 70 those which
originally obtained, have gradually prevailed
The political revolution has taken place in Mas
sachusetts and BY The separation ar Maine, eve
nv objection applying 20 this portion Of the ter
ritory, under It's independent organization, has
been removed. The Legislature of our State
has given a solemn construction 70 the clause ~
the constitution Of the United States concerning
the power Of the militia different from the doc
trine adopted by the Judges AZ the supreme Court
Of Massachusetts, and in unison with the inter
probation affixed 90 Il BY the national govern
ment. And we are not disposed to disturb
the question either In relation 20 The propriety
or the authority Of the expostien.-We presume
II would receive the concurrence III our own
State judiciary and consider i therefore a. BIZ
come part of the established law of the land
While upon that point we will barely ohsCrve,in
passing, that The management W the government
Of Massachusetts, al that period did more indirect
~ Ia diminish The doctrine or State sovereignty,
and practically 70 set up the supremacy the me-
tOnal authority, than at the efforts ~ the federal
party had been able 20 accomplish from the com
mencement Of the constitution The war with
Great Britain had the unforeseen effect TO com
pei the political parties 70 change hands upon
their former sentiments IN relation To this point
little 10 the disadvantage perhaps Of their poll
teal consistency, but more than compensated to
the country by the security and strength derived
to the constitution from the conversion Of N.Y.
original sdversaries-
Notwithstanding TIE difficulties attending The
allowance Of this demand is magnitude is such-
amounting FIRST and last 70 little short of q
million IF money, that there is little prospec "a
~ ever being abandoned; though II has long
been depending az Washington i'm one shape
and another, in Congress and out Of Congress,
with Is little positive progress a. that q the
heirs If Beaumarchais The arrangement q
their fnances in Massachusetts bT che war, rem
deTs the recovery Of this claim en- object Of very
great importance 70 them; and although ours
are IN much more hourishing situation, b. he
advantage OF setting out "a q new state nearly
free from debt, the reveTsionaFy interest Of one
third Of the whole amount thar shall " obtain
ed, makes Il an object Of equal responsibility
10 The government of Maine AZ fund ~ bf
/ appropriated for the promotion Of internal i'm.
lpr0vement, industry and economy-ior the
erection Of onr public edifces-the endow-
ment VI our pablic instituti0ns--uF simple ~
lief from the pressure Of direct taxafi0u--it d
"a concern deserving the mature consideration
Of our statesmen, ard entitled "a the hiEhes
exertions 81 the aciivr talent 81 which tht
community has purchased the employment hf
Y distinction and emoiument