The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-03-23

rather Indifferent and disinieresied sort OF per-
sons, 70 report an opinion respecting the true
state Of the circumstances between The contra
dieting parties We bad originally avoided to-
iutermeddle in this aiair, because we did not
consider Il, properly speaking, % bs any oi our
concern. Non H0bis iaHias e0np0nsTs hisS. But
having been in a manner upon the ground, we
cannot profess % be entirely ignorant Of the
subject, though we cannot pretend 20 speak
van any oraculaT certainty.-Ihe assembly at
Mr.. PGifeHS hall was intended to be so select
mat we could not have any regular opportunity
q Information, except vi hat transpired from the
last Of the members Of the legislature present
which was published on that occasion. This
publication was probably designed as a mutual
memorial for the members themselves and the
future reireshment Of their republican friends
And we have no reason TO doubt that the state
ment OF the .irgts on that point was substanti-
ally correct although, after an, we cannot help
susPecting that there i question sill behind TO
he settled between those gentlemen and their
constituents. As many 80 republican mem
bers we believe, were counted AZ the genuine
caucus. II 50 attended nj the other, that was
holden at the State House, which we are not
warranted TO question from the return of votes
taken or that evening, II must a. we think,
nave included az least az many icderllists as were
mentioned by the Statesman to have been pre-
sent although we are by no means satisfied
that the number Of iederGlsts who might have
gwen their votes On that occasion, was 80 large
as was stated by the Argus Indeed we DO not
think that the number Of those Who attended
this latter caucus as the friends Of Mr. 4tams Is
\ capable Of being positively ascertained, there
ihaving been no returns taken at tie time ex-
eept Of the votes.
J % much evidence is apparently manufactured
tor the occasion in this great contest, pretty
much over the country, ti--t Il is not wonderful
/ that people occupying the neutral position tina
We DO upon this mOmentOus question. sh0ult
lHOW and thea be resOrtcd to as a kind Of umpire
TO settle the real state offacts occurring within Tx
sphere Of their actual observation as silent an,
1 impartial spectators. We are indeed not IN
willing TO admit that we are in some respects il
trather an enviabe situation being 50 situate,
THAT we can see the stir Of the great Babel, an,
not feel the crowd > and enjoying "A light il
our hsbitatons like that of tine lsraelites in tn
land Of GOSHEN. In truth, we may well b
lproud of enjoying something more than th
mere forbea rance of our political adversaries
. who have reduced rs as party 70 a minority
; but who still accord TO Us a degree Of respec
. and confidence which they refuse 10 their ow
brethren Of the same denomination and wit
Iwhom we revolve in the same free system d
tangled in their politics, or embrofed bv thei
Iparsieus. And this we are disposed TO look upo
as quite an equivalent for the little possible in
? lterest we can have III the Presidential Question
political retributve justice Is one 81 the sures
events in the course of Providence to take plae
in republican system of government. Tn
federalists as q party have been taught 10 expe
rience the proper uses Of political adversely
while they have seen portion OF their fellow
citizehs elevated above them entirely indepeud
ent OF their sufrages, clothed in the purple 3
lpower and tdring sumptuoUsly every day all
= while they have themselves been enduring
S moral discipline which has deservedly rendere
5 them in most respects among the best citizen
Of the community. For all its virtues, al
[ all its talents they can no longer claim, sine
so large a proportion of them have passe
from their ranks TO grace the lists Of the ma
jority. In fact, the federaists have been s
long accustomed to perform in despont
= ence all the tasks of hope" that the wor
Of duty has become comparatively light I
them. They have been tried as It were by Ere
and that which has survived the test may rea,
Onably be deemed to be toIerably pure III
patriotism of that remnant which still rrtain
n the dppellGtiOn, which il has not renowned. al
, though it has long ceased TO contend earnestly
for any thing, except the faith which was 'or
4 merly delivered 20 the fathers Of the consttu
ton, may be securely relied on by the country
} While they no longer indulge any ambition
longings after power, or aspire to any predoni
I nance as party, their very fidelity in oppositbr
90 long as il their opinion there was any groru,
, Of principle to contend for, is pledge of tlri
consistency in any cause which they conceive Il
be right, and entities them to that confidence II
Z their civic virtues and patriotic purposes whcl
their country j. becoming daily less and less ls
IpOsed to deny them. Federalism never iCG
faction. II waI the cause Of union against di
vision, Of democracy against anarchy, OF reptbli
canism against olsarChy, Of the constitution
against the confederation, Of the people agdns
demagogues, of the nation against all its tne
mics and having lived to see the political
salvation q their country, n0tc Letied h5
servants depart ia peace