Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

Communications.
FOR THE GAZETTE.

MR. SHIRLEY,

THE democratic office-holders in this county, alarmed at the rapid progress of truth, and trembling for the fate of their party, called a meeting at Gray on the 26th instant, to devise ways and means to keep the scales on the people's eyes, and prevent the advances of political convalescence. -- The report that great things were to be done, and that an oration would be pronounced &c. was industriously circulated: in the hope that curiosity would draw together such a number as might be called a county meeting. With much exertion the broken, dispirited, meagre remnants of the democratic troop were rallied once more. Their 'forlorn hope,' the 'Solicitor,' on whom the first calculations have been made, attended with them. The 'Collector' also was at his post. (Not at the Custom-House--but at the Caucus; --in obedience, doubtless, to 'secret instructions' from the President to nurse democracy.) The newly dubbed 'Inspector' and four or five 'postmasters' as staff and platoon officers, brought up the rear.

A speech, of high-sounding words, was made by the Solicitor: who anathematized federal republicanism with his usual sophomorical and bombastic flourishes, and with much spirit. The old burden of 'British influence' &c. hummed over again; (not a word about standing armies!)--and the newly hatched jacobin lie 'that Federalists wish for a separation of the states' was repeated with unblushing effrontery.

A string of resolutions, prepared beforehand at head quarters, were read and passed-of course. Some hundreds of Giles' second Speech, neatly stitched in blue, were distributed to the multitude and sent to the neighbouring towns --all for the public good. Committees were appointed in each town; who are to fight stoutly for Jefferson and embargoes forever; --to watch those who begin to be sick of the nauseous drugs of democracy, and to frighten or coax them back, like 'the dog to his vomit,'

This motley assembly has 'told well.' Many honest democrats, whom curiosity had drawn there, saw clearly the main-springs of the meeting and were disgusted. They went, expecting to see sages; --the respectable chiefs of their party; --men of talent & virtue. As to all (except perhaps one or two individuals) they were bitterly deceived; and could not refrain from asking themselves, 'are these men our county committee? --these the movers of the political machine? --these the men to whom the whole county is to look, as their political jagel men? If so, God help us!'

Several from the vicinity, whose faith the late acts of governmental oppression had begun to shake, went in expectation of obtaining from their file-leaders, sound arguments and irrefragable proofs, to confirm them in their own belief, and to stop the mouths of their federal neighbours. But they found they leaned on a broken reed. They were served with nought but a new course of that stale slang, which they have already had even to surfeiting, from their own filthy news-prints. They went from home honest, doubting democrats; and returned in the faith of Federal republicanism

Caucuses and county meetings will no longer serve to delude the people; nor alleviate the distresses which democracy has brought upon them. The wrath of an indignant and abused people will not slumber forever. They have awoke: and no wonder those office holders quake with fear. -- They are to have another caucus at Gray or New-Gloucester in about a month or six weeks, and for this also federalists will have reason to thank them.

W.
New-Gloucester, Jan. 28, 1809.