Jenks's Portland Gazette

From the Washington Federalist-Feb. 13

WHAT will eventually be the issue of the pre-sent high handed, over-bearing proceedings of Congress, it is impossible to determine: but we have daily additional cause for fearing that the measures at present pursued, while some of them are direct violations of our sacred constitution, and others are destructive of our welfare, will shortly bring us to a situation, the dreadful consequences of which seem to be little feared by the advocates of those measures, but which impartial, unbiased and reflecting men consider as immediately preceding the total destruction of our government, and the introduction of disunion, of anarchy and civil war.

If on any question where there was a shade of doubt, circumstances and conduct could prove a destitution of good principles, of patriotic motives, of a regard for the public welfare, it does most sincerely appear to us, and we believe we judge without prejudice, that such destitution is evident, on attentive examination, in the conduct of the present ruling party of this country.

It would be astonishing, to the last degree astonishing, that a majority of the people of the United States should put these men in power, were we not to consider the means by which they have obtained it. These means have been, the want of correct information, and the diffusion of gross falsehoods and misrepresentations. Look at those sections of the country where democracy abounds; and see what knowledge the majority of the people there have of public characters and public transactions. We dare assert that in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, much of North and South Carolina, of Virginia, of Pennsylvania, &c. the great bulk of the people are almost wholly uninformed of the state of politics, of the measures of government; and what information they receive is mostly from the circulation of jacobin newspapers, and the report of jacobin characters. What cause had the constituents of Mr. Fowler of Kentucky, for disbelieving him when he hinted to them in an address last spring, that the public offices at the City of Washington were burnt by design, and to secrete forever the transactions of the officers concerned in them? They were not on the spot; a large portion of them trusted entirely to one they supposed knew, from his means of knowing, and one whose veracity they thought they might trust. What diabolical stories were told of Mr. Pickering, Mr. Dayton, &c. They were asserted with so much daring impudence, that people who knew not the characters of those who make the assertions, would have supposed that the wickedness of ten devils combined in one would hardly have been sufficient to have induced any being to have made such declarations without being able to substantiate their truth. Yet see: those declarations of fraud, of public robbery and theft of public money, are now well known to have been wholly without foundation; are well known to have been issued from a heart apparently moulded in hell, and thrice coated by some infernal smith with brass. And how is such a character rewarded? Is he scorned, detested by all men: By all good and intelligent men he is, but not by those in power. -Had Doane been guilty but of the one enormous, instead of numerous enormous, and not less criminal items, it would have been, we had supposed, sufficient to have made him a mark to have been shunned; instead of which he has been and now is, (heaven withhold its wrath) not only honored with the notice of a president of the United States, but admitted to share largely in the loaves and fishes: and to share in such manner as reflects no honor on the secretary of the treasury.-

He can take thousands of dollars in advance from the treasury, purchase paper at Wilmington and send it to the city and there receive four thousand dollars for what cost but three thousand. He can charge nine dollars per ream for paper, when others would be glad to sell the same for five. Can we doubt the Secretary's willingness to reward him thus; to give away the public money thus indirectly? And give it to such a being, when the old soldier, the brave officer, who ran to the field of slaughter and laughed at death, to gain our independence, is by this very Secretary doomed to dig, or beg, or starve. Great God, that such characters too should be considered patriots, and instead of being thrust into scorn and contempt, should be suffered to burst open the doors of honor and confidence.

By the insinuations and falsehoods of such wretches how many are deceived. Another cause-Men who have no patriotism, who wish to ride on the necks of the people, though they would see their head, as Nero said, if they had but one, quite cut off at one blow, are continually bawling about their dear love for the dear people; continually assuring them that those who are their best friends, are forging chains for them, are striving to introduce royalty, nobility &c, to set themselves above them. These scandalous tales have had much influence, nor does the farce yet cease. We even yet hear in congress pseudo patriots and pseudo orators farcically attempting to have it believed that their political opponents are royalists, with as much owl like gravity as if they believed what they said. If the time ever should come, and of late there are some symptoms of its arrival, when the people shall judge men by their actions instead of their empty professions, and noisy declamations: then should we see turbulent patriots, some standing uncovered, and others returning whence they came, to "hewing wood and drawing water" And the time is assuredly nigh, when either the good sense of the people will return with the opening of their eyes, and their old friends, be returned to seats of confidence and respect; or when some daring Bonaparte will crush the minor patriots, and from pure love of the people condescend to be their lord and master. The present state of things cannot long continue. The crisis is at hand. Those who have favored heretofore the present government have been in suspense, their fears begin to increase, they have seen the constitution already severely wounded. They now see a most audacious attempt to stab its very vitals. They see an attempt made to use judiciary as a glove to the legislature; to be put on or pulled off at pleasure. Whether this last most daring attempt be effected or not, the people at large know most views, understand the wishes, the murderous wishes of those who hate the constitution. They will, if practicable, constitutionally and peaceably effect a change in men and measures, if provoked, if compelled by democratic outrages, heaven defend us from the calamities that will attend the struggle to uphold our constitution, preserve our laws our liberties and republican government.