Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

From the American Citizen.

The following remarks are from a New-York paper which has long been distinguished for its real zealous labours in the democratic cause. They are so just and so much to the purpose that we think it mete to give them a place in our paper. Cheetham, the Editor, because he did not turn and follow every wind of doctrine raised by the democrats, has recently been denounced by them as an apostate. During the reign of Jefferson terror, (and I never knew a reign more terrible than the latter part of his administration) a vindictive and remorseless war was commenced against every man of virtue and talent in the republican party, that did not yield implicit assent to executive opinions and measures—Whatever was the design, whatever was the ultimate view, the practice was to break down individual independence, and to coerce the mind, by pains and penalties, by persecution and proscription, into a slavish submission to the royal doctrine, that "the King can do no wrong."

Jefferson has himself said (and I candidly confess that I am no admirer either of the man or of his doctrines) but Jefferson himself justly remarked, that "religious persecution has no other tendency than that of making men either hypocrites or victims:" Has not political persecution the same tendency?—It undoubtedly has. Now whether he himself was the origin of that execrable system of persecution against republican independence and talent which was set in full motion, or only tacitly connived at and encouraged it I know not, but it was certainly prosecuted under his auspices. Did a republican differ from Mr. Jefferson? He was denounced. "My lords, my lords, the King's been shot at," was the hue and cry set up, and down went the man who said that the King's gun boats were not as large as 74's. Do you dislike the proposition for a dry dock? I do. Then you are no republican, for as Mr. Jefferson approves of dry docks, all republicanism is a dry dock! A man landing here to day from Europe, who had not witnessed these things, might say, in reading this paper; this is a very good joke, but it is only a joke. He could not imagine that in the "most enlightened country in the world," as Congress resolved this was; the most free and only free, as the Madison tribe sing, and beyond all Question the most liberal and republican, whether congress resolve or the Laughing House maintain it or not; I say he could not imagine that in such a country dogmas and doctrines so preposterous and anti-republican, had been propagated by republican zeal, and enforced by republican persecution. Still it is a fact. Such things have been, and such things yet are.—John Randolph censured some of the measures of the administration, and therefore John could not be a republican, down John must go, He had never deserted republican principles, but what then? He did not worship the king, and that was precisely the same offence as if he had apostatized from all the principles of the constitution. Duane thought that John was right and that Jefferson was "a good innocent man enough, but that two rascals stood with a rope about his neck which they drew as they pleased." He so intimated in his Aurora, and according to the address below, he declared so at one of the Philadelphia ward meetings. But he afterwards changed, or he can lie, and he can lie, and lie and still be a villain. He afterwards obtained a Colonelcy! Ah, The Colonelcy. Then the King was to be worshipped & Randolph was wrong! Wonder working Colonelcy! Randolph was now opposed in his district: out he must go, for to have in Congress a republican of talents and virtue is damnable in! No man is now fit for a seat in that honourable body who will not sit like a Mandarin, and only nod his head when the President orders him to do so. Now as John is not a disciple of confusion, 5 Chinese were started against him in his district The first four had so fine a prospect of being completely distanced, that after running the course once round they gave up! Mr. Barber the late President's nephew was brought out, but as John's constituents were not a bit fonder of Confucius than himself, the late President nephew was beaten to his heart's content. If Fox had been defeated in Westminster, England would have trembled for the respectability and independence of the House of Commons, The Westminster electors never permitted themselves to be overawed by royal power.