Jenks' Portland Gazette

Political Miscellany.

Profession and Proof.—It was said by Mr. Jefferson's friends before he came into office, that he was a friend to religion—He has proved it by inviting and caressing Tom Paine. It was asserted, that Jefferson was a lover of Washington—He has proved it, by his giving unconstitutionally two thousand dollars of public money, and private presents from his own purse to Callender, the libeller of Washington. It was declared, that Jefferson was a friend to the constitution—He has shown it, by violating the constitution in various instances. More particularly in the repeal of the Judiciary law for the purpose of getting rid of the federal judges. It was stated that Jefferson was all benevolence, and would never think of persecuting for conscience sake, because he considered us to be— all republicans, and all federalists’—He has made good this promise, by turning out faithful officers, some of them veterans who had shed their blood for independence, a Miller, and a Heath, &c. for no other reason than because they were federalists. It was clamoured, that Jefferson would never countenance tories—He has acted accordingly, by giving places to such fellows of his party as Tench Coxe, who guided the British into Philadelphia during the revolutionary war. It was urged, that Jefferson was the particular friend of the poor—He has proved it, by taking the taxes and duties off from carriages and loaf sugar, and leaving them on salt, brown sugar, coffee, &c. It was promised, that Jefferson, would be a true republican economist—He has manifested it by the many thousand dollars unnecessarily spent on the French vessel Berceau. On Dr. Dawson’s embassy to France, &c. and by the salaries now received by the officers of his administration, which salaries when received by federal officers, Jefferson’s own party, and more especially Albert Gallatin when in Congress, now the secretary of the treasury, first from Gen. and afterwards the leader of the whiskey rebellion in Pennsylvania, declared were enormously high and extravagant. If any other proof were wanted of Jefferson’s economy, it might be the late purchase of Louisiana for fifteen millions of dollars. It was told, that Jefferson was an enemy to all state secrets, and that the people under him would never be deprived of the right of knowing how their own affairs were managed, and particularly how their monies were spent—He has fulfilled this by having his Congress last winter sitting with closed doors oftener than during the whole time of Washington and Adams, and by the secret appropriations of two millions of dollars and then of two thousand five hundred dollars to be placed under the discretion of the President, which he is to account for as soon as may be. It was said, that Jefferson’s private character was the most moral and the best in the world—This has been established by a variety of immoral circumstances. Such as his attempt to wrong the friend and patron of his youth, the venerable Mr. Gabriel Jones, out of $50,000 by a part money tender, worth less than one fourth of the interest of the debt. It was shouted, that Jefferson would restore harmony to social intercourse, that with him at our head all would be peace and liberty and order.—As evidence of this, we now behold confusion, distraction and intolerance in every direction, the wicked strutting abroad in triumph, the good and the worthy oppressed and insulted, society almost rent from its foundations, and the waters of the great deep broken up. As an advocate for America, we submit these things out of many others of the same kind to the great court of the people. In law when a party’s declaration and proof (the allegata and probata) do not correspond, he of course suffers a nonsuit. It will be for the people to judge, whether Mr. Jefferson has made out his case, or whether his claim on their regard does not only appear without evidence but also totally contrary to evidence; that it must now fail, and we trust will be forever dismissed—Fred. Herald.