Portland Gazette

IT has been wickedly pretended, that Governor Strong and a majority of our Legislature, have a prejudice against certain religious persuasions now prevalent. On what evi- dence is this assertion founded ? Review the numerous acts of the legislature for several years past, incorporating the different sects of baptists, methodists, and universalists, in various parts of the Commonwealth. Does this look like giving one sect an undue preference over another ? What more freedom in religious matters is wished for than is now en- joyed. Surely those serious christians who are of bap- tist and methodist belief will be the last to elevate to office men of no religion. All they want is free toleration, and that they surely have; it is warranted them by the con- stitution, and confirmed by the laws. The legislature have during the present session incorporated several baptist and methodist societies, and if I mistake not one society of universalists ; and governor Strong has instantly given his signature to all those acts. Does this look like prejudice or preference? How shameful then is it to endeavour to impose a belief upon christians of those denominations that the present majority in the state are hostile to their principles. I am persuaded that this hollow artifice will not produce the intended effect ; but our fellow citizens will prefer trusting a Governor who has proved his impartiality rather than one whose conduct on such subjects is only to be conjectured.

TRUTH