Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

Communication.

FOR THE PORTLAND GAZETTE.

To the Settlers in the County of Lincoln who have not acquired a legal title to their Lands.

Fellow-Citizens,

The unhappy situation in which you find yourselves has excited no small degree of concern in the breasts of those who know your circumstances, the controversy in which you are engaged and who wish you well. The writer of this address professes to be of this number; he is personally acquainted with many of you, and he cheerfully embraces the opportunity to testify to the public, that among you are many respectable characters: he has long been a witness to your controversy with the claimants of the lands you are on, the manner in which it has been conducted, and being entirely different as it respects his personal interest, he has not only wished you well, but on the narrow circle in which he moves, has exerted himself to make your accommodation with the proprietors, agreeable to yourselves and satisfactory to them.

Having premised this, he hopes from you a candid attention to the observations and remarks which follow: his aim is to state facts truly and correctly.

But few of you have been in possession of the lots you are on more than thirty years: the most not twenty, and a great proportion for a much less term than that. You who first entered, and commenced a course of improvement in the stubborn wilderness, had a dreary prospect before you, much resolution was necessary to enable you to undertake the laborious task. You, however, made the attempt and succeeded. You opened the earth, to the cheering beams of the sun, from which it had long been veiled, and under your culture the surface soon presented to the view a more pleasing variety of fields covered with various herbage and waving with growing grain. The late range of ferocious beasts, a fruitful pasture for your flocks and herds. The first adventurers were from time to time followed by others, who are entitled to less notice, because they had less to combat and overcome. At the time to which I refer when the lands in dispute, were here and there dotted with the cottage of the adventurous settler, our country was afflicted with the calamity of war, general anxiety and distress pervaded the land. In those portions of our country where the war raged, thousands were divested of their habitations and property, and became just objects of public commiseration and charity. To support the army in the field with food and clothing, and keep its ranks full, was more than was at all times practicable, yet the endeavor to effect it was never relinquished till the occasion ceased. This called for extraordinary exertion, and contributions in men and money were levied to the ability, and in many instances beyond the ability of individuals, meet and discharge. You who settled first tho' you had to contend with the unsubdued forest, were not in a situation to be called upon for an equal share in these burdens.—This part of the country was not invaded, was never the seat of war, through the long and arduous contest. Tho' this, in a comparative view, must be considered as a mitigating circumstance, it is not mentioned with a design to deduct any thing from your laudable service and sufferings, who first industriously undertook to convert the forest into fruitful fields. It is to be remarked, that whatever were your personal circumstances, or the circumstances of the country generally, your entry upon the lands you are now on was voluntary; the proprietor, whether an individual or government did, hold out no allurements to entice you, and whatever course you took, your calculations were for yourself, and for whatever consequences may follow from the personal accommodations and the promotion of your individual interests. When the calamity of war, under which our country then groaned, was removed by the return of peace, and the establishment of our excellent government, individuals were at liberty, and what was exceedingly natural, they sought for and examined the situation of their property to which they considered themselves legally entitled. You then had demands made upon you for the land you occupy, which has been maintained with considerable expense to you, and is still continued with acrimony and obstinacy. You will not submit to legal decisions, but have in several instances put law and government at defiance. You do not pretend that you have a legal title to the soil, but insist that you will dictate the terms and condition of settlement. We will make some remarks on the nature of this demand, in our next.

EQUITY.
Lincoln, Dec. 1805.