Jenks's Portland Gazette

From the Norfolk Herald,

CORON.-No. I.

Messrs. Willett & O'Conor,

THESE papers are not written to depreciate
or to fill with unpleasant sensations a man, who
has reached a high degree of celebrity. Wide
is it from my disposition to cause a moment
of unwholesome uneasiness to the dweller of the
humble cottage, or the proud inhabitant of the
princely and magnificent palace. Nature has
impressed on my mind, in legible and indelible
characters, a command, never to occasion unnecessary pain, even to the vilest and refuse of
society. It however by rebukes they may be
formed she enjoins me not to spare their feelings.
It has from my earliest youth been a principle
with me, to point out the faults in the conduct
of my acquaintance, if by it, I can reasonably
reclaim them.

From my knowledge of the President of the
United States, I had believed, that he was a
man, whose integrity was unimpeachable, and
whose zeal for his country's weal was of the
most ardent kind. To see America renowned
throughout the world for the arts and sciences,
for her magnanimity and impartiality in her
intercourse with other states, and for a government whose distinguished traits should be wisdom, justice and freedom, were, I have often
declared, the reigning desires of his bosom.—
This praise, Sir, was not the effusion of adulation. It was a tribute I religiously believed
due to his merit. But, since he has occupied
the presidential chair, his conduct has not been
blameless since this period errors and acts of
injustice are justly chargeable to him. They
have not, however, as I sincerely would hope, proceeded from corrupt motives, but were the effect of a mistaken judgment.

From his inaugurating speech, I had flattered
myself, that he would do every thing within
the pale of his power, to reconcile the two parties, which have nearly effected the subversion
of our happy Form of government. Their animosity has been such, as to make old and sincere
friends rancorous and irreconcilable enemies.
and to such a pitch has it lately been carried, as
to pretend that the sun of American glory and
independence, was about to set forever.

We were told by the President in his speech,
that we were all republicans, all federalists,—
He went so far as to say, that the difference in
the political sentiments of the friend of Adams
and himself was scarcely discernible: in fine.
that there was almost a perfect coincidence of
opinion among the people of the United States.
From these avowed and undisguised declarations, what was the natural inference? a sincere and resolute intention in him, to embrace
every probable means of stifling the virulence of
the two parties. I would not, the disinterested and ardent lover of these states, flattered him-
self, drive from their offices men, who had shown
themselves anxiously bent upon, and capable of
discharging with faithfulness, the duties of their
station. Neither would he deal out exclusively
to his friends and partisans the loaves and
fishes of our government, wherever merit was
found, whether dressed in the garb of federalism
or anti federalism.* By pursuing this line of
conduct, he would have ensured to himself the
confidence and warmest support of all the estimable part of the nation. A man who tries to
purchase immortality of glory by making him-
self the weather cock of party spirit and scurrilousness, is engaged in a hopeless undertaking.

A Robespierre may sway the sceptre for a day,
month, or year, but it cannot be long before it
must drop from his hands. Kind providence
has beneficently ordained, that vice shall never
obtain an absolute dominion over virtue. The
wretch, who would pollute his hands with the
blood of his friend, in order to mount the ladder
of power, may for a time by his success, dazzle
the eyes of the world. and hear his name loaded
with a profusion of encomium. The deformity of his mind however, cannot be long
concealed. As soon as the penetrating eye of
justice has unfolded it, his credit will begin to
dwindle. If fortune should make it her province to continue him in power till he sinks into
his grave, she cannot after his death, hand
down his memory to posterity unsullied with
his vices. Turn over the leaves of the massy
volumes that relate the story of man, and in
them you will see the characters of crowned
heads, victorious generals, and celebrated states-
men, depicted in odious and hateful colours
because they have obeyed the syren voice of
depavity.

Its claim to public trust, would be considered by him equally strong.