The New Hampshire Gazette

Mr. Holmes.--This man who has contrived to attract so much attention, seems likely not to prove himself entitled to a very great share of public respect. He is now occupying his three columns a week in attempting to defend and justify his decision as commissioner to settle the title to islands in Passamaquoddy. At the close of the war he was appointed on the part of our government, to decide upon the respective claims of the United States and Great-Britain, to these islands; and he is charged with having sacrificed our interest in the decision to a very serious extent. It is stated he consented to set off to Great-Britain, some important islands in that quarter--important from their location and proximity to our shores as well as for other reasons--which had never been occupied or claimed by her, and which had always been conceded to belong to us. And so glaring was the absurdity of it, that ever since the decision of our commissioner against us, giving these islands to Great-Britain, she has never as yet taken possession of them. For this proceeding of Mr. Holmes, it seems scarcely possible to find a plausible pretext. The subject has lately been introduced to public attention, and the circumstances under which this unaccountable determination of our commissioner was made, have come to light by a call from the public archives, and the publication of some portion of the correspondence on that subject. The letters of Mr. H. constituting a part of this correspondence, are certainly most discreditable to him in respect to the style and manner in which they are written, and moreover furnish abundant evidence of the little interest he felt in a question of so much moment to this State.

An able and candid writer in the Eastern Argus, under the signature of Sulpicius, is giving the subject a calm and dispassionate investigation. The thorough knowledge he displays of the subject, and the lucid and argumentative manner in which he has treated it give to his communications a deep interest. Mr. Holmes himself appears to be sensible of the serious effect they had produced upon the public mind adversely to his character as a public man; and he is laboring colossally in the "Old Portland Gazette," to draw public attention away from the real merits of the question. Instead of meeting the question in issue openly and fairly, he dodges and slips by it, and indulges himself in rude and ungentlemanly attacks upon others, as if the merit or demerit of another, could add to, or detract from his own. He set out in the controversy by abusing Gen. Chandler for calling in the Senate of the United States, for his correspondence.--Why should he do that, if the correspondence furnished nothing against him! He abuses another gentleman of high attainment and talents, whom he conjectures to be the author of Sulpicius; and endeavors to enlist party prejudices in his favor, as though he could in that way atone for his infidelity to the State, or screen himself from the consequence of exposure. Finding these attempts to divert public attention or that of Sulpicius, from his extraordinary decision as commissioner, he next, with singular effrontery, threatens a prosecution. Perhaps he imagines he can thus stifle an argument--which he is unable to answer. But the threat has not the desired effect. Sulpicius still holds him to the point unmoved and undisturbed. Mr. Holmes finds himself in the hands of a master. He writhes and struggles to extricate himself, but without success. Facts are against him. Public opinion is "openly and decidedly" against him. The subject is looked upon generally as one of a deep and abiding interest to the people of Maine. If Mr. H. wishes to remove the strong impression against him, he must take a different method to effect it than to which he has resorted. It is not a party question, and the people will not think any better of him for attempting to escape under cover either of party or personal prejudices.--They demand of him some other defence, than the vulgar blackguardism of a bar-room politician. He should be informed, if he does not know it, that he compromises the dignity of a Senator, by the course he has thought proper to take in this discussion, and moreover exposes the misgivings of his own mind as to the validity of his defence,--Thomaston Register.