Jenks' Portland Gazette

To Plain Truth, a Chronicler,

Sir,

As was the shape of some of your best friends,
That you would learn wisdom from your repeated
Errors; and acquire feeling by feeling your blunders
So often pointed out to you by your reviewing enemies.
But contrary to their expectation, you have
Again volunteered in defence of Jefferson and his
Mules; and since you like the man you defend, answer every one who differs from yourself by
the slightest shade in opinion, you have no claim
on the mercy or even charity of the party you op-
pose.

You affect to speak with surprise that the federal
papers should reprobate, or to use your own ex-
pression, should keep up an incessant clamour a-gainst
the proceedings of the general government. Have
you forgot, sir, the clamour and continued abuse
That Jefferson and his party kept up, in the repub-
lican papers, for eight or ten years against the gen-
eral government, during the administration of
Wash-
ington and Adams? Or are you so blinded
by party spirit as to believe the federal administra-
tions were more union in themselves, or more
offensive to the republican par-ty at that time, than
the conduct of Jefferson, with his hireling. Callender,
Duane, Tom Paine and the rest of the French
Jacobins are to the federal party at this moment?

Tho you are labouring Under violent prejudices,
And as much a dupe to the jed as ever man was to
His mistress, you must know, and you do in fact
Know there is just ground for more if not all the
Charges and clamour against the Jefferson admin-
istration. That the federal party have just cause
Of complaint against the present administration, I
Pray you to look back a moment and view the prin-
ciples adopted, and means employed by the lead-
ing individuals of the republican party (most of
Whom are now in the administration of the general
Government) to get themselves into office. It is
Always fair to take men on their own principles.
If it shall appear that Jefferson and his faction made
Use of certain means, whether right or wrong, in
Abstract justice, it is not necessary now to enquire,
To get those who formed the late administration out
Of office, and to substitute themselves in their
Places. They have no right to complain should the
Same means be now employed by the federal party
Against the usurping occupants. When you take the
Entrenchment of an enemy it is as lawful to turn
Their guns against them, as to spike them up and
Let them lay in their old beds.

I refer you to a report of the house of delegates
Of Virginia, dated 7th January, 1800. It is well
Known this was drawn up by Madison, the present
Secretary of State: and it was currently said at
The time, and never contradicted by any of their
Party, that Jefferson, then Vice President, and a
Known candidate for the presidency, had the ex-
amination of it, and fully approved the principles
It contained. This report may be considered as
Containing the principles assumed by the republicans
As necessary to put the old administration, and as righteous means to get their candidate into the chair of
State. The writings of Callender, Duane & Paine,
All honorable men and bosom companions with Jef-
Ferson, are offered as evidence to shew that the
Principles of the report were pretty faithfully prac-
Ticed upon; and that you may not lose time in this
Inquiry I refer you to the Prospect Before-us, to the
Aurora and the Chronicle; the two former of which
May, in law be considered as the works of Jef-
Ferson himself; the agency he had in their publica-
Tion
Is already before the public. In the Chronicle,
Sir, it is believed you may find some of your own
Labours to bring the late administration into disre-
Pute. But read the report :- "As the constitution
Supposes it may happen, that either of the bran-
Ches of government, may not have duly dischar-
Ged its trusts: it is natural and proper, that ac-
Cording to the case & degree of their faults, they
Should be brought into contempt or disrepute. and
Incur the hatred of the people. Whether it has
Happened in any case, that the proceedings of
Either, or all of the branches of the general goy-
Ernment, have evinced such a violation of duty
As to justify a contempt, a disrepute, a hatred among
The people, can only be determined by a free
Exa-
Mination thereof, and a free communication among
The people themselves. Whenever it may have
Hap-
Pened that proceedings of this sort are charge-
Able on all or either of the branches of the gov-
Ernment, it is the duty [mark this] as well as
Right of intelligent and faithful citizens, to disclose
And promulge them freely, as well to control
Them by the censorship of public opinion, as to
Pro-
Mote a remedy according to the rules of the
Con-
Stitution. And it cannot be avoided, that
Those who are to apply the remedy must feel, in
Some degree, a contempt or hatred against the
Transgressing party."

Now, Mr. Plain Truth, having read the fore-
Going extract, containing republican principles, and
Con-
Sidered conscientious as well as constitutional means.
In the hands of republicans, to run down a federal
Admi-
Nistration, say, if you are hardy enough, that the
Conduct of Jefferson, including his personal activity
To get into office, has not been such, as to deserve
The ridicule, the contempt and hatred of "all intelli-
Gent and faithful citizens?" Sir, you will not say it--
For tho', for a particular purpose, you may think it
Your interest to be bland and condescending to the
Ign-
Orant worthies characters. yet you retain a desire
To keep the esteem of those of a higher grade in
So-
Ciety, even tho they are called federalists. For
My part, sir, I have no hesitation in saying, that if
Ever a man in a high and elevated station deserved
The foregoing epithets on account of his public and
Private conduct, it is Thomas Jefferson. Look at him
In the national palace, placing around it the most
Vulgar and uncouth fence, such as is generally used
About barns and hay stacks. Does not such a
Deviation from the common standard of propriety
In the nation, over whom he is President, neces-
Sarily make him an object of ridicule. Consider his
Propo-
Sitions for a dry dock--they are the ridicule
Of children. What other sentiments but those
Tending to ridicule have been excited among all
Clas-
Ses. and through various nations, by his affected
Sin-
Gularity in language? His gimcracks in phi-
Losophy are common topics of laughter, as his fossil
Fountain story is an example of weak credulity pe-
Cu-
Liar to infidels. When we read his lying about
Republicanism introduced on the most trifling oc-
Casions, and evidently designed to catch the weak
The ignorant and vicious : when we see him constant
In drawing a line between the people of the United
States. merely on account of shades of opinion, and
Which he pretended to reprobate under the former
Administra-
Tions. and persecuting with unrelenting
Malice every one who differs the least from him
Self, however trifling the subject may be -what in-
De-
Pendant honest mind can withhold contempt
From such a man? What were your feelings
While you read the account of the riot in a commit-
Tee room adjoining the Senate of the United States,
Where bakers negroes. trumpets, Jefferson & republicans
Were all huddled together in confusion and to the
Dis-
Turbance of the national legislation? Some of
These, if not all, bring your great man close a-
Mong the objects of contempt.

Jefferson's plan of economy, as every day be-
Gins to afford proof of. are the effects of a contra-
Cted, weak mind; a mind constantly acted upon by a
Thirst for popularity, that ought to alarm ; and the
Consequences of which will finally awaken the most
Devoted of his worshippers ; tho it is to be feared
The nation will first be brought into the most emi-
Nent danger, if not quite destroyed on his tempest-
Uous sea of liberty, as the Philadelphia, with three
Hundred citizens. has already, being the first fruits
Of the same economy, been thrown into the hands
Of Barbarians.

To detail to you, sir. all the instances of mal
Conduct by the President and his associates since they have
Been in power, and which, according to the prin-
Ciples of the report before recited, ought to excite
The contempt and hatred of intelligent. faithful citizens.
And bring them into general disrepute, would be to
Transcribe the most of their proceedings since their
Reign commenced ; among which I should certainly
Give you the proceedings against Judge Chase, and
What I consider a wanton loss of money, and as a
Pandora's box for future evils to the United States,
The purchase of Louisiana. In my opinion, sir, there
Is more just ground for an impeachment against
Jefferson than against Chase. When we look back
And make a comparison of the characters, elected
By Jefferson and the heads of the great departments
For public employment, with those whom they had
Forced out of office or whose times of service being
Limited, have expired, a conclusion is impressed on
The mind that if there be any proof in the old pro-
Verb, that men's actions speak louder than their words.
The practical language of the present administration
Is that virtue, honour, integrity and capacity have
No claim; in their eyes-that they are not neces-
Sary in a public officer ; or why was a Humphries
Recalled ? why was a Ting displaced ; and a Free-
Man turned out of office to make room for the
Most worthless of the human race? Many other
Cases might be named, where the change has been
To the injury of the public, and hereafter, if you
Please, they shall be examined.

You are known, sir, often to refer to the gen-
Eral principles of human nature, and express an
Apparent tranquility at certain occurrences that
Seem to create surprise in others, by saying, such
And such things ought to be expected so long as human na-
Ture continues to be what it is, and no one should permit
Himself to be disturbed at their happening. Now, sir,
Are you so blindly attached to the present admin-
Istration and the conduct of the republican party to-
Wards the federal, as to believe the federal party
Would patiently submit and bear the abuse vented
Against them & never return any part of it ; suppose
The dominant party had acted with more prudence
And the appearance of justice, which is not the case, you
On your professed principles of taking mildly what
Ever happens because you pretend to have foreseen
It, ought to have been silent at what you call
Federal abuse.

The federal party no more than the republican
Are not yet quakers ; perhaps it would be bet-
Ter for the United States if both parties, were ; but
As you often say we must take man, as he is ; we
Cannot now make him, he is a party creature : ; and
Even you, I see, can return railing for railing :
Indeed tho you are not reviled personally you have
Entered so deeply into the party spirit of the times
And identified yourself with Callender, Jefferson, Du-
Ane, and Tom Paine, as to feel most keenly every
Word uttered against any of them or of their fac-
Tious set. Where will you find a blackguard, in the
Lowest grades of society more liberal of his abuse
Than in you are, as often as you get an opportunity of
Fixing on those you call the Essex Junto ? These
Men, to whom, for a wicked purpose you give this
Appellation, actually hold you in such low estima-
Tion, if not real contempt, as never to mention
Your name.

Truly it may be said of them they
Are distinguished for genius, learning, morals and
Attachment to the government of our country
These qualities shine conspicuous in them all ; and
Is it for this you revile them ?-Your whole ac-
Count of Fries is erroneous : You confound laws,
Dates & things. It is evident your object was not to
Give correct information on this subject. You wish
To insinuate that Fries was an innocent and oppres-
Sed man, in order that Judge Chase may appear
Guilty and deserving the fate republicans seem de-
Termined he shall suffer.

"Our national debt." you say, "piled up like an
Immense mountain, by the Hamiltonian faction, to en-
Rich speculators, is now in the process of diminu-
Tion." If a wanton addition of fifteen millions of dol-
Lars to the national debt, means, in your republi-
Can language, a process of diminution, you are cer-
Tainly correct ; but in plain English it sounds
More like an Irish bull! In the opinion of the im-
Mortal Washington, all the accumulation to the
Original debt of the United States, ought to be char-
Ged to the Jefferson faction. And as you pretend
To pay some respect to the judgement of Wash-
Ington, I recommend to your perusal his letter
To Mr. Carroll of Carrollton, on this subject.

You say " Excise Laws, and Stamp Act and
Standing Armies are done away." If there was
Ever a standing army under Washington or Adams
Administration there is the same, at this moment.
Under Jefferson's. There has been no change in the
Principles of the army. And as to the repeal of the
Excise and Stamp act, you forgot to tell your read-
Ers that at the close of the last session of Congress
The republicans laid additional duties on commerce,
Equal to the amount collected from the excise and
Stamps. You did not think it for Jefferson's inter-
Est that this last fact should be known. Republicans
Succeed best by deception.

You close one of your addresses by asking what we
Have to fear ? I answer. we have every thing to fear
That usually springs out of a weak, wicked and per-
Secuting administration. These qualities appear to
Me so manifest in the conduct of the dominant party
In this country,as not to need particular illustration;
But since you have thrown a series of your la-
Bours before the public, all tending, like the one I
Have now noticed, to deceive and mislead your
Readers respecting Jefferson and his administration,
I propose to send you some further observations
For your consideration ; and in the mean time, sub-
Scribe myself your fellow laborer in the cause of
Truth.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE.

Elm Trees, 30th April, 1804.