.4 q>. '^f^.; ' A V "°<^ fJP?. ■<^ J. 'o *■>■ .-Q- ^^ '.^' ^oV" '^O^ .♦ % ^^■ r-"^. .<£. % '^^^^ * .0- •CL' ,0' '^. '^ *^ ^^ ^oV° vO^ . s v.* • % ',^, '•, •^^..^ '^c^Va^ V,^* / A r OF THE TRIAL OF ANDREW WRIGHT, PRINTER OF THE " REPUBLICAN SPY," ON AN INDICTJyIENT FOU LIBELS AGAINST GOVERNOR STRONG, Before the Hon. Tkeophilus Parsons, Chief Juftice of the Supreme Judicial Court of the Common. wealth of Maffachufetts, AT NORTHAMPTON, SEPT. TERM 1806, «> NORTHAMPTON, PUBLISHED BY ANDREW WRIGHT 1806. I' HE tejlimony of the witnejes to the faB afpubli- cattcn, is not fo particularly detailed^ as that of the witneffes to the more important points, ^he arguments of counfel and the charge of the pre- fiding Judge, not having been taken doijon, at the time of the trials are neceffarily omitted. 0'^ COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, VS. ANDREW WRIGHT, OM THE FOLLOWING INDICTMENT. ^^ Qommonwealtb of Majfachufetts, Hampshire ss. At the Supreme Judicial Court begun and J) Iden at Northampton within and for the County of Harapfhire on the third Tuefday of September in the year :i of our Lord one ihoufand eight hundred and five, and thence adjourned to and now holdcn at Northampton within and for faid County of Hampfhire on the firll Tuefday of December in the year of our Lord one thoufand eight hun- dred and five. THE Jurors for the Commonwealth of MafTa- chufetts do on tlieir oath prefent that [Andrew* Wright of Northampton in faid county of Hamp- fnlre Printer being a malicious and feditious man ■and of a mofl depraved, evil and wicked mind and moft malicious difpofition and alfo deceitfully, wickedly and malicioufly contriving and abetting againfl: his Excellency Caleb Strong E(q. Govern- or and commander in chief of the Common- wealth of Mafliichufctts to detrad", fcandaiize and vilify, and to reprefent the faid Caleb Strong Efq. as an unjuft opprefTive and bafe perfon and little fit to be employed and entrulled in the public af- fairs of the faid Commonwealth and alio to brine,' the faid Caleb Strong as much as in the faid Air- crew Wright lay into great hatred contempt and difgrace with all tLe citizens of the faid common- wealth and to vilify the good name, fame credit and reputation of the faid Caleb Strong, did on the eleventh day of June laft pafl at Northampton aforefaid wickedly and maliciouiiy print and pub- lijh and eaufe and procure to be printed ^iVid pub- liflied a certain fcandalous and feditious libel in a certain newfpaper then and there printed and publifhed by him the faid Andrew Wright and entitled '* Republican Spy" in which faid iibsl of and concerning the faid Caleb Stron;;^ Efq. who then was and ever fmcc hath been and ftill is Gov- ernor and commander in chief of the common- wcalth aforefaid and contained among other things divers fcurrilous feigned falfe fcandalous malicious and feditious matters according to the tenor foiiow- ing] to wit "Profecution" ^' Perfecution appears " to be the order of the d^^y with the Fedei'ahtis, " Having left their power over the general govern- ** mcnt and with it their ability to do mifchief upon ** a large fcale they retire into a /?;m// circle and vent • ' their malignity agiinil: republicanifm in fcderrd '* diftiicts. Their fcndnefs for every tbjng Englifii *' leads them to take advantage of the law of Eng- " land* adapted by us which does not allow the " truth to be given in evidence to proiecute zvz^y- *' one who ailerts what he knows to be truth. *' If a printer tells Governor Strong(meaning the '' faid CVicb vStrong Efq. that he" fac;aia meaning the laid Crtkh Strong) " fpeculated why he prof- '' ecute.; ii : ;■' thereby meaning and intending and falfi:ly ar.cl malicloudy infmuaiing that the faid Caleb Strong Efq. had fpeculated iu pudlic fecu- rities in Gdifimiejtcna unrighteous manner aj^d that the fame' had before that time been publiflied by a printer and that the faid Cal-b Strong had unjuitly procured or caufcd the faid printer to be profc- cuted therefor. And the Jurors aforefaid on their oath aforefaid do further prefent that he the faid Andrew Wright in and by the fame libel aforefaid by him framed printed and publiilied and caufed to be framed printed and publiilied as aforefaid did falfely ma- licioudy and wickedly frame, print and publifh and caufed to be Jrajned printed and fuhlified of and concerning the iaid Caleb Strong Efq. other falfe fcandalous and libellous words of the fol- lowing tenor to wit '* Thank Heaven, vve can *MVill think we can think that his Excellency (therereby meaning the faid Caleb Strong Efq.) *' did fpeculate ; we cm think that all the Grand *' Jury knew it" thereby meaning and intending and falfely and malicioufly iniinuating that the faid Caleb Strong Efq. had fpeculated in public fecurities in a difhoneil and unrighteous manner and that the fame was publicly known to the Grand Juiy of faid county. And the Jurors aforefaid on their oath afore- faid do furthei" prefent that the ixxA Andrew Wright continuing to be a malicious and feditious perfon and of a depraved and wicked mind and deceitfully and maliciouiiy intending to fcandalize and vilify his faid Excellency Caleb Strong Efq. and to reprefent the faid Caleb Strong Efq. as an unjuft oppreiTive and bafe perfon and unfit to be eatrufled with the public affairs of faid com- monwealth and contriving minding and intending (as far as in him the faid Andrew Wright lay) to bring the faid Caleb Strong into great fcandal and difgracc with all the citizens of the faid com*- nionwealth and as much as in him the faid An- drew Wright lay, to fabvert and deftroy the con- iidenceof the citizens of the faid commonwealth 5 in him the fald Caleb Strong Efq. as Governor end coi.iimantler in chief of the fame common- wealth on the eighteenth day of June now lall pafl: at Northampton aforejaid in the county aforefaid with force and arms did malicioufly and wickedly /)r/,'z/ and /^/^///^ and caujed and procured to be printed and pubhO^jed a cei tain other falfe fcandalous and ft-ditious libel in a certain newfpa- per called '' Ilepubiican Spy" then and there printed and publifhed by him the faid Andrew Wright in which libel of and concerning the faid Caleb Strong Efq. who then was and fliil is Gov- ernor and commander in chief of the faid com- monwealth and contained among other things di- vers fcurrilaus feigned icandaloiis falfe fediticus ?:\\^ m^vlicious matters accoi'ding to the tenor fol- lowing to wit. *' It was a maxim with the fa- '* mous fwindler Jon?4ihan Wild that " a good '' name like money muit be parted with or at ^' lead ^/v.7//)' rifiedlo bring the owner any ad- '' vantage j Governor Strong (meaning his faid cx- ^^cellency Caleb Strong Efquire) in attempting to "* procure the clerks office for his fon fcems to '' have adopted this maxim of thefwinBler for it '■' mnil: be allowed tliat he has greatly *' risked" U not •'* 'wboLy ficrificed his reputation by that iingle '* tranla^cion. There is a dignity of charafter ' which the chief magidrate of a large and ref- ' pttlable commonwealth is bound to preferve. " Klevated above the reft oi' his fellow citizen^} ''his whole foul fliould be devoted to a promo- '^ tion oftheir interefts. Every idea of felf inter- '' ell ihould be banilhed from his mind. Projeiis '' of family aggrandizement, fo far from being '- cheriflied ihould not engrofs a fingle refledion. "■ What tb.cn can be laid in extenuation of the con- du>ft of Governor Strong (meaning the faid Ca- leb .Strong Efq. then Governor of ihc common- wealth aforefaid) with a meannefs unparalleled this " man forgetful of his high ftation did condcf- " cend to folicit the Judges of the fupreme court *' (meaning the. Judges of the fupreme judicial " court of faid commonwealth) to appoint hrs fon to the clerkfliip of this county (meaning the Ton of the faid Caleb Strong Efq. to the office of clerk to the fupreme judicial eourt and court of common pleas for laid county of Hampdiirc) thereby in and by the whole of the above recited paragraphs of the libel laft aforcfaid maliciouflj and falfely reprefenting and infmuating that the faid Caleb 6'trong had taken diJhonorabJe undue and difgracejul means to obtain the office of clerk of the fame courts aforefaid for the fon of the faid Caleb .Strong and thereby degraded his high and important office aforefaid. And the Jurors aforefaid on their oath afore- faid do further prefent that he the fiid Andrew Wright in and by the fame libel aforefaid by him framed printed and publiflied as laft aforefaid did further falfely wickedly and malicioullyy;-^;w^^r/»^ andpublijh and cauje to be framed printed and pub- liflied of and concerning the faid Caleb Strong Efq. other libellous falfe and fcandalous words of thefollowing tenor to wit" Had Governor .Strong- (meaning the faid Caleb *S'trong Efq.) pofleflcd ** the feelings of a Gentleman^ he (meaning the faid Caleb 5'trong Efq.) never would have alked a " favor of the Judges (meaning the Judges of the fupreme judicial couit of faid common wealth*? " there was a degree of delicacy which as an indi-- " vidual he (meaning the faid Caleb Strong Efq.) " ought to have obferved towards them (meanin-j- the laid judges of the faid fupreme judicial court^ " The fupreme court (meaning the juflices of the faid fupreme judicial court of faid commonwealth ■*' were under perfonal obligations to him (mean- ing the laid Caleb Strong) He had appointed eve- *' ry member of that court except one, as a Gentle- " man therefore it was highly improper in him (meaning the faid Caleb) to afk a favor of them (meaning the faid judges of faid fupreme judicial court) " When vv^e refledl: that Mr. Strong (mean- ing the faid Caleb Strong Efq.) was the executive *' of the commonwealth (meaning the common- wealih of Maffachufetts) that he difcharged (after a fafliion) the duties of an independent branch of the Government (meaning the faid commonwealth) that under thefe circumffiances he (meaning the faid Caleb 6'trong) *' did folicit the court" (mean- ing the laid fupreme judicial court another inde- pendent branch of Government) " to beftow an* *' office on his own fon we are compelled to ac- *' knowledge he thereby proftituted his own dig- *' nity and offered an outrageous infult to that *' honourable body (meaning the faid fupreme ''judicial court) thereby meaning and falfely in- finuating that he the faid Caleb ^Strong in order to obtain an office of clerk in said court for his son hadproftituted the dignity of his office afore- said and behaved and condudlcd in an improper and disrespectful manner to the judges of the supreme judicial court aforesaid. And the Jurors aforesaid on their oath afore- said do further present that the said Andrew Wright in the gazette and libel lad aforesaid did then and there falsely and middowsXy fra?ne print and piibliJJ^ cf ^77^ concerning the said Caleb Strong Esquire other false defamatory and scandalous words of the following tenor to wit ** The court " (meaning the said supreme judicial court) made " a noble ji and againji the low arts of Exenttiije in- 9 ** trigue. They (meaning the juftiecs of the faid " Aipremc judicial court) refult'd to appoint the *' £on and by a refulal preferved the integrity of " the Bench" (thereby meaning and falfely and malicioufly infinuating that the (aid Caleb Strong Efq. low bafe and unjuftifiable arts and intrigues in order to induce and influence the juflices of the faid iupreme judicial court to appoint his faid foii to the office of clerk of the fame court. And the Jurors &c. do further prefent that he the fiid Andrew Wright minding and intending contriving and abetting him the faid Caleb Strong Efq. Governor and commander in chief of the commonwealth aforefaid to abufe calumniate and flander and as much as in him lay to fubvert and deflroy his influence in the faid commonwealth and to bring him into difgraceand reproach upon the twenty-leventh day of Augufl now laft pall at Northampton aforefaid in the county aforefaid did frame print and publijh and caufed to be printed and publijhed a certain gazette called " Republican Spy" and in the fime gazette with force and arms did falfely and malicioufly print and publifh and caufe to be printed and pubiiCned of and concern- ing the (aid Caleb Strong Efquire certain libellous falfc and fcandalous words of the tenor following, lo wit " A leceut occurrence in the county of " Worceder will convuice every refleflino- mind '* of the neceflity of an immediate reform. T\-\^ ** intrigues of a Junto of Federal leaders who had ** combined to procure the appointment of an un- ♦* deferving candidate to the office of Sheriff, have ** thrown the whole county into an uproar. Coun- " fellers Judges and clerks, brothers uncles and *• coufms cap in hand all danced attendance around ** Caleb Strong" (meaning the fiid Caleb Strong Efq. Governor of the faid commonwealth) '' tu ' 2 10 '' procure the appointment for a man of the name " of Ward. The fcene was movmg it quite over- '^ came the tender nerves of Mr. Strong (meaning " the faid Caleb Strong Eiquire). The man wlio *' could mufter the greateft knot of uncles and *' coufms of counfellors and judges in (hort the *' mofl: powerful family conne6lions prevailed, *' This was what might have been expeded for •' Mr. Strong (meaning the faid Caleb Strong Ef- *' quire) as we before faid has weak nerves. The '' ifttcrefis of the county (meaning the faid county *' of Worcefter) were projlratcd the righfi of the " people ivcre fpurned at. Ward got the appoint- " ment. The ariftocrats were gratified (for the '^ Governor (meaning the iaid Culeb Strong Ef- '' quire) dare ufuic tHcm nothing. The people ** may " go whiftlc" about their rights and get " redrefs as they can. Vv'hy is the dignity of the " llatc government profiituted to promote the '' views of a let cf intriguers ? How does it hap- " pen that the Governor (meaning the laid Caleb " Strong Efq.) is at one time the humble folicitor •^ oi an oftice at the fcotflool of the court and at " another a miferable tool in the hands of his own '♦ pariizans ? Why has he at one time tiampled " upon the independence of the ccuri and forgot- " ten the interefts of a county, to prom.otc the in- *' tercils of h;s own family, and at another lif- '' tencd to the lolicitatioas or ihrtats of a Junto, " rather than. to the voice ol the people .? Avarice ''■ inci'cd Iiim (meanmg the faid Caleb Strong Efq.) '- jn the one cafe and timidity prevented rcfilfance "^ in tlie oihcr. Three thouland dollars added to ^' the income of his family, it mull be conftllcd •■'• was a povvertul bait to a man of Mr. Strong's '■ (meanir.g ihc laid Calt'bStiong Elquire's) diftn- ^■^ lercit-ul bcni:voknce (meaning ironically) the I II ^'; denunciations of powerful feckralifls were too " terrible to be encountered by a man of Iiis ire- " mendcus courage. If we would prevent a recur - '^ rcnce to thefe difgraceful fcenes a blow muft be ' •* firuck at the root of the evil" by all which the faid Andrew in thelibcllou5| and fcandalous words aforefaid falfely and malicioufly exprcficd and in- fniuated of and concerning the faid Caleb Strong Efq. that he had conduced himfelf improperly in the nomination of and appointing a fherifF for the county of Worctftcr, that he had acled with weak- nefs and with want of judgment prudence and difcreticn in the fame nomination and^appoint- ment and had been influenced thereto by wrong motives by an undue influence and by irregular and corrupt perfuafions and had by the fame no- mination and appointment bafely and wicktdly m his faid office of Governor of this common- wealth proflrated the interefls and fpurned at the rights of the people of the faid county of Wor- ceJder. All of which fcandalous words aforefaid in the feveral libels aforefaid have been falfely and mali- cioufly printed and publiflied by him the faid An- drew Wright of and concerning the faid Calel? Strong Efquire as well to injure and defame him in his high and important office aforefaid as in his perfonal and private character in evil example to others and againfl: the peace of the faid common* wealth and the dignity of the fame. A true Bill. THO'S A. GATES, Forfman'. John Hooker, Att'y pro Rfp. pro hac vice. A Copy-^Atttst, Jos. LvivrAX, CUrl. 12 Hon, George Bllfi, who in the ab fence of the Attorney General, had drav;n this IiKliftiTicnt, and was sfligncd by the court to c^Rducl the profecu- tion, moved, en Friday Sept. 19th to brin.^ on the trial. Francis Blake, Efq, onccf the defendant's coun- fe], moved, in his behalf, for a continuance of th procure an office worth 3000 dollars per annum), b«lidcs being very young, was a fellow of mian and contemptible talents, and of a mofl profligate and infamous charader. With thefe dead weights, hanging like the rock of SyfTiphus upon tW /tin's fliouiders, the cunning father very well knew that fu,h an one, although he might b« the fon of the Governor, was not calculated to gain the con&dencc ofthe Cuurt, or to uing a very fublme fl'.iht in the orbit o[ pnfrjii'jtal eminence. It was hinted to the Court, that the youn^ man was about to be raarrieil, and unlefs (lack a day!) he could obtain the office, he would be difappoinlcd in the natch!! Thii young (prig however, notwitnftanding the powerful lolicitations in hit behalf, was dilappuinted alike in his matrimonial and money-making Ichemes. The Court marie a noble /laud againfl the ion) arts of executive intrigue. They rc- fufed to appoint the fon, and by a rcfufal preler\ed the integrity of the Bench. A RF-CENT orcurrence in the County of WorceHer will convince every reflefting mind i'{ the neceiTity of an immediate rer)rm. Th« intrigues of a junto of federal leaders, who had combined to procure the appointinent of an undefcrving candidate to the office of Sheriff, have thrown the whole county into an uproar. Counf;llors, jud(.'es and Cieiks, Brothers, Uncles and Coufms, cap in hand, all danced attendance ar >uiid Caleb otronc, to pr icure the appointment for a man by the name of Ward. The Scene was moving It quite overcame the tender ne.vcs of Mr Strong. Th« jnan who could mufter the greateft knot of Uncles and Coulins, of Counltllors and Jud.^cs, in Qnnxt, thv mo/l poiuerful family annexions, -pKYiilid. This waswhatmight have l)een cxpcflel, for Mr. Strong, as wc before 1 id, has vjcak nerves. The intereft.'; ok the C'UPty were proftrated, the rights of ihe people ipurned at, Ward got the appoint- ment The Ariftocrats were gratified, for the Governor dare refute them nothing. The people may "^c; zvhift'e" about their rights, end get redrofs as ihey ran. Why is the dignity ot the ftate government proftitured, to promote the views of a fet of iniriguers ? Kow does it happen, that the Governor is at one time the humble lolicitor i tremendijus courage. 1 f we would prevent a recurrence of thele difi^rriccful Icerxs, a blow ir-uft bz flrucK z'. :hi root of the evil. The I&s- Bill must be redvced. Bring down the emoluments of office fo low that no man (hall receive more than aii adequate coinpenfation for fcrvices rendered, and never will the people of Maffachufetts 3gMn witnefs a fcene io degrading — lo humiliatiaff, as that of a chief magifirate, con- tending with private citizen.";, for the ^'lu.ives and fijiies." The contefts and intrigues, which high fees and lucrative offices iiecerr:rily cre.itc among the " natural ariflorracy,'' are the leall of all the abominable evils produced by the Ice-Bill. It has created an tril\i)cri>cy of law vers and pla e-men, and has reduced more men from a ftate of com- petency, to indi-jenrc, and even to beggary, than perhaps any onecaufe befide.';. No man was ever entirely yZ^^-^r/ of his property until he had gone through :he fkearin^j mill of a lawyer. The Fee-Bill \t admirably conftruftcd to promote the interefl of the < raft. Owii'i.r to the multiplicity rong did not mention, that his mother's friends had advifed her to have her J7 money laid out in fecurkics, Mr. Taylor anfwercd, that he did not recollsdt his mentioning any fuch circumftancc. Mr. Taylor was a{ked by Mr. Blakc, whether Mr. Strong was not a member of congress, at the time of his fur chafing ihefe ficurities ? Mr. Blifs objeBed to the que^ion^ as irrelevant, that being a circumftance not charged in the indi6lment, or alleged in the libels. The Chief Juftice obfcrved, he believed the federal gcocrnment was not then organ- ized", but it was llaied by Judge Sedgwick, and admitted, that the new conflitution went into operation the fourth of March preceding^ that is, 1789. The Chief Juftice cxprcfled fome doubt of the propriety of fuch evidence. Mr. Blake con- tended that it was proper, for the purpofe of re- pelling an obje<5tion, which had been raifed by the counfcl for the profecution, to the paper charged to be libellous, on the fcore of its not merely ac- cuiin|; Gov. ^"trong of fpeculation, but imputing it to him in aif unworthy fcnfe, as an impropriety of conducl. However honourable it might have been for a private man to Ipeculate in fuch fccuri- ties, it might be highly improper and difhsnour- able in a man, whofe official fituation gave him opportu7iities, which were not common to his fel- low citizens. He thought the f*6t, if true, that Mr. i'trong was then a member of Congrefs, was material ta the ifiue. The Chief Juftice decided that it might be proved^ hut not by the teftimony of a tvitnefs. It was matter of record. The defend- ant's counfcl fent and procured and brought iato court, the printed Journal of the i'enate of the United ^States, containhig the name of Caleb Stro^c, as a senator. Mr. Taylor t being re- examined, faid the price of the fecurities, he purchafed in Bofton, did not, 3 it accoidinj to his recolic6tion, exceed 4/6 in the POUND. Thole purchafcd in the country on his return, he thought were not quite fo high. In anlwer to a queftion from Mr. Blifs, he faid he had knovYn Mr. iStrong refule to buy fecurities ofTercd to him at his office, and had alfo heard him advife Come of his neighbours to keep theirs. In anfwer to -^ queilion from Mr. Biake, he faid he thought Mr. Strongs mother ivas about -'"jo years OLD, when the fecuritles were purchafcd ; but he believed flie retained her powers of mind pretty well for that advanced age. The Hon. Theodore SsSgw'ick, being produced ^h a witncfs; vv^as afked by Mr. Blake, vrhcther Go- vernor Strong had made an application to the fu- preme jadicial court, or to him as a judge of this court, for the appointment cf his fin, Theodore Strong, to the office of clerk? Judge Sedgwick an- fwcrcd, Gov-ernor Strong did not apply to me per- foriallv. lie 'wrote tm a letter en the liihjcSi, Vv-hich i anfvvcrci. Querdcn by Mr. Blake, Have you tliat leiter with ysu ? A. I have not. It is at .S'loikbrid^c. I recoiled feeing it a few days fmcr. Queffloa bv Mr. Blake, What v.'ere the contents of the letter ? This quefiion ivas ohjeBsd to by Mr. BUfs^ becaufc- it was not the bed evidence the na- ture of the cafe admits. Mr. Blake contended r'lat it v.'Es competent J bccaufc the letter, vvhicli was acoid-^niaily out of court, did not belong to the dtlcndant, he had not, and v/as not entitled !o have, iny polidlion or control of it j he could not i-roduce it, or compel its produdion ; it was a pi ivate paper, aiad not wltb/:n the rcafon of the J tile KfporiiVig. contracts in writing, which miill be ['rod yet d or liot tcllilied of. The Chi^f Juftice enquired v.Ucthcr Judge Sedgv/ick had been noli- "■ I( li.'s L:l: ii iincc afccrtainctl tliat in '09 fji'T vvi;?. 72 yoart-.v>«. lied or rcqueftdd to produce the letter ? Mr. Blake faid, he had. The Chief Jufticc alkod, at what time? Mr. Blake replied, during ike prefcnt term. Chief Juliice: As the defendant was arraigned at the laft term, and Judge Sedgwick was then pre- lent, why did he not give earlier notice to have the letter produced? Mr. Blakc: Becaufs he did not knoii\ tmtil judge Sedgwick's arrival in tl^^is tci^it, at the prsfcnt term, that the application made by Governor Strong to Judge Sedgwick was by letter. The Chief Juflicc decided that, according to the common rule of evidence, the contents of the let- ter could net, be proved by parol tellimony. Qucftion propoicd by Mr. B!ak- lo Judge Sedg- wick : After the ccurt had determined not to ap- point young Mr. Strong to the clcrkihip, v/as there a converfation between you and the Governor, ixi Vv'hich he complained and exprciled dif appoint tmnt and difjatisf action with the determination of the court ? Judge Sedgwick : There was a conversa- tion — Objected to by Mr. Biifs, and ovcrrukd by the Chi«f Juflice, as an improper enquiry. Mr. Blake then propofcd the qucftion in tliio form, Did Gov. /Strong, in a fubfequent ccnverfatioii ivith y«u, a^mit that he had made application for the appcintment of his Ton ? This tp.icflion alfo was chjeBed to by Mr. Blijs, becaufe it went to prove the CONFESSION OF Gov. Strong, who was not a party to this profccution, and by whofe CQnyJjr.ris the government, who arc tlie true party, ought not to be prejudiced. Mr. Blakc iupported the propriety of the queftion, and alkcd v/hcther Go- vernor Strong could himfelf be called upon to teftify to the fa61:, which- might tend to criminate b'imfclj'^ The Chief Juliice laid. That v/as a quef- tion, which he fhould not decide unlefs the Gover- nor was OiTered as a witnefs to that point. Tiitn he muil decide it. But at prefent it vvas only nc- 20 ceflary to determine that his confcllioii could net be admitted to be proved. Queflion by Mr. Blake to Judge SeJ^^wkk : Have you any knowledge that Governor Strong;, while a member of Coiigrefs, purcbafcd public fecu^ rifies? A. I have no perfonal knowledge on the fubjecSl. I recolk6l — The Chief Juftlce oblervcd to Judge Scdg^Aick, that, as he had no perfoni:! biowledge on the fubjecl, it would be unncceffary to flatc any circumflances. T'he Hon. Samuel Sewall ws:^ produced, as a v/it- nefs, and alked, whetlier Gov. Strong peiTonally applied to him refpeiting the appointment of his fon to the cierkihi[) ? Judge Sewall anfv/ered, Two or three years ago, at Boftpn, I waited on the Governor, as I was about leaving tov/n j and he mentioned to me that there was expeSfcd to be a '■cacancy in 'the ckrkfhip, by the reiignation of Mr. Lyman, and that his fon ivGuld be a candidate for the appointment. He faid his fon had written fome time in Mr. Lyman's oflice, and he fliewed me {omQfpecimens f^f bis hand-writing. I made no ai- gagemcnt, and prefunie he did not expe6l me to r;):ikc any. i don't reco!lc6l any further conver- larion with the Governor on the fubjecl, until tifter the Court had decided ageinft the appointment cf his fon. Queftion by the Chief Jnltice, Did Gov. Strong, when he informed you that his fon \vould be a candidate fcu' the clerkfliip, fay that there was a vacancy already, or that there would be one ? Aniwer : I cannot recoiled, whether he iaid that there was one, or that it was expecied there would be one. (^itfl:ioi-i, by the Chief Juf- tke, Did Gov. Strocj!; make nfe of any perluafioii to influence your determination in favour of the appointment cf his Ton ? A. No more than vvhat I have mtntioned. lie appeared tome to be very delicate and cautious. '21 Qaeftioii by Mr. Blake to Judge .Sevvall : Was Gov. Strong's converfation with you before or af- ter his nomination of Mr. Lymatt to tlie office cf chief juftice of the court of common pleas of this county ? Anfwer : I do not know. The Chief Juftice enquired of Judge Sedgwick, whether as a member of Congrefs, Mr. Strong had any better means, than people at large, to judge of the rife of public securities? To which Ju^ige Sedgwick anfwered, I recollect that, at the prece- ding felTion of Congrefs, the lecretary of the trca- fury, in purluance of an order of the houfc, made a report on the fubje^l of the public debt j and SUCH CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSIONS TOOK PLACE AMONG THE MEMBERS OF CoNGRESS, THAT WE WERE GENERALLY OF OPINION, THAT THE DEBT WOULD BE FUNDED AT THE NEXT SESSION, and that, of course, the evidences of IT must RISE JN vALUi. I remember I thought, although it would not be unlawful for gentlemen, To fituated as we then were, to purchafe public paper, yet that it would be imprudent^ indelicate and improper to do it ; and, therefore, 1 declined to make any fuch purchafss, altho' they were offered to me, and altho' Ibme of my friends urged me to purchafe. This I underftood to be the general impreffion of the members of Congrefs, and I have never heard of more than three or jour injiances of fuch pur chafes of fectirittes being made by any gentle^ man under thofe circumjlances. Qutftion by the Chief Juftice to Judge Sedg- wick : You fay you underltood fuch to be the ge- neral expedation and imprtfiion of members of Congrefs, at that time j do you know whit was Mr. Strong's opinion ? Anfwer, I ^q not rccolk<51: his opinion particu- iarlv. yofeph Prober i Efq. introduced as a vvitnefs t© the la(t count in the indidtment, was ailced by Mr. Blake, whether the nomination of Mr. Ward to the olHce of ftieriff of Worccfter, did not produce a general dijjatisf a6ii on in that county^ The queilion was objeBed to by Mr, Blifsy and the Chief Juftice diredled him to be firft enquired of, whether he had any perfonal knowledge of Mr. Ward's nomina- tion^ Mr. Procler anfvv'cred, he knew it by com- mon report, but not perfonally. The Chief Juf- tice decided againft the adniiffio;i of fuch evidence^ and faid the nomination and appointment could be proved cnly by a copy cf tbj records cf the CcunciL Newfpapers, publiihed from different preffcs ia the county of V/orceiier, about that titxie, were C'lTered, to prove that there v>'as a general difiatis- fadioi\ among the citizens of that county, of all poiiiicai parties. The Chief Juftice held that fuch €videiic;i v/as inadmiilible, as it would not tend to ih')w the Governor's motives,' in making the no- .ir/uiarion and ap point it: en t. Mr. Biake argued, that his motives could be proved only by inference from liis aciions, explained by the circumftanres attending tliem, and the confequences produced by them. I'he Chief Juftice decided that, the ncjni- nation itfelf mi being proved, it was not competent to prove any fuppoled confequences of a fact, thus fuggefled, but not proved. Willicm Butler was called again upon the ftand, and re-examined by Mr. Blifs. Do you knov/ the defendant's types, \o that you can determine v/he- ther the papers here produced were printed with them? A. I have never examined his types, but only feen his paper — Obje6ted to by Mr. Blake, as being not even fo good evidence as limilitude of hand- writing. The Chief Juftice told Mr. Blifs he ought not to prefs that enquiry. It was at beil evidence of a very doubtful nature. 23 Qut^fllon by Mr. Blifs to Mr. Butler, Have you ever before heard Maj. Taylor relate the ftory of his being employed by Mr. Strong to purchafe fe- curities ? A. I have. Q^ What account did he then give of it ? A. Very much the fame, as he has now teftiiied ; only he added, that he regretted he had not fpeculated hinifelf in public fecurities; but he did not do it, on Mr. Strong's account, lejt it fiould offend hi?n. John Taylor, Efq. called again, faid, it was trus he did regret he had not engaged in paper fpccula- tion, rt/ that particular time, and that he did abftain from it, becaufe he was then in Mr. Strong's office, in connexion with him in bufinefs, and thought it would be difagreeahle and difrepuiahk to Mr, St?'o?ig, in the public fituation he was then in, to have fiich fpeculation carried on in his office. HQllifler Baker was produced, by Mr. Blifs, as a witnefs to the publication, but could not teftify to any perfonal knowledge of it. Mr. Gold clofed the defence, when the Court adjourned until the i-^ext day. Saturday, Sept. 20. An inJi6lment heretofore found againft Timothy Aililcy, former Printer of the Republican Spy, for publifhing fonie of thefe and other charges again ft Gov. Strong, was read from the files of the Court. Mr. Blifs clofed the cafe, on the part of the profecution. The Chief Juflice charged the Jury, who, after being out about five hoursj returned their vcrdi^, Guilty. 7'Iie defendant's counfel moved the whole Court, compofed of Parfons, Chief Juflice, Sedgwick and Sewall, Juftices, to grant a new trial, on the ground that the Chief J ulTice had erred, at the trial, ill*. IN RFJ ECTISG PARUL TESTIMONY Of THE CONTENTS Of GoV. Strong's LETTtR. to Judge Sedgwick, soliciting thk CLfcRKSHIP FOR HIS SO'N ; sdlv, IN REJKCTING EVIDENCE Of Gov, Strong's ccnfession that «£ hao so:icit£d rat 24 iduri to appoint his fin j end '^dly^ in rejedfing the teftimony of Mr. Procter, and the ncwfpapcrs of Worccftcr county, to ihow the general dijfdtisfac- tion of the people of that county at the nomina- tion and appointment of »SherhT Ward, as alleged in the paper charged to be libellous. The motion for a new trial was overruled ; and The Chief Jufiice pronounced the fentence of the Court, that ANurvEV/ Wright, th» defendant, bk IMPRUOKED SIX months; REC»GN'IZE IN THE SUM OF SIX HUNDRED DCLLARS, WITH SUFFICIENT SURETY OR SURETIES IN THE LIKE SUM, TO KEEP rH»PEACJS AND Bi OF GOOD BE- HAVIOUR, FOR THE TERM OF THREE YEARS, COMMENCIKG FROM THE TERMIKATION OF HIS IMPRISONMENT; TO PAY THS eOSTS OF FROSESUTIOXj AND STAND COMMITTED UNTIL SEN* ■rEM€S BE FERFORWSD. A SUMMAP.Y. Although the Tncli6lment contains fix counts, yet ilicrt; in fa6l are but tiirce material charges agaiaft rhs Defendant j to wit, that he did tallely, inalicioufly and feditioufly piibiilh, ift. That Gov. Strong had dl/Jjorte/ily and minghUouJIy speculated in public feciiriiies. 2diy, Th^t Gov. Strong did, with unparalleled meannejs^ (olicit the judges of the fupreme judicial coui L, to appoint his fon to the clerldhip of the fupreme judicial court, and the court of common picas, for the county of Hiimpfliire. 3dly, That Gov. Strong had condu6led impro- perly in the nomination and appointment of a lhr:rift for the county of Worceftcr — tliat he had, irom weaknefs and indifcretion, yielded to corrupt perfuafions — arid that he had balely proftraied the intcrefts, and Inurncd the rights of the people of that county. Thedc^-ndani, in his defence, attempted to prove that the publications, "fi^itjiibfiantialh true. APPLICATION OF, THE EVIDENCE IN DEFENCE. To the firjl charge. Bv the Journals of Congrefs and the tefliimony of the Hon. Theodore Sedgwick, it appears, that, at the March fcflion 1789, the' Hon. Caleb Strong, Efq. was a member of the Senate of the United States of America — and that, in confequence of a report of the Secretary of the Treafury, inadsi at that feffion, and in purfuance of an order of the Houfc of FwCprefentatives, converfations and dif- cufii'^ns took place on the fubje6l of l\\t public debt, whicti induced the membcro of Congrefs to form an opmion that xh^ public debt would be funded at he next IcHlon 5 which was to be on the firft Mon~ tay oi". January next following — and that it was, at that time, the opinion of the m^^mbers^ generally, 4 26 , that the evidences of the public debt would rife in valae — and that the members were alfo of opinion^ that it would be imprudent, indelicaic and impro- per for them, under their peculiar circum fiances, to purchafc that public pnper^ which was ahoiit to be funded. It alfo appears by faid journals, that Congrcfs Jidjourned on the 29th Sept. i7§9, to the firft Monday in Jan. 1790, at which lefTion the debt was in iidi funded; after which, it is well known, public fecurities immediately ^i'^o^tto par. By tl:e lelYimony of Maj. Taylor, it appears rbar, during the recefs of Congrefs, in that very year, to wii-, 17^9, after it was believed by the i'iV£iiibr!r3 oi Congrefs that the public debt would be faiided, 2.n'^ after they had formed an opinion, tb.at "// 'd'ould he imprudent^ indelicate, and improper' for them, under their peculiar circumilanccs, to purchafe jjubiic t)an'-r,; and'be.^re it v/as, in fafl", funded, the Hon. Caleb Strong, Efq; did a^iually fend, between 500 aiid loco dollars to B:>n:on to pufchafe public papery z.r^A that the public paper r.\^3 bought ar 4/' and 4/6 on the pound, and de- LverAl to him. If tliis evidence is true, \\\z Hon. Caleb Strong, Eil\ in ; 709, vvlicn a member of Congrels, and vvhiic ;::- luiciiion of the fundin:^ fyflem wns pendin^;-, did, in one infrance, whether proper o^c ini'yrc'^er, delicate ox indclic a: n!iment of the ibcriff in that county txci;ed <\ general clamour, and that both parlies united in execjatnig the inearure. But as he jcould not prove, by tbe records of the Council, that any appointment was made, he was not aiiovvcd to iiitioduce any otljer evidence ; and of cou! ie had no defence to this chsrge. How- ever, to exculpate bimi:;]f from the imputation of ivanlon malice, Mr. Wright thinks it his duty to offer to tiie pubhe a few extra6ts from the iS-^is and Thon-as's Mafl'achufttts Spy, which Were ])ubl:ilied [>rior to tlie publication for which this chariie in the indiflment was founded : and v%'hich were to have betn offered to the jury, had live court ihcught proper to sdmit fiich evidence. LXTSACI;', TA.K':>f iT(?sy;.Y x•x-,'^ t ::.'"/a-'5 S"\', v,';-:'-:i 13 /, r£i r" A.i. v>.i"5b. : ;oMJ or vi aic^i V.'e 'earn t'.iat Thom.m vV. Ward, Kiq. id dirii.levefb'd dib'riTii lis of public nie;i »'..d public m.eafnrcs, he has this day givei' p'ace-to tw'. of the " commiinicutioiis," whi^h en!;;rofs tht ientimenls of al! the others, a. id ;is piiiliPni.ig the wh.dc would take up too much room, he is undci the i-'--c"ity' of lrvi.;g the rtfidue aF.de. 29 •• Vv*!:.\T, tl.rn, arc the prrtf^ions of Mr. Vv'AaO; to the i.Kpor:>nt ot7:i:« of Kigl .;.hcrlii ? A'.e the public incclted to him for a!^y inj^orlii.t iVrvi; cs he has ever i«;r,(ier- c\ ? Has the. voice of tlic people, in sny inftancc, bon cteilimony to hi» uitrit or ;)oV' .- lavity ? Does he poffefs tlie tllecm and confidence of -j majority of the comity, the tov.'.i, or the neighborhood in which he lives? Hss he ever teen dcii;;r.hteJ, l>y th«ir fufir.) es to fill any office ciil.cr of trufl. or of profit ? Is h-s cir.ini. thsp., fjunoed on his own perfoiial meiit, or does it defce.;d to him, like an heir l\tw>, fjojn the rark and tlijliicli'm of an niuctlc.r ? If hereditary titles to otT'.n are to he admitted, and tha i'?.- ti;er cf Mr. Ward was vsot fully comperdatcd iy the public f-vor, for all the public I'crvices he h;d rendered, then, pei^haps, hi) f'xcellency might h^ve found, in the claims •f his birthright, fom^; adequate naioa for his nomination. 3v.t die truth i.s, Mr. 'Vard has more powerful friei.tJt ot Court thn:i ar.y cth;r cnn- iidits. He hs!» a Irother ancl a near and potMerful conntKion in t!:e Council. He Irs a brerh(r in laui \a the Senaie, who ii alio a jiidjje of the Court.oi Common t*lcas. The ■ myftery of hi.s n«mina'ion is thus unravelled. Thele geatlcir.in arc nut dir«ft'y ac- c^ira of intenfivnaily milreprefei.tiiij the qualificiiti Tf of their ki.nfman." " It is a j(>/f«/!(v7;-conSderati jn, in the Jiicu^riou of this uvptcjf&rtt fcbjeC;-, thst i.-i this inftance there is no diff renc* of lentur.ent between the diif.re^.t politicil parties ia l!;e county. " > '• If the maxim, that " th-; voic« of the people is the voice of God," has not become Elio^ether oblo ete and exploded, it will not yet be permitted by Providence, that Th.'r=« V;olttr V/ard, Efq. fnall bs HIGH SHERIFF of the COUNTY of WORCE3 fER." " ALAS ! Is it not to be Ismcnted that any gentleman fhouid be fo deilitute of the good of the county as to deceive, and isfluence a nominatiou fo obnoxious to nineteen tv.-er.ticths ot tl:» pe:.ple of the county. VO X PO PUL I. " [Thomas's Spy, July 17, 1S05.] " THE meafure hss been a fubject of mnchconv^rlatior., and of micch lurprile. The £tuatiou of the hditir has enabled him (wiliiout taking wur,^ psir.s) to learn tic fjnti- iHents of the people in almoft every town in the county. The more he has heard on the fubjeft, the more fsilly has he been fatisfied that his firil intirnati'U, and the ftatement ( I his " co;iRES?o.N!Dr.NTs" in the " Spy" are peife£l;y correft. He now boldly afferts, tliat if tha sihce were to be filled by the luffrag«s of the people, Thonias W. Ward, ll'.-q. v/ruld net have a majority of votes in a f!!;gl« town iii the county, the tov^i' of Shrewlbury n»t excepted. This may be conliciered as a bold affertion, bat our mean? cf infcrmat; >n *rer.eitiieryfw rar jnu'l. The voice of dififfcfiioa in the centre. Hill cor.tinues to fill our ears and vibrates frcn Eali to Well — the North gives up, and the South keeps not h£cl<.." [Thomas's iipy, July 24, 1825.! " AS we had freely publiflied our fentimeiits, whca the mealure wae fii ft annouLced, and had then faid wlnt we deemed fuiTicier.t, tu coiivirce every impartial citizei;, tffat , ae was not the man whom the people w«uld delight to h >nor, •.\ c luvc fsrbor ie from further remai;ks ; — not bacauic wo have in ths leail do^ree changed our opii'.ion ; not becauftf wc have believed, thst the ftep which was then taken, was premature or pre- ripitata ; not bacaufe wfc have dreaded tha refcntmerit of Mr. Ward, or the liit'e pha- lanx of his perfonal friends; — but becauie we v/ere willing to diimifs this difgulling ful>je£l." " V.'e think it incumbent o\ us once for all to declare, that our opinio;), s; to this obnoxious meaiure, is lliU unchanged ; th;t every euquiry v\e h.ive m.ade, hs« i'iied to the mbfs of evidence, upon which this opiiiion was f»uadcd. and th<;t the kpfe of every ma^nsnt of tim.e, fmce the momnt of his nemination, h is llrengtherjcd our biiitT, that were the ofF.ce to he fiHsd by the fuffrages of tke pecple, all the perfoi.r.I exertions of Mr. Ward, a;'.d his li;tle vcfmn hand, would not lecure to him ON£ JHOUSAND votes in the county !" [Tkomas's Spy, Od. 9, 18C5.] I 'J the truth of the remarks of our nei<^hbor Thomas, which heads his ar'icle, fo far S3 rsfpsfts the impropriety of the nomiiirtion, the n inner in wl-.ich it was procured, sv.d. the feelings which it his e.xcited in both parties, wc peifeftlv agr*e. Ii all proba- ta; ty, a mire unpopular nomination could not have been made. A.t*, moft ail".!!- •,- ly, amor; i;7iprr.per one cannot be conceived. Wc have repestcdly sfi;«d, and v.iia flitPi. grave and lerieus curioF.ty, what were the recomaiesdariors, which fecored Mr, Wnrd the preference over 10 prominent candidates, as were propofcd for this office. Wr-s it his taknri, h\r, rjutation, his mar.Kers, khhumciTiifx, his inucr'fy, or theefiimrii-n iu which he v.tz held ? [■' ' ' " ' " " '' MUCH mr^ was written on the fub;<".8: ; Itdi as Czc papers are r.ov L-fjve tl:c ni:b- ^, it t". unsecfJlary to ira>c further extra A<. 3<^ ?-ROM tht f.)rcgotag piiHlicatior.s, if t.hc pub'.ii pap»rs of ckher polilitsl pirty si* dcftiviiid cf any creoit, we hive all the fvid^nce v^hicli the ^arure cj the csfe v. ill ad- T.-it of, that t>. jppoi.itmJ'it oi T. ^V . Ward, Lin. was extrerr.s'y obnoxi'ms to f v.riy jrreAt majority of the citizens, (•[ b..l!j pfllitlc;*! parti«, iit the e«>ijnty of Worr.v.iVcr — that every pofuble exertion Wis m»'k; by thofe citizens to pjeventit; and that the Go- vernor muil have kii^rA-n, b.:foie the aj>poiatment, what the feelings ai'd wifhes of the * people were upon the, fubjefl;. Is is alfo well kuow to the public, th^t JVIr. Wsvri hid pou'erful Te!ali.:nj anj/riei'.js in the Senate anri Council, ;-;t fbe tirr.c lif hrs sppointirei'.t. No m?!i wiil l.'flieve, t'ir\t the Govsriior would have appoihtud a fiicrifF in fo re-- {pe&Mt A couciy, agaiuft t!ie m iPnes of fo hrgc a majority or its inhabitants, w ithoi't {oine cauji. Some c-i'.'f^ r.niR have exiftcd. The foregoing pnblicstions ir.finiuti; t'lat itwfs ov/iiitr to the i.-f^t-sprc of I*!r. V.'ud's friends and relations. Mr. ^'^'ric■J fa id the f« me. But the J^ay, by;' :, have di;:!ar'.-d that Mr. Wrigl'.t v;3s SUILTy. It has fo." a i 1'-; ii;' r i rrn confi.'U'.r.Td, by tre public, » qi'eflion of importsnc?, v;het]icr or not Gov. Strong aftr.ally did, while a member of Coiigrcl's, and during the pendency of the iubje-^ of t'le ruNriNC system, fpcculato in,' or purchaf- soldilrs' »ECURiTH«. ' '3 be Rcpublicar..'! i;i their el'ftionfciinjt piibjications liave perfevcred in fiating that he did ; Ftdci»lifts have uniformly denied the fscl. Mr: lymsn's refjgnation of the Clerk's office in the county of Hampib.ire — the ap- pointnie.it of Mijj. Taylor to th?,t office — and, the odd manner in which Mr. Lynisu refjgiieJ bis commlfiion of judge of the court of common pkas, and refnrred ths fame clerk's olfice, to the excb.ifion of Maj. Taylor, whom, it was iuj>pored, bad bee.i fairly appoinled, are ciraumftzuced involved in ths njyfrery cf ftate poiicy. " Puzr.led in mazes and perplexed with error, our underftandsngs trace them, in vsin." I'.n'. it is believed lh?t ;he evidence in this trial will throw much light on this, as -well rj or. the fubjf.,':i of frc:';'3t'-n. It i.'s maiirn- < f '.prions regret that there were fuch " inuinfic difScultie.\," in the way of proving IfguHy^ that Mr. Ward was in faft ev«r nomi.iatsd or appointed. Byt however clear this iinportsnt hSi mi<^ht b?ve been to ths cyo of conarr.on iei:ire, it Vv-3S tvijent/y involved in technical darkneis. In ordinary cafes, frtcii^s are both .-oiaina'.ti and appointed before they take, the oath of cfiico. la this cafe it might h:vc been otherwife. Mr. Wri'hl pabiinicd fcmr- very fevere remrks upon thcfs fubjecls. In o'hrr tinirs they would moll: certainly hr.ve been thought hiyQi and interaperate. But, if he can- not be juflifled by the law of retaliation; yet, perhaps, tho held vianner, and tvanton (liUider oi federal writers, may have been, in a 2r.*rt meafura, the caufe of his ir.isforr. tune, r.nd nnift palliate bi.s offence. On the whole, is there a ilngle difinlerefled, im- parti.il, nnp-.c'iudiced, and candid man, who will read this Krport with atte.:t;c,'!, bu-t .•n:jjl fay th«re is indeed •" som4tking F.OT'raN in DErwARK." APPENDIX. ON'E IiKaclmffut has bsen found, by a Grand Jury of thft County, a^lnft Tim^tky J/iik\\ laic Printtr of the " Rtpublican Spy." Mr. Aflilcy, believing, «i h« Rated to Lit friends, that he could not have a/air tiial, in the preftntjlutt tf party prejidkes in 'vliis county, removed out of the Commonwealth. Two ludiilmeiits have been found againft Andrew Wright, the Pjiufer of " Repub- lican Spy." 0.'>*' of ihem was quafhed, on the motion cf the countel for the profe- cution. On the otl.cr he ha^ btcn tried mnd ccnvuled andfentcn:td *nd is now fujferxvg imbrifinmeitt. W'lifther his prc(> «an b« fuppoitcd, under luch emVarrafTments, muft be dftein;ined by t!ie fxpetiment. lirMi iNDic-j.MiNfj havfe been found ajaiuH: Charles Shepherd, for publicstions in the " P.ej»ublican Spy." On one of thcin he has bean, acquitted, in coiilequeaca of errors in tke indi'chuent, whjph wis drjiwn by John lltoker, Efijuire. The other tu» are ftill pendtngl l V^hiw tneafurej were perccfvad to be in train for procuring !h« above indlftmenfc, fome Republicans, with a view* to promote an impartial adminiftration of juftice, ar:d to prevent prolccutions againfl printers and writers of one politic*/ defcription, while thole of tpfofitc politics niigiit'pafs unn«ticed, czufed a number of federal ncwfjiapers, pi'.blifhed in the county, and containing, in their oplmion, very libellous matters, to b« delivered to grand jurors, with a fequeft to hare them laid before their brethren for coi.ilderation. Yet ni iniiBiitnt has tpteared on them a^^ainit any federalijf. It is prerumt ] that the gran'd juries, who arc moji fj'ertnly fujoni to ail impartially, havahad. iome flj^cient rejfins ior thh d\hin£t\Qn; bu.', as their deliberations ar« fecret, the public cannot know w};:,t thole realons are. ■; , ! That the r..c.!er may be en.ibled to judjc for him'elf, whetl-.er the federal papers, pufeliftied in ihis county, hava not been at lesft as libellsus as thofe on the republics;; iii-;, a few extrjStsfar; iubjoiried. " HAVE ysu noLhin^to fjv about Mr. JcfFerfcn's employing-, aiding with matter, eriGouragiugand rewaidiug the infansjus libelleroi V/afhington ? Have you ncthingto fay of his taking money from the Uiiited States, to fhew hli partialiiy to this milcreaiit? Wi!I you fay nothing cf his bjfene's and' treachery t« thecompinlon of his youth, and fiie".d of his rip«r ye<.rs ? Will you fty nothing of hit profligate habits ? Wiil ys;u rc- fu'c t;> vindicate his allcjjed and proved inj^ralltude to a venerable fiiend and patron ? 7'hL'!c arc points uhich involve reputation. A good man may want the nenx of a %varrior; but ba'cncfs, trcn^he-y, falfehood, proSig?cy and ingratitude, are nat mere foibles." llig^n'Jliire Gaz. Cd. z, 1805.] '■ He [meaning Mr. Jcllerloii] who had i^.;orBtnc:;ded and fan£li»ned ths moftopen violaiiofij of that coullitution vs iinlf principles he had Iworn ts fupport. Ke who " feeling power and forgetting right," could m«ft philofophicaliy take the bread from the moi'tli of the war-worn ioidier, and btilow it upon him who was riean eueisgh " to pleafe bim w ith tlie rattle, or tickle him wilh the fliaw" ot fiittery. He v/Iio while he hypocritically draps a tear on the alhes of Vx^afl^ington, hires a •' fcoundrel tnor;? — than himlelf" ta blacken wit* vi!e(l calumny, the memory n«t Qnly ef Waihingtcn, Lvit of every noble friend to hi» cou::t:v " [H.m!^^ire Caz. iUkSept. iSc^.'] " I have thus proved aecordir.j to my promife', by public records, open to the in- fi-'-fi'on of every man, that Mr. Sui!lv;;n bss u'.tercd Ealkhaod ujjon falfchocd, (k«f he- hj3 ebtaii'fd m^ey fraudulently, and olr.cially claimed the authority of jovernment Y.'.herc he h.id it not. - ■»'• I fii^ll h^jtfli tlei'e rcmaiksvv.iUiCQr.f.rr..ctioncf the Isfl, End by no means the leaft f,';-iou.s char;rr — that fyS' Mr. S\dllvan pockrts public monie.-, received by him for the Cwmmoir.vf.T''!''' T: t' s lias been bis practice, can any rcan in «onfcience vote for hira to be our G [Supplernist to 11. Gaz. ad Jprli, liob- " THE difLi.otatllcn, jealoi - iX, prevaiJWg among the cnajority ia Con- grofs, added to their total varU'- *r:ccipleav.d capacity, i-iuft deflroy thew ; but when thefe dregs will icttlr to ir.': ro:: nn, or wlieiher order and fyiiiiretry v, ill KTiaie out of this confu^iju and cliaos, the Lar* kjiaws." :)- «' Q. Yf"h»l is t Dei'Jioirat ? — \. Or.* v.'ho hr.s been feiitciced to C: upoU tl.;^r';!.'/^itt5 Willi a Tope round his n»:k, jiartici'c, mutridde, murderer, th^i'f, c/iea'. rc£ue, inx-t, cth.'iil. dei/}, bucca-i^rey. tle'c sre all acmceraU. ^In ilicrt. a'nythr,:^ z^hi k can le calitd CRIME IS A Democrat." ' :' " Do thsy [the derr.oerafs] '-"r lli^ f-mfi/f ? Moaftrous idte ' Whcii -.volvis. with all their fiercencfs, are jret'tle as lanbs. siid devils^ vji^h jll^Jicif^fr,.':!:^!:, are »j r.!'.;r'y.s, thei, and uat till then, rr!?y ftrfi n'et: iucccfsfiilly jjTcrt tjseir tit!e?to patriotifr.:;/' • Rcpuhlij£f:iifni, fjys the ffoenl Port Folio, ij " the:-accurfid ajf. c-i ccckairk'- *!hith has poifonci haij the nu,!iims." '■ ' ■■ " B2 sftouiraed, O Karth! th:.t th, viizir men in the coi ■•.■nuui-y, C- wicklcdnefs, tbc'.e '.•, ho of all nsen are peculi?i-!y A STJf NCH Ii\ THE KOoi illi. j OF A KOLY GOD, cin be confidcrcd as pitriols, qi' hicr.tls to die pc«p1»!" la suditlpn to all thvs,^ the majority cf our Stat; L^^i.l'luri have been ca'.Ied a c:.;. fp'.'-cy, and cccufsd of rr-Rju.iY and Tr.E^^soK. FELLOW CITIZENS, Here, amidli the ra^^e and devaflatioii or a molt inniignant and cruel newfparrcr wariare, dedruc- t'r/e of national lafety and 4orncriic llappiaefs, v/e fee one rolitary Printer fcie61ed aiM doomed to inevitable ruin. At the fame, time w^ fee others, whofc EuiK is of a deeper die. efcape vrith impimi- '(7, and fuff^rcd to kclTat the miiery of f:ocir vic- tim. Mr. Wright lias received his yl^/j/r?zf^, and i:: now in a prison — he lias not been heard to* com- plain, but like a good crrrsEr:, lie fabmits to his fate, and yields obedience to the l^ws of his coun try 5 which laws he hopes in God, may be fairly •adaiiniftered, and never pr>:>ilituted to the vile* purpofcs Qi private malice, or vindictive party ft:int. \^;^€Qbr-Ri'yhtfiiuredfor tht htm jit cj . ■ rVjight. PD 18 1 An Answer to i^ie Questio7is^ WHY ARE YOU A FEDERALIST > AMD WHY SHALL YOU VOTE IfOR GOV. STRONG ? 1005. ^ \ ^r^ CjA'^ % ^f? ^ JFhy are you a Federalist ? 1 AM aFederalift — Beaiufcthemen, thus call- ed, have been, under God, the means of great bleflings to this country. Firft. By the Federal Conllitution, which tlicy planned. Second. By the meafures, v/hich they adopted, while the national s:overn.mcnt was in their hands, and under their controul. I lliall touch on each of thefe particulars, feparately, and I confidently appeal to the recollection of my fel- low countrymen, for the truth of the facts I fliall ftate, and to their good fenfe, for the accuracy of the con- clulions, I lliall draw. Firft. The Federal Conftitution was alnioft wholly the work of the men, called Federalifts, and was alfo oppofed, almoft to a man, by thofe, who, now a days, call themfelves Republicans. This facl is fo familiar to the whole people of the United States, that a for- mal proof feems unneceffary. Left, however, the memory of .any one fiiould happen to be dull, I will make a fliort lift of individuals. The men, who, in 1788, and in the years next fucceeding, took the lead, in adopting and organizing the Federal Conftitution, and the national authorities, were Wajhingtoji, Adajns, yay, Hainilton, Pickering, Wo/cof, King, Pinckney, Sumner, Dana, Knox, Lincoln, Ellfworth — Strong. Thefe, and their aflbciates lirft received, from their diftinguiflicd iirmnefs, in recommending thi^ Conftitution and in cauftng it to be executed, according to its true fpirit, the name of Federalifts. All of thefe, v/ho are yet living are Federalifts ftill ; and all the others],'remained fuch until their deaths. On the other hand, among -thofe, who excited an open and viiilent oppofttiou to 4 the adoption of that conftitution, and were principally inftriimental, in making the people difgufted with it, ;ind in difafFccling them to the adminiftrations of Wafhington and Adams, were Thomas Jefferfon^ now Prefidcnty George Clinton, Jiow Vice Prefident, Elbridge Gerry, Albert Gallatin, Col, Vanium, WilHa?n Heath, Thonipfon J. Ski7iner, Henry Dearborn, Charles "Jar vis, Benjamin Aiijiin, jun. and — yamcs Sullivan. Thefe remain either leaders, or tools, of the party calling itfelf Republican ; and nowfliare the honours of a government, againft which they avowed former- ly, a moil deadly hatred ; exercifing powci^ri and tak- ing the profit of places, once the objects of their loud- eil execrations. Here then are two claffes of men. The one adopt- ed a fyftem, arranged it, fet it a going, rifqued their reputations on its fuccefs, and through various unex- pecled trials, in tim.es of fmgular danger, effected their objecl and raifed their country from diftraclion, dif- union, fear at home and contempt abroad, to a high pitch of calmnefs, concord, confidence and refpeft, both in our own and in: foreign nations. The oth- er Hood by, objected to the plan and embarraffed the execution ; without propofmg any fubftitute, they fell to abuhng thofe,.who were active in recommend- ing the new government to the people, called them iiriftocrats, monarchifts, tories and whatever elfe ma- lignity, whetted by ambition, could fuggeft. Now which of thefe defcriptions of people, I alk, can a wife man fupport ; which ought a good man to honour ? The former are Federalifts, The latter thofe, who pjlTcall themfelves, Republicans. Every one recolle<5ts the diftreffes and dangers, which preceeded the adoption of the Federal Confti- tution j — aiid every one knows how foon the fky cleared up, and how happinefs and profperity poured in upon us, after that period. Now which of the |nen, who at prefent call themfelyes Republicans, put forth a finger, to help Its eftabllfliment ?- — which of them did not thwart its friends and take all occaiions to mifreprefent their intentions and mjke their mo- tives fui'pected, by the people ? What abundance of ills did they not prophcfy would refult, from the a- doption of that inflrument ; — flavery, wretchednefs, opprefiion, monarchy, ariftocracy ; thefe and a thou- fand other terrible monfters, they faid were concealed under it. Nor was this all, fome of them by their in- flammatory writings and harangues had, a little before the adoption of that inftrument, well nigh involved this flate in a civil war ; and others of them, foon af- ter its eftablifhment, by like arts, raifcdin the Weftern country a formidable infurrection. I appeal to the recolleGcion of my countrymen, that they, mIio oppof- ed the adoption of the Conilitution, that they, who oppoled, uniformly, all thofe wife and happy meafures, which diftinguiflied the adminillrations of Wafhing- ton and Adams, were, almofl without exception, the very men, who now occupy the oilices and lili the fta- tions of the national government. Thefe very men, who now ihamclefsly place the name of \¥af[iington by the fide of theirs, v^^ere the bittereft enemies and open calumniators of the whole courfe of his preilden- tial meafures. And what adds to the bafen«''> of this conducl is, that they do this, to diicredit, under the aliumed authority of his name, the men, who v,\erc his conilant fupporters and advocates, to whom he gave every public mark of his efteem and confidence. The above facts are undeniable. Great bleliings have then refulted from the Federal Conftitution, notwithftanding the predictions of thefe falfe proph- ets ; who had too frequent opportunities, and who neglected none, to caufe a fulfillment of their melan- chclv forcbodinsrs. Here, therefore, is my firft rcafon for being a Fed- eralift. I am grateful to the men, who gave us tlie Federal Conftitution. I fee that all they promifcd thqy have performed, and more than they promilcd. They told us, it would flrengthen the bands of union uniong the States. It has done it. — That it would caulc an uniform fyttem of juftice and uniform principles oF decifion to prevail. It has, in a good meafure, done it. — That it would give us concord at home and ref- peftabihty abroad. It has done both. — That it would make commerce flourilh, our merchants wealthy, and place our mechanics, farmers and labourers in inde- pendent, eafy and thriving circumftances. All thefe great ends have been effeded. I'he federal Conftitu- tion found this people diilreft, diftrufting one anoth- er and diilrufted abroad. It reftoied confidence and credit, made cafli circulate, and raifed this country from the depths of defpondence and danger, into as high a llate of profperity and fafety, as any country, in the fame period, ever attaiijed. Now one fet of men advocated, another fet of men oppcfed, the whole, and every part of that conftitution and the fyftem of meafures adopted under it. Is it not fair and honorable, then, to judge men " by their fruits r'* Can any man believe, that all thefe great things would have refuked to the American nation, if the federal Conftitution had not been adopted, and faithfully ex- ecuted, according to its principles, in its outfet ? Did any of thc^- antifederalifts, thefe felf-ftyled Republi- cans, ever propofe any fubftitute for that conftitution ? Finding fault v/ith the fyftem, as they did, with fo much violence and clamour, did they fuggeft any oth- er, or better ? Nothing of all this is pretended. They devifed nothing worthy of the acceptance of the peo- ple. They contented theliifelvcs folely with magnify- ing errors, mifreprefenting facls, and taking every oc- fion to render odious,with the people,the friends of the federal adminiftrattons and conftitution . Becaufe then the federal conftitution has been the inftrument of fo much good to us. Becaufe the fedcralifts drd this great thing for this people, they have had, and ftill have, my confidence, ilt is my rule to truft thofe, who perform, rather than thofe, who only promife, to confiuein thole, Tv^hodcvlfe wife means, and feek good ends, ratlief than thofc, who only clamour about rights and priv- ileges of the people, and ftudy to decry luch, as lay plans, and put them into execution, to render thofe rights and privileges fafc and permanent. For this reafon, I am a Federaliil — for this, I glory in the title, inafmuch as it is, in my opinion, only a- iiother name for the moft adive and enlightened friends of my country. But 2(1. I amafedcralift, bccaufe,duringthe admin- iflration of that party, they adopted wife meafures, and purfued them faithfully. They did not content themfelves with backbiting their political enemies, with harranguing, in taveriTo, and ki corners of ftreets, about the rights and privileges of the people. But they took meafures to fe- cure thofe rights, and to place the nation, on the only folid ground, that which -has, for its balis, honor, faith and punftuaiity to engagements. ift. They eftablifhed public credit — -that is, they fettled the old accounts of the war, and provided funds through the gradual operation of which the debts then created were to be cancelled. This meafure occalioned a great outcry on the part of our exclufive patriots, thefe men, who now ftyle themfelves Republicans. Mr. Madifon, Mr. Jefferfon, and the whole Virginia antifederal phalanx, took the lead in this oppolition. The reafon was obvious ; the people of Virginia are not famous for their refpect to the rights of creditors, and in this cafe to make a fettlement, which would cccalion Virginia to be juft was neither conformable to her old habits or prefent interefts. Befides very little of the public debt was owned in Virginia, the people of the New-England flates vv'ere the principal holders of fecurities. A meafure, which would make Virginia contribute to qu- rich New-England, was as little conformable to het political jcalou Ties as it was to her habits and interefts. The difficulty, with thefe patriots, was how to defeat the provifion for the debts, without committing them. fclves by a gfofs avowal of their difpufition to c^eat the national creditors, flate and individual. Tneir ingenuity loon fupplied an expedient. They raifed the cry of difcrimination. The United States had made the fccurities for their debts negotiable. Many of them had been fold. The bona fide purchafers had taken them and advanced to their former poffelTors, the market worth. This they did under the lanclion of the public faith, facredly plighted for their redemption in full. But, our Republicans, led on by the Virgin- ians, were for difcriminating — that is, they \vcre for making the United States break faith with their creditors, in order that they might comipenfate the in- jury, their own neglect to provide payment, had done to the firil holders of their paper. Thus, cloak- ing injuftice under the broad mantle of humanity, J:hey advocated public robbery, to provide a fource for public generofity. The true fecret of this fcheme, fo plainly contrary to every diftate of moral honefty, was firlf its imprafticability and next the temporary popu- larity, attached to it. The known rule, a fulfil- ment of the plain terms of the contrad, once broken, every thing would have been at loofe. The difficulties, conf@quent upon the principle of difcrimination could never have been fettled. Much, which Vv^ouid have been referved out of the claims of the creditors, would have been clear gain to the United States ; inafmucli as very many of the foldiers were dead, and from va- rious caufes, many would not make claim. Thus this fcheme of difcrimination, fo vaunted by our Repub- licans was really only a plan for defrauding credit- ors, under pretence of providing for the revolutionary army. But this was not the fole motive. The cry of indemnity to the poor foldiers was an appeal to the hearts of the people. It was a great fund of popularity, which was an article much in demand with thofe, who were advocating an open breach of faith, and who had entered the lifts a^ainft Wafliino^ton the real friend ©f tlie foldiery. He, with that woij^derful con- fifiency of character, which diftinguifhcd him, was not lefs ardent in favor of the claims of the creditors, than of his military comrades. He thought that the former ought not to be robbed, nor the latter for- gotten ; that the honor of the United States was as deeply interefted in obferving its faith, as in following the dictates of its feelings. But the Federal adminiftratlon not only provided for the national, it alfo — 2d. AlTumed the flate debts. That this meafure fhould have been unpopular in fome of the fouthern States, where the balances were againft them, mi.^ht have been expeded. But that it fhould have ever been a fuccefsful caufe of complaint in Mailachufetts, is, indeed, extraordinary. This was a great creditor flate. Her noble and difinterefted exertions, in the caufe of the revolution, had accumu- lated upon her an immenfe debt. The taxes, which it occafioned, were truly a fource of mifery and diftrefs to this people. They were the caufe of a burden, which, more than any thing elfe, occafioned the infur- reclion of 1787. We all recollect what an immenfe proportion of the profits of our farms was confumed in difcharging the taxes of that period. Yet flrange to tell, it has been a ferious caufe of complaint againft the Federalifts that by affuming the flate debts they relieved xVIafTachufetts, and placed the burden of the war, where it ought to be borne, on the United States. By this aflumption our native ftate was placed at eafe, the people refcued from the diflrefles of taxation, for the arrearages of the war, and a large demand acknow- ledged, upwards of one million of dollars, as due from the United States to it ; for which wc have ever fmce been receiving intereft. If this be a crime, here, in MafTachufetts, the federalifts plead guilty to it. Without their firmnefs and diligence, it would never have been effected. Let their enemies fliow, if they can, that any of their virtues have been as profitable to the people as this pretended offence of the federalifts. But, the federal adminiflration, not only provided B IG for the national, and affumed the ftatc debts, it alf# — ^d. Maintained our neutrality. It ought ever to be remembered, that the times, when the national government was tinder the direc- o tion of jfederaliils, were the moil eventful and tempef- tuous, that the world, perhaps, ever witneffed. One of the greatefl nations of the earth then paffed through a moil bloody and difailrous revolution. In the courfe of it, the mod unprincipled men fuccellively attained- the fupreme power and agitated Europe, by their in- trigues, their arms and ambition. I'he nations, with which America has naturally the flroMgeft connections, France and Great Britain, were engaged in the mofl virulent war, in which each party contefled not for territory, but for exiftence, as an in- dependent power. i o both we were united by treaties. The former had attached herfelf to us by the part fhe took in ef- fecting our revolution ; for which Americans, without 'fiftino: her motives were v/illin^ to vield her eratitude, and aifo whatever aid could be extended, confident with their fafety and independence. On the other hand, Great-Britain v/as the nation, from which we had defcencicd, from whom we had imbibed our principles and our habits; with whom alfo our commer- cial tranfaclions v/ere the moil excenfive ; who, at the fame time, that the mutual animolity, which our rev- olutionary war had excited, was not yet extinguifli- ed, had, by the greatnefs of her naval power and the unprotecled Hate of our commerce, the fairefl oppor- tunity to inflicl upon us the 'deepeft wounds, and the Icaft to apprehend from our hoftiiity. In this date of things, the emiflaries of France were unremitted in '..heir exertions to make our government compromit its neutralitv and lofe all the advantao;es, which had rcfiilted, and which promifed to refuit, from its pre- fervation. The names of Fauchet, Adet, Genet arc familiar ''o our memories — as alfo are the means they tifed t© draw us into the war j how they joined 11 ihemfelvcs to the men, who now ftyle themfelvcs Re- puWicans, calumniated our government, charged our lirft patriots with being in the pay of Great-Britain, excited every where the ancient animolity to this na- tion and gratitude to her rival, not fufFering even the facr jd reputation of Walhington to efcape unaffailed, becaiiie he placed himfelf in oppolltion to their nefari- ous deligns. Notwithllanding the regularity and un- remitted nature of thefe attempts, the national gov- ernment, then in the hands of Federalifts, never loft light of its refolution to have a {ingle eye on the true interefls of the nation, and on that, on which thefe alone depended, its neutrality. For this object, they adopted all thofe meafures, which have been the themes of the abufe of thefe Republicans — the BritiTa treaty — the {landing army — the direct tax, and the fe- dition acl;. Thefe meafures, fo decried arid mifrepre- fented, were, under God, the means of preferving for us that great blciling peace, and of preventing us from a connexion with France, which would have, probably, terminated in as much wretchednefs for us, as it has for all thofe nations, who have fallen under its influence, in Europe. Each of thofe meafures deferves a fhort examina- tion, as they are the points of attack, on which thefe re- publicans are the loudest and most virulent. As to the Britilh Treaty, we all recollect how the effect of that inftrument v/as mifreprefented. — It was faid to be a reafonable caufe of war on the part of France — to reduce us again to the {late of Colonies to England ; nothing, that malignity could invent, or that weaknefs could fugge{l, was omitted to alarm our fears, or awaken our prejudices. The time limited for the commercial part of this treaty has pafled. We have experienced its eftecl and moil willingly do I appeal to my hone{l and intelligent countrymen, whether this inflrument has not been beneficial to our country. The caufe of that hoilility to the Britiffi 'I'reaty is not to be found in the termii of that inflrument, but in 12 the difguft, which Frenchmen and French partizans experienced, at the obftacle, which that treaty inter- poied to their darhng project of involving America, in the war then prevalent. This was one caufe. An- other may be traced to that interefted animofity, which Virginia has always borne to the Engliih na- tion. " It is a firmly eftablifhed opinion of men verf- ed in the hiftory ot our revolution, that the ivhiggifin of V/rginia was chiefly owing to the debts of the planters." Certain it is, that the fourth article of the treaty of ' peace, which ftipulated, that there fbould be no obftacle to the recovery of all bona fide debts, was received with the utrnoft difguft, in Virginia. It was the fource of that inveterate refent- ineiit, which the prevailing party, in that ftate, always bore Mr. Adams, It is alio certain that this ftate was one of the firft, who refufed to open her courts to the Englifti creditors, under that treaty ; affording her, by this act, an apology for that breach of it, on her part, which was the caufe of fuch continued controverfy, until it was adjufted by Mr. Jay's obnoxious treaty. It was a iufhcient caufe for the enmity of Virginia to both thofe treaties, that each contained a ftipulation that her cidzcns fhould be obhged to pay debts, con- trafted anterior to the war. In her eftimation, Ameri- can Independence was but a poor purchafe, if the bur- den of Britifli debts was not removed. To planters, the hcavieft part of the Britifh yoke was that, which the obligations of juftice impoIedV The whole amount of the claims, exhibited by the Britifh government againft the American, for debts due from our citizens to their fubjeBs, anterior to the war, was Eighteen Millions of Dollars, of which . EIGHT millions,' five hundred THOUSAND, were owed from the fingle State of Virginia, Hence her uniform difcontcnt at the treaty of peace. Hence her animofity to a federal Judiciary, which, guid- ed by other laws than her ftatutes, would compel her citizens to be juft. Hence alfo, that flame, which her emiliaries excited through the continent, at the renewal 13 of the fame equitable ftipulations, in the treaty o^ Mn jay. A fail has lately occurred, which places i^cr ino- tives, and thole of her partizans, in a Urong liL,ht. The national government, while yet in the hands of ihti Federalilts, perceiving that Virginia would never ceafs to diflarb the meafures of the Union, fo long a-?, Hy its treaties, thefe debts were made recoverable, thought it a meafure of found policy to attempt to remove thefe Britifli claim^, by negociating for a difcharge upon the payment of an equivalent. Under their inilr'uctions, Mr. King made a convention, by which the United States ftipulated to pay the Britifli government near three millions of dollars, iii difcharge of thofe claims. This convention was not concluded until Mr. Jeffcrfon Game into power. He ratificdit^ — and undoubtedly it was a wife meafure. But, is it not wonderful, to obferve the filence of our virtuous Republicans, who are io hawk-eyed to whatever touches the pockets of the peo- ple ? Is it not ftrange that they have not condefccnded to trumpet forth the faft, that the fum\ Jtipidatcd by this convention, was paid for Virginia delinquciicy ?—lhat one half of the whole claim, which that convention quieted, was owed in that fingle State ? — that the money of New- Eng- land, in fact, the four ce of national revenue, is gone to dif- charge the debts and wipe azvay the frauds of the planters of the ancient dominion ? The next objett of cenfure is the provifional, or as it was opprobioully called, the ftandmg army. This meaf- ure was the refult of a fingular necelTity, induced by the hoftile threats and unprincipled conduQ; of France. In juitification of this, it is enough, at this day, to fay, that George Walhington was appointed to the command of that army — that he accepted of it — that he bore tefti- mony, both to the neceffity and the wifdom of that meafure, and that too in terms the moll unequivocal.* * On the 13th July, 1798, that great man, wrote a letter to John Adams, then Prelident of the United States, accepting the coiiunand pf that armv, and containing theie memorable expreHious, "• iii; li e v^e syiE, Sir, no one can more cordially ArrRQVF, ov the wise and prudent ' measures of y o x; !< a dm i n't s t k at 1 o n, They ought to inspire universal respect. " 14 The fame circumftances, which made the raifing aa army necefl'ary, made aUb a provifion for it indifpenfa- ble. For this purpofe a dirett tax was reforted to, be- caufe in cafe of an iiuropean war, which was threatened, the ordinary refources of commercial revenue could not be depended upon. Both thefe nieafures, rendered fo obnoxious by the artifices of the political enemies of thofe adminiftrations, were declared to be temporary, and were in fa6l repealed, by the federaliits, as foon as the necellity, which created them, had ceafed. Yet have both furnifhed and ilill furnifh materials for artful de- claimers, who falfly reprefent them as permanent planSj, devifed with the malignant dehgn of enfiaving the country. It ought alfo to be remembered, that the direft tax was always ureed as a favourite meafure, bv the anti-fed- eralills. It was reluftantly reforted to by the federal- iils ; yet, no fooner had they commenced the fyflem than they were expofed to the mod virulent deciama- tion and abufe for that very meafute which thefe anti- federaliils had frequently advifed, and that too with warm expreffions of approbation. Farther — thefe obnoxious meafures, the ftanding ar- my and dire6l tax, were, in fact, the means of preferving the country from the expenfes and diftreffes of aftual war. The fpirit'and energy fhown both by the govern- ment and people alarmed the French Rulers, and produced thofe overtures, which terminated in the ad- juflment of our differences. The lallt meafure of the Federal adminiftifation,which has been the fruitful fource of abufe and mif- repreffcntation, was the Sedition Aft. This has been decried as an engine of tyranny and as a deadly blow, aimed at the liberties of the people ; when, in faB, it was an amelioration of the common law in favor of the peo- ple, and one of the molt honourable tributes any gov- ernments could pay to the independence of the prefs. By the common law, a libel is not the lefs fo for being true. By it a defendant could not give the truth in 15 evidence as it is no juftificatioH. In amelioration of this principle it was declared by the (edition atl, which created no new offence, that the truth fiould be given in evidence^ and jhould he a Jiifficient jujiif cation. During its operation, a man was retrained from pubiilhing noth- ing, except falHioods. The democrats, (ince they have been in power, have, exiiltingly, fuffered that law to expire. The rigors of the common Jaw arc therefore reiurnedj and now a man, at his peril, publiflies truth, not lefs than fallhoods. The conlequcnce has been as the Fedcralifts prcdided, the rigors of the common law have been enforced ; and that too on an inditiment for a libel on Mr. Jefferfon. In the itate of New York, Mr. Croffwell, being thus indided offered, to give the truth in evidence, but was denied the privilege by the. Court, upon the principle, that the Sedition law was repealed, and that they had no other rule for decifion than the common law, which declares, that " the greater the truth, the greater is the libel." And our Prefident has undoubted luck in that repeal ; for, perhaps, there cannot be greater libels invented than some truths told OF Mr. Jefferson ! ! ! But the federalifts, while in power, not only main- tained national faith, honour and independence, but — Third. They organized the adminiltration in all its parts ; and that too, fo perfetlly that, although their word enemies have been ,now four years, in polfeffion of power, they have found nothing in the general organiza- tion of their fyftem to alter, fcarcely any thing, which' "" they have even pretended to improve. This is a great honor to the Federal adminiftration. Except in thofe particulars, which they were obliged to deflroy, as a facrifice to their own party and by way of juftihcation for the clamour, they had raifed, all arc fuffered to re- main. Not even thofe i'alaries, againft which they lifted their voice as enormous and oppreffive, when adopted by Federalilts, have they, in a (ingle inltance, r^uccd, now they have fallen into the hands of the(<; patriots, .dilinterefled as they pretended to be ; on the contrary 16 thofe which exifted, when they came into power, remain^ and thuie which had expired, they have re-enatted. On all theie accounts, therefore, am I a Federalift. This party formed the conftitution, organized the ad- miniftration, preferved peace at home and refpeftability abroad, nnder circumflances the moft adverfe, in direct oppofition to the attempts of a powerful foreign nation, aided by, and co-operating with, a moft virulent domef* tic faction. They have gone from office, with pure hands, with reputations iinfuUied, notwithltandino their con- diici has been fearched with whatever keennefs, maligni- ty and part)- fp-irit could command. Among the moft conipicuous of them are HamiUon, Pickering, Wolcot, Stoddart. Each of thefe have held oflices of great pe- cuniary trnlL Each has retired to private life, in a litua- t'on, but one remove from poverty. Each has been obliged to refort for a livelihood to a profefhon. The irrft to tl.e bar — the fecond to his farm, and the two laft to commerce. All thefe fatls- denote not only high talents, but alfo fingular integrity — rare patriotifm, and contain the dif- tinguifhing traits of greatnefs and public virtue. For tpx'fe reafons I rejoice in ranking myfelf among their friends and followers ;amon[i the men called Federalifto. Why JJjall you vote for Governor Strong ? First — Becaafe he has been long in the chair, has ap- proved hi mfelf faithful to the true interests of the peo- ple ; and under his- administration great profperity has been attained by us. Thofe, who would induce us to turn out a tried magiftrate, an old fervant, ought to produce found reafons for it. Removal from oflice is the puniihment of bad rulers. A people, therefore, who mete this meafure to the good, destroy the in- ducements to virtuous conductjby withholding from it their countenance, and encoura2:e the vicious and am- bitious, by thus confounding the nature of revv-ard and making the fame event refuit to the wicked and to the vv'orthy. Now what reafons are given for this 17 change, which men, calling themfeJves republicans, re« commend. Do they lay any crime to his charge ? No. It has not been in the power of the most virulent par- ty fpirit, with all its malignity, to invent an offence. They do not pretend to imagine one. — What then ? Has he been guilty of an overlight, or any fmall fault, which, lefs than a crime yet indicates, indifcretion, or inattention to your intcrefts? Nothing of this has been fuggefted. On the contrary, it is a fubjecl of open cdmplaint, with his political enemies, that he is " arm- ed fo ftrong in honefty," that their attempts to calum- niate and decry him are vain and fruit lefs, not find- ing ground to reft upon. In a fervice of five years, they can find nothing to peck at ; nothing, which will bear the flimfy texture of a newfpaper llander. Is he then denied talents ? His worft enemies allow hina thefe. Ishedeftitute of moderation in his political te- nets ? On the contrary, moderation is one of his diftin- guifliing characleriftics. In vain have his adverfaries lifted his private character, or his public conduct ; they find but one fin at his dooi*. This is, indeed, in their efti- mation,a great one. It is the fin of — Federalifm. The fin of — having been the friend of Wafliington — his fupporter and advocate ; againft the very men, who now call themfelves Republicans, who w^ere once def- tinguifhed as Anti-federalifts, and who were, in 1795 and 1796, not lefs violent in their clamours againft Wafliington, than they are, at this day, againft Strong. Let any man read over the preceding pages, in anfwer to the queftion, why are you a Federalift ? and if on this account Governor Strong is dif-entitled to the fupport of the true lovers of their country, let him ' be ejected from the high office he holds. But the fe- cretof the animofity of his political adverfaries is not, in truth, fo much his ancient federalifm, as his prefcnt confiftency. If Strong could turn and twift after popularity ; if now the wind of favor blows from the Virginia ftiore, he could fpread his fail, and foro-etin? the interefts of New-England, give fuch a diredion tg C our flate as Mr. Jefferfon fancies, then all, in the eftima- tson of our exclufive patriots, would be well. This is in. fact his crime — this his. offence. That charming ver- fatility, which diilinguiflies Mr. Sullivan, his rival, is none of his. Like him, he cannot be federalift, or democrat, or jacobin, or republican, according to the ever varying breath of popular humour. Strong has always been the fame, firm, conliftent federal republi- can, and fiich will forever remain, whatever the mista- ken opinions of the moment may dictate ; whatever fate, the unthinking, the difcontented, and the ambi* tious, may, on this account, award him. It is not thus with Mr. SuUivan. His want of confiflency is proverbial. In 1788, half federalist, half anti-federal- ist, with fenfe enough not to offend either fide, with cunning enough not to commit himfelf on either- — In 1794, jacobin for a week, and as fuch joining their fociety; then erafmg his name from their records, and forfwearing their connexion. Always a weather-cock, in politics, turning with every current, and veering after the opinions of every man, with whom he hap- pened to fall in company. Aflc his fupporters if they confide in him. If honed, they will confefs their dif- truft, and plead necelTity in their excufe. He is the «inly man. they will fay, who can command a majority in the diflrid of Maine. This is his title. He alone can effect a revolution in the Commonwealth. This is his merit. For this reafon they forego their enmity. For this, many of his own party, who hold him in great contempt, not to fay deteftation, are dragged on, reludantly, to vote for him. Do you want, feUow-ci- tizens, any evidence of this fact? In the year 17973 Sumner and Sullivan were the candidates for the Go- vernor's chair, and although every exertion was made to fecure his election, ^uliivan obtained, in the great town of Bofton, tweniyfeven 'uotes only. Again, itill more lately, on the 4th of July 1803, at a feaftin hon- or of that anniverfary, Charles Jarvis being Prefident, Ruffel Sturgis, Benjamin Auftin, jun. and Nathaniel 19 Fellows, thofe rare republicans, being Vice-Prefidents, the followino; toaft was drank, amidft reiterated ap- plaufes. '' The Orator of the day — the degenerate plant of a STRANGE VINE." Now mark, my fcllow-cirizens, William Sullivan was the orator of the day, and this ftrange vine is none other than — the Hon. James Sul« livan. And truly very appropriate was this type of the would be Governor of Maffachufetts. For he has lit- tle root in principle, and is very wide fpread on the furface, fhooting his twilling and afpiring top, on eve- ry fide , to find props for his ambition and holds, by which he may climb. Charges of a dark, and doubt- ful nature reft on his charadter. And thefe are not confined either in their origin, or credit, to his politi- cal adverfiiries. Surely, in a virtuous community, fuch a man ought forever to be excluded from all chance of fuccefs, when he is oppofed to fuch a rival as Strong. One on whofe character calumny has not fixed a ftain; — in which party fpirit does not pretend to find a flaw. Againft whom malignity has nothing to object, except that as the friend ot Wafliington, he cannot give pub- lic teftimony in favor v)f our national adminiftration ; conducted by a man the known perfonal enemy of the fainted hero of Mount Vernon, and the principles of which are in direct oppofition to all thofe men and meafures, to v/hich that great man lent his name and his fupport. On this account therefore, that Strong has already conducted the government of this country, fafely and profperoufly, I feel it my duty to give him my vote. Can wc expect to enjoy, under the adminiftration of any man, more than we have already, and do now en- joy under Governor Strong ? Is it pofiible that wc can be more fafe, or more happy, or more free ? Is it not very foolifti and abfurd for a people, who have ob- tained a good and faithful fervant to change him, and that too, without a fault lain to his charf;e .? But I liold it alfo, in a certain fenfe wicked and immoral. 20 He, who at the public call foregoes his private eafe, and fubmits to the labours and obloquy of office, and executes his high truft, with honour and fidelity, has; in my opinion, a fort of right to that countenance; which re-election exprefles. Otherwife, as the people have no other way of expreffing their approbation of good and their difapprobation of bad magiftrates, they confound the one with the other ; to the utter difcour- agement of the former, and to the no lefs comfort and confolation of the latter. And I take it to be the or- dinary way, in the moral government of providence, to punidi a people for their abufe of virtuous rulersj by turning them over to be fcourged, by thofe, who are vicious ; and who are burning with an unholy am- bition and thirft for power. Another reafon, that I have, in favour of Governor Strong, is, that having had frequent occafions of mark- ing his condudjin private life, iie is,in my opinion, the trueft fample of real republicanifm, that I have ever known, or could imagine. I have often feen and con- verfed with him ; and I only wifh, my fellow citizens, that every one of you had been favored with the like opportunity. I would willi no better aifurance of the cordial and unanimous fupport of every good and virtuous citizen. I know not how to exprefs myfelf, on this fubjedt, but if a humble, modeft, intelligent deportment, abounding with unoftentatious, good-^ nefs, kind manners, and a countenance, and conduct the moft benevolent and attractive— if to thefe the ad* dition in private life, of exemplary piety, and of the exeicife of all the focial and domeftic virtues, intitle a man to confidence and refped, — Governor Strong eannot but be re-ele<5ted. I know it has been fud,t!iat Gov. Strong is too fru- gal. That he rides down to Bofton, in the ftage, or in a fuike)-. That he does nor dine the members of the General Court, in Bofton, as often as Gov. Hancock did. And we are told that things will be mightily altered whe^ Judge Sullivan is in the chairj who lives in a great houfey 21 in the capital, and has already very frequently, and hy ivay of getting his hand in, entertained, -vay fplendidly, all the leading republicans of both branches ; and mpre* over, in order to (how his good difpo(itions,and to exem- plify, when he gets into the chdar.fcund rtpullican priw ciples, has, fince the lall eleftion, got a fuperb equipage, and put his fervants into new liveries, all in green, trim- Med, if I am not mifmfonned, with lace. Now I beg it may be underftood that I do' not mention this, by way of cbje6iion to Mr. Sullivan, becaufe, I believe, this vain, luxurious foppery makes a man, for governor, neither better, nor worfe ; but only becaufe, I confefs I do not fee the confillency of thefe democratic gentle- men, nor why, on thefe accounts, Judge Sullivan is a whit more a republican than the modeft, unalTumins', unoftentatious, Strong. " ' " I know that I may be in an error ; for I have obferv- ed that the fplrit of rcpublicanifm is often the mod vio- lent in men, who, in private life, are vain, proud, often- tatiouis ; tyrannical to inferiors and haughiy to equals. Such men, always believing, that having eilablifhed a fund of reputation, by their profeflions of regard for the people in general, they are at liberty, without dan- ger to their credit, of being as abufive, as they v^^ill, to every man of that people, individually. With refpetl to Gov. Strong's penurioufnefsjall,! fay. is,that — it isnot true. — -But, if it were, it is a flrange charge brought by a party, with whom, if wb believe them, economy is the firfl and lall of their political commandments ; — on. which hang all their law and prophets. But there is another reaCon, in my mind, which amply juftifies Gov. Strong, although it may not, in the eyes of others ; which is, that he has a number of children and a mod- erate fortune ; there being, I am well afTured, many farmers in this country, whofc eftates arc worth, by much, more than all Gov. Strong poffeir^ es. Now I have no idea that the people expeft a gov- ernour, not only to devote to them his whole talents and time, but to ruin himfclf and children into the bargain ; 22 particularly when the expenfes required are to no better purpofe than feafling the members of the General Court and making republicans ride, aping the vanities of roy- alty. Such are my reafons my fellow citizens for prefer- ring Strong to Sullivan. They are public reafons, grounded on no perfonal partialities, on no private an- imofities. I cheerfully fubmit to your confideration and judgment, their truth and foundnefs. The crifis now depending is great, and the confequences of a re- volution in this powerful (late are incalculable. May you be guided in your choice, in fuch a manner, as that you may have no reafon of lelf condemnation, in cafe yournegleft, or your verfatility, fhould, by encouraging the advocates of change, introduce a ftate of things, to- tally repugnant to that profperous courfe, in which our affairs have been hitherto conducted. The profpetis of fuccefs are not fo bright on the fide of our pretended Republicans as they boaft. If Federaliits are true to themfelves, and their caufe, there can be no doubt that the triumphs of principle will be repeated. Let them onlylayalide every weightandthat finof indoIence,which foeahly belets them, and they will again feat in the chief offices of flate, Strong and his affociates — the friends of Wafhington — the friends of Adams, and the authors and the fupporters of all thofe meafiires, which gave the United States, a refpedable name and an exalted ranl^ among the nations of the earth. D *■ 18 1 •• o <^ b V .^■" A "s^> -^^^ ./ \ J ■,'■- ■' ''^ -,* ». sv!'^'^-^' J" ^^° .^^^ '-^'^ "^^^ ^•^'^ "* .^^^ „.:<^v. V„/ -'^m^. "-„.*■* -v^-- %../ "^0^ h* o. .»' 1 «^ "^^ °o .'^^ ■^fl -K He J DOBBS BROS. 7* LIBRARY BINDING • ST. AUGUSTINE ^"^ - ,^-Jl^ 1 ^ •? \\ « • • i">' ^' JM^ iT-mf^^'dmrnrnmBmi^