Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1806-04-21
THE .ARGUS.

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The Editor considers himself alone
accountable 70 the public iorany mis-
take Of mCorrectness that may appear
g in the Argus, and wishes not that tie.
character Of any private citizen tc
stigmatized with false insinuatons.
on lis account"
Whoever was the author Of the "
bove,we would request the Editor ofthe
Argus, as he considers Z" himself alone
accountable" TO explain what he means
BY L" false in<inuations," for we are ur-
able TO discover how the CHARGE can H.
ply to any observation in the last c.
zette, not even with the aid Of bein.,
" college learnt" which this hopeful
bantling of democracy thinks is term
Of great reproach. Was ita "false IL
sir alton" Il state, that, in the Argus of
the llth inst. il was represented, that
in the towns from which returns had
been received, Mr.. Sullivan had q grea-
ter number Of votes than MIR. Strong?
but We then supposed tie error Of O.
mitting 1000 votes in favor Of Mr.
Suong was uninttnuonal for the de-
deception, ifinteEded, was too barefa-
ced TO gull even democrats.-But marx
the conduct of this biAIngSgate-learnt
editor, who affects to be 50 tender Of
the reputation Of his eagle eyed as
sistants-Instead Of CORE citing his false
statements IN his next paper, he in
most wanton manncItattscks thefeelings
and integrity Of our best citizens, with
base and wicked intent to niure there
putation Of Gentleman whose public
and private conduct, all parties ac-
knowledge TO be governed by the prin-
ciples of honour and honesty. In the
Argus Of Friday last Is TIE following
paragraph.
Qur7y... Was il an " unintentionaI
error" in college learnt Selectman
"of this town, when he put down So
less than the real number, after ad-
ding up the votes oftwo Republican
Candidates, at the last election or
was it not the eagle-eye Of mechan-
ic, which made him honest Such
a mistake might have been attended
with serious consequence"
The Selectman alluded to, in the
above extract from the last Argus,states
these following facts, to show to thepub-
lie, what regard is due to an insinuation
affecting the ho7acsfy and Iateg17fy of
character, which to his knowledge was
never before impeached.
The votes, in the late Election for
Governor &c. which fell to his lot to
count, were, after being twice counted,
set down in figures on piece Of paper
III their propsr place, together with the
votes counted BY the Selectman sitting
next TO him-the votes for the sever
al candidates were then added up
Not content with this,the several figures
were examined for the greater caution
second time, when it appeared that So
votes had not been put to their proper
account--whiCh mistake was occasion
ed by their not being SO conspicuous on
his paper as the other votes, but IN a
second examination they were discoy-
cred BY the SeleCtman, alluded to, and
placed to their proper account by- him,
ard this was done without any hint OF
information TO his knowledge, from
any "eagle eyed " mechanic or any O.
ther reShectQ5Le source whatever.
The public from this viii Judge
whether the Selectman alluded to needs
a Guardian to Keep him honest, O.
whether there is more malice conveyed
in the piece alluded to, towards an hen
est man than is iustifable even Oh cleo
tioneering principles.
The above statement will Be tested
by the solemn declaration Of the Sc
/ leCtman referred to and whatever dis
coveries or observations the Argus
eagle eyed mechanic II may have
made, they were unknown 10 the col
lege learnt " selectnan. This viii be
confirmed by the evidence Of several
gentleme present, whose reputation tor
vcrasity no eagle eyed" mechan-
ic, blllingsgate editor, OF abandoned de-
mOCr-t, darc impcaCh 70 -h1ir face.
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