Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1808-10-24
FOR THE GAZETTE.
To the Electors Of York District.
FELLow-CITIZENS,

FELLow-CITIZENS,
THE freedom Of election was ever
dear to Americans-why is it viewed
with indifference and treated with neg
lect Is it because the system Of tyran-
ny is 50 completely organised, that the
exercise of this last right of free peo-
pie seems Of doubtful effect? Every
deception is practised, every coercive
step resorted TO, every delusive hope
exhibited, and every unfounGed alarm
excited, to induce, urge, bribe or fright
en- the people to abandon their rights
Monarchy approaches them under the
gafb of republicanism, and they are ig-
norant of the delusion, until they are
caught in the embrace and the chain is
rlvited on their necks.
How can americans endure the sIa-
wish doctrine that their representatives
have right to meet and resolve that
James Madison ought to be President of
the United States? And how much
more Infamous the conduct when this
national Caucus proceed to appoint
Committees in every section of the
Union to ensure the election of Mr..
Madison and a Congress devoted to his
wishes I? While the agents ofthe Cab
met are on The one hand using every ex-
ertlon to secure this election, they are,
on the other, active and vigilent to OPP
pose, scandalise and denounce every in
dependent elector.
If the Legislature Of Massachusetts,
exercise constitutional right in tre-
Scrf6tHg the mode of choosing electors
OF President, they are abused because
the Governor is prevented from inter-
posing ms negative. But the constitu-
ton contemplated case when Pres
tdent, with the erecutfUes of the States
devoted to his wishes might secure his
election for life and wisely guarded
against this engine of power and OPP
preston And it is hoped that as long
as single vestige of liberty shall re-
main In these States, the people will
never see a State Governor constitutions
ally tnternleddhng in The choice Of Pres
'dent. 1t might be pleasure to Mr..
SuLhUan to prevent the voice of the res
pectable citizens Of Massachusetts being
heard in the election, because the heo-
mes President might not suit His En-
celency- But 1t was the pleasure of the
PEOPLE in forming their constitu-
tlon, to shut out executive influence al
together. Mr.. SUiliUan and his friends,
therefore, may be at rest on this sub
Ject ;-the people will have this conso-
lation, that the Cabinet cannot make use
OF the State G9UernerS to influence the
Presidential election, until another al
iteration or UioLation of the Constitution.
AT any other period since the revo-
luton, these scahdalous encroachments
on their liberties, would have excited
the peoples resel tment to phrenzy.-
An odious system of secrecy in the Cab
met, colnfendnced by the representa-
tlves-a partial distribution of Offices on
prohigate and unplincipled favorites-
commitment Of the collection or GUS
tody of public monies to persons of no
character or responsibilities wicked
and unnatural attachment to foreign
despot, and destruction Of CONNER
cial privileges. The interposition Of
the executive 10 pollute the temple Of
justice-his censufe of the Judge for
daring 10 refuse to sacrifice a victim
marked out by executive jealousy-his
substituting military iazv to screen ia
vourite involved in the same suspicious,
IN better times would have reused ma
ton to arms. But these are inferior
grievances, when compared with the
daring attacks'on the freedom of cleo.
ion. Corrupt the elections and you
infuse fatal poison into the vitals of
the Republic. The privations and op-
pressions we suffer as individuals, and
the inlamy and contempt attached to us
as Nation may be fairly traced to this
source. We are, it is feared, progress