The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-09-07
mo. S..

He ,ates that Fletcher provides well for
ms family, aud is Il good husband and ia
ther; and also that lie considered hum at
tached to tie Constitution of (he u s.
ms latter article is probably the great sin
which has brought upon him the full weight
OF federal persecution. Had he been attach
led to the British Constitution, and a reyi.
Ter OF our own. he would have stood high in
! the estimation OF these men. Messrs Jeh,k
Smith, Charles Smith, Johh Lassell, Caleb
Allen, John Merr,, Fenner Angel William
Clarke, John Smith. I'd. Eleszer Whipple,
Pardon Hawkins. Samuel Ogden, Job An.
geil.Jr. Daniel Brayton. James M Olnev,
John Newell. and Francis Newell. inha5i.
tants OF Providence, have also testif,d that
Mr. Fletcher was an industrious, psaCea-
bic, quiet citizen; that they had never
seen. nor heard of any disturbance or spute
III ms family but on the contrary there al
ways appeared mutual fondness and good
understanding that in their option, he is
useful manufacturer, and does comuauI
more ready money for his lab ihcn anu
one mcn IN me fo7vn, or herhahs tie Safe.
nat he does not make use ofhouI or p,oiane
language, but they have often heard lin
check tr:"ee who do that they do not be-
ieve him tobe riotous or disordery per.
son ncr that he is likely 10 become chang
able to TINS or any other town. That in his
intercourse with them. they have always
found him honorable and lust ia his dealings
and prompt IN his payments and they be-
lle'e him to be an honest man. These are
the very words bearing the above mentioned
signatures Other inhabitants of Providence
nave also 'es he'd to his Correct and or.
Derry COZ duct.
Inc charge OF his being disorder'v per-
son, probably arose from he follow ng cir.
rmstsnces.-Mr. F. sometime ago was
committed % Bride well by Wheeler M 4rtin.
against every principle of rieht or sw, tor
talking loud to man IN the mar ket, whom he
suppoa ed cheated his child out OF nall sum
OF money. For this preceding If Martin.
Fletcher had threatened to prosecute him.
On the July last, Fetcher was talk ne.
ABOUT his imprisonment IN the Bastile Gas
hetermed l. ard made manv observations
on the federal party, in trent of Mr. Aborn's
house Mr.. Aborn ordered him awav. -.
Fletcher disputed his "uthority. alledg q
that 1t was the comno highway, and h !, d
a right 10 stand there Mr.. .d6orn Them
fnShcd ana Kicked MIN, and File cher in re-
! turn gave Ab"rn blow which ocked INN
down. MIR. Aborn is the brother IN / w az
Richard jackson, jr the federal carf.5ate
Tor representative to Congress, a7d al IF
the Council Clerk. The Council liy;k
mas declared that Il was not tor ibis last act
that he was proceeded against It WAS i'm
rsediateiy alter this transaction, however,
that the Ovcrseer madc his complaint, il.
which Fletcher is sad to be, according 10
nyormafton' turbulent and quarrelsome.
| and Mr.. Aborn was examined bt lore the.
Council, and confessed he was the first thar
used violence. THIS however is not stated
| on the records of the Councils
| Mr.. r. being man of open disposition
woald often speak his mind upon pubic af..
ialrs. THIS was offensive TO the fedora
lists Chose order loving souis) who had lore.
been seeking To breach quarrel, that they
might have pretence for laying hands upon
| MN. he has always conducted like a good
citizen, and no charge was ever exhibited
| against him for breach of any social or mo-
raj duty. We would ask these "fcderoiisis"
whether IT IL Mt palpaibe violation of
| ne Constitution to take a C'izen & nublickly
whip him svjthout a fuir lriaLby iurU? lis
| 1t ~ not, they may by the same rule hang a.
person without trial If the case had been
reversed we should never nave heacd the
last of the 'Jacobinicai PROCEEDING" But
Perha ps federalists III this par, of the coun
| Try think they have an exclusive right 10
domneer over the Constitution, and 10 SHeoe
ana TvhH whom they please, not only With.
| our Er1aI but without Ctiminality! But, it
| VII be said by many, that Mr. fletcher
must have done soma hing amiss, u he wound
| Hot have been treated in SO barbarous man
her Yes he has spoken lCujlv in behalf
~ VIC present administration OF he United
| states and that is treason and seditjon eg jass
he would he great and mighty men II Pro
| 'ldence, and by no means to be tolerated Z
ouch proceedings although they may be de-
tended by a few of the warmest party men.
cannot tail to make deep impression m
on the cons herate Ofall parties. THY
would not be tolerate in England. even a.
Salhst an individual who had become cbnox-
ious to government, but the whole commu-
nifty would consider their rights and privile..
ges asSailed. And shall AN American citi--
Zen, because he may have become obpoSi
Gus to a few individuals in town, be fined
without law, without trial. upon the mere
suggestion ut an overseer, and whipped for
refusing 10 pay it And will the commu
unity look on and see without emotion every
thing that is sacred IN principle and in W
thus prostra ed and sacrificed at the shrine
lofpartys Ii SO, let resign all pretensions
to freedom, and submit ourselves 30 he
yoke OF one tyrant, who or he privilege of
Ityrtanzng over US himself will protect us
against those numerous petty tyraus whose
ptitui malice nothing is too insigu ficant to
escape.
We understand that Mr.. Fletcher has
fled an action IN The Distinct Court of he u.
, ateS neXtto be holden At Newport i'm DC
lt"Jer ensuing, against the Town Council of
Providence, for this UMPIRE &c deuted outrage
and 1t IS expected that he will recover hea