Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1811-05-27

one Of the Srlectmen, Immediately anu
with great apparent warmth, declared
that he would not hear any mouoh
whateyer-that lie would not put any
yote-that he was determined to con.
duct the meeting 10 bis mind--and
that nothing should be said. FROM
this decree, this arbitrary and assumed
power, there was an gppeal 10 the Tree"
men. He would not allow them TO De
heard, nor to decide upon it; but d.
rected the freemen to bring IN their
votes for five Representatives.
A great Glamour now commenced i;
order was called for-none could be
had-and it seemed as though he wish
ed for none for the same Erench-man
continued calling" bring ID your votes
for five Representatives" and directed
the voters TO come up and hand IN their
votes and % pass OIL in q way and man
ner never before praCised, thereby
creating great and extraordinary contu-
sion, He in this situation commenced
receiving votes. From the democrat
ic voters lie would take votes from O.
theirs, whose politicks he did not like,
he would not receive votes and some
choice lads, who appeared 70 be station
ed at their posts to aid in the good
work, began to push and resist those
who were attempting to be heard or
put in their votes. This the lTeemen
could not bear to be deprived Of their
elective rights, and pushed and crowd
ed, assaulted and beaten, for attempting
Lawfully and righttully to exercise
them against the assumed authority OF
the Rehoboth Napoleon, was what A.
mericans could not submit 10. From
these acts Of violence, repeated and in
creased with threatening mallgnlty,
self defence became a duty, and the
freemen who were the immediate OBJ
jects oft, made stand they were at
tackled and they did defend
A scene ROW commenced which was
awful and alarming fears were excl
ted that 1t would evuntUate in The death
of some Of the citizens it however,
by the eXerions Of few subsidized be-
fore any were slain, though some were
badly wounded. On this occasion the
desperadOes of the democratic party ap-
peared armed with clubs, prepared tor
The occasion, and no doubt remains on
the mind Of multi.udrs that it was .
preconcer,ed plan.
Thus was the meeting conducted &C
COrdIng 10 Mr.. Hrench'a mind who
BIZ his conduct as dictator and tyiant,
induced and caused all this uprosr and
outrage. And, in the midst of this
scene of confusion, created by himself,
and while the federal republicans were
attempting 70 get il their votes, and re-
questlng for order or an adjournment
for short space Of time, but were de-
MED and refused in both having got,
say from 20 to 90 votes out Of 500 free
men, which It was presumed were
then attending, he declared himself and
his friends chosen, and that the meet
ing was dissolved and he togeth-
er with his brethren, left the house.
Previous TO the Selectmen going in
to the meeting house, a committee wal
ted on them to request that there might
be order and some arrangements made
which might prevent all confusion or
debate, So that fair and Just expires.
sion OF the voice OF the treemen mic nj
be accurately ascertained. This was
refused.
On this statement, comment IS use
! less. Let each citizen, who is possess.
cd ofany principle, honorable, moral,
: or religious, make his own comments.
, Let him pause and seriously consider.
under the awful responsibility Of he
fate oE himself, his family and his couo
try, what such measures must eyeniu-
ale IN. The question is now, shall We
be slaves OF shall we be freemen A
part OF the Bonapartean system IS IL.
troduced IN this our native Countrv-
IN this our boosted land of liberty; and
IS but a step behind the guillotine.-
May that ardour and love of liberty
which SO distinguished the patriots If
rs, be enkindied and flame In every
bosom and may it expire only with
the last SPAR ofour existence.
J $50 - s7z--
Gunboat No. ISL, cruiz;ng at the
Southwark, lately seeing ah armed