The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-11-14


every future emergency.
The persons thus enlisted at the proper time,
nee, in different places, either publicly OF pri-
valely, according as they find the popular pulse
beats !; electors are chosen TO meet In conven
lion for the appointment c. candidate; or
sometimes these electors 60 self constituted,
knowing their membership will be acknowl
edged by The honorable committee oi elections.
The candidate is OF course appointed, an6
there appears notice IN the public Papers,
something like the following. perhaps: AT .
large and respectable meeting OF delegates,
| from most OF the various owns in the district,
j, was unanimously agreed, thstwe use all
honorable means 10 iIl.ure the election OF The
Hon. -, as representative 10 The - Con-
gress Of the United States. THIS IS perhaps
the first inlmat'on, that more than one in TWEEN
ty OF the whole number Of voters in the Dis
trlc,, has OF the proceedings A candidate is
imposed Oh the people, and the most un,vorthy
person loaded with hpnors and seat 10 Con-
gress. And now let US enquire what we are
10 think of these conventions are they not
gross imposition upon honest people, The
people may, it IS true, be stirred up 10 resent
the Indgnlty, and not five in town thus
respectfully represented, vote with their cleo.
tors.
1t sometimes may happen, Mat another in
divlduai has IN The mean time been playing
the same part, another Convention is holden
nearly at the same time with Tue former, both
exciting mutual surprise, and second notice
similar 10 the FIRST is given TO the public. And
then comes the extatlc tIisl. Letters are sent
Post Free and couchee N the most friendly,
aud ha,tering terms TO the most Indifferent
Characters circulars are written probably by
the candidate himself, i. he happen to be ca
pabe OF doing It aud printed a, his own ex-
pence ; IN addition TO the agents first cngag.
ed and others SINCE enlisted, who are cons. ant
~ employed IN this work. Runners are hired
to scour every town aud ne shbourhood, to
'eleclioneer, distribute their circulars, aud en-
gage voters by every argument OF lave. freud
shp-money and rum. If The popularity OF
young Newspaper be not fully established and
The suihciency OF its support remains doubtful,
the editor may be tempted 10 disregard the
promises be made 10 the public IN his Pros
peei,is aud has often repeated, hire hlGseli 10
one party on condition OF bas,ng fvo new
slgners Tor every one he loses by thus forfeit,
Ing bis word aud supporting the cause 81 cor.
ruption his Pres, then teens with Lie mosi
fuisoue fiaitery and the most abusive scurriily,
and grosns from the ie menlallon OF lheStalse-
hoods It Is perpe'ually dsgolging. Tho at
such tiuie, the tive leaders would probably
be their principal objects of attack, ye, II Is
possible Tie par,Isans OF each might occasion
ally tall upon each oiher. aud mutually fling
chs'ges IA protusion upon their reputation
nothing that could sting would be withheld. |
All are engaged in the heat OF The political
Conflict, but the honest hearted, sober minded,
moral man, who mingics aot 10 the scenes OF /
deprav'iy, or acts only upon the principle OF
choosing the leas, OF two necessary evils. Ii
those VINO are disguised a, such vile practices
nave selected Candidate upon whose s,ric,
integrity and purity OF motive no suspicion
rests, he receives the most shameful abuse,
that pretended friendship and disguised cnm,-
~ can diyse and ii his name by means Of
some dress has found its way to the public,
tired OF being tanialized and insulted, be leaves
the field to the others.
We have often been tald Of the corruption
practieed at the popular elections in England,
aud been disguised at the scsndalous behav.
Jour ofsome Southern genlemen; bot our pre-
jndicles against them would probably be in
some degree abated OF diverted, did we know
thai Tue foregoing supPosiiions are no IRE
than fair description o. facts that have lately
occurred in ooe Of the Congressional districts
of Maize.
Now we have the mos, powerful reasons for
condemhins such conduct. How many on
such occasions give up themselves 10 be i'm
PEELED by the fiery zeal of their friends, or sac
rliice their opinions to views Of interest, and
act parts altogether inconsIsten, with their for.
rer professions how many friends are part
ed and enemies created how many falshoods
are circulated aud injuries done to private
character. and how much does immoraify
gain ground and public and private virtue
lose The question as to the p.opriely OF
such proceedings, ress!ses itself into this ::
Shall. or sha! ooI, all our public Offices be ill
ed With corrupt unprscipIed men?
Should the course. which public morals have
taken, be Inverted, aud QUE. country return
gradually To that stale of strict virtue and in.
teg'iy, from which il has long been degener-
a,ing, those individuals. who now aspire to
some OF the highto; offices, would send tseir
names down TO pcsterity, associated with eve.
cry idea on which perpetual contempt fas,ens
itself. PHOCiON.