The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-10-31
For the SpY.l
Misrepresentation erposcd.

Messrs. Prnters--We were among the citi-
zens assembled at the Publick Meeting, at
which the address Published in your paper of
the 18th ult. was unanimously and heartily
agreed to. 1t met with our appreciation, be-
cause it was such fair, unassuming and tenn
perate examination of the two main objections
urged against the reelection of the present
Register, and because it abstained so entirely
from even the least degree Of reproach towards
the candidate who is set up in opposition to
his reelection. You may conjecture, then,
our surprise at the violent philippick against
he Address, which appeared in your last, I'M
der the incongruous name of 6 Fair Play,'' and
at the passionate and indecent abuse which it
50 unsparingly pours upon the respectable gen
tlemen who reported the Address, and upon
the whole collection of citizens who adopted
it The writer of that article must either have
been deranged, or so agitated by the workings
of an embittered spirit, as not only to blind his
PERCEPTION, but to confuse and bevildef his
memory. Mr.. Ward must regret Gas we know
his more discreet partizans do) this intempe-
rate and abusive attack upon citizens for exer-
cising their accustomed rights.
There are in this singular production so ma
ny perversions OF truth, so many statements
not only variant from but opposed to facts, that
it is hardly possible completely to answer it
without taking it li,ae By line. But notwith-
standing the citizens present at the publick
meeting before alluded to, may well claim,
individually and collectively, ample opportu-
nifty to refute the representations which
have gone forth from your press, yet we are
not disposed unnecessarily to occupy the coll
umns of your paper.
We pass by the unbecomins suggestion, that
citizens who had assembled in pubic1 meet
ing, convened by publick notice, were C drum
med up and hauled in !" and leave this spe,i-
men OF the temper and feelings of the enemies
of DIR. Fiske for the comment of the good peo-
pie of the County. We omit, also, to notice
the charge of Improperly of conduct, made
against the individuals who reported the Adj
dress, who are so cvilly spoken Of as datpes-
not doubling that this specimen of fair play''
has excited in the breast of every decent man
the Indignation it has provoked. Our purpose
is only to expose the misrepresentation in re-
la,ion to the .4ddress, for which, as individuals
of the meeting which sanctioned it, we are
partly responsible.
In the article under examination the follow
ing assertions are made =
or /. The Address attempts 10 Mroac upon
Mr.. Ward all the faults to which DR.. Fiske
has ple2ded guilty.
OT- 2. The Address begins with deception.
a. 3. The Address does not deny the
charge of taking excessive fees, but attempts 10
paliiate The offence ty in,puting all The blan,e 10
Mr.. Ward, in the same manner that DR.. Fiske
does in his letter published March 18th.
Now, Messrs. Printers, having INDUCED the
writer of s Fair Play" in making these asser-
tons, you will indulge us in saying that every
one of them is both literally and substantially
devoid Of truth, as we intend briefly as possible
to make appear.
| As to the first assertion-We have vet to
learn to 6 ,rhc faults Doct. Fiske has plead
| ell guilty" But, however many they might
| be, the assertion is wholly unwarranted, be-
| cause no fault achuterer is attempted to be
thrown upon Mr.. Ward'' by the Address,
! The object of the Address was to show that
| no fault was attributable to the Register, and
| particularly in relation to fees. How was
| this done By adverting to the nature of the
| mistakes which had been made on the subject,
and the liability Of people to misapprehend
it, and by adducing the testimony of Mr..
I Ward who has the best means of knowledge
on the subject, and whose veracity would not
| be questioned. In no other respect as there
eren an allGsion 10 the character or conduct of
mr.. Hard. Pray, then, what fault was at
tributed to him Does the Address impute it
to him as a fault, and (more absurd still,) as a
s fault to which Dr. Fiske had pleaded gull
! ty," that he has borne testimony, repeatedly,
to DIR. Fishes fair and correct conduct in rea-
ton to fees So far from imputing DIR.
Fiske's faults' to Mr.. Ward, the Address
quotes the declarations of Mr.. Ward to show
that no fault is attributable to any person =
Why, Messrs. Printers, we cannot help sus-
pecting that your indulgence was, last week,
extended 10 man beside himself.
The second assertion is, that the Address be-
gins with deception, in purporting TO proceed
iyom a meeting Of citizens from oil parts Of the