The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-02-20
MASSACHUSETTS ELECTION.
TO the People Of Massachusetts.
FELLOW CITIZENS


the Commonwealth, committee was
appointed to wait on the individuals who
now fill the Offices of GOVERNOR and
Lieutenant-G and after a ru-
mour which had gone abroad, of their
intention to DECLINE being candidates for
a re-eiection, TO express to them the u
unanimous opinion of the meeting, that
the harmony and prosperity Of the State
would be greatly promoted by their con-
tinuing in the publick service; and an
earnest request that they would consent
to be candidates for the same offices the
ensuing year---these gentlemen ga, e
a new proof of their preferring the pub
lick service to the qualification Of their
private inclinations, by yielding to re-
quest as sincere as it was disinterested
and universal, and allowing themselves
to be proposed as candidates for re-elec-
ton. On this event we heartily con-
graduate you.
In the present period of progressive
prosperity, in the extinction of party as
perity and political excitement, with
full knowledge of the characters of
these distinguished men who have. serv-
ed you SO honourably and so faithfully,
we have no prominent tepicks to enlarge
upon; and cur duty would be fulfilled in
asking you again TO give your votes to
those who have discharged every trust
that has been committed to them with
ability and fidelity.
Yet though they are not new and un-
tried characters whom we propose for
your suffrages though the period is for
tunately free from those great events,
which create intense anxiety for their
result, and by their dazzling influence
often bewilder those on whose interests
they operate though the condition of
the community is one of quiet and grad
Nal mprovement--still the administration
of government demands intelligence,
prudence, integrity, and watchfnlness,
in those who t'ke care of the publick
veal. We may ask then with unbesi-
tating confidence, Who has observed any
deficiency OF these qualities in your FIRST
and second Magistrates Is there any
act of persecution or intolerance that
can be laid TO their charge? Has any
Partially or favouritism degraded their
administration (? Has any violation of de-
corum or official dignity disgraced their
station Can it be found that they have
in the slightest degree perverted their
Office to the promotion of selfish, pPi-
vate views? Have they, by their neg
iect, ever delayed The pubick service !?
Have they, by their weakness, ever i'm
peded the course of justice We. Feel
assured that.all these questions must be
answered inthe negative. How fortunate
IS the Let Of that people whe are ruled
by such Magistrates
In our GOVERNOR we can shew to the
world citizen who was distinguished in
that anxious period which "tried mems
souls ;''-one who early staked fortune,
life and fame, in the cause of his coun-
try; who, with heroick personal gal
lantry, led his brave regiment to the as
sault at the battle of Saratoga, and, by
his skill and bravery, contributed most
essentially to the result of that momen-
tous conflict which nearly decided, in
hesopinion of Europe as well as of this
country, the ultimate fate Of the Ameri-
can Revolution. We can hold up in him
a man who, in his long career, has always
conducted in all the relations of private
and publick life with the most manly up
fightness. Time, which is every day
discovering the beReiicent consequences
of former patriotism, is daily Diminishing
the number of those who secured to you
the inestimable advantages you now en-
Joy. Let as, while the fleeing opporfii-
nifty remains, testify our gratitude to
those who must soon be removed be-
yond thereach of our feeble rewards.
In our Lieutenant-GoVernour we pre-
sent you man whose life is unostenta-
tiously filed with good deeds "a man
who POSSESSES sound judgment without
ambitious views; one whom Proyi-
dence, for the good of his fellow-citizens,
has blessed with generous heart and
an ample fortune ga man Of pure piety,
tolerant views, and undertaking pI;nci-
pies IA Christian, with whom abideth
faith, hope, and charity and who never
forgets that the greatest Of these is char
ity.
If then, fellow-citizens, you have a
respect for tried patriotism, spotless In
tcgrity, long experience, and genuine
beneiicence if you value moderation,
d;e;nte resf esfness ffdplify. and renuhlican