American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-10-01
FOR THE WA7cHMAN.
TO THE PUBLIC.
" whom Heaven means to destroy,
II first makes mad"

4 In our free and happy Republic, when man
offers himself as candidate for high and respon-
sble Office, and solics the patronage of the S0ue-
#yeigR people, place him in the station TO which
he sspircs it is the privilege of the eectors-it is
their duty to enquire, whether he is competent tol
j discharge the duties of the Office, and whether he
N will do honor to their choice ; and if there exists
q we'll grounded objections to the competency of al
n candidate, which are known to some members of
she community, and which may be unknown to ma
nv others, those who are in the possession of such
d Facts if they have any regard for he good COVER
" nance OF the state should make them known that
thereby the public may be enabled to Judge Of the
merits Of contending candidates, and be able to Sc
ect (Which is the sole object Of our system Of cleo
ons,) persons best calculated to discharge the du
81 ties which they have delegated to certain officers.
q Actuated by motives which l solemnly believed,
and still do believe to have been for the public good
Il ] ventured to address the people 10 the Waterman
Of the Oath inst. the subject OF the gubernatoral
election, and in answer to an attack made in the
\ Gazette of the 18th on a candidate who | know to
be worthy OF the support and confidence OF the peo-
ple | made known to them the reasons why l
thought Judge Booth no; entitled to their support,
and detailed some facts in proof Of my assertions );
which unorelcome truths it appears have sci in mo-
ton, host of vindictve partizans. who have bac-
kened the pages of thelast Delaware Gazette with
the illusions OF their mpotent rage. Falsehood has
there exhausted its utmost rancour, but the shafts
OF calumny can pierce the triple shield OF
truth Let the CALLED iades iCiRce, my witherS
are uR,Crung." The first charge that they bring
against Mr.. Hasle,t is that he did appoint when he
was Governor two extra Judges. What do they
mean by extra Judges? Does not the constitution
allow, land to allow is the TO require) four
judges to each Court Of Common Law? Is it not
common for four Judges to sit on the bench in ma
ny of the oil our sister States and also in En-
gland WHAT'S the additional expence ?-two thirds
81 the taxables in the state never pay one cent to-
wards it, and those that DO have not complained
Then why should this constitutional act be brought
forward eectioneering tale? Isl because they
have in fact nothing else to charge against Mr.
HssIett that is founded in truth?
They say "no man ought to be Governor OF a
state twice." We might Just as well say that no
man should be sent to Congress twice, or be ap-
PORTED Attorney General or Clerk of Court Tor
more than term.
They accuse Hasie.t Of Cowardice during the at
tack on Lewis; Infamous scribbler who doubtless
has taken safe measures to keep his name secret,
for fear OF reapng the reward which his outrageous
and slanderous conduct merits after endesvouring
vaniy endeavoring to wither the evergreen anrels
of the elder Haslett, proceeds thus: AS iregards
the son, who is the present candidate for Governor,
we can assert without fear of contradiction, that
there was scarcely officer soldier engaged in
the defence of Lewstown, during the late war, but
who believed him to be poltron and a coward.'
"We are assured that Mr.. Haslett did not visit
Lewistown for two weeks after the demand was
made for cattle by Beresford. He did not visit
f.ewistown during the bombardment which lasted
26 hours but remained at home," &c. &c. | will
not copy the balance Of this sentence which wears
on the face Of it such evident marks OF falsehood
and personal hatred as call for the execration Of
every man of sensbilIty, but proceed to reue that
which comes before. AS TO MIR. Hasett's cowar-
dice, the cowardly character who accuses him of it,
knows himself to the contrary. | am cIedbly IN
formed by gentleman who was on the spot that
Joseph Haslet was with the first troops that arrived
at Lewis, and evinced disposition TO be front o.
4 the front rank in defence of his country. 1t wa:
till the first alarm had subsidized and alter large
portion OF the forces had been discharged that tht
bombardment took place: at that time Governor
Haslett in attendance on the Legislature, which
he had called together, that they might make som'
permanent provision for the defence OF the Stale
This circumstance hope will satisfactorily accoun
Tor his being there during the time OF the lombard
ment.
Another OF the Gazette writer's who signs Justice
fellsus that thepeople called to with
out any ammunition, provisions, to stdrue to death
This assertion is known to be false by every one II
Sussex, and by many in Kent and New Castle. A
the arms and ammunition for twenty miles rcnn
were collected and sent 10 Lewis in few hours al
ter the demand was made by BeresioId; and thi
is the firs time that ever heard that there tn
least complaint for want of provisions
The Gazette writer's with one voice dsclaim pa
sriotism and appear rather inclined to think thu
The revolutionary deeds of Mr.. Hasleu's fathe
should operate as an argument against him, rathe
than for him! 1t is not wonderful 10 hear such ser
timents from such men, Do we not often see Their
select old Tory's to ill important stations to tn
exclusion of revolutionary heroes every way quail
fed? We have seen the of man who took u
arms against his country, and who would hay