The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1823-02-05
[For the Massaehtlsels Spa.1

in any Office Of honour or profit, in Gle Com
monwealth, it will generally be the case that
a number Of candidates will be thought Of to
supply it. II is not at all surprising, therefore,
that many persons should have been thought
of, for the Office OF Governour of the Common
wealth, in the room Of our present Chief Mag-
istrate, who has declined a reelection. The
people at large, there can be no doubt, would
cordially unite in giving their suffrages for the
man best qualified for the Office, could they
have any sure standard by which to ascertain
which of the candidates possessed those quail
iications. But how is this to be ascertained?
A majority of the people are, probably, per-
sonally unacquainted with any of the candi-
dates. They can, therefore, only judge by
the information they derive from other sources.
As the newspapers, which are extensively cir
culated among all classes Of people, furnish
one of the principal sources of information,
on which they are accustomed to rely, it is
highly important that whatever is published
in them, should be correct. No honest, can
did writer, therefore, will ever find fault when
his errors and mistakes are exposed.
The above remarks are made, Introductory
to brief examination of some of the state
ments made in your last, by your correspon-
dent, the :" Countryman."
He undertakes TO prove, that the jealousy
of the people ia the country, against what he
terms s Boston influence" is so great, that
nothing short of having the next Governour
from the country will satisfy them. From
what source he derives this opinion, am una
bic to conjecture. That individuals may
have thought themselves injured, by sup
posed 8 Boston influence have no doubt.
Perhaps it would not be amiss for them 10 in
quIre, whether they would have succeeded
any better, had the country influence pre-
vailed.
But, that there is general, and as the
Countryman'' would induce us to believe,
universal Jealousy of Boston influence, no as
sertions of his, or observations of my own,
have as yet convinced me.
Facts are always more satisfactory than
general and unsupported assertions, however
confidently and Goldly they may be made.
How, then, would inquire, if this univer-
sal Jealousy of 6 Boston iniuencen exists in
the country, has ii happened, that the people
of the country should be SO lost to their own
interest, as not to have taken the only effec-
tual measure in their power to guard against
it?
In the County of Worcester, for instance,
there are ffty-tour towns, each of which is
entitled to one representative, many to two,
and some 10 three, and yet from all these
towns there are but fourteen Representatives
in the present General Court, and three of
these are from the town of Worcester. Can
it be believed, that the intelligent people of
the County of Worcester, would thus care
lessly, had almost said stupidity, neglected
to guard against so formidable an enemy p
The same remark may be applied to the other
Counties in the Commonwealth, as any one
may see, by examining the list of Represent
Rtives OF which that body is composed
But he further intimates that an opinion is
prevalent " that to secure to the country its
due share Of influence, the seat Of Government
ought not to continue in Boston, but be re-
moved to the interiour. For the attainment
of this object inclpient measures are already
in operation" And again he says, Among
those who have avowed themselves friendly
TO a removal Of the government, and who
already begin to look forward to such an event
as probable, If not certain, are many distin.
guished, intelligent and influential citizens,
men who know perfectly well how to choose
the best means TO bring about desireable
end" Now, if any reliance can be placed
on the good sense and judgment of the " Coun-
tryman," the distinguished, Intelligent and an
.aue,ataal citisens to whom he refers, must be
possessed Of principles and actuated by mo-
tives unworthy of, and inconsistent with the
character, either Of honest men, or good citi-
zens. For, says he, ''to such measure,
hocerer, acknowledge myself 10 be strongly
opposed. In my rie,o, the dignity, the come.
nieraee, and The interests of the Commonwealth
require that The State-HOatse should be an The
metropolis" And yet these sc distinguished,
Intelligent aud Influential ciiisenS'' are already
if we are to credit his assertions, preparing to
PROSTATE The dignity, the convenience and an
terests Of the Commonwealth; and to crafty
such men, suppose, the next Governour is
to be selected from the country. ! certainly
have no objection against having Governour
from the country, but | should exceedingly
regret that he should owe his elevation to
causes Of such an unworthy nature.
A word, now, as to the probability of a re-
moval OF the seat of government. Great, in
deed, must be the excitement, which would
induce the Senators of Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex,
Bristol, Barnstable, Plymouth, Nantucket,
and Dukes County to vote for a removal OF
the seat of government to any place to the
westward of Boston. That the Senators
from the above Counties constitute majority
of the Board will not be denied, and, it will
not be supposed that the Senators of Woroes.
ter and the western counties would vote for
a removal, in any other direction. In this
calculation, have omitted Middlesex, be-
cause think they would not wish for re-
moval, but, if they should, still there would
be majority of Senators against the meas
ure.
The town of Worcester, presume, though
he does not say so, is the place to which the
6 distinguished citizens" are preparing to re-
move the seat of government. confess
should be much pleased. whenever the nnh-