Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-03-10
STATE ELECTIONS.
FELLOW CITIZENS!

FGLAOV CII ILEJFD'
Electors cfhte State Of JMassaehuscts:
Circumstances make it proper, that we
should express to you our sentiments on our
common welfare, as members of the same po-
liticat family. 1t is useful occasionally, to
recur to the principles on which this welfare
depends
Our State and National Governments were
new experiments. Until these were estab-
lished, no opportunities had occurred among
mankind, for more than two thousand years,
TO show that men can gOrern themselves. At
this day all the Governments Of Europe rest
on the basis that ONE MAN or a perg fcW men,
have the right to govern, all the rest and this
right is not derived from the merit of this one
man, or few men, but from birth, or from ac-
cidents, which have no connection with such
wisdom, as is necessary, in the management Of
human affairs.
Now the principle of our Governments is
that all men are by birth free and equal and
that " the idea ola man born a magistrate,
Iawgiver, Judge, is absurd and unnatural !"
that our truly republican constitutions, are
to be carried into effect, by choosing The best
men to be public servants. Our bill of rights
therefore, provides that " all elections ought
to be free :''-and that all the inhabitants
qualifications shaving an equal right to
elect officers, and to be elected tor public en-
pigments"
1t would seem, then, that nothing would be
easier than to carry on, and TO perpetrate such
forms of government, by the simple measure
Of choosing the fttest men to this service. But
we have seen that this is not an easy matter.
In this free land every man is entitled to have
Ion 10 Ia NUn ,Of 1,,1,
to measures but as to candidates for office.
All the citizens cannot be known to each
other; nor can any one be known 10 all; nor
can the man who is best known, be intimately
known, but 10 very few.--ln selecting mau
for Office, there may be variety ofopinions -
those persons who think alike will unite and
form one party; those who think differently
will do the same out OF numerous parties.
| two great parties are at length formed, in
| which all other parties are lost. These two
parties are TO contest which of them is
| strongest, bv its respective efforts to succeed
in electing its favorites. Now il cannot but
happen that in such contest many feelings
are brought into exercise, which take deep
hold, & produce most active agency, though
| they come not within the meaning OF constiftL-
tional election. There will be pride Of opin.
ion ;-party zeal 1.-THE fear of defeat and the
hope OF triumph! And not unfrequently will
| it happen that party will think much more
Of carrying Their man than of electing good
ruler.
But we think, and we trust that you all
think that it concerns all good citizens to cor.
slider, not so much any particular man in reIa-
ton to Office, as to regard the dear bought
and precious principles, on which cur right OF
self-government depends. The citizens who
happen to be on the stage Of life at any given
period, should hold themselves to be trustees.
They received the glorious privilege ofself-
government under Divine Providence from
their predecessors and they are under the
solemn obligation of SO using this privilege, as
that those who come after them may enjoy it
as they do.
live are right so far, then, we would con-
slider another striking feature in our forms Of
Government viz. periodical election. This
provision is introduced to enable the people
from time to time TO judge for themselves,
whether those men who may have been cleo
ted ought 10 be again elected. And we have
therefore, a constitutional right, and it is
duty which cannot be avoided, to exercise
our judgement Withou: conStraint, as to any
man, or men, in Office, who are held up for a
new election.
We intend, fellow citizens, on this occasion
to exercise this right concerning the GsnAe-
man who is at present the Chief Magistrate Of
this Commonw ealth. We do not Think ham
the best man in The State for that office. We
shall offer our reasons for this opinion. And
we shall offer our reasons why we think it
best to vote for another man.
We propose to try the fitness Of Cor. EusiiS
to be again elected, as the head, and Father
of our political family; not by anonymous
ISLANDERS not by Jealous party asperSions not
by pryin into private life not by guessing at
secret sentiments, but out Of his Own mouth.
We remind, you fellow citizens, ofthe seven
years peace, tranquility, and happiness, which
we enjoyed in this State, from the time Of the
first election Of Governor Brooks until he re-
tired from public life. We will not stop now
to speak OF those means by which Mr.. Eustis
became his successor. That he became such
was matter of great surprise TO us. But we
were disposed to acquiesce in this dispense.
ton and we appeal to your own hearts whetll-
or you should have felt any uneasiness at his
success, tThe had so nlanagedhts hust as 10 be
entitled 10 your confidence. He came in at q
time when we had lost sight Of the contentious
which had troubled us; and when we had al
most forgotten the cause Of them. But II was
not so with Governor Eustis. This Sentle-
man (standing in his Office Of Chief Magistrate
of this Commonwealth, aud in the uncovered
Ipresence of both branches of the Legislature
cast such reproaches on the measures OF men
who were wise, faithful, and patriotic and en-
those good and gre at men themselves; and on
great majority of the citizens Of this State,
to make it subject Of the serious consider
: alton whether he ought to be chosen, as our
1 Chief Magistrate, again.