Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-03-03
FROM. THE BOSTON cEFr1NEL.


Aliud est maledicere-sliud acopsare-ac
cusatio crimen desiderat rem ut defniat
hominem ut notet-argumento probet,teste con
,tirmet.-Maledctio autem nihil habet propo
| siti prator Contumeliam.-Cic. pro M. Cello
TO THE EDITOR OF THE cENTINEL.
SlR-Several months have elapsed since
the speech of his Excellency the Governor
was made to the Legislature upon his acces.
sion to the chair. In that speech his Excellency
appears in the novel character of public &C.
cuser OF the State and people, over which he
is called to preside, and requites them for the
honor OF their sutfrages by bearing record tc
the past infamy of their political character and
conduct. He imputes to them perseverance
IN course of odious and criminal violation
OF their Federal obligations, and desertion Of
the common cause in the time of urgent peril,
and charges them with advancing to the very
brink of treason. This unhallowed', series
OF enormities, he says was consummated by an
"authorized combinations" (that is, as he in
tends, an illegal confederacy, authorized by
taT, the mischievous consequences of which
he describes in the language of one flushed if
not intoxicated with new authority, This
ford Convention consisted of persons deput-
ed by the Legislatures of several States, as
Committees to meet together and consult upon
pressing emergency and toreport their pro-
ceedngs. Of this number, twelve only were
appointed by Massachusetts; so that (their
names being matter Of public record) they
may consider themselves denounced, as indi-
Viduals, before both branches of the Lesisla-
ture, not less than if they had been described
with the technically Of an indictment. In
that assembly no voice was raised in their de-
fence by their friends, who were the minority,
and who thought, perhaps wisely, that silence
was the most expressive reply, while the ma
JoTity substantially echoed the music of the
speech, and were sootted for the insult offer.
ed to the State, by the flattering JUNCTION which
his Excellency poured orth upon themselves,
Thus the members OF that Convention, for
going upon State Grand, undertaken with
known reluctance, are accused by their Gov
ernor, and in fact GttGnted by an act of the
General Court, of niidemeanors, which al
though they cannot by the Constitution work
forfeiture or corruption of blood, ought Justly
to be visited'with forfeiture of character. and
are by the public accu'er and his court in.
tended to produce that effect. In these cir
cumstances-in country whose Constitution
prohibits the passing ofoills of attaindcr. and
secures to the humblest culprit the right of
hearing and defence and trial by his peers
it.would not probably be deemed in any view
Of equity, a departure from the respect due
to the Chief Magistrate and his friends, for
the parties thus eliminated to appear before
the pubic IN vindication of their characters
though they would still be in the predicament
OF those untortunates, who under the very an
cient " regime, of a country from which I
trust his Excellency would not wish TO take
example, were first scourged, and then heard
in their defence. Perhaps allowance would
be made by the liberal (of which hope there
are many among his Excellency's supporters
for tone of Indignation, in the aged Patriots,
Statesmen, and Warriors of the revolution, :.
(who from different States were memhers Of
that Convention) in depending their civil and
military wreaths from the indecorous erasp
OF Aschief Magistrate with whom thew need
not shrink to compare their claims in every
department of merit and duty to their coun-
try. And even the humble individual who
addresses you. after many years Of service in
public life, might be excused for protesting
with some vehemence against the Injustice
OF being thus sent to his account as a conspir-
atoi against the government of his country.
IN consequence merely of having served upon
a Committee Of the General Court sitting in
Hartford instead Of Boston, and thus under
taken mission forced upon him by three
fourths OF the Legislature, against his most
earnest remonstrance, and to the great sacri-
flee OF his convenience 'Cithoaa any eouivo-
lent an diplomatic perquisites and outfits by
which the wreaths and laurels of his Excel
lency have been gilded. But whatever hone
| might reasonably cherish of a fair indnl-
gence from every friend of Justice in repel-
ling this official libel; yet if the solitary
interest otmy own good name were all that was
endangered by it, should suffer it to waste
its venom I. on the desert air." and leave to
posterity to award the praise OF censure that
shall hereafter appear to be due to g combin-
ations," authorized or unauthorized-civiI or
military-whcther at Hartford, the supposed
scene OF my Vaccinations, or at Newburg
where history has laid plot, in which some
| of his Excellency's intimate friends were
thought to be implicated.
10 this impartial tribunal would refer
my own cause rather than appear before the
public in any communication which may
wear the semblance of a labored vindication
of my own political character.-My disincli-
nation to enter upon any such vindication
has ever been invlncible. In proof of hsreal-
ity can adduce the restraint which l have
invariably imposed upon myself. In a long
course OF public vocations (Which / sincerely
wish had been as beneficial to my country as
they have been lahorious and unproductive
to me, no personal justification has eyer been
attempted, by me in any recollected instance,
against the pitiless censure and calumnies
which have been showered upon tne.* 1t
has been my fashion 1T thinking, that if a
man is sustained by public favor, he has no
occasion to engage in the difficult task of
speaking Of. himself.-lf on the contrary, the
people have grown tired or dissatisfied with
his services, he becomes an object Of pity if
not of contempt, when destitute of the re-
sources which ina retreat from public sta
ton, ministers not only to consolation but
delight-a retrospection Of the best motives,
and of constant, communion Of sentiment
with wise and honorable men, he whines
over the variableness Of the popular fancy,