Gazette Of The United States, & Daily Advertiser

Important Letter!

The following Letter was actually written to a very respectable member of the Society of Friends. Its contents are of the very first consequence at this time. It contains what is true, and what ought to rouse every man who does not mean to give up his civil liberties, and perhaps his country, to violence and war, to step forth and maintain the re-election of John Adams: It being generally considered by every thinking, sober and religious man, that the dismissal of Mr. Adams will be the signal of war and disunion:

HAVING long been of opinion, that it was a duty every man owed to himself, his family, friends and country, not only to give his vote for the election of civil rulers, but also to use such means as his knowledge and judgment dictated, for the right direction of others, I constantly give up some portion of my time and attention to this object, whenever an election of any importance is made for public office, under our free and happy government; there is no other way for good citizens to secure to themselves the advantage of it, but by exerting their just influence in promoting the election of such officers, as, in their opinion, are best qualified to fill the public departments and to administer right and justice to the people: It has therefore not a little surprised and grieved me, on many trying occasions, when the friends to government and good order are exerting all their strength to frustrate the designs of wicked and dangerous men, who wish, by means of deceit and misrepresentation, to bring the country into confusion by setting the people against their own representatives; I say, it has given me much pain to observe how indifferent and unwilling many of your society are, to add their weight to the scale which ought to preponderate: What can this be owing to? I well know the scruples which deter you from any sort of participation in measures which directly or indirectly are connected with war: Far be it from me to undertake to disapprove of the sensibility which influences you in that respect: Would to God, that every human heart was actuated by a principle so gentle, and so agreeable to the spirit of that religion of which I am a sincere believer: Wars, however, will come, and it has pleased Providence to raise up those, who, in this respect, are influenced to execute his pleasure; but, my friend, what is there in the measures which relate merely to civil government, of which you are members, and without which, you could enjoy no security either for secular or religious possessions; I say, what is there to prevent you from taking such a peaceable and just part in those questions, as may in your judgment, contribute to the maintenance of civil government ?-Our public rulers are chosen by the people; if bad men. we may expect the greatest evils; if good men are chosen, we may look for social and individual happiness and prosperity: Is it not an obvious duty, then, for every man who has a voice in the elections, to go and give it in favor of such men and measures, as he, in his conscience, thinks will be most for his own and the public good ? You look upon this as right and necessary in your own particular association-Why is it not equally incumbent on you as members of a civil community ?-We well know that civil government is ordained of heaven, and that God permits it to be a blessing or a curse according as it is administered well or ill : How then, can any conscientious man stand by, and when in his power to do good, by exerting his reason and rights, yet by indifference or neglect, lose the opportunity, and thereby be accessory to much public distress and calamity ?-If the life or the interest of your child, your neighbor, or friend, were to depend upon your exertions, and your vote, would you not use the one and give the other for their relief; and what difference in the case?-Your children, your neighbors, and friends, nay, thousands of your fellow creatures are all deeply interested in the issue of public elections for civil officers: Why should you withdraw from rendering that service which is in your power?

I know it has been sometimes said, that elections are conducted with too much heat, that it is disagreeable to take any part in them-but, what good thing is not abused? Shall we make no profession of religion because there are hypocrites ? Shall we not countenance and support it, because it has occasioned so much jarring, and violence, and war ? This principle acted upon, would drive us out of the world; for, what occupation can we follow; what intercourse engage in, which will not lead us into disagreeable circumstances, and which have not occasioned much misery ? My friend, I know that what I have suggested here, must be quite unnecessary for your conviction : I know you take a proper interest in the support of civil government and safe and just rulers; but I have taken the liberty to throw out those ideas for the perusal of any of your acquaintance who are indifferent on the score of elections, and suffer their best civil rights and enjoyments to depend upon the will of other people; for, it is evident, that when bad men, or bad measures get a head for want of proper diligence in the electors-the electors who thus neglect their rights and interests are really criminal.

The leading object, however, of this letter to you, is to impress upon you, the singular importance of the ensuing election for a President. I need not tell you, that such has been the unwearied industry, and so numerous the falsehoods and misrepresentations against the federal government, that it will require the greatest exertions to prevent the people from overturning it, by the election of Thomas Jefferson ; or I look upon that such an event will shake the foundations the confederacy: that Mr. Jefferson has personal to disqualifications which render him wholly unfit to be at the head of a christian community, you will be convinced by the perusal of the inclosed it pamphlet which is written by as pious and learned a minister of Jesus Christ, as perhaps any in this or any other country, and which proves him, from his own writings, an unbeliever in christianity ; but that disqualification would operate slowly, though fatally to the morals of the country — a man in so high station, professing deism and. a disbelief in the scriptures, and desirous of "seeing a government in which no religious opinions are held," (this is his own language) would perhaps in less time than four years, by the influence and means in their power, bring the people in this country to adopt Tom Paine's Age of Reason in place of the Bible. But what I mean to represent to you as so formidable in his election, is its political consequence to this country. You well know the character and views of that desperate and unprincipled party which have unceasingly endeavoured to disturb the harmony of government, and to persuade the people to disobedience and rebellion. These are the people (connexing with them some honest but deluded men) who are advocating Jefferson, and who, if he is elected, will direct him in the government of this country: In one word; the government will be in the hands of the jacobins.—you know as well as I do what characters this description includes; to wit: French agents-British and Irish renegadoes, and adventurers, and aliens of other countries—-infidels—-bankrupts—-restless demagogues--the lazy-the intemperate-the vicious and ignorant of this country; that these are the sort of people who have constantly clamored and embarrassed the federal government is manifest to every one. Only look around within your own observation and you will want no proof of this-That there is here and there, among them, a man of good character, misled by artifice or biassed by prejudice, cannot be disputed; but such men will be thrown aside when their unprincipled associates get into power.

You well know that this faction have worn hatred to the English government, and are determined on war with that power as soon as they can effect it ; and it is also well known that most of the great men in the Southern states, being deeply in debt to British merchants, are disposed to a war as the means of stopping payment-I am not certain that even Mr. Jefferson has yet, paid off the great debt he owed at the peace and which he then offered to pay off partly in negroes. Besides these, there are great numbers of French who wish to see us at war with Great Britain: and most of the Irish and English fugitives from justice, who being obliged to leave their own country for crimes. are now determined to be avenged, if they can, by exciting the Americans to war. Most of the scandalous and mischievous newspapers, such as the Aurora, the Examiner, &c. which are circulated far and wide are carried on by these venomous emigrants; as I said before, all these belong to the Jefferson party, and will certainly drive us to war the first opportunity-—an opportunity will readily offer; their party has only to refuse to execute an article of the treaty; or to send away the English minister; to offer some direct insult to that nation; restrain her commerce, or do some other of a thousand acts which would be causes of war, and it will certainly follow: Indeed, many persons of good judgment think it will be difficult, with all prudent means used to avoid it.

The ruinous consequences of a war at this time are evident; the greatest portion of our revenue, necessary for making good the engagements and the expenses of the federal government, arises from duties of import, on goods and tonnage of ships. A war with Great Britain, will at once cut off these sources of money, and the government driven to heavy taxes on land and houses to supply the deficiency. Land will sink in value, and the produce of it having no market, will rot in the granary, or, rather the farmer will not raise beyond the consumption of the country. What discontent this will produce, and how hard it will be upon the landed interest, to bear the whole expense, both of the federal and state governments, and also the burdens necessary to carry on the war, with wheat at 5/ a bushel, I leave you to judge. Indeed, I think it would be impracticable to keep the confederacy together under such circumstances.-Some of the states would, likely, to rid themselves of a common defence withdraw from the union, make peace with Great Britain, and leave the others to submit or fight it out alone. In short, the consequences of such a war cannot be calculated: Great Britain would be at little expense in it; her ships are now on the ocean, at least seven hundred ships of war-only 50 frigates, stationed on our coasts, could lay the sea ports under contribution, annihilate our commerce, ruin the merchant, the sailor and the farmer, and bring upon these states such an additional load of debt, and so retard their prosperity, that a whole century might not restore them to their present happy condition. Is it not, then, an object of the greatest moment for the people in this country to take no step which may tend to produce a war with Great Britain ? Now we are at peace-now our trade flourishes-our revenues are supplied— our agriculture increases-wealth, enjoyments, every civil and religious privileges are showered upon us. If we would keep where we are, we must not change our President Adams ! If we do, the French party, the Virginia party, the democratic party, and the deluded. will force us to a war. If no change takes place in the administration of the government we shall go on as before, no shock, no convulsion, but a regular pursuit of those maxims of cultivating peace, cementing the union, and maintaining our independence.
have hitherto invariably been pursued. The chance of war is at least as great from the changes, for the reasons before mentioned, that it would be surely bad policy to run the risque of it, for the mere sake of change only.

But, my friend, the election of Mr. Jefferson, did it not lead to war without, will inevitably produce great troubles within. Not to mention the turning out of officers, the alteration of laws, and the endless embarrassments, which follow from a change of administration (of which the State of Pennsylvania exhibits a picture in miniature, where the same party, which now supports Mr. Jefferson prevails) to say nothing about these, it appears to me that a change of the President, will, in all probability dissolve the confederacy! It is well known, by all persons conversant with politics, that a very strong jealousy subsists between the Eastern and Southern States, in so much so, that it has become familiar for the men who conduct the affairs in the eastern states to express themselves in favor of a separate confederacy; they are tired with the opposition of the southern States to the means of government, and are really desirous of breaking off the incumbrance; nothing has prevented this, perhaps, but, that the New-England states, by having many of the great offices under government and particularly the Presidency, were induced from the ascendancy they thereby had in the affairs of the union, to adhere to it. The removal of the seat of government to Virginia, the dismission of, Mr. Pickering, and the appointment of Mr. Marshall a Virginian, in his place, have created great dissatisfaction already, the most of their conspicuous characters in congress, have declined re-elections. and the idea of separation is every where reviving! If, to complete all, a Virginia President should be elected in the place of Mr. Adams. it is ten to one, if before mid summer, next, we do not hear of a proposition for a convention from the New-England states, to form a separate confederacy! My friend, four men in the new-England states, by their advice and influence, could bring this about no doubt, thousands this moment wish it. For my part, should it take place, I will become a party to it, that is, I will remove there: Jersey shall not keep me after that; poor Jersey will again become tributary to Pennsylvania and New York; or, perhaps they may be kind enough to take a cession of our government on each side of the partition line. But to return, the danger of a dissolution of the confederacy from throwing the balance of government and of office so much to the side of Virginia, is really imminent! Nothing will more likely produce it. The Vice President will also be there. If Jefferson is President, Mr. Adams will be second on the return, and Charles C. Pinckney, of South-Carolina, third; Mr. Adams will of course decline being Vice-President, which will bring in Pinckney, so that the southern states will have President, Vice President and Seat of Government.

I need not tell what real political advantages this produces in the distribution of offices, in measures of government. in private speculations and in all those affairs of a less conspicuous nature which concern the adjacent country. What with the loss of solid power, and the stings of imaginary degradation, operating upon previous dispositions in the New England states to withdraw from the confederacy, it can really with none, who are acquainted with their public men, remain a doubt, that they will be influenced to surrender the federal compact, and form one on a matter scale? Ought we, then, my friend, to suffer this if it can be avoided ? and nothing will prevent it, save the re-election of John Adams! He is the favorite of that people, he is the pride of America; his dismission from office by the intrigues of the jacobins, will be the signal of disunion! The New-England states, taking with them Vermont. will be no longer a part of the federal family! And, where shall we be then? Poor Jersey, my native state, now independent, now girded round with the protecting arm of the confederacy, now prosperous, happy and great; you will then be left to the sport of internal faction and external oppression. The confederacy once broken, every state reverts to its former condition; how degraded was yours, when Pennsylvania and New-York, taxing you on every side, enriched their treasuries and impoverished your hardy sons. Alas! My friend, it sickens me to revolve over the probable events which will follow a disunion of the states; civil war, and with it all the calamities which have lately passed in review on the other side of the Atlantic.

But, I quit this gloomy recital of dangers which threaten us, to urge you to those exertions which may relieve our fears. It is true the whole force and all the arts of the jacobins are brought forth to displace Mr. Adams and to bring in Mr. Jefferson; but will not truth and virtue, and justice prevail? Let every honest man but come forward, and by undeceiving the misled, detecting the deceiver, and giving his own vote at the ensuing election for the Adams' ticket, all will yet be well. In every county, federal tickets are nominated; in every county there are great majorities, for the federal government and John Adams; little objections of a particular nature should not have weight, but the whole ticket be supported. The jacobins too, have their meetings and tickets; they are indefatigable; they spare no pains or expense; they circulate among the uninformed, that abandoned sink of lies, the Aurora, in which Mr. Adams is held up as a monster; in which all the friends and supporters of the government are traduced as tories and aristocrats; in which the Congress is charged with laying'enormous taxes, and the officers of government accused of immense embezzlements; every little incident is worked up to inflame, and every artifice to deceive. To those who know the villainy of these fabrications, and that at least ten persons are paid by the week for furnishing lies, to fill its columns; to such, perhaps, nothing need be said; but every man who is a friend to this country, and sees that such base licentiousness of the press tends to impose upon the unsuspecting, should by conversation, and writing, endeavor to explain the measures of government which have been so wise and moderate, and eradicate from weak minds the impressions made by a repetition of the most abominable falsehoods. The
people should be cautioned not to give credit to these atrocious publications, merely because on paper; it is easy for men, lost to truth, to set down and put any thing into writing or figures, and publish them as facts this is done now, so constantly in the Aurora and other jacobin papers, that no man of common sense will give the least credit to them. So far has slander and calumny been carried in it, that it has really surfeited and disgusted its own supporters; they have become ashamed of it and condemn it as a common nuisance.

My friend, however deception may, for a while, hold its ground, it must at length lie before truth and fact. The people are every where arousing, and coming forward in support of their government as administered by Mr. Adams ; they begin to see that these clamors are the effects of malice, ambition and disappointment, because they feel themselves happy, and by recurring to the real laws and acts of the government, find nothing to condemn. Let me entreat you, then, on this occasion, so important to us and our country, to its present and future welfare; as you prefer peace to war, union to disunion, a christian magistrate to an infidel, and a steady, virtuous, civil government, to the violence and wickedness of jacobinisn, by all these motives, to attend the next election in your township, and give in your vote, and use your influence with others to vote for the continuance of John Adams as President of the United States. Let this re-election be always on your mind-- my single vote and influence added to the federal ticket, at the ensuing election, may be the means of preserving the country from war, and the states from disunion, by preventing a change of the first civil magistrate, and keeping out of power those men, who, I know to be actuated by restless and disorganizing projects."

I remain yours, &c.

Cumberland Federal Ticket in favor of the re-election of President Adams and Governor Howell

COUNCIL.

Samuel Ogden.

ASSEMBLY.

Jonathan Bowen--Richard Wood, jr.

Let it be remembered, that the 14th day of October next, is the day of Election for Representatives in the State Legislature, which Legislature choose the Electors who appoint the President and Vice-President.