Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

TO A GREAT MAN.

SIR,

Would it derogate from your high character to listen to the complaint of one of the people? And if I can point out to you grievances will you deign to redress them?

Has the voice of justice been drowned in the clamour of your supplicating friends, or, has not the constitution an inherent right and power to screen the nation from indignity and itself from violation?

Since you have filled the popular chair heavy has been the weight of oppression, innumerable the victims of malicious hatred; every quarter of the state groans under its miseries, and every good citizen acknowledges with a blush his ignominy. If these truths have not yet reached your ears, they will soon be heard in the thunder of resentment—The people indignant at such wrongs, will rise in the anger of insulted majesty, and strike a blow commensurate with the offence.

I have made, sir, two interrogations, and I do not yet despair but that there is one iota of virtue enough in your nature to acknowledge their justice and importance, and with a blush answer in the affirmative. If you hesitate how to answer do cast your eyes on the wretched scenes which surround you, ask virtuous indignant, who caused their misery; and affluent criminals, who raised them to power—enter the habitations of the ejected county officers, and if their infants would lisp to you their father's wrongs, stop not your ears to their just complaints, for it is in scenes like these you will read the history of your crimes, and learn a lesson worthy of a governor. Have you ever asked yourself the question, sir, for what you were placed at the head of affairs? Whether to administer justice and make a people happy, or choke its fountain and gratify a vindictive spirit, by persecuting every man who in the freedom of suffrage opposed your election? Are these latter objects it employment for a man in office? No sir, and you have abused the trust reposed in you. The people asked of you happiness, and you have given them misery—they asked of you contentment, and you have disquieted every corner of the state. Attend for a moment to a recital of your conduct—You commenced your glorious career by denouncing one half the people as tories and traitors, and the other you proclaim as Patriots or your friends. This was at once declaring yourself Dictator of a faction, and whetting the edge of party spirit. True to this principle, you then dismissed from their employment, a long list of honest, upright and patriotic men who supported their families by the salaries of their offices; the majority of whom fought during the revolutionary war, and whose only crime was opposition to your designs. These offices you disposed of to traitors, to men who had conducted the British army into our capital, to men who had been indicted of forgery, to men the most abandoned in the community.

It would be needless to recapitulate all the crimes of your administration: the above are sufficient to excite abhorrence in the breast of every good man.

I have asked you, sir, has not the constitution a power to protect the nation from indignity and itself from violation—You who are its chief magistrate, should feel the force and know the extent of this question: you should be the shield of the country.—

But was ever a people so abused as we? Our representatives are not free from insult even when sitting in their chamber. That faction of which you have avowed yourself its chief, through its worthy agent Bryan, has grossly abused our legislature: acquiring fresh insolence from your patronage he has violated the privileges of the house of representatives. Is there no punishment for this crime? Yes sir, there is:—and a good magistrate would know what punishment to inflict; how to repair the breach, and preserve the freedom of the legislature.

These are grievances which as one of the people I complain of; and believe me sir, that I speak the minds of thousands, when I tell you that—their patience is worn out.

FABIUS.