Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

FOR THE GAZETTE.

To the Electors of Lincoln District.

Fellow Citizens,

YOU will readily conjecture the object of this communication. The election of a member for the twelfth Congress takes place in our district on Monday the FIFTH of November next.—I intend, after informing you for whom I shall give my suffrage, to state to you a few plain facts and solid reasons, why I shall so vote, I am no caucus-man—I detest secret cellar-bred caucuses, the clandestine machines which sow the seeds of ruin throughout our republican states. The candidate I shall vote for has not been urged upon his fellow-citizens by Overgrown aristocrats nor overbearing office holders. His name has been modestly published to the electors of our district. and all agree that nothing but violent party prejudices could carry the poll against him in favor of any other man in the district.

ALDEN BRADFORD.

is the gentleman who will receive my vote at the ensuing election. He is known throughout the district and throughout the Commonwealth : and where is the viperous tongue that has temerity enough to lisp a slander against his private or public character? His talents have been acknowledged in every sphere in which he has yet moved, and they are still highly promising. He is a man of extensive general knowledge and of scientific erudition. His eloquence, which may oft be of the most service in a republican assembly, is inferior to that of no one in the Commonwealth. Of his amiable manners in public or private life : of his humanity and charitable deeds in domestic circles ; in fine. of every thing that constitutes the pure and humble Christian and worthy member of society. the vicinity in which he lives bears daily attestations, by the voluntary and constant praises of individuals of all classes.

But Mr. BRADFORD is a sound republican politician : one, I mean, who practices what he professes when he does not mislead his fellow-citizens to fatten their money and grow rich upon the ruins of others. His principles are those which our political parent and Chief, the immortal Washington. so nobly and successfully practiced. and inculcated.

I do not think it necessary to state. as it has been stated of the democratic candidate, in the Argus, that " he has not ruled his coar"!

No

The practise of a real Patriot goes hand and hand with his professions. He does not flatter you to day with the false promises of saving your money, and to-morrow rob your treasury. He does not please you to-day by promising to down-with overgrown aristocracies and ideal lordships, and to morrow assist in enacting and supporting a law whose direct tendency is to throw the property of the community,"particularly that of the middling and smaller interests, into masses, real lordships, and the worst of aristocracies, which are made by drenching the poor by the consequent oppression Of arbitrary law : He does not boast to day of protecting your country's honor, rights and independence, with the whole energies of the nation; and tomorrow barter them In the market, and suffer his fellow-citizens to emaciate and perish in the dungeons of a foreign despot, who professes friendshipfor your country to decoy her wealth and sea-men into his grasp : He does not call all who differ in opinion from himself, tories; and the next hour fill offices with notorious tories, aliens and renegadoes.

We find the party in power are not content with heaping the blame of all the iniquities of the former administrations upon the shoulders of federalists, but fain would shift their own off in this way. This will not do. Time has already begun, and I trust its wheels will ere long complete, the desirable work of detecting such political fraud, and of stripping the borrowed robe of from the shameless hypocrite. Let every citizen be jealous of his rights, be inquisitive to learn them, and active in their defence.

I entreat the reader to remember, for he must already believe, that Christian morality is as necessary to the well governing of. nation, as to the education and government of a family I know our modern wise republican republicans discard the idea of morality or religion's being essential in political life : and this is one of their particular faults-a fault not easily laid aside, and most pernicious in practise. Mr. Jefferson has evinced this fault in most of his appointments; and it has been discovered too often in our popular elections. But I have seldom seen it so openly supported as in the Argus of the 18th inst. A writer there, who calls himself Turner. in vindicating the most honourable Mr. Widgery, observes :"Let us remember on this occasion, [the election] that we are not engaged in the low, the pitiful, be degrading contest of private character, but in the high and honorable warfare of principle"! !! What greater proof do you want of the vileness of a cause, than to hear its leaders openly preach to the world, that it is low, pitiful and DEGRADING to enquire about the character of a man offered to the people as a ruler! The very sentence itself is absurdity; but it shows the rottenness and dangerous tendency of their cause, and depravity of its leaders:

The candidate I offer to you, fellow citizens, is one who courts the " contest of private character." Neither does he think it degrading that he has been tenacious to support an unblemished character. His character as a Christian and member of society, is unimpeachable. Such men alone, fellow-citizens, deserve your suffrages ; let such only receive them, and you may safely trust that Heaven will smile upon your country. Hear your beloved WASHINGTON in opposition to the Argus vassalizing doctrine: " Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who would labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of man and citizens " Does this look as if our great political parent thought an enquiry into private character, a " low, pitiful and degrading contest" !-Just so little do our self-styled republicans regard morality, religion or the precepts and principles of WASHINGTON.

I have now to invite you, my countrymen, by all that you enjoy and value as freemen, to attend the poll on Monday, November 5th I do not earnestly invite you to vote for the man that I shall vote for. 'Tis your right and duty to vote for whom you please.-

But, when you see immoral and dishonest men publicly advocated in opposition to men of honesty, religion and wisdom, and see, also, that a party discard all the Christian and moral duties of man in their political creed, and scoff at the honest patriot who enquires for integrity and virtue in 'candidates :-when you see all this, will you not step forth, and do your part towards defeating such a party in such views, and join one and all in supporting a man whom you would be glad to call in any situation, a friend and brother.

Federalists,

Your cause is righteous and will prevail if you do your duty therefore pursue it. with firmness and perseverance. Do all above board. . Take no man aside to whisper politics in his ear. Hold no secret, midnight intrigue with your neighbor. Give no man the French fraternal hug to rob him of his free suffrage. These are the base arts of your opponents, who think a good character degrading. Support your cause honorably, manfully and with dignity. Your cause and candidate will bear scrutiny.-

They appear to greater advantage the more they are scrutinized and exposed to public examination. Be firm, bold, and fear not. Heaven smiles upon your cause. If you triumph, or if you fall, let it be in the arms of honor. and in the cause of your country and freedom.

ROLAND.