New Hampshire Statesman

For the N. H. Statesman.

Mr. Editor,

I am one of those plain politicians, who thought last March, that the people were abundantly able to nominate and elect their own rulers, and I did accordingly vote for the gentleman, who now fills the chair of state. I have always considered it true republicanism, to keep the sharpest eye upon those of our servants who are in the highest offices. I am not an obstinate politician, and do not by voting for a man one year bind myself not to vote against him the next, and I am not a timid politician for I can withdraw my confidence even from a Governor.

I never have been, and I sincerely hope never shall be unmindful of the duty which every good citizen owes the state, that of bringing to speedy detection and punishment any false reports which may be circulated against those "who rule over us." Reports have been circulated in my neighbourhood against the Governor of this state, and if they are false I want you to contradict them publicly and plumply.

It is reported, 1st, that the third gentleman who was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court would have accepted. if he had been the first appointed : and that His Excellency the Governor well knew that the first and second gentleman appointed would not accept.

2d. That the Governor within the memory of many men now living, to wit, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, expressed in strong terms his indignation at the conduct of the Trustees of Dartmouth College, and represented them as little better than so many traitors ; and further that he attended the late commencement at D. College, and did something more than consent to receive an honorary degree of LL. D. from those same trustees. If that degree was conferred in a proper manner it ought to be publicly known, for it would reflect honor upon the state, if the merits of its young chief magistrate are so brilliant as to extort so high a compliment from those, who would be expected in such a case to hang back as long as they could. Some of the facts in relation to the manner in which the honorary degree was conferred are reported every where in conversation, and I wish you would give them the lie by publishing all the facts which have come to your knowledge.

And thirdly, by "our enemies persecutors and slanderers," it is further reported, that when the bill establishing the County of Merrimac had passed, the Governor sent for the gentleman who now fills the office of High Sheriff for that county, and who was then a member of the House of Representatives, and told him that the office of High Sheriff was at his service, and this he did though he well knew that those who had given him the power of making appointments by supporting his pretensions against the exertions of the said representative, were decidedly and warmly in favour of another gentleman of (to say the least) equal qualifications with his Excellency's enemy and sheriff as aforesaid.

Mr. Editor, I am a plain man and may perhaps be ignorant of what are called the higher principles of government, but I think I know enough, to know when a man, whether he be Governor or President, is pursuing a straight forward honourable course. Whether "gratitude" be, as his Excellency solemnly assures us that it is "an early dictate of instinct," or not, I know that he would have gratified his political friends, without any injury to the public, if he had given them some proofs that he felt any thing of its workings. It may be proper for a chief magistrate to despise and break down all party attachments which would prevent his appointing the best men to office, but where he can confer an office upon one of his own party and benefit the public, one would think he would with pleasure avail himself of the opportunity to exhibit in deed, some of that gratitude about which he has discussed so fully in his proclamation. It may be very magnanimous for a chief magistrate to forgive his "enemies, persecutors and slanderers" but it hardly ought to be done at the expense of his friends.

A VOTER.