Jenks's Portland Gazette

Candidate for Governor.
From the CENTINEL.

MR. RUSSELL,

I WAS very sorry to see, in the Commercial Gazette, of Thursday last, the nomination of the Hon. FISHER AMES, for Governor of this commonwealth the ensuing year. This nomination I believe is directly contrary to his wishes; and will, if not seasonably withdrawn, promote disunion throughout the State.
The Hon. CALEB STRONG has been nominated for Governor, by a respectable Convention of gentlemen from every part of the State:—His name has been announced in all the papers in the Commonwealth, as the most suitable Candidate; and efficient measures have been taken to secure his election as the deliberate nomination of the Federal Republicans in the metropolis.
The above circumstances considered, let me ask, "Unitarian," if he be really a Federalist, whether it is wise and prudent to divide the federal force; to distract its operations, and impair the confidence of its friends, by new nominations?—The Federal Republicans of the interior parts of the State, rely on their friends in the capital, for correct information of men and measures;—how can they continue that confidence, if those friends are thus versatile in their nominations? They cannot—And as Mr. STRONG is the nomination which has been agreed upon, every one who desires union and wishes success to the Federal operations, will, think no more of Mr. Ames;— though if Mr. STRONG had not previously been proposed, there is no man in the State whom I would prefer, as Governor, to Mr. AMES.
To say Mr. STRONG is not sufficiently known throughout this Commonwealth, is to say what cannot easily be proved. During the Revolution, Mr. S. was in the Councils of this Commonwealth; was a leading Member of the Convention which ratified the Federal Constitution in this town: and was one of the first Federal Senators of this Commonwealth, in the Congress of the United States: and continued as such for many years.
It should be known, that the democratic members of the Legislature have held their Caucus, and agreed upon their Candidate;— whose annunciation will soon be made. Their measures are taken with the secrecy of conspiracy; but an Union of the force of the Federalists will defeat them with as much ease as Truth convicts error.
The Centinel has always been relied on for the correctness of its nominations;—while exercising candor towards all the candidates proposed, I hope it will be firm in the support of the Hon. CALEB STRONG, as Governor: and the Hon. MOSES GILL, as Lieutenant Governor; and I am satisfied, the Election of the first Monday of April next, will add to its triumphs.

A TRUE AMERICAN.
Feb. 21, 1800.