Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

FOR THE PORTLAND GAZETTE.

TO THE
Electors of Cumberland District.

Who shall receive our votes for Federal Representative at the ensuing election?

The Hon. Peleg Wadsworth, Esq. who has, for many years past, had our suffrages, now declines being considered a candidate. This event imposes a very important duty on the friends of Washington and the Constitution, to select some gentleman of learning, talents and integrity to be Mr. Wadsworth's successor. And we are happy to learn, that, at a large and respectable meeting of Federal Republicans, from all parts of this election district, a union of sentiment, almost unexampled, appeared, in favor of supporting

EZEKIEL WHITMAN, Esq.

of Newgloucester. This gentleman's talents and integrity are well known—the uprightness of his character, and the correctness of his principles, might defy the malice of enemies: but it is believed that Mr. Whitman has no enemies.

He has ever been sincerely attached to the Constitutions of our country, & to the pure principles of Federal Republicanism. Well informed in the various interests of the husbandman the mechanic and the merchant, and qualified by his talents to be the able and zealous advocate of those interests, no gentleman can be found, who would more faithfully and honorably represent us.

Unite then, fellow-citizens. Let us turn out to a man, on the day of election, and employ all honest and upright means to secure Mr. Whitman's election.

The democrats hold up Daniel Ilsley, Esq. as their candidate.—Can any well informed and reflecting voter hesitate a moment in deciding that Mr. Whitman is the candidate who ought to prevail? The private character of Mr. Ilsley we wish not to speak of disrespectfully; but his political character is a proper subject for our consideration, and it is not only our right but our duty to discuss it. Surely no man can give Mr. Ilsley the preference on account of his education or talents. No man will pretend that Mr. Ilsley would be an able advocate of our political interests.

If an attachment to the Constitution is considered a requisite qualification, no man, who does not earnestly wish its destruction, will vote for Mr. Ilsley. It is well known that in the convention where the Constitution was framed, Mr. Ilsley uniformly opposed it, and VOTED AGAINST IT. He has ever since retained the same sentiments and has ever publicly avowed them.

Is Mr. Ilsley a friend to the rights of the people, and the rights of suffrage? This question can be answered by calling to mind the memorable facts contained in the report of the committee for counting the votes for Governor of Massachusetts at the last election: THE PEOPLE had chosen a Governor; yet Mr. Ilsley was one of the Senators, who voted to accept a report, which was in direct violation of the voice of the people, manifested by their suffrages. Can any man be the REAL FRIEND of the people, who would trample under foot their CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, merely to favor his own political notions? Let every honest and impartial man answer.

Let every free American who is jealous of his rights, and would not sacrifice them to the arts of foreign intrigue, reflect upon the immense importance of this objection against the democratic candidate.

But was every thing else equal between these candidates, except age, can any one believe that Mr. Ilsley, who is far advanced in life, and continually subjected to the infirmities of sickness, ought to be preferred to a gentleman in full health, in the prime of life: and in the full enjoyment of all his mental powers unimpaired.

A momentous crisis in the affairs of our country is rapidly approaching. Let the people consider these things and lay them seriously to heart. They may yet restore the former respectability of our nation, by a judicious exercise of their rights of election. They may yet choose between life and death. The appeal is once more, (and now, perhaps, for the last time,) to be made to their intelligence and patriotism. And it is confidently expected, that on the first Monday of November next, every friend of WASHINGTON AND THE Constitution will be at his post, and do his duty.

A FRIEND TO THE PEOPLE.