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Letter to Editor
October 31, 1796
Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
An extract from a 1796 letter in Hagerstown, Maryland, criticizes General Heller, an out-of-state figure, for interfering in local elections by prejudicing citizens against John Adams and promoting Thomas Jefferson using selective passages from Jefferson's writings and handbills labeling Adams a monarchist.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Extract of a letter from Hager's Town, (Maryland,) dated 21 October, 1796.
General Heller has been here twice within a few weeks, and appears to have taken very uncommon pains with some of our citizens, to prejudice them against Mr. Adams, to whom they were duly favourable: and what renders it more inexcusable, are the means which he has used on the occasion, considering that he is not an inhabitant of this state, and of course an intruder at our elections; this is also the more barefaced, as he and his party have lately been completely defeated in Cumberland. It is only since the general's visit we have had the pleasure of seeing several handbills, denouncing John Adams as a monarchist and puffing up the patriotic Jefferson. The general, with extreme affection for this district, has furnished some of our citizens with some select and choice passages from that gentleman's book, merely to save good farmers the labor of reading so voluminous a work, which, were they to do, would probably convey to them an opinion of that writer, different from that which the general wishes to instil.
General Heller has been here twice within a few weeks, and appears to have taken very uncommon pains with some of our citizens, to prejudice them against Mr. Adams, to whom they were duly favourable: and what renders it more inexcusable, are the means which he has used on the occasion, considering that he is not an inhabitant of this state, and of course an intruder at our elections; this is also the more barefaced, as he and his party have lately been completely defeated in Cumberland. It is only since the general's visit we have had the pleasure of seeing several handbills, denouncing John Adams as a monarchist and puffing up the patriotic Jefferson. The general, with extreme affection for this district, has furnished some of our citizens with some select and choice passages from that gentleman's book, merely to save good farmers the labor of reading so voluminous a work, which, were they to do, would probably convey to them an opinion of that writer, different from that which the general wishes to instil.
What sub-type of article is it?
Political
Persuasive
What themes does it cover?
Politics
What keywords are associated?
Election Interference
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
General Heller
Maryland Elections
Hagerstown
Political Handbills
Letter to Editor Details
Main Argument
general heller's interference in maryland elections is inexcusable, as an out-of-state intruder using misleading handbills and selective passages to prejudice citizens against john adams and promote thomas jefferson, despite his party's recent defeat.
Notable Details
General Heller's Visits To Prejudice Against Adams
Handbills Denouncing Adams As Monarchist And Praising Jefferson
Selective Passages From Jefferson's Book To Mislead Farmers