The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

To the independent Freeholders of the Town of Portsmouth.

The Time for electing your Representatives is near at hand, and considering the peculiar Circumstances of the Province, and of this Town in particular, it becomes the indispensable Duty of every one of you, My BRETHREN, to stand forth in Support of such Men as shall appear best Qualified to answer the best Purposes, and most inclined to pursue them. Those Purposes are first to preserve pure and inviolate, our happy Constitution from every Encroachment, by whatever Hand it may be attempted: Secondly, to preserve the Liberties and Privileges of the People, by maintaining the Justice of this Province, with a Salary from the King independent of the Courts of Justice, in the Establishment of his Friend as Chief-Justice of this Province, who protested against your patriotic Resolves for the Non-Admission of the detested Tea, and the Assertion of your own Rights----who discarding every Sentiment of Humanity, every Spark of Christian Charity, could silence the Solicitations of interceding Friends, for the Wife and Five Children of an honest, industrious, unfortunate Man, confined in Prison, by impiously calling his Maker to witness his cool and fixed Determination that nothing but Death should release him. If a Man with such private Wishes to wound the Constitution of his Country, with such public Proofs of his dangerous Principles to their Liberties, and of his Contempt of the general Voice of the People, and curs'd with so hard and unchristian a Heart, shall venture to offer himself to your Choice, I need not point out to you the proper Conduct---The Horror and Indignation which must fill every honest and patriotic Mind will be it's sufficient Director.

If another Candidate shall appear who boasts being the Tool of a Party, that is Seeking to embroil the Government and make an unhappy Division in the People, who is said to be artfully endeavouring to procure a most dangerous Innovation in your Constitution, as President of the People, who protested against your patriotic Resolves----who discarding every Sentiment of Humanity, every Spark of Christian Charity, could silence the Solicitations of interceding Friends, for the Wife and Five Children of an honest, industrious, unfortunate Man, confined in Prison, by impiously calling his Maker to witness his cool and fixed Determination that nothing but Death should release him. If a Man with such private Wishes to wound the Constitution of his Country, with such public Proofs of his dangerous Principles to their Liberties, and of his Contempt of the general Voice of the People, and curs'd with so hard and unchristian a Heart, shall venture to offer himself to your Choice, I need not point out to you the proper Conduct---The Horror and Indignation which must fill every honest and patriotic Mind will be it's sufficient Director.

Among the many Candidates named, let me advise you, my Brethren, not to suffer to be imposed on you, any who is the meer Tool of any Party, for he who blindly and thoughtlessly on all Occasions gives his Voice on one Side only, is but a Machine to be moved at the Will of others; but seek for able and independent Men who are warmed with the first great Principle public Spirit, which is the Procurement of the public Good. Elect such, and such only----they, you may be assured will be faithful to the Trust reposed in them, and you will do your Duty as good Citizens and true Patriots.

An independent Freeholder.

Portsmouth March 20, 1774.