Jenks' Portland Gazette

A calm appeal to the understanding of the PEOPLE.

FELLOW CITIZENS,

THE question to be submitted to you on the first day of April next, is whether you will have CALEB STRONG or James Sullivan for your Governor, the ensuing year. I wish you to consider this question dispassionately, that your decision may be right. On questions of public importance, the passions should be laid asleep, and reason should exercise her empire.

The character and qualifications of Governor Strong are known to you. Five successive elections, by great majorities, sufficiently prove the confidence you repose in his patriotism and integrity. To reject him now in favor of another candidate, without any cause assigned for the change, will be to discover a capriciousness and instability, by which the people of Massachusetts cannot be governed. You will not disparage your former doings, by deserting Governor Strong at the approaching election, unless it can be shown that he has justly forfeited your good will, by some bad deed done, or some good one omitted. If any of you have been prevailed upon by the clamours of his enemies, to call in question his virtues; let me ask you a few questions. Why did you prefer Governor Strong, five years ago to Mr. Gerry, at least as good a man as his present competitor? Why have you continued to prefer him, every year since, to the several candidates who have been presented to you; Judge Sullivan among the rest? Is it because you were not then republicans, but have now become so? Or is it because his political character is not the same? You have been told at the eve of every election, for five years past, with the same assurance as now, that Governor Strong was a tory. But still you voted for him and he was chosen. Did you thus give him your support, believing him to be a tory? Or did you think the charge a base and groundless calumny? Certainly I need not answer these questions for you. In spite of all the bitter and cruel misrepresentations of this gentleman's character by his enemies to answer the purposes of party, you believed and you still believe him to be a true friend to his country, an honest, upright, wise and patriotic magistrate. Let a single act of his administration, or even of his private life and conversation, be produced; which shall shew the least tendency to anti-republicanism or toryism, and I will instantly, for one, abandon him.

In times of old, and they were corrupt times, a man was disgraced because of his virtue. The people were so generally vicious and profligate that the presence of a just and virtuous citizen was offensive to them, it operated as a continual satire upon irregularity and extravagance. Such citizens were banished, because the people were tired of hearing them called just: Let it not be said of the citizens of Massachusetts, so early at least in their history; that they had chosen a wise and prudent man to rule over them, but that he was too virtuous for them. That being tired of having constantly before their eyes, in the person of their chief magistrate, a pattern of wisdom, patriotism, and christian perfection; they cast him down and set up one in his stead whose severe virtues would not rebuke their effeminacy.

Hear the language of his enemies, and say whether they do not tacitly acknowledge his superiority to his rival. "The question, say they, is not between the men, not whether Caleb Strong or James Sullivan shall succeed, but tis a question of principle." -Now is not this as much as to say that the world would probably prefer Strong to Sullivan. But what is the principle contended for? I know of none, in dispute. The real state of the case is, that the supporters of Judge Sullivan, having tasted the sweets of one revolution in public opinion, are eager to bring about another. Office is all they are after. They hope under a new administration, to sweep off by impeachment, all the Judges of your Courts and all other officers; to make way for those of themselves and their friends, who are not already provided for by the President of the United States. This is the principle and only principle of their opposition, and for this are willing to convulse the state to its center, and excite a spirit of party, which goes to the destruction of all domestic and social happiness. That such is their object is proved by all their conduct and declarations, and was publicly announced in the last Chronicle, which exulting in expectation of success, has this remarkable expression, which undoubtedly is the sentiment of the whole party - "When this has occurred, meaning the election of Sullivan, the Feds may all unharness, put on their night caps and go to rest"

Now fellow citizens, are you willing to be the instruments of such a revolution. - Is it not enough that they have the federal offices at their disposal? Must every Judge, Sheriff, Clerk, Justice of the Peace in the state, unharness in order that the subalterns of democracy, who are not yet paid at the national treasury, may mount the saddle? if so, depend upon it you will soon be over rid. You will then find that those who flatter you mean only to master you. - Fellow citizens, trust not these interested and prejudiced men. Judge from experience; trust whom you have proved, and you will not be deceived.

ONE OF YOU.