The Kentucky Gazette

Mr. Bradford,

We have been credibly informed, that the very notable meeting at Lexington on the 28th of August, consisted of but five men who have any pretensions to information, not to say, respectability; and that they were not unanimous, as was asserted. I have not yet heard what was the number who received, and voted the address to the president—probably the same. It would be well when these accounts of Town meetings, are published, that you would require some accuracy in them; for we country people find ourselves most grossly imposed upon, as well on account of their numbers, as by their assertions. Many concurring in error may give it weight; but the falsehoods of a few are always contemptible. Now sir, as many of us in the country take our politics from the town, I pray you do not deceive us any more in these matters, lest you should be the cause (though doubtless the innocent one) of leading us into fatal mistakes. These town people made so much noise last year, spoke so big, and opened so many correspondences, that many of us were almost ready to join our brethren insurgents, in the other parts of the United States particularly those in Monongahila. And I verily believe if the United States army had not been marched over the mountain, when it was, that many of us would have been drawn completely into the scrape. I mention these things to show you how much mischief may be done by misrepresentation, calculated to disturb our peace, inflame our passions, and mislead our judgments. Therefore I hope sir, that you will not again represent a meeting of five or six persons, as a general meeting of citizens from the different parts of the state, without giving us your authority.

A READER.