The New Hampshire Gazette

To the Freeholders
Of those Places in the Province of
New Hampshire, which enjoy the Privilege of
Sending Representatives to the General Assembly.

GENTLEMEN,

As you are now invited, agreeable to that
happy form of government under
which ye live, to chuse suitable per-
sons, to represent you, and make one of the
three branches, of which that form is com-
posed, you will not take it ill to be reminded
of the importance of making a wise choice,
even tho' your monitor should not be so
lucky, as to hit upon any sentiment, which
has the appearance of novelty--for in that
case the good-will ought to be kindly ac-
cepted, and awaken the caution of the
admonished.

You need no great labour to convince
you, that your choice is a matter of very
considerable consequence to your selves, if
you reflect, that your Representatives have
in a manner the command of your purses;
and that you constitute them the guardians
of your properties, liberties and privileges.
You are sensible-that exorbitant grants,
or misapplications of your monies, will in-
timately affect you, from whatever source
they spring. It will be much the same
thing in event, whether this happens thro'
avarice and selfish views, want of address and
dexterity in affairs, or meer ignorance. The
same may be said with respect to your Laws,
which are the Fountain of your liberties,
the defence of your persons and properties,
and the protection of all. It is presumed
you are not insensible, what place your Re-
presentatives hold in the business of Legisla-
tion.--To them it more especially belongs,
as being more acquainted with the condici-
on and circumstances of those they repre-
sent, to observe what laws already enacted,
have been found by experience to be in-
convenient, to alter, and amend them, and
introduce such new Laws as the situation of
public affairs demand; and in a word, so
to mould and frame them from time to
time as to make the whole a regular system,
analogous to those of our mother country,
differing only as circumstances differ, and
thereby making the administration of
justice easy, and expeditious:- Here is a
large field, and you will be ready to say,
(if you consider it well) who among us are
sufficient for these things? It is certain, in
proportion as these things are observed, the
affairs of a Government will be either in
good order and condition, or perplexed and
embarrass'd-- And if your choice fixes on
such as are wholly strangers to such matters,
are willing to continue in that ignorance, or
are so contracted in their views as to make
some scheme, to lessen the tax on their res-
pective towns or parishes, the main object
of their attention--or if they are so dull and
heavy in their proceedings, doubting and
hesitating in the plainest matters; or which
is still worse, if they care for none of these
things,--but only give their attendance to
bear their expences, while they do their own
private business: in any or all of these cases
you will be the principal sufferers, because
the public business will be neglected, left
undone, which in time will undo the people,
while the instruments of this mischief, will
take effectual care to be well paid for their
good services.

The consideration of these things fully
demonstrates, that the Election of Represen-
tatives, can at no time be justly deemed a
light and trifling affair; that to treat it with
indifference, must be, to say no more, an
argument of great insensibility, and inatten-
tion to the public good, and is cenurable
as a criminal negligence- And the more
so, when the public affairs are by any means
involved in difficulties, and the proper busi-
ness of past years, devolved on the present
time.-But by this time you may be ready
to enquire, what is to be done?-- We can
chuse no better men than we have--That's
true--but can you say you have always in
times past chose those you really thought
most capable of serving the public-- that,
to serve a turn, a party, or some particular
scheme, had not the least influence on your
choice.--To affirm the former, some may
think carries in it an imputation, of which
perhaps you wou'd not be fond.--
But however the conduct of past times
has been, it is more to the purpose to consi-
der the time present-- What is now to be
done?-- The answer is, do as ought always
to be (as well as to have been) done, in such
cases. Chuse those who are most capable
of the service,and there is no great difficulty
in finding them out.--There is no town or
parish, but the inhabitants, in the free exer-
cise of their own judgment, can easily turn
their eyes to the men among them most
capable of public business Such men, (to
allude to a phrase well known in country
towns) as have knowledge of the times, and
know what Israel ought to do. The people
never miss these men, when left to their
own judgment: and I make no question
but experience wou'd justify this assertion,
that in all the Governments in the planta-
tions, which are of this form, the best
Assemblies have been chosen. when there
has been the least pains and stir to influence
Elections-If you see persons dictating to
others whom they are to chuse, or telling
some plausible tale, to recommend their
friends,can you suppose them disinterested?
Can you think the public good the motive
at bottom--or when you see one making
interest to be chosen, is he not to be suspect-
ed of sinister views?-Who ever courted
labour, fatigue and trouble, without a view
to. some advantage resulting from it? - I
should therefore think a man who is really
capable of the service, disqualified for it,by
such a conduct-It would be an abuse of
Words. to call an Election, made pursuant
to either of these cases. the Vox Populi-
There is one mistake into which many of
you are apt to fall, that is, to think that an
honest man is qualified for any thing, tho
you have a proverb against you, which tells
you, every honest man is not fit for a justice
of the Peace.-- A man, however honest,
cannot take one step without knowledge of
the business he has to do. and by his prin-
ciples ought not. A man of capacity, tho'
he wants that good principle, may do well
to secure his reputation,-= a regard to his
character among men,may induce him to do
them all the good in this way, that is in his
power. Upon the whole,--You may easily
discover, that your Representatives, have a
great, and an arduous task to perform, of
which a meer honest man may be utterly
uncapable--In the discharge of which, you
are deeply interested--That as it is a mat-
ter o very interesting to you, rather more
than to themselves, it ought to awaken
your attention ; oblige you to cast off all
prejudice, renounce all party measures, keep
in view the good of the whole community :
Remember you are all members of one
family, or ( to bring it closer )of one body,
and that if one member suffers in the con-
nection and order of nature, all the other
members suffer with it.

I am your Friend, and a Freeholder
PUBLICUS.