Daily National Intelligencer

FOR THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.

TO THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND.

"A good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit; for every tree is known by its own fruit." Thus says the Gospel. It is explained by the theologians to mean, that the effect will always be similar to the cause: the works of man will resemble his heart; nothing good can proceed from an evil spirit; no good fruit can proceed from a corrupt heart.

On reading an account of a trial at law, before Justice Pindell, between James Howard plaintiff, and Thomas H. Bowie and John N. Watkins defendants, in a pamphlet lately published, I was forcibly struck with the just application of the text to the conduct of the federal party in the wicked and nefarious transaction which was the ground of the dispute between the parties. It was proved on the trial, that Bowie and Watkins had employed Howard for six months, to go to Annapolis, in order to obtain a residence preparatory to the election in September next; that he was to vote the federal ticket; and that he was to be paid twenty dollars a month, and found in the meantime, without labor or service on his part. That a young man, in the country, named Martin Nichols, was a witness to the contract, who was employed on the same terms and for the same purpose. Partial payments had been made to Howard in pursuance of the contract, but the defendants having refused a full compliance, a warrant was issued, and the case was brought before Justice Pindell, who decided against the plaintiff, on the ground that the contract was contrary to law. Poor Howard being thus defeated by the unfaithfulness of his new friends, who had discovered that their project was hopeless in Annapolis, was told that "he might go home, as they could not effect the object for which he was employed." The object, the reader will have discovered, was to secure the election of the federal candidates—and that by bribery and corruption.

Many others were employed on the same occasion, sent to Annapolis, and boarded at the special charge of the Washington Benevolent Society at Baltimore.

What a prostitution of the sacred name of WASHINGTON!

The times scarcely afford an instance of such unblushing wickedness and treachery. In the catalogue of crimes, few are more heinous—few more to be dreaded than that of bribery, particularly when it is employed to destroy the freedom of election. Crimes are only to be measured by the injury done to society; and what injury can be greater than that which destroys the freedom of election? What injury can be greater than that which defeats the wise provisions of our free constitution? The injury, on such occasions, affects the whole body of the community, and of course is general in its effects. Bribery is a crime which, in its nature, is easily committed, and overwhelming in its progress, if once admitted.

The people of the United States live under the freest governments in the world; they enjoy the blessings of liberty in the most complete and ample manner. Their peace, liberty and safety are secured by the principles of their constitutions. But this happy and enviable state of society will be unavailing, if any set of men can succeed in subverting those principles by bribery and corruption. Every man of common sense must perceive, that if the party who style themselves federalists are permitted to control our elections by bribery, there is an end of liberty: we are no longer a free people. The majority will be ruled by a minority. An incalculable train of evils will follow, and our situation will be no better than that of the vassals of Europe. Come forth, then, my fellow citizens, in your might, and arrest the career of these men. They are unworthy of your confidence. "Nothing good can proceed from an evil spirit; no good fruit can proceed from a corrupt heart."

Some of the party have denied the fact; others admit and justify it. But the proof is sufficient to silence every doubt and satisfy every scruple. Bribery has been committed in the most shameless and deliberate manner. It was not the hasty, unadvised act of an individual, but the deliberate act of a society, acting in behalf of the federal party. It is fair to consider it as the act of a majority of the party.

What can you expect from such men? It would be vain, and worse than vain, to expect them to change their course. It is more rational to believe that they will increase in depravity, step by step. No man rises to the highest stage of iniquity but by degrees. Nero himself, under the instructions of Seneca, was a promising youth. Having bribed voters, they will next attempt members of the legislature.

"An evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil."

For many years past, the people of Maryland have been divided into parties—republican and federal. Each party has endeavored to support their pretensions to public favor. In the United States, the contest has been long since settled, and an overwhelming majority has declared in favor of the republican party. That majority is daily increasing. It is almost impossible it should be otherwise. Having the bright example of their illustrious ancestors before their eyes, the republican party has steadily pursued the course dictated by the principles of the revolution. The sentiments and opinions contained in the Declaration of independence are indelibly engraven on their hearts. It contains principles which they have ever maintained, and from which they have never deviated. They have administered the government in the true spirit of the constitution.
constitution: and the liberty and happiness enjoyed by every grade of society affords a strong presumptive proof, that it has been faithfully and ably administered. No people under the sun enjoy equal privileges and immunities. Their happy state is without a parallel among the nations of the earth.

Every man admits that the election of our representatives is an all-important duty. The selection ought to be made with prudence and discretion. The people will seldom make an imprudent choice if they act on sober reflection. But it is a fact too notorious to be denied, that many act under the influence of others. They are too apt to be governed by the opinions of men in whom they are induced to believe they may confide. It is time to shake off this thraldom of opinion. Reflect and judge for yourselves. The evidence of facts is within the reach of most men. Obtain this evidence, and conscientiously decide, whether you will attach yourselves to the republican party, who make the constitution and the laws the rule of their conduct, or whether you will adhere to the federalists, who are constantly and deliberately violating both. Suffer not your understandings to be any longer held in captivity. Reject the advice of men with whom merit is no recommendation, nor is innocence any protection. Separate yourselves from those whose whole conduct is governed by interest or party; from men who act as if they believed that the end justifies the means. The maxim is certainly anti-apostolic, and we are told by Divines, that even the good which is sought by unlawful means, has God's curse on it. All good men must abhor & detest the system of bribery and corruption lately practised by the federal party at Annapolis. No honest man can give his vote for any character, directly or indirectly concerned in it. Bribery has brought ruin and desolation upon many of the states of Europe. It cannot fail to have the same effect here, if suffered to be practised with success. Crush it then in embryo, & overwhelm its authors with disgrace. Withdraw from the party who have been guilty of it. Their conduct would blacken the character of a highway robber. Unite with the friends of the constitution: Convince the world, by a desertion of the federal party, that you have consulted your understanding. It is the voice of our laws, and the voice of reason, that these culprits should be bro't to punishment.

Here let us pause together—and let me ask upon what ground or principle it is that the federal party are now arranged in battle array against the administration of the general government? Is it because the people are in the full enjoyment of peace, liberty and safety? Or is it because, by faction and disunion, they expect to endanger or destroy the government?

For some years past, some among you have listened to the assertions of the party, that the administrators of our government were governed by improper motives, and were acting under a baneful influence. At one time you were told, that they were enemies to trade and commerce: at another, that they were under French influence: and again, that they had waged an unjust war. And altho' no honest man of common sense and information, ever believed one word of the matter, yet these assertions were made with a boldness and effrontery which caused many to doubt the correctness of the conduct of our rulers. These charges and insinuations were made, and repeated from day to day, and from year to year. They were disproved, and their authors defeated as often as they were brought forward, but malice being ever active, the faction returned to the charge. They seemed to consider calumny and slander as among the privileged orders, and that they might stalk abroad with their thousand brazen mouths to blast the reputation of the virtuous. But, my fellow-citizens, these pretended grounds of complaint have passed away. Our rulers, treading in the footsteps, of those immortal characters who achieved our glorious revolution, have maintained and preserved entire our rights; and they have established a fame not to be sullied by the feeble efforts of faction or ambition.

The civil government under which a man lives, and by which he is protected, demands his honor and reverence. It is his duty to support it as long as it is honestly and faithfully administered; and the path of duty is the way of safety. Jerusalem would not have fallen, had it not been for the factious and seditious within. The federal party hope to rise into power by effecting disunion; and their most powerful weapon is bribery and corruption. Let us, by a careful attention, endeavor to avoid the rocks and quicksands, upon which other nations have been wrecked. Frown into insignificance the authors of such deeds of darkness, and remember on the first Monday of September next, the words of the Gospel—"A good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit."

TRUTH.