The New Hampshire Gazette

TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
No. V.

On the first of November next, we are called upon to decide the important question which we have been for some time considering, viz: Who shall be our representatives to the next Congress? We have a multiplicity of candidates before us, and may undoubtedly select from them a list that would do honor to the State. The candidate whose cause in these numbers I have particularly favored, would, I apprehend, if well known, require no newspaper recommendation to make him a favorite with the people; and this conclusion I draw, not from my own imagination, but from actual facts. Men of considerable distinction in the State, have been led to form unfavorable opinions of him, merely from the report of personal enemies, or from oblique hints and innuendoes thrown out by the capricious and ungenerous of his profession: and, have afterwards had the candor to acknowledge those opinions to be the result of prejudices, imbibed without just ground.

Should his enemies, political and personal, be tempted to act a neutral part, he would no doubt, be elected by a large majority.

I have said, that Mr. Evans has not received a collegiate education: as a scholar he is self taught; this, among the people at large, is no objection, it is rather a recommendation; but, whether we believe it or not, it carries a considerable sway against him among certain classes: now, I by no means despise the acquisition of a classical education, it is an advantage that every individual should highly prize, because so few possess the natural genius to overcome the want of it; but our young collegians should not speak of it with ostentation, they must remember that it never made a man of genius, and that the greatest man this country ever knew, was once a printer's boy, and rose to the high eminence which he occupied, by his own industry and application.

We will now turn to the subject of what are termed regular nominations, with a particular reference to the course pursued in selecting a candidate for this county. It is already generally understood, that this nomination was anything but a nomination on fair, open and honest principles, even admitting that there might be a fair method of expressing the minds of the people by a legislative caucus. This affair, I have already hinted at in a former number, but I think it necessary it should be recapitulated.

It has, it seems, been the practice with the members of our State Legislature during their session, to divide themselves into parties, representing each county, and for each of these parties to meet severally and select one candidate:—on this occasion, after a certain editor had signified his intention to support whatever nomination should be made, a secret whisper was issued to a few chosen ones, and at one hour's notice, a meeting of fifteen only, out of all the representatives of the county, was held: one of these fifteen having more independence than the rest, and actuated by principles of honor and fair dealing, remonstrated against their proceeding, without giving notice to all the representatives of the County, but to no purpose; they proceeded, and Ichabod Bartlett, Esq. having nine votes out of the fifteen, was declared by this dictating secret caucus, to be the candidate for the people of Rockingham, and the result has consequently been handed to the citizens of the County as the "regular nomination." That there was a considerable majority of the representatives of Rockingham in Mr. Evans' favor, was well understood at that time, and hence the cause of this management getting another candidate nominated, and calling it the county nomination. I make these remarks particularly to those who are in the habit of adhering strictly to "regular nominations," whether they will submit to be thus dictated by a secret caucus, altogether managed by one man, is a question for them to decide on Monday next.

Fellow-citizens, I now once more invite you to give Mr. Evans your votes to represent you in the next Congress. He is, in the first place, a man in whom you may place entire confidence as a Republican; secondly, his natural abilities are certainly of a superior order; thirdly, his acquired talents are highly respectable, and, as I apprehend, in these two points, not inferior to any now before you; lastly, though not least, his moral character is unspotted and unimpeachable. Should you place that confidence in him which I sincerely hope you will, I am confident his fidelity in the execution of that important trust may be relied on. He has, notwithstanding, two faults, which, though I have already hinted at them, as I mean to be sincere with you at all points, I deem it my duty to repeat in plain terms: the first fault then, is the same as "Tom Tackle's," he is "poor;" and secondly, notwithstanding his poverty, he has the extravagance to keep and maintain opinions of his own.

EUGENIUS.