Jenks' Portland Gazette

To the inhabitants of the District of Maine.

FELLOW CITIZENS,

A writer in the last Argus has taken up one or two of my observations in last Monday's Gazette, but has wisely avoided a contest with some other of my positions. I shall now prove that his words will not be of more use to his cause, than silence. I stated to you fellow citizens, that Gov. Strong, who has less opportunity than Judge Sullivan of being known in Boston, obtained more, than three quarters of the votes of that town. From this I concluded, that you would suppose Sullivan was much less respected, than Strong; and if a man has not a good character in his own town, where shall he expect one. Is not this fair and candid? But look at these words from last Friday's Democratic paper, "this writer has the insolence to infer, that because a majority of the votes in Boston are in favor of Mr. Strong, that we should submissively say amen, and vote for him also." "The freedom of election in that corrupted metropolis (Boston) is a mere shadow, the public voice is stifled." I am very sorry that the people of Boston, who we used to think were true friends of liberty, are so miserably enslaved. But this writer's assertion is false, and I will show his argument unfounded. Gov. Strong last April had almost Two thousand votes, Sullivan a little over one hundred. Although Mr. Tilden, a true Jeffersonian, had eleven hundred and thirty-six votes at the same election. Why at this rate Mr. Tilden's character is worth almost twice as much, as Judge Sullivan's. These electors of Boston were not afraid to vote for Mr. Tilden and the Hon Mr. Bowdoin, but I confess they were afraid to vote for Mr. Sullivan, and this was because they knew him. Even Benjamin Austin, a red-hot republican, who would perhaps eat every lawyer in the commonwealth, except Sullivan, secured, according to the official statement by which I go in mentioning the former votes, even Benjamin Austin secured eight hundred and forty-seven suffrages. Even Wm. Heath, who lives in Roxbury, got more votes in Boston than Judge Sullivan.

Fellow citizens, is not this convincing? Is it not candid reasoning? That Judge Sullivan's character is very little esteemed in his own town; so little, that any other man of his party can get more votes? Will you then support such a man for the first office in the commonwealth? Surely no!

SAGADAHOCK.

P.S. The Argus is desired to contradict this, if it can.