The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser

FOR THE POTOMAK GUARDIAN.

THE contest which at present exists between
Mr. Willis, two candidates in this district, for a seat in
the next Federal Legislature, has produced in your
paper many publications from the partisans of each
of these gentlemen, containing little else than per-
sonal invective and scurrilous recrimination.

This kind of correspondence,
through the medium of public prints, in my opini-
on, Mr. Willis, has only a tendency to increase the
spirit of party (already too prevalent) and to plant
the baneful seeds of disunion in the bosom of our
happy country. In a war of this nature, facts are
always exaggerated, and frequently misrepresented.

The hero of one party is invariably attempted to be
destroyed, not upon the solid basis of his own vir-
tues, but upon the destruction of the reputation of
his opponent. Can this be right? Can it be pro-
per? Reason and candour answers the interroga-
tive. No. In exercising one of the most important
privileges belonging to free men, in choosing their
representatives, into whose hands their property and
lives are committed, can it be right to cause
men to view candidates for this important trust
through false mediums, by alarming, prejudicing,
and troubling the public mind in this manner?

The people of this district are too enlightened (if
not to themselves) not to make a prudent choice of
representatives to represent them in the ensuing Congress.
Contemplation of ideas similar to the following, will
enable them to consider that we were once subject
to the tyranny of the British government; that a
universal indignation was awakened in the breast of
every freeman, against the oppressive influence of
arbitrary power; that under the banners of liber-
ty and the rights of man, we assembled, and
aided by the wise councils of WASHINGTON,
through his, we vanquished the tyrant of Britain,
and became free. They will then remember, that
we, enlightened by the experience of ages, and the
history of nations, voluntarily formed, for ourselves
a state constitution till energetic Constitution, under whose
benign influence we have since lived in happy secu-
rity.

When they have made these reflections, they
will see that the two candidates hold political
principles; they will consider, and endeavour
to ascertain from their public conduct and political
characters, which of them would be the most likely
to support this our happy Constitution, and there-
by to guard us from the awful and the horrible con-
sequences which the nature of man and the history of
governments teach us must inevitably flow from a
dissolution of it; and when they have ascertained
this important point, it were absurd, it were an in-
sult to their understandings to say they will hesi-
tate in their choice. This contest, Mr. Willis,
however studiously it may be kept out of sight, is not
a contest about individuals - it is not whether Mr.
Rutherford or Gen. Morgan shall represent us in the
next Congress, and partake of the political loaves
and fishes, but it is a contest that prevails in a grea-
ter or less degree throughout the United States, and
involves perhaps our political existence - it is a
contest whether our happy constitution shall be
supported or destroyed.

These things deserve, Sir, the most serious con-
sideration, not only of the people in this district,
but throughout the union. Some people's consciences
may cause them, perhaps, to imagine that I
am myself what I am condemning in other people, a
partisan advocate of faction. I anticipate the
objection, and deny the charge. I am a friend to
no party, merely from the spirit of party; so far as
the political creed of any party accords with what
I suppose to be for the good of the whole, I am its
friend, but no further. I care not whether Gen.
Morgan or Mr. Rutherford goes to Congress; I only
wish that man to go who will support our free and
admirable constitution, and transmit it entire (unless
constitutionally amended) to an admiring posterity.
Whether Gen. Morgan or Mr. Rutherford is the man,
who will probably act thus rationally, will be de-
termined by my fellow citizens.

I am, sir, yours, &c.
PHILO CONSTITUENT.
Frederick, October, 1796.