The New Hampshire Gazette

COMMUNICATION.

An anonymous writer in a late Oracle, attempts to notice a recent controversy between "Mercator," and one whom he calls, an "assumed Mechanic." Instead of attempting to vindicate the cause of the federal merchants, by a candid reply to "a mechanic;" he endeavors to evade the subject by sneering insinuations (contrary to truth) that this system of persecution, which has been the chief Subject of the above mentioned controversy, was founded by republicans. He says, "the assumed Mechanic would do well to ponder on the genuine stem of persecution introduced by Thomas Jefferson—" If Mr. Jefferson ever introduced any such system, it is unknown to the writer of this; on the contrary he thinks it easy to prove that the birth-day of this system of persecution was within a few weeks after the commencement of the Cockade Administrations—

If Mercator is in a pondering mood, he would "do well" to look a little further BACK, and ponder upon the genuine system of persecution, adopted, aided and pursued by the Knights of the Cockade, in removing Messrs. Whipple, Gardner and Yeaton, besides many other firm patriots of the revolution who were appointed by Washington, and all for no other reason than because they were firm republicans; "but this was no persecution—because the federalists done it." Respecting the exclusion of federalists from the government of the town, be it known to the Oracle man, that it would be well for him to ponder on some statements in the Portsmouth Oracle, previous to the election of town officers for that year (1809,) wherein the republican mechanics and laborers, were threatened with a perpetual non-employment act if they would be so obstinate as to continue this "mortifying" practice, of voting agreeable to their own inclinations; this was certainly no persecution!! But when the republican mechanics (who would otherwise never have thought of it) indignantly resented this outrage upon their right of suffrage by excluding these men from being their rulers and governors—Persecution! is the cry because it was done by republicans. We might here refer to the exclusion of all republicans from the municipal government of the towns of Newburyport, Exeter and other neighboring towns, Previous to this conduct so much complained of in Portsmouth. But enough has been said for the present, the inconsistency of the Oracle gentleman is already too obvious to escape notice. The republican mechanics have no objection to some federalists, to preside as town officers, on the contrary, they would in many cases be willing to vote for them, but they never will be driven to it by threats, nor "led by the nose." The Oracle gentleman seems to be fond of repeating "the assumed Mechanic," his intention the writer of this does not exactly understand, but if he means again to insinuate that the "Mechanic" has assumed a name that does not belong to him," the public may be assured that he is a real practitioner in mechanic arts, and if occasion should require it, he is by no means ashamed of being known. If or the contrary, he intends to throw any ridicule on the style of the mechanic, the mechanic is ready to acknowledge that he is far less a master of the pen than of the hammer—and though he has no pretensions to literary fame yet if an enemy attempts to croak against the rights and privileges of any of his order, he can occasionally use either.

A MECHANIC.