"^^^ m. JLIBRARY OF CONGRESS.! I ^^/ H^^ I .=^.//._v.U,.iS.(/t I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, J «-"^":5? AN ADDRESS TO THE CITIZENS OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, ON THE APPROACHING ELECTION OF STATE OFFICERS. Bv A CITIZEN -^ A^^r *-»$► O- *> -^ -^ *2> *S»' , have for- merly defpifed public opinion, and thwarted the generous purpofes of the People. But their day of rule and infult is over ; and never, never may it retutn ! The Philanthropifts of this age have nobly exerted them- felves to effsdl the total difTolution of that baleful union of Church and State, which has inpaft ages rendered the na- tions pre-eminently miferable. With us, Fellow-Citizens, this uaion is not a.llov/ed to exift, though much pains has been taken to eftablifh It. We have learned, that without the enjoyment of Religious Liberty, there can be no real and permanent political freedom. Church and State, ur.it- ed againft the People, involve them in horrid darknefs, and bind them with cruel fetters — And Vv'e have yet too many among us in this State, who would rejoice to fee us in this wretched fituation. It depends on us to affeft a decieafe of their number and influence, by advancing, to the higheft trufts, men who abhor every fpecies of tyranny and oppref- fion J that we be no longer impofed on by thofe who are for managing the government, not with a philanthropic fpirit, but fo as fhall beft anfv/er their own fordid purpofes, and who would, were it in their power, put a final end to the exercife of reafon among the People. For this tJiey. would have Religion and Politics united, that proud and haughty prietls and flatefmen might be the onIy_£iiinY£XiL- (J J fure. Our government is calculated to ftir up Citizens to enquiry, by which we fhake off prejudices, and become more and more unit€d in fentiments of love and good will towards each other. If we fuffer ourfelves to be debarred from free enquiry, we are then no longer men, we are no longer rationais. There are too many of thofe among us, who would have Government and Laws unalterably fixed, and no room left for improvement of either. Thefe men, could they have their way, would eftablifh a perpetual ty- ranny. Let lis be careful, Citizens, to avail ourfelves of the bleflings of a government, founded on the trueft and nobleft principles, *♦ adopted on full inveftigation and ma- ture deliberation, co7?ipletely free, in its principles, uniting fe- curity with energy, and containhtg nuithin Hjelf a provifton far- its own ame/idment,"* Let us in choofmg our Public Officers,. z£t agreeably to the di6lates of reafon. and confcience, and jn feeking the happinefs of our own State, feek that of the Union. It is thus we (kail act wifely and efiedlually, and pofterity will remember us with gratitude, for the bleflings we fhall hand dov/u to them. The People of New-England are faft emerging from the tnthrallment of men difaffeded to Liberty. They muft ever remember the ** revolutionary motto, umted we J^andy divided ^e fall.''* In that period when men's fouls were tried, the Northern aa.l Southern States were defbitute of Ijnifter and local prejudices. Such may thsy gver remain, under their prefent free governments — of or*^ heart and one fiul-^ one and indivifible. This will conftitute our ftability, glory and felicity ; and no power on earth fhall be able to wreft from us our great and invaluable bleflings. The continuence of men in office for fo many years fuc* ceffively, is contrary to the rotatory principle eftabliffied by the Conftitution 5 a wife principle, and of high importance both to the prefervation of liberty, and the encouragement of citizens to qualify themfelves to ferve their country. In fuch a government as ours, men in public ftations are fenfible that their abilities, i-ntegrity and faithfulnefs are their only recommendations to the public favor, and fuch men will not be defirous of continuing in their offices to the excluflon of others equally capable with themfelves. In a free coun- try, the meafures purfued by the adminiftration, are freely L.L.l lor their approbation or dif^pprobation ; and none csn adlv againft their interefts with impunity. This h:^.s been lately- evidenced in the United States, highly to the credit and honor of the people, who, with one voice, difmiffed fronj their fervice thofe who abufed the truft repofed in them. — LiCt us fhew the fame fpirit and energy, and v>e fhall ex- perience the good efieds of a change of ofKcers, and rife in due refpe(5tability among our filler States. Let thofe who have. been under the inPiUence of deugning men, confederat- ed with a difaffe<5^ed p.-?rty, aiming to promote difcorJ, and to eiFed a feparation of tlie States, exeit thofe powers of reafon which the creator has beftov/ed upon them, in a diligent enquiry into the m^nagsment and views of men who have been fo long in oBF^ee. Suffer not yourfelves to be led by thofe who v/ould make ufe of your money to rivctt on you and poller ity the chains of flavery. Or are you content always to go in leading (trings ? Are you not ac- countable to God and your Country for the improvement of your rational faculties ? Or, are any of you, who, in our revolutionary llruggle, exerted a noble fpirit of freedom and independence, become fo loft to public virtue, as, for the fake of fordid felf inlereft, to yield yourfelves to the guidance of the decided enemies of liberty, and of the true intereft.s of oyr country ? Shameful degeneracy ! And fliame, dif- grace and wretchednefs ivill, fooner or later, reward fuck apoftacy ; unlefs, calling to mind what you once were, you rouze from your infatuatio:n, and, calling away the fetters which are binding you, you becorae, jouv former fdves ; otherwife, your unprincipalled leaders, taking, advantage of the fordid and avaricious difpofition you have fuffered to grow upon you, will, by the ufe they v/ill make of you, convince you, perhaps for ever loo late, of your folly in. fubmitting to become their tools. We have every reafon' to hope, Fdlow-Citizens, that the union of the United States, fo glorious to cur country, is eftablifhed on the moft durable foundation, which no efforts of thofe who are inimical to it, vi/ill ever be able to fubvert. The great and Increafing knov/Iedge and experience of the people, daily convinces them more and more of its impor- tance to their fecurity and profperity ; and converts from federal or monarchical and ariftocratical do<5lrines, are mul- LLl «rafty men, lying in wait to dec.-ive. They will become afl iiliv'-- lo their irvaluabie interti's, and with the fpirit which Sred their fouls in former times of confIi ]^ addrefs you. For what friend to Liberty and to his. country can think, withouj: the deepeft anxiety, on the ap* pearances of difaffedion or treachery among Republicans, or without horror on the awful confequences that muft fol- low continued and increafmg c'ivifions and animofities a- raong ourfelves ! What deftructive v;ork was carrying on. in the fouthern States, by falfe-hearted and apoftate Pvepub- licans, ia a vile confederacy with \\\z federal fa fi ton I But (thanks to Keaven !) the Genius of Liberty triumphed over their treacherous machinations \ — And is there not too folid grounds for the affertion, that there is am.ong us a derelic- tion of principle for felfifli ends, and diviiions arifmg from ambitious defigns, perfonal refentments, and federal or tory influence ? Think not that I am influenced by the vanity oF A fuperficial mind, or that I write from any felfifh view. It is thehappinefs of my country, and the love of freedom that infpires ray pen, and the dantrers to which we are expcfed - frnrn^iVlikjfnends. as well as_/i:nm_iiiorejc/mfoicjini4=.=^ Cjo ) Liberty, than enjoy the moft exalted ftation in a world of daftardly cringing flaves, or afTociate and harmonize with men betraying their country from felfifti views, or for fordid gain. It is too fhamefully true, that many are indiffeient, others wavering, and that fome hsve forfaken the caufe in^ which they were once zealouily and fuccefsfully engaged. — O God of benevolence ! — Is fuch the return we make to thee for the great things thou haft accomplilhed for us, when we appealed to thee for the jnflnefs of our caufe, and thou anfweredft us with the moft propitious foiiles, and tlte moft aftoniftiing difplays -^f thy protefting goodnefs. No fooner had we triumphed over our enemies, and ef- tabliflied our Independence, than many of ns forgot our high-ftanding, and the divine pov/er that exalted us into a nation the moft refpedable on earth ; and v;e became dif- graced by divifions among ourfelves. It is fuch bafenefs and folly, and ingratitude to Heaven, which, fhould it pre- vail, muft inevitably prove our ruin ; and our enemies will triumph over us with a malignant joy. No true Republi- can would wifli to furvlve fuch a defeat. The Patriot Cato, of Royiie^ conld not out-live his country's wretched degrada- tion ; it burft his noble heart — and he bid adieu to a world given up to tyrants as a fcourge for human ingratitude, and took his feat in the manfions of unfuUied honor, and un- clouded glory.— But, fhould this fhameful degeneracy, from principle, grow upon us, and, (which may gracious Hea- ven avert !) our enemies gain the afcendancy through cur egiegions folly — ftill true-hearted Republicans will be glo- rious ; they 'vill ftiil be the excsllent of the earth ; and the -^RA of Jefferson, and the illuftrious worthies, who now adorn and aggrandize our Country, and dignify human nature, will, in future ages, be celebrated and admired in- every region cf the world. If the love of Country, Fellow-Citizens — of Liberty, c^ virtue — If wifdom to plan, and energy to execute meafures efFe<5lually conducive to the f-ifety and profperity of the States and the General Government — If thefe are things valu ble in your eyes, then Jefferson and his real friends muft be ever high in your efteem. The advancement and fupport of fuch men will do honor to your Country, render receive the plaudit of Heaven, and all the 'beneficent beingc who exlft through wide creation's range. Col. JOHN LANGDON, Fellow-Citizens, is the citizen we recommend to you as candidate for your Governor, as de- ferving of your choice, as he is well known by all the friends of Liberty and of the Union, as the fame changelefs and invariable Patriot. Fmruary 1804. ■//•■• ^^ >»>^3 ► J> U5> J> :3^:3^>v> > 2> 3S»^:>:> ^ 3> ^ .-S3>X>> >S3- , . -> > »> : . ^ > > > >~) > >■> •»^^> . ^ >^ ■^>.:f>^ ;> ^^'> o> :»i>z>x> >3 ^^: >- :> , -J ^ W^ .. ~>\' > ' ;^- 3^ ^' ^ > "^ 3)3 >.^~: ) >^>' >>^ ^ > -»>'3 3 3$ ^ ^