IV. CONVENTION ELECTIONS

Schenectady Farmer, c. 20 April 17881
To the Inhabitants of the District of Schenectady.
Our antient and respectable Town, has long been famous for being
the most delightful Situation in the New World-our Air is wholesome,
and our Lands fertile to a Proverb: Yet, how art thou changed, oh, Place
of my Nativity! thy Streets are no longer the Resort of the Industrious
and Enterprising-the Bustle of Business is no longer heard-the Si-
lence of Night reigns at Noon-Day-the Noise of the Hammer sounds
no more-the Windows of thy Merchants are always barred, and thy
Streets are become green and pleasant Pastures-Peace brought Bless-
ings to all but thee-The Eyes of thine Inhabitants have long looked
West for the Rising of thy Commerce; until Weariness has closed them-
Thy FUR TRADE, which once enriched thee, is fled to those who lately
drew the Sword against thee-and with it has vanished the Bread of
the Poor and Industrious-Are not many, who once enjoyed a decent
Support by transporting Merchandize by Land and Water, now wan-
dering in Idleness and Want, while their Wives and Children lack a
Morsel of Bread?-Be wise then in this thy Day, and trace the Cause
of thy Wretchedness-Listen to the Voice of Reason and not of Party-
Why are the WESTERN POSTS locked against thee? Why are Niagara,
Detroit, and Meshellimackanec visited no more? Did they not once fill
thy Stores with the Treasures of the Wilderness? Did not Savage Nations
labour to enrich thee? Were not these Western Garrisons ceded to us
by solemn Treaty? And why are they now withheld?-The Weakness of
the Government of the United States was such, as left it in the Power
of the Ambitious and Designing to break over that solemn Treaty-
States and Individuals trampled upon it with Impunity-Great-Britain
laughed at our Folly and Weakness-withheld the Garrisons, and took
to herself this great Source of Wealth.-The tracing the Cause of our
Wretchedness, points out the Remedy: Give Powers to your own Rep-
resentatives which will be sufficient to compel the Performance of Trea-
ties as well as to make them-These Posts will be surrendered, and the
Evil removed-Come forward then and give your Votes for the adopt-
ing a Government, planned by the wisest Patriots of America, and al-
ready ratified by Six States-Then shall thy languishing Commerce
again lift its Head; Thy Merchants lament no longer the Want of Busi-
ness; Thy Farmers no more complain of low Markets, want of Money
and hard Times; Thy Mechanics eat the Bread of Cheerfulness; Thy
Carriers by Land and Water sing for Joy-and PEACE and PLENTY,
take the Place of Want and Sadness.
1. Broadside (Evans 45381); probably printed by Charles R. Webster.

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