struction which will attend the adoption of the federal Constitution. He pleads, in a mournful strain, much about woful experience. From this circumstance, I am induced to suppose Vox Populi was an adherent of the celebrated Shays, in his unfortunate expedition the last winter, and wofully experienced the misfortune attendant on the insurgents, through the energy of government. However, the inhabitants of Massachusetts may be assured, that they will have Woful Experience with a witness, if they suffer themselves to be led away by such ignorant, knavish and designing numbheads as Vox Populi and his clan, so far as to reject the plan of federal government proposed by the Convention. Vox Populi complains that our source for taxes is exhausted, and says we must have a new system for taxation: but he must consider, that if the federal government is adopted, we shall not have occasion to employ the legislature so great a part of the year as we are now obliged to do; of consequence, government will be able to apply their money to better uses than paying anti-federalists, while they are spreading their poisonous vapours through the already too much infected atmosphere.

Mr. Vox Populi remarks, that some people are already taxed more than their estates are worth; in this instance I sincerely believe he speaks the truth. But what is the occasion of their being thus taxed? It is because they make a show as though they have property, though in fact it belongs to another; they live sumptuously, and riot in the property of their unfortunate creditors. Perhaps Mr. Vox Populi is one of this class, and has wofully experienced a taxation more than his whole estate is worth: if he is, I would advise him, instead of employing his time in belching out his "de factos, plene proofs" and other chit-chat of the like kind, and disseminating his execrable "ideas," to go about adjusting his affairs, as it will tend more to his honour, and perhaps be the means of saving him from the woful experience of confinement in a place much more fit for him than that in which he now is.

I pity Mr. Vox Populi's weakness and conceit, in thinking he and others of his class have accents not less majestick than thunder, as I really think he is very singular in his opinion. Instead

of his "accents" being majestick as thunder, they are as harmless and insignificant as the feeble breeze.

Citizens of Massachusetts, look well about you; you are beset by harpies, knaves and blockheads, who are employing every artifice and falsehood to effect your ruin. The plan of federal government is fraught with every thing favourable to your happiness, your freedom and your future welfare: if you reject it, posterity will execrate your memories, and ceaselessly insult your ashes: if you adopt it, they will revere your departed shades, and offer up libations of gratitude on your tombs.

May that wisdom which is profitable to direct guide your judgments and may you, by adopting the federal government, secure to yourselves and your posterity every social and religious advantage, and every national blessing.

CASSIUS.

CASSIUS, IV.

THE MASSACHUSETTS GAZETTE,

(Number 385)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1787.

For the Massachusetts Gazette.

Anarchy, with her haggard cheeks and extended jaws, stands ready, and all allow that unless some efficient form of government is adopted she will soon swallow us. The opposers to the plan of government lately agreed upon by the federal convention have not spared their censures upon it: they have stigmatized it with every odious appellation that can be named; but amidst all their railing, have not so much as hinted at a form of government that would be proper for us to adopt: and even if they had, it would have remained for us to examine, whether they were mer of more honesty, greater abilities, and firmer patriots and friend to their country, than the members of the late convention; and whether the form of government, which they might propose, was better adapted to our situation and circumstances, and freer from imperfections, than the one which has already been proposed to us. But it is not the intention of the opposers to the plan of federal government, founded on firm and truly republican principles; as, in that case, their aims would be entirely defeated, as it would put it out of their power to stir up sedition and discontent; and they would be lost in obscurity, or move in a most contemptible sphere.

I have before hinted, that the opposers of the plan of federal government are composed of knaves, harpies and debtors; and, I

trust, it will soon appear, what I have said is not a bare assertion only, but a matter of fact.

I shall now proceed to make a few remarks on the conclusion of "Vox Populi's," or rather Vox Insania's, production which appeared in last Friday's paper.

Vox Populi requests the inhabitants of Massachusetts "to pay that attention to the federal constitution which the importance of its nature demands;" and informs them, that they "have hazarded their lives and fortunes (by the way, a wonderful piece of news) to establish a government founded on the principles of genuine civil liberty," &c. I join with him in his request. And am confident if that attention which is requisite is paid to the proposed plan of federal government, that it will meet with the hearty approbation of every well wisher to the freedom and happiness of his country. It is true, that the inhabitants of America have hazarded their lives and fortunes to establish a free and efficient government; but will Vox Populi, that moon-light prophet, pretend to say that such a government is at present established? Vox Populi goes on to inform us, that, by adopting the new plan of government, we shall make inroads on the constitution of this State, which he seems to think will be sacrilegious. His narrow and contracted ideas, his weak, absurd, and contemptible arguments, discover him to be possessed of a mind clouded with the gloom of ignorance, and thick with the grossest absurdity. Strange it is, that that babbler should suppose it unjustifiable for the people to alter or amend, or even entirely abolish, what they themselves have established. But says Vox Populi, perhaps the new plan will not have the same number to approbate it, that the constitution of this State had. Perhaps Vox Populi will be hung for high treason. There is, in my opinion, as much probability in the latter perhaps, as in the former. Pray, Mr. Vox Populi, if I may be so bold, what reason have you to judge that there will not be so many for adopting the constitution proposed by the convention, as there were for adopting the constitution of this State some years ago? Do you suppose the inhabitants of Massachusetts have depreciated in their understanding? or do you suppose that the sublimity of your jargon has blinded them with

respect to their best interests? If you suppose the former, I think you have not been much conversant with them of late, or that your intellects are something defective. If you suppose the latter, in my opinion, you are no better than a downright Fool.

Vox Populi sets out to touch the consciences of men in office, in representing the solemnity of an oath. It seems almost impossible that any one should be so stupidly blinded to every dictate of reason and common sense, as to start such things as have been mentioned by Vox Populi, to deter men from using their influence to effect the adoption of the new plan of government.

Can that shallow-pated scribbler suppose that an oath taken by rulers to stand by a form of government, adopted by the people, can be of any force or consideration if the people choose to change that form of government for another more agreeable to their wishes?

But (in order without doubt to strike a greater dread upon. their minds) Vox Populi says, "the oath is registered in Heaven." Pray, Mr. Vox Populi, when was you there? and did you really see the oath registered? The constitution of this state was formed, and officers appointed under it, long since the awful battle was fought in Heaven, between Michael and the Prince of Darkness, and I cannot conceive of your admittance there in any other way than under the banners of his Satanick Majesty, who might suppose that such an unparelleled phenomenon would have an effect on the archangel that would be favourable to his cause.

Vox Populi asserts that the General Court* acted merely officially in laying the proposed plan of government before the people. No man of candour, sense and foresight, Mr. Vox Populi, will ask the reason of the General Court's laying the plan of government proposed by the federal constiution before the people, as their own minds will suggest to them the true reason for it, and none but those who are as stupid and ignorant as yourself, would suppose that the General Court acted merely officially in doing as they did. The General Court were undoubtedly influenced by motives of the best kind in what they did.

They without doubt were anxious that the people should have * The Legislature of Massachusetts was then so styled. Ed.