To the Voters of the Vth Congressional District

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TO THE VOTERS OF THE VTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

Fellow Citizens! Are we, or any considerable proportion of us, really in favor of Mr. Maclay's re-election?¹ Do we suppose that Williamsburgh is so bare of intellect and ability, that we must always choose our representatives from New York? Are we so prejudiced in favor of slavery, that we agree with the President and Mr. Maclay in keeping Free Kansas out of the Union until she has double the population necessary to admit her as a Slave State?

These are the questions we have to answer at the polls to-morrow. Williamsburgh has, at every Congressional election, presented the names of good men—of candidates whose election would have done honor to the District; but unfortunately we have presented too many of them at a time. In 1856 we had three good men in the field—and they cut each other's throats. This year we are wiser, and have presented but one of them. Can we not, shall we not, for the sake of the good old Burgh and its good old citizens, rally upon one of the best of them and elect him?

We need not tell any Williamsburgher who Philip Hamilton is.² The untarnished bearer of a great and glorious name—the friend and helper of every useful and benevolent movement in our midst—ranking in social and professional position with the highest, yet always affable, generous, friendly, sociable, to honest men of every degree—living among us many years, actively engaged in political and all other controversies, yet bearing himself so thoroughly in the spirit of a true gentleman, so that never one imputation was made upon his character or conduct, or one opponent converted into an enemy—this is the man whom Williamsburgh proposes to honor, while she equally honors herself, by sending him to Congress.

What has Mr. Maclay done for this district or the country in Congress, that he should be sent there for a second term? What had he ever done, in or for the district, that entitled him to be sent there at all? That he has considerable ability we grant, but the more is he blameable for allowing himself to sink into the pliant tool of an infatuated Executive.

It has been said of Mr. Maclay by the Administration presses, that while the seats of other Lecompton members were in doubt, his, at least, was secure.³ And why? Because hitherto Williamsburgh has never been true to herself, and it was supposed she never would be. Let us falsify these expectations, by giving our honored and distinguished fellow citizen such an overwhelming majority here, as not all the illegal voting and profuse expenditure of Mr. Maclay's friends in New York can overcome!

Mechanics and laborers of Williamsburgh, to you especially we appeal in this behalf. The approaching winter will be a trying one to many of you. Let us get a Congressman of our own, one resident among us, whom you all know and to whom you can at any time speak freely; and then whatever in the way of government appropriations or public work can be obtained for the district, to relieve the stagnation of employment, will be yours. Many of you know by experience how delusive Mr. Maclay's promises have proved—all who are acquainted with Mr. Hamilton know that his word is his bond. Had he been a man of less fastidious sense of honor he might have been elected long since. We happen to know that he had success within his grasp in 1854, had he been willing to adopt what the politicians considered a very innocent course, but which Mr. Hamilton's nicer and more scrupulous morality forbad his resorting to.

It is this preference of his for principle over party—the perfect confidence which we all have in Mr. Hamilton's rectitude and integrity—which enables men of all parties to combine upon him as an anti-Administration candidate. We know that if elected he will redeem his pledges—that no Presidential threats will awe or bribes seduce him from the path of duty and the fulfilment of his engagements; and knowing this, let us one and all vote and work for him, and by electing him prove to the New Yorkers (and to the Western District also) that residence in Williamsburgh is no longer a disqualification for holding prominent office.

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