American Historical Ephemera & Early Photography Online

"To The People." Printed broadside, ca early 1820s. 1p, approx. 8 3/4 x 11 1/4 in. (toned, scattered spotting, chipping at edges, approx. 1 3/4 in. tear near center left). Signed in type "A Citizen of Massachusetts." Anonymous author voices complaints about wages of elected officials. Provenance: Schofield Collection of Political Memorabilia.

The author opens the argument with a clear statement of intent: "As we are enjoying peace at home and abroad, and every one can sit under his own vine and his own tree, with none to molest or make him afraid; when can be a more proper time to look into our public expenditures and see if they are managed with economy and prudence. We know when one attempts to suggest a reform of the times he is generally branded with the epithet of a radical, democrat, jacobin, &c... In this case we do not appear to a few pampered office holders, but to the good sense and intelligence of the people themselves...." From there the author provides a comparison of expenditures with the neighboring states of Vermont and New Hampshire, arguing that Massachusetts pays "enormous salaries" to public officers. The author then continues that there are too many judges on the bench. "The people can very easily correct these abuses, only let them be FIRM and UNITED at the next election, in support of those candidates that advocate a reform, and these EVILS vanish." In his final statement, the author asks "The People" to circulate the broadside as extensively as possible, "as the editor off the Hampshire Gazette [possibly the Daily Hampshire Gazette of Northampton, Massachusetts] has refused to publish it, for reasons best known to himself."

RARE. We locate no copies of this in Rare Book Hub or OCLC.