Dobbs County, NC - 1st 1788 Election News

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Newbern, June 12

Extract of a letter from Dobbs County dated March 31, which by some
accident was not received before last week.

"At an election lately held in the county of Dobbs for Delegates to the
Convention, the candidates were Richard Caswell, James Glasgow, John
Herritage, Benjamin Sheppard and Bryan Whitfield, who were looked upon
by the people as federalists; and Abraham Baker, a Baptist preacher,
Absalom Price, who occasionally exhorts, Moses Westbrooke, Isaac Croom
and Jacob Johnston, (who returned home as soon as he had voted)
antifederalists. The abilities of these different gentlemen, proposed
as the guardians of the liberties and safety of the nation, I leave to
the world to judge of.

"About three hundred and seventy persons voted; there are upwards of
seven hundred in the county; and it is more than probable that every
person of the antifederalist party appeared, for they had been stirred
up even from the pulpit (being mostly Baptists) and circular letters
had passed from meeting to meeting, and from preacher to preacher. This
scheme is said to have originated in the brain of a policican [sic]
in the full enjoyment at all times of one or more lucrative offices 
under this state, and that his most pious friend has been the principal
agent.

"On Saturday evening as the tickets were counting out some disorder took
place by which means the lights were struck out, and in the confusion
in the dark, the box which contained them was so misplaced that it seems
the Sheriff will not be able to make return of any persons being duly
elected. It is here remarked, that every person who was in the time of
war called tories and luke warm whigs, are now strong antifederalists;
and some of them have already the boldness to say aloud let North
Carolina reject the proposed constitution if all other states adopt it;
and if she should not be able to stand alone when she needs succor no
doubt that Great-Britain will assist."

Source: June 30, 1788
        The Daily Advertiser

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Guy Potts - gpotts1@nc.rr.com
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