The Memorial of the undersigned Magistrates of the County of Montgomery, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, sheweth; That they conceive it essential to the existence of a Republican Government, that Elections of Representatives of the People, should be absolutely free; that if the Executive employ the force intrusted in their hands to destroy the rights of the People, or permit to be so employed, it will amount to a dissolution of the Government; and that if any part of that force is so employed, it is evidence that such is the will of the Executive, until their disapprobation is evinced by the punishment of the offenders.

We therefore take this method to state to you a recent violation of that all important right of the People, the freedom of election; not doubting but this attempt, by a Military force, to prescribe to Freemen who they shall choose to represent them, will meet with the disapprobation of every department of the Federal Government.

We do therefore charge that Captain William Preston of the Troops of the United States, having command of a Company of Federal Soldiers at the Court House of Montgomery County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, on the 18th day of March 1793, and an election being then and there held for a Representative, from the said Commonwealth of Virginia, to the Congress of the United States, did interfere in, and endeavour to influence the said election.1

That the said Captain Preston at the election aforesaid, insisted his Soldiers should be polled, and evinced a determination to enforce the receipt of their votes, and caused them to vote for Francis Preston, one of the Candidates at the said election.2

That during the time of taking the Poll, at the said Election, the said Captain Preston caused his Company of Soldiers, repeatedly to march to the Court House, and parade and manuvre before, and around the same, to the disturbance, displeasure, and terror of the Voters assembled there, and with intent to intimidate those, who were in favour of Abraham Trigg, a Candidate at the said Election.3

That the said Captain Preston drew up his Company of Soldiers before that door of the Court-house into which Voters usually pass’d, near to the door, and kept them there a long time; during which time they obstructed, and hindred sundry voters, who were going into the said Court-house, to give their votes for, and in favor of the said Abraham Trigg.

That while the said Captain Preston had his Company of Soldiers drawn up, as aforesaid, one of the Soldiers struck, and knocked down a Justice of the Peace, for the said County of Montgomery, in the presence, and by the approbation of him, the said Captain Preston, without any just provocation.

That the said Captain Preston permitted his Soldiers to mix with the voters at the said Election, among whom they conducted themselves in an assuming, insolent, turbulent, and riotous manner; in which he the said Captain Preston encouraged them, by his presence and approbation.

That by approbation of him the said Captain Preston, the said Soldiers assaulted insulted, and threatned, to beat those Voters who were in favor of the said Abraham Trigg at the said election.

That during the election aforesaid, some of the said Soldiers assaulted, and abused a Magistrate of the said County, in the execution of his Office, by the approbation of the said Captain Preston.

That others of the said Soldiers, by approbation of him the said Captain Preston did place themselves before the door of the Court-house, into which Voters usually passed, at a time when the Company was not paraded there, and there used violence to prevent the Voters who were in favor of the said Abraham Trigg from going in, to give their votes.

That at some time during the continuance of the election aforesaid, the said Captain Preston placed himself in the Courthouse, and caused a strong Fellow, whom he had there for the purpose, to throw out of the Court-house, such persons as rendered themselves obnoxious to him, by voting in favor of the said Abraham Trigg.

That the said Captain Preston caused some of his Soldiers to possess themselves of the door of the Court-house into which Voters usually passed, who while in possession thereof, forcibly kept out Voters, who attempted to pass into the said Court-house in order to give their votes.

That the said Captain Preston treated with contempt, the authority of a Magistrate, who ordered him to take the Soldiers, who were acting riotously, away from among the Voters.

That the said Captain Preston concerted with his Soldiers to raise an affray with the Country-men, who voted for the said Abraham Trigg.

That by the said illegal, and unwarrantable proceedings of the said Captain Preston, by preventing some, and intimidating others of the Voters, from giving their Votes for the said Abraham Trigg, he the said Captain Preston caused Francis Preston (Brother to the said Captain Preston) who was not the choice of a majority of the Electors, to be elected a Representative from the Commonwealth of Virginia, to the Congress of the United States, for the district whereof the said County of Montgomery is a part.4

That the said Captn Preston after the close of the Poll at the said Election, caused his Soldiers to raise a very dangerous affray with the Voters, who had given their Votes for the said Abraham Trigg, which affray he the said Captin Preston, began, encouraged, and abetted, making no endeavour to cea[se] the same, until the Soldiers were vanquished.

We rest ourselves assured, that the said Election will, by the House of Representatives, be declared void;5 But we conceive that a Man, who by so many overt acts, hath discovered himself regardless of the rights of a free People, is unfit for a Command in their Armies.

We consider you, as Guardian of the Constitution of the United States, bound to preserve inviolate, the freedom of Election’s, under that Constitution.

We consider you, as the fountain of Office, and Commander in Chief of the Army of the United States⟨:⟩ responsible for those whom you have appointed, and command: and therefore we call to you, and demand, that the said Captain William Preston, for the before enumerated offences, be tryed by a Military Tribunal: We beg leave to observe, that we prefer this mode of trial, to a Civil prosecution, least the latter should only be treated with derision, and contempt, for what would give Francis Preston (Brother to the said Captain Preston) more satisfaction, than to have been elected by the influence of his Brother, and Soldiers, and to be able to justify the proceeding, by paying the amercement of a Jury, which if even considerable, would to his Estate be trifling. And your Memorialists is as in duty bound &c. &c.