Enclosure: Memorial of Burlington, New Jersey, Republican Citizens, 25 May 1803
Enclosure: Memorial of Burlington, New Jersey, Republican Citizens
The Memorial and Representation, of the Subscribers, republican Citizens, of the district of Burlington, in the State of New Jersey, respectfully Sheweth.—
That we have beheld with considerable regret for some time past, Moses Kempton Esquire, in Occupancy of the Office of Collector of the Customs, for this District; and pray that he may be succeeded by William H. Burr Esquire: for the following reasons.—1st The said Moses Kempton is a violent Federalist, and a rigid persecutor of Republicans; as a proof of which we state the following facts; On the 10 February 1802 William Pearson, (in company with William Coxe both members of the Legislature, & violent friends of order) was arraighned at the Bar of the Court, of Quarter Sessions of this County, for waylaying, and inhumanly beating, a respectable republican Citizen, viz. Ebenezer Tucker Esquire, on the Question of the Court (of which Mr Kempton was a member) what sum the said Pearson should be fined for the Outrage, the said Kempton voted for the culprit to pay the insignificant sum of 10. Cents ; when William H Burr Esquire, and other Republican members, voted that Pearson should be fined from 500 to 800 Dollars, see1 the True American of the 30 March 1802.—2nd. We very much doubt the said Kemptons Honesty and Integrity, and refer the President to the Certificate of Ebenezer Tucker Esqr. marked A.—3d. William H. Burr Esqr. the person recommended2 to succeed Mr. Kempton, is a true Republican. A Man of property, Integrety, and Respectability.
We presume it would superfluous, in us, to remind the President, how Expedient it is to remove from power, and Influential Offices, men of Mr Kemptons Character and violence; and for men to succeed them, who are just and moderate, and who are not only attached to Republican Men, but to Republican measures.—
We therefore in behalf of ourselves, and the Republican Citizens of this District, for the reasons, and proofs aforesaid, pray that Mr Kempton may be succeeded by William H. Burr Esqr., which favor will be gratefully acknowledged by.—
Amos Hutchin
District of Burlington
May 25th. 1803.
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); in a clerk’s hand, signed by Amos Hutchin, George Painter, William Hyer, John Brognard, John Rogers, William Wood, George Githens, Caleb Burr, and David C. Bryan; at head of text: “To the President, of the U. States”; endorsed by TJ as “Burlington Memorial” received 24 Feb. 1804 and “Burr Wm. H. to be Collectr. Burlington v. Kempton” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure not found.
we have beheld with considerable regret: TJ evidently conferred with James Sloan, first-term Republican congressman from New Jersey, about the removal of Moses Kempton. Sloan sent out a query and received several responses. On 13 Mch., Joseph Budd wrote from Mount Holly that Kempton was “a Determined federalist” who does “all that he Can for the federal Interest.” Budd concluded: “he ought not to hold any appointment to office” under the federal government (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR; endorsed by TJ: “Kempton Moses. to be removd”). Stephen C. Ustick observed that during the election of 1800, Kempton was one of the “most active in opposing the Jefferson or Democratic Ticket, and promoting the Federal Ticket by reading Addresses in the Market place, as well as using his own personal influence to the utmost of his power” (Ustick to Sloan, Burlington, N.J., 15 Mch., in same; endorsed by TJ: “Kempton Moses to be removd. Ustick’s letter to mr Sloane”). Ustick served as secretary of the Burlington County meeting of the Democratic Association that met in August 1803 and nominated william h. burr as one of their candidates for the assembly and Budd for the council. Ustick’s appointment as postmaster at Burlington later in 1804 gave “universal satisfaction to the friends of Republican Government” (Trenton True American, 3 Oct., 5 Nov. 1803; , 167).
william pearson assaulted ebenezer tucker on 28 Jan. 1802 (Newark Centinel of Freedom, 9 Feb. 1802; see also Vol. 37:210-11). insignificant sum of 10. cents: in the end, Pearson was fined $1 by the court. The fine recommended by the 23 justices present varied from $800 to 5 cents (Trenton Federalist & New-Jersey State Gazette, 16 Feb. 1802; Trenton True American, 12 Jan., 23 Feb., 2, 30 Mch. 1802).
1. MS: “se.”
2. MS: “rcommended.”