PRINTED BROADSIDE LETTER SIGNED, FROM JOHN SHEPLEY, SACO [MAINE], TO HON. LUTHER FITCH, PORTLAND, MAINE: SACO, OCT. 12, 1841| DEAR SIR - HAVING BEEN APPOINTED REPORTER OF DECISIONS, OF THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT, FOR A SECOND TERM OF FOUR YEARS, IN 1840, BY A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL, WITHOUT OPPOSITION OR OBJECTION, AND HAVING BEEN REMOVED FROM THE OFFICE AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE YEAR'S ASCENDANCY OF THE OPPONENTS OF DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND DEMOCRATIC MEN, I TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, THAT WITHOUT DIFFERENCE OF OPINION AMONG OUR POLITICAL FRIENDS, THE GENTLEMAN WHO HAS THUS SUSPENDED ME, WILL NOT BE CONTINUED IN OFFICE LONGER THAN THE POWER OF HIS POLITICAL ASSOCIATES LASTS. TO DISCHARGE THE VERY RESPONSIBLE DUTIES OF REPORTER, A THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF LAW, GREAT ACCURACY, AND THE MOST UNREMITTING INDUSTRY ARE NECESSARY. IN THE LATTER RESPECT, IT SEEMS TO ME, THAT I WAS NOT FOUND DEFICIENT DURING THE TIME I HELD THE OFFICE. IT HAS DEMANDED AND RECEIVED SO MUCH OF MY TIME, THAT I HAVE UNAVOIDABLY LOST MOST OF MY ORDINARY PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS, AND I HAVE NOT PROPERTY AFFORDING AN INCOME FOR THE SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY. I HOPE, THEREFORE, I MAY, WITH PROPRIETY, ASK FROM MY FRIENDS, A RESTORATION TO THE OFFICE..., YOU WILL CONFER A FAVOR ON ME, BY AN EXPRESSION OF IT, TO BE COMMUNICATED TO THE GOVERNOR ELECT. WITH MUCH RESPECT, YOUR OBED'T SERV'T, JOHN SHEPLEY HON. LUTHER FITCH.