Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-05-04

3SIPeETiNg re o5.gAALI1!i0H q SHs t0@!ss
sftbs q. States
(Mr. Rutlsdgs's Speech coutinaea.
In no popular government perhaps was
an administration more popular than was
the former administration at the time this
tax was laid. Sir, this law had no con-
reckon with perfonal or party conidera-
tions. Like all the meafures of the ad-
miniftration, twas dehgned topronsote the
public good. Had we, like our opPo-
nents, coafulted the caprices and preju-
dices, and not the real intereits OF our
conaituents; had we been merely at
tentive to popular favor, we lhould not
have paaed this law: at the crihs twas
paaed the public good demanded It, and
we were regardless ofevery other contlde-
ration. A nation that had lighted up
the fame of war in every corner of Eu-
rope, that was pro&rating the liberties of
every free people, and fubverting the 60
vernment of every country, faw fit TO
menace US. Told US for the preferyation
of our peace and independence we mutt
pay tribute. This degrading meafure
was lcornfully rejected by our adminifra-
tion--they faidif we mutt fall we will
fall after aruggle, and our citizens pre-
pared themfelves for war with alacrity,
and regarded every lacri6ce as inconfde-
rable compared with the great iacrifce Of
independence. With this PROJECT of i'm
mediate war, we lhouli have acted not on
ly unwifely, but treacheroully, had we
trufed for public income TO the revenue
derived from trade--had our trade been
deRreyed, there would have been COM
plete defitution of revenue, and to place
the means of national defence as far beyond
the reach of contingency as pofible we i'm
po!sd the direct tax. We knew this law
would prove arms and ammunition to thofe
who were inventing all the faliehood Gre
dulity could fwallow, and who were buGly
employed in mifrepreiensing and calum-
mating the conduct of the government.
We did fappofe they might make this law
their artillery to batter down the admin
hration-but we are not deferred from
ourhoneG purpoies by this expectation
a change of men when compared with
change of government weighed with our
minds as duff does in the balance our
meafures did not aim at popularity, and
we were juf to our country, regardless of
any party consequences. At this early
period, fays the gentleman, 1t was to have
been calculated what would be the reiult
of the Presidential election. Sir, thofe
mutt have been gifted with iecond fight,
mutt have been prophets indeed, who
could hayesthen foretold how the election
would ii1ue the relult was as doubt
ful as any event could be, till within
few days OF the election it is recolle6ted
that every thing depended upon the South
Carolina vote; all the gentlemen in no.
minasion went their with an equal number
of.votes the anxiety diiplayed at the
time by the gentlemen here from Virgi-
MA proved they then deemed it very
doubtful how the. election would termi-
nate. Indeed, fir, nothing could have
have been more doubtful, and l believe it
is fully known to the minilterial fide OF
this houfe that depeuded'upon one Of the
gentlemen nominated who had rot the Ca
rolina votes eosobtained them and produced
20 the clectiona different refult but his
correa mind was obnoxious to any In
trigue; 'twould not defend to any Com
promhe, and this honorable man knew
that no Ration could be honorable to
him unlefs honorably obtained. In the
very wide range which the gentleman
from Virginia has permitted himfelf
TO take, he has been pleafed to notice the
conduct of the late congrels when they
q.