Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-05-06

against MIN. MS character Is tnen laiE
game. : II must be attacked |: the integri.
ty ofhis motives must be called into ques-
ton; he is branded with the aPpellatiou
Of trimmer, and held up to his fellow Ct
tizsns as a eonsummate hypoerite.: Such
has been the language applied to the can
did and eloquent Mr.. Baker; and such
are the terms which with aliberal hand
may expect will be lavished on me. But
to these censures, as / have before said,
am perfectly Indifferent. Democratic
insolence shall never deter me from Pur-
suing that which / conceive 70 be right.
They may rave, Ihaye 4 lnrge share Of pi,
ty for them. They may abuse, / will
tender them mysderision. They may
attempt to ridiculcs win pay them the
homage ofmy high co',tempt. ! return
from this short DEPRESSION to the object OF
my address. / have been a democrat
The'enthusiastic admirer of republican in
stitutions from an early Periodof mylite )
saw Cor thought I saw during the four
years Of Mr.. Ada,ns's administration, a
spirit hostile tot the happiness ofthis toun-
try. l thought Lbeheld the principles OF
the British monarchy reduced to practice
by the enaction of the Alien and Sedition
Laws. saw an army raised, Gas I then
thought) for the subversion Of our hber-
ties. l trembled for my country. At
that timeextremely young [haying scarce
attained my f7th year is il y BE wondered
at, that my imagination should take the
designed alarm, and that l should be-
come the opponent Of Mr.. Adams. From
honest motives Twas opposed to his re-
election and from that moment / enlisted
under the banners Of democratic faction.
Alarmed atwhat then thought to be the
tendency Of Mr.. Adams's policy, | view
ed with jaundieed eye every measure
of his administration and in each ! tan.
cied beheld a recognition of principles
Funfriendly tt our posterity, because hos
tile to republican institutions. On the
otherhand what did behold! Allowing
portrait was presented for my Imagination
to feed on; Mr.. Jefferson drawn at full
length, in that splendid, that lueious Ian
guage, which never fails Of making an
Impression on young mind, and unfor-
tunately covers for a time the mischief it
is designed to occasion. Twas deceived.
RELYING with implicit confidence on the
opinion of some Of my friends, / became
the advocate of Mr.. Jefferson. j repeat,
that at this time / was extremely young.
Nothing appeared to me more hideous
than, monarchy. Nothing seemed more
lovely than uncontrolled liberty. Hurried
oa,by an enthusiastic devotion 20 this be.
M.ching Goddess, her yotaries I thought
must Of course be the friends Of mankind;
and consequently deserving Of their APP
probation. Mr.. Jefferson had made sa-
CRITICS. at her altar 1t was he who was
said to have penned the declaration ofour
Independence. It was he who advocated
in Virginia the exercise Of rights dear to
every friend Of humanity-the rights of
conscience. He was said to be the friend
ofWashington and the admirer of our ex-
eellent constitution. What more could
be alledged. What more could be want
ed to designate him as the most proper
character to fill the Presidential ehair.--
To me il was evident that he ought to be
elected. Ididno indeed vote for him
I eou.s. not, my youth prevented me -
but advocated his election spoke, +
wrote in his defence. saw him elected
saw him elected with satisfaction can
not describe. Our, country was at that
time divided into two large parties. With
intentions however honorable, with mo
tiyes however pure, ISetdreaded the pre-
dominancy of the federal parry, because +
eonseientiousIy believed char their prinei41
plies would gradually lead to the subversi-
on of!our freedom. Animosity had crept
in among US friendship had been broken
the public mind was considerably agitat-
ed; and even the cords of relationship
burst asunder, when assailed by those
political passions which spread their7in-
auence from the sage in the cabinet, to
the peasant at his plough. Alta junctare5
like this. the most eminent talents were