Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-08-10
MRranorta aoDsrtfstr.
WEDNESDAY, AucusT 10.

ryland has frequently been the tubjeft Of
oblervation in this paper. ConGderiop
that it mightllead TO important conlequcG.
ces, in a political refpeet, We have thought
il our duty to inform the public fully Of
the nature and objects Of that affair: And
we have from time TO time applied our.
felves in endeavouriog to trace ifs origin,
and to mark its progrefs diaintly and at.
tentively. Prefuming therefore that the
reader is well acquainted with all the
previous circumstances, it IS only necell.-
ry for due understanding Of what fellows
to remind him, that among the members
of the council, Mr.. Edward Hall has been
ignalized as the principal adversary OF
Governor Mercer, between whom iadeed
the difpute at an early period, fernented
into a violent perfonal anilnoGty. In
our lalt we announced that the Governor
had offered himlelf as a candidate for II.
prelenting Anne Arundel county in the
State Legislature, that The intereG of tie
council was exerted againf him, that one
public dilcrlion had already taken place
between their proxies and his Excellency,
in which the latter was reported to have
had much the bea of the battle, and in
which belides threatening his opponents
generally, with fome ugly discoveries he
had pointed very heavy accufasion agaihft
his "ehief foe, which was yet uniettled."
Delicacy and caution then, prevented our
being more explicit in our meaning but
VIC are enabled to declare it by publicari-
rions uuder the fgnatures Of the parties
shemlelves, which are reprinted TO crafty
the popular curioGty they have in very
comfortable degree excited. By thefc
publications, which have come to us in
he form of handbills, ii will appear tina.
the perfon againa whoai she Governor az
an elestioneering meeting " made moe
ferrous ard hlaiting charge, is the Mr..
Edward Hall afor-,ald. The charge it.
leif was, that hs had committed or /.
tempted to commit feyayt And the
authority, given by The Governor fcr
his charge was jchu Thomplon MafoN,
Efquire, the United States Attorney tcs
me disnet Of Columbia. Mr.. Hall ip-
nedia.eiy applied 70 Mr.. Mafou, ftqn
whom he received certificate on the fnb-
jctf, which, it Will be obierved, is con-
tradiaory TO the Governors abortion.
Upon the publication Of this cat eate
IN Mr.. Halls address, the Governor i'll
his reply has not found it necessary TO a.
pend OH that common sort Of evidence
unsan6tioned by the obligations of an oath
or Of that loose and pliable form which
alone had been exhibited against big;
but with great proprkty has produce tvo
regular and precise afIidavits Confirming
his own oath also OF tie truth u bis ,irst
declaration, in order most effsctualy t,
demolish Mr.. Mason's certificate, MhIrh,
it may be material to recollrtt is rot
sworn to. And surely it is no st.shs tes-
tinony of Governor MERGERS sincerity at
least, when we see that those all + =
are one Of them by Miss Sprlgg, the sstar
of Mrs. Mercer, and the otter by Tire
Governors own son, two persons whase
names it could not but be highly dlsA-
greear!e to him to introduce in print, and
for whose honor and correctness it would
be inhuman to suppose that he 'co nos
feel a becoming tenderness and sollc.tnde.
It is not our design to advance any ting
on this occasion, tending TO establish nc
guilt, imputed to Mr.. Hall. The pub
lie have both sides before them, an are
competen to Judge. Ner, as he sp-
pears himself SO we'll satisfied viii, Mr..
Mason's certificate, shall we pre,end but
what it may De quite satisfactory Tor N'.
Halls purpose, considered as a resraetloil
or as disavowal on the part OF idr. Wa
son sufficient to settle the point OF hoaof
as between them. But, as It concerns
Mr.. Mason himself, the laughing, Joly
eft