Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-10-20
AN AMERICAN,
From the ABaay Gazette.

Among the entertainments provided 10,
the public by our good republicans, we haye
a series of publications in the National
Intelligencer, entitled THE DEFENCE.
protesting to be viudication Of Mr. let.
ferson and his administration. From II.
title, one would naturally expect to Sc.
the various public charges against the pre-.
sident and his ministry taken Up in detail
examined and refuted. No such thing. :
This pretended DEFENCE, though it set,
out by recommending ard proposing ri.
gid scrutiny,is little more than strain Of
comm on place eulogy and fulsome aduIa.
ton, intended to blind the peoples ewes,
by surrounding the great idolwith blaze
of artificial light, a light that conceas his
faults as effcctually "a the darkest Cloud.
An Eul3gil4ms is one thing; aDetence ano.
Their. Mr.. Jefferson has been eu6gised as
much as any man ever was, and far more
than any citizen Of SO mixed character
ever ought TO be. But he has been rarely
pindlcated. A certain set of Qualities,
which may be called Mr.. Jefferson stock
virtues, and certain set of political sx.
PLOTS have been attributed to him; and
upon these, on all occasions, fattery has
rung her changes without end. But a &c.
nuine public Defence of Hlr. Jefferson is
vet wanted. Such defence should rather
be directed to his Imputed vices than con.
fined to his supposed virtues; and it is
essential that should be specific, like the
charges themselves exhibited against him,
Human nature is compound system and
every character has light and dark side.
1t is the business ofthe historian to display
the compound character Of the panegy.
rist TO ser forth and embazon the virtues
but Of the vindicator to refate and repel the
imputation of vices, defaults and crimes.
1t often happens that chief possesses viz.
tues, though Justly chargeabIe with great
vices. This distinction was found even in
Tiberus-the one can never be extln.
guished by set off of the other. Nor is it
any defence Of Mr.. Jefferson, when accus.
ed of injustice, oppression or DISSEMINATION
to shew that he is the greatest eco~mist
IS
pular magistrate in the world.
One of the most striking features IN this
notable Defence is the portralture. drawn
by the writer, of Mr.. Jeferson's ministers
Madison, Gailatin, Dearborn, Lincolnand
Smith; all ia the same style OF partially
and adulation; all in profile, one side es.
hibited, the other concealed. This group
would seem TO have been introduced ITO
Mr.. Iefferson's defence for the purpose Of
shelving his wonderful wisdom in making
appointments; but, in truth, perhaps Ta'
Their to have the advantage Of the addition
al splendor reflected from such con''ei'
lation OF worthlcs-T writer seems ts
consider these heads Of departments as an
essential component part of the executive
for every purpose of responsibility, taking
care however, that the merit OF their aC'I
should eftctually rebound TO the credit anu
honour of their master who appointed ana
who super,ntends thea. And thus this Ia
mily of statesmen aud heroes parade them
selves through his long, pompous, pane,
gvric columns, like the great Jupiter Spl
his moons; the one borrowing light am an.
heat from the sovereign people, VIZ us
party, and both shedding mutual lustfe Q"
one another. Of each of these great GLE
GERS is given characteristic sketch, emu
merating their rare qualities, sand reto'nI~
ting their signal services and achievement"
but alas /! without glancipg at their va"
rious defects, and dement's, or attemPtlnS
to wipe away the least stain from their puo"
lie characters. The picture OF Calia'I@
conspicuous in this gallery OF portraits a.
fords striking sample Of this sort OF p'0'
file painting.
This gentleman is traced from the noun
tains of Switzerland to the woods OF Feh'N
sylvania is considered in the various SaP~t
cities of teacher. soldier, husbandnan aug