Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-04-19

he tOiIOW1nS 2u0IcsS DA 4yAdjoA AAoA1"S
Lewis 10 his constituents, and the speech
of Mr.. Baldwin annexed TO the address,
are wen worthy of an attentive pernsal. -
Major Lewis at the lasteleciion was chosen
a member of the House OF Rrepresrnta-
tives by majority of the electors in his
district in opposition to Mr.. Moore
Major Lewis is fcderalist, Mr.. Moore -
democrat. Although rejected by ma
iority of his fellow-citizens, Mr.. Moore
still would not relinquish his presensions.
and contested the elecuoR OF Major Lewis.
Whether the presence of MW5or Lewis,
created uneasy sensationSia the bosom Oh
MIR. Jefferson-Whether the philosopher
could not bear thesight of a man whom he.
had injured, wantony, and who he knew
had both the wiN and the po10er to punish
if he had NOT been restrained by his respect
for the office of president Whether the as
pect of the Major excited some alarm ( IN !,
the squeakins leader OF democracy, ana
his obedient subalterns We will not pre-
tend to say. But certain 1t IS that great
anxiety was manifested by the party TO de-
prive Major Lewis of his seat which the
voice Of the people had assigned to him
and give it TO Mr.. Moore who had been
deliberately rejected by the electors OF the
district. Much as the leaders OF the go
verning party are IN the habit OF taking
about their respectfor the uviH Of the peopsse
we have always found that the wishes OF
the people are totally disregarded, II 1t UNI
fortunately differs from the views OF Mr.
Jefferson and his satellites. And as Il had
been,determined in the cabinet orin caucus
thar Mr.. Lewis should be removed, and
Mr.. Moore placed in his stead in spite OF
the people, they proceeded in hesgoodiy
work, regardless of every principle ofcom-
mon sense and common justice that stood
in their way. They began by distran-
chising us votes in single county, that
had been giyenin favor Major Lewis, &
thus at one sweep reduced his number be-
low that ofhi opponent. To give solne-
thing like colouring to this disgraceful
transaction, they determined that no vote
should be counted that was not proved to
the committee of elections, to have been
given by freebooter. Now, as the Off
GERS who take the votes are szv0rn, and dis
interested, it has ever been considered, as
the duty of any one who charges them with
improper conduct to prove his charges,
and not throw the burthen of the proof on
the officer. A sworn oificeris always pre-.
sumed to have done right until the contra
nv appears. Our democratic wiseacressin
Congress have determined that sworn
officer shall be presumed to have done
svrong until the contrary appears. This
is reforming with a vengeance. But the
truth is that it was determined to deprive
Maier Lewis of his seat. He was Fede-
ralist-He had been turned out of office by
Mr.. Jefferson and although he had after
wards been honorably elected by the peo-
pie, the wiN Of the people had not the
weight Of a feather in opposition to the
7iH Of . Jefferson. They thought it
would be rather too bad to vote Major
Lewisoa without assigning any reason
Some pretence must be sought for. And
the principle of presuming every vote to be
bad one, untilit was provedtobe otherwise
they knew would effectually answer their
purposes. Because it was perfectly and all
solutely impossible, for Major Lewis at
the distance Of many hundred miles from
his district and compelled by his duty to
daily attendance in Congress-Itwas who'll
ly impossible for him to procure during the
session, proof ofthe legality ofevery indi-
vidual vote scattered over district of
more than one hundred miles in extent
Yet he must do this downright imbossi6iH-
ty or be deprived of his seat. Mr.. Moore
may be able, and it seems indeed is able
to reconcile this conduct to his feelings.
lie has the conscience TO sit In CONGRESS az