Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-10-26

military stores, nearly ali destroyed /; ths
/ public warehouses, containing the only ar
! ticle then productive OF public or private
wealth, or even Of a common circulating
medium, all burnt by Mr.. Jefersons own
confession our resources obedience OF all
and every description whatever entirely de-
ranged, exhausted or dispersed. ina word
TO say nothing of some well known and ru.
inous neglects, which had been praetised
. BY Virginia, just before, inner tranquil &
able state, towards the army OF General
Green, to the south, we were at no period
of the whole revolutionary war, reduced 70
so low and desperate a point, as this me-
rnorabIc era, rendered so extremely crle-
brated by the then administration Of our
affairs in Virginia!
VIVA. were the opposite consequences OF
the resignation of Mr.. Jefferson, and the
succession of Gen. Nelson, "a plain planter
and private gentleman, entirely unframed
60 arms) 10 the government of the same
state of Virginia! Why our exhausted
means Of defence began TO revive; The
common necessary supplies for our ar.
mics, which before had been entirely want.
ing, began to flow 10, in abundance; our
militia were collected, animated and en-
ceuraged, by the presence OF their beloved
Governor, as their immediate and real
commander in chief, through all me most
trying scenes of danger. 1t was during
those timely and beneficial exerrions, that
French feet arrived at one pclnS, and our
combined armies from the north, undor
the command of the immortal Washington,
appeared at another, and surrounded and
confined in ths town of York, the BRUSH
forces. Here the exertlons OF the noble
Nelson, in collecting and furnishing sup.
plies, and in animating with his heroie and
mani, presence, our mllitlaWere felt; and
their effects can never be forgotten by those
who reiciced then in the obtaInment ot-or
value now the possession of American in-
dependence. Indeed, the name OF Nelson in
nv opinion, can never be sufficiently appre--
ciated. Taking INTO view the exalted Part,
he acted in this glorious and memorable
Termination to our revolution, he stands,
| think, as nearly the second character, in
the obtainment Of American lndepen-
deuce.
Here, during all this critical and doubt.
full period, pending all those preparations
and the suspension OF our fate, in the try.
ing siege Of York, the name of Jefferson
was never heard ola solemn and aweful
blank, here prevails, never 20 be filled up
by his most enthusiastic admirers, in the
boosted history of all his great and mighty
pulic feass. No; ne had at the most critl-
cal point Of all this irving period, gone N.
to retirement. Il was for this particular
step, he was then condemned; anc it IS
this and the resignation OF his office, as
Secretary of State, ct another critical and
trying period, that the federalists Cow ad-
duce, as a proof of his want of 6rmneSs,
absolutely necessary 10 fit him, for his pre-
sent station.
But, for this abandonment of his impor-
tan, post. at the most rite point OF our
revolution, must here candidly confess,
/ did then among ske rest Of his friends aud
admirers (of which was one) endeavour
10 End an excuse sufficiently satisfactory TO
myself and Others. l knew from actual,
personal observation, in some particular
transactions, which could here mention,
but for the objections already assigned,
that Mr.. Jefferson was not man OF Mill
tary powers, or even common personal tor
titude. argued that every man was not
born or educated soldier, any more shan
every soldier was formed philosophical
and political genius, or became man OF
Rcfound literary s scientific requirements
Thar the one was as useful and as inoPor-
tant in cancerting and directing IN the cab'-
net, as the other was absolutely necessary
in executing in the field, all great and "a.
tional movements. That it was unforta-
nate, an attempt should have been made
at that particular crisis, to unite in