Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-05-25


Where then is your right to Judge OF the d.
deauability or inadequability of Mr.. ], to his
trust You have indeed the right OF th'nklnS'
and acting for yourself; bat both your
thoughts and your actions must be regulated
by prudence, and should never oYerstep the
modesty of nature" When sir, however,
You assume this authoritative liberty OF
thinking aloud, contrary to all restraints o.
prudence or modesty, you can at most bu!
expect forbearance from scorn, not 0eilei alaa
confidence in your assertions. In your emu
meration of our Executives faults and frsil'
ties, you charge him with "aPing the mah'
ners, and counting thessniles' OF the french
people. And here, Sir, wish to call to your
recollection, that MIR. Jefferson is not upon an
EQUALITY with yourself. Excluded by his 81
tuation from replying to and reluting charges
of a private nature, which are daily made up
OH him by others as well as yourself, he should
he compassionated, not insulted. II you are
| confident as to the verify Of your charges a.
gainst Mr.. Jefferson, reserve them until ia
ture day, when the deprivation of his autheu-
ty as President, shall have placed him on your
own level. Recollect that it is cowardly TO
insult the man. whom circumstances have
rendered unable to cope and contend With
you. Allowing however, that the truth OF
these charges influence and affect the puohc
welfare supposing them as we'll as the accu-
sations of partially to Francs and opposition
to Great-Britain, which come next In the ca
talogue of your invectvcs; supposins these
materially to affect the public concerns =
would it not have proved your policy, pru-
dence AID modesty, to have made those chaf-
ges in softer tone; to have shaded the GA
ringness of the accusations, by milder words
and more gentle alternatives would it not
have been well to recoliect, that some differ
ed with you in opinion, and that the PARTIAL
ty which appeared so evident to you, was by
others unperceived and not credited; and that
unsupported as were your assertions by neces-
sary and adequate proofs, there might Per
haps be found some sceptical enough, not to
coincide with you in every charge, which you
have Brought forward, and every assertion
you have made.
After examining the preceding sentiments,
am not SO much surprized at the succeeding
one. Here however, you attempt to support
your charge by some sort of proof, and am
sorry to find you, in your FIRST trial, succeed
SO badly. Accusing Mr.. Jefferson of not hay
ing atheart the interests of his cosntry. YOU
cite as proof Of your assertion, the embargo
law-ruIneuS, destructive, and only calculated
for the general misfortune ofthe community
You enquire, whom has the embargo benefit
eel, TIE merchant or the mechanic. ], Sir,
with you, may possibly think, that it has been
Of advantage to neither. | might With you
declare 1t IS my opinion, shat the measure It
self was ruinous and inadequate to the end
proposed | might regret, with others, that
it had ever been executed, or should have
been thought necessary by the executlve.-
But, Sir, does this prove the badness Of the
intention; does it prove Mr. Jefferson, after
the many and various testimonies which have
been given by his fellow citizens Of their esii-
nation of his worth to have entered into TINS
measure, as the fee Of his country, as lnIral-
cal to It's happiness and prosperity hy no
means, Sir: have the charity to suppose, that
this measure was the result OF mistaken poll
tics that it proceeded not from badness OF m
tention, or was the work of man, to whom
the ruin of his native country was an OBJECT Ct
exultation. Such supposltlon is rnanliestiy
improbable. The man, on whom his coun-
try has bestowed SO many marks OF her APP
probation who has borne 50 many OF the first
honors of the state; and who, unless We sup
pose him monster, must have Some feel
ings of gratitude for the favors which have
been shewn him, it would be preposterous to
accuse ofmalicious designs, when his actions
could be more piausib!y and probably inter-
preted, by ascribing them to better and more
deserving motives. Charity, Sir, should in
huence your Judgment on men and things.
and your own better feelings will impress this
truth forciby upon you.
Noticing yonr last observation. shall here