Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-11-07
20 The Editor Of HE DAILY Ga2ette.
SIR,

: IN political communities where the
aorla aresfree TO declare their sentiments,
Ifhe;r approhation or disapproval Of a pclitf-
cal measure is no contemPtlDle test q 'ilc
nol;cy. or irnpolicy Of its tendency and when
: pecople have been the subjects OF long
series 8 Of acts, intimately connecting their
hanpiintss and interests, their decision must
necessarily be Just and Impartial.
when 4 country is unanimous in support
.ot any administration, and general appro-
yal Of its measures andproceedmgs is aPpa-
rent when party divisions are unknown,
and what originates in the administrators OF
law and polity is only appreciated as ,produe-
tive ofs,public good, and conducive to the
safety. the advantage and the honor OF the
comtnr:litv, that government, it may be
safet, concluded, is politically and advall-
tapeously administered. II the people are
d;scontented, dissatisfied or dissentioas, and
if their sentiments are in opposition to the
acts of their government, or are even Gu
vided and contradictory, it may with no
less certainty, be decided, either that they
submit to species ofrule originally neon
patible with their views and interests, OF
that the principles Of their state Polity are
impaired by measures contradictory 70 their
original spirit and tendency.
Without engaging ia the controversy, to
which the discussion of these conclusions
might give rise, the consideration oithese-
cond as applicable to Ourselves is abundant
/ field for expstiation. unity ct sentiment
in people is indicative OF their happiness 5,
good order ard prosperity, we have little
cause TO congratulate ourselves upon, theli,
possession and en;oy1nent. & glance a
round upon present circumstances, will dis
cover a country divided iato opposing and
coatsndipg parties, uanervi1ag the visor and
breaking the force OF the directing and act
inc powers of the state, with all the result
ing evils Of such situation. And although
!: ii IS no ch;ecs mere to descant and dilate up
on our disasters and disgraces, nor to call
! I'D with iayiaious scrutiny, every subject OF
remark and censure, yet must it III Jus!ice
be observed, that whoever viii look back
upon she former situation CT. this country
| and will compare it with its state al the pre-
! sent, will find an ample application o. It's
I, factions, divisions and Discussions. Tie op-
/, position and chickering's OF party, and the
t,issensions Of a great people, viii appear
neither unaccountat!r .svs ect sareable but
| it will rathe, seem matter OF surprise, that
t!isarprubss,iou ard dissatisfaction arc not
more universal and ilnportunate. A de-
reelection Of those principles and a REIN
ql,is,ilneEt Of those oajeete- IN TIN. esta5
lIs:.nacnr, and Tor .hs attainment of wh:c!h,
the very best blood Of ,iie country was
shed, its virtue and talents calIcdinto action,
and its treasure and resources expended,
would, were principles OF government bet
ter adapted 70 Our situation, and objects
oreTEolitic, more attainable, or beneficial
substituted for them, form the least conside-
raale subjects otregret and animadversion.
But examination viii convince us, that Tie
original and essential principles OF our GO
vernncnt are deserted, whilst those which
are adopted IN tileil stead, arc novel and IN
tried, contrary 10 what We have been accGs-
toned to conceive interests most iasepera-
bic from soil, a climate and situation Ike
our own. twill be found that our present
administration has persevered IN pfosecu-
ton OF a series OF measures, which theorists
n y approve and commend, butwhictl sounl.
political philosophy Will reject as its base
and spurious Offering; which those WHOSE
interests and advantages are immediately
Influenced and materially affected by them,
have censured as impolitc and rui,ous, and
whose mischievcus tendency is luminousiy
evidenced BY their effects upon our affairs
icreign and domestic. Circumstances de-
mand an investigations, and that Investigate
or should &c pursued with candor and with
sus,ice, that IRON, the result We may acquire
an accurate knowledse Of cur situation and
our prospects, of what We have reason tc