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


in the form of letter to Mr.. Jefferson, and
believing that it was neither your wish nor cx.
recitation, that it should not lie open to the en-
ouiries and criticisms of every man, have
taken the liberty of expressing to you nay SEN
timents on that publication.
And sir, in thus publicly addressing you,
it is not my design to Investigate ana 10 cavil
yoar private sentiments ond opinions. VIII
not, SIR with mechanical scrupalosity, part :
cularize every trihing error OF your judgment,
or endeayor 20 lay open the rccesscs OF your
breast: / NEEDLE neither with your social
manners nor your political dogmas; nor shall
7. unacau.inted as am with the movements
of your mind, and the emotions OF your heart,
pretend to decide ON the motives which brot
to the light the late emanation of your judg-
ment.
But whatever might have been your mo-
t,yes whether your attack on Mr.. Jefferson,
proceeded from violent party opposition, from
disappointed self interest, or from what am
most inclined to hope and believe, from has
ty, casual and incorrect view OF the subject !;
the sentiments you have ayowed, and the style
Of peremptory decision IN which you have
spoken on many interesting subjects, not de-
pcnaeht for the establishment OF their good
or evil tendency, on she opinion of any single
man, have given deserved disgust to men of
every party. And appeal, SIR, to youroWn
candor and calIner iudgment--I ask you yoar-
self, now that the first heat OF your emotion
Is subsidized, and you have had leisure to re-
feet on what you have thus offered to the pub
lie, whether consideration does not suggest to
you the Indecent warmth with which you have
eRdeavored to push home your charges upon
the executive. Whatever may be your opl-
Mon and the opinions of many others, those
sentiments must from the nature OF things,
be liable to uncertainty, and incorrectness.
3 The ideas entertained BY the nation at large,
are various and divided, and sir, give me leave
to inform you, that many differ widely indeed
from you, in those you have expressed in
J your publication. You, indeed, may possess
better grounds then your fellow citizens, for
supporting what you have brought forward
ofthose grounds know nothing-You have
not thought proper to hold them out to the
inspection Of the public and weigNy and
IMPORTANT as the charges are, had the neces-
ssry proofs been in your possession, We might
reasonably have expected their production.
What then is the necessary resuir-what o.
opinion are we to form of you--what are we
TO think of your assertions, your accusations,
and your invectives. Sir, / am unwilling to
suppose you silfnlly incorrect; rather Judge
that she harsh style of inyective, viii CHI you
made use of, proceeded from your too great
ardour of opposition to the measures OF the
present administration, which from hastiness
and neglect, crept In amongst your observe
tons, even unknown to yourself do not be-
lave that it proceeded from deliberate base
ness and malignity, and shall therefore of
\ fer you my sentiments with greater pleasure
and freedom. And give me leave to assure
you, that in making these remarks, am In
fluenced neither by the spirit of opposition
nor of rivalship | am by no means opposed
to YOU In politics, nor do | hold you In the
light of a rival candidate for the applause of
the public A love for the truth has, far as
Z can Judge Of my feelings and emotions,alonc
excited me to oppose the dlctatoria sentl
ments of your letter.
When find you expressing your regret,
that the {" people of these states" had not, IN
their choice Of chief magistrate, selected a
man more worthy and better qualified thanMr.
Jefferson. for the discharge of SO high and
such various functions, am ternpted to ex
claimsswho constituted you the Judge of SO i'm
portant matter" Since Mr.. Jefferson has
been elected by majority OF the. citizens of
America, andby that alone declared adequate
to the trust committed to his charge, prudence
at least should have taught you, however great
might be your regret, to have concealed that
regret within your own bosom and since we
have erred in exalting to the presidency, a
man unable to perform the requisite duties,
it is solecism to encrease il by vain and
empty lamentations. But you are ready to-