Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-05-27
From the Norfolk Ledger.

Dursued since the commencement OF Nr.
Madison's administration, has been per
fectly correct. 1t is most certainly their
dnty TO give credit for measures calculated
to promote the public good, and from those
measures TO anticipate, and to give cIeait
in advances, for other measures, when may
also promote the honor, peace, and inter
es,s Of the nation. We do, however, per-
ceiye that already some Of the Democratic
rapers have. commenced their attacks. They
wish 90 keep alive the active and acrimonl-
Gus spirit of party, for it IS by such a spirit,
that NOT only certain papers, but many Po-
~liticians are lifted into consequence, but Tor
which spirit, they would pass without no
tice. or sink into contempt. 1t very well
suits bin, who has neither public nor prl-
yate worth, nor talents-to foster a spirit
Of party, which, in proportion to It's vlo-
lence, clouds the public judgment. In sucn
a state of things, virtue and talents, as II
disgraced by a controversy with vice and
ignorance, retire from the contest, until the
sense of the nation can correct the evil.
yYe do not pretend TO know the principles
upon which Mr.. Madison proposes to ON
duct his administration, but if they should
be such as will produce measures that we
shall b~elieyeswlll promote the happiness OF
the nation, they viii not be the less approx,
ed bv us because Mr.. Madison was elevated
60 the chair Of state in opposition to our
wishes, and to the expectations OF those III
whom we had greater confidence.
Whether Mr.. Madison will be the Pre-
sident of a bartg, or the President OF the
aati01. time alone will discover trust and
andbelieve, that he will pursue a course
which will disappoint the violent partlzans
of faction of either side. The number OF
those. is more uncomfortable than is gene
rally supposed but their industry and pre-
sumption, in a great measure supply the
place of numbers and talents. Generaily
speaking, their whole time is devoted TO the
purposes of party politics, which enables
them to dilate on public affairs, with a comb
dence that astonishes, and often confounds
men of superior Judgment and information.
But if perchance, a man OF talents appears
and enters fairly into discussion, then the
watch words of party are invoked, and par
~ invectiyes are substituted for argument.
The people, we think, must be satisfied I
thatstE.e time has arrived, when the spirit OF
party shonldbe SO controlled, as to permit
q free and impartial exercise or OPINION.
If The measures of Mr.. Madison should
be such as will restore the commerce OF our
country, from which the great portion OF
u national prosperity has been derived,
Mr.. Madison will merit the appreciation OF
the federalists. IF he guards the constltu-
tion against the Vaccinations OF those, who'
under the specious name OF amendments,
would destroy it-for this, he will deserve
the support of the federalists. And, above
all, if Mr.. Madison pursues the advice
of Washington in his measures as relate to
foreign nations, by acting with strict m
partially towards all, his administration,
will 81 supported BY the virtue and talents
of the nation, as well federal as rePuDhcan.
No epocha was ever more favorable ehan
the present, for h restoration OF harmony
as far as it is attainable, with the exercise
of opinion in a free government. w hen we
look back ON the situation of the country
during the last eighteen months, we Ind
sufficient cause TO dread the effects OF party
spirit. The country has escaped from the
dangers which menaced her peace ana u
Mon it would, therefore, be an unprohtaole
and unwelcome task, to retrace the mea-
sures which produced a state of things from
whence those dangers proceeded. The dam
gers which threatened the nation, are M
pressed upon the mied of every reHecting
man, without regard to the political sect,
to which he was attached. We are confident
that it is not easy to put down the spirit OF
f,c+;o, - ance and thereby deliver our