Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-05-27
Fran the Nsw York american Citizen.

ceeded. Including the governor, the coun-
| ell of appointment consists OF one senator
from each of the four districts of the state,
and they are chcsenby the assembly. The
federal party having senator IN the eastern
| and three in the western district, and a ma
| ioritv in the assembly of about IA members,
will of course divide the council of appoint
| ment, and throw the merit or demerlt OF
| appointments or Of non-appointments upon
his excellency. Whether by taking under
| their protection from the Senate a quld,
mean one Of Lewis's old friends, and by ar
rangement Call parties know what that
means) command the council Of appoint
ment, make removals, &c. | know not, but
it is in their power and is left to their policy.
They can do as they please. The state is
their own! What a falling off is here, my
countlyMen.
As if we were not inhabitants OF this earth
and knew nothing of what has been done
and is now doing all of US, surprlzed, are
enquiring into the cause OF this strange aud
sudden revolution. The causes are SO MI,
merous, and yet SO obvious, that Iacitus
himself could not enumerate them IN the
limits necessarily assigned to a journalist
AS opportunity offers | will hint at some Of
them.
7 once said, and / was denounced for the
saying by our Marats, that the intended
| perpetual embargo was a milestone about
the neck of the nation. Was | not correct
Cooperating with other causes, has it no.
sunk this state I am told by gentlemer
who know much of the western district, that
odious as the Chinese system was there, yet
that in comparison of MI. Giles's celebrated
forcing act, it became a very innocent and
| harmless and even a gracious MEASURE
The forcing act has forced the federal can
| didates of the western district into the Sc
nate of this state. Never perhaps was there
passed by Congress an act more %unconstl'
t%utional, more obnoxious, or more wantonly
and unnecessarily oppressive. If this opu'
lent and powerful state had sanctioned BY
its vote a system OF measures at once great
" arbitrary, and utterly subverslve OF the
constitution, we might have laid up oul
fddles, for we could have played no more
tunes but in memory OF our departed free
dom. .s.
These things form one of the causes OF
the great falling off, as the Martling meet
ing that appointed the committee Of spies
term it. Better things are however expect
ed of Mr.. Madison. He has already per
mitted us to taste Of delicious fruit. He
has given us assurances that his admistra-
ton will be impartial abroad, and if it be
republican at home, not in names, for names
are nothing, but in fact, and | hope, and
almost believe that It will, we shall be a We.
rv good natured, contented and happy peo-
| pie. Mr.. Madison has it in his power tc
be a most popular president with those
whose appreciation is valuable-the solid
and enlightened friends Of their country
What is more easy? Blunders--even bad
examples in popular governments are some
times estimable. Of these we had abund'
ance. The public patience has been tried
| and admirably manifested. W. now know
what will and what will not do in the bust
ness Of administration. Ierrapins are un
| welcome animals amongst us. Foreign par.
t~ialities and averslons are odious and per-
%nicious. A language for the public in pub
lie messages, and a private language init
mating the reverse for the private ear tina,
which has been denominated by Mr.. Ran
dolph, a " back-stairs influence" destroys
all confidence, and forces upon the mind
the suspicion that men seem honest when
in reality they are not SO. IfMr. Madison
avoids all these things, and | believe thai
he will, his administration will be pleasant
to himself and a blessing to his country.