Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-04-06
From the PORTSMOUTH, Oracle.

II ID tiuSH3 hha' suCiS oiS
many fcderalists who do not feel the full I'M
portance of the present crisis OF our country.
They do not, BY their zeal and activity, in the
cause of truth and liberty, discharge the debt,
which they owe to their fathers Thes do not
secure themselves against the just reproaches
of posterity, by vigorous and perscrering
resistance to the measures which are bringing
destruction to our doors. They believe, in
deed, that our constitutions OF government
cannot exist, under the present ode OF add
ministration they believe that the apparent
and obvious ruin of our commercial and agrl-
cultural interests, is but the prelude to the
downfall of our civil liberties: they believe,
at least some of them, that this generation
will not pass away till these things be fulfilled"
Nevertheless they do not act, like men deep
w impressed with these solemn CONVICTIONS.
They wait for epents to open the eyes or the
people. Events they may as we'll wait till
the daily ebbing and flowing of the tide shall
set right the heads of the people, and the po-
litics OF the country.
Is is not in the nature of things. that nation
given up to party prejudices and party leaders,
should be restored to their senses and their
true interests, by any occurrences, unless these
occurrences are IMPROVED by the intelligent,
we'll informed, and we'll meaning part OF the
community. Have VIC rot had events enough,
within these fifteen years, to have walked the
dead If at the commencement of Mr.. Jeffer-
sons administration, the question had been
put to nine tenths of bis supporters whether
they would have consented to the things which
we have since seen done, doubtless they would
have revolted. But progressive steps OF folly
and injustice harden the heart and blind the
mind. not only of those who administer the
government, but of those who support them.
Many imagine, that ma ority OF the demo-
Gratis, the honest and the well meaning part
would hardly follow the administration in
project to burn up the Constitution, and 60
yern the country by the means OF French
Prefectorate. And yet, since the year 1901,
VIC have advanced more than half the way to
French Pre- Electorate, and no man has Seen the
body Of honest democrats that have shrunk
from the measures of the leaders of the party.
There have been individual sccessions, it is
true but the great body has still moved OH,
increasing, rather than abating, in prejudice
and violence. do not Say that it is III the
power OF !nen or angels, to stop their progress,
or to avert the consequences, in which, if it
~
TO BE- stohted, it must be done bv ecertion, not
by indifference. 1t must be done by forcing
light into minds unwilling to receive it; for
all men, when heated and blinded by passion,
naturally resist whatever evidence tends to
prove them in the wrong. 1t would be more
astonishing than the miraculous darkness that
surrounded lax, if men, enveioped in the
mists of party prejudice and passion, should
like him, pray for light.
Conscientious fcdcralists have plain path of
duty before them. They should, by all the
means in their power, obtain correct Informal
tion themselves, and communicate it to others.
They should oppose truth to falsehood, and
reason to absurdity. They should be will
ling to make sacrifices Of time, attention and
property, to enlighten public opinion, and
counterfeit the innuinerable falsehoods which
are circulated through the country by demo-
cratic malignity. They should endeavor to
inform the uniformed, and to reason even
with the unreasonable. They should cherish
spirit, becoming the all-!mportant occasion,
and cheerfully devote themselves to necessary
and obvious duties, not only with more gene
rous impulse of patriotism, but also from the
dictate Of necessity. If we cannot IMPRESS, IT
we cannot rectyy public opinion, our Case is
hopeless. Nothing can be expected from our
rulers. They are pledged too far, to afford
hope of return. I do not say that success
would infallibly attend even spirited and well
conducted appeal to the people but as they
constitute the tribunal, which must be finally
called on, which in truth are now called on
to decide the question whether our rights, ill.,
terests, and institutions, shall, or shall not, be
overthrowii, no man does his duty, no man
stands acquitted to his conscience, who fails to
urge every fair argument, and use every fair
means in his power to produce a favorable
result.
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BonGhorte ne america. 1--WE have heard Of
q farce called s. Son1h1rte in Enp{and" This