Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-08-19
For the .aterandria Gazette.
A CANDID APPEAL
TO THE
PEOPLE OF JN.4RYL.a.ND.
FELLoM CITIZENS,

FELLow CITIZENS,
Permit one who feels a lively inter-
eat in your welfare, and in the concerns
If his native state. to address few words
to Won. He wishes to present you with
main unadorned statement OF his sentl-
ments on political subjects, and his only
WISH is, that you would peruse them with
the same spirit Of liberalty ny which 'hcs
are dictated. 80. -
Il aopears to me. Fellow Citizens, that
we are too much influenced by names, OF
persons as we'll as of things. Neither OF
these can ever be correct political stand
ard. Let us endeavor to divest ourselves OF
little preiudices. and coolly examine mat
tiers as they really are: none OF us can De
in iured by such an examination.
What was the situation Of our country,
Fellow Citizens, during the admlnlstra-
tons of Washington and Adams! You
all kaow: our commerce was prosperous
in every part Of the globe; and in conse-
oueucc Of this. cur Farmers and Mocha
MICS were rapidly acquiring wealth. No
nation on earth ever advanced to great
ness with half the stride that We did, dur.
ing the first twelve years OF the Federal
government. Surely this must have been
owing to good policy on the part Of our
rulers; their conduct must have been die
tated by wisdom, or the result never could
have been so uniformly happy.
When Mr.. Jefferson succeeded to the
Presidential chair. our finances were in
Furnishing condition, and our national cha
ractcr was respectable abroad. 1 for one
was much pleased with Mr.. Jefferson's
Inaugural Speech; it seemed to be the
production of man of patriotism and
good sense, anxious to abolish little dis
iinctions of marty, and to administer the
government with single eye to the pco-
pies welfare. Under these impressions,
rested satisfied with the choice Of my
cOuntrymen.
But, my Fellow Citizens, have these
expectations been realized2 Have we wit
messed any of that impartial conduct which
was 50 strongly recommended? On the
contrary, have we not seen "political
intolerance, as despotic as wicked" exer-
cised in all branches of the government
Have we not seen men Of integrity dis
missed from Office merely for differing in
opinion from the ruling party; and others
substituted in their places, whose only re-
commentator was their csinciding in SEN
timent with the men in power!
This, however was but the beginning
Of
the aggressions Of foreign powers, by pre-
parins for defence in the manly attitude
assumed by the Federal administrations,
Mr.. jefferson preferred I" resort to the
most pIIIfuI measures. These measures
have always been extollcd for their coer-
Give operation on the belligerents, but
their only effect as is well known, has
been to bring disgrace and ruin upon our
selves, and to render US the laughing-stock
of European nations.
Another scene, still more humiliating,
if possible, has lately opened to our view.
A man who occupied the high post of Sc
cretary of state, has publicly charged MIR.
Madison with the most shameful conduct.
These charges have not been refuted nor
have MIR. Madison's friends even attempt
ed to meet them in any way, except by
saying that Mr.. Smith is man Of no
talents: as if that circumstance could im-
peach his yeracity; as if the veriest fool
in the creation could not tell the Truth.
What then are we to think of President
Of the United States who could preyari-
cate in the basest manner to procure the
passage of favorite law9 A law, too,
which Congress never would have passed,
had they been furnished with the iniorma-
ton with which it was in Mr.. Madison's
power to have supplied them according to
Mr.. Smiths statement. Yet such is the
Importance of this law, that it has not only
cnt off "a great portion of our trade, but it
may ultimately involve the country in a
fiiinous and unnecessary war, owing to it's
manifest partially. :.
On that point l shall make no further