Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-10-26
From the Connecticut Conrant.

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Points ofresem5lance betFceen Fabins Mart
nus a7:d Washington.
Ascending to Plutarch, Fabius Maximus'
who rescued the Roman republic from the
arms of Hannibal, was very remarkable rom
. bow, for mildness and gravity, Composed
ness of demeanor, caution, and seh-co'''-
rnand. Yet his cautionsness was prudence
his composedness was owing to the soliaity
&C his narts, and he had in his nature an I'M
movable firmness, a magnanimi'y anu ii'h-
I've conraoSe. He was rather reserved than
loouacious. In his language, whether oral
or written, there was nothing OF atiectatlon,
ra emnty plausible elegance, but It vas iuil
of that good sense which Was peculiar TO hin1,
and h,d remarkable sententlous force and
depth.
One of the most conspicuous traits IN the
character of Fablus, was his imnlovaoie reso-
hutton to do his duty to his country without re-
gard to personal consequence. Nothing couio
divert him from his purpose neither Ga
y,ors and reproaches on the one hand, nor po-
nrIar apnlause on the other. had the least pow
r. 80 tnrn him from the course which ne
thopsbt most conducive to the publlc veal.
Being Told BY his friends that his cautiooShess
in conducting the war had exposed nm u
ridicule and TO strong suspicious OF co"aroice'
and at the same tiIne being advised ov thehi -
wipe off the a.persions that were cast upon
him, by risking battle, he replied" LII 'ha'
case. ! should be Of more dastardly spirit
than they represent me, il, through tear OF
insults and approaches, should depart from
,ov own resolution. But to fear for my coun-
try is not disagreeable fear. Ina, man IS
unworthy of such a command as this, who
shrinks under calumnies and SANDERS, & COM
niles with the humors of those whom ne ought
70 govern and whose folly and rashness II Is
his duty 10 restrain"
Our illustrious Washington has been often
compared to Fabius, as well oy foreigners as
by native Americans. The points OF slmiii-
tnde in their characters are striklngiy evil
dent. and too numerous for me to polGt out
shere.--I will now mention only one ; WASH
motion. exactly in the manner OF Fablus, Was
always inaexibly bent on doing what he tho't
70 be for the public advantage, without re-
yarding either the reproaches or appiauses
ofthe moment. This noble elevation OF mind
he manifested in manifold instances, botn as
General of the American armies, and as Pre-
sident of the United States.
Not to go, however, into any deta'i OF par
ticulars in proof of this point, let the follow
imp extract speak for itself. It is copy OF
a part Of letter, written by President Wash
inqton TO Col. Humphreys, June Il, 1896
AZ !, time when the Philadelphia Aurora, the
Boston Chronicle, and other prints ct the
same stamp, were denouncing hin, iamost OPP
notorious terms for giving his signature to
Jaws treaty, The extract is as follows:
{. From the Office of State you will receive
every thing that relates to public concerns;
and the gazettes, which / presume will as-
company the dispatches, will give you pref
~ good idea of the state OF politics and par
Ties in this country and will show you. at the
same time, Gf Bache's Aurora IS among them)
in what manner am attacked Tor persevefing
steadily in such measures as to me appear ne
cessary to preservc us, During the conflicts
of the beiligerent powers) in a state OF tran
n,iility. But these attacks, unjust and I'M
nIeasant as they arc, will occasion no change
IN NV conduct; nor will they produce any O.
Their effect in my mind than to increase the So
Icitude that has long since taken fast hold OF
INV breast, to enjoy, in the shades ct retire
ment. the consolation Of believing that have
rendered my country every service to which
nv abilities were competent-not from peeu-
MARY OF ambitious motives, nor from desire
IN provide for any one further than their In
trinsic merit entitled them to; and surely not
with view of bringing my own relations into
Office. Malignity therefore may dart its shalt;
but no earthly power can deprive me OF the
consolatonof knowing that have not, in the
whole course of my administration, however
numerous they may have have been, commit
ted an intentional error
H,npy the commonwealth, whose leading
,,,en. Ikethe Roman, and the American, Fa-
b;ns. know no other art of acquiring fame than
than that of deserving it.
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