Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-01-29
Far lie ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.

! III manuscript, 'eH '"'" ''' ~
70 know the contents opened them, and
!, thew were two letters, numbers anil 2,
addressed to James Madison, Esq. Well
though, to myself, here is prize tor me-
Here is something elegant, here Is hne
eulogium ON the character OF this great
and GOOD man. But what was my surprise,
when after reading few lines, the imFu'
dent writer tells him in these very words
he IS not what he should be. Sir, says
the sau cy writer, "you have no CLAIM to
the title of 'presiden, of the United States
for although, nominally speaking you are
such, vet in truth and in fact you are but
the head If faction, vile in principle as
i, is contemplate in talents" In a rage l
threw down tile paper, determined not to
read any more such vile abuse-Curiosity
prevailed, and read on as follows.
Your un,hirking admirers will d'nounce
this TO be bat bold and false assertion, but
bold as it is; it shall be proved not only to
your own satisfaction, but to that OF the
American people,"
Reading on little fureher the impudent
fellow proceeds thus g. You are the head
of facticn is the charge, the proofs are
to be deduced from your own words ard
actions s. tteAmerican people are to decide
bvtwcen u.s. Fine language this Thought
I, for little upstart t!enasogue to address
to the president, and then to tell him he
was about TO prove the assertion by his own
words and actions wa. still worse. Having
read thus much, sill felt ANXIOUS to know
what the wicked villain would say further.
You shall have it MIR. Editor, verbatim ct
llieratlm.
That no dispute may arise, as to what
constitutes a faction, its meaning shaI! be
defined in your own words. They are TAX
en- from me tenth number of the Fcdcr1list,
written BY yourself. By faction Inrcsr-
stand numter Of citizens, whe'her a.
mounting to majority or minority efths
whole, zvh9 are united and actuated by Soioe
common impulse IF Passion. or Of interest,
adverse to the rights Of other citizens, CT 10
tie permanent and aggregate interests Of
the community
Faction therefore, according to yo-r
own definition, may consist Of a ma jari,y
as well as minority OF the people. Avail
not yourself then of the plea, that in your
train a majority follow, and in your policy
ac1uiesce. The same plea would have JUS
tilted your hyprocritical predece scr, Mr..
j,Ferson, for the uuprinciplsd, uNprece-
dented, uarvieating persecution with which
he assa:led and turned from Office the wsr-
worn veterans, the accomplished civilians
& enlightened statesmen. whom the immor-
tai Washington had taken to his confidence.
But sir, the SARGE plea shall not justify you
for the nseanness with which you pratron.
ize and enter into the views of an over
bearing faction. which dissraees the cha
racter, and paral,zes the efforts anG ener-
gies Of this great nation.
"The embarrass ments Of osr foreign re-
lations, the internal distress, disrords and
feuds-.he frauds and populations OF pub.
lie officers. the natural cons, quence Of the
fac,ious spiri, which prevails, are too appa.
rent to require elucidation. And your own
words, when recommending the adoption
of the present federal constitution, and de-
scribing the nature and evil: of faction. are
peculiarly applicable to the present state
Of the country
Comtla;sts are every zuhere heara from
the most censide,ate und oirixsus citizens,
U a. C:,,Jo IF A.,LE. ,sJ h.:~.