Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-10-21
aLEXaNDRI,a DaILY G.AZETIE
"To sHEw
The VERY AGE AND BODY OF THE TIME
HIS FORM AND PRESSURE.
MONDAY MORNING, October 81.

! DoStoH onloiAAoiC, WY VOICE IS SIlIl IOF Waf.
There is reason to hope that his zeal will be-
tray him. Some passages in his last number
| merit attention.
The official communications (says he9
| which have passed between our Government
| and the Bclligerents, have not been publish
ed; but, from what las trsnsttred in me ma
| tioaal hrint, and from variety of other consi-
deratlons, we can form correct general idea
| Of the new events that have made their APP
pearance in the political horizon. 1t zras the
Intention Of Government, that such a general
| imtression should be formed"
Was it, indeed And is there really such
thing as "national hrint," through the me-
dunn Of which the government endeavors to
form "general impressions ;" Do our rulers
skulk under the responsibility of private in
dividual, and thus labor unseen to influence
public sentiment If they have descended so
low, it is at least some consolation to find the
fact acknowledged Yet it affords another
proof ofthe surprising change which has late
ly taken place in the sentiments of our exclu-
sive republicans. During Mr. Adams's Adj
ministration, what an outcry was then raised
on this very subject That indefatigable pa
triot, Col. Duane, whenever he suspected any
article in federal paper to have emanated
from the government, would exclaim with
stentor's voice, People of America the
Arlstocrats initiate the British government in
every thing Like old King George, they
must, forsooth, have an official Gazette :"
This was his cry and like most of his frothy
nonsense, it had wonderful effect with the
!ong-eared tribe. Behold how the case is re-
versed we now find it explicitly ayowed by
the monarchy hating gentry, that we haze
+" national print;" and an attempt is made to
palm the writings of its conductor upon the
public as conveying the sentiments of the
government of the U. States. How consist
ent, how dignifed is this We cannot ex-
actly tell how it has happened, but such is the
fact, that the publications in the print" al
luded to are generally thought to bear the
stamp of official sanction, and are for that
reason regarded with the more attention: yet
the Editor formerly declared that all articles
appearing as editorial were and should be
written by himself; and his friends, in pro-
pagating a contrary opinion, pay 10 great
compliment, we think, to his veracity.
Wallace must possess more than ordinary
penetration to have been able to form cor,
rect general idea of mere events from what
has transpired in the national print" He
would contribute to many peoples stock o f
information by explaining what those {" gene
raj ideas are.
F." Congress is now summoned Continues
Wallace) on an occasion requiring action, and
not to wait the result of further negotiation
it is called upon to decide on things as they
actually ea'ist, and not to remain in anxious
expectation to learn from Europe whether
PhiAh be sick, or dead, or crazy"
Here our American Demosthenes, in his
fury for war, involves himself in palpable
contradiction: because the &c national print
expressly assigned as reason for the dis
tant period fixed for the meeting of Congress,
that Mr.. Foster would thereby have time to
receive an answer to any dispatches which
he might forward to his government. This,
of course, might open the way for {" further
negotiation )" but our jealous patriot is too
impatient for that; he is for "deciding on
things as they actually exist Pray, where
does Wallace obtain his information? What
is the situation of affairs at present Has no
change taken place since the proclamation
was issued And is Congress-, month hence,
to decide on our future course, from the as
pect of affairs month ago, without regard
to intervening occurrences This might be
thought to display their characteristic wis
dom; but we trust they are not so far gone.
Asa further indueement for us to I" strike