Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-07
ALEXANDRIA.
SATURDAY MORNING, December 7.
"To sHEw
THE VERY AGE AND BoDY OF THE TINE
HIS FORM AND PRESSURE"

SIMON PURz's LETTER coNcLUDzD.1
WAsHINGToN, 18th mo. 3oth, 1911,
FRIEND SAMUEL,
Early in the second week CT the Session.
the presidents message was cut up somewhat
in the usual form, and the several subjects il
embraced referred to different committees
From the oppugnation which John SMILES
arrangement received from many ofhis polt
cal friends, it appeared that the business had
not gone through a regular course of caucus.
lng,-that universal modern specific. In truth,
it seemed that Smile did not understand cut.
ting out as well as regular foreman ought
to do. He had embodied half dozen differ.
ent subjects into one resolution whatever re.
lated to defence, either by land or sea. For
this he offered the singular excuse that it was
the course pursued by the revolutionary Con.
gress as if no allowance was ever to be made
for changes in national circumstances, to saw
nothing Of change of men. After some debate,
however, the resolutions were agreed to, with
several additions and corrections. Sbouh !,
be true, as have limited it might appear from
what took place On this occasion, that caucus.
ing has been banished by the denunciations of
the Aurora printer and few others, Jane.
Madison may find that his continuance in Of.
tice is rot quite SO certain an affaiy rs soma
might have imagined
In the course of this week, John RsndeInh
offered a resolution instructine committee
to enquire what prosecutions have taken
place under the sedition and common law. and
also what provisions are necessary to secure
the freedom of speech and of the press. Iii,
to be hoped that Randolph's object in Offering
this resolution was good but his motive can.
not well be correctly understood at present. as
nothing has been since heard of the subject
The common law doctrine, that "ths greater
the truth, the greater the libel" is repugnant
to the exalted principles Of liberty Which we
profess, and ought therefore to be explicitly
disavowed by government like ours Some
suppose 1t would have been disayowed long a.
so by the present administration, as it might
operate with peculiar weight upon many Of
our leading characters; but that it affords am.
pie opportunity of retributon from any unsor.
tunate victim Of ministerial vengeance. And
what, say they, is an exposure of circumstan.
ces, which cannot injure the character Of ono
In hity, however true or disgraceful the state
ments may be, compared with the enormou,
damages adjudged by favorable Jury -
Some prosecutions for Ebcls upon certain
great phiiosoper, were commenced; b,l, as I.
the defendants offered to prove the truth Of
what they had alleged agains, bin, it wa.
deemed prudent to drop them. And thus, in
vulgar phrase, two birds were killed with orc
stone: Tor while number of disacreeab.c
facts were in this way prevented from being
established beyond the possibility of deniaI,
the multitude regarded the suspension of pro-
secuiions as wonderful proof OF dgni6ed mo-
deration
lie communication by the president Of Tie
settlement OF the unfortunate Chesapeake az
fair, to the entire satisfaction of our govern.
ment, was well calculated to CRAFTY every
frienc OF peace. There are some. however,
not well Pleased with this amicable neeoci..
uon' so long delayed, perhap. unnecessarily;
IS considered by these as presenting an in-
Pedlment to their favorite wish,-a War with
". Britain. Whether those who are louj.:s
IN their clamors for such state Of things,
would be foremost in the battle, should it DC.
fortunately take place, is point which shaa
not now attempt to determine.
This was one Of tie most interesting oe''