Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-10-18
ALEXANDRIA, DAILY GdZETTE
"To STEW
THB VERY AGE AND BODY OF THE TINE
HIS FORM AND PRESSURE.
FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER ls.


tional inteliigencer, for the promotion OF A
griculture, has not received the entire appro-
baton that might have been anticipated Inc
Richmond Enquirer applauds the object OF the
Scheme; but, says he, as the Constitution
now stands, the U States have nothing at al
to do with agric ultural boards or botanical
gardens" On this ground, which is correct
as we have before maintained, Congress will
be deprived of at least months Work, which
was cleverly cut out for them by the lntelll-
gsncer. However it would be idle to des-
pair; for an amendment may be offered to
the constitution investing Congress with the
necessary powers for the promotion OF Agn-
culture, and this, by little contrivance, can
easily be made to occupy five or six weeks OF
the session. What field would it present
for display of talents, particularly to the
young members from the Western country
We should be entertained with a history Of
the settlement of lands, making fences, erect
ing Lighthouses, raising cattle, hogs, merino
sheep the cultivation Of tobacco, cotton and
rice; and then depression to Manufactures,
as connected with Agriculture eulogies of
homespun, &c. &c. Fire or sic zveeks, did
we say The subject is inexhaustlble; and
session of no ordinary length might be pass
ed in discussing it, to the great ediication
and interest of the public.
When Oliver Wolco,t, Esq. former Secre-
tary of the Treasury, resigned that Office, he
invited the house Of representatives to inst-
tute an inquiry into his oficisl conduct. How
many of the heads Of department, under our
democratic administrations, have followed his
example? None, that we know Of They re-
sign without saying syllable about an inqui-
ny and their errors and mal-praclices con-
tinue to be overlooked by congress, with per-
feet indifference. 1t might be supposed that
if they were honorable nen, occasional inves-
legations would be gratifying to their own
feelings; and, by the way, it would furnish
congress with business for their leisure hours.
No subject was ever theme of more abuse
and misrepresentation, than the Sedition Law.
SO vlrulent we're the ciamors Of Duane and
others, that one-third of the Pennsylvanians
firmly believed paddock might at any mo-
ment be affixed to their mouths by order of
John Adams. They had not the smallest con-
ception that the Sedition Law was intended to
punish the RIGHTEOUSNESS, not the i5erty OF
the press, which latter it in fact protected, by
allowing the truth to be given in evidence,
and IN justification. This is no; permitted by
the Common Law ter under that, " the
greater the truth, the greater the libel ;" and
we have witnessed case in New-York.
where the defendant was not allowed to
trove the facts which he had stated. Yet
OF all this, the simple Pennsylvanians were
entirely Ignorant G0g-La7v, Gag-Law,
was tht eternal cry, and this decided their
votes although the constitution of their
own state contains o provision precisely ST.
mllar to that of the Scdition Law, as will be
seen by the following extract from that in
strumcnt -" The free communication of
thoughts and opinions (says the constitution
OF Pennsy lvania) is one of the invaluable
rights of man and every citizen may freely
speak, write and print on any subject, being
responsible far The abuse Of that liberty. In
prosecutions for the publication of papers, in
vestigating the official conduct of officers,
men In public capacity, or where the matter
published is proper for public information.
The truth thereof may be gipen in Evidence"
The inference necessarily is, that il the truth
could not be given in evidence, the calumnia-
tor was liable to punishment.
CRIB. THE BOXER.