Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-08-31
COMMUNICATION.

COMMUNICATION.
Mr.. PRINTER,
Disseminated misanthropists may grum-
BILE and make long faces about the pro-
ceedings of government-they only give a
picture of their .iaundiced minds; they
are affected in some trifiing way and
think the misfortune general: But in this
thew are mistaken. The class of citizens
with whom associate, are materially be-
neGtted by the change of administration
which took place in favor of the republi-
cans; and besides there is a great In
crease of their number. The class | al
lude to is the grog shop politicians, as they
are vulgarly called by their proud neigh
bors, who unsociably spend their money
for dress, furniture, and such like gew-
gaws, in the place Of passing their even
ing hours like rational beings, in the
company of such joyial, liberal souls as we
are.
The beverage which affords us our
principal pleasure is now free OF tax; by
this we can afford to make use of much
greater quantity in the course of a year,
and thus increase our pleasure without
very material loss. This great benefit was
anticipated by some of cur democratic
friends in congress, at the time of the re-
peal of the internal taxes, who asserted on
the floor Of the house as well as in their
circular letters, that "poor people re-
ceived more advantage and pleasure from
the use of spirituous liquor than they would
from tea. coffee, Jro,cn sugar, salt, or
any other lu1ury which could be import
ed" This was not assertion alone, for
tAey enforced their observations by the
most logical reasoning. They did not
forget to dwell on the pleasing ideas which
float ON the mind after tasting the delicious,
inebriatjng draught, compared with the
dull, phleg.natic feelings which you expe-
ricnce after meal Of foreign luxuries.
You sec, from this, that we are not with.
ont warm adherents, even in the national
councils; and, many of them, may well
be our friends, for it was by our exertions
that most of them got their seats.
Perhaps you may not be acquainted
with the influence which we have in many
parts of the United States. In many large
cities the issue of no election can be cal
culated on without the appreciation OF the
committee of carmen. hodd carriers, &c.
You will see the candidates popping into
our houses at all hours of the day. taking
us socially by the hand, and affectionate-
" enduring after the health Of our wives
and chiIdren-and then at night, as they
cannot often find us at home, they are sure
to follow us to tie ale-house or grog
shop, and there. besides treating us TO as
much as We can drink, they talk politics
with us, with the same freedom as tho
we were all candidates together.
The allusion is very correct. " that the
storm only affects the towering oak OF the
forest, while the lowly shrub, from its in.
significance, is protected from the rage OF
the tempest" The case is similar with
us. Your specializing merchants may
complain Of embarsoes, non-intercourse
laws, sc. your lawyers, Of the breaking
of the constitution, by the removal of
Judges, reversion Of sentences OF courts
and suspension of habeas-corpHs-yonr
sailors of inpressment and oppression.
and your farmers of the dull sale OF their
produce-but all this cannot affect U.s.
The sum total of our happiness lies IN
glass of grog, and zchere 1ohisky rs cheap
there is our country! Yet, at the same,
time, without an. fiatteryto ourselves be-
lieve we are the best patriots in the coun-
try, and our patriotism rests on the most
solid foundation, that Of interest Is it