Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-03-12
Mn. PICKERING's ADDRESS
To the Peohle Of the OnHea "safes.
No. |.
INTRoDUC TON

BEFORE present to you ANEW OF the past
and present condition of our country, and exifi-
bit the Characters of men who have produced,
or greatly influenced that condition, 1t Is pro-
per that should place before YOU PLAIN re-
presentation of nv own. Foryou ought to be
satisfied, that the writer who asks your at
tcntion, possessed the means OF acquiring an
ADEQUATE knowledge of his subject, and IN
,ecrity to present it with truth.
NV name has, for so many years, been the
theme of reproach with my enemies, and
their publications having been III fact, though
not in form, addressed TO you, as the proper
tribunal to decide On the merit or demert Ct
nv conduct in public life, justice would re-
quire that, prior to final Judgment, | should
be heard in my own defence. This right
however, should wave, were my personal IN
terest or reputation alone at stake. Content
with the esteem of men of the first distinction
among my countryrneh, for their dlscernment'
virtue and patriotism, and with an approving
conscience, would not again, on my own &C
count, take the trouble to rePc! the SANDERS
with which bad men continue TO assail me. As
il regards myself these hbellers miss Their
aim. Far from wounding my feelings, their
mslevolent reproaches bear witness that am
not destitute Of merit. The unweamcd, ma
lignant efforts of these men 20 DESTROY my re-
putation, demonstrate that the truths have
heretofore exhibited, have annoyed them and
their employers while, perhaps, they anticl-
pate display Of more truths, the proper et-
iects Of which, by reviving their SANDERS, they
may hope &c defeat.
Indeed, fellow citizens, 1 have gone but
little way, iii spreading before YOU the errors
OF YOUR rulers would to Goa that they were
chargeabIe with 10 more than errors. Certain
it is, they have plunged our country INTO
state o: degradation and disgrace, and brought
upon it calslnitics neverbcforc experienced.
1t is time they were stripped of their dis
ruises, and exhibited in their naked characters
10 vcur view. This is ore great object In nay
present undertaking. For no hope Can be os-
,ersainod OF an advantageous change in the
condition Of cur country, until YOU shall be
convinced that the leaders OF the p.--.!f, which
for ten years past have governed 1t, arc not
worthy of YOUR confidence. embark Ill It
N, y
The time and labor must bestow upon IL in
exposing them, l shall unavoidahly expose the
nakedness Of my country when, if compatible
with truth, would infinitely rather speak the
praises of both. But to authorize even dis
tant hope of producing general conviction
plain truths, however mortifying, must be told:
and the belief of them can alone rescue our
country from impending ruin. Perhaps for
entertaining this apparently fororn hope,
may be charged with vanity But if truth IS
beforehand, TO be presumed unavaiiing, why
then the cause of our country is to be given
zip in despair But until ruin actually over
wtelm us, will not despair.
I'm the prosecution Of the work, will pre-
sent TO YOU faithful! pictures, drawn from the
life from the words and actions of men.
will lay before you facts. And where the ma
ture of the case renders facts unsttsinable,
will state the circumstances which furnish
the ground of rational belief. And because
the unexarnpled state OF things demands that
facts which are the basis Of my address, should
be presented to your consideration, with what
ever weight the testimony of known witness
can impart, and believing my statements to be
true, and my reasoning just, shall subscribe
Them with my proper name. Should there be
any errors they will be unin.entionA and
when fairly exhibited, IS frankly confessed.
am aware that shall draw upon myself
host of slanderers, who from all quarters will
fall upon me without mercy. They, destitute
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