Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-07-08
ALEXANDRIA.
wEDNEsDAY MORNING, July 8.
ssTo sHEw
,as VERY AGE AND BoDY or The TIME
=. voRM AND PRESSURE.
6 TO sHEw

Outstanding that Interpretations nave
ne abroad as to the sentiments advanced
:. |. Mr. John d. Sinms, in the remarks
made BY him introductory to the reading
,ftbe Declaration Of independence and the
v,Iedictory Address ofWashington, on the
.binst. at the request of the Washington
Coc,ety--the editor has obtained from Mr..
sinms copy Of these remarks, and now
offers them to public inspection, unwilling
,hat the Washington Society, or the mem
her who served them on that occasions
should be suspected for moment OF adj
yancinp sentiments which they wished to
he concealed, or which they would not a
INV in the face of the world. Let them be
read. and let the reader see to what lengths
c,lumny can extend its perversions, when
sentiments so correct and unexceptionable
can be distorted into grounds of accusation
against their author.
Remarks prade by A9r. JoEN d. SIaMS, intro
ductOry to reading the Declaration Of hide
tsudsnce ard H,ashblgfon's Yatedictory i'd
dress, on the 4th nlstqat, at the request Of
tie Washington Society.
FELLow- CITIZENS,
We are assembled to commemorate oNr
rational birthday at an eventual period, and
under circumstances peculiarly interesting.
Thirty-six years have elapsed since the citi-
zens Of these United States assumed the rank
of free and independent people. Our free
dOa acquired by long and arduous struggle
has been secured to US by wise and liberal
constitution Under its influence and protec-
ton we have enjoyed in an eminent degree the
blessings of civil and religious liberty. Hap
PLY remotc from the scenes Of European po-
tics, we have been allowed to sit under our
own vine and 6g tree, no further interested In
Them than as friends to the rights and happl-
ness of oue fellow-men, and enemies to what
ever bad tendency to impair or to destroy
hem. But this tranquility has been interrupt
,d--a new and an important era in the affairs
y our country has arrived. We are 10 longer
permitted to remain Spectators only of the
dreadful scenes which the European world has
10 long exhibited. From the collision of the
So great belligerent nations, whose ieaIou-
YES and antipathies have spread discord and
lesolaiion over the faircst portion of the globe,
spark has been struck which has reached
wen our distant shores, and rekindled the
lame OF war. We may reasonably anticipate
series of new and important events necessa-
'lY arising out of our present situation. Let
ne wisdom and energy OF the people be pre-.
pared to meet them. The strength, the exist-
zee OF our extensive country as an indepen-
lsnt soVereignty, depends upon the strict CO.
'e'lon It's haTts, and the united exertion of
Is powers. Whatever may be our opinion as
Tue trfedieney Of the measures which have
cen adopted by eur government however
iueA we may deprecate the influence of 4var
pom the prosperity Of our country and upon
'' morals of our people however deeply we
'ay regret, that a country detached by nature
10 0y policy from all participation in the con-
SIS OF foreign nations, should be compelled
any degree to identity its honor and its in
.'est with thens-we are ever to remember,
'S' the constitutional acts of the government
: obligatory upon every citizen. The wis
-" OF our constitution has provided us suf-
eie0t remedy against the abuse of power
the principles of our government are per-
't'ed' and course of measures pursued