Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-09-08
ADDRESS
o, THE sRgEHoDERs OF LouDouN TO THE
rREEHoLDERs OF VIRGINIA
Continued.

- wbich we cannot forbear claiming your
most solemn attention. You have seen that
rer;od of eighteen months may, and inoced
ronst eIanse. between the election OF the mem
her. of that assembly which assumes the pow
erof. forming an electoral ticket, and the cnoice
nj a convention OF tne deputies for that "spe-
cial purpose" 4. the proper conJuncture
Would YOU be disposed in every instance, to
denuts ia such convention, the same persons
whom you elected to the legislature eighteen
months, nay indeed, to one branch Of that &c,
pislature, two or three years before Wound
the same legislature VINO Sat last winter, II
nov convened in ordefto form general eiee-
toral ticket, place on it the same names when
are TO be found on that now extant where
such ticket is unconstitutioraily made with
view not to the integrity and ABILITY OF the
electoral college, but to secure the choice OF
particular candidate for the presidency, the
temporary fayorite of the legislature, what
change of nomination oalpy Ike place IN such
Lapse of time, as to the capacity or hdeity
of the candidate himself? History teaches us
that good heace may make bad spar 0llnis-
fer. Acts which do not even impair the mo-
raj character Of the man, may destroy our con-
fdence in the officer--lndependent OF that
developement Of the characters and views OF
men which time, in every age, Is continually
making and of which examples are daily luf-
nished as what important changes, may not a
few months, in this eventful period OF the
world, occasion in the circumstances and con-
dition of our country, proper consideration
of which must always be combined In choice
of the head which is to guide its councils, and
the arm which is to WELD its ssvOrd Our re-
lation TO our sister states, and that OF Amerl-
ca to the rest of the world must enter into
iudicious combination of al the reasons and
inducements which are proper to govern the
choice" of President of the United States.
Can the events of the last year which nave
made such changes in the circumstances OF
eur country, have wrought no corresponding
alteration in the sentiments OF the people -
Truth here requires US to admit that some oil
those events were anticipated by the last gene
raj assembly, who recommended the war ia
which we are involved, and, 5y rejecting
proposition, which merely advised It's post
ponement until preparation should be made
" for an active, vigorous, and efficient prose
cution Of It." declared that it would be even
dispraceful 10 defer actual hostllites, until the
nation should be prepared to commence them.
So far, too, the administration has proved oDe-
dient to the wishes of the general assembly
The war has been begun without adequate
preparation, and its progress has hitherto &C
corded with It's beginning. The hrst, ano ior
ought we certainly know, the ohiy fortress
which has fallen, is within our own ancient
territory. The first army which has entered
that of the enemy waits ON the line, Tor rem
forcemenis, which are to be levied at the dis.
lance of two hundred AID fifty mules iron, the
scene of action, and marched TO Its reilel'-
The only fleets at this moulent on our shores,
either upon the lakes or the ocean, belong 10
our foe Ga the Latter, we had one, lnconsi-
dsrabie indeed for its numbers but gallant and
intrepid, and capable, if lowering on our own
coast of affording TO our RETURNING and
richly laden vessels a safe entrance and
a secure asylum within their own har-
bors. What has become of it heaven only
knows 1t has been recently spoken more
than half way across the atlantic and rumor
whispers that its destination, is France, to tur-
nish. possibly, another we'll nerited proof OF
the confidence Of our President in the new
born friendship Of her emperor To counter
balance this sufuise, we give to you, another
rnmor, that the. commander of this squadron
sailed zoithout orders
We have stated, fellow citizens, that the
last general assembly recommended nmmeai-
ate war with Great Britain.--Justlce to It's
character. however, requires us to add, that
this recommendation was grounded on the as
snrance piyen by a proclamation of the Presi-
dent. that the French DEGREES violating our
neutral commerce, had been revoked, and had
ceased to operate from the lst OF November
1910; or in the language of the preamble pre-
ceaing the resolution in favor of war, that
sFrance had paused in her career of injus-
tice" towards US. From the President
messages 10 Congress, the general assembly
had also been led to infer, !" that proofs of that
pause, had been presented to G. B. in shape