Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-06-08
WIN. WILLCOCKS.
LETTER OF EDWIN GRAY.

MANY of our friends (says the Norfolk
Ledger) having expressed q desire to see the
address of the honorable EDWIN GRAY, to his
constituents, and being ourselves Impressed
with conviction of the importance Of the
subjects of which it treats, we insert 1t with
pleasure, In this days paper. 1t will be re-
membered that Mr.. Gray, is of what is term
ed the democratic party. No man was
warmer supporter of Mr.. Jeferson's election,
hut this gentleman has not been so blinded
by party spirit, as to approve In one set OF
men, that which he condemned in another.
A11ri, 1919.
SIR,
The present session of congress being "a
bout to end, take the liberty to address you
once more on the subject of our political al
fairs; and, as in nv former communications,
will present to your view the annual state
ments of the receipts and expenditures OF the
general government.
There Mr. Gray presents his constituents
with an accurate and detailed statement OF the
receipts and expenditures OF the general 60
vernment, which, as we have already publish
ed, we shall omit and proceed with his ad-
dress.
The government has been compelled to
borrow money to meet this extraordinary ex-
pence, and an act has been passed authors
ing a loan for eleven millions Of dollars, the
interest of which is to be secured by renewal
of the system of internal taxes In operation
under the administration OF MIR. Adams to
take effect la case a State OF actual war shall
| ansue. The consistency OF the republicans,
who turned out Adams because he was in ia
ver of wars, of standing armies, OF navics, of
loans, of still tax, stamp tax, direct tax, &e,
| sc. will be duly estimated by those who take
the trouble to compare their Conduct now,
with their professions when they came into
power.
An act to authorize the raising twenty-five
thousand regular troops, fifty thousand yolun-
| teers, and to call out one hundred thousand
militia, are the principle measures preParato-
ry to war. The objects of the war proposed
to be entered into, are apparently the protec-
! ton of neutral commerce, and to compel the
British government to repeal the Orders IN
| Council, by taking possession of Canada.-As
| / don't believe we have the power to force Ell
| Their France or England TO render US that JUS
tice which they have so long withheld; and
well knowing that great majority ofmy con-
stituents are unwilling to engage in war fol-
objects beyond our means to accomplish, be-
lieving that war is greater evil than any we
now suffer, and perfectly convinced that the
safety and tranquility ofthe southern states re.
| quire that we should never engage In war, ex-
! cept in case of an actual invasion of our terri
tory by military force, have therefore OPP
posed the war measures adopted by Congress
! For defensive war, would 60 as far any mar
in the nation, whenever we are invaded but
to an offensive war, for foreign conquests, or
\ for objects beyond our reach, | am decidedly
opposed. Whether declaration OF war WIN
be made this year or not / am unable to say
but cannot suppose it probable-Without an
army, which when raised is to be supported