Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-09-02
ADDRESS

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/ Co7anliifee Of Corresh ondence ~ re ata3e q
Neqo- York, M SUPPORT ofsfhe noxen7afao" q
the hon. DE NIT CLIN1O.N, 10 me
PRESIDENCY of5he United States al me ensu-
I ing election.
/ There remains to Us another subject, which
! we must reluctantly enter upon, anu winch we
/ shall eodeavor to discuss with candor ana lof-
bearance. We are not enemies TO Nlr Niaoi-
son. and should regret exceedingly il we we're
considered as disparagirg his reputation.
! Mech as we esteem Mr. Clinton, and desl-
roas as we are of his success, we shoul1 re-
iect it. if it could only be accomplished by VII
lifyinq his competitor; but the merits OF the
one do not require to be set OF oy censufing
the other. Mr.. Madison has passed through
a life of honor and public services and has been
already exalted to the first office IN the union.
His friends are DESTROYS of his enjoying 1t Tor
another term, and alledge something like u
/ sage in the reelection of his predecessors. It
| Is true Washington, the idol fall parties, was
soexalted; il is true, Jefferson, the idol OF the
| republicans, obtained the same dlstlncuoh, nat
| a magistrate may be very mertorious' VIII
ONT deserving the honors conferred upon
| Washington, and Jefferson
| We are not aware Of any advantage that
can result by establishing the rule that every
President, who is not extremely disaPpfoved
of shall be reelected next step Will be,
that some favorite public servant, as a~proof
Of our peculiar esteem, viii be continued In
Office for three successive terms +; and sooh'
three terms will be the ordinary period Tor
president whom it is not intended to disgrace;
thus we shall impercePubly slide mic an t.
lection for life, and perhaps towards an mere
ditary succession Eightyeafs are not an I'M
proper length of time as reward Tor uncom-
mon services but there is no reason why
they should become the ordinary tenure OF
ofice.-Neyerhele had there been no
sufficiently countervailing motives, and had
the times been more tranquil, we should not
perhaps, object to the reelection OF Mr. Ma
olson. ii that honor were deemed necessary to
ell the measure of his fame. But, much as
| we respec ct the feelings of that gentleman, we
cannot consent to offer them that tribute un-
der existing circumstances. The present 81
uation of our country eXcies the deepest anx'
civ, and renders the choice Of It's first public
officer more important and interesting than e.
YER. This choice involves in effect cues
ton administrator, the appointment OF heads
# departments, and the institution oil prDcl-
2les of policy for conducting our public affairs,
II the utmost consequence to the union.
It's sacred provision of our government,
that the president is the responsible officer un-
der the constitution The prerogatiye maxim
Of B-italn Cannot be applied to him, that de
can do no zvrong. He is answerable to the
nation not only for the general system Ct adj
ministration, but also for the prominent pub
lie acts and omissions Of his secretaries These
| Ulcers are act under his direction, and can
not be admitted to stand in the same cap city
With the ministers of the king Of England, in
terposcd between the chief magistrate and
the people to bear the burthcn OF public CEN
sure, and screen him from public observation
A severe enforcement of this essential rule,
which makes the president responsible to the
nation for the acts of his secretaries, has be-
come indispensable for the restoration o. the
republic to ii healthy condition.
The mode of conducting the war IN which
we are embarked, is Intimately and essential
" connected with satisfactory az lpslment Of
our differences. with the best interests Of our
country, and with the honor of the American
name.
The probability of its taking pace could
, not but have been anticipated the resources
it would require should have beep lmaturely
! considered aad the means Of providing them
digested and arranged +; the preparations to
wage it with effect ought to have been sea-
sonably made. Have those things been done
/ We do not wish to entersinto minute detail
| that might present disheartenDg picture to
our country !; but we are compelled to ask,
where are the marks Of system or preparation
/! Our armies have entered upon military SER
! vice; which Of them is properly provided for
! the present, orswhen and where have arrange
ments been made for securing toit he neces-
sary supplies for the future /? We fear it will
net be found to be the army under gen. Hull;
- -o,l LIZ IL Il.