Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-09-08
rneaiate repeal Of her orders ofcouncil. As The

moment In which war was declared, " Is not
fair to aver that the general assembly wouid
have approved of an act, which 1t had ADVISED
under an entire misappreheaslon OF Tets
We NAV, therefore, presume that the Change,
which the recent policy of the administration
has produced in the circumstances Oh OUT
country, would not have been ihoTera'lNe Oh
the members Of the general assembly VINO
formed the electoral ticket now tendered 20
your acceptance, under their sanction afone. S
Fellow citizens, we repeat that the mr. s. NJ
circutastancss of the United States ought TO be
maturely weighed in the choice OF Presi-
dent. We are urged, by a sense OF auty TO
ourselves, and TO our common country,to as
sert that proper consideration OF the causes
which have led to them require us TO REJECT
the only electoral ticketnow recommends TO
ouradoption, & to form, In the best pracucabie
manner, one which may lead to the choice OF
sonre other President than James Madison.
TO draw into public discussion, the name of
apy individual, tor any other purpose than APP
plause, is at all times a painful task and II Is
more especially 50 where the esumable qua
lities of the man, cannot, consistently WITH
public safety, screen the officer from tnerlted
censure. Our immortal Henry speaking, IN
the memorable conuention Of Virginia, OF an
illustrious secretary of congress, said, "Ihe
goodness of his private character rs nor dousf-
rd. 1t is his tublic conduct which we are to
Inspect Although he may be endowed with
The most brilliant talents; although his f'l-
pate pirtue maymerit ahhlause,l have right,
said this great orator and Judge OF human ma.
mre 8. to consider his, POLITICS as abandoned.
We know that large share OF private worth
is compatible with strong national preJudices
and with the mos, erroneous views OF the puo-
lie interest; vet, mind subject such lntlu-
ence, and led by such false and DANCE Gus
Guides ought not TO be trusted win the reins
of an empire There is a dominion OF party
which, without debasing the whole character
Of the man whom it wins to It's subJectl"n,
gradually warps and peryerts his Judgement,
Stimulates his passions, and leads hlm to the
commission of acts OF doubtful morality TIC
readily imbibes the most untaSoraols sehu-
ments of his political opponents, lmputes 20
,hem the most sinister designs, and hnds, III
suspicious artfnIly infused into him by others.
or originating with himself, Justlhcalion foi
acts of his party which his own conscicncS
would otherwise condemn lha' doctrine
which substitutes the interest 81 fa'fy, 10
that of the nation, as the test Of the fuoHc So'a,
is the most prevalent, as we'll as the most dan
gerous vice Of republics 1t Is never harm
less because, where it operates at all It dis
places better principle at action l he man
who Yields himself intirely To its guidance, II
not speedily involved in guilt, is Indebted tor
Ills innocence, to the virtue or the precautlon
of others. He may be allowed IL the chan
Gerry of his own conscience, to plead the meri,
of his private life in eXtenuatlon OF his ofhcial
incapacity or misconduct, but to the puohct
he must stand condemned as unworthy OF
farther trust, il he relies no other defence.
We submit to your leisure, fellow citizens,
the application of these principles; while we
proceed to call your attention to facts. Having
briefly touched upon some OF the past opera
tons of the war, in which we are engaged, 1t
NAV not be amiss, in forming correct esti-
mate Of the chief who conducts 1t, to take
cuysory view of some of the causes which led
to it. We do not pretend, nor can 1t be ne
cessary here, to embrace a narrative OF them
all. The address of part OF the minority OF
CONGRESS- to their constituents the very able
ARGUMENT of learned and eloquent senator
ne Delaware on a motion to defer the deciara-
ton Of war; and fragment of speech, which
nreceded both, delivered by one OF your lm-
mediate representatives, man Justly regard
ed throughout America, as the pride and orna-
ment of Virginia, furnish an ample elucida.
tion of the causes, as we'll as the lmpolcy VI
thar ill.timcd, and disastrous measure In
tracing its origin we are carried back, hoWev-
err. to period more remote than that to which
they limited their views--io the events OF
1905; when Mr.. Madison occupied the second
station in the Administrations of the govern
ment, and contributed, by his counsels, and his
influence, TO direct, support and sanction the
course which it pursued. " France rv7l NOT
hermit Spain TO settle her differences aOHh u.s.
France wants money and zpe mast give a. -
T, The memorable language of the then secre-