Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-10-23

1t had been tranSptanted Win muiti'
Jude of compliments, from the Boston
Yankee, the following article is extract
cd: e.
PUBLIC MEETING.
!" At the meeting on Wednesday last
for the purpose OF adopting measures to
honor commodore PERRY for his late
signal victory, Mr.. DEXTER addressed
his federal friends, as near as We can re-
coIlec,, in substance, as follows:-
/" That many gentlemen and verygood
men too, had an idea that their approbat-
ing our victories, and the gallant achiev-
ments Of our naval heroes might be con-
strued into open appreciation oftbe war.
He said from the nature Of civil society,
it was our duty, and we were bound to
support the government, and obey its
laws. The national spirit and nation,l
honor were all that nation had to rely
on for their Independence; and that,
would not be maintained if individuals
refused to cherish public spirit and na.
tioual honor, or to obey the laws, merely
because they we're averse to the war--
That 1.-two parties in country were di.
vidcd, one for the war, and the other a.
gainst it. aud no tribunal to decide be.
tween them. the nation was then virtual
ly al war with itself-but it was not so
with us-we had competent tribunal
TO decide when it was proper to 60 to
war--they lad legally declared war, and
we were bound to obey. He stated a
case as follows: Suppose ajury was to
find man guilty of capital crime, &
was sentenced 10 be executed, and the
executive refused to pardon him, yet
MIR Jones and himself might think ne
was not guilty, and even the sheriff tho
was r. execute him also believe him not
not guilty-was that any reason why the
law should not be executed! No the
man must be hanged.
The wat we are engaged in he said,
was precisely similar-it was legally de.
clared, aud we were bound 10 duty to
sustain the national honor and applaud
the national spirit--and that it was not
immorai to do so, but an incumbent duty
10 rejoice at the triumphs and victories
Of our gallant officers. He wished that
some gentlemen would consider this war
in that point of view, more than they do
That zve fthe federaIists had got in.
to ho6bie,' and that sue must get out
Of IL as sheedily as POSSIBLE, and the beat
nay we could"
Before make remark on the speech
here attributed to Mr.. Dexter, l think
it due to that gentleman, and it COMFORTS
with the respect have long borne him,
to declare that I do not believe that
The above contains fair and correct re-
presentation OF what he said on the q.
hove occasion. But since it is publicly
attributed to him, and has been put into
circulation through most of the admins
tra,ion papers in the Union, and has OBJ.
tanned currency which it would never
have acquired but under the sanction of
his name, I ieel it my duty to examine
snd to the best of my ability to expose,
the unworthy and pernicious sentiments
which it inculca,es. During this exs-
mination therefore and for this purpose
only / shall take she liberty to treat
those sentiments as really his.
Mr.. Dexter begins with simple pro
position, which as stated nobody will be
disposed to deny. Undoubtedly as gen.
eral doctrine, the people are bound to o.
hey the laws, and to support the govern
ment, aud IL there are exceptions it
would be difficult, if not impossible to
state them alphabetically. twill be
time enough to entertain and to act up.
on such question when our mother
country lays another tax upon tea in or
der 10 try the strength of the parent o.
yer the colony. We admit no such alb
stract specuiations to detain US mo.
nent When Mr.. Dexler lays it down
as maxim, that government having de-
clared war, we are bound to obey, he
makes use of such general terms, that
we are at loss for the extent of his
meaning, for if he means no more than
his expressions in themselves import,
he advances no more than every one il
prepared to admit. The contrary has
aever been conteDded for By any one.
II he means that we are to obey the
law declaring war, as we are bound to o.
bey all other laws constitstionslly pas.
sed, by conforming to all the duties it
imposes, such as the payment of taxes,
welding personal services in case of in
yasion, sc. &c. no one is disposed to
question the soupdness of the opinion.
But We are not left to conjecture, for the
rstor fortunately chose TO illustrate his
dectrine by stating case,
He supposes an innocent man convict
e Of a capital crime and sentenced to be
Presunaing that Iris ho6ble hss come