Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-04-16
From the Norfolk Ledger.

The following patriotic and elegant
address came into our hands YESTERDAY,
AMI we present it to our readers, and
particularly to the voters in this district
and state. Mr.. CASTOR isa gentleman !
ofthe highest probity and talents, as con-
fessed by his political opponents there
is no doubt of his election, and what ne
says to the voters of his district, may be
addressed to the voters of the district'of
Norfolk, and every other district IN the
state.
To the Freemen ofthe Counties Of John
son, Way4s, Green, Leaoir, Jones',
Carteret and Craven, COMPOSING the
fourth Congressional District.
Bya act of the last Congress, passed
but a few days before theis adjournment,
the first session of the next Congress is
directed to take place on the fourth.
Monday of May. This circumstance
has rendered it the duty of the governor
to summon the freemen of the state to-
pether, at an unusual season, to choose
their. representatives in the national le-
gislature. For this purpose an election
will be holden at all the accustomed
places in your respective counties on
" Friday the thir,ieth day of April next.
At this election you will have the good
ness to consider me as candidate tor
your su!frages.
In ordinary times, the choice OF an
individual, who shall correctly represent
your opinions * faithfully promote your
interests in the great council OF the ma
ton, is an act by no means unImportant'
But in these days of danger and<disastef
lin a season of war, when We are &C
tually enduring evils Of no common
magnitude, and are threatened with o.
theirs far more slarming-lt becomes
one of the most solemn and responsible
which free people can be called upon
to execute. present not myself TO you
in prssumptuous confidence that / am
fitted Tor the appointment, nor dare 1
amuse you with promises of the services
I may perform. 1t is with thorough
deep-felt sense of my defects and i'm
perlections, with disposition to
devote myself, such as am,to the cause
of my country-that feel myself bound
to obey the call which has been made
upon me, and to declare my readiness
to repair to the arduous station OF your
representative, should you think pepper
to assign it to me.
seek not to wound any mans preJu.
dices, and am far from desiring to awak.
en- party anisr2sities. But believing it
my duty to deal towards you III the spi-
rit of sincerity, will state in as few
words as are consistent with persplcui.
ty, my leading opinions upon that mo-
mentous subject, which now absorbs all
others, and irresistibly engages every
mans attention. Alive to the injuries
committed on my country, and disdain-
ing TO be the spolog'st of any foreign
nation--conviuced that we had well
founded causes of complaint against each
Of the great belligevcn,s of Europe-l
nevertheless could not but view the Sc.
lection of Great Britain for our enemy,
couried with France, as an act of extra
vaganee and misunderstanding and
unaccountable. 1t was forbidden by our
Observation-Disclosures we regarded the i'm
mediate advantages of a profitable com
merce, or the more distant yet far more
valuable benefit Of national security
From the honor and fair character ofthe
nation, nothing could be more abhorrent.
The meanest frauds and the grosse.t
outragcs-the open and shameless VIC
iations of treaty the plunderings, con-
Hscations, lmprisoDments, and burnlngs;
the most contemptuous treatment and
foulest language OH the part OF the
French emperor: seemed bat TO strength
en- the anxiety to conciliate his friend
ship--while wrongs, serious indeed In
themselves, but which on comparison
almost dwindled into nothing, rendered
his adversary our foe +: 1.-THE declaration
of war is to be lanented. there is little
of consolation to be found in the manner
of les prosecutor. Seamen's Rights
and Free Trade" were sought to be
protected, not on the element where
they had been assailed, but by The irva-
sian of Canada. The scheme was not
more fal!acious, than the attempts 10
execute it have been calamItous and
disgraceful Our gallant little navy,
the remnant of better days and sounder
policy, the natural protector of COM
merce and Of the uarinsr-tbat little
navy-but FOR which the word war"
would bring the tinse of shame to the
cheek of every American-was reinem-
bered only that 1t might be sighted, IN.
til it Tough itself into notice and encou-
ragement. From the continuance OF the
war see nothing to hope, and every
thing to fear. AiI'trade is new destroy
ed but that which is permitted by the
.,an,v Tn cvery transaction of lite, by