Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1813-03-19
FOR THE GAZETTE.
No. III

which Justify the charge of partiality of
our erciusiUe republicans TO France, and
can draw his own conclusions as to the in
tiaence such partiality necessarily hath
upon their conduct, in congress and in the
nation as well as the consequences re-
sulhng from it, to this, once the happest
people on this ball of earth. will now ex-
anime the charge of British influence re
torted on the federalists, arising from Bri-
tish Acknowledgements, through whatever
channel they have appeared, as we'll as the
overt acts relied upon by our accusers
themselves, that have assumed a definite
shape, capable of calculation.
The first of these which hath come to
my knowledge, was contained in some
numbers of political dispositions published
in " The Farmers Repository" in February
and March 1911, and were signed /" Can
didus" In these papers an Inference of
'partiality to Great Britain is drawn from
the common distinction ofthe two branches
of our national legislature into the ssuper
house and toscer house, after the manner
of the British parliament to which is
added, birth days, levees, SC. The first
of these is too ridiculous to notice, and /
hope | shall be forgiven hard word, If |
call it cavil. Birth days are of the same
description. France hath her Saint Den
nis-Ireland, her Saint Patrick Scotland.
her Saint Andrew-and England, her
Saint George. Now will any man main
tain that there was one Saint of them all
a truer patriot, or rendered more essential
services to his country than our Washing
ton Why then should not America have
her Saint as well as the best ofthem ?
As to levees, take the explanation of
Washington himself, in a letter to friend
the 5th vol of his life, page los. " Be-
fore the custom was established which now
accommodates foreign characters, stran-
gers, and others who from motives of Curl
osity, respect to the chief magistrate, or
any other cause, are induced to call upon
me, WAS unable to attend to any business
whatsoever. For gentlemen consulting their
own convenience rather than mine, were
calling from the time rose from breakfast
often before--until sat down to dinner
This, as | resolved not to neglect my pub
lie duties, reduced me to the choice of one
of these alternatives either to refuse them
altogether, or to appropriate time for the
reception of them. The first knew would
be disgusting to many !; the latter l expect
ed would undergo animadyersion from
those who would find fault with or without
cause. To please all was impossible. l
therefore adopted that line of conduct
which combined public advantage with
private convenience, and which in my judg-
ment was unexceptionable in itself" Here
we have the true reason Of establishing
what is called leyees and the man who
can see any thing like British influence in
it, must have clearer opticks than can
boast of.
" But 1T IS not"--says Candidus--" in
the levees alone, that the forms lies for
mes) of the British government acre
displayed here The president s0as cut
off, like the British King, from the ac-
cssstonaed hospitaIities and social inter
course of our COUNTRY" shall certainly
be excused if call this also cavil Let
the reader imagine the chief magistrate
of the United States opening his doors to
all persons at all times, and he may easily
conceive what portion of time curiosity or
friendship would have left him for the trans
action of public business: in situation too,
which would fix the character of our new
on such basis as to command
the respect or the ridicule of foreign ma
tions, who were anxiously watching the |
operation of that system of government we |
had chosen. The above letter gives the |
reason why the President was not always |
to be seen, he would not neglect his public |
duties.
g But he 1.-THE PRESIDENT made speech |
TO Congress, like a British King from
the throne" What shall we say to this ? |
1t is proof, that we have some malignant |
spirits among us disposed to censure every |
thing they are not permitted to direct
The most decorous and respectful method |
of communicating to Congress the state of |
the nation, by meeting the legislature in
full assembly, is here construed to proceed |
from the influence of Great. Britain / We |
must like Jack in the tale of the tub |
. Rend and tear" away every ceremony in |