Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-11-19

abandonment Of dolly, The attack up- |
on the district is called by the presl'
dent. ga sudden incursion,' ny your
exreIlency :. an intrnsion by sur.
price aud by Mr.. Jefferson +" an
aapantage taken Of our " unnrned
and nnprspared' situation. When
the enemy had nearly reachedthe OBJ
jcet Of attack. the neighb"ring mi
iiiia, more than half unarmed. we're
summoned to its defence. The mi
li,ia of Alexandria with all the means
Of protecting The place. were march
ed otto distant point. so that the
capital was consigned TO cenhnsrs.
ton and Alexandria TO plumber.
Wlrat. let me ask your cxcellcncy.
were the people Of Alexandria. thus
abandoned, thus drfeneeless, to do {
You are pleased TO inr6rm the Gene
raj Assembly Of Virginia that their
submission to force they had not
the means 10 oppose was g 'll'ml-
iiaiiug capitalization. bat in what
vocabulary hasyourcxcel!cHcy learn
ed that the nor resistance of an nm
| prof ected and defeneeicrs Formulation
Ia a superior force OF an enemy was
ever called a "capitulaiion." Words
i,apropcrly used ronrey improper l.
IDEAS. A capilu'a!ion means the sur
RENTER Of a country, tOwn.nr fortress
possessing the means OF defence. 10
an enemy upon eeriains Stipulated
terms; and then only r"n the Sdrren-
der he called t" kumiliq'ip-" when
the means OF defence acc weakly or
wickcaIy abandoned. Bnt was A.
lcxandria surrendered BY its inhabi.
tenis 10 tie invading roe1 twas ~
ban,ioned by the government 20 their
mereiless rage its militia was takea
aYay. and with them all the arms <
maaitirns Of war.--Ths fort upan the
! hank 81 the river which had been
bacsiei OF for lis protection. Was by
The officer con, uanding il. drstro, ed.
| aud the enem, left free AZ 4 ,imr.
when preparation far resistance could
not be made. 30 take possession al
The town and act as thev pleased. In
| sRch si!uatian was IL a" hHHiiliat-
| ing" to seek some alienation Of their
misfor.nnes, from the forhrsrance
of iii enemy, when thus sacrificed by
,l.use Who onsht TO have protected
them. or put in their power te.pro'
tee, themselves: was il " hHmihu'-
ing" To the town. was il li'tmilicf-
ing" TO their couRtry to save their
houses frnm eonHagration. their pro.
pcrty from promiscaous plumber. and
hundreds ef, families from penmg g
Tcant, by a nlaniy appeal to the hon".
,ablc feelings Of their enemy? and
however disrcspectfn!ly MIR. Madison
, and yourcxcellcncy may speak olthe
con,lnct Of the AIexnn,lrians, how
much nore is il to be regarded than
that which abandoned them 10 desc
lltiOn and waste. An anricat poet
made the wise remark, that when
you had your hand in the lions mouth
it was wisdom 10 get il ont as we'll rs
you conld. The government had
Thrown the people of.Alexapdria de-
ienceless into the lions jaws. they
were wise to free themselves from
his bite by every prudent measure
they could ADOPT. LET me it you
please, exemrlify this bg a familiar
rase. Suppose your eNcelicncy had
intrusted your house 10 the care ct
servant, or suppose you had given
him the means Of defence. but Your
managcr should take from him all
these, at a moment when IL was
known that robbers we're preparing
TO attack and plumber il. suppose
this servant, not abandoning ysur
property by a eo1oardly aishi. s.ouId
meet he dsSGilaRt and sag, am al
goHr mercy. yoa may enffr The honsr,
| have not the means Of preventing
you. YOU must take what YOU please,
you will not he hiedered Ivy me- ,bni
you honor forhids useless des,ine-
ton Of my property. The hnl.c is
plun,!ered bat saved. On HON
wu,ld your censure fall. Wouhl ynn
] A. 4 81