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

tratiOn whose champion yea hh'o W
come. The Alexanarians did mon
Zee from the foe, or acting like chill
dren in a passion strike at a posi-
when they knew 10 defence could DC
made !; they did what you woaio
have done. Trad yonr cOn properly g
family been placed in their situa,:on'
Was this conduct mere hulniliat.
ing" than that of The inhabitants OF
the lower counties ofshe Northern
Neck? They were left BY your ex-
cellensv to defend themselves. TREY
attempted a defence. what did IT a.
vail them +? did it save their proper
". or has IL added 10 the military
character of tie nation, or TO the'r
own fame What mighty decd mas
ysur excellency. with all the force
and wealth ofVirginia at your com
mand, tlose : What victary over the
Zoe have you obtained +? What bat
lie have you fought? WaerrIa, lei
me ask your excel!ency has ssT part
of your military career heen more
heroic. than was that OF the lew re-
maining citizens Of Alexandria, af;er
it had been most shamcfully aban-
doned to the power Of the enemy {
which conduct let me ask. is more
nahIe. that Of remaining when
without the means of defence TO meet
the foe. and candidly telling hin
your situation. at the same time
plaeing him upon his honor as to his
conduct towards YOU. or that offs
suing pompous proclanatioas, max
ing a blusterous noise, firing a few
guns, aad then leaving property and
families to his mercy? Do yon re-.
commend TO your fellow citizens TO
make parade of defending their
homes, hen they are conscious they
have not the means Of offering the
least resistance Such IL seems You
would have the Alexandrians TO have
d-nr; or why call their coaduet
:. humiliaiing." or was tito make
them the :. Scape Goat to the adj
minis,ration. 10 draw off the Alta
tisa of the people Of America. from
those who reaIl, deserve cenSure. and
throw il upon the innocent and de
frneeless. If you had taken as much
pains to ialorm Yourself Of what aas
the real situation Of Alexandria at
the time you speak Of as YOU have 20
SANDER her. suu would With All your
disposition TO resruc the adminis'ra-
ton Of tie general government from
eensure. il not lost 10 all sense OF
Justice, have remained silent. and
lief, the administration to have dc
| fendcd themselves.
ia the conclusion permit RE 10
ask your excellency If tho report be
true, when the news Of the destruc
ton of the public buildings 10 tho
city of Washington reached itch
mend that you Immediately caused
| all the csnaon that was capable o.
being removed from, Riehmoad 10 be
carried W James Riserto be hid IN
1 the hoods, although the eneiay 1ea
I t.icf, in thu, tssst direct rouf $50 miles
from yeu. 'lfsthis report be well
founded il is with bad grace that
your exceilency. the commander IN
chief oftlie great slate OF Virginia.
should presuHe 10 speak in the man
n,rl ,ou have doae. Of the few eiii;
z,us of,.Aicxandria who we're left un-
drfcnded, and without the meaHs OF
defence. II i'll became you 10 call
| their coa,!nct :. Illuminating when
il seems you were preparing for d
mare :. hamiliutiRg" coxrse. Per
mil me 10 ask your exosilracy. Why
sere me best means Of dJtndins The
capital removed from il.
AT er this. cease 10 arraign the
conduct oil those who only wan,rd
! tae proper means 10 defend them
selves whose SIT uation ought to
! i,a,cexci,ed rather the co,naiissera-
ton ti,nn Indignation Of thoir more
serure fellow citizens. You aud your
ca,.;,al will do we'll. ifunder silailar
circumstances. Sour conduct shall
be less . liaailiatins'' than vas that
Of Alexandria.