Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-03-30
For the .alenandr'ia GaSette.

/ send you dialogue. when
latelv overheard between two OF
| INV neighbors, the one a Federalist
from the county Of Loudonn, and the
other a Democrat frem Orange
County, who had just moved into
houd0uB.
Democrat.-Well neighbor. your
election is coming on, and observe
you are all very anxious about It's
has any thing UNCOMMON happened.
Fedralist. Nothing uncommon,
bat as the happiness of the people for
two years to come, depends upon the
character of The man, we elect to be
our representative TO Congress for
that time, it is natural for those who
have a great deal ia. gain or TO lose
by his conduct, to be particular IN
their choice. 9
Democrat.-And do you all here.'
undertake to think for yourselves,
upon that subject. Who're came
from, we look up, to better men
than ourselves. for these things, aud
vote as they think right. $
Federaiist.-Thank God! then,.
that you have got among men who
dare think for themselves. We here
consider the right of voting. as one
OF the highest priyiledges, of free
men and nerof the most sacred
duties we are called upon by our
country TO perform, and therefore we
should consider ourselves as SHINING
against both our God! and our coun-s
try !; did we not seriously consider
of, and impartially execute it, TO the.
best of our judgements, without fear.
fayor or Affection.
Democrat. -Yeu have really neigh
Dor, put this business in a point OF.
view, which ncyerstruck me before ).
thank you for it.; begin TO per-
ceive, that we ought to think for
ourselves, upon the best information
we can get !; fer l have seen with
us, that il man does not think, as
our great men think, they begin di-
rectly to have him bullied and brow
beaten, and called tory snd enemy TO
his country. and great many hard
names !; but, [ thank God l have
got amongst another sort ofpeopie;
since | came here, | have heard !:
1cliat 4 neoer heard before; a great
deal said about the principles of
Washington; will you be so good as
to let me know what they arel
Feacralist.-Most willingly neigh
Dor, and am glad that you are de-
sirous Of beginning your search after
infarmation. by3a wish TO know those
principles, which have all along go
veraed the people OF LeuGoun. and
which | trust: Notwithstanding all
the efforts Of your great men TO the
contrary will before long govern
the state. These then, as we un.
derstand them. arc the principles Of
Washinston.--That the President
ought to be, the true head Of the
Nation & not the head Of a Faction.
That the regnisitesin bis appoint
ment to office. ought to be. integrity.
intelligence and patriotism. THAT
his election. ought TO be the result Of
the conviction in the People Of his
fitness, and not the result Of factions
caucuses-That he ought to employ
the power placed in his hands. and
the patronage given hirh, for objects
of general good, and not for the pro-
motion ofhis individual views-That
he ought togiye an example of piety.
morality and truth to his fellow Ell
tizens-That he ought in fact and
not in zcords. to do equal justice to
all men-That the Legislative.
should be entirely distinct from the
Executive, not contributed by its IN
trigues or 1corsed upon By itspatren-
age-Ihat it should consider the
Uniontas one great family, and not
sacrifice the rights and interests OF
one part, to that of the other, thro'
prejudice or policy-That the most
necessary wars, ought always, to be
undertaken with caution; and with
| some hopes, of a successful issue;
but that wars, ofdoubtfM propriety,
ought never to be waged--That To-
reign intrisues. and foreign preindi-