Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-05-24

toninions. He alleges tnat lie { .
nernet,,al embarrassment in the concern
Iof his department, by the unusual later
ference Of "a great civil othcer OF state 9,
VIZ Col. Monroe. The capture OF tn
METROPOLIS was adreitly seized upon as .
nreteyt for denouncing him. The part
fIeular and personal friends Of col :l
Monroe. uniting with the tederallsts' IN
IsuIted him in the streets of Washington
land Mr.. Madison discarding him frop
Office. gave the fatal blow to MS reputa
llion. Whatever might have been tn
conduct Of General Armstrong, it IS evl
dent that the president. wbenhe took thu
field as commonderin chief. was at leas
equally responsible for the safety OF tai
canital. Col. Monroe also took the held
and formed part Of the troops at Bla
| depsburgh.
After having thus volunteered his ser
vices, in a military capacity, it remains
for him to account to the nation, why hi
wa. not among the troopss rallying ant
encouraging them,instead of precipi'aiins
himself 10 the rear, and being ameng the
foremost in that disastrous, disgracetu
,etreat. Why did he not take measure:
fer the security If the public buildings
which could have been defended by four
hundred men proparly posted in them
But gen. Armstrong was made the scape
goat of the transaction.
Thirdly-The severity of Virginia pc
licy has no tenderness even Tor cit.
zens of her own state, should they be suf-
ficently disinterested and Independent tc
oppose this monopolizing spirit. Mr.
Giles was republican OF the first grade
of talents. and no one has rendered more
services TO the natioain the legislative
body. He was knosn to be opposed to
tn. eleyaticnof col. Monroe to the presl-
dency from diminutive opinion OF MS a
biIities. He was gradually disclaimed,
and finally compelled to retire,
Fourihiy-The man in Massachusetts
who appeared most likely to disturb the
Virginia succession. was John Quincy
Adams. He was reno ed by an en-
bassy TO Prussia. MIR. Madison prefer
ed him Judgeship, which he had the
sagacity to refuse. But being constantly
abroad, he willb kept from the view Of
the peopIe,and his claims, which are every
way superiour to Mr.. Monroe's, will in
this way be prevented from interfering
with the regular succession.
FiIthly-A prominent trait IN the poll.
icy Of Virginia, in regard to the presidency
and one which has made deep impress.
sion is the open countenance shown to
the pa, tieular persoi al friends Of Aaron
Burr, on account of their long continued
and persevering hostility to Mr.. Clinton
The patronage ahewr'd upon the person;
most in the confidence of that man, is in
deed extraordinary: because not one OF
them had been conspicuous for services
rendered to the nation, or sacrifices to
promote the welfs OF the republican
Eparty. Some idea may be formed OF the
governmental profession, in this particu-
liar, from the following appointments.
(which have all taken place within the
lcompass Of Mr.. Maaisen's administration,
|ylz.
William P. Van Ness, the second to
Burr in his duel with Sen. Hamilton.
District Judge Of New York.
His brother John P. Van Ness, super
hntendant OF the public buildings in the
lcity of Washington, with salary OF
ll60O dollars and contracts.
And Cornelius P. Van Ness, in the
first instance, United States district at
Itorney at Vermont, then collector of the
fcustoms of the same district and lastly
lappoin.ed a commissioner for running the
boundary line, with a salary Of 500
ID liars per annum.
Jonathan Fisk, Z. S. attorney for the
district of New York.
| Besides several others whom II not
Necessary to designate. ThesealI belong
70 that class of politicians, called Bur
lri,es, known to be the most welcome
quest at the Presidents house, and all The
lpublic eaicers of the government. Iht
oblect # this patronage Is perfectly un
ier.tcod. They TO m snail but active
bard Of politicians in New York, apc
have always had press at their com
| a ID whose attacks have been directed
IA alnst De Witt Clinton, as the mar
lmost likely from his talents and higt
istandi 9 Nth the republican party, to in
tterfere With ,hs regular succession. Ihi
Ioano is in constant correspondence thro
lis associates in Washington with the ad
Iminlstratisn, and all its proceedings a
New York have been subservient to TIN
Virginia policy, 1t was In this wa,