Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-06-29

enthusiastically attached to the Constr
luton of my country /; that is. the Con-
lstitution as established by the glorious
Revolution in 1858. Then was formed
that exquisite system of government
which excites such universal admiration,
labich canscs our country to be pre-em-
linently denominated the classic land OF
liberty, which prscured us the enlosium
lof that philosopher Montesquieu, who be
longs not to France, but to the whole
world, and who says of US, that the
English are the only people in the world
who know how to make use OF their relI !,
1gion, their laws, and their commerce.
From the Revolution of 1858, date the
prosperity, grandeur, IS liberty ci Eng
LAND.
I. / must say, that if these principles
(which profess. which are those OF the
constitution of my country, are subver
'Isiyeof all ideas oil order and good go
|yernnent. and make me an enemy to
kings, to justice e humanity confess
that am the most guilty of men, and the
attorney general is right but if. o" tie
contrary,ihese are tbe principles that nave
procured US protecting laws that secure
iour persons, our property, and our rell
gion, that have made a people not highly
favored by nature the most happy. the
best governed, and the most hourishing
in Europe. i am justified in concluding,
th.t the accusation was only revolving
calumBy. Such are tie horrid principles
of that Wilson, and that Bruce, of whom
the at orney general has spoken in such
a derogatory manner. | Inherited them
from my ancestors, and they will accom-
pany me to tie crave.
+ AS TO the affair Of ". de Lavaliette.
politics hid 10 share in IT; | was in
Rue ced solel1 by feelings of humanity !:
you have seen from ny interrogatory
that scarcely knew him. 1t is true.
that the excellence of his cha ecter, his
amiable disposition, and progressing
manners. had excited in me deep
er interest than We generally feel Tor
persons OF whom we have seen so little.
Inever visited him nor he me, andit was
here where | now appear as an accused
person, tbat \ had the bonor to see, for the
first time. tia, virtugps and interesting
woman, to whom IReg leave to ciier the
homage of my respect and admiration.
" It has been proved that there was no
concert between us ard the other accus-
ed. have respected, the chains and the
bolts of house of justice. ! did not sal
ly forth like Don Quixotte, in search o.
adventures. All unfortunate nan de
mands my protection; he Places conf
dence in my character he puts his lille
into my sands. and claims my humanity.
What would have been said of me had |
denounced him 10 the police | sllonId
then have richly desc wed that death
with which have been since threatened.
What do say What would have been
thaueht OF me. had refused to protect
him ] should have been looked upon
as coward, as wretch without princ-
pie, without honor, without courage, with
out generosity, should have deserved
the reproach of every good man.
" Blu. gentlemen, there were Other
considerations which decided me. There
was something romantic in the history OF
NJ. Lavalette. The miraculous ESCAPE
from prison. the cruel suspence betwen7
life and death ia which he RENAME, Tor
sucb q lencth Of tine. The nrble de,oltu
ness Of his wife. tie French Alceste. that
heroic action which will live in history
struck my isaaai alton, and excited Sc
strore an interest ia my heart. that !
could not resist is impulse. Besides, as
!your Iafontaine observes with his usual
}. nairetP--
/ Dams ce monde il sc faut PUN lautie
secoueir
/ II Sc faut entr'aider: e'est la loi de
! nature"
" Gentlemen, am still young, but
have travelled good deal. have seen
sanany countries and examined them witt
= ali the attention | was capsbfe of. have
always observed. even among Tie most
-barbarous nations. among those which
are nearest to the state of nature, that il
was held sacred duty to assist those
who had recourse TO their protection. Il
is sacred dpty enjoined by their re
; lieion. their laws, aud their manners
A Hodouin of the Desert. Dluse o.
Mount Lehanoa, would rather sacrifice
his life than betray the persoavho had
solicited an asylum Of him. ;;Whatevel
, may be the country, whatever may IS
tie crime of the stranger, hs sees no
thing but the duty of humanity, OF hos
n;..Ety . c,v;l;1od NAV have tbousI 4