Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-04-04
ALEXANDRIA.
THURSDAY, ApRIL 4.

Plain Truth.-The following excel
lent little summary is extracted from on
article, inserted in the Evening Post,
on the subject of the approaching cleo
ton. 1t exposes, in few verbs, all
the features of the mistaken policy pur-
sued by The late and present administra-
tons:
At the time when the party now in
power assumed the management of your
|otfairs, our country enjoyed uneSampled
Iprosperiiy--0ur agriculture and our com
merce ifeuiis ed and amidst all the
storms which then agitated and desolat-
ed Europe, our government had obtained
abroad the respect which was due the
Anne lean name.
1t will net bs denied that these bless
|ings were owing to the federal constito-
|tion, and to those who had framed, who
had adopted, and who had administered
lit. Why then ware they dismissed /?
1t was, because the people were pro-
missed still greater prosperity by those
who were eager to occupy the Office S
which had been filed by Washington,
land his disciples.
How have they fulfilled their pronis-
les {?
They told YOU; that the funding sys-
tenn was an erroneous evil, and that the
public debt should be discha sed--and
they have themselves increased that debt
by one hundred and fifty millions Of dol
lars.
They told you, that standing army
was dangerous to your liberty-and they
keep on foot Standing army of ten
thousand men in time Of peace and
the.r present candidate for the presiden-
yhas recommended, that double thai
number should be maintained.
They told you that the taxes were TN
necessarily heavy, and promised that
the citizen should no longer behold the
face of the tax-gatherer, and that moth
ing should be taken from the mouth OF
labour to supply the necessities OF the
state. Tqey have multiplied tax-gatber-
ers ten-fold-they have doubled the du-
ties on imposts, and more than trebled
the amount OF the other taxes.
Has their conduct in relation to To-
reign affairs been more wise, or more
beneficial than their management OF cur
domestic concerns /?
TO say nothing of their attempts to
extort justice from a foreign power by a
course of commercial restrictions-the
weakness and folly of which are now &C
knowIedged by ALIVE submit to your
candid consideration, whether the c5n-
progress and termination
of the late war, do not prove, that the
men who govern US, are deficient IN
the wisdom and firmness which ors hit
TO characterize the rules of a great na-
ton ?
Foreseeing, as they professed to do,
the absolute necessity ofwar did they not
commence if without preparation, and
conduct it without ability ?
Waging war, thus improvidentally
begun and feebly carried on, for :" free
trade and sailors rights" did they not
terininateit without s Indemnity for the
past. or security for the future 20 Do
we not seek in vain in the treaty OF peace,
or in the commercial convention which
followed It, for stipulations by which any
one of the ayowed objects ct the war has
been obtained
This war, ike every other, has at
forded opportunities for displaying the
good conduct of those who were person
ALLY engaged in it and we ac-
|Snowledge with gratitude and pride, the
galor and patriotism which our country
men have shewn upon the ocean and the
|iand--but it is to be remember ed that q
soldier may acquire glory in the same
held where his commander is disgraced
and that commanders may gather laurels
while obeyins the injudicious orders Of a
weak administration.