Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-02-07
ALEAANDNaA'
,rFpNEsDAY, FEnsuARr 7


ilag ,,ost important interest, and dis
y: DC not single spark BY which the
s0ssss ,1e Of opposition to oppression caA|
Poly ; u after this last appeal to their
p ;adrments, If nought can be excit-|
sgOs1 sbsll then think that our doom isl
Gus have tried with all the perspi-I
l NV and brevity that the subject would
s ,s;t to show that the direct taxes i'm
p I'D on the District OF Columbia, are
S.r,I and unjust, and that in their i'm
s they take away those liberties
r6;ck the constitution meant to secure
ans and our posterity. Ihave not re-
s,;red that kind echo of the sentiments|
Tthe people which / foadly expected
I have discovered 10 noble impulse of
.,tristisn,, TO shake OFF the letters ofty-
r,ony: on the other hand, from the ST.
lsnce and apathy which prevail, l am
;urIirec 70 think they ara disposed to-
.S,c the chains which encircle and to kiss
,bs rod which chastises them. The con-
.ghltiou, By which weaFe governed. has
l.pn unfolded to them in those parts
rtieh can have any bearing on our situ-
.tiop. It has been exhibited for the pur-
,se af showing 10 wronged people,
heir true aud essential standing in that
.oc,al compact which connects this inn
,suss empire. / would disdain to write
wihany other object in view but truth
adutility.
Patriotism alone, a regard for their
rights Caght to be sufficient excitement
,sa people, who have any pretensions TO
liberty, to express their wrongs. W
.ranny even in the most despotic coun-
tries IS CALLING to the subject who bears
i. bur more so is if 20 US who at least
link, that we are free. The voice of an
indignant people. suffering those politi-
caleyils which frequently make them
mad, has reached ere now the throne of
he most ,lespotic prince. and has caused
itself to be obeyed. What thep-Are
wei worse situation than Turkish
slaves Are We afraid to raise our voice,
lest the strong arm Of power, should ar
restit. before it reaches the ears of our
ro7al masters. Deliberately rejecting on
THIS subject, Lam inclined to be of the
opinion, that some unwise fear, predo-
inmates in this part of the American re-
pabic-That we are afraid to express
tiose opinions, which have gone often to
the splendid and terrific thrones OF pow
erfal monarchs. If we neglect the ep-
portunitY which is now offered, in ex-
pressing our hostility against the unjust
strides of power, which are now bearing
Us down to the dust, we shall be wretch.
81. Because the freeman who once by
bis own apathy or cowardice, becomes a
slave, can possibly never recover his
rights. The view, which | have ia
ken of the subject. does not consi-
der the District Of Columbia, as an
ephemeral being, but destined fol
along existence. It does not consider
the hosts of collectors of taxes, as beings
Of this year, but as swarms of locusts.
which will pctpetuaIly harrass and de-
stroy the substance of the land. 1t con
sders the subject in a patriotic point OF
view, because our liberty is Affected
Menwho value if, have in all ages endea-
vOred tOretain it. II is a gem which.
Faen orce last, scarcely ever returns to
the former pOssessor. If the Congress
oIthe United States have right to lay
dlrecttaxes on the District, they have q
flSht to make those taxes equal, il not
exceed. the value of our estates. They
have the same right to enforce on US such
enormous taxes. that the district, if put
nSpat public auction, would not liquidate
Inc same power that violates the constl
saaon IN this particular, may put US en-.
'lrely out of the social compact, and
make Us mere supports of their magnitl.
esnceaad despotism. This district vii
cccOme the step On which tyrants vii
Excessively act their respective parts
The Congress, having exhibited their in
eAhon TO tax and take away our proper
ySlthput eur consent, the President O
We United States wall in his turn, enrol
SA his guards. THIS is not the picture
clancy. It is the reality now actins
stOre your eyes. You unequivocally
See the tax gatherer daily receiving these
noSt iniquTtous fruits of the vilest cor
sIuPtlOn which ever tainted a republic
lie is not TO blame He is the mere a
gento power which, according to thei
ecctrine, holds all our purses in thei
sands. If then, without the least sha
uow of constitutional authority, the,
ake away our money, why will they no
With the same authority WELD over gu