The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1817-03-17
Extract of another letter, dated Liverpool
Jan. 40, 1877.
For the Herald.
10 The editor cfShe' .A!srandria GaxeIc.


In the absence of General Mason,
and while he is better employed than in
replying TO the malignant scurriiiiy OF
an enemy,..an admirer of his character
and talents will, he hopes, be excused
for attempting TO defend him against an
unprovOked ageressor, who has appear
ed Withoct name In some Of your late
papers.
Without designing, l assure you, to
impute to yourself a capsbility either oS
designing or committing so indecent a
violation of the respect due TO the cha
racter Of gentleman, as that contain
ed IN those papers--the want of a name
either real or fictitious, makes il neces.
sary &c address myself TO you.
That the character of candidate is
taic game Tor vulgar remark, may in
deed be true and you have awaited
yourself OF the iicence TO a. full extent.
But how, sir, do you reconcile this die
tum with 'he language of the succeed
ing paragraph, in which you profess to
think that the same delicacy of perso-
nal department should be observed on
musings as in drawing room ? Is it
that factions apirit, which in spite of
the liberal professions with which you
commenced your essays, has so far
blinded your sense of justice, as to in
duce you, In the rancor of party malice,
to wish TO subject one of the candidates
to all the odium of unrestrained and
untounded censure, while the other,
your tavorite, mnst he treated by his
opponent with all the deHcacy of her-
aonaI defoTTmenf ! Or were the stric-
lures on the former candidate too lust
and of too serious import, not 10 be se-
verely felt, and TO have produced this
unjust irritation. 70 General Mason il
is matter OF Ettle concern whether his
enemies choose to make his character,
either as public or private man, subs
ject of investigation. Few nen have
lived IN society who are less vulnerable
TO attacks of this sort. In thii respect
he Is not excelled by Mr. Mercer, and
this may be said without intelding to
detract from the fair reputation of the
latter, or any other gentlemaE in tho
community.
1t is probably some time, 81, since
you have Witnessed the scene o a Vir..
ginis election. Il is probate you
have forgotten the mode, as we'll as
the usual subjects of investigation
The rourt.house popularity, o which
you seem to speak with such efFabIe
contempt, affords there an eVisnce Of
correct priDniples, and the ircstiga-
tons there bad, are, by the scDd and
intelligent minds Of the freehders of
that state, considered as happi calcu,
lated for eliciting truth, by Is viva
Ooce canvass of facts and of pIciples,
often Of the first magnitude nd i'm
porIaDCe TO the liberties of thpeopleg
sed the happiness Of tho state md this
Is done y the open forum Of .,n.,s%
honse yard. In the. inves, s,;ons.
they neither look for, nor woultnnrnyo
OF the courtly gentiIity Of the swine@
Iroom twhere do not preten to say
your faVorite candidate wouldbt shine
with becoming grace)---nor Wild thev
be satisfied With that passiyi supple
spirit, which would dictate aorbeaTs
ance TO enqniry--such as VI would
denominate indicate. Thshave al.
ways approved the lsnguagef truth,
IN plain and uDsophisticated i'm, and
most especially when enforced with an
energy of mind calculated ID ensure
conviction.
1t was from the dictates Of appro5s-
4 q In. r.