Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-03-01
To the Editor ofthe .ale.randria Ga='

statement was made in the Herald, u
Icertain proceedings in the lst ward
Whose tendency was to dismiss the
lpresent mayor from office, | consider
ed them to be the effects of a factlous
cabal. Subsequent occurrences have
strengthened this opinion, and nave
|afforded another example OF the iacl-
|lity with which transgressOrs OF law
Iandviolatorsuf moral duties are trans
formed into Legislators and patriots,
INSTEAD Of detailing the particulars OF
this curious metamorphosis or of com
lmrnting on the subjects of it, let it be
lmy humble and less amusing office, To
Investigate their designs. and to ex-
|pose the faiscness of thcf assertions.
Notwithstanding the parade OF hon
lest intention and virtuous zeal with
(which these reformeIs usher forth
projects. they p,udently resolved. not
Ito cOnfide solely in the merits OF good
cause. but to call in the ministerial
support ofargument and wit, A Sc
|ries of literary druw- cansirs success
Isiyely appeared.each of whom per-
formed his special office in 1rriting
Idown the constituted authorities OF the
lefty. The facts were allotted to" Hard
Times" The strength of whose juds
iment would enable him to exhibit
them strongly, and the Rberalify Of
whose moral code would dispose him to
modify or inrent them as exigency
might require. the scholastic habits OF
- Amor Patris" obviously designated
him as the artitcer of brilliant decla-
nation, while the professional skill
Of "A. b." seemed useful in closing
the enterprise by well directed quib-
bles, and a graceful peroration. Al
tho the iunto evidently acted in con-
cert they hesitSted in what manner to
conduct the attack. Il differed in stat
ing their ostcnsible purpose. The
most important object of this COME
deracy ofintellect and worth. seems t.
be the removal of the present mayor
from Office. | shall consider their va
rious assertions as subordinate to this
grand scheme aftcrprcyiously review
ing them individually and separated!
from this COnneXion.
The article in the Herald. stating,
that meeting had been held in the
lst ward, in which it was agreed that
no man disposed to re-elect the pre-
Isent may or, should be voted for as a
member of the council was followed by
an essay signed 4" Hard Times" -
This production though prob"-:ly an
early effort Of the writer's mind. bears
mo token VI the modesty which deco
rum requires from young author.
Yet, aware thai. the magnitude of AN
enterprise sometimes dignifed its fail
,ure, he disdained combining his view
to single point, but embraced wide
range of grievances which were de-
tailed with the bold exaggeration
that impudence often assumes, and
which is not untrequtray mistaken
+, for the effect of honest zeal. He pa
thetically complains of the building
of the new market house. His deli
cacy is shocked because two members
oi the council performed some of the
work, and provided some of the mate
rails. His notions of justice are out
ragged because the superintendent Of
police. timber merchant by profts-
sion, furnished any part of the latter
himself, when they might have been
procured elsewhere. But the town.
clock" that was the unkindcst cut Of
all" WHAT procure a town-ciock
from distant place when we had me-
chanics among our fellow citizens
Superiority OF workmanship and
cheapncss of cost arc cyphers in this
projectors mind. His bcncvoIencp
too is not restricted to his own town.
but embraces in its comprehensive
grasp the city of Baltimore. The
workmen of that place should
have been invited to participate in
ornamentins Alexandria and gratif,
ing the wishes of its most illustrious
citizen, "HARD TIMES" AS this
| newspaper hero does not accuse the
members OF the council, nor the su-
periniendant OF police, just alluded to,
OF deiraudipg the publh. his reason
for depri'ing them of its confidence
must be, that they decline promising
to vote against the reelection Of the
present mayor. The frmness and
independence with which that vigiiant