The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1817-04-25
ALEXANDRIA HERALD.
IRIDAr MOANING, ApRIL IS, 1917.
From fhe NGtiSnai Tateihsencsr, Of r.
nTil %.


1t has already been animated in Sc
verai papers, that the PRESIDENT pro-
poses, within short time, TO COM
mence tour through part OF the y
nited States.
1t is some time since this intention OF
the president reached our knowledge.
We had not intended TO have annouDc-
ed 1t until the time for putting it in ex-
ecution approached; but IT having been
varioasly represented, VIC think il pro-
per 20 state our impressions respecting
the object and course of his journey.
BY the constitution of our country, il
is made the duty of the president to
give TO congress information of the
state OF the Cnion, and to recommend,
from time TO time, such measures as
he shall Judge necessary and expedient
-One of the principal objects of the
association Of these states under fede
raj head, was to secure adequate provi-
sion for the national defence. No. OBJ
jcct sertainly can be more important, il
we except the preservation of civil and
religious liberty. Such attention has
always been paid to that object by the
national executive heretofore, as the
best Information authorised and requir1
ed. But there is no Information so sa!
usfactory, none upon which as much
reliance can be placed, as that obtained
by personal observation. 1t is, there
fore believed in the present quiet state
OF our foreign and domestic concerns,
not requiring the presence of the presi.
dent at the seat Of government, that he
could not do more valuable service to
his country than by personally inspect
ing the state of the public works, of the
military and naval posts and dePots, and
all the establishments connected with
national defence.
With view tc this object, we be-
lieVe it is the intention of the president
in few weeks, 10 commence tour
northward along the whole Atlantic
border to the remotest public post
thence TO Plattsburg, &c. and by Sac
kets harbor ON 10 Detroit whence he
will return across the country. The
objects of the president are, we believe,
exclusively of a public nature; to in
spect the forts, navy yards, and other
public Institutions to view their posi-
tons to investigate their economy,
system and relative utility to enquire
into the expenditures of public money
that have been made on particular ob-
jects, whether advahtageousiy or other.
wise, &c. and to ascertain what further
works may be proper and appropria
ti3ns necessary 10 their completion. To
aid him in these enquiries, the presi-
dent will be attended by the chief Of
the corps OF engineers, gen. Swift, by
the general officer commanding at each
station, and by naval officer, when
their respective services shall be neces
sary.
The president proposes to travel
| without his family, and without atten-
dants, as private citizen. His pro-
posed tour being extensive and on pub
| lie business, il will not be in his power,
whilst on his journey, however crafty
| ing it might be On personal accounts, to
| attend to those public or private invita-
| lions, which hospitality or respect for
his public character might induce, il
this limitation were not given.
Such are our Impressions respecting
| inc pEOIGCtSu touF Oh tue pISSluSbl-
! from which we anticipate for him much
| satisfaction, and for his country much
| good
We understand that the president has
it in contemplation, after his return to
the seat of government, to take view
of the Chesapeake, and, on a future
occasion, to extend his journey, for like
purposes, to the western and southern
| states.
The following article, from the Sag
Harbor Recorder, Of last week, proves
| that gov. Sherbrooke was mistaken in
supposiDg that there were 10 Ameri-
cans in captivity by the Indians IN the
neigbborhood of Quebec:
"The schooner Lydia, johnson from
Quebec, for New York, having sprung
leak at sea, was run on ashore ir
Long Island Sound near place called
Inc Old Man, on Tuesday morning last
Came passengers in the Lydia, Bcnja-
min Powell, John Brown, Eiizabett
Smith, and Sarah Roberts, oil Of gOhonr
haze been flr i8onSrs 10 the Indians
by whom MIR. P's. wife and children
were murdered. MT. p after having
been r.ani manglcd in a most shock
4 Il