Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-03-04
To the Editor Of the Alexandria Ga
zette.
GODOLPHIN No. II.

LCtlCs. - 81
GODOLPHIN No. II.
SIR--In my last number ! a al.
buted to the scribbIers on city politics
who have lately figured in the columns
of the Herald, only baseness OF de
sign and vulgarity Of execution.
Their labors of Friday prove tina.
this allowance is too narrow,and that
they arc not wanting in that subtlety
and deceitwhich familiarity with clan
destine wickedness sometimes lmparts
20 the dullest minds. Anxious to dis
miss from the government Of the town
individuals whose love ofgood morals
made them their enemies, and to sup
DIV the vacancy by turpitudc conseni-
al TO their own, they find it necessary
to reIinonish for a moment their ia
vorite system of palpable falsehood'
and to resort to artful misrcprcsenta--
tion. To accomplish their purpose oil
governing the town, they endeavor 70
enlist the feelings of some respectable
citizens who have inadvertently been
to the penalties Of the corpo,,
ration laws. With the magic wand
Of sympathy they beckon into Their
circle every transgressor, and be Oh
.ains their confidence in proportion
to the offences he has committed. and
% those which he is ready to perPe-
rate. Scarcely has the novice un
siergone the ceremony of initiation
arfore be is dispatched on so-ie en-
bassy of Islander. No impertinent
efconscience intrrpose an
to his progress, and the hopes
of office alleviate his tolls.
The resentment of this Formidable
iunto seems particularly directed a
gainst three Of the members FROM the
third ward. Col. Deneale, MIR. HoH-
man and Mr.. Smith. The long resi-
dence and public employments of these
in town, have fully deye-
lopcd their characters and have SO
clearly manifested their uprightncss
and ability that any commentator o..
them at this late day would be super
liaous. tits not the least of their glo-
ries that they ara ccnsured by s.ch
men as, " Hard Times" and his col
leagaes. The fifth number of" Hard
Times" destroys every doubt which
charity may have entertained Of the
motives of IFS author, and proves that
no sense Of shame or fear of detection
Ileters him from his purpose. The
odds are indeed in his favor. IF dis
covered he will not, Tor an obvious
reason, lose his character, and if not
discovered he may get an Office. To
shew that the present council men.
are unworthy of their stations he emil
the expenses Of the corpora
ton, and begins with the mayor. On
this subject it is sufficient for me to-
that the fines for breach of
the laws, receipts for exhibition, IL
Sc. paid into the treasury by
that officer. during the last year, ex-
reeded his salary.
Before the year 1915. the salary OF
the clerk Of the market was $3.50.
During that year it was increased to]
$500, aud consequently not by the
present council. The duties Of this
officer are, to appear at the market
house every morning in the year att
hay light; to remain there till 9 o
lock in summer and 10 in winter; to]
weigh all articles brought to him to|
preserve order during market hours 4
% prevent sellers from practising i'm
positions; to publish the assize of
,read /; and to perform the duties of
'ealer and adjuster of weights. For|
.hese duties the salary of three hun-I
ired dollars is sarely not too great. /
| noticed on Saturday the salariesl
If clerk and auditor and superintend
ant Of police. come now to those oil
,onstables, which are only $500 more
han they have been for several years.
The council found it necessary toll
make this addition. as the previous
salary offered no inducement to those
,fficers TO desert their ordinary en-
,loyments and confine themselves toI
he police duties. But /" Hard Times''l
md his confcdcratcs look on ayigi-l
ant constable with an evi, eye. Hell
'fiers unwelcome interruptions to
heir midnight proceedings and law
ess pleasures. !
The council arc next inveighed a.