Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-04-23

dso' P'"SsP'S ~"s~" S'NS" F'
the ardent desire Of nv mind. | might
cay more, b.. believe it best to leave the
subject-not that I am apprehepsive Of q
repulse, but remembering the old adage.
I" least said soonest mended." s
The adjournment of congress maybe
supposed by some to have suspended IN
q great degree public specu'ations upon
its conduct, and on the value or demer''
Of the proceedings Of the past session.
Ne doubt the minds Of our Qyidnunes,
fatigued with running in the daily ring
Of the process Of legislation. in which so
vast proportion Of the days it occupied
presented kind of mutual fac sini!s OF
encb other, will feel no very sharp appe-
tite to return again to the course; but
will, as naturally as men after very hard
exercise fall asleep. give their minds
and their pens, and, if such a thing were
possible, their tongues too, a little rest.
Nav, whether it be the working OF my
Imagination or not, will net take upon
me to affirm, bu, it appears to me that
or public prints already present to their
readers a. perfect sample Of what pain
tiers call r.poss as We have ever seen ex-
hibited on paper. For our parts we think
that it is. after congress have ceased To
act for the season. that their conduct
most properly becomes the property OF
public commentators, and that the deeds
of the session will be with greatest effect,
prorrie,y and decorum scanned, and Ell
Their praised or censured, just as they
may deserve, during the recess. The
whole Of each measure can then be best
brought under one view, the various parts
Of it compared With each o'her. and the
entire subject be most fairly judged with
respect to ito effects and the probability
Of its attaining its object.
1t is in the recess teo-when popular
feelings and prejudices will have had
time to cooi down-when the passions
excited BY demagogue. and scribblers,
or BY wild political fanatics, will have
had leisure to subside, and Welded them
selves up to the calm results Of refee- !
tion-whcn the despotism Of popular
pride, working itself VT in want0n DIS
play of independence, and what the sa.
gacious Roman poet Ho,ace) call.
" Ciriun ardor prara Jubsnfiam," shall
have vented themselves and mixed with
the air. that the proceedings OF our ma
tional legislature can With greatest proba-
bility OF usefulness be examined with re-
lation to the opinions Of the public, " TO
the satisfaction or dislikes, the praises or
the reprsaches, the indignation or the vel
come, with which they were greeted BY |
the multitude on their entrance into the |
worl!. The press, If it serves as saiu-
tary guide, is often converted into a tr-a-
cherous beacon to lead The public astray.
Open alike 20 the wise and virtuous pa
triot. as to the AMBITIOUS usurper, ard
his slave the Proteus-iike demsgogus-to
the Catos aud Brutuses-also the Gaia.
liees and Clodiuses of the day, it too Of.
ten defaces tie ruth it prstenis to en-
force, and through il the conduct Of Con-
sress is often impeached Of being unwise
where il deserves high praise, and some
times inmoderatel, praised where those
who best consulted the credit Of its pro
ceedings, would be most stuLi"usly silent
We shall therefore, during The recess,
take an occasional retrospective view Of
the proceedings of Congress, and make
some free but candid comments frem
some pa. ticular measures, which have ex.
cited more than usual public attention
and with equal freedom and equal can.
dor, unfold our sentiment Is respecting the
popular ebuliiions that have followed
them, to the psrversion Of sound policy
and good principles, and to the distortion
Of the public opinion. T
Cotumbus, Ohio. Apru9
BEWARE BE- ARE!
There are Totes of the denominations
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