Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-07-21

To the Editor Of the Alexandria Gosstte.
LETTER
Sir,
Though should regret being drawn
into comparison with the elegant and
classical writer under the signature of
Servius Sulpitius, cannot forbear to
pursue into minuter detail some OF his
hints. and to fill up few Of the vacant
spaces on his extensive canvass. For
there is too much highly Objectionable
in the subject of his remarks, to have
been embraced in them, luminous & COM
prehensive as they are; so that hope
both he and the public will excuse me for
"playing out the play, as &C have much
more to say against that same =" address,"
When Mr.. Adams determined to deliver
it, most of those whose age, intelligence
and responsibility entitle them to direct
public opinion, decidedly condemned his
complaisance. Still there were some a.
mong the young and sanguine, who re-
trained from uniting in the general repro
baton. These regarded it as hazar-
dous, but perhaps a spirited undertaking,
in which though total failure would ruin
the actor, complete success might shield
him from censure. But even to the minds
OF these some suggestions occasionally
presented themselves unfavorable TO the
Hon. Secretary. When they reflected
on the age, birthplace and education of
this man, who without any great mental
or moral superiority has by political pru-
dsnce insinuated himself into the second
station in the Federal Government, they
could but think it strange that he should
engage in an enterprise fraught with SO
much danger, unless he proposed to reap
from its happy accomplishment some rich
reward Yes, Sir, even the unsuspicious
could but at times regard it as an election
sering trick; and this ought not to sur
prise the Hon Secretary, since experience
must have taught him, how liable are the
motives of politicians to be questioned
Placed in these peculiar circumstances,
what are tie topicks on which the elo-
quence of a good man, and a patriot would
have been exerted9 What the sentiments,
he would have Numbered from the ros-
trum? / have not the presumption to
pretend to present them fully, or array
ed in the colours with which an orator
would adorn them but reduced to the
humility Of plain prose, they would be
something of this sort
Impressed with the responsibility Of
his station, he would have attempted to
teach, rather than fatter the American
nation. Fired with the glories of the
day, he would have directed their atten-
ton to the noblest feelings, with which
their bosoms could heave, instead of en-
deaveuring to arouse enmities and jealou-
sizes, unworthy of a magnaninous people.
Warmed with the triumphs, which sue
ceeded the bright epoch, he was celebra-
ting, he would have pointed to others,
which they might hope, aye which they
were bound to achieve. He would have
told them that they were called on not to
let the tolls and suffcrings and virtues of
their ancestors be all in vain That by
these the foundations of mighty empire
had been laid, and heaven and earth de-
manded OF the present and future genera
tions to complete the magnificent struc-
ture. That they must not for a moment
think that this can be accomplished with,
out sacrifices, labour and virtue. That
these are necessary to the triumphs of
peace, as well as OF war; and that it is by
the former that stability, prosperity and
true glory, are conferred on a vast en-
pire That it is an axiom in political sci
ence, that virtue is more necessary to the
support of a republic than of any other
form of government That in despotisms,
the omnipotence of the autocrat and de-
sradation of his slaves are sufficient to |
maintain his tyrannical rule. That in
limited monarchies, the prerogatives of |
the king. the jealousy Of the people and |