Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-02-22
To the Editor of the Gazette:

observed with much pleasure that several
very respectable inhabitants OF the town
have at last called your attention to the
means best calculated to effect that OBJ.
(ject,
/ | concur with writer of the other cay
Who subscribes himself Senex, that we
should not receive the notions OF any body
on subjects so intimately connected with
our interest and welfare without enquiring
what were the motives that induced him
10 offer them.
Permit me fellow citizens, to say that
tbe reasons urged by Pendleton are those
which humbly conceive dow from heart
deeply IarnentiDg the degraded situationIo.
which we areluntortunatelY placed land his
motive for offering them, are those which
actuated the hardy veterans OF our glori-
Gus revolution, and which are entitled to
our respect and veneration. While those
Of Senex are supposed to be such as arise
from self Interested considerations. ! am
informed he holds an office Of much proht
in the town. and that its existence depends
on the county's remaining in its present
non descrIpt situation; and indeed from
the we'll known character OF the man, We
are inevitably drawn to the conclusion,
that bis Office is the only object which 10.
ducss him to abandon all the principles Of
decency in a republican county, and has
enlisted bimself in the ranks OF liberty's
opponents.
ted those gentlemen, leave il with you,
fellow citizens, to decide which is entitled
to the most respect, and will dismiss this
part of the subject with quotation from
Senex himself: Then 1t IS important that
we should be on our guard against the ar
ti6ces OF those who seek to promote their
own views at our expence.
Senex then goes on to examine tne
wills complained of BY Pendleton, and asks
with an air triumphant, what are those
political rights, and why are they valua-
ble!" They are those rights which lndsc
ed the heroes OF our countryito shake of
the yoke Of Britain, and establish them
selves as a nation of freemeD; and it no
other value could be sci upon them, the
blood of our patriots shed in the Cause OF
! freedom, and to establish their rights is
certainly sufficient for our purpose. but
| they have other and equally great values.
be then goes step further and says THE
only political right which has been taken
from Us by the constitution OF the Ubited
States is the rigbtio vote Tor representa-
! tives IN the leg slature of that government
| by whose laws we are governed lis not
this single proposition an argument suttl-
cent 10 raise in your minds spirit OF liz
dignation at the manner in which you are
now legi.ated for Is it not sufficient to
call forth your united voices in one gene
raj reclamation in favor of retrocession?
He then asks " Why is this privilege va
liable; it is as ne has stated, valuable that
we may he governed by those laws which
shall best promote our happiness and in
tsrasts--" Its valuable because then we
shall put our faces against the enormous
| principle of taxstion, without representa-
| ion--i is valuable because it will raise
US to the rank of freemen--it is vaIua-
bic because ii was bought with the best
blood OF our country.
The only argument used by Senex is
that Congress are not only the representa-
tiyes Of the United States, but of this Dis
trict also, that if we sent a representative
to that body, there would be great ma
jorIty against him, and consequently he
could do nothing. Ii this argument is
sound one, where is the necessity for
Names sending representative to Con-
gress? are there not large majority
against them? and what is the use OF any
state in the union sending representatives
| if his argument is we'll founded; why not
let the state of Virginia or Maryland send
their representatives to legislale for the
whole u. States.
He says" the members are 10 the daily
habit OF mingling with the people," this
is true as itregards the city OF Washington;
but 1t is equally true as to our citizens. Ii
is well known that there are not ten mem
bers who visit this town once during ses.
sion of Congress, and the only reason why
they are ia the daily habit Of mingling
with the people OF Washington, is because
necessity compels them. Will he pretend
to say that in DUNG so they are seeking to
know what are the evils that Cypress them
and are anxious to minister remedy so
soon as they are found out? humbly con
ceive his presumption would not carry
him so far as this but even If it did it
would be perfectly in character, and would
add one other reason why you should be
upon your guard and enquire into his
motives. ~
will dismiss Senex by advising him
10 pluck the beam from his own eye be-
tore he attempts to point Out mote in that
Of bis neighbors.
4 FRIEND To LIBERTY.