Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-02-11
THE GAZETTE.
MONDAY, FEB. IL, 1922.
From the .Alerandria Herald.

GENTLEMEN- You have very property
drawn the attention of your fellow citizens,
in one of your late numbers, to recent
publication IN Leesburg paper, on the
subject of our -four inspection; and, trust
that the occasion will be used by the good
people o: Alexandria, to consider the sub
ject maturely in all its bearings.
That the time would cone when COLI
sions of this sort would take place between
the town of Alexandra, and that portion Of
Virginia upon which its commerce de-
ponds. have never Notwithstanding
tha; objects, common to both, and OF vital
importance to each, were to be regulated
by laws, often conflicting and always indie
pendent of each other, and formed without
that necessary concert, which could alone
be expected to satisfy the parties. 1t is
perhaps fortunate for both parties, that the
germe OF discomfort, which has been pro-
duced by the late modification OF your
-four inspection, has al so early period
been developed. 1t affords suitable oc-
casion 20 the people Of this town and coun-
~, to consider the footing upon which they
now stand, as portion of The district of
Columbia. in..reation to the agricultural in
terests of yirginis, upon which their pros
periiy, & indeed their very ex'stanGe, as
commercial city, must ever depend. lbe
foil consideration Of this subject, at the
present moment, or at an early period, is
pressed upon your citizens by several other
important circumstances. 1t 10 obvious,
That the anomalous state OF this district IS
imposing upon congress, and upon the ex-
ecutive Of the Union, burden which &C.
cumulates With every year-whlch Will
not. and, indeed, cannot be sustained,
without serious inconvenience and expense
to the nation. 1t is plain, that there must
be an end TO it, and that choice will ere
long, be made between the two alterna-
tiyes, OF retrocession, or grant OF self.go-
Fernment.
Already we find, for the second time,
that proposition is before the people OF
Washington, the object OF which is. 10
seek government tor the district. This
object, whatever may be its present sue
sess, must ultimately prevail. it the dis
trict awaits the doom in its present pos
ture. Whilst then, the people OF this
county are brought, on the one hand to
consider, the overwhelming mischiets that
may be expected TO grow out OF dlseor-
dances with its agricultural friends OF Vir-
ginia, so long as the present estrangement
oil its councils and policy shall endure !;
it " i'll be expeddent. on the other hand,
to inquire, what equivalents may be ex-
pected from the political association with
the county of Washington, whenever go.
vernment for the District shall be decId.
ed on. propose, at moment 'ot
| more lei ,ure, to submit. few obser-
vations on both those points, to the ctr
zens of Alexandra, and | hope to be
able 70 draw their attention to the SUBJ
ject. believe it will be found, that every
rational motive of self-interest should i'm
pei them to unite as one man, in seeking
their safety and prosperity in thu road 10
retrocession, without one moments delay.
whilst it may yet be in their power t" travel
it with any pospect OF success. know there
will be opposition it could not we'll be
otherwise but il this should lie confined ,
as think il will be, with very few ex-
ceptions) to Office holders and office seek.
ers, thrust that their voice would be stited
by the public sentiment Of the town, y that
| it would not be listened to any where.
That disposition vii be felt on the part
OF congress, TO yield to the wishes of the
people in case OF this sort. cannot be
| doubted for moment. The monster
| which the constitution has engendered, at
a luckle:s momeot, is lingering in the very
core OF our republic, and has been nurtur-
ed, as il would seem, by the good wishes
Of the district itself 1t is full time to re-
pei the calumny, if calunny it be, which
is presented to our country and to the
world, by this view of the subject. Ii
this monument of shame and disgrace must
still rear its head amongst US, | would at
leas, hope that the voice of Alexandra
would be heard to upbraid it.
VIRGINIENsIs.