Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-10-17
I.ondonn. Oct. 10. 182a.

To the editor of the Alexandria Gazette.
Sia-The people of the country view
with surprize, and not altogether without
regret, The early excitement, which the e.
lection for member OF Congress IN this
district, 10 take place next spring, has ap-
parently produced IN Alexandria.
The period is yet remote, and we shall
have abundant time to scan the merits OF
our several candidates, BY, posiponiDg the
discussion I'LL the ordinary Season. Allow
me, sir, to venture an opinion, that angry
controversy, while II can give little light
20 tie subject IA quite consulted to the cha
racter$ Of the three gentIemeE on the can
vass; Tor / believe the state OF Virginia
will not afford three public men more dis
ilngui.hed by good humour and kind dis.
positions than Messfs. Mercer. Lewis and
Bailey. Why. then. shall our neighbors
.kiudle for us.the flames Of war in words,
which the moderate aid pacific genius OF,
our population lorbids, and which all those
Immediately concerned deprecate? Sure
Iy the cashier OF the bank OF Alexandra,
while lie, was amusing the public with Nr.
MERGERS master passions, and insulting the
feelings OF that polite aud respectable
gentleman, ought TO have Tecoliected that
neither decoruIn nor beneyoence permits
gentleman to lningle his andi1tdudt spleen
with public considerations and CandIdus
will pardon me for hiuting to him, that a
man may be TOO candid.
The state in which this election is to
take place. is renowned for the delicate
and courteous manner in which its public
discussions are conducted. If il exhibits
exceptions, they are written in characters
so melancholy, that thoughtful and reason
able men could hardly be ambitious OF ad-
ding 10 their number Permit, then, vo-
fer in the district to suggest to gentlemen,
ADLER, but younger than himself that ar
guments on the subject, rather than allu-
sions OF personality, would be admired by
this enlightened district.
The only part of Mr.. MsKenna's letter
that does not treat exclusively OF himself,
or consist in underlined WITNESSES of an III
nstured cast, is his charge, that MIR. Mer-
Ger violated decoruin in publishing his lei
ter, because il was OF private nature:
OF a private nature, and written on pa6-
nc subject by the duly constituted agent
OF one pubic maS TO another public mon
This is truly hanging up the sign : FRI
yatS Entertainment. "--l will add, ii ne
cessary, that Mr. M'Kenna aud Mr. Mer-
Ger are not on speaking FERNS. What ex-
cuse had Mr. M'Kenna Tor making such
au attack on Mr.. Mercer (? The excuse
that he willed to do it--that the spirit
which dweit ~ithic him impelied him to
4. When he reads this, his conscious and
sorrowiul couRtenance will say 10 lis IN
spectors it is true. -
Mr.. Al Kenna has discovered that this
district is tired of Mr.. Mercer; that his
tr.eads desire to shake him off. When
we ale tired ourselves, we are apt to ian
cy others are SO too. Where did Mr.. NJ
. Kenna, beyond the periphery Of bis own
anxieties, learn this news 3 His faiher-in-
law, his broiher-in>law, enlightened and
honorable men in Loudoun, have they told
him SO How do the proofs stand (? At a
period when Major Lewis insiuuated his
private affairs led him from the contest,
MIR. Mercer eeasured his strength with gee
nerea Mason, add triumphed. AT The last