Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-02-20
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 90, 1922.
TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS.
"An Alexandrian' and ga Friend to Liber-
ty'' have been received, and will have place in
our columns as soon as possible.
FOR THE GAZETTE.

O,CHe T6OptS " AtoIunWtU So"''0J'
LETTER Ill.
FELLOW CITIzENs-Aw writer under the
signature of Senex, has undertaken to I'M
pugn the motives, and to reiute the rea-
soning OF Pendieton:-And perceive An
Alexandrian as an auxiliary of Senex, has
added his powerful talent, luminous me-
thod and extensive information to the stock
of knowledge already possessed BY that
ise and polite old gentleman.
lhave promised to answer the arguments
which may be urged against the measure
have submitted to your consideration
and therefore wheel IN my career to. clear
these little distractions from the path OF my
argument.
shall notice, as briefly as possible, the
attack on my motives. am by one OF the
above writer's, supposed to be "a young
gentleman" student at law-wlshlDg
most unreasonably to establish the political
| freedom Of the town, in which his destiny
is cast-''for the purpose of erecting a
theatre tor the display Of popular elo
qusnce." And is the greatest gift to man
| the subject of ridicule in the estimation
Of the disapprobators Of re'rocession: -
While the othei supposes Pendleton to be
"some aspirant after dignity and fame,
who fondly imagiues that" ty retroces-
sion of Alexandria TO Virginia." his way
will be clear to 4 seat in either the state
or national councils, perhaps TO the SUI
preme executive of the Union" The first
writer with great wisdom land exceeding
gravity, entirely consonantto the character
he assumes. lays it down as maxim. that
''hefore We feel confidence in the opinion
| OF writer, it is necessary that we should
know whe be is, and by what motives that
opinion may be influenced" admit the
truth OF his posilion-and declare that
/ such sentiments as he has delivered, how
ever abhorren; to my feelings and politi-
| caHy slavish as they are, would be regard
ed by he, with much more respect, ltthey
| proceeded from an old inhabtant, of ster-
ling worth and characteristics than
| from one, who to preserve bis life, along
with gains of psCuniary kind, obtained
little irregularly, had fed his country
] forever, and been forced 10 hide himself
in impenelrable obscurity own that such
sentiments or reasons, if you please would
influence me more, ii | could believe
! them the offspring Of an honest, but mis-
guided opinion-rather than the sentiments
Of person (holding an Office the most u
crative in the country,) "perplexed with
fear Of change"
| Ii seems to me but little argumeptative
in A writer, who so gravely contends for
the eligibility of our present political con-
dtion, tauntingly 10 say to citizen OF
this place, las if it was ridiculous) that
he aspires to seat in the councils OF the
nation, or dares TO hope 10 fill the execu-
| tive chair of the union. And is it really
he case that we must have change in
our condition before any one born OF resid'
ing here can even hope TO hold any Office OF
honour or profit in his own country? Is it
come to this!-tbat even the advocates OF
our present condition, good as it appears
to them TO be, consider il full proof OF the
want of sense in citizen OF Alexandra,
to imagine be has talents to benefit bis
country in council? And little short OF
absolute insanity 10 dare, the hope of being
appointed 10 an illustrous Office, by the
voice OF his counIrymen? And why should
not citizen OF free alexandria aspire 10
any office within the git of his country
Is there any thing in her natural situation
which should forever bar the gates Of no.
nouI and preferment on her citizens? Nc!
1t is the policy, the fatal policy of the op
posers of retroCesslon, which brings this
stigma on US. Fellow citizens. it is they
who declare to the world, that genius and
worth can have no birth in Alexandra. 1t
is their policy which s'ifes them in their
cradles, if they should even see the light
| rhe de based lovers of filthy lucre, have
i a. G., LII
of all that is dign6ed IN conduct and cha
racter, since the world began. Are the OPP
posers OF retrocession resolved by resisting
change in our condition, to give force &
prcpriely to their taunts? Will their
mean & excessive fears persuade you 10 be
satisfied with condition which we ought
not to submit to for anhour, even ifgain be
our exclusive object? All that an Alexandra
an has said in the way OF argument which
COMFORTS with truth, is nothing TO the pur-
pose, and shall not occupy your time in
| pointing out historical errors with which
| most of you must be acquainted. shall,
| therefore, dismiss him with this general
remark.
Senex asks, what are those political
| rights of which we have been deprived?
And answers, that ''the only political right
| which has been taken away from US by the
constitution OF the United States, is the
| right TO vote tor representatives in the Ie-
gislature Of that government by whose
laws we are governed" With great de-
ference IL the superior wisdom of age; 1
ask, what other po.tcat right can exist ia
a representative government to be exercis-
ed by the people? | ask, it in our forms
of government The whole of political free
dom does not adhere TO this very right Of