The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1822-10-02

IN Saturday last,in the Leesburg papers,
and have again seen in the Herald OF to-
Fay, that an introduced to the notice of
The publick by Mr. G. r. Mercer, in hist
address $40 the Freehsiders of Prncet
William, Loudonn and Fairfdr." This
is an honour do not rnerit--and of which
| am in no way ambitious. The letter
from me TO him, which he has seen it pro.
per to publish, is of a hripafe character
written to acqnit myself of promise gil
ven to major Lewis, that his letter to |
Mr.. Mercer should be conveyed to him,
and without any apprehension of the d.
rection it has taken.
Major Lewis and MIR. Mercer are f,n6. |
lick men and their reciprocated commu.
nications may be interesting TO the pub
lick but II is not easy to conceive a mo-
tive for the perverted use to which the
note OF an intermediate person has been
applied. submit it to the judgment of
those to whom Mr.. Mercer has address
ed himself,how far he has, in this respect.
violated decorum. Apart, however,
from other considerations, the mere pub
LEGATION ofmy letter. by Mr.. Mercer, tol
unfold my agency in announcing MIR.
Lewis asa candidate, would not induce me
10 obtrude this communication ON .your
readers. Without any propensity to Ia.
bricate charges against either myself or
my friends, for the pleasure to be der;v.
ed from refuting them Chan which moth.
ing can be more absurd, if it be not wick.
edO beg leave to state that gentleman.
recently from Leesburg, represents the
manner OF Major Lewis's annuncia,iop to
have given offence to. some of his
friends-"it is thought too sudden and
abrupt, and consultation with his usual
advisers should have preceded it,
The source whence thyse structures have
probably proceeded, entitle them to lit.
tie consideration but, it the object of
Mr.. MERGERS publication, in the manner
ii has been made, can be OWNED. it is to
propagate generally some such unfayo-
rable impression, in regard TO Mr.. Lew.
IS. Connect, therefore, this report with
the peculiar mode OF addressing the
FREEHoLDERs, adopted by MIR. Mercer,
and 1t deserves some attention. AS il is
one ofthe miserable subterfuges of de.
signing men, to lay hold ofthe least i'm.
portant act OF an ingenious and uns,Is.
peeting opponent, in order to wrest it to
some sinister purpose, feel it duty to
MIR. Lewis, 10 acquit him TO his 6 frierds''
of this charge for whatever there be. in
the manner OF his annunciation, al all re.
prehensible, to me, and to me only, i,
should, in justice, be imputed
Circumstances f peculiar character.
with which the foes, as well as friends, al
MIR. Lewis are very we'll acquainted, rem
dered it impossible he should consul,
either of them, personally, without de.
laying his declaration that he should be
candidate at the next congressional G.
Ieciion,and for reasons highly hoDourable
to him, he wished to avoid delay.
His letter,to sir. Mercer, was commit
ted 10 me By mere accident. For many
years he and have been personally int,
mate, and his federation aud urbani,y east
ly .reconciled this friendly intercourse
with conirariety IN our political sent
ments. After his eGecting an important
negotiation in Fredericksburg, be called
on me, for momentum his way to Phi
sdelphia, to which his duty to himself,
made il indispensibly necessary he should
Immediately repair. Whilst congratugat.
ing MIN on the attainment of his long
sought object, even though ct painful
sacrifice, he drew from his pocket the
letter addressed 10 MIR. Mercer, and ap.
pFised me, for the FIRST time, of his de !.
sign To Offer Ter Congress. In the course
of our conversation, remarked, 1 have
often heard the rumour Of Mr MERGERS
intention to decline a poll, and believe
the termination Of his political career 10
be the unconcealed wish Of not few of
MS friends but, added, from the do
Dinion his master passions exercise over
him, he will never, think, withdraw
from his station, from choice, aliho' time
having allayed,in great degree, the ami.
Dosties arising out of The old party feud;
and 1t having too impaired the force of
those delicate, YET benevolent, considera-
tons which determined many TO sustain
MIN, have little doubt the necessitY,
viii be very soon imposed upon him.
This view of the subject made no charge
IN the determination of Mr.. Lewis, who.
nevertheless, did actually believe the ru-
niour be had heard, but 1t lead him TO
express increased solicitude to have his
letter conveyed Immediately in order
that, if himself and Mr.. Mercer were to
be competitors, this gentleman might be
as early apprised of the fact as possible,
before his publick duties should call him
from his district. Mr.. Lewis suggested