The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1822-02-15
yIRGINIENsIs .Ma. IN

VIRGINIENSIS... No. III
To the Editors of the Alexandria Herald.
Gentlemen In your paper of the 9th
inst. l proposed to draw the attention of
the citizens Of Alexandria to a subject of
the greatest importance, as L conceive.
to the Interests, and character Of the town.
Since that time a circumstance has &C.
Cured, which, in its relation to the sub
ject OF my communication, deserves to
be noticed. A memorial was lately sent
up to congress from this town, expressive
of the sentiments of many of its respec,a-
BILE citizens, ON the subject Of the bill now
before that body for the establishment OF
an uniform system OF bankruptcy. Some
days alter this, an editorial paragraph
appeared in the National lnteiilgencer,
on the authority of IN anony nous cores.
pondent, which aims lit It means any
thing) to destroy the weight of the me
mortal, upon the ground, that the sigma
lures were obtained unfairly and impro>
perly, "the paper having been handed
round by those who hold the immediate
destinies of many at their will" Whe-
Their the editors of respectable paper
are justified in placing before the eyes OF
the public an Injurious suggestion of this
kind, upon the authority Of an anonymous
correspondent, is question which 1 shall
mol pass upon at this time, as | have ano.
ther and more important object in
view. 1t would have been seen and
known by the editors themselves, had
they taken the trouble to read the me.
mortal, that the subscribers to il were
not of character to be suspected of such
motives as arc imputed to them. My
present object, however, Tin relation to
this branch of my subject) is to submit to
the citizens Of the town this simple ques-
ton. Would the editors of the National
Inteliigencer have ventured suggestion
of this kind, upon such authority Tor "a.
Their, without any authority at ally in re-
la,ion TO memorial from any one of The
sfates Of this union cannot believe i, !:
And why not I! Because the citizens of
the states are protected by their refresen-
fatiues in congress-and every ungrouDd.
ed charge or ins,nuation made at the seat
Of government, against any portion of
them, would produce an Immediate in
quiry, on the part of its representative
that would result in lis detection and ex-
posure. This Is one, among the hume.
rous m,schiefs growing out Of the present
poiiucal condition of this portion of the
district. We are unrepresented every
where, and being cut off, and deprive.
by, our distance and avoSations from la.
millar intercourse with the legislators e.
the union, we have no means, either dI-
rectly or otherwise, to excite their sym.
pa,hy or to inform their Judgments, upon
our most important concerns. The con
sequences of such state of things muSt
ever be disastrous and humiliating an
oiigarchy OF the most odIous kind must
grow out of it-whereby the affairs of
the town will be controlled by few busy
bodies and intriguers, who will buzz a.
cbou, the walls OF the capitol, misrepre-
presenting themselves as the interpreters
ofthe public opinion on every occasion.
I turn with disgust from such state OF
things, inevitable as il is in tile present
posture of our affairs. But whittier. G an
lturn Toa government for the distric,
of Columbia In this alternative | per-
cejve the most manifest indications Of op.
preston, hardship, and degradation, to
this portion of the district. With DO.
pulatioB oil less than one third of the dis.
t1ict, and which in relation TO the oppo-
ate county, must continuallys change to
our disadvantage, what prospect can be
inaulged OF a fair and equalsystem Of le-
gisIation in such connection Is it not
evident, that the views and objects of the
two counties are various and conflicting
Does not the river Potomac form boun-
diary 10 the scope Of their respective and
relative policy, and are they not rivals in
every commercial object? Suppose a
government for the district, in operation,
composed of two thirds sshingtoniaps,
and one third Alexandrians-to what
point would its legislation be directed
Would not the great and undertaking OBJ
ject be, to improve and embeliish the
City Of Wahington-and TO direct to that
object all me energies OF the district
Roads and canals, public libraries, monu-
Enents, pubic schools, free bridges, 60
vernors' palaces, & other publici edifices,
may fairly be numbered among the ma
ny other legitimate objects Of government
tai care and disbursement. The glory OF
contributing to these laudabIe objects
would certainly rest with us. But could
any man indulge for moment the wild
idt a, that we should be made otherwise TO
participate intheir advantages When
hou--wbeTsfore-do the annss Of the