Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1822-02-19
Up. THOMPSON, C. c.
@OO-.-
FOR THE GAZETTE.
NO. 2.
NJ. 70
To ma Fe7loD C;tizens of AIerandria

To mig Fs7lon0 Citisens Of Alexandria.
In my former address to you, endea-
vored to shew that when the state OF Vir-
ginia coded us TO the United States, she
only apparemsly surrendered our rights
and that ii was only an exchange of he
forms of liberty for its substantial enjoy
ments.
What are the substantial enjoymeRts Of
liberty? Security tor our property, our
reputation and our persons; with the right
of pursuing our own happiness in any
manner mol consistent with the equal rights
of others. Political liberty, or the right
of selt-government, is only valuable be.
cause il is the means OF securing those en-
joymens Ii We eojoy the thing itself
and have good security that we shall con-
lnue to enjoy il, shall we make ourselves
unhappy because the security is not of a
particular kind? Let me ask each of my
fellow townsmen, Individually, are you
joyments of liberty? Do you not feel se-
cure in your property. your reputation and
your person, as far as laws can make you
secure in any thing? Is there any impedi.
ment to your pursuing your own happiness
in any manner you please, not inconsist-
emit with the equal rights of others? These
rights are guaranteed 10 you by the consti-
tuition OF the United States; and if they
should be invaded by the hand OF power,
you have direct access to the highest ju-
dcial tribunal of your country for redress.
What better security can you have? That
tribunal itself, (pure, intelligent & veneer
able as it isl is still guarded by the ever
watchiul eye of legislative Jealousy. So
also is the executive department The le-
gislature is bound by the constitution; and
from the known independence and firm
ness of the judiciary, we have no reason
to fear that it would hesitate to declare an
unconstitutional act OF Congress to Devoid.
may safely affirm, therefore, that in no
part of the United States are the substan-
tiaI enjoylnents of liberty better secured
than in this district.
But "Pendleton" is unhappy, or would
make US believe that we are unhappy, be-
cause the golden dreams are not realised,
which had been excited by the tervid ina
ginaiinns Of some enthusiasts, who suffer
ed their wishes and hopes to run away
with their judgments. | will venture,
HuHcfcJ, W SdJs tudt al tuS &Ct' /o""oSu
anticipatons OF prosperity, in regard to
this town, have been realised; or that if
they have not, the failure is to be attribu-
ted to circumstances wholly unconnected
with the cesson of the town to the United
States.
But, says 'Pendleton,' "that larger por.
ton of our citizens, who were uninAuenc-
edlby wretched avarice, cannot behold
without emotion, the embarrassment, de-
jectedness and degradation, which cha
rscterise this county, and its beautiful
aud osce Aourlsbing town" Now have
no objection TO Pendleton's retaining bis
own opinion as to the beauty of the town,
or even of himself, but upon tina, point he
gust suffer US to enjoy an opinion also
Blu, with regard to bis opinion as TO the
embarrassment, detection and Degrade
ton of this county," and this once -four
ishing town, and especially with regard to
his lnsinuation that such embarrassment,