The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1822-02-25
PRESIDENTS SPEECH.


speech a. full length, remarks
This document is calculated to awaken
between the address to con.
gress OF an American president, and
those OF our monarch to his parliament.
The former derives its strength from
plain and urassuming detail of facts re-
latlve to the state of the country the
operations of government to effect its SC.
curity and prosperity, al home e abroad;
and whatever is interesting to the lover
OF his country. The latter too often an
unsatisfactory and labored address, ver-
bose on tribes, but silent or impenetra-
bly, obscure and deccptious in matters of
importance lauding the supporters of
a system which has given up the hive of
national Industry to swarms OF drones to
banquet upon system which urged a
25 years continuance of useless war. and
gave birth 10 wastcfuI extravaganza.
which had progressively increased under
it, and has created debt and weight of
taxation which snatchcs even portion of
the necessary crust from the hand of la
Dor in fine, pa!try record of the tri-
umph of corrupt influence and ministe.
rial might over public opinion, patriot
ism, and right. The American knows
well the capacities of Eng land he knows
her arts, sciences, literature, experience
land above all, the industry OF her ope.
ra,ivc people, and the enterprise OF her
merchants which, were il not for the
evils Of misrule, would render England,
in spite OF the stubbornDess of her soil,
and the disadvantages of her climate. one
of the most desirable countries in the
world, Astounding with all that refinement
or luxury can ask, and he cannot choose
but appreciate the "absolute wisdom" of
those who have so grossly abused the
energies OF such people; VINO have
guided the vessel of the state till she is
bound in "shallows and in misesies," and
may ere long, be driven up "high and
dry But We will not accede to the
American, that his prosperity arises from
the superiority of a Republican over a
limited monarchy. He has the immedi-
ate advantage {and hence his glory) of a
free representative system, emanating
from the people--and the same forms
fundamental principle Of our constitution;
and, il acted upon, would secure to us
every advantage of free people. Were
the laws sanctioned by the whole body of
the people, through their representatives,
chosen by unbiased free will; were par.
liaments limited to period which would
permit the frequent turning up OF the soil
of representations, before the weeds of
abuse could spread over the land, then
retrenchment would take the place of ex-
the idle men who live on the
labor of others would be compelled to
put in their mite of usefulness into the
general stock measures might then be
concerted 10 reduce at least portion Of
The interest Of the debt; the farm wouid
then have some chance to thrive, and
John bull might resume his good humor.
ed smile. The national income of the
United States, and the general resources
ut the country, are represented to be OH
the increase. No murmur is heard No
complaint OF oppressive taxation nor is
: here need of such. The national funI
re not squandered on useless armies III
ime of peace, on idlers and sinccurists
the salaries Of the public officers are nc I
. as frequently here) grossly extravagan
out they are amply sufficient to satisfy tbs
.Iesires of honest men. a list of salarie,
in America, from president downward |
compared with those in our red book
would afford an admirable commentary
on the inordinate rapacisy of some of ouI
great ones.
The simple Tact that eleven millions of
people in an infant country, where dis.
sertions might naturally be expected,
and who (list we gods y have never al.
tempted to draw from the fount Of leeili.
macy, of the virtues ofwhich VIC are so
often reminded, are governed, in undis
turbed tranquility and cordial brother
hood. for sum rot amounting, proper
tionably, to 1.-THE Of the imposts of 60
vernment in England. Our admiration,
if we have any, for the spIendor of Eu-
ropean courts, dignities, coronation
and kingly paraphernalia, is
derived from habit and something like
bigotry for antiquity our admiration of
the moderate, unassuming and showle.s
department of the American president
at the head of his congress, all fellow ciii-
zeDs, bedizzed with no rank but that
which merit imparts, proceeds from the
respect we pay to men, who, when they
put on the gown of Office, do not, assum-
ing the haughtiness of demigods, forget
that they are still men. There is some
thing Roman in bearing public honors
meekly,