The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-03-14
Gbc Uan Inonft. =. No. "
FOR TuF ALEXANDRIA uERALr

FOR TuF ALEXANDRIA HERALD
Mr.. PITrMAH-Aher a retirement s.
long that his former intrusion on the pub.
lick must now be forgotten, arhe Law
Monk" again ventures into their pre-
sence. The apology offered is the an
hexed communication from a correspon-
nent.
Washington and TVaiiQce, COMPARED.
In peruslng, with impartial eve, the
page of history, and examining into the
actions, motives and principles Of men,
the names of w Washington and Wallace.
appear decidedly the brightest ornaments
that have adorned the annals of any BATON
Whether we view them as distinguished
Tor ardent patriotism, and chlvalous de
votion TO their country; for u,shaken
virtue in the cause of freedom ,r firm
ess in resisting tyranny, they exhibit
the same heroick and inaexible fharac.
ter Both born in times Of trouble and
distraction, when their nations liberties
were invaded by foreign despctism il
was the fortune or the one to promote
by his own exc tons, and Of the other to
put in train of promotion the indepen-
d"nce OF their country. 1t is on such
mra that the mind loves to dwell with
enthusiustick delight. For they who
sacrifice their lives and affections 10 free
dom, who lose every consideration OF SELF
IN the pursuit ofsuch noble ends, deserve
monuments more imPerishable than hu.
man industry can raise.
In drawing parallel between these
truly great men, it viii be proper to con-
slider IN the commeNcement the Difficult.
ties that each had to encounter from the
nature of the governments under which
they lived And here il is but candaul
and justice to acknowledge, that the
hardshIps sustained by Washington were
much inferior TO those, which INSTRUCTED
the path of the Scottish chieGtain. In
republican governments where the pow
er resides in the people, there doubtless,
~ must exist more unanimity of measure
IN times of revolution and struggle, than
in monarchies. especially, as they were
constructed III feudal ages. The repte
sentaiives Of the people in the former,
acting according 10 the wishes ard in
structions oftheir constitue nts, must rcn
de- causes of complaint less liable, than
the parliaments of the latter, which are
composed, in part,oi hereditary nobility
and where the king may, through the IN
s'rumen,all;y of brlhes, rule with a de,-
PolIcal sway, The mobiles here are ever
the source Of tnmult and 1Isorder. Proud
and tenacious of their privileges, they ave
always ready TO embroil themselves with
those, who possess no other birIhright,
than their own Individual merit Thi,
was unhaPpily TOO fatally verified in the
fortunes of Wallace. Being hin,>y:f
Born OF humble parentage, and coucr.y-
ing the noble resolution, when the MIA
tua,ed Baiiol had surrendered to foreign
prince the Liberties of his country, Of
freeing her from siaycry,he had, with inf
mite difficulty collected small, but har-
dy, band of patriots. BY series Of ad-
venturous and successful encounters, he
had made himself powerful enough to
act Extensively against his enemy But
at this Crisis Of his affairs, accepting from
gain him more the concurrence and sup.
port of the nation, the high Office Of re-
gent to the captive Baiioi, he mIstook
The genius and spirit Of his government
The mobiles already emvious Of his fame
and fred at the thought, that a private
man should 6Il the most elevated pos,
in the kingdom, at the expense of their
interest, and reputation, expressed open.
ly their discomfort. They accused him
Ut ambition and desire to usurp the
crown. They seduced from him the
affections of his soldiers, and in the bat.
tie upon which the liberties of their
Country depended, they deserted him,
with half of his army. Had be been
supported as he ought to have BEEN Or
bad he not been, opposed by proud, ar.
istocraCy, Falkirk would probably have
proved the Bannockburn of Scotland -
As it is, it was, for season, her ruin and
disgrace.
Washington, on the other hand, had
few of these difficulties to contend with
Though his country was alike torn by
conflicting interests and parties, yet 10y
Ear The greater port on Of the people
were determined to aveDge their wrongs,
10 live or die as frcemen. He was cho
sen their commander, u they were bouad
to support him To- the utlermost of their
Pow c.. The brilliant success of Gates,
at Saratoga, it IS true, threw his star into
momentary eclipse, yet the county
looked with confidence 10 the abilities Of
heir general. This upaDjmity must ever