Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-04-10
THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 10.
TO the Freeholdsrs of Loudoun, Fdsr"
far and Prince William, counties.

time is now approaching when you Will
he called upon to exercise tbe functions Oh
freemsn-,o choose the man who shall be
your representative in the next Congress
of the United States. The public feeling
en- this subject has already been raised to
a very high pitch indeed, and il is proba-
bic that the nearer we approach to this
important event the greater our excite.
ment will be. Isay thisimportant event.
and why? answer, it will be an impor-
tsnt event. because one of the most pow
eriul efforts will be made to deprive US OF
the services OF the gentleman who has re-
presented US, and represented US faithful
~ and ably tor a number Of years-not
only in Congress, but in the state legisla-
ture of Virginia who has drawn his
sword in defence of h,s country who
has fousbt-and who was, and is still will
ling to bleed under the banner OF liberty
and who has done as much, and more,
for his constituents than some who prece-
Ged him. Notwithstanding all this, some
are dissatisfied and wish 10 turn him out {:
those whose property, wives and children
he has jeop4rdised bis life TO defend.
He, like others, nigh. have hired SUBJ
stitule during The late war 10 serve in bis
stead. You all know what part he then
acted. How ungrateful! to reject the
man who has filled The differeut stations
which he has been assigned to, in the field
and in the cabinet, with so much honor, i'll
tegrity and usefulness. 1t is urged by some
as an objection to Mr.. Mercer, that he has
served US long gh-(admitting. at The
same time, that be has served faithfully,
for in truth they can't deny IT'D that it is
time for him to resign and make room for
some one else that il is not right that
one man should always 60 to Congress.
All these objections you will readily dis
cover are frivolous, and in tact are no OBJ
jections at all: that what they urge as
Objectionable, are really the mos. substan-
tial reasons, as conceive, why be should
be continued.
Fellow citizens, it would be Offering you
an insult for me to suppose for moment
that you would object to MIR. Mercer be-
cause be has served you in good faith tor
a number of years; because he has be-
come, by long experience, perfectly ac-
+quainted vi th all the minutia OF business,
and because in matters which concerned
the interest OF bis constituents, he has ne
yer devialed from their wishes. am now
addressing the serious and candid part Of
this community-tbose who will permit
tbemseIyes to reflect coolly and deIibe-
rately on this subject-lhose whose better
jutgmeRt is not carried away By the tide
Of popular opinion and party spirit. What
man, who will suffer himself to reject Sc
riously and without l@rtlality tor mo-
meHt, will presume to say, tina, an mex
perenced cbsracter-one whose influence
extends scarcely beyond The limits OF bis
own neighborhood, who knows nothing
about the almost insurmoun:able difficult
ties attendant upon public life-one who
has never held any trust either OF profit or
honor under governnent-in short, Wan
whose ideas never transcribed the limits
OF his farm-can pretend to vie with him,
the greater part of whose life has been
employed in business, and that too of a
public Dature-whose education is infe-
rlor TO tina, Of no other man, and whose
studies have been uninterrupted, except
when be was employed in active life. The
latter is the character OF the honorable
gentleman who represented US during the
last Congress. Why, | ask, should We a.
bandon man of acknowledged abilities
and long tired experience, man who de-
serves our confidence and support, and
cfeave to another with whom we are en-
tirely unacquainted-a man whose talents
none will have the assurance or injustice
TO compare with those OF that distinguish
ed gentleman to when we are bound in
honor and in justice TO adhere, Mr.. Mer.
Ger. leave you with these remarks, no.
ping that when the election shall have
arrived, you will be prompt in lending
your assistance in the re election Of Mr..
M end thereby renunerate him in some
small degree, for the trouble, anxiety and
fatigue he has undergone for your welfare
and happiness. AFeLLow.cIrIzEE