Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-12-11
ALEXANDRIA:
THURSDAY. DECEMBERu ,o,,

| ine " .. ship John ad'ns, bearing t.,
broad pendant of Commodore Porter n,..
ed do"n yesterday, bound to Kew W.,
The U. S. store ship Decoy, and U s.
'ehnr. Fox, have dropped down from n.
Navy Yard, and anchored of this town
- have read with much satisfaction n.
late hesssge Of The President Of tho ~,
ted States: it is the mos, frank and ,,l,
communication 10 Congress, since the d.v.
Of President Washington. There i. mo
subjee: which ! regret the Ptesd.n, h..
omitted to draw The attention of Cons,.s.
to; and which it was not oily &. be sbo,Is
do, but, in my humble opinion, bi, bounds,
duty-a subject which George wasbiOs
ton, under similar circumstances, wouId
have pressed upon their at,ention-I -.
lude TO the situation Of the jurispruteuep
and police of this District. The wejs,.
and good government Of the District, ia.
worthy of the Executive notice a. The
cause Of the Greeks, or Of Spanish Amer.
ca, on which the President has dwell l..,.
ingIy.
Our present motley system Of jurisdc.
ton, demands the consideration Of Con.
gress-to which the President might, with.
out any degradation to his personal char,e.
Ter or official dignity, have called their al.
tention 1t is one on which be ought 70
have informed himself, with a view TO ,uy.
gest such improvements in il, as must be
obvious TO sI'.-He might have reminded
Congress, that uniform system ough, to
be adopted for the whole District: he
might have called their attention 10 the mi.
sera6is criminal code which existed here.
he might have stated, that TO steal horse.
as the law now exists in the county Of A.
!exandTia, the punishment IS death; he
might have informed them, in cons- OUT nee
OF not having any penitentiary system Tor
the District, that two years ago man by
the name oil Davis was convicted of the
crime oil murder, but which, under The
circumstance Of bis case. was, according
to the law Of Virginia. murder in The second
degree-not punishable With death; bat
Davis was, under the Law 10 torce here,
sentenced to be hung; thai he, the Pr.si.
dent, had, under the power Of pordoning
him, noi pardonsd him, bui eommvted MS
punishment, ny suspending his execution
indsfnitsiy; be might have with uuch
feeling and force, pressed upon Congress
40 attention 10 The criminal code in parli.
exlar; be might have reminded them bcw
important il was. in place where there
was such mixture OF character as must
always be found in this District, that whole.
some police regulations should be adopted,
either by Congress, or that The power
should be delegated 10 the corporations;
end particularly recommend 10 Congress to
pass such laws as are 10 force in Virginia,
for the suppression OF gambling and duel
Ing. These are subjects we'll worth the
serious and anxious attention OF such al en-
ligbtened and virtuous statesman. ! trust
be will not let the present session pass od,
without calling their attention to these subs
jects.
The man who will not, on oil proper oc-
ca.ious, use the influence Of hs character
and station TO establish wholesome sys.
tenn Of jurisprudence and police, for the
community over whom be presides, omI's
the performance Of an essential part Of the
duty OF vigilanl Governor-such states
man will not think The concerns OF small
community beneath bis dignity and Office.
but will attend with care 10 It's interests
and good government. SOLON.
James Brown, OF Louisians, has been
appointed, by The President Of the Uni.
ted States, with The advice and consent Of
the Senate, to be Envoy Extraordinary and
! Minister PIenipoten'iary, 10 France. vice
| MIR. GaIlatin, resigned Not. Int.
The following appointments, made BY
the President curing the recess, have been
confirmed by the Senate oil the United
| States, viz:
Samuel L. Soutbard, Of New Jersey, Il
be Secretary Of tbe Navy.
Smith Thompson, Of New York, 10 b
a Judge of the Supreme Court.
John Mclean, OF Ohio, to be Postmas'
| ter General.
The Providence Journal states, that Mr.
Samuel Larned, of that town, is appoint
ed Secretary Of the Legation to Chill, and
has proceeded to Norfolk. 10 embark u
| r. T1.s,ol C,,tao