Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-03-20
To the Freekolders Of Prince William,
Lou6oun and Fairtdr.

preaching whe0 you will be called on to
exercise the frs, privilege Of treemen. IN
the selection of suitable character to
represent you in the Congress OF the UNI
ted States. Two gentlemen have been
held I'd to public view as persons 10 every
respect deserving of public confidence,
viz. Charles F. Mercer and Sydnor Bal
lev. The nature and importance OF the
high trust. with which you are about TO
clotbe the one or the other, CLAIMS your
earnest attention and serious consioera-
ton.
II must he obvious to the most common
understanding, that the enactlng OF laws
by which men are to be governed, IN which
their lives, their liberties, & their property
NAV be involved, require great know
ledge, superior talents and long expert
ence. Any person, conversaht With par,
Iiamentary proceedings. must know that
bills. founded On claims highly important
10 individuals, have been rejected thro'
the ignorance aud inezperlence OF re-
preseDta I'VE.
A member of Congress, to discharge the
duties of his appointment with ability
ought to be man OF general information,
prepared to vote understandingiy on any
question that may come before him tie
ought TO be acquainted with the conslItu-
ton and laws OF the United States. the
constitution and laws OF the state be re-
presents, il not with toe constitution and
laws of the other states; he should watch
guard and defend the constitution and
law. against every dangerous innovation;
and he hould propose, adopt and cherish
any solid and we'll diSested plan OF I'M /
provement But how is man capable OF
voting tor a new law who is lgnoraE' OF
the old Or how is he To vote tor an a.
mendment, when be is ignorant OF the law
proposed 10 be amended I! Apprentice
ships are thought necessary to almost eve
~ art, commercial or mechanical iohg
curse of reading and study mast Torn
the divine, the physician and lawyer;
but some men Think that education and
experie ace are not necessary 10 make
legislator
The amiable traits Of Mr.. slercer's pr-
yate ckaracier-his accommodating man
ners and ohliging disposi'ion-his extra
ordinary endowmen's OF mini and supe
rior powers OF uuders'anding-his long
experience and skill in legislation, --emi'
nently qualify him to discharge with ablii-
the dut,es OF this important trust.
Nlr Mercer entered toe Virginia Legls-
la,ure in 1910, where he continued Tor
seven years one of its most active and
distinguished members and It We were
to pass over the maRy important laws and
wholesome amendments to laws which
originated with him; the improvement he
made in your financial system, by which
he rep!enished the Golfers OF an exhausted
treasury his scheme OF internal improve.
laent, by the establishment OF board oil
public works; his project OF q bonus rom
the banks, tor the extension OF Hheir cnar-
ters. by which some thousands OF dollars
came into the treasury; his Jealous efforts
to advance education end learning, would
entite h,m 10 the everlasting gratitude OF
bis cOuntrymen
When an invading Zoe bad the audacity
10 approach within n short distance OF Nor
folk, and the chief magistrate OF The com"
mtawea tn was called or to aid and de-
lend bis fellow citizens in that quarter, he.
with a foresight which did him much ere
dit, appointed Dir. Mercer his aid'de-
camp, bis confidential friend and adviser
When Mr.. Mercer had performed his
tour OF duty as commander OF battalion
of militia al Norfolk, such was the abiI!ty
with which he discharged his duties as an
officer, and such his proficiency I'D militia
~ science, that as mark OF cistinCioh
they gave him he command OF an etlis
corps.
When the governor issued his procla
NATION, declaring the commonwealth 10 De
in danger, and calling % the treemen OF
Virginia 10 rally round their capital; when
thousands rushed forward from the noun
tains and the plains, to share IN lhe glory
of defending the metropolis Mr.. Mer-
Ger was appointed Inspector general VIM
directions tn organize an army imlnedi-
ateiy.
When in times OF greater alarm, the
legislature in their wisdom thought proper
to raise an army to defend the common
wealth from the hostile bands OF Great
Britain, Mr., Mercer was elected brIga
der general 10 that army, by JOINT ballot
OF both b0uses.
Mr.. Mercer took seat IN the Congress
at the United States, as a representative
from this district in 1917. The fame OF
his talents and services in the legislature
bad raised public expectation very high
and though, from aIticuIar circumstances.
he did not shine With that splendour Tor
which he was so distinguished in the VIZ
ginia Legislature. yet he maintained
character aud stand which ranked hin
with the first men IN Congress and should
every other act OF his public life be blot
ted from The journals OF the house aud the
statute book, his resolutions reports and
bills Tor the suppression of The African
slave trade, would alone hand his name
down to posteri,y, as tue accomplished
scholar, ID. profound statesman. and en-
ligh;ened ph!Iauthropist. The celebrated
MIR, Wherefore OF the British House Of