The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-04-09
40 me Freeho!ders Of Prince WIlianr,
Londoun, and Faufar.

10 meet az our court houses and other
puoilc places, to greet our old aceuaip.
lance, to call our public agents TO an ac.
count OF their stewardship, to bes,ow up
on the faithful the smile of our aoproba-
ton, upon the unworthy the frown of our
displeasure. Ii is an interesting season :;
let us improve it.
l haG the honor to address you, a
month OF two some time since, some
hasty remarks on the merits of the gem
rlemen who presented themselves as can
didates for your SURFACES for seat in
congress. In the interval, one Of the
gentlemen has withdrawn himself from
the canvass. Mr.. Lewis has ceased to
be subject OF your public notice. Mess.
Mercer K Bailey alone remain. Between
these two gentlemen We are to chuse, not
farmer, neighbour gentle nan--but a
fawsfOer. To .wbal. s,apdard shall we
bring them in order 20 make q choice +!
Surely 10 that OF wisdom, virtue and
public service. ALLOW me TO invite your
attention 10 comparative estimate OF
the public characters of these gentlemen,
disclaiming utterly every view OF touch
Ing private fame or concern. In this re-
latiOD every gentleman is sacred in my
eye, persuaded, as am, that no light
which could shed on theme Of ge-
neral nature, could make amends for one
pang, merited or unmeiited, carried to
the bosom Of an amia5le man or his IA.
miIy.
Our candidates are both citizens of
Loudoun, and so well known there, that
my reflections are designed chiefly for
voters residing in Prince William and
Fairfax. They are written In the hope
chat good may come OF them rather than
evil. 1t they accomplish no good let
them be forgiven because of the end
at which they aim, the motive in which
they find their origin.
Mr. Bailey asks you to dismiss from
sour service your presen, Representative
and TO elevate him to the station from
which he is driven. Let me beg you va
examine the pretensions on which he
builds this request MIR. Bailey is now,
chould conjecture, forty seven years Of
age, as old as the independence of his
country. A public man VINO lays claim
20 high place of honor i'll the gift of al
enlightened people, ought TO be able Il
point to the qualifications, the public ser
vices which form the basis 81 such claim
What has Mr.. Bsiles done that be step
forward now to throw from the popula
favor, tried patriot and statesman il
the prime Of hts life, and the bloom c
his usefulness You have been offer
told, fellow citizens, that MIR. Bailey ha!
been repeatedly solicited To serve The
county In which he lives in the state le.
gis!ature. lie has uniformly declined it
Wherefore was he loo great for sta
tion which Wythe, Js Hierson, Madison,
henry, Monroe, filled with honnrto them
selves, ard beneGt TO the state? If net,
what is his reason? VIII noihing ara-
sity his ambition but the highest class of
hoDoTs! The mechanic serves his ap-
premiership, the doctor and lawyer pass
through toilseHne probation, the soldie,
begins a private or suhsltern; but Nh.
Eailey is splendid exception 10 this ee.
neral rule, and Claims TO 6sgin his career
where the first men OF the nation enc
theirs. He must certainly, one shoulC
suppose, have labored as magistrate
and acquired experience OF business il
that department. He has never Tor
day graced the bench, but has Away
declined this honor. General Washing
ton did not feel himself superior to tht
magisuacy of his county. Yes, fellow
citizens of Fairfax, this first of men
whose hallo"ed remains sleep in the bo
som Of your county. was not too PROUD
TO accept seat on that bench whirh Mr.
Bailey never coDdesceDded to take I'll he
did /, as candidate for congress. MIR
Bailey then either felt these popular dis
tinctioDs beneath him or he feared if he
exhibited himself in these capacities, hi.
talents would be tested, his strength mea
surcd, and MS course terminated IN :
1oDviciionroH TIE p:rbrc Kind, that h,
was not qualified for the honors he nou
seeks.
In word, he has g-o7on greg in doing
nothing for the hubtic good, aud he mus
ed" elther that he was unable or IN
gDiiiing. Let him chuse.
Bu' Mr.. Bailey is an active, health,
man, with no scrupics Of conscience which
hinder him from Sustaining a miltar,
character. HIS fortune is easy, his fami
ly small, perhaps he has performed mill
taTy du'Ie~ which entitIe him to appeal &c
the gratitude of his country.
MIR Bailey was, during the last war. ir
the vIgor OF his manhood. His countr,
was invaded, the smoke of her capital
could almost be seen ASCENDING from hi.