Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-03-30


imperceptibly claimed 10 be mistress Of
the District. II Georgetown had been
peopled by ordinary men, she must have
declined as Washington advanced. This,
however, was not the case. Her bold and
adventurous inhabitants toresaw the con-
sequences that would result from inaclion,
and strained every nerve 70 avert tie
storm. They opened roads into every
section of the country that could add 10
their trsde-they expended immense sum.
of money 10 the improvement OF their Va.
vigation-they built and purchased ships,
and established importing and exporting
houses, vieing in the extent OF their deal.
ings With the first merchants of the north
erD cities--the whole capital OF her banks
and individuals was devoted to her enter
prising views; and, in fact, every thing
was done that promised hope OF success.
Nor did such energy and union 90 anre-
warded:-She engrossed the increasing
and valuable commerce Of the upper river
- shared the custom OF the lower county
extended her trade into the hear. OF Vir-
ginia, and even exhibited ibe anomalous
spectacle of Alexandria merchants attend
ing the auctions Of Georgetown, and get
ting her supplies from her importers
While Washington and Georgetown were
thus in full march, Alexandra al least re-
NAMED stationary, it she die tot r. de.
A fatal lethargy had seized on hel acuL'
ties-many OF her richest merchants lee
tired on their fortunes; and those who
continued were asleep 10 their interests.
If proposition was made tor any great
public improvement, it was cooliy receive
ed, if not wholly neglected. Too much
reliance was placed on NATURAL AID,
VANTAGES, and too little confidence IN
the rewards Of improving them. Had the
public spirit Of Georgetown prevailed in
Alexandra, she would long ere this have
doubled her strength. Ii will be no argu-
ment against this proposition, TO tell me
tina, Georgetown is now lsnguishing, by
mean, OF Der prodigious forts. The fact
may be so--but let it be remembered that
in spite of every e1ertion, her navigation
cannot be KEEP, free; with Alexandra it's
otherwise.
A writer in the Herald Of Wednesday
last, unde. the signature of S. T. calls tbs
attention OF his fellow citizens to tue Lees
burg road, -
He thus remarks Some time ago, this
subject was agitated' but, for The moment,
was defeated by the petty self interest ct
lew property holders, who each wished
the Road brought into town, al the point
he thought most TO his advantage "a sub.
scription was, however, opened, and a
considerable amount was subscribed by
lew wealthy and public spirited citizens,
and, il Is believed, tina, the whole amount
nee essary for its completion, could have
been obtained, had subscriptions been
more generally solicited What (he
asks has become Of The subscription list :
and why has nothing more been done with
it He then tells you, that, for want Of
this road, we are losing much Of the Gus
tom OF the best parts of Loudoun and Ere.
derrick, and the whole OF that OF the fertile
and wealthy counties OF Jefferson and
Berkeley. Do not these remarks throw
some glimneEing light On the subject OF
your distresses do they not help to
show the causes of your decline. indepen.
dent on your political condition .
Georgetown has been 'twenty- taree years
under the jurisdiction of Congress > she,
like ourselves, has LOST the trade OF WASH
ington. Yet, while alexandra was dis.
cus,ing the route, Georgetown made The
finest road that Virginia can boast-she
feeds upon the bread which you and your
children should eat--she has sapped the
very root that nature intended for your sup
port, and is no" 10 The iusl enjoyment OF
trade which, but for our apathy, she ne.
yer could have had and but Tor our dis.
senlions, she never can maintain.--MaEe
the road to Leesburg, and Georgetown is
chilled: cut canal 10 the Potomac, and she
will never more trouble you.--Open di'
rect communication with The rich counties
Of Rockingham and Shenandoah, Madison
and Culpepper- and Baltimore and F!e>
deric ksburg must contribute to our growth:
these, my fellow citizens, are tue great