Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-10-12
A1E ,SlAlI.rs'DREA,
TUESDAY MORNING OCT IL.

- " z.
IL gives Us pleasure to observe with
what critical nicely the National journal
scsns The columns of this Gaaet,e-so
much so, that even an error in the adyer-
timing department could not escape lie y;s
gilance. Ii will be well errors OF more
serious nature are not promulgated ,hto
the columns Of that psper.
I, His often asked, what are Radicals AMI
Why Mr.. Crawford and his friends are thus
designated? Attaching disiinct meaning
TO the term, and having ourselves, on more
occasions than one, applied il to a MAJORS
ty. at least, of Nr. Crawlord's Supporters
in Congress. We are prepared 10 give an
explicit snswer to both The questions -
The term Radical, embraces, in our OPT
MON, all that description Of politicians.
who look only to the present, without re.
gard to the ultimate or permanent prespe.
rty of the nation; who are the advocates
OF all measures calculated to reduce the
present power, the present patronage, aud
the present expenses q the government,
even though the consequence should be
the. fourfold increase OF them all, a: some
future period; who reject, in practice. the
wlsest political maxim ever uttered, that
the surest wa to avoid war, is to be pre-
pared to meet it, and, in fine, who think
that the excellence OF government consists,
not in accomplishing the objects for which
it was instituted, but IN dragging along
with the least possible expense, and the
least possible exercise of power.
We, OF course. then consider as Radi-
Gals, in relation TO this government, all
those politicians who, at the close OF the
late war, advocated an immediate repeat
of the taxes, without regarding its effect
on public credit; who, because we are at
peace, proposed to reduce the army TO a
cipher, and to dismantle, instead OF in.
creasing TIE navy; who clamored against
the efficient fertilization of the seaboard;
who endeavored TO defeat the jutlicious ar
rsngement of the military staff, and to de-
stroy the military school at West Point;
who have uniformly resisted every effort
10 introduce system ofinternal improves
nent, essential to he cheap and efficient
defence OF the country in future wars; who
are unceasiDg in their endeavors to pros
trate the federal judiciary at the feet OF
the state courts, aud the federal govern
ment al The Feet of state legislatures; AMI,
in foe, who think they havs attained the
great end Of political life, when, in wire
drawn circular to their constituents, they
can boast of having voted against'a bill,
involving either the expenditure oil money
or the exercise ofan implied power.-Such
are american Radicals.
And having thus answered the first dues-
ton, we think very little need be said 10
reply to the second. Had the picture We
have family sketched, been exhibited at
the meeting which nominated Mr. Craw.
ford. there was scarcely an individual pre-
sent, who would not, in some part or other
OF it. have found faithful likeness oi him1
self Hence the application of the term
: Radical to the supporters OF that gentle
man, and to himself. Whether bis princil
Piles, in reality, accord with theirs, We
know not. He is yelled in impenetrabe
obscurity. But be has placed himself at
The head Of faciioh-or rather has con-
sented TO become it's tool. He must not,
therefore, vince at the name, however OBJ
noxious, in which be is compelled 10 par
ticipate.