Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-01-20

the prfS0nefS Oh OiAue1S ho'A
spectable character he bears, hope,
and am willing to believe, that he is
himself only the Echo Of bnposture-
Those. however, who have been con-
yersant with his former writings, will
certainly observe that he has in this in
stance, adopted somewhat Of more
oourtly strain than is perfectly consist
ent with the liberal principles of ration
al liberality, of which he has usually
protested himself the advocate. He
declares that in common with the rest
of the world he laments the fate OF
these unhappy prisoners: he declares
himself perfectly ignorant with respect
to the causes of their confinement
This ignorance he considers as impo-
sing a duty upon all prudent men Of an
entire silence upon the subject, and re-
commends it to their friends to en-
deavor, by all the means in their power,
that these unhappy persons should be
wholly forgotten till history shall have
removed the veil which at present CO.
vers this mysterious business. His
indignation is without bounds, when
he finds this journalist holding forth to
Europe, under the colors OF Caligula,
a monarch, of all others, the most dis
tinguished for clemency; yet he tells
us that this monarch holds in his prl-
sons, neither he nor any one else can
conjecture wherefore, person to whose
character he himself affixes the epithets
estima5te and irreproachabk. NJ. Mallat
du Pan must produce other instances
| of clemency, 1 believe, before he per-
suades Europe to substitute the name
of Titus for that of Caligula in behalf
of the object of his panegyric. This
writer certainly does little honor to the
government he undertakes to defend,
when he adds, that the friends OF Fay
cite will produce no other effects by
their complaints, than exciting the
powers upon whom his liberation de-
ponds, to lengthen his captivity. l
will not suppose, that, with the rulers
of free country, remonstrance a
gainst oppression will be supposed Ca
pable of producing an aggravation OF
it. So for from entertaining such an
opinion, | do not apprehend that am
doing any injury to the cause OF La
Fayette in this country, when l say that
whatever sentiments may be here en-
tertained of the principles he has main
tanned and acted upon, | know that he
would not tomorrow purchase his Ii.
berty by the retraction Of any one OF
them. / will not believe that in this
country it will be imputed to him as
crime that he refused the liberty which
was offered to him, upon his first arrest
at Namur, upon condition of betrayine
the army, of which he had relinquish
ed the command, to the enemy. will
not believe that this country harbors
any i'll will against a native of France
because he was the original instigatoi
of those national guards which have
enabled France to establish her repub.
lie against the united efforts OF all Eu
rope; still less will believe that there
can, in any quarter of this country, lurl
against him narrow and vindictivt
spirit, which can be grati6ed in behold
ing the friend and pupil of the illus
trious Washington, perishing in a dun
geon upon account OF his political prin
ciples, even though such principles
may have been originally imbibed il
supporting the cause Of Americaagains
Great Britain"