Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-08-11
COMMUNICATION.
To the Editor ofMe Alsradriu Pdsnir Gazette.

enjoyed when he found himselF seated at his
desk, seems TO have been OF very short dora-
lion; for who but q mailman would have writ-
ren and published the following Brdlam bonn
bast:
"To that desperate war.whoop of Mr. Clsy's at Bal
tmore, may be ascrbed the announcement OF society
tba, now clouds the fearful West-the tragic scenes
that have made widows and orphans-the mnrderons
spirit that is stalking abroad in the land with immu.
nifty, and has given to every hand dagger, either for
assassination or defence"
The disu,em5ermsnt of society that clouds the
fearful Uest!" How worse than bruushly ig-
norani and stupid mus, he deem his leaders,
when he addresses them in such absurd Jargon!
Is di smember ment Of society cloud, or does
dismemberment of any kind resemble cloud?
Is the Hest Z" tsarfh2" Deeply is it TO be de,
plored thai The people of the West are no, more
so than they really are, ard ,ha; The worship
pers Of our modern MoLoeh, who are dispersed
through that country we'll as elsewhere, Tan
neither he brought 10 feard Con nor regard the
life Of man, their fellow and their brother.
Although, since the termination Of The late
wal" murderous spirit" has =" stalked abroad"
in The Western States, and the dirk, the pistol,
the musks,, and the rife, have, with awful and
appalling frequency, dyed the earth with blood
there is no ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of society, nor is
there in every hand dagger, either for as
sassination or defence" The pconi- there, as
:. "s.: S' a;1s, winnou, fear and withou, any
weapons Of defence, associate together in peace
and friendship, distinguished for their kAdness,
heuevolence, and hospitality.
shall no, Immediately inquire and explaia
how this blood thirsty and disbo'ieal sDir' has
been created and diffustd, but shall bring INFO
view the proper uncs der'cat'v before am
done. I feel DESTROYS Of diSposing OF Mr.
Gays war whoop," en- passani, before intro,
dns ing a subject serious.
Duff brings forward the Kentucky affray in
which Benning lost his life, aud asserts that
his antagonist took his guilty resolves e ON
Mr. Gays sanguinary proclamation" That
SO Infamous libe!ler as Duff Green should yo-
iunIeer such an assertion, is, in respect, sur
prising; but supposing the putting 70 death OF
Benning had been one Of The most deliberate
murders which had eye, been committed, Of
what consequence would it have been when
weighed aga'rst the amosi numberless assas-
sinatiop. and murders perpe.rsted in the West
err Country, mos, Of which had been commit
ted long before Mr.. Clay had delivered his pa
hio'ic address OF Baltimore?
Duff, ia so repeatedly bringing forward, in
the manner and for the purposes he has done,
what he calls Mr. Clay's A." war-whoop" and
sanguinary proclamation q, Baltimore, seems
the question, Ere you, indeed fool, or 10 you
Dat eounierfei9 Is ths.::- single man of COM
mon sen p IN the United States, who has read
Mr., ClaY's Baltimore Address, incapable Of dis
corning that its tendency, instead OF exciting 10
war, murder, and the shedding OF blood, was
the very contrary! When Mr.. Clay spoke Of
war, pesiiience, and famine, he evidently ailud.
ed TO these scourges presented 10 David, King
Of Israel, by Cad the prophet, at the command
- Of he Lord, when Israel had offended him, and
David himself had further provoked him; by
numbering the people, contrary 10 the advice Of
his nephew Joab, from Dan unto Beersheba
thar he nigh, choose one OF them. The affair
is related, think, near The end Of II. Samuel,
and. somewhat diff, rently, in ono Of the books
of Chronicles. From three years famine, three
months Of war, defeat, and slaughter before his
enemies, and three days the sword Of the Lord,
even The pes,ilence, the King was required to
choose; aud after humbling himself and re-
penting, be chose the pes,ilence, saying, "Lei
me fall into the hands Of the Lord. for his mrr.
cies great, and lie, me not fall into the hands
Of mao"
MIR. Clay, al Baltimore, was not minute and
explicit in stating his views and opinions; his
state OF health forbade it, arc the good sense,
information, and liberal sentiments Of those he
addressed, rendered ii unnecessary. The chief
subject OF Mr.. Clay's discussion was the pre-
servation and support Of civil government, and
the necessity Of keeping the military force-the
mere creature Of common observation-disclosures is
no such thing as military authority recognized
or acknowledged in the jim strict
subsersiency to The civil power. Horror struck
At the contemplated approach Of a permanent
military desposism, and the enthusiasm for mi
iitary rrnowu which had maddened large por-
ton Of the People Of the United States. and
which, unless seasonabiy coun,eracted, would
establish such permanent despotism, under
which one part OF the people would, as we have
seen in Ireland and elsewhere, be arrayed to
crush and slaughter the other; and where, at
every eGor to regain the blessings Of lost liber,
~, q dreadful and discriminating civil war would
rage through the land-he, with the greatest
proprie,y and correctness, declared, thai if Pro-
yidenss Jaw good to visit his country with any