Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-04-03
COMMUNE ATOMS.

Ma. Enron: have read in your paper the
bill designed as new Code or Law, establish
ing number of new Courts of Law and Equity,
and defining their jurisdiction, sc. &c. for the
District of Columbia. Now, in the name OF
common sense and common Justice, what can be
intended or meant BY such host OF Courts,
Clerks, Chancellors, Auditors. Master Commis-
sioners in Chancery, &C.? have resided here
for more than a third of century, and never
heard any one complain that We had not law
enough to collect all debts with sufficient pronp-
titude. when the person indebted was able to pay.
The only difficulty and delay is, for the want OF
mat ability, as have always understood and be-
heved. would ask any of my fellOw-citiZens,
or the honorable Chairman, if you please, if he
supposes that by having our Court House crowd
ed eyery week, or month, with idlers, lockers
an, and litigants, it would add any ability to
persons indebted, or be of any advantage to our
community? [ give the answer, No. But, on
the contrary, it would certainly be disadyan-
tage as it would call persons there who had no
business, and thereby their daily avocations would
become neglected. Ifmy information be correct,
think, sir, our law docket latter you take out
disputed and doubtful cases. is scarcely worth
the costs of collection. But, be that as 1t may,
it is very certain that the people of Alexandria,
generally speaking, pay their debts when able.
without the compulsatory course OF any Court.
The Common Council have appointed Com
ruittee to attend to all matters that may be
brought forward in Congress in relation to the
affairs of Alexandria. For one, hope they will
not omit to attend to this new and uncalled tor
experiment. The Sovereign People, sir, must
first be heard.
ONE OF THE PEOPLE.
-ase5Sae~
Mr.. EDITOR: As one of your subscribers, l
am grati6ed at your determination that, after one
reply to the ADDRESS in this mornings Gazette,
its columns "are closed against further discus
sion;" for agree with you that polemical discus
sions are profitable in no manner or shape.
For my own part, would not give humorous
anecdote for ali the dognas laid down, or agi-
tated, since the Council of Trent.
Under that feelins-somewhat different from
John Bunyan's-I send YOU the following anec-
dote on the dogma in the Catholic Church
Trmas,t6sfantiation.
ERASMUS had got into polemical controversy
on that points, to the real presence of Christ
He pushed his adversary so close that he retreat
ed to his creed, exclaiming s. Crede qod habes ct
habes"-Beliere that you have, and YOU have.
The argument had been carried on in Latin, as
was the custom with literary men of that age, par
,icularly on the continent. They parted, how
ever, In friendly feeling, and Erasmus borrowed
his antagonists pafrey for his journey home. 1t
not being returned, the owner sent for it.-Eras-
mus made the following reply:
III n,ihi digishi
DE eorpore Christi,
Creae quod ho5es, Ell habes;
SIC name fi6i dico
he tuc paitrido,
Crede q,tod habes, ct habes.
This was testing humorously an important dog
ma of the Catholic Church; which, being in
dead language, $ hope that the public will find
.nothing offensive in the introduction" and none
Il intended to those familiar with that language.
april l. A.