Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-11-25


and absurd.
If the form of an interrogatory be used on any
occasion the author cannot reasonably complain
# he is taken at his word aud understood as he
has chosen to express himself A speaker has
no lust ground of dissatisfaction if his audience
,lo not discover a concealed metaphor beneath
the disguise Of plain and literal inquiry
am little versed in the science Of toasts.-
The usage may therefore have escaped me which
gives them the form of "A question. and yet de-
riyes the ordinary consequences OF inquiry. by
prohibiting reply. The argument has to over
come the double difficulty, first of establishing
toe novel shape of this species of composition.
and then approving that its form and substance
ave of contradictory natures.
Bat let u, see the substance of the communi-
cation.
II shall be an affirmation &C simply" . that it
.ras not the dictate of humanity to depi3re the
result" Ii the occasion be recolected, the re-
mark. however worded, must be admitted in
the sense claimed for it, TO have been either
strangely misplaced. or absolutely unmeaning.-
Il was a meeting of festivity; a ''celebraton,
loy and gladness had been produced and extend
ed throughout Pennsylvania by the very circum-
stance stated IN the toast-the advance of
civilization aud the retreat of the savage-by the
exchange Of every thing that could debase, for
every thing that could ennoble human nature
This great end had been accomplished, without
violation of moral principle, or an interference
with the rights Of others. Desolation had given
mace to the improvements o! civil society. The
arts which minister to mans happiness and wis
Dim, had succeeded TO wretchedness and lmbecil-
iv. Science and religion had erected and adorn-
I'd their temples, as substitutes for the monu-
men,s Of ignorance and the affairs Of superstition
ani i,olatry. TO celebrate these glorious results
a band of happy freemen were about to unite in
one lovous and mir,hfnl jubilee. Such was the
the occasion selected for introducing the mani
fest but mistined truIsm-that humanity die
tate,l no lamemtation or sorrow. Not ,nan there
or elsewhere. did dcplore or thougf of deploring
,he result The present, manifested their feel
ingS IN mutual Fluctuations and camorous joy
aud the absent in cheeifalness of spirit genet
ons'y furnished additional incentives mirh and
f,s yity. One universal sentiment prevailed.
,hal the ONLY result which the occasion coater.-
plated. was the triumph nf virtue and religion,
know ledge and happiness. To caution sach an
assembly against mourning and woe,-on such an
occasion--and for such result -coud neither be
reconciled with the state of their feelings nor the
history Of their native land. Bat when they
reflected that the end which bad been accom-
plishcd among iheni was still in Antiquarian aud
progress tisewhere-and that they had heSitated
On at least one pnblic occasion to ''deploreH the
measures adopted for its accomplishments
only application which could be given To the eau
lun in the toast. was necessarily 10 their known
sentiments Of regret for the policy ut the General
Government. and that of sister state. Such at
least was 80 much more obviously The meaning
than the one now suggested aud insisted on. that
they could not and did not doubt in their con-
stuCtion. While therefore they dealt IN no
uniriend!y commentary" aud INDUCED IN no
''ve,emcnt crim,nation" as to the person who
had, unhappily as they thought, thrown fire
brand among them. they expressed their opinion
upon the subject which they believed in their
consciences he had chosen for theme.
There was an additional circumstance which
could not fail to excite uneasiness IT not alarm.
The communication emanated from the Cabinet.
L., urgau was the legal adviser of the Executive.
lift could have been designated officially to die
tate unacceptable sentiments. even IN shape APP
parenty harmless. it would be an act of high
handed oppression. which no citizen could sub
nit 10 without shame. 1t did not require the re-
cent explanation to prove that neither the distln-
gI,Shed head of the SUyernMent, nor anv other ct
It's functionaries. participated in the measure at
ITS adoption: and the excited tone OF the ''obscr-
ya'ions" sufficiently proves that 1t has not met
with subsequent confirmation or support.
IL mi.h be conceded without danger 10 the
argument, tina, If the terms of the toas, he been
thought susceptible ola two-fold Interpretation"
The unexcep:ionable one should have been adopt
ed There was certainly no such impressions Or
belief. The form of hypothesis, complained 1T,
like the toast at the conclusion of NV remarks.
was adopted by myself merely from motives Jas
It NecmS) of very unnecessary courtesy. as
'nre vor. sir, and the public that tine suggestion
OF an alternative as To the meaning OF the author
had M support but courtesy until the explanation
which you have published, first gave it counte-
hanCe.
trust shall be prepared when occasion re-
cures, to vindica,e from unnecessary reprOach
the citizens OF any portioa oi our common coun-
try. The gallant sons If Georgia know too well
how toappreciate differences of opinion, to com
pl'lnOt the candid expression of them. My OBJ
yet now has been TO disprove for myself and
friends. the charges of discourtesy and dong vol
u1'ary wrong. They are, | am sure, incapable
OF either. But they never will consent to be
made the organs of sentiments which, as indi''-