Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-01-19
COMMUNICATED.

TO the People Of the County Of alexandria.
When saw the communication ofthe Mayor
20 the Editor of the Gazette, in Wednesday NOR.
ning's paper, and Mr.. Doddridge's letter to him,
desiring to know, &c in some certain way" our
opinion upon three important propositions there
in contained, took it for granted that some CON-
munication had been made to the Common Coun-
Gil on the subject. and that some mode would be
devised very speedily for taking the sense OF the
People. But what was my surprise when, upon
: inquiry Of Councilman, almost the first indivI-
dual met, was informed he was entirely igno-
rant OF the existence Of such paper!-and my
Indignation may be more easily imagined than
expressed, when, few moments afterwards, |
learned from the President of the Common C0un-
, eli! that the Mayor had transmitted to him Mr..
Doddridge's letter, and that he had, upon his
own authority, or after consulting with Com
mittee, appointed mot for such purpose, pre-.
sumo, undertaken to answer MIR. Doddridge's
: letter, and to say that we, the People OF the
-. County Of Alexandria, are perfectly willing to
remain in our-present state OF political disiran-
chisement and degradation!
Now, if the President of Council has acciden-
tally expressed the wishes Of the majority ct US.
which cannot for moment believe,--l ask.
in all soberness, can greater usurpatIon OF au-
thoritv or exhibition of contempt for US be ina
gined, or any other instance be wanted, under our
present government, to manifest our hopeless sla.
very and ignominious condition. Will any in
AL eho hn, al ctafp
is dis,inguishabe from that Of the Pebeians in the
i4th century in Venice: Have we not our Coun.
ell for their Senafe2--our Committee Il three or
five for their Council of Three? And do they
not decide upon the highest of our present inter-
ests, and those Of our pos,eri,y, without deignins
90 consult u.s. Fellow inhabitants, for | CAN
no, say citizens.-shall we tamely submit. and
refuse to resist the longer continuance Of so
wretched system-so servile an aristocracy-
or. continuing our fatal lethargy, slumber on to
utter contempt and perditions
And what. fellow inhabitants, was the reason
given by the President of Council for this Vene-
tian tyranny Why, truly, he said, if we should
manifest any inpatience under our deprvations,
or any portion OF the spirit which gave freedom
TO 0ur ancestors. Congress will not authorize a
subscription to our Canal, or help us to
make "a most false thought-a libelous inn
parchment of the National Representatives.
And can 1t be, that thirty years Of political
slavery has made 1t possible for any inhabitant Of
this District 10 believe the representatives Of free.
men would be likely to fall desperately in love
r
to sell its freedom for miserable subscription to
aCanaI! And that such an assembly, or any as
sembly Indeed. would refuse to do that which in
justice we may fairly ask. simply because we de-
sire to escape from political bondage!
Depend upon 1t, Congress will not yield any
thing to the solicitations Of serviity, with great
er readiness than to respectful requests Of man,
Iy freedom.
suggest, therefore, as the Mayor is now sick
and cannot be well consulted, that as many Of us
as are not acquiescents IN the despotic rule
the President of the Common Council, should as
semole at the Mechanics Hall, This Evening, at
half.past seven o'clock, where we may at least
express our indignation at this recent usurpation
Of our rights, and devise some method Of obtain
ing the fair expression of the wishes Of the peo-
pie. and Of making them known to the Chairman
of the Committee on the District of Columbia.
JACKSON.