Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-09-19
volved in another civil war, and one more ter.
rble than that through which we have just
passed.
Yours Truly,
r. Z. MERGICK.
ALBEMARLE. Sent. II, 1860

ALBEMARLE, Sept. II, $500.
SIR: Il regret that my health fortlds my
compliance with your invitation to join my tel
low ctizans ia the rati6ca ion meeting in Alex
andrla on the 18th.
Having just completed my seven'y-fourth
year, stand thus between past and present
generations. It has been my fortune 10 have
associated in early and mature manhood ln3ta
mar intercourse with Jefferson Madison, Mon
roe and Marshall, sages and patriots OF the revo,
lurion 10 have known Taylor, Glles, han
dolph, and other magnate5 OF the. succeeding
generation, and to have heard from them max
inns of political wisdom, under which our coun-
try enjoyed prosperity and liberty unexan-
pied in the history of the world Men whom,
when they left Office, leto with hands as clear
as they were empty; who might trlumphantly
ask whose OK have l taken; where's the widow
or orphan who can demand a husb band or ia
Their at my hands; whose house have | desola'
ted; upon whose hearth stone does the grass
grow by my act Men who deemed the obi
cations of constitutional oaths, and the obser-
vance of constitutional restrictions, as sacred as
obedience to the Decalogue OF holy writ
that a disregard of those obligations, ana re-
strictions was as fatal to individual liberty as
disregard of criminal and civil law was to the
safety Of persons and property; that the eXpe-
rience OF mankind had shown that in all ages
socey had escape I'd from the horrors OF popu-
lar despo!ism to that Of single head Rome
took shelter under Caesar from the popular
despotism of her parties. England, under
Cromwell, from the misrule of her long Par
lament, and France, under Napoleon, from the
horrors of tn popular rule under Robe'pierre,
Dantoa AMI Marat, and if We cannot restore
the constitution OF our fathers the people OF
the Untel States will sooner or later seek safe
ty under some future Cromwell or Napoleon
The government Of the United States, under
the constitution Of 1888, was the happiest
government known to maL-the government
OF popular sectional majority, whose will is
the sole measure of its power as that of the
Radical party is perhaps the worst which can
atflict people; and we may justly infer from
the cry for bloo |, confscation and plumber, ut
tered by Radical presses partlzans, and lead
ers, that nothing but.the tirmness, wisdom and
patriotism of the President has saved us SO tar
from executions, exes and con6scations, nn-
PARALLEL save in the history Of Revolutionary
France.
The present struggle for the restoration Of
the Constitution OF the United States as 1t
came from the hands Of fathers, stripped OF the
Juggling amendments sought to be engratted
upon it for party purposes Is one which Is to
determine the capacity of man tor self Govern
ment or whether the masses are born with sad
dies on their backs, and brides in their mouths
to be ridden by some successful soldier of for
tune or his Ii climate descendant, born, booted
and spurrcd to ride them by the Grace of God.
The Constitution of 1888 constituted a cen
trail government with certain named delegated
powers, refusing all others not therein named
by special article. The existing government
according TO Radical acts aud doctrines is an
imperial despotism without limitation Of power.
How many thousands Of citizens have owed
their lives their fortunes and their freedom
from dungeons to the virtue of the President.
How frightfll would have been the scenes
of tyranny + ID he acquiesced in the revolu-
tionary and reasonable designs of the Radical
party. .- Respectfully
THOMAS JEFFERSON RANDOLPH.
10 John iM Johnson President.