Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-02-08
The New Movement.

To the Editor Of the Alexandria Gazette:
According 10 the Constitution Of the United
States "all laws shall have equal and uniform
application. Government is established tor
the protection of persons and property. NO
government can exist without pGrsons--nor can
there be a government without property {;
both then, are equally necessary and essential
to government. If the administration OF gov
ernment were reposed in the hands OF property
holders. they could enact no law which would
affect the persons or property OF Others, which
would not equally affect themselves and their
own property. II, however, the affairs OF gov
ernmcut were reposed in the hands OF non
nronertv holders, they could 80 administer
them. rs to ipiure or even ruin the property
interest of the country, without directly affect
ing themselves 1t is evident, therefore, as
think that the affairs ct government can only
safely intrusted to the care and control oil
property holders. A doctrine which is not
So soon as we left the old George Mason
Constitution, we violated this fundamental
law, and launched out upon shoreess and
stormy sea. 1t soon became apparent to every
obsarvant mind, that we were running before
unpropitious gales, over dangerous sea, and
must ultimately be wrecked and ruined. The
great mass of the aboring population, how.
ever, being slaves, and having no voice III the
government, we were assured of much more
remote disaster than those communities were
threatened with where all the population was
free and all voted, When, however, univer-
sal emancipation and universal negro suffrage,
and partial white suffrage befell us, despite
ourselves, we saw our condition politically, was
helpless and hopeless. And from this helpless
and hopeless condition we have no means OF
extricating ourselves 1t we appeal to our
people, we find they could do nothing if they
would If we appeal to the President of the
United States, we find he is but CIPHER, who
while having name to live, is dead. Ii we
appeal to the Supreme Court, we find that
they have been estopped from atfording us any
relief, even if they desired to do so. If we
appeal to Congress, We find that two thirds oil
them were elected and pledged to enforce the
very evil of which we desire to be relieved
So that we must come to the loregone conc'u
sion, that the government of our fathers is in
a rapid and helpless declipe, and must soon
meet the fate of all other Republics. And as
the physician who has hopeless case, ceases
to apply remedies for its removal, because such
efforts being not only futile, but decidedly in
furious, ho strives TO mitigate the sulIerings oil
his patient and smooths his passage to the
tomb. SO we, finding that our efforts to re-
store our country, can hut increase our suffer
ing and aggravate our pain, must make the
best Of our situation we can and die as easily
as possiblel
My counsel, therefore, is, if the Committee
of Nine can do anything to lessen our burthens
aud smooth our passage to the grave, let US
thank them for it. know it is hard thing
to acquiesce 10 our own destruction. but when
opposition only increases its pains and tortures
let US cease to struggle. But with solemn
protest, let US drink the bitter cup, which is
pressed to our lips, knowing that while it can
not avert our doom, we may catch thereby, 4
few moments Of repose, amid the conclusive
throes of an expiring and dssoving Empire
HANOVER, Feb. 6. ANGUS