Year: 1866

OF gloom, to be able once more to present
the ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE to its subscri-
bers and readers, in something approaching
to its previous form, size, and appearance, is
to-day, fulfilled; and we have the happiness
to lay before them, and the public, this sheet,
with the hope that it will meet all their rea-
sonable expectations, and secure to it's future
support an additional amount Of patronage,
WHICH will compensate us for the heavy addi-
tional expense, to be incurred hereafter in
the publication of the paper. Not only our
own feelings, natural enough to those in our
situation but the request Of many of our for
mer subscribers and advertisers, continued
for mooths past, have induced us, to make
this enlargement, and to rely upon generous
public to sustain us in restoring and ''reha-
bilitating," the old Gazette, Gin statu quo
ante bellum"


Few persons in this section received a
heavier blow, Or were more seriously injured
than we were, by the calamity which destroy
ed our property and our business. But we
have INDUCED in no useless repinpgs nor
have we ever lost confidence in the future
So, we have kept steadily on. working with
our limited means and resources, and looking
forward to this day, as the commencement of
new and brighter prospects. We have been
enabled to rebuild our Office, to procure am
pie materials, steam press, job presses, and
type, and to place ourselves in situation, to
ask for the business OF this community and
the surrounding country, with the certainty
Of giving satisfaction to our friends and the
public generally. Hereafter, we hope to
make something for ourselves 10 begin
life, as it were, anew, is Il hard task but
there is nothing dispiriting in it, to US. To
labor, honestly, in the path Of duty, is per-
haps, the best condition Of man. And we
accept that condition cheerfully, well content
if we shall do our duty, and receive 4 mod
crate remuneration for our labor


An experiencein in our profession, Of so many
years, enables us to apply its lessons. While
we see in the past many sins OF omission and
commission, we are more than ever satisfied
Of the general correctness of our editorial
course, and Of the principles on which
this paper has always been conducted
And we shall not deviatc from them
now, for the fear of censure or hope
of reward. Tolerance, forbearance, reason,
argument, and good temper, should be
as much the characteristics of news
paper as Of a gentleman What good
did abuse, malignity, passion or distortion of
facts, ever do a cause, a party, or an individ-
ual? What sensible man places as much
confidence in the violence of writer, as he
does in the calmness and discretion of one
who addresses his common sense and his
Judgment? Who, in the long run, is the most
to be depended on? Nor is this course
which we claim to be one of the qualifications
Of the press, which gives it power; and Sc
cures the appreciation of the best and wisest
men, at all incompatible with entire indie
pendence, the strongest assertion Of the
right, and the most constant devotion to what
is believed to be, truth and justice These
can be maintained just as consistently and
just as firmly, and far more effectively, with
moderation, than with malevolence and anger,
with revilings, and in bad temper.


We hope, then, to give our readers daily,
as far as we are able to DO, the GAZETTE, as
it formerly was, with such Improvements and
additions as are demanded by the spirit of
the times, and the increased faciMcs which
may be placed within our reach


Our greatobject will be, hereafter as before,
to furnish a NEWSPAPER which will be ac-
ceptable and agreeable to men Of business;
to families; in the counting room, in the shop,
and at the family frcsidc We shall not be
so anxious to give our own lucubrations as to
spread before the public the best that can be
SAID by others on all topics Of interest. In
particular, We shall do all in cur power to
build up the fortunes, to revive the prosper
lty, and increase the happiness Of our own
state, IN all It's departments, agricultural,
commercial, and manufacturing We invite
all contributions to that erd-and hope that
our friends will omit no opportunity to fur
nish us with statements. which may coucri>
butte to the future wcltareof Virginia And,
especially, in all that concerns our own city
we shall use our utmost exertions to bring
about Il restoration Of It's former prosperity
its business and It's trade. Here, where all
the affections of childhond the Drosnects OF