The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

Address to Subscribers

ONE year has elapsed since the first appearance of the NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER. During this period domestic events of the first importance have occurred. The political scene, so far as it relates to persons, has been completely changed, and so far as it relates to principles and measures materially altered. Public opinion, decisively expressed, has called for a reform, and a reform has been made.

There is something so interesting, and even sublime in a Nation, now composed of millions, and destined hereafter to be unrivalled in numbers, shaking off by Herculean efforts the chains of foreign despotism, and then with unexhausted vigor defending the rights of its citizens from internal invasion, that the mind cannot too often pause, and trace the admirable connection between cause and effect whereby the interesting spectacle is produced.

To obtain distinct views of the nature of our government, to discern its necessary connection with true national glory and personal felicity, is the basis of the only correct patriotism that can animate the human heart. Such sentiment, founded on the immutable principles of reason and truth, once embraced, becomes a permanent rule of action, and republicanism finds an impregnable fortress in every breast.

European philosophers have told us "That man, to be free must be virtuous"—They have mistaken the cause for the effect; and should have said, "That to be virtuous he must be free." For if virtue be a moral principle, and man be a free agent, can that be virtue which does not flow spontaneous from the heart? Can that be virtue, however precious, which slavery compels?

Away then with the false, the dangerous dogmas the constant plea of tyrants, and the perpetual terror of slaves. It is the interest of all nations to be virtuous, and all nations would pursue their interest, did not political fraud lead them astray.

To detect this political fraud, to guard against machinations, to inspire man with a consciousness of his dignity and his power; these are the great ends which true wisdom ought incessantly to pursue, undismayed by adversity, unfated by prosperity. Her means should be reason and truth. These are the only irresistible weapons that rational agents can wield. The sword may subvert an Empire. But reason alone can re-establish and give stability to its glory.

The distinctive feature of American governments is the representative principle. It is by the operation of this principle, that the nation can at any time express its opinion of public men and public measures, and will their continuance or suspension. It is by the operation of this principle that they have expressed such opinion and by its expression have silently and tranquilly produced a reform, which in other states would have been denominated a revolution, whose achievement could only have been imperfectly effected by the sword. Cherish, then, fellow-citizens, a sacred regard for this holy principle.—Let every heart habitually feel its value. Let every mind frequently reflect on the inestimable good that it produces. And when the wreck of other governments, falsely styled republican, are held up as evidences of the perishable nature of all political systems, and it is inferred that ours too must go to decay, recollect that our system is the only one that has ever existed, whose basis is a true representation of the people.

To uphold this great principle, to recommend whatever tended to render its application more general, and to make it more the object of popular affection, has been the leading motive, which has decided the character of the National Intelligencer. Those men have been supported with reason, with truth, and with moderation, who have often, and it is believed sincerely, professed their attachment to this principle, and whose whole political career has demonstrated a hatred of arbitrary power, and a regard to the public welfare. And while such men and measures have received support, their opponents have been treated with invariable respect and candor. For, it is the belief of the Editor that neither exclusive virtue or talent are to be found on one side, and it is his hope, fortified by numerous recent illustrations, that the great mass of each party only requires a temperate and rational disclosure of its errors to abandon them.—

On the accumulating triumphs of republicanism, he hails with joy the dawn of national harmony, and does not despair of reaching the period, when the nation will be undivided in political opinion. We cannot, it is true, expect to exempt from the occasional intrigues of ambitious men; but the great body of the people may, so enlightened as to pursue their true interests, be unmoved by the turbulence of ambition.

The same auspices, under which the National Intelligencer has hitherto been conducted, will preside over its character. While it fears not to examine with intrepid firmness the measures of public men, it will disdain to notice the foibles or the vices of private life.

From the encouragement which the Editor has received, and from his desire to render the paper more comprehensive vehicle of information, its size will be from this day greatly enlarged.

The original plan of the Paper will be preserved with this addition that its maturity will enable the Editor to furnish the earliest notices of many of the most interesting domestic events, and of foreign events connected with the measures of the United States, in a shape of unquestionable authenticity. It will accordingly contain, beside the ordinary contents of a newspaper,

I. The official acts of the General Government, including the acts of Congress

II. The debates at large.

III. As far as a scrupulous adherence to truth will admit, an exposition of the motives of the most important legislative and executive acts of the government.

TERMS.

1st. The NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER shall be printed three times a week on Super Royal Paper.

2d. The annual subscription shall be five Dollars, paid constantly in advance by all subscribers not residing in the City of Washington, and six Dollars paid by those who reside in the City who do not pay in advance; in which case the payment shall be half yearly. It being understood that subscribers, residing at a distance from the City of Washington, are invariably to pay for a year in advance, and in every such case the transmission of the paper will cease as soon as the period shall expire for which payment shall have been made. No paper will be forwarded in any instance until the money is actually paid.

3d. All letters to be post paid.

In consequence of the laborious duties of the Editor of a public Print, and from the necessity of recruiting health, unavoidably impaired by a constant devotion to business, the transmission of the National Intelligencer to distant subscribers will every year, at the close of the summer, be suspended for four weeks; unless some very interesting events should occur, in which case an extra paper will be published.

As during the proposed period of suspension there is usually a stagnation in foreign as well as domestic politics, but little interesting matter will be lost.

During the four weeks a small paper will be regularly issued, on the usual days, and delivered to the subscribers in the City and in George-Town, containing advertisements, and a concise notice of intelligence.