Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

A correspondent has favored us with a long essay on the subject of the late schism in the cabinet and party spirit generally. Most of his remarks are superceded by the publication in the Intelligencer. His closing observations, however, are worthy of perusal:

The most singular mode of gaining popularity that I ever read of, was that of selling a navy, the only support of the country's rights, to be enabled to take the duty off the luxuries of life! And what is yet more singular, is, that this had the desired effect of popularity, and that in such a degree, that he who opposed it, or even spoke against the wisdom of the measure, threw an impediment in the way of his own interest! This can only be accounted for in one way--that is, that the weight of those duties only fell on those who had the power of controlling or deceiving those on whom they did not fall; that they persuaded them that it was for the public good, and that they had a better chance of shewing their patriotism by paying a tax for their necessaries, than others had in doing it for their luxuries. But what will not be done by interested politicians and an infatuated mob? All histories of republics afford numerous instances of the greatest acts of tyranny & cruelty being committed by them, when led on by some unprincipled declaimer, and which they repented of, when it was too late.

I believe the people in this country are more humane, and generally better informed, than those of ancient republics; but at the same time I advise them to be reserve of shewing too much of their zeal on every trifling occasion. Sometimes it may be extremely injurious to their own welfare, and the welfare of the nation, (as it has been heretofore) and at least it will expose them to the ridicule not only of foreigners, but of the well informed part of their own countrymen, who do not feel so deeply interested at the appointment or dismissal of a public officer, (although they might at one time or other have received from him a nod or a frown) as they do by being imposed on by false patriots, wolves in sheep's cloathing, whose leading principle is self interest, and whose patriotism is ambition.

MENTOR.