Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

We have been favored with a copy of the following letter for publication, written to a gentleman in this city—we communicate it with pleasure, as containing sentiments which every friend to our country must approve.]

Fredericksburg, April 12th, 1798.

Sir,

No man, I can assure you, feels more interested in the honor and happiness of our country, than I do ; what must be my concern then, to see it agitated by parties, which, if they do not subside, will overwhelm in common ruin, our government, our constitution, our liberties, in short, every thing, that is most dear to us and our posterity ? There is, I fear, more than a party, there is a Faction, against government and the union, which, seems to have taken this determination, " to prostrate our independence at the feet of France, and substitute to the present established order of things a tyrannous anarchy, sooner, than defend America by the powers and faculties she can call forth against this offensive nation (which has already, nay for four years, waged war against the United States) as eventually, defensive operations may draw our interests into closer connection with those of England." We are warranted in the entertainment of this opinion from the conduct held by a certain set of men, for the last five years; from the period of president Washington's proclamation of neutrality to the present time. Had they been bribed by France, which is not supposed, (for why hold out pecuniary inducements to those who are volunteers in the cause ? they could not have acted for their retainers, against their country with a more hasty zeal ; a zeal, which (too ready and spontaneous to await the advances of corruption, but) springing into action with a groupe of passions restless and malignant, owes its life and being to infernal agency alone—Order, law, due respect to those, who are set in authority over us, is rarely inculcated ; and our public prints, too seldom, explain upon the conduct of those, who resist popular reprobation: all address and activity are on 'the other side; and the passions are pre-engaged by all those artifices, which are calculated to work on the mass of vulgar ignorance. Not one in an hundred of our citizens, who lives out of cities and towns ever reads a Philadelphia paper, or a debate in Congress : they know no more of the doings of their representatives, from these vehicles of intelligence, than if they were written in a foreign language. Men credulous and ill informed are fit materials to be worked on by those who have once gained their confidence; they yield like potter's clay to the hand of the artificer; and take whatever shape he designs to give them : with little knowledge, little art, and such opportunities much mischief may be done : and, much is done ; to administer fuel, in large abundance to passion and prejudice is the unrelenting office of the catilinarian junto ? in this there is no relaxation—They do not call in to their aid ridicule or wit, but resort to any common-place matter that offers itself ; for instance, " the American war—our'd the interference of France—England the deadly foe of America—France the dear ally— England a frightful monarchy—France a mild republic—England the enemy to liberty—France the guardian and protector of it—the gratitude due to France for former favors—the ingratitude she experiences." Then follow " the treaty of amity and commerce—Jay's Treaty—inveCtive against him, col. Hamilton, general Washington— abuse of the President, and all of those characters, whom superior worth and merit have raised to superior stations;" their attachment to this european country; their opposition to that : the unbounded influence of the executive power”—that it has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished”— " And to close all a 'vindication of France for waging an offensive war against these states, by indiscriminate depredations on our commerce to the ruin of hundreds of our merchants, and the cruel captivity of thousands of our Citizens and Seamen— with these coarse means and low arts our people are, too generally, deluded : and as the great aim of these unambiguous discourses is to render those men, who are put in authority over us," objects for the hand of scorn to point his slow moving finger at," all the passions of envy hatred, and malice are enlisted in the service of these old soldiers of calumny, and mightily aid their diabolical devices. They know full well, that the discharge of public duties, and the execution of the laws have no tendency to increase po. pularity ; on the contrary, when she, who was but yesterday the idol of it, is inducted into authoritative power which he never exerts without all due circumspection, and prudence, and delicacy and rightfulnes ; where nothing is displayed, of"

"The insolence of office, and the spurns

That patient merit of the unworthy takes !"

Yet it becomes lessened and obscured and oftentimes lost forever. Availing themselves of this sure consequence of official situation and of this propensity in human nature to lower what is elevated, and to hate even virtue when hung too high to be reached by every common hand, they turn with adroitness this temper to their flagitious purposes and give it what direction they please— possessed of these advantages, partly, attributable to the confidence reposed in them, by a too credulous, but honest people ; and, partly to the infirmity of our common nature, a jealousy and envy of our superiors; using an ever vigilant activity, beyond counteraction and surprize, I fear, Sir, the day, in which deception will be laid open and exposed to an abused yeomanry, is, in these districts, at least, far distant.

5th of April.