Alexandria Daily Advertiser

To the sentiments of our beloved Washington we refer, as a sure guide to sound doctrines and a fair explanation of the views with which our federal Constitution was constructed and received. But why is his letter to the nation mutilated by our opponents? We cheerfully receive it, in its whole connection, to its obvious tenor we adhere, and from it we derive the following principles.

That the limited powers and resources of individual States were unequal to the purposes of making war, treaties, levying money, and regulating commerce. That a combination of the powers of several States under a direction of a general government, was a measure highly expedient. That in uniting several free and independent States, under one government, there was an evident difficulty in reconciling the clashing views and interests of the respective States. That mutual sacrifices were necessary, and that no State could expect that her interests alone should preponderate, but that the interests of all should be consulted as far as would be consistent with the grand desideratum, a consolidation of the union.

Will our opponents pretend that a consolidation of the union is irreconcilable with a sacred regard to the rights of the States? Did not Washington declare that attention had been paid to those rights, and did not the Constitution particularly provide against such an abuse of the principle of consolidation, as should do away all State influence by the organization of the Senate; in which branch of the National Legislature State embracing a population of sixty four thousand inhabitants has as much influence as another of eight hundred thousand? The plan of the Federal Senate is an unanswerable argument against this kind of consolidation, this resolving all into popular right, a heresy which the dupes of the policy of aspiring States, are now incessantly promulgating. To the tenor of Washington's address and the nature of the constitution we again appeal.

The consolidation of our union is justly granted to have been a favorite object with the Federalists. From an attachment to this plan they derive their name. This "high ground" they will never abandon. But they are not advocates of that kind of consolidation which would wrest by finesse of innovation, rights and influence from some states, and bestow unqualified power on others. They wish to see an administration ably supported, which should be conducted on principles of national policy, and not be governed by the interests of Virginia, or any other state. And those who persist in advocating an administration governed only by party views under the guise of strengthening the Federal government, are assuming a character which can not fail of being understood--for if it be Federal ground WHY HAVE THEY TAKEN IT?

This very concession discloses the imposture.

(Repertory)