Alexandria Advertiser And Commercial Intelligencer

Mr. Claiborne's Letter.

[Those of our readers who delight in the sublime and beautiful, who feel an expansion of the mind on perusing the reflections and in communicating with the ideas of great men, cannot fail to derive an insinitude of gratification from the following terse and elegant Letter of Mr. T. CLAIBORNE, fide democratic member of congress from Virginia) to his constituents. The democrats of Georgia should treasure it up as the religious devotee does the relics of a saint ;--for there is not a morsel of it but what is precious.]

Savannah Museum.

MY FELLOW CITIZENS OF BRUNSWICK DISTRICT, VIRGINIA.

AGAIN I resume my pen, to discharge a duty that I hold indispensable, but which should have been performed long ago, but from causes uncontrollable by me in their nature.

But in the next paragraph he states the why and wherefore to be because

The interesting business has been so delayed, as not to furnish matter worthy the acceptance of my much esteemed constituents, until now : and even at this late day, is in such a state of imperfection, as will scarcely justify me to write you a circular letter; but ever willing to give you information, I cannot forbear, and though LEAN and BARREN, I know your goodness will induce you to take the will for the deed.

We may suppose, then after the manner of Pharaoh's seven LEAN years, this is the first of the Seven "LEAN and BARREN" sessions of Congress; and if we follow the spirit of prophecy, that the country has a long while yet to famine with democracy.]

There are but few laws passed or likely to pass, of a public nature ; and even those would afford you but little satisfaction, unless I could give you their sum and substance, which you know cannot be done in a letter.

[Their "sum and substance" from the quill of such a mill, would give double satisfaction.]

I have from time to time forwarded the newspapers [Pappa Duane's Aurora, and Mr. Smith's Intelligencer, ] to different parts of the district, which I consider as the best, the completest source of political information. But, sirs, I have a hand, and that hand holds a pen ; and that pen has ink to yield you all the information in my power.

[Your college pedants may hoard and admire the lore of Roman and Grecian orators ; a fig for them; the climaxes and figures shrink into a pristine nothingness, when compared with a Claiborne's originality of thought and expression. Witness the matchless sublimity of his climax, when he says---

" I have a Hand; and in that hand there is a Pen; and in that pen there is INK, to yield you all the information --_"

What an inimitable freight of words !]

You will no doubt have heard of the misunderstanding between this country and the government of Spain, in consequence of the superintendent of New Orleans shutting that port against the Americans. In consequence of this, and some other circumstances, Mr. Monroe, our late governor, is sent as minister plenipotentiary to the court of Spain, and the republic of France, as it is called, to negotiate, and I sincerely wish that negotiations may succeed. If, however, negotiations cannot succeed, I am sure I need not say to my countrymen be prepared to protect and defend your own rights, for I believe it is always ready for that. It is probable that the president will be authorized to hold a sufficient force in readiness to meet any event ; we have great confidence in him, and such power will be safely deposited. The many good deeds of his administration entitled him to confidence ; but I do not choose to launch out into lengthy eulogiums on his character ; it needs no such support.

[A lucky thought ; for the man's character is already overwhelmed with such support.]

Behold your debts paid agreeable to installment, and your treasury with 41

millions of dollars at public command; and how has this happened ? [A very pertinent question. But the intelligent Mr. Claiborne, is very careful not to inform how it happened.] Was it ever so before, even while we were under the curse of internal taxes, and their train of officers, on whom I by no means intend to cast any reproach . The last session of Congress broke those fetters, and released you from their shackles, by the advice of a Jefferson.

[Yes, that session, to use a democratic expression, "kicked to hell" the Judiciary and the Internal Taxes : directed the sale of two fifths of our infant navy, at two fifths of its value; which this session of Congress has found itself compelled to re-build at the original cost. --This is breaking fetters with a vengeance.]

I don't mean to contrast his character with any that have gone before him ; it is enough for me to show his merits, without opening the mouth of detraction against any of his predecessors. If they have been virtuous, let them enjoy the rewards of it : if otherwise, I leave them to the chastisement of that greater tribunal, THE PEOPLE. I will only further remark, as to the character of Mr. Jefferson, that he is humane; that he treats religion in all its forms with respect, he is plain, familiar, and accessible to the poorest man alive of good character— I often visit him, and sit and converse on suitable subjects, as unstrained as with any neighbour I have by our fireside.

[There is something very admirable in this. Humane,--religious,--plain,--familiar, and accessible ! Conversing too, upon suitable subjects, as unrestrained as the backwoods man of Virginia or the pine barren planter of Georgia ! Surely he must be something more than man that does all this !]

I have before told you, that our treasury is in a more flourishing situation than ever before; but it is impossible that I can give you a detailed account of receipts and expenditures in a letter, and therefore I shall not attempt it.

i.e. It is impossible I can give you information on this head, without exposing the secrets of the party : therefore, I shall not attempt it. But here comes the news :].

An act is likely to pass to open a land office for the sale of all the public lands south of Tennessee'; and now look out for yourselves—shake your old leathern bags, and trump up all your old rusty dollars.

There is for you! This man hasn't been to school to learn territory for nothing.]

This business will require surveyors, and furnish employment for many of our well educated youth who possess enterprise.

[There, haven't I procured offices for your sons, and didn't I tell you I would ?]

I think it my duty to suggest these things, for I know not who may wish to embrace them.

To the above I have but little more to add : and first, I am in good health and high spirits. Seeing that republicanism is triumphing in this western world, and the language of '75 and '76 again to be heard, I feed and fatten on it. I have pleasure too in reflecting, that the hour is fast approaching that will bring me to the friendly arms of my beloved country ; and if I can only know that my public conduct has been consistent with their interest, and meets their approbation, my happiness will be complete. As to the issue of the ensuing election, I can only say, that I am willing to trust it to you. For when you consider that I nobly struggled through the revolutionary war to its happy issue, and when you remember that I have stood firm and struggled through all the convulsions of a political warfare, until our government seem fixed on the surest basis of republicanism, you surely will not be willing to rob me of the laurels that my firmness and patriotism have won, and give them to another. No, sirs, this I do not believe; for being conscious of the rectitude of my political conduct, I feel a confidence in your justice and consideration, and to those heaven born principles I appeal. I surely have nothing to say to the prejudice of my worthy competitor ; but it is no business of mine to make interests for him on the present occasion.

There was a time when I served my country at the expense of my domestic happiness and interest. [Reader! Can

you refuse the tribute of a tear, to relieve the pungency of this man's recollected sufferings ?] I then had to leave a charming lady for six or seven months in the year. [Admirabilis.] It was was unjust to her that I should so do; but my country called, and I obeyed.

[This man must have been electrified with patriotism, from the point of his nose to the very tip of his great toe. For mark his exultation when he says]

Now my situation is different, since by the act of God I am deprived of that amiable companion, and a lonesome home is rather a curse than a blessing to me; my time is now my own, and can never be better spent than in my country's service ; and if it can be made useful to you, it is at your command.

[i. e. Heaven has PROVITIOUSLY SMILED in relieving me of my wife; as I am thereby enabled to give myself wholly to my country!--There is a loftiness of idea in this sentence, which our circumscribed powers of mind do not sufficiently comprehend to admire.]

I now draw to a conclusion, and after having finished the work you gave me to do, I hope, under the protection of Providence, to be at home about the 9th or 10th of March, and with respect and esteem again subscribe myself your faithful public servant.

THOMAS CLAIBORNE.

Washington City, Feb. 26, 1803.

P. S. The session is now so far spun out, that I am obliged to resort to a publication of this letter in both the papers of Petersburg: they have a general circulation, and are probably the best means of general information to my district. T. C.