Alexandria Gazette

REPUGNABLE.--We have not language to express our idea of the impropriety of a late step taken by certain citizens of Philadelphia: and our ardent contempt for the very humiliating attitude they therein assume. We allude to the resolution of a meeting of citizens professedly belonging to no party, wherein they resolve "to organize in the city and county of Philadelphia, a first volunteer legion of ten thousand men, to be as shortly as possible fully armed and equipped; the same to be called the Philadelphia United States Minute Men." This company is the "more effectually to uphold the Constitutional Government of" their "choice" and their "love," and "to secure the rigid enforcement of the laws of Congress." We could not add one jot or tittle to the supreme contempt and disgust, which must fill the breast of every intelligent man who is above the influence of personal party politics, for a set of men who could enter into such a resolution. Any meeting of citizens in this country which could adopt under the circumstances, such a measure, professedly for such a purpose, to be looked upon in the most charitable light, must be set down as palpably ignorant. Unless we so look upon it we should be forced to say the meeting was composed of slavish and sycophantic citizens, or of knaves. In neither light are they fit inhabitants for a Republic. They deserve the scorn of every free man.

We have eschewed politics-we occupy a neutral ground and deny that we now violate it. We reserve to ourselves the right of freemen in expressing our views of public doings in which we consider the public feeling insulted, and the genius of our freedom outraged. This is a marked case of the kind. And we may be allowed to express our regret that Mr. Van Buren should have replied to these citizens in the courteous manner that he has.

In his letter to the committee, he says:

"For this expression of their confidence and good will and for the accompanying pledge of support and co-operation in upholding the authority of the constitution and laws, I beg you to make those you represent my sincere acknowledgments."

President Van Buren is said to be a calm, dispassionate man, and we hope a patriot. Could he think for a moment that the enlightened and law-loving people, over whom he presides, were prepared to resist the enforcement of the laws; and did he not see the movement of these "no party men," were based upon the inference that resistance was probable?- Was not the whole a blear and a blot and an insulting reflection upon the character of Americans? It undoubtedly was; and we express our unfeigned regret that the President did not say to these officious men, that their offer was entirely gratuitous, as he ought to have done. We regret this proceeding so unnecessary, not on account of any great injury to result from it alone; but this sort of proceeding looks like one of the appurtenances of despotic Government; when it first caught our eyes we thought of a body guard and all the train of force and safeguards which belong to the Executive Departments in such Governments. And so evidently gratuitous and out of keeping in this country, we detest the proceeding as insulting to the people and unworthy of Americans.-- Rich. Comp.