The New Hampshire Gazette

To the Hon. JAMES ELLIOT, Esq.

Member of Congress from Vermont.

Sir,

An extract from your speech delivered in the House of Representatives on the 8th of December, has appeared in the Portsmouth Oracle of the 2d of January, and I presume in many other federal prints. As you had been considered, of late, rather chap fallen, so, it was not expected that any thing entertaining could proceed out of your mouth. But the public is disappointed: Your head furnishes an Echo, and the public is to be amused by sound.

Your sarcasms on the Administration are but the echo of abuse from English partisans. Yet, at times, you echo the voice of Americans and denounce English partisans. You say, "the measures of Administration are calculated to lower the national spirit; to weaken the national strength; and to keep up the spirit of party." So have said, that curse of our country, English partisans; and by such false assertions they, and you, lower the national spirit, weaken the national strength, and keep up the spirit of party. You echo the voice of Americans, "that the country is in danger, and that the time must come" (it has come) "when all the wisdom of the House" (and of the nation) "would be" (and now is) "necessary to save the country from degradation": Anon, "you protest against measures calculated to plunge the country into the horrors of war on mere points of expediency" (is it not expedient to maintain national character ?) "that the people of the North (meaning Yankees) would never go to war on mere speculative points"--Spirit of WASHINGTON! is it on a mere speculative point that the destinies of this nation depend ?--Its independence and the safety of its citizens?--Separate, say Bronson, and Prentice, and Park, and Elliot; "separate the outrage on the Chesapeake from other and older points of dispute ? If you obtain reparation for the former, negotiate about the latter"? You have been kicked, and cuffed, and spit upon ! but wipe your face ?--Here is a cambrick handkerchief, manufactured in IRELAND, and perfumed with ROSE--Wipe your face, then negotiate about the kicks and cuffs, and say nothing about the murder of Wilson who was taken from the Chesapeake, then englished into a Rat-ford, and hung like a dog ? Say nothing about the Proclamation of king George, wherein he declares that the certificates of naturalization of the American Government are nothing worth, and that his mirmidons shall search your vessels and expose them to destruction by dragging thence miserable men, who from their bloodshed have been inhabitants of your country, and have been promised liberty and protection!

Retire sir ? retire from the Councils of the Nation ? The blood of an American boils at your meanness ! your country will not miss you. Hasten to the woods of Vermont; but let not her sons behold you? They are noble, brave, daring--like the worthies of old, they will rush from retirement to the command of armies : to the defence of their country.

You declaim about gunboats : you do not reason : you do not prove their insufficiency: but you say "the President has a whim--a passion" ! You prate about a grand scheme of National defence: but you neither point out the way, nor the means. "Miserable, vain system of Gunboats"! you exclaim, "thought useful by the President, a solitary individual, and, perhaps, by him only of all the nation".--Have your eyes been blinded that you cannot see ? Are your ears heavy that you do not hear ? Is your understanding darkened that you will not perceive, that Architects and Tacticians from every part of the nation have not merely approved, but have clearly demonstrated the utility of this system of defence; and that the practice of all maritime nations supports the doctrine.--Ah sir, you are absorbed in self contemplations. Beyond the rays of your own glory you see nothing but darkness. Hasten then, to 'the recesses' your fancy has depicted, "where you will be free from the toils and cares of public life"; and where, without interruption, you may meditate on your own greatness. But, in this inglorious retirement, should you, for a moment, be able to abstract your thoughts from the idol of their worship, you might derive some advantage from a little book I would recommend for your study--It is, 'Mason on self knowledge."

A YANKEE.