Kentucky Gazette

LEXINGTON, MAY 4, 1813.

THE RUSSIAN MEDIATION.

To sooth the feelings of some of our political friends, and in some degree to remove the groundless suspicions, which had been entertained of Mr. Madison, we ventured an opinion in a late paper on the Russian mediation—and until the affair more completely develops its character, or we shall be convinced that the president has compromitted the honor and rights of the nation, by this act, we shall continue to excuse him—believing as we do that it is one of those diplomatic manoeuvres which continually happen in all countries, but we confess, more often in those where government is administered by avaricious, intriguing and machiavelian statesmen.

But we beg leave to be understood as not yielding implicit faith to the new political doctrines introduced into congress by some of those who call themselves administration men—nor in the acts of that body, because the majority of its members were once sound and honest republicans.

The political principles which this paper has supported for six-and-twenty years, we will never abandon: and we can but smile with contempt at the officious politeness of those who would place us in the ranks of the enemy, as if we had really taken the bounty.

We shall as we have always done, give the government a liberal support; and place all that confidence in its measures which is necessary to give them effect. But whilst we do this, we will enquire into their correctness: and when we discover error, chastise it, but on the same principle, and from the same motives that a parent corrects the vices of his children.

At the same time we must condemn the mistaken zeal of the many good meaning politicians who condemn all the acts of the administration for no other reason, than that they are the acts of the administration—and still more—we must ever detest and abhor the factious and unreasonable opposition of those who, not content with condemning in gross every act which emanates from the president, evince that their attachment to our enemy is superior to what they feel for their own country.

As respects the Russian mediation, we beg that the people would quietly await its termination; by no means suffer themselves to be deluded with the foolish cry of peace! when not the least prospect exists of a speedy termination of the war.