The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

FOR THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER,

A period of more than three years has now elapsed since Mr. Jefferson has been at the head of our national government; and every candid & unprejudiced person who will take a retrospective view of the measures which were adopted by the late administration, and compare them with those which have taken place since the auspicious 4th of March 1801, cannot fail of doing justice to the superior talents and patriotism which distinguish the present from the former administration.

Although a large majority of the American people, have in the most unequivocal manner, declared their full confidence in, and their sincere and ardent attachment to our present patriotic administration, still there exists a faction among us, who, although their numbers are daily diminishing, appear nevertheless to be as pertinacious in their opposition to every measure of the government, and as implacable in their enmity to the President, and to every other distinguished republican in this country as they ever were. This faction instead of confining their opposition to a fair & candid investigation of the measures of the administration, have disgraced the American character, by the most glaring misrepresentations, and by their scurrilous attacks upon the private character of the chief magistrate of our country; but their arrows though dipped in wormwood and gall, and stained with malice and aimed with fury and vengeance are ineffective. Our illustrious President, elevated far above their reach and strongly armed in virtue and innocence, and possessing the confidence of a grateful people, looks with pity and contempt, on his base calumniators.

The leaders of the opposition, despairing of ever being able to regain their lost authority and influence, and convinced of the impossibility of preventing the re-election of Mr. Jefferson by fair & honorable means, are determined to resort to the most desperate measures to prevent it if possible. They are now endeavouring (by the most insidious, & base arts that can be imagined) to prejudice the eastern people, against their fellow-citizens of the south, particularly against the Virginians, whom they basely represent as already giving law to the union: without however producing the least shadow of proof, to show that Virginia, enjoys any greater privileges, or any more of executive patronage than those of her sister states. It is not difficult to perceive the objects, which those incendiaries have in view by endeavouring to make impressions of this kind on the minds of the Eastern people: it is nothing less than a most treasonable attempt to dissolve the union. Should any person be inclined to doubt that such a plan is in agitation, let him read 'the opposition papers,' published in Massachusetts and Connecticut, for the last three months, and he will there see 'proofs strong as holy writ' of a conspiracy against the Constitution and indivisibility of the American Republic. Notwithstanding the attempts which these men are making to dissolve the union, is notorious, they have still the arrogance and presumption to style themselves federalists, and likewise the exclusive friends of Washington—Could that immortal patriot however be permitted to revisit the earth, he would consider himself dishonored by acknowledging such persons to be his friends, and would in the language of his valedictory address call upon his countrymen, 'Indignantly to frown on the first dawning of every attempt to alienate one portion of the country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts.'

Citizens of America; If there be a nation on earth that has cause to rejoice for the blessings they enjoy, you certainly have. The climate, the soil and productions of our country are equalled by few others, and our political rights by none. We have a constitution admirably well calculated to preserve the union of these states, and to secure the liberties, and promote the happiness of our citizens; and we have the good fortune to have at this time a band of patriots, at the head of our government, by whose wise and prudent measures our country has been advanced to an unparalleled state of prosperity—Let us therefore fellow-citizens, remain firm in our attachment to those principles, which gave birth to our revolution, and emancipated us from the yoke of a foreign power, and gave us a rank among the nations of the earth.

FRANKLIN.