Alexandria Advertiser And Commercial Intelligencer

From the Washington Federalist.

Antifederal Misrepresentations,

No. 96,700.

The National Intelligencer has undertaken to give a list of what is called federal misrepresentations. Among them we find some, which were published by the great champion and apostle of the democratic cause, J. T. Callender. Upon what principle his statements can be called federal it is difficult to determine, unless it is because they bear the mark of truth; on that ground they certainly deserve the title. Upon the same principle Jones has called Callender a federalist, because he dared to point out a few inconsistencies of the present administration.

But Mr. Jones has the wrong sow by the ear this time; Callender knows too much of him to be trodden upon.

A friend in need is a friend indeed Mr. Jones; why do you not therefore, call upon your old friend the Apollonian Aurora, to lend you a few of his effulgent rays in this time of darkness and distress? Perhaps Callender knows too much of this Splendid luminary likewise: Or do you think that this 'precursor of eternal day,' (as certain postmasters have styled it) is nothing more than a jack-o'-lantern, which serves but to lead the thoughtless and unwary into the bogs of ignorance, and then leave them as 'monuments' of stupidity and folly.

The following observations of this self-created Censor, may serve to shew his abilities for the office, with which he has invested himself, and the faithfulness with which he discharges its duties:

During the last session, the president, in order to demonstrate the magnitude of executive patronage, and to guard against its possible abuse, presented to congress a document, containing a view of all the existing offices, with the emoluments attached to each.

In the civil department there appear with the exception of all the post-masters, and a host of inferior officers, to be 2,044.

Of this number, in a period of fifteen months, 33 have been removed on a variety of grounds above specified.

21 new appointments have been made to offices attempted to be filled by Mr. Adams, after he lost the confidence of the nation.

54 making altogether.

The above observations were intended to alarm the people with the danger of executive patronage, to excite distrust in the general government, and to impress the people with a belief, that the number of officers dismissed. is very small in comparison with those remaining; being less, by a host of inferior officers, than 1-37th of the whole. Let us now see with what bare faced effrontery, the people are attempted to be deceived, and that too, by persons, who are in the very act of condemning others for misrepresentations, and under the profession of giving correct information themselves, of correcting and exposing the mistakes of their opponents.

Upon a careful examination of the document referred to in the above extract, I find that there are but 412 officers in the whole civil department, who are appointed by, and subject to, the removal of the president. By officers in the civil department, I mean, all those who are not in the army or navy, including the post-masters and that host of inferior officers which the writer of the above alluded to. professes to exclude, in his enumeration of 2,044, This will reduce the proportion from 1-37th to less than 1-8th, but this proportion may be reduced much more, by examining the subject more particularly.

1. Out of the 412, there are some who hold two offices, which could not be accurately ascertained without much labor.

2. There were many of the same political sentiments with Mr. Jefferson when he came into office.

3. There were many offices vacant which he had an opportunity of filling with his own set.

4. There were some few appointments to office which had never before been filled in the consular department.

5. There were a number which, from the remoteness of their situation and the smallness of their compensation, entirely excluded competition.

6. There were several employed in collecting the internal revenues, which the president expected would be dismissed by law therefore would not take the odium and responsibility upon himself, as the term of service was so short.

Taking all these circumstances into consideration, and viewing only those, over whom the President exercised a free uncontroled will, unbiased by fear, by policy, or by interest, and the number, dismissed will be found to bear a very large proportion to those retained.

In taking a view of the ' political intolerance' of the present administration will not be considered improper I presume to state those likewise, that have been dismissed by law, as they were not less tyrants to their political sentiments, not the victims of party rancour, than the who fell by the arbitrary mandates of president.

The repeal of the judiciary law, and the internal taxes, was no doubt recommended by the same spirit, which deprived so many worthy officers, so many helpless and amiable families of their only means of support.

If they describe such conduct as magnanimous, liberal and tolerant what would they allow to be illiberal, in tolerant proscriptions and persecuting of Marius with Sulla such as Catiline and the viewed bloody through persecutions medium of the of triumvirate philosophy would be considered, but as the excesses of liberty, the certain indications of a sound and healthy constitution.

CENSOR CENSORUM.