Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

Mr. EDITOR,

Our political birth day is at hand, and I should rejoice if it could be honored with such a martial display of Militia, as well as Independents, as would be worthy the seat of the Federal government. Some late writers in your paper have been endeavoring to rouse us to a sense of our duty. I respect them, knowing their motives are truly patriotic, but conclude these addresses are wrong directed; they appear to require of the citizens the full tale of bricks, without the aid of the straw. The skillful physician never begins plastering up the arm with cataplasms, because the pulse is irregular; he searches the cause at head quarters. We need no ghost to tell us 'there is something rotten in the State of Denmark,' which must be thoroughly probed, before the structure will be worth looking at. Take my word for it, Mr. Editor, as long as our militia affairs are managed as at present, tactics will never be popular among the citizens. In some parts of the Union, the officers of all grades are chosen by vote of the soldiers, and indiscriminately commissioned by the Governor. Thus commanded by the men of their choice, a most surprising martial spirit and emulation is excited. We are taught in this district to esteem it a wonderful piece of condescension in the President, if he deigns to consult the wish of the soldier in this respect. A few years ago, a large company was raised, of the most respectable young gentlemen of this town, who well knowing the aristocratical, arbitrary temper of Mr. Jefferson, concluded previously to sound Gen. Mason, as to the probability of obtaining commissions, and offered to uniform themselves in a most superb style, call themselves his (the President's) life guards, or anything he would suggest, if he would please, in the plenitude of his goodness, to commission their officers! The result was as might have been expected—there was 'too much republicanism in the thing.' Gen. Mason knew the boon would not be granted, and therefore gave us our errand without having consulted the President, by informing us that he was persuaded he would not forward the commissions. Thus perished in embryo a degree of military ardor that I have never witnessed here since; and by a mulish kind of policy too, that cannot have the country's good for its guide. While those reasonable requests are denied, it is fact that any boy who itches for command, has only to apply through the proper channel, and his commission comes on by return of mail! This accounts for our being commanded by officers (with some exceptions) who having never been experienced themselves, cannot tell advance from recover arms; for the soul of them. Some officers of our independent companies, have the deportment and knowledge of a warrior; but some of them will compare to one, precisely as a bull frog to Hyperion. What renders our militia ridiculous, even to a proverb, is being obliged to be trained without arms! How often, when strangers have come out to 'see the review,' has my cheek been suffused with shame for the honor of the corps!

STEPHEN