The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

The Anniversary of American Independence, was celebrated by the Militia, and a great number of respectable Citizens of the Town of ALEXANDRIA and its vicinity.

The day was ushered in by the discharge of 17 pieces of Artillery: and having been appointed by the Legionary Court for a regular muster of the companies, in order that the citizens might have an opportunity of observing the old and laudable custom of celebrating the day by military parade and evolutions, & at the same time of discharging part of a necessary duty imposed by law, so as at once to gratify them in the voluntary observance of a usage, sanctioned by habit and prompted by inclination, while they diminished an unavoidable contribution of their fines.

The military evolutions were conducted with great spirit and correctness, after which the whole company assembled, and Capt. Walter Jones, jun. of the Cavalry, at the request of the committee of arrangements, delivered an ex tempore Address, preliminary to reading the declaration of Independence; that instrument was then read to them by Col. Peyton.

The very handsome and appropriate address of Capt. Jones being entirely unpremeditated, it is not in the power of the committee to publish a copy; but as it embraced several new and interesting topics, they hope in a few days to be able to give the principal heads. The company then partook of a frugal and joyous repast, prepared under an arbor in the field, and to the number of nearly three hundred drank to the following toasts, with undivided and earnest applause, accompanied by a discharge of artillery.

1. The day—May the principles which give it birth, be ever justly appreciated by all Americans.

2. The United States—Leagued in principle, attached by interest, and uninfluenced by a foreign faction.

3. Thomas Jefferson—The author of the declaration of independence, and the lover of freedom, the patron of science, and the friend of man—With him shall plenty gladden all the plain, Our shores with commerce throng, with fleets the main, While we exulting see, in smiling peace, Revolving years our happiness increase. 6 cheers.

4. The immortal memory of those heroes who fought—who bled—and who died in defence of their country.

5. The memory of Genl. Washington—the successful leader of our armies—May his glorious example instruct the rising generation, and emulate posterity.

6. The 4th of March 1801—As the 4th of July gave us independence, and the right of a free choice in the form of government—so are we indebted to the fourth of March for a true support of those principles for which we fought during a long and bloody war. 3 cheers.

7. The heads of departments—May their vigilance be ever wakeful to all subordinate trusts, and their influence exerted in the cause of democracy.

8. The commonwealth of Virginia—The seat of science, the nursery of republicanism, of political virtue, and of liberal sentiment—may no ignorant and presuming demagogue, no vile incendiary, ever succeed in exciting unfounded jealousies of a power naturally resulting from an extensive fertile territory, a growing prosperous population, and respectable for the beneficence with which it is exercised. 3 cheers.

9. The memory of Genl. Stevens Thompson Mason, whose profound abilities as a statesman, were only equalled by his eminent zeal in the cause of freedom.

10. The genius of Liberty—May that divine spark which first kindled in America, be borne to distant climes, & illumine the Universe. 3 cheers.

11. The liberty of the press—as it has survived the open attack of its enemies, so may it outlive their more insidious attempts, at once to bring it into disgrace, and to gratify their malice by the most atrocious abuses.

12. The judiciary of the United States—Genuine independence of mind and impartiality of judgment, constitute their good behaviour: May their good behaviour never depend upon the concentration of oligarchic power in a judicial corps, irreversibly elected for life, aspiring to control the supreme departments of the government, and irresponsible to the Community for the discretion or the wisdom of their conduct. 6 cheers.

13. The opposition—May no republican administration ever abandon an official discrimination of political sects, until the essential doctrine of democratic power, shall be received by all as a first principle; nor until the temperance, the decency and the honesty of dissentients, shall permit the free chosen trustees of popular power to conciliate without meanly condescending, to tolerate diversities of opinion, without compromising with doctrines, palpably absurd in theory, and treasonable to the republic. 6 cheers.

14. James Monroe—May the success of his mission be commensurate with the wisdom that devised it, and with the virtue of the minister in defiance of the unprincipled counteractions attempted by those who would humiliate their country in the face of the world for the sake of a factious triumph to themselves.

15. X. Y. Z.—Judicial references to the history of impostures, either weakly suffered, or impudently practiced by those who pretended to complain of them.

16. The Militia of the United States—our brothers in arms—none but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army. 6 cheers.

17. Our younger sister, the state of Ohio—may those blooms of republicanism which so highly adorn her first entrance into the Union, be expanded by the genial sun of liberty, and produce the glorious fruits of freedom and prosperity. 3 cheers.