The gazette., 1799-03-04

Ite fallibility of man prohibits the hope Of
perfection in his works and the beR rule for
treemen to adopt, in The opinion of our anceR.
ors, was that which inculcates obedience 10
laws ena6ed by majority cf funaienatiss ap
pointed BY the people Forefceing the terrible
effects which eniue from differences Of opinion
on natiohal iubjeas, they added to the firR
principle two others, which promiied imnor-
taiity to the work Of their hands they declared
the COMPACT amendable, and plainly pointed
out the ways they limited powers to fixed pc
RODS recurring to the choice of the people for
the delegation of uthority.-Under a conli-
tuIion thus formed, the PROPERTY of America
was great and unexampled. War broke out il
another quarter Of The globe the government
and people of the United States bemoaned alike
the diltrefes incident to vAlt portion Of The
human race ditrefes not within their
controul, and in the termination Of which they
did not pohels even a remote influence. Avoid
ing the exiting carnage, the continuance Of our
exiting hapPneis became, as was proper, he
primary objea of the attention of government.
The Prelident of the United States, citizen
the mott tried, and the molt beloved, weighed
all the difficulties to which our relation to the
beliigsrent powers expofed u.s. promulgated By
proclaim ition the exiting Rate of things, and
warned his fellow citizens of the pernicious
eooiequences which would follow the direli6ton
OF their neutral condition. An adherence TO
this iituation was enj)ined by law, and approv-
ed By the general plaudits of our country
Yet, unfortunately for America, and ro7 re
publican governments, few openly, and more
iecretly, lifted their voice aganR their country's
will. "A foreign minlter's contumelious aDpeal
from the acts of goverc ment to the people,
whoft honour and comfort alike commanded
their fuPPort Of that government, was main
tained with affection to the foreign agent. and
with acrlmony againa the contributed authori-
ties OF The nation. The iuoie6t became famil-
liar 70 he whole psople and their voice, fpon-
taneouAy uttered funk ioto temporary ard
contemPtuoEs oblivion The abetors Of this
wicked effort Smothtred for A while only, the
uneztinguihed fire rekindled as occalion aHo.d
ed fuel.
The treaty which terminated cur revolution
ary war, although followed by The Immediate
PofeAion Of the main good, yet held fUrne f.
condary objs6s unf tiled. Thr conftquence of
war is f4te of mental ire, which yields only
to acts of mutual bensficicnce, and to time
This rate Of mental warfare had not ceaied,
when the unjuai6abie conduct of our lare foe
Especially on the ocean, rekindled our ~ dour
Tor hoittlity and revenge. The executive Of
TIE Uni'ed States, unnAnehced by the paGiors
OF haired or affection, continued TO view peace
70 long as it was to be preferved without dih
onour, as his highea duty, ir a momeot me
rac:Rg war, made bis laf effort to avert its
mileies from our land. He fent miniRer to
Great, Britain, for lhe Purpole of fettling The ex
lting diicord. Peace was PreIervsd with hon
our. This event, inltead Of confirming our in
ternal tranquility, was turned with much dex
terity to the renewal Of paG animoiities the
views OF Genet were rea6ed in a dihcrent drelS,
& the executive Of the union was branded with
every epithet Of opprobrium, becaufe il pre-
venting war, every good wiihsd FOR by one Of
the parties 10 the contract Of peace had not
been obtained. Here the Indignation Of the
American mind was addrefed with confdera-
bic efed. AT length the people, rouzsd BY leIf
attention, fpoke-all was tranquil and error,
whether refnlting from m(taken confidence, or
vicious intention, iunk again into oblivion. -
France, our ally, to whom our government.
had from the beginning of the war preiented
repeated proofs of iincere friendfhip, taught by
the chickering's Of ourfelves, or the lubjcef Of the
Britiih rea'y> re-echoed American reProaches
with French views and French objects. SimH
ituds Of fentimcnt 100 often begets union in de-
ii3n-our commerce became prey o French
cruizers; our citizens were captured, and all
the injuries heretofore received from the Britilh
nation, were repeated on our defencelefs coun-
try, with this 1riking diference--A former
foe, claiming unexpected fpulations, inaaed
the Gra while the latter proceeded from The
hand Of a former friend, bound to Us by the tie.
Of lolemn treaty, and receiving from us ev
cry good in our power to beaow, without vio-
lating our neutrality, anI thereby committing
fuicide on our national and individual happi.
nels.
Influenced BY the fame pacido priaciple the
PTeGdent (the fine tried and beloveit r. hing