Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-12-06
MsranDrla anprrtissr.
TUESDAY, DEcEMBER 7.
COMMUNICATION,
MELANCHOLY CoMPAs1soss.


MELANCHOLY COMPARISONS.
UNDEs The former administration, prof.
psliy was Tie order of the day. Arts &
lclences ilounibsd, our ccmmcrce extended
as far a. navigation had been carried oor
manufactures incrsalsd beyond theeaioula-
lions Of the noft ianguine, ard above Ill
our natiouaI credit was on a footing un-
equa2led by any other nation on cath our
foreign agents were regarded with high
retpcts, ana cur navy commanded even
the attention Of the fri and moit power.
full naval countries. How are we debated !;
to what a degrading fsuation are we re.
duced cur commerce cramped every
where, and in many places totally reartf-
ed. Manufactures totally at a Hand in
comparison to paR times, ard our public
credit, owing 10 the breach Of national
faith in repeating taxes, The proceeds Of
which were iolemnly pledged for the pay
mens Of certain loans, annihilated. Our
foreign agents are, BY tilofe governments
whom we have favoured mott, treated
with diirelpett bordering on contempt
To Great Britain, France, Portugal and
Holland, we have minilters; from neither
Great Britain, France or Portugal have
we return !; charge des affaires is the
only agents from thefe powerful nations.
Mot Of our navy rotting in the Potomac,
and the rehdne halt manned and equipped
craifing againa a few barbarian gun-bol,ss,
unable either to undertake an enterprise
or project our trade. To what are we
70 attribute this great, this dilgraceful
change lis to anopinisn held forth by
thole who hold the reign. Of government,
that full treafuEy, a we'll equipped, tho
{ndll navy will in tine compel US as
matter of courle, 10 becomc quarrelfome
with our neighbours, tempt US to diiregard
Jfyf principles, &c. &c. Had the King
Of Great Britain, or the King of Spain
aied fuch language it might have been pro-
per; it is their drty TO ufe all means in
their power TO prevent and countersef the
rifng greatneis of people fsuated be-
tween them; people jealous of their
rights, and who would, four years age,
in fpite of philofophy, have regarded the
breach of treaties and the encfcachments
sf either nation efficient capies TO make
at Leaf an effort TO enforce the one and
rsrel the other but alas that day is
gone; we boldly aepped forward when
Brisiih depredations called for rehaance,
We even let the hottie legions of France
al dehsaee, and dared her navy, though
twenty times oar ftrength, to combat
Yet the M s*x* government of Spain i'm
pfilops our citizens, huts up oay porss,
and forbids a free trade, fccured by the
mott iolemn treaties /; all this they have
done, and what may not more powerful
nations do { IF Spin can without heffa-
tion, let aide treaties and diiregard com
mercial regulations, what have we to ex,
peel from Great. Britain & Frances What
are We TO expect even from the favages
on our frontiers, when they know ii is
agreeable tof5q 5rneiplts, that we lhould
be unprepared for defence, leaf we fhould
thereby offend? Will we not foon be told
that the facred right of voting oughs nor
10 be exersiisd, becsule we run the riA OF
choodng improper men to Office ! Cettainly
The conpari6a holds good, and It's me-
janrhoIy one indeed. 10 the fix & TWEEN
fiet' year Of oarlindependence the Ame-
rtcan people are told, by thofe clothed with
a little " 5,:sf S2fb7riy," thar they ars