The recorder. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1802-1803, 1803-05-14

tie doubt but that St. Domingo is toe
ever loft 70 her; and while The Is en-
gagged in a naval war, from which. IN all
human calculation, ihe can derive
nothing bur nortihcatlons and defeats,
The continent Of Europe may not only
recover its fpiric, but IT'S vigour and
health at leait The comparative iupe-
rioty ofFrance mutt every day dimin'ih,
while her reiources are exhauited III war,
ana thoie OF other powers are recruited
III peace and tranquility. 1t may well
nc doubted, however, whether France
Is competent to carry on fuch war upon
her own credit and reiources, and how
far 1t may be poftible, at this rirnr, for
her TO Pliage foreign nations by dlplo-
marc ohicanery and terror. In the IN
terror the war is not likely to be 70 DO
polar, either iii It's caufe, which is no.
thing bur injuftice, or in irs events
which Promlie nothing bur dilaRer,
as to ieaion, or render popular, any new
iAtaiures OF ryrannlcal finance pafricu-
larry as the army, the beit tax garherer,
VIII have other employment. If ever
there was a country which has need
OF FePote, 1t IS France at the prelcnr mo
ment ard governmenr which could,
at iuch time feek to prccipitarc it in
to war, mutt have very peculiar and
Pertonal motives for employing the
thoughts, and ditra3ing the opinions
OF rs people, either from Ecs tide or IFS
~. / Il
From thefe premiles irappears to re-
iuit, Observation-Disclosures the cond,Ia of
!he French government, iince the conclp-
hon OF peace, fhews more Of rancour
than wlldom, and is more vindict;vr
than prudent or political. 1t is NOT
thata new war can be conGdered, IN rhis
country, as any thing bur a erieyeo,,s
calamity, and mott dangerous riffs ~
oar exilteDce; but war is lels a calam;ry
than II the exchange were made for +
with ttate q rePote and dilarrnarnenr;
It is only 10 far an evil, as il flaII prove
worie than the anxious and burrberGome
poiition we are to quit for il. Under
the reign Of Bonaparte, it is NOT 70 he
weighed or Centralized With peace, b,,r
with the ftatc ofIealouiY and alarm, with
the Tever, tcnGon and fatigue, which
IS all ne will allow mankind 70 tafr ~
under the name Of tranquility. We will
not deny, however, that even This fac
Is PoLifively preferable to war, and that
mlniLtefs are emitted 20 rhc thanks Of
their country, and of their fpecies, for
endeavorlng, with 70 much frnne(s
and moderation, TO prolong it. Bur
theie endeavors of theirs are only 70 far
iaudabie' as we can entertain rcaiona-
BE hope OF being able TO dilappoinr or
defeat the tubfequent de(igns of cur ma
hcious enemy, and as they leave in f!f4
your OF peace, the courfe Of time. and
the chance OF events for fit were GER
tain tharno obitacle could Drei.Gf ;rlelf
TO the revengeful and ambitious pl,nq of
the French government, and that war
we're, IN any gwen period of time, me
Vlfable and certain, then there Is no
vile man in theie Kingdoms who wouId
not prefer that 1t fhoule commence a.
this very moment, when the enemy Is
10 iii-PreParcd for it, and when our rcja-
tive power and refources are greater and
more formidable than there is any reafon
70 expect they will be, at any given
period OF time to come. Whoev yer
"iihes to delay the war with gen. Bona
Pafle, mutt allow thar he wiihes 70 I'D
on this ground, thar war is certain evil
and that as long as it can be DELAYED he
enferfalnS hopes OF general change Of
circumstances, which may enable Us 10
AVOID IT altogether. But if war be taken
as inevitable, then he can hope no be-
neht from the change Of circo,n-
ita7ces, and NUT prefer the evil wb-n