Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-03-16

100 neg letfed people. The htuaS'oF O
the people Of the weaefn country IS ~
bieh degree alarming. They have not
been frghteoed at the profpett OF future
or conietsural Inconvenience, they nave
no, RATED their voices, at anticipates
danger, their complaints relt en- ofheF
grounds; they have been drawn torfa ~
actual ana prtlent Tutoring. they nave
called upon the guardians OF their Nsa'-
tereas, and they had right TO MAKE toe
call, for eaicacious {uccour. The iehion
of congre{s is p4f, and this fuccoa' has not
beeen granted 20 them. Every eoniide-
rate man will lament the fate ot'hin ss'
that may drive nation to hol1llty' oul
human injuAice and rapaclty he knows
often demand it. Wildom nihe rulers
of people will avoid precipitation, but IT
will keep equally remote from puiiilani-
NOUS jorbearance. Although II is a
general maxim in the intercourfe OF ma
tilons, that negotiation lhould Precede an
appeal 10 force, yet like other general
maxims it has its qualifications. When
an incroachment is caufeleisly made by one
ration on the acknowledged right OF ano-
lher, when regardless of folemn illpula-
lions, hottie mealures are fet in operation
againR an unofending fate and when the
evils of fnch a meafurs are great, lrevlta.
bic, and immediate, common realon and
univerEal law fays, that violated faith
may be avenged by infant and competent
redrefs. Let the two parties Aand on
fome equality of terms. Let the one
regain IL can, what may be nnJaisly
taken from it, then let complaint be made
of the attack and fecurity aked againh its
repetition. Delay may be ralnoos.-
If man raiie weapon lagainit another
the threatened attack is a, erled by taking
from The aaailant the power OF harm. Ii
would be prepoferous to lay, that IN e
ve:y fuppolable cafe nation is TO put up
with wrongs that may bring with them
the mott difaftrous effects, ii uniuccei tul
over,ures for accommodation give warrant
for the empl oyment Of force. Let 1t be
imagined that two of our fsigates are fail
ing on the ocean ladened with treaiures OF
great value for our country. They are
met BY a hottie ihip and one Of them
practically taken, ought the oil er TO at
tempt a recap,uie, or purfue its voyage
home tell government what had happened,
and then be difpatched TO ak the nation
who tent out the hottie lhip if they Will
pleafe to give ours back again ? Nor is it
efficient OBJECTION to the employment
OF force where fate is offered mani'eit
Injury that the wrong did not proceed
from the fovereignty CT a nation, becaule'
as actual fuffering is the motive to reilt-
ance it is indifferent to the offended par
ty who was tie author Of that iufferlng.
Admit it originated in subordinate a
gent who stted without authority from
his confituent, the conitituent cannon
complain thar the party attacked imply
einfated itielf. Ii would DOT be recon-
mended to 60 farther than THIS. al
fiji feafon more ample reparation may be
fought. A nation will keep within the
line of necsaary felf protection aid not
indulge ambitious or vindittive incllnatl-
ons. But nothing can be palmer than
it may in particular emergencies become
the vindicator OF its own rights.
The pTefent Gtuation OF the United
States combines all the principles OF the
foregoing remarks. An attack has been
made upon them without colour OF right.
The consequences Of this attack are ex-
tenGvely calamisous. More that half
million Of people are cut off from their
chief means of fupport and the PROJECTS OF
,iGng country iuddcnly darkened. To
fay that the United States would not have
been Untitled in enforcing an oblervance
of the privilege granted by Spain would
be to deny 10 nation every faculty OF
lelf-prelervation. The authority at y.