Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-10-03
. POLCr TOWARDS FRANCE,

s dggTeSSlOHS Oh FRANCE upon OuI SONCliSllt}
| and commerce, has been complained of by
the democrats, and held up as evidence OF
disposition in the federal administration
to provoke war and incur expence. When
we look back and call to mind the variety
of rrovocations and injuries our country
and countymen experienced, ere sword
was drawn or a musket ShoQldered, and
hear this charge reiterated again and again,
we. acknowledge we feel tbs warmth of IN
digrant resentment; and doublY sensible
are we, on this point, when we near this
charge from the lips Of those Who ought 70
be Americans. Twice our ambassadors Of
peace, sent at heavy. expence across a
boisterous ocean OF three thousand miles IN
extent, were refused a bearing; their grey
hairs, and the majesty of the people whlch
they represented, treated with contumely
and insult. Our vessels were almost lndls-
criminately captured BY the French crui-
GERS; they were even compelled to take
shelter under British ships of war! The pi-,
ratical cruizers Of France lowered On cur
coasts, and lay at the mouths o. orr rivers
and harbors. Our brave seaTaen were TAX
en-, thrown into prIson ana murdered! and
finally, as if determined 10 extinguish every
CLEAN of hope every possible prospect of
reconciliation, the French convention pass
ed decree that every neutral found on
board British ships, whether voluntary en-
tcring or compelled by inapressment should
be treated as a pirate, and punished with
death! Our revenue was lessening; our,
produce rotting on our hands, aud no al
tentative remained for self-preservation but
self-d fence. 1t was adopted; not as a
measure Of choice; not from disposition TO
war, but from sheer necessity. Wewent
to war. The activity Of our cruizers soon
cleared the Atlantic Of tn pirates which
had preyed upon the property and reduced
to beggary so many of our most useful and
enterprizing mere ants. Commerce reviv-
ed produce rose IN value; our flag was
more respected by other nations, and the
naughty government OF France, feeling
our just indignation, proposed an accom-
mediation, which Mr.. Adams, the great
advocate of war, as the democrats pretend,
met, by sending third embassy 70 France,
aull OuI uliltlt1lCeS WSIG SGLtiCQ.
Under ali these circumstances of actual
injury and insult from France, was it SO We
ry unreasonable in the federal administrati.
on, TO incur some expence in protecting
the country from ruin, & now is it so very
iustifable in the democrats to incur debt
of fifteen millions, merely on account of
the prospect of INJURY from that power
Shall the first be censurid with the charge
ofwanton prodgality, for expending among
our own Citizens, five or SIX millions, to
save us from utter ruin, and the latter b.
applauded as highly economical for send
ing more than eleven millions Of dollars out
OF the country TO prevent the possible Inju-
ry VIC may sustain by France becoming a
neighbour? That very France TOO, which
these men have constantly been crying up |
AS our dear sister republic and natural ally?
These considerations are sufficient to
shew, though many others might be sug-
gested, such as the two millions of conf
dental service money, the re6tting the Ber-
ceau at $4,000 dollars, the sending of new
ambassadors to Europe, and the incidental
expences OF the democratic congress, that
democrats can spend our money as freely |
as those who have gone before them.
HOSTILITY TO FREE GOVERNMENT. |
The federal administrations were first CHARGED
with want OF friendship to the French revolution.
| his was deemed an evidence of hostility to free
government. The revolution has now come out
where i was predicted to end by the wisest part
OF mankind and the weak and inexperienced are
at length fully convinced that liberty and nation
al freedom are not attained by such measures as
were adopted in that unfortunate country. Wei
now recall to mind, with s. shuddering recolleGti-
on,' the dreadful scenes OF human distress which |
marked the awful career of this memorable event, I
and astonished in contemplation, wonder who |
could view without horror, the authors of 80 /