Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-10-16
From the UNITED STATES GAZETTE
DISPUTE WITH SPAIN.
No. III.

befeXpoSed TO universal defeat ana uie'o
ter. from the pusillanimous character ot
our administration, and from the shameful
state of weakness and degradation into
which its contemplate policy has betrayed
us, but there would be great and permanent
mischiefs arising from the nature OF the
contest, which might lndsed be dlmlnlshea
but could not be altogether prevented, by
the wisest and most dignihed councils.
1t is affirmed without the fear OF contra.
dictiou, that there is no nation except Y.
Britain, which has it in her power to lntict
such serious injuries upon our commerce AS
Spain; for there is no other people who at
once command so powerful a naval force,
and who can so easily dispose OF that force
to our annoyance, as the Spaniards. Be-
cause the power and resources OF Great
Britain have triumphed over Spain, it GER
tainlv does not follow that without the
strength Of either, we should be equally
successfully. We have indeed imblbed our
ideas of Spanish imbecllity, rather from
the relative superiority of France and Bril-
tain, than from the positive lnterlorlty OF
Spain. Under the influence of the PERM
cious system by which she has long been
governed, she has, it's true, lost much OF
her national vigour, and has, both at sea
and land, been often defeated and disgrace
ed by the valour and ability of her power
tul adversaries; but she still constitutes a
very great nation, with prodigious means
and resources, which, though exerted with
little vigour or address, would be amply
sufficient, seriously to injure, perhaps to
humiliate and disgrace US.
With Spain our commerce has been, and
is believed now to be highly Beneficial
We import from her, few Of her manufacs
lures, and little of her produce; while the
principal productions of the eastern and
middle states (6sh, corn. flour and some
descriptions oflunber) meet there ready
market, and are immediately paid for In
specie, or in bills Of exchange on London.
Indeed she is the only European nation,
with whom the balance of our trade is con-
stantly in our favour.
But from our commerce with her To-
reign possessions we derive still greater ad.
vantages. We supply her West Indian
Islands with variety of important arti-
cles, both of our own and of foreign growth
or manufacture in return for which we re-
ceive the greatest part OF the specie which
,irculates among US, and which is abso-
lutely essential to our wants while we car
nv to her north and south American posses
slons, sometimes by licence, but more fire.
quently by stealth and connivance, large
quantities of European and Indian manu-
features, selling them at great profit, and
receiving in return specie, or the produce
OF the country, which we dispose of at an
advanced price in foreign markets.
From the mere loss then of our commerce
with Spain we should suffer severe depri-
yations; but from her offensive efforts we
might calculate upon the total ruin of our
merchants.
She has at this time formidable feet,
amounting il is believed to upwards of SIX
ty ships of the line, with a porPortionable
number offrigates; the whole of which in
the present posture of affairs, she mlght &C
lively engage in the contest with US, and
unfortunately she possesses a great variety
Of stations on which to place her naval de-.
tachmeuts, most peculiarly favourable to
eur annoyance.
From The proximity of Spain to the Me
liiterranean. there is no doubt Of. her abili-
ty, on that sea to Illustrate all our CONNER
eial operations. Such Of our ships as
should, by marvellous fortune, escape from
her cruisers. would probably fall q prey to
the Barbafy eorsairs, who Nnrestralned BY
our frigates, would sally out even to tie
Atlantic. The want offriendly ports to
resort to in case Of disaster, and the I'M
mense expense oi.aaintainipg fleets at such
distance, would deter us from sending
thither naval force of adequate strength,