Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-11-27

though ndSs populace and 2 partv Gan% a
teers had enabld certain undert,ks p's
promise, on their behalf, meanaess .,
conduct which they aisdained. Unds,
these circumstances, our Ssmagoeues found
out q trick to divert that torren, f nd
nation which threatened Ia oyerwbela,
them, and pour some part OF lbem rpon
their opponents. Those who had ADM ''
istered the government had, deemed il al
visabie to followthe example of other now
ers, and make presents TO the Algerines -
redeem our prisoners and Obtain prac.
his was indeed the only means they hal
Tor every attempt to establish nayai Gsrn
was strenuously opposed. Whilvoursooo
try-men lay in bondag-, the cruel negisc,
OF government was a irighttul topic Of >.
buse; and when the measure for ransom
ing them and preventing similar mis-.
fortune was contemplated, the admnisra.
ton was stigmalised WIKI paving tribute to
Algiers. Every dram-shop resoundtd with
vaccinations against the tribute to Aiqier,
And the honorable eontrlyers of this expe.
dent bore testimony, in the fulness Of their
wisdom, against such brcdigal 7v0ste of the
public money, and entered 1t as en- ITEM in
their account Of federal trotusion.
Before we. go farther it may be well to
consider this subject. There is In the com.
modore's pamphl-tmuch valuable inlorma.
ton, which l willnotrepea bul slmply Oh.
serve that the greatest and proudest prm.
>ces nave for Centuries paid this tribute 10
: the Barbary powers. 1t is well known
that Europe has been leagued in defence
OF her liberties against the house Of Au,
str;a, during the reign of The Emperor
Charles the 5th, and against the house of
Bourbon, during the reign of Louis the
Fourteenth. Each of these sovereigns had
ports in the Mediterranean each 10 the
zenith ofhis power. made attempts on the
Barbary coasts, and both were taught BY
experience, that circumstances peculiar 70
that coast renc cred their power, great as
: il was, of little avail. Britain has also ta-
! ken her turn m African warfsre, and has
been obhged ike others, TO pay this tribute.
In effect the African chiefs ieel no COM
mon interest, with tho'e Submitted to their
authority. lis to them matter OF total
indifference that hundreds or thousands Of
their subjects be ensfaved or destroyed
They are not therefore to be reached by
the usual operations of various l4th
threatned to lombard Algiers. The Dey
asked how much it would cost, and SUM
being named "sgive me, said ne, bali the
money and | will burn it myself" With
this indifference Etr the fate OF their SUBJ
lects, they know how to estimate the feel
ines of others. One of them said not
long since to an American, Il visa to'be
at war with your nation, and prefer 1t to-
that | am engaged in with the King ioE
Naples, who cares no more Tor his sub"
lects than do for mine but you are
republic and must therefore redeem your
captives at any price" The question OF
war and peace, with these Deys and 81,
shaws, is a mere calculation OF Proht and
loss. They inform themselves 81 the CEN.
'merce carried on by christian power, ana
the protection given, from whence they
es innate the chance ofPriSes and caPtives'
then calculating the ameunt Of their sharE'
make war or peace according Is 'H0
presents fa.l short of or exceed that a"
mount.
This DEPRESSION though tiresome 70 some
readers, may be useful to others. Return
ing from it I repea, that one OF the Poo''
on which our present rulers hGa commit
ted themselves, as far as language couidgo,
or demagogues being committed was No'
to pay far peace NTH tie Barbary f''Y s';,
The Iripoline war is co-eval with l0sM
administration for to have offered money
before that breath was cold which had ae'
claimed against african Tribute, was con-
sieered as a morsel TOO hard of digestion,
and therefore it became necessary 10 e"'
u ~