Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-10-10
Frsmth The PEOPLES FRIEND.

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OF the subiect upon which he has en-.
pIoyed his excellsnt talents. We exhors
our readers therefore not TO decline me
perusal of it 90 account OF lis iesgth, and
assure them thar II will amply reward
t~heirpains. The coincidence OF It's sen,
rsimenss with those of Mr. Maproc and
Mr. Pinckney as expressed at the lord
mayors dipnsr will, no doubt, give ia
particular interest.
50 a WELL wisher of this country lusau.
gre the sma!l pietensions which he has 60
the name of politician-and freely as he
acknowledges himself TO be a novice 10 al
fairs of state, the secret springs OF which
he has not ihe least. opportunity OF hndlng
out or being acquainted WIKI cannot help
throwing in his mite al the presents serious
and alarming crisis. whichs 60 every shinking
mind cannot bus seem big with mischittto
America, as those,who run May lead that
dire consequences are Matching upon the
grand theatre Of she universe IN which her
dearest interests cannot but be invoivsd,
/, nay, perhaps endangered, usless Tx moss
. uawary conduct On her parsbe adopted, to
snatch her from the apparent i~mpeodlsge c.
vii. In treasing upon this subject, lltle
more seems expediens, than that a lew per-
tinsns questions be put to those who con-
troll or set 10 motion the wheels OF govern
ment, although shall venture TO enter
somewhat al large thereon, as icspesicus
circumstances shall present themselves TO
my miad's eye. Without having the pre-
s%umptonto question or TO enter at all into
the causes of complaint, which ii NAV be
said we have against either or against all 81
the belligerena powers, and By no means
having a desire TO hiat or insinuase that
such causes of complaint are merely imag'-
nary and do no:sexiss IN fact | say admit.
ting In the greatest latitude thai our com
plains are Just In each aud every instance
which has been insisted on yer. surely, II
csuHot but be matter of surprise, and OF
the deepest regret to perceiye the precip'cs
on which I'VE stand IL appears as though
. we were upon the eve OF awsr with isfe now
" greatest powers IN existencs ttorawar
with Spain is In effect a war with Franco
or at all events with those two powers,who
have it mos, intheir ability 10 prove inJuri-
Gus to us 10 the highest degree, and there.
fore. it is a fair question ms;hinSs 10 put
! 10 our rulers, whether they seriously and
in their consciences believe that our re-
sources followed by our wonted Prowsss can
prove equal 10 the ardneus task OF contend.
Ing against both England and France al one
and the same time ? Or, indeed, whether
they do sincerely consider us as able with
any, the least prospect OF success TO ser
ourselves ia array against either OF them
single handed or without FIRST securing the
friendship and consequent aid 9TH oth-.:!
Is it a trui.m which admits OF no dispute,
and which no person will have the hardi.
hood to:deny, that neutrality for every pos
sible reason is most desirable tor this conn.
try, and therefore if teuahle with honor &
without involving or puttingTso the hazard
rour future welfare as a free and in~dePsnd-
emit people, ought undoubtedly sobc uaost
scrupulously aud religiously adhered TO
but if the b~elhgersns powers will compet Us
against our will TO enter she lists with them,
not youchsafng Us a choice, al-that We
have for it in such circumstances, is 10 act
In the best manner possible for our owntx-
trication ous of the dilemma. ehlch We
have been imperiously forced int and SO
situated it should seem as our only or der
snier resore that We reflect seriously and ma
turely land yet as promptly as prudence
stall dictste) whether we can encounter
both The great powers in question or not
and, upon this being deemed impracsicabls
it fellows of course thaswe ask ourselves
if we shall not require the aid of the one
seeing that we must inevitably contend or
defend ourselves against the one or The O.
aher of them +; the alternative is painful to
r~coutemplate, bur where there IS only q
choice of evils what remains but that we
select the least, aud having SO done, pro-
.ceed c%antionslv and with all the alacritY and