Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-12-18

Ives. we have the shadow and nothing but
l the shadow Of one. We have wasted mill
jlions. cir. by reason of our economy, our
Excessive economy, and millions more, We
sshalI, I fear, waste by the same means,
and still have no eficien. navy. Two
! questions are of vast Importance to us
Shalt we have navy! If so. shall we not
introduce system of more energy, more
efficiency. To these questions call the
| attention Of the house. It'll now fall time
for us 10 take wide range OF view, iaF
| more wide than heretofore. I'll time LOT
US to explode the narrow, ridiculous, aud
all destroying argument, Of the unlmPor-
,ance Of the other side ofthe globe, to this
country. Il is time that we should be no
longer The scorn of foreign nations that
we shonle havea navy, which from foreign
ers, and from the wicked wits OF our own
country, should deserve little OF more
distinction than that of the Lllllputlan na-
/ Wy.
| II is time to change your system with re-
specific fsreIga politics. Let me not DC
| misunderstood; Iapprove Of the domestic
proceedings of the executive, aud the &C.
| neral policy pursued respecting foreign ma
tons but consider a system Of defence
ag.ins, foreign power, as most essentlai
| TO our welfare, to our existence asa nation
II is 10 this respect | wish the system
changed. Let Us no longer keep up the
| mere shadow of defence. lie. US have at
least enough to command some respect.
Bus this subject must not be touched,
lest the question be asked, Whom shall
This navy oppose - aud the answer be
France"
What is the news from Europe? Pfus
STA is fallen; she has fallen unpitied, yet
covered with glory; superior Numbers,
NOT superior cunning nor intrigue, destroy
ed her On every sober principle of rea.
son or analogy, must say thar cur turn Is
next.
Prussia was ordered to give up part OF
her territory: SO are we aud by whom +?
BY power known to be nuder the imme.
diate control Of France. The designs that
were held against Prussia, are the same
that are and were held against US. Little
need be said to Owe shis.
Ishail say nothing of certain documents
that have gained celebrity fFcm their in.
scrntabi- secrecy. shall say nothing If
what they contain; bu' shall say muck OF
what they do not contain. wish our mas.
tsrs, those we de!igh: to honor, the PEG
pie, could see these documents could ex-
amino and judge for themselves. s..
II IS th,
sem of defencs. We, cot the executive,
hold the purse.s,rings OF the nation and
the world, with IS much astonishment as
contempt, sees with what a m'sefiy con
vulsive grasp we hold them. H.
1t Is tiae to be IN a s-a,e of preparation
to organize general System Of national
defence. Life and death are before as, |
hasesa'd. repeat, tits our turn next.
can prove IL; if fail to do SO, will de.
scead; no, ] will 10, go down hill ! viii
ascend to nipgle withshe sovereign people.
1t were vain 10 secure this CEILING, or prop
these walls, if the vast ocean rolled not be.
:ween France and US these walls would
ias' tea times, more than ten times, as long
as our republican svs.em.
1t is time to prepare a military defence,
an army--I am no friend TO internal ia xes.
to national debts, nor to foreign engage.
menss but | must go as far as our safety
requires.
We have an overaowiog treasury, one
with which we purchase empires, yet our
country is drfcnceless. We have less de-.
fence than had the republic Of Ragusa, with
sea coast of 90 miles and so. GOO souls.
Apropos Of Ragusa /; she was the least of
this little republics Of the old worid---did
she conspire against France? No-simple,
Industrious, unambisious, she for ages en-.
joyed the blessings of self government
! the French occupied her territory, aud now
/ n,here che anrai., ranaae 4l,oa 4: - -