Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-10-29
.rRoa TIE n. \. CONNER AL ADVERTISER


political horizon assumed more lilausplclo9us
and threatening aspect. "Clonds ana dark
ness rest upon our land In this situation, It
becomes TIE people deliberately and faithfully
10 survey tie ground on which they stand, ana
5 TO seek a refuge trola the approaching tera-.
pest.
With the view of leading the people to exa-
mine. reject, and prepare 10 active shall give
hasty sketch OF Ire real situation ct our coztst-
t,.,.. and tds dangers Yaich sareaten 1t. The
view SHALL be concise, plain and, as Tar as We
qo. correct. j ne e,rsef7at and internal sltua-
tioa snail be distinctly examined.
y11s eztsrsaaI sttllasion.-IS will here be ne
cessary to look back to the commencement OF
I tbe lest session Of congress. At that period,
tl,e government found itself inyosvedin Sc
RES oe difficulties with the three principal ms-
ritiTne nations OF Europe. Great Britain had
invaded cur neutral rights, captured our yes
sells, and impressed our seamen. France had
attacked our commerce, blockaaed our SOUTH
ern ports, insisted on the introduction OF our
trade with Hayti, and demanded tribute, on
tae penalty OF French and Spanish war
SDain had robbed our merchants, imprisoned
snd butchered our seamen, made lnroads into
our territory, carried captive our citizens, and
bid defiance to our laws, our rights, and our
government.
Thus wfonged, insulted, and hulnbled, the
people eurned their eyes to the administration;
taey waited, with silent solicltude, Ter prompt
and prudent measures to vindicSte our h2nor q
exfricats us from our embarrsssments. But
what was the result? Were the measures a
6oDted such as ought TO have been expected
from a wise and discreet government! Were,
they snoh as the delicate and critical state OF
our aHairs demanded? Were they such as,
under similar circumstances, had been sue
ccssfailY pursued under former aanlinistra-
ton Were they, like those, adapted 90 the
preservation of peace, and the restoration OF
harmony to our foreign intercourse! Alas
sEhe men, who, by their injudicioas, tempo
rising, inefficient measures, had brought these
evils upon the country, if they had the dispo-
sition, had not the talent to remove them. f.
very measure they pursued only increased our
e,nbarrassnents. Every step they took only
involved us Ia still deeper difficulties.
At the moment, when our minister at Lon
don had advised our executive OF the prospect
of an amicaole adjustment with England
when he had interested that no rash measures
should be interposed by our government,
bill was introduced into the senate conhscatng
British property, Offering bounty Oh the
murder of British seaInen, and ordering an IN
discriminate retaliation on any innocent British
subject, for the incidental death OF an Amen-
can seaman: much opprobrious and irritating
language was uttered and published; and the
non-importation act, generally denomlnated
the precursor Of war, was proposed and adopt
ed What is the consequence OF these rash
and inconsiderate measures? Precisely such
as a school boy would have predicted. They
have increased the insolence and the outrage
of the British commanders have probably
produced the shedding of innocent blood and
greatly retarded, if not entirely frustrated, the
negotiations Of our minister. They have, at
least placed us in far less favorable situation
Z to procure a Just and honorable compromise.
Instead of resisting like the former admi-
nistration) the insolent demands of France,
our government yielded, without struggle,
our independence, our rights, and our inter-
est. The insulting language OF Iurreau was
swallowed without an effort; our valuable
commerce with Hayti, guaranteed to US by
the established laws of nations, was interdicted
without debate; and the tribute of millions
voted in secret eConclavc.
Although our minister had failed in his ne
gociation with Spain, our government, instead
of resisting the aggressions of that feeble
power-instead of maintaining ourrights and
indicating our national honor, condescended,
in the language of Mr.. Randolph, g TO hire
France to bully Stain 90 sell the Fzoridas."--
What is the result Bonaparte has rejected,
with disdain, the flaAry douceur of TWO MIL
LIONS; he still refuses to permit Spain to set
tie our differences; all hopes of accon1moda-
ton have vanished; & the threatened I" French
and Spanish war; has, it is believed, already
commenced. Thus our relation with Eng