Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-07-23

ton; and the Emperor, not content with
the domiaion Of the old, would extend ms
grasp to the new world, and would trans
nlant his standard from the hoar cliffs OF the
Baltic and the points of the Appenlnes and
Pyreness, to the ridges Of our Allegheny,
And first in the catalogue OF his insults
ands injuries, and Of our disgraces, we
pause upon the violation OF our neutrality.
By principle Unprecedented N CYL or Po-,
litical history, BY one manifesto OF this po-s
tent regulator and master-director, we are
at once precluded from the enjoyment OF z
right, Just, polite and advantageous. Inc
extent of this injury alone, IS, to a people
ike ourselves, incalculable and irreparable.
With an extent of coast that naturally in
vites to adventure, and avast and extended
tract OF fertile and cultivated interior, we
appear, by the very nature Of our situation,
a nation of farmers, manufacturers, and
traders. The intimacy of the union between
the three, the paralism of all by the failure
or interruption Of one, have been severely
demonstrated by our embargo. When the
ports of the whole continent are barred a.
gainst the ships of our traders, and the inn
perial DEGREES have condemnel: TO sequestra-
ton whatever vessels OF our nation that may
be so unfortunate as even to bevlsited by
his. enemies when to continue in amity
with the opposers Of his authority and his
subiugating schemes, is deemed sufficient
cause for heaping upon us every contemptu-
Gus insult as nation; when threats Of
worse are added to present indignities, and
we have been, commanded to confederate
with the one or the other of the contending
powers when the mighty-one has under
taken to legislate for us, and decide with
whom we shall war, and with whom be at
peace, it is surely time to look around
with fear Of an universal stagnation OF the
sources of our existence as people, whose
boast it has been that they were free, equal
and happy to cease receiving the past with
triumph and self-applausc, when the pre-
sent demands some certain, complete, and
ctfectua means of protection and de-
fence.
It would be ridiculous to enquire into the
Justice or reasonabicness Of this hostility to
neutrality, or to explore tie precedents on
which are founded these manifestations of
imperial pleasure; for who
Can scan the secrets of the vastly deep,
Or scale the Heav'ns, or bind with chains
the wind
The truth is, that power bestows right the
balance of Europe is destroyed; there re-
main no conservative leagues or barrier for
eifications to maintain the emperor in JUS
tice; and despotic at home, and invineible
abroad, no laws of reason, Of justice, or
of nature, in anywise influence, direct or
restrain him. He has revolutionizcd Hof-
land for his pleasure he has destroyed tie
Kingdoms, the aristocracies and the repub-
lies of Italy, because they were despotic,
oppressive, or insignificant, and by reduc-
ing them into one compact form, and giving
them ruler from his own family, he has
accomplished the great ends Of iiberating
them from exhausting and useless conten-
tons, and sinking them into calm, uldis-
turbed, and arathetic tranquility. Spain
and Portugal have added two new jewels to
his triple crown he has parceIed out Ger
many according to his whim, and he has
inter dirted navigation and foreign trade
from the whole of his wide domain. Ac-
tuated by the same wide principle of viii,
he has presumed to thunder his interdicts
against America, fol- preserving unbroken
the bonds of alliance with the only barrier
il Europe, against his universal, undisputed
domination.
BY this exertion of power upon the q.
S. we are not only excluded from the ports
of the continent, which is of itself heavy
blow, but are wounded in the vieal part of
our commerce, our intercourse with Great
Britain. For although the naval power of
France is inadequate to eFrcting a total In
terr,,nf1o,, wat che &c ah,nflanf1r ,,ro1-idaJ