Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-10-25
FROM THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE.
10 WILSON c. NICHOLAS, esq.
LETTER III.
SIR,

our government, acted with great temper
and moderation towards Great Britain
Why! Because during negotiations with
that country, from which, Judging from the
dispositions of the Fox administration, and
other circumstances, we expected great con-
cessions, were suspended the operation OF
the ncn-ilnportation act Of an act which
THOUGH highly adverse to British interests,
was not much less to our own. And is this,
sir. the sole evidence of our pacific and
friendly disposition towards Great Britain
Is this all we did to counterfeit the iinpfes-
sions which the British nation must have
received from tie Hon-importatlon act It
self: from our refusal to ratity the treaty,
without even submitting it to the considera-
ton of the senate and from the known an
ti-Britannic preiudices OF our executive, ana
his friends No, somewhat stronger evil
dence than this solitary act affords, must
surelv have been necessary to scounterba-
lance the united weight Of such Sonsldera-
tons.
I might here endeaver to vindicate the
treaty negotiated by Messrs. Monroe and
Z Pinckney, if vindication were necessary or
if vindication the most complete, could
aupht avail. But surely, sir, it were waste
o. time, TO attempt to make it palatable to
vop. and TO those who think with you, and
that ssif Great Britain had thrown open all
her ports In the East and West Indies, and
In Europe, to our commerce, 1t the treaty.
ought TO have been rejected. These few
lines from the pen of the friend and comb
dant of the executive, and from the leader
of the majority in congress, must prove TO
the world, ard particularly to the Erltlsh
nation, that there is no nope OF reconcliia-
ton with us ; no hope, that by favors or
concessions, they can conenlate our TREND
shin, or moderate the bitterness OF our
hate; no hope, that by fosbearance, they
can laolify, or by submission apPease US
yet what are the weighty considerations
which would induce us, in despite OF every
CONCESSION that could be made to US, to re-
iect the treaty: Were we in exchange called
npon to surrender our sovereignty No.
Were we to give them possession OF some
Of our sea ports No. Were we required
70 become their allies in the war! No
Were we bound to conhne our commerce to
British countries No. But Great Britain
declared that the treaty should not prevent
her from using retaliation for the French de-
cree of blockade, unless France should ell
Their formally abandon, or tacltiy reinqulsh
her unjust professions !; or the government
of the u. States by It's conduct or assurance
es. should give security to his majesty, that
It would not submit to such innovations IN
the established system of maritime law
And to what now, does this amount. 1t a
mounts TO declaration, that if we did rot
do what we were bound to do by every con-
sideration of interest, of impartiality, and
of national self respect; that five permit
ed France to harrass, and destroy British
commerce in an oblique way, not having the
power otherwise TO effect her design; that
Great Britain would not, in such case, re-
sign the right of retaliation. But you al
firm that this was forcing lis into war with
France. / do not think SO. think 1t re-.
auiredu as our duty to ourselves requ'r-
ed. that we should do our utmost to induce
France formally to abandon, or tacltly 70
relinquish her unjust pretensisons. ana,
if France obstinately or proudly continued
to practice such gross and violent injustice
towards us. ought we tamely to have sub.
mitted TO its Ought we to have quietly
Welded to be made the instrument OF France
In the destruction of England, seeing more
over. that we ourselves were also the VIC
tins of our servile compliance
You say that C more than month be-
fore it was known in the United States that
our trade with Great Britain was interdlcted
by France, the British orders of the 18th
November issued" Strange indeed! The
inderdiction here spoken of took place the
efst November. 1906 yet this was not
Lnown, say you, in the United States tor
.Lar, month affer the Rr;4;sh orders