Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-12-05

$50.
calculations Of profit or loss, a 2 make
common cause with oar brethren OF other
states in defence Of our national rights and
Independence.
IL appears to me, sir, that the comm
rial people ought TO be the lastto complain.
Our government has imposed eiiserlmlnat-
ing tonnage duties, TO give our own vessels
an advantage in our own ports over torelg
ers. We have RENTED the duties On to-,
reign articles imported into the Y. States,
intended for expectation. Our government
has eyinced every disposltionto foster conf M
merce and maintain our maritime rights
We are told tllat the. people are opposed %
this measure. Tothe voice OF free peoPis
4 shall always bow witllreverense. But,
sir, it ought to be remembered, that irtiils
country the viii of the majority must pre-
vaii-it is Fundamental principle OF our
government, and if we are to Judge from
recent events, a great majority OF tilis natl
on are in favor Of this measure. we are
informed, and il has been intin1atesl On this
floor, that rebellion in the eastern states
will be the probable consequence Of l,erse:
verance in this measure. Are we to be drl-
ven from the course dictated BY the public
{ interest By alarms of this SORT Are we to.
be told By a minority that we mast rscedc
from the ground we have taken, tllat we
must admittll government has not sufhcl-
e1s energy to enforce its authority, or that
they will rebel. VIII gentlemeninaotm us
who they are that are prepared to erect the
standard Of rebellion against their own CO..
yernmsnt on tie very graves OF the brave
Dostorl;aps aho first raised the standard OF
American independence. They must be,
some new people who have ossttrls.ed them
selves upon our shores--tiley cannst Be A.
mcricans--I will not think 80 uliworlnilyr Of.
my country | believe the american
people are generally attached TO ,neir go
.verninent. tyust,t is bat the c.aMor OF
the raoment, which will cease the moment
tie will of the government shall be decisive
- and cor.sitnt,c:ialiy expressed. Il has
been frequently SAID that Great Dfit:sIn IS
hgftin,g for the Escrtiss OF the world, that
she is tie only barrier between France aiis:
luhiySrsal dominion, and therefore thst oar
weight ought to be thrown into ire scale OF
/ England, to assist her in this snighty CEN
aiet. II our friend.h:p is necessary 10 En-
gland, ought she not 70 rntitle herself 10 t.,
at least - do us justice and resFeSt or
RIGHTS. Shall We submit to inscits ard a.
Organizes rom ofeat foflital!i, TO induce her
TO save us from subiagaton By France ~
Shall we ;tdnia for a moment thai we sarinot.
maintain Cur independence The gentle
men II the opposition have protested against
submission ;-they have not declared them.
selves for war !; II they are for it, hope
they viii avo= il; thew have proposed no
substitute. | an NOT prepared to say how
lonS good policy viii justify contiouas,ce
Of the present system; bue, sir, ayIl rca-
dy to declare that viii adhere 10 it until a
better can be substituted. IF it be true as
the gentleman from Connecticut has inform
ed us, that tie. most efficient means of CO.
ercing Great Britain is 70 eject her inse,.-
est, and i It be true that cur embargo will
compel the West India planters to convert
their sugar plantations into corn fields for
subsistence, if it will produce a scarcitv Of
cotton IL. Great Britain, or enhance the
price i, by a non-imporlation act We can
deprive herof a market for a large portion
OF bel. manufactures, the present system,
with the addition OF no,-irnportation act.
il firmly adhered TO and wellexecutsd. rsay
have the desired effect. When cast NV !
eyes over these sta:es, and observe the !
freedom and happiness they enjoy, + feel /
constrained to pause, before consent to |
tsssae a step which viii involve them in the !
calanlities of war. When consider the
peculiar Character OF the contest between I
the two great bejligerents Of Etu ope, / feel
very unwilling to be drawn Into the vortex.