Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-07-19
Foa rHs ALxx1sDa1A D1Itr GAszYTz,
ouR RELATIONS WITH rRANcE.

4 h2Ve thorough KnOWlc06S ~ sA'Ss
ter. views and conduct of those foreign
governments with which their own has irc-
! s,,,rnt intercourse. Such a knowledge ena-
hes them to form more correct estimate
sof the obligations and the rights which sub
5 sist between their own and foreign states !;
and to guard in time against the dangerous
schemes of apowerful and ambitious neigh
Dor. 1t likewise teaches them to avoid the
! errors into which they are frequently hurried
by an indiscreet partiality for one nation,
and an unjust dislike for another. 10 Sc
cure advantages like these we should ire
qusntly direct our Inquiries towards this
Important subject.
we extend our views beyond the ocean
which separates us from the land OF our
fathers, the, first object which presents itself
and irresistibly enchains the attention, is the
enormous power Of France. The other
continental states, who, few years since,
would have disdained to acknowledge her
superiority, have either faded into lnslg1il-
Ocance or been utterlyisubverted. Britain
alone maintains a furious conflict, and seems
fully determined to surrender her existence
and her independence together. France,
eager to destroy the brave and magnanl-
NOUS people who constitute the most power
fill barrier between her and universal doml-
Mon, requires that the United States shall
become her ally in the war. In order to
ascertain the properanswert to such demand
we should review the relations which have
subsisted between the two countries.
The people of the United States, grateful
! for the assistance received from France dur
ing our revolutionary struggle, evinced, for
some time after its close, the war1nest at
tachmcnt to that aspiring nation. Had they
known, however, that the most insldious
attempts were made by France, during the.
negotiation for which. Britain was willing
10 concede, they would have formed a very
( unfayorable idea of her principles and her
motives. They would have viewed with
adherence the conduct OF a nation, which
while it pretended to confer fayors with one
hand, aimed with the other deadly blow
at our prosperity md our greatness. These
facts were then known but to few, and pru-
dence forbade their disclosure while our
country was feeble and our situation still
dangerous.
But had they even been known to the
whole American people, the impression
produced by them might perhaps have been
efaced by the generous enthusiasm which
they felt atthe commencement Of the French
revolution. The Americans, electrified by
that great event, fondly cherished the hope
that an universal emancipation Of the hui
man race from the shackles of tyranny was
about to take place, and hailed, IN the
French nation, the noble Instrument by
which the change was to be elected.
But these agreeable visions were quickly
d;spel,ed by the sad reality. 1t was soon
perceived that the French republic, under
the specious disguise of philanthropy, con-
cealed an unbouaded and stnprineipIed sun-
bition. Liberty was promised by France
to every country which she invaded. We
come, said her generals, to PROSTATE your
tyranss, and to confer upon You freedom
and happiness. But woe unto theEnasion
] which was deluded by these professions.
They found the tyranny of French republi-
cars a thousand TIMES more grievous and
insupporfable than the sway Of their heredi-
tasy monarchs. Cruelty, rapine and trcache-
~ walked hand m hand with the armies OF
\ France. Their laurels were stained with
Me blood Of innoeence the Shouts Of VIC
Nv were Crowned In the lamentations of
opSessed and rlundsred millions. Nor
was rensh injustice confined TO the iorti-
nenf SEaroPe. 1t stretched It's arrn across
Ne AAatic, and attempted to make us too
suDsesvsVt TO It's 6agssinus purposes. Bat
the government of America was then sd-
minlsfersd Y s,an, who, to tie frRaness
o. me veferA soldier, added the prudence
andiores'shf oAtae accomplished statesman.
it was directeA by hin, of whom it has