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

without requiring the support OF the U M
States. Spain is now absolutely and unre-
.eryedly Bonaparte's: itself and dependen-
cies are alike obedient to his nod and subject
to his disposal !; and if at any future period,
navy should be at the command OF him
who has all the resources Of Europe for its
establishment, and a reciprocal communica-
ton be supported between the colonies and
the parent country, which shall enrich the
one and strengthen the other, we surely shall
have no reason to congratulate ourselves on
the vast uncultivated undefended territory,
which has been purchased by our executive.
For added to its incapability of defence from
the thinness Of its population, there is q
class of men in that very undefended terri
tory, less dazzled by the laundering sounds
Of liberty and equality, than influenced by
motives of attachment to the ancient go
vernment of the province. and the country
from which that government originated
But it may be well to pause on subject,
of which necessity alone compels us TO
speak.
Threatened by dangers from abroad, and
by the nature Of cur situation particularly
exposed TO them, it is natural at this point
Of the prospect to look around and enquire
for remedy to our evils to explore a me-
thod, from the strength and resources OF our
own country, Of ave1ting lndignities and
danger for the future. One. and enc only
resource is at our command. Parslnony
MAJ. exclaim against expence, and shrinking
timidity IL " trenlble al the magnitude OF the
attempt, but the only feasible, rat;ona, and
etectualmethod OF preserving America from
indigrity and contempt, from nnprovoked
and injurious attacks, from sinking into an
abyss of national ignolniny, must consist IN
q larger, weii-ordered and powerful navy
Without entering into tedious minute, It
may in brief be observed, that it is rot yet
level to human comprehension, to believe
that the Ccrsican prodigy, however vas; MS
designs, should attempt the passage OF the
wilos, that border the western confines OF
Louisiana: that the Atlantic and its shores
must be the theatre Of his attempts and of
others, and OF our opposition; and that a
system of naval defence, however vast in
undertaking and arduous in completion,
must be eventually resorted to, as centering
the ends of fortifcations. upon land, and OF
defending our navigation at seax ANpr can
the objections Of the expence Of Tie plan, be
thought worthy OF consideration. Tue OBJ
iect OF the revenues of a state isStsspreser-
walton and protection; and 70 those ends
must they be applied, Whenever demanded
,, ,ro na1I;,,o. l.,,o,-s g;,, 1effe,e,, "a RI tIa
vain plan Of boarding them up against future
contingencies. Nor can we win more Just
ice, complain Of a want Of materials. With
a country Astounding with forests and with
iron, and with every thing necessary to a
naval people, we Tar exceed even England
in resources, when her navy was yet III It's
infancy, ant, her timber, her non, and her
hemp, were unapplied.
would here inquire into the possibility
of dsnsfed retirement U;lthsa 0uSselDes !;
OF becoming nation, 10 winch ships either
of war or of merchandise would be unneces-
sary, and which would be dependent upon
itself alone for tie necessaries, convenicn-
cies and luxug;es of life. This Utopisn
scheme viii be better understood by COM
paring it TO the Chinese system Of non-in-
tsrcourse. But it may be we'll for the adj
vocates OF Asae,ican scclusion 10 remember,
that prodigies can happen but rarely that
chance and circumstances beyond our con-
troll, and events, with the causes of which
we are unacquainted, have often more IN
luence in determining the character, the
manners, the opinions and situation. Of a
people, than tile most elaborate systems OF.
laws, and regulations, and the most nice and
eeompllcate structures of polity; that we
have already drank too deep Of the intoxi-a
eating draughts of luxury, and experienced
too highly the delights Of heightening the
advantages or our own soil and climate by