Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-01-16
For sbe .4erandria Daily .AdOertiser..
THE PRESENT CRISIS,

THE PRESENT CRISIS,
3 SINcE the adoption of the federal constitu-.
ton, our country has never been placed IN
situation more critical than the present, 1t is.
encompassed by difficulties on every side
Great britain, ON one hand, viewing with
jealousy the rapid increase of our commerce,
wishes to diminis!lit by burthensome restric-.
tons and variety of irritating circumstan-
ces have producedso hostile temper in 1.-THE,
two governments, that war seems by no
means improbable. France, on the other
hand, by her blockading decree, Of Noyen-
Der 1906, has grossly violated our neutral
rights and though that decree has here O.
fore been but partially enforced the French
emperor seems at present determined to ex-
ecute, an far as he IS able, its most oppres-
sive regulation. Rumcr toe, declares with
all hsr hundred tongues, that Napoleon will
have ne neutrals, and that he is determined to
hector us into a war with Great Britain. If
these reports be true, war is inevitable with
one party or the other. Surprising then, that
it is inevitable, We have at least the choice of
our enemy. And which Of them ought we to
chuse
No rejecting mar who loves his country,
would wish to see h, = ngaged, at present, in
war with Great Britain, if it can possibly be
avoided with honor. The effects of it would
be, the bombardmcnt of our towns on the sea
shsre the destruction of our widely extended
and unprotected commerce, and the conse-
quent failure of the. revenue. Agriculture
would anguish, plenty would he succeeded BY
want and riches by poverty.
But ether considerations oppose war with
G.. Britain. She has long been struggling In
the cause Of liberty, and en6eavoring to pro-
tect herself and the neighboring states from
the tyranny of France. She strained every
nerve 80 save the European republics from
French dsIilination. But her efforts were una.
vsiling they are all engulphed in the fedora
tive systens, they all obey the commands OF a
tyrant. And let it be remembered, that VITA.
out her assistance, our commerce, At not our,
liberty wouida few years since, have been de-
stroyed by France. Haa it not been tor her we
might now be grooming like the republics OF
Europe, under tyrAnnica despet. And
shall we republicans assist that despot, that
destroyer ofrepublics, against the nation which
has SO bravely defended them Shall we low
ers of liberty, promote its final destruction,
10y aiding those who are endeavorins TO drive
1t from It's last asylum in the eastern world
Shall we assist these ,nodern Romans, to
prcstrate the only power which can-effectuai-
ly oppose their schemes of universal con-
quest, vainly hopiug that we shall escape IN
the general wreck of empires !? If We do'
long and bitter will be our repentance.
Assuming it <. the foundation of our rca-
soning, that contest with one of these pow
erx is unavoidable, We shall find that none sof
the arguments which oppose war WITH.
Britain, are applicable 10 contest With
France. The French marine has been so
completely crippled BY sthe proves of the
British tars, that from it we have no lombard
mcnt. to fear. IF French squadron ercape
by accident from any of their ports, its COM
nander rejoices when he returns in safety,
and relstes his wonderful exploits, in eluding
the pursuit Of the enemy. BY such marine
our commerce can be but little annoyed
We should be deprived. it is very true, of
all direct trade with q great part OF the Eu-
ropean continent, but we could trade Sc
cnrely to all other countries whereas war
with Britain, would sweep our commerce from
the ocean, by contest with France, our a.
griculture would be injured butnot ruined. We
should be somewhat retarded in cur progress to
wealth x greatness, but the positive loss which
we shorld sustain, would be comparatively
snaliU Under every situation however we should
/, be consoied BY the ideathat we suffered in the
cause Of liberty that we were fighting the
battles of freedom, against 4 nation which
threatens tosnslaYc; the. world thatwe were
ayenging the Fall Of the European republics j;
that We were assisting the only free people
besides ourselves in the civilized world, the
people from whom we sprung, from whom
We Inherited eur love Of liberty. in aTcontest
for their very existence, with the tyrantss OF OF
Europe. .-e<.''.