Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-08-04
PROM TIE SAME.
n A WAR WITH FRANCE
OR
WITH ENGLAND !

WITH EN(JIAND
IT is time that the people Of this country
should be prepared to decide upon this I'M
portant subject. To speak out without re-
serve, upon question which involves the
dearest interests and perhaps the eventual
existence of the nation. A powerful party
whose business it is to procure an alliance
with France, is organizing the country to
preciipitate war with England. French
eernissaries have at iengthcast oftheir masks,
and seem no longer assiduous to conceal
their plans. AS an inducement to the ap-
propbation of the people, large majority
Of whom are known, at this period, to be de-
eidedly opposed to war with England, the
embargo is to be Professionally raised, and
6 an eatensive commerce obc,7ed to the cont
aezat of Eurobe." Such deceitful allure.
nents have been too frequently held out TO
TIE people any longer to be imposing. The
people of America know, or ought 10 know,
that war with England, in, she present de-
fenceless condition Of the country, would
not only expose their seaports to destruction,
but would eEectually cut Of all conmunica-
ton with every other power. 1t Is practl-
cable for tho British navy at any moment TO
blockade every seaport town IN the United
States, and not only to blockade them, but
to lombard and place them under contribu-
ton. And whose fault is it that we are
thus defenceless Fave we not for the
last twelve-month at any rate since the en-
barge was laid, had sufficient warning to pre-
pare for any extremity Was not the law
Itself predicatcd upon the apprehension that
the views of both belligerents were hostile
to America and that they were seeking an
opportunity to inaict whatever injury upon
us their superior advantages and power
MIGHT enable them. If we are so situated
as to be obliged 10 chuse between the two,
we cannot hesitate to say, that the honor, IN
serest and safety of the nation all conspire to
prefer rupture with France. She was the
first aggressor, it was the arbitrary and ty-
rannical DEGREES Of Ronaparte, in opposition
to the laws & rights OF nations, which impos-
ed the painful bu; unavoidable obligation up
on England to hamper and obstruct the COM
merce of this country by her retaliating or
.ders, equally opposed to the interests Of
both Of us. After England perceived that
this country was disposed to submit to any
act of French outrage and injustice, that
she tarnely acqu;csced in this last measure
of tyranny and oppression, she considered
lis no longer entitled to the consideration
due to a free and independent nation, pre-
pared at all times to resist encroachments
upon our sovereignty. She concluded that
4 FL
ry and inimical in her, which was perfectly
harmless and friendly in France. Butthere
was no necessity for England to be regulated
in her conduct by cool and cautious calcula-
tons. IF France did an act which was re-
cognized and agreed to by America in not
being resisted, and the dignity, the honor
and safety Of England demanded retalia-
ton, with what color OF Justice could we
complain of the measure ! If either nation
is blameable, they ought equally to feel our
resentment, and if both are cu!pable, that
nation is most so, who was tie aggressor,
who set the first example, and rendered it
necessary that retaliating measures should
be adopted. Irepeat, il we are to have war
as the hard condition Of removing the en-
barge, let us 1var with her, who has given
the greatest provocation, and with whom it
would be to the interest of the nation to go
20 war, and whose power and ambition rem
der her the natural enemy of our country.
There is nothing TO be apprehended from
rupture with France. We might indeed
boast in the event of war with France,
that most lucrative trade would be open
to the country-France feels her inability
to interrupt our commerce on the high seas,
she knows that we might defy all her power
and extensive influence on the continent
that it would be vain to attempt an Interrupt
ton of Orr intercourse witt, q R,;4a: -