Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-09-07

of civilized man and we may safely m
dulge the hope, that under his mild and PHI
losophical auspices, she will ultimately be
elevated to her natural and just rank among
independent nations.
1t would afford rae uncomfortable s~atistac-
ton, feilow-citizeEs, were | able to lay be-
fore you at the present eventful period, any
authenticated evidence of a dispositions on
the part of the ~belligerents Of Europe, to
respect our fair neutral commerce. Our re-
lations with the emperor Of France, we have
strong reasons for believing, are in a favor
able progress of a adjustment. He has (thro'
his agent appointed to preside over the con-
celss OF SPAIN lately given us an unques-
tionable demonstration of goodwill, by or
deriAg the release of all American property
sequestered in Spanish ports. Added to
this, the recent communications from our
distinguished fellow-citizen residing near
the court of St. Cloud, are Of a most con-
c~iliatory and encouraging nature.
From the other belligerent power, | re-
gret to inform you, we nave not experienced
a correspondent disposition. That iil-ad-
vised and ilI-fated nation still persists IN
haughtily resisting our claims on It's honor,
It's justice, and its reputation. Our appeals
to her lofty sense Of right, have been repeat
ed III a tone Of becoming ar1nness; bur to
ali our demonstrations o. fo1bcarance, she
has returned c~ontu.nelious silence, or re-
CURED huiniliating concessions. AS II she
conceived herself the arbiSress OF nations,
and bore exclusively the scepase OF both
earth and ocean, she listens TO ouT o n
plants with the ear OF indifference, and
speaks to our demands with the tongue CT
inflated insoienee. Thus disappointed in
our reasonable expectations OF extoTtlng
justice from this intoxicated sorceress, it
will afford You unfeigned satisfaction to re-
ilect, that, through the wise and cigniied
measure OF the :.tst session, if persevered in
with becoming energy, YOU Will even yet be
able to compel her 20 respect our rights and
cultivate our friendship. That sanitary and
well-tinled measure, is already either starv-
ing or depopuIating her valuable West India
islands while III the very heart OF her en-
pire, her emac;ated and destitute subjects
are beginning not only TO murlnur, but to
break out INTO active rebellion. Having
made a fair trial OF all the arguments OF
reason and right, without success, wehave
surely now an ~indisputable authority for re-
sorting to measures Of coercion 10 bring her
back 10 a sense Of justice.
in referring TO the measure laying an en-
barge Gil our ships, merchandise and SEA
mea, while | rejoice in the happy saaects lis
daily producing abroad, it is with pain I IN
form you, that among or own citizens there
nave been found many so worthless as 20 al
tempt TO eva3e is wholesome restrictions.
The vigilance Of our cus%tom-housc officers,
has however, TO a great degree, frustrated
these nctarious designs and the ~culprlis, in
every case, have had the penalties of the law
vigorously inflicted. Considering this mea-
sure OF congress as the strongest arm Of orr !
negotiations with foreign powers, permit NE
to recommend to YOU the expediency Of
passing 9 law, declaring every intraction of
II, q capital offence. BY such a law we
sasll be enabled to contend equally with
those power who deny us right; arl al
though some OF our citizens may have the
ten,crlty 70 hazard their lives IN attempts 20
evade it, we should still have the %conso!a-
lion Of rejecting, ,sat these who suffer, had
proved themselves unworthy OF belonging
TO a virtuous community. !
Adhering strictly to our reasonable mea-
sures Of defence and retaliation, the discus
sions on our differences have notwiths.and-
ing been carried on, through the medium of
permitted vessels, with special messengers,
of integrity and talents. We are in daily {
expectation of the lcturn of one Of these
vessels. The communications, by her, we
may hope, viii shed much light Oh our ta-
ture prospects-whether Of q hostile or pa
cihc character, such portions of them as may