Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-06-20
SPEECH:

Gsasa-asea Of tie Aause Of Refsesesta-
d0es,
Having been Informed by ycur ltiat co1sa-
,1,ittee, that the Two branches of the leglsia-
fture were rcady TO receive any commanica-
tioas from the governor, which he snissst have
to make to thcm, requested yoa to alloy
me the honor Of meeting you at this time and
place. This practice has been respected III
the days Of safety and prosperity, as well as
In the periods when our country was involsces
in dangers and difficulties. 1t might be Jus
tilted by common usage to submit TO yoar
consideration the particular business which 1
conceive TO be secessarytc your deliberations
liz the present sessions and TO cali yous atten-
ton to no Other subject.
Y'ae method, wa ch I am urged by the
exieencies of the aouiitry 20 pursue, does by
no means excluae me from laying before you,
by special mes ages, the parsscUias' concerns
al the commonwealth but In the present
critical state OF oar national affairs, The COM
5a,lsairatioa made with this forR.aliiy, 10 the
senate and house OF repre- SIGNATURES, o. tie
PIC vernon, is to be understood as 2 coiantpni-
cstionfo theif constituents at large Our fef
low eitjzcns stand anxiousiy waiting Tor that
Intelligence, waicb speech from the CHAIR,
and the replies ffoln the Two houses, may
give theya al this snolRentols crisis.
Holding ia sacred respect slae morality ard
policy OF the declaration Of independence
Subscribed with unexafapied fortitude by the
a:embers Of our genera congress, on the 9Th
day OF Jnly, i776s as the foundation Of our
nasionaI and state constitutions ofgoveramcnt
I shaH giYe you, In Us few words IS possible,
my ideas 81 tie importance OF supporting
our rank, in the full exercise Of our sove-
.eigRty as one OF the nations OF the World !;
my a2;sreaeas;ons OF the dangers by which
oar national character may be evertheowIl ;
and my sentiments oi the measures necessary
to its preservation.
Themgh all true Americans would depre-
cate the idea of becoming subjects Of a TO-
reign power, yet our situation ia regard 10
ouy foraign relations is such, that the pasl,c
opinion. iorned from the pressing feelings of
temporary necess'ty,3of from mistaken
view OF the alvanlases OF foreign connexions,
may bet,ay US into errors, which may involve
us and ouf posger;ty in disgrace and misery,
Tor many years ta come.
Naesa oar highly respected leader, presi-
dent Washington, retired from the laborious
charge of Public duties, he did iaot lay aside
his anxiety for his sounlry, or cease 80 ex-
press his apprehensioas ofsthat danger which
might result from her foreiyn connexions, as
we'd as from her sinfsrnal divisions. The
address OF that paT5o1, On his refinement,
oughs 50 be stad'eas5y succeeding generations,
and held ia high respect 30 tbe perfect creed
of American positass
5 Whaseyes' may be liz advantages Of cue
nation oyer another, rs 10 climate, nnnbers,
ygeatsn or force, yet, ia poislt o. national.
rights, ali naust be on the Same Grade of per-
feet equality. 10 depart from lis's rule, in
the srsosf minnie ,egfee, wouil. lay tie nation
departing from 1t pl ostrate at 11ae foot OF
ahotiser. Sovereisnsy is the vital principle Oh
nahoaal exis1eace; and though ia IFS exer-
csses over its own subjects, it may Tor tacir
convenience and safety admit OF Inoditlcstoas
to Its eosNivc procedures, vet IN regard TO
eskes aa6ops, the piInciple must remain en-
tire exercised by IFS own viii. controlled oy
itself a,usass Of, the patieb loses It's character,
and ceases to exist as a separate power.
FYoyn the erroneous impressions that may
be made On f!se sslbiic opinion AZ the present
eyentfui age of the world, arise apprehensions
OF the dangers We May DC Ia from foreign
relations.
Faseign relations originate, primarily, in
the law OF nassise ard natiolas-2riaciples OF
this law establish the right Of separate pow
ers.
But VITA the greatest part Of the European
nations, our resA:ions as foveign power are
enlarged or 1naaii6ed, by sfeaties of alnity
and commerce: Yetihs existing enbalqass-
Raen+s of our trade ressfit, as well from un-
precedented infringepeut Of our claims,
fsStnried III, the Luz III i,ltinns ,ri1.fA