Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-10-21
FROM THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE.
TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, Esq:
LETTER I.


In has been usual 10 pass oVtt tiiC ~. ~
lar letters of legislative members to their
constituents without regard as objects IN.
worthy of it. 1t would however be lnpro-
per to overlook your late circular, Or to treat
il with that contempt to which such produc-
tons are commonly entitled, because, from
your talents, and the high responsibility OF
your character, the influence OF your OPT
MONS is very considerable. We know, be-
sides, with whom you are politically con
nected, who gives he lone to all your poll
teal sentiments, and the nigh source from
which yon draw your political information.
These considerations give 70 your opinions,
facts, and arguments, a welSai which well
entisle them 10 exaTni-}asion.
Before, however. proceeding 70 these, let
me make one remark on yoar poeas. no
well written, it IS So much In the detna-
gogue, 50 much in the true political law
style, as TO excite somewhat OF disgust. Il
Is, to BIZ, sure, IN the common can't OF those
who court popular favor, either IL. worthy
or unworthy purposes. Is it not sal, tia,
men of real worth will adopt such practlces?
That men VINO ought 10 study and maintain
the dignity OF man, snoaid descend TO arts
OF bisniishnleut whic.a the meanest rascais
can equally practice, and often make equally
availing.
Buffet me turn to tic important parts OF
your letter. You say, thai from 1898 to
the peace Of Anlsns, 6 Great Britain Ia
Aicted every injury upon this country that
could be suggested hv her hatred and .jea-
lousy AMI tast she dix ta.s saot to IN
iure her enemy but for >se double purpose
OF enriching her own subjects and depres-
sing u.s. these, SIR, are heavy charges,
and if proved, ought to make Us hate ths
British name. But you have proved no
pars Of the charge and Isarpose, indeed,
chat you did not thiak proof necessary; thal
such assertions were sure to gain beilef from
a people who for more than fifteen years,
have been most industriously taught 10 be-
lieve, that Great Britain IS not only our e.
nemy, but the general enemy OF liberty ant
OF mankind. Yoa acknowledge, however,
that those cruel injuries inaic ed on us by
Gceat Britain ceased with the war chat was
tryninated by the treaty Of Amiens
Saange, that her hatred and jealousy OF us
shorl, terminate al the very moment when
she was best able to make US feel their es-
fc1ts continue dormant two years, and re-
viyc again in 1902, although, as you tel Us,
tl9se luxurious eHeels were not productivity
h-r' desire OF injurlng her enemy /; bat to
enrich her people and dep.ess ours. Il
those injuries o. VIII ch SO much has been
said, and so little felt, had proceeded from
the causes YOU assign, they would hardly
). have ceased with the treaty OF Aniens.--r
Great Britain, oppressed with the weight OF
dangerous war, can hardly be supposed
mad enough chuse the elme IN which she
wagrd such war, TO give irritating proofs
of her hatred and jealousy of America
Are we, however, to suppose that the treaty
of Amiens extlnguished, Tor a time, those
hateful passions Or did 1t deprive her OF
that 6 command of t1e ocean" which ena-
bled her to psrpetrate the wrongs complain
ed Of!
Your facts and arguments stand thus -
Great Britain is engaged in a dangerous
war with INC most powerful nation on earth.
Her existence is endangered. During this
war she heaps upon us Continued and attro-
cious injuries, capable of stimulating US to
the severest revenge; and these injuries she
inRicts without any hope. of thereby MUIR
ing her enemy. With this dangerous enc
my she concludes peace; and now though
in situation to give the rein to the hatred
and jealousy she might have conceived OF
us though she continues to command
the ocean, aud the most ample means OF
perpetrating her cruel injuries, behold these
injuries Cease altogether: E,sos these inju-
RES spran5 altogether from aer. hatred and
jealousy OF US, and not from the hope OF
thereby injuring her enemy. Such, sir,
seems to be your logic, and to what does II