Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-07-05
Fox ra1 AIrxzssan D4iIr dOyzaalssR.
THE TAIRrY-rnIRD YEAR or AMERIcAx
IHpEpRNDENcE, july 5th.

IsDEpssDEscE, JULY sth-
THE thirty year of American
liberty is closed, and the thirty third has been
ushered in by the acclamations Q. a tree and
hiSh-s2irited people. Auid the hustle and
conria-lty which attend the annual return Of
thxl glorious day which conferred Indepead-
eace on DATED America, the bcding voice of
prudent foresight, tho il had spoken In thun.
Z der to sae people, would have been Disc
gsrscsl The enthusiasm which that day cx-
ci.cs, is praissworthy, is generous As noble.
B enthusiasm is aseting emotions, aud
scarcely survives the excitement by which It
Is produced.
IL becomes you, Citizens of America, az a
period so momentous as this, coolly to reflect
OIL your situation and prospects. You should
i diligently compare the present state OF your
country with the past. and if changes have
taken place which threaten to destroy your
happiness and your liberty, you should anxi-
cus,y investigate the causes which have pro-
duced them, and apply the best remedy IN
your power.
How sad picture does our beloved country
q, this moment present TO Que view. We
behold a people, who, short time STAGE,
multitHuc of evils, and struggling with ca
lauaity. We behold commerce, which lately
covered the ocean--which made the AInerl-
) en- name to be known and respected by the
remotest nasions--which by eherishang the
spirit of enterprise, and comforting wealth
upon our citizeas, added to the real strength
Of the country--we behold that commerce
totally suspended But worse than all, we
behold a power erected In free country upon
the ruin of the laws. The executive has
sumed Legislative authority, and presumes 20
Issue mandates TO free people.
Let us briefly enquire into the cause OF
these multiplied evils The difficulties which
Cypress US from without, arise, IN great
measure, out of the unjust professions and
aggressions of the European powers. but
the question Immediately presents itseif,
Would not bold and manly policy IN OH
rulers have secured TO US more respectable
standing with the EuropeaR nations, and have
prevented those asgressions whicla our IL
mildly has inviseds The powers OF Europe
are unjust: their conduct is regulated by
maxim which has given the finishing blow 10
that antiquated code the law OF natlons--A
maxim which declares that the rights OF
nation are all collprehcnaed under ones the
right to seize what it can, and retain 1t as
long as il can. As those powers, then, can
only be operated upon through the medium
of their hopes and their fears, 1t follows, that
a bold and determined line of conduct Is the
one which should be pursued, IN our inter-
course with them. Has such been the con-
duct of our present rulers Every act OF
their administration loudly prociaims the
negative. An enumeratioa would be tedious
aud disgusting lit would be grating to the
feelings of the American who loves bis coan-
try, and wishes to see 1t respectable among
3 the nations of the earth.
The difhcultie then, which beset us In
our foreign relations, have their source ia the
injustice of the European powers, winch is
: stimulated into action by the tinnid aud COW
ardly policy of a feeble administrator. ne
embargo, the fruitful source OF so many pre-
sent calamities to the people, is an effect OF
the same timid policy, attempting TO ward OH
the evils which press upon us, by perse-
veraDce in the conduct which first occasionsd
them-Of policy, which ayenses the m
fringement of our maritime rights, and the
crosses, insult. to our dignity, by Withdraw
ing from the ocean. and reilnqnishing, at
once, the grand object of dispute--Ot po-
Icy, which yainly expects to brighten the
nations of Europe into regard for our rights
by means of an em6arso-Wh ich supposes
that those mighty powers, who have been
engaged for many years in a conflict SO tree
mendous-who have been unappailed by the
mos, signal misfortunes-who have learned
to view with indifference the most terrible
calamities which deluded man can inffict on
his brother-that those powers viii abandon
all their unjust pretensions through fear OF .
temporary suspension of their intercourse
with our country. Can any reasonable man
.,,rnose that .uch will be the result! That