Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-08-20
& From THE NoRrH AaER1cAss
No. Z.

.sss ALTHOUGH long since Withdrawn
from those active political scenes, IN winch =
once took an active part, | find it Impossible
to remain an urlinserestsd, though nave
been many years silent spectator OF pass
ing events. The transactions OF ths. Gay
involve objects too important to this Vest
erns Void, too vitality essential to- the indie
pendence of the United States, to leave It
possible for any man, who justly appreciates
that independence to view them with un,
concern. However age may have STAG ksne q
the course of that vital current, which once
rushed impetuously through his veins, or
retirement; have enabled him to conten-
plate without emotion, the low mtr1gues
and vile stratagems OF party, the real
natr;ot can never cease to feel tor his
country: nor can he see her hurried to
the brink of precipice, to dash over winch
is death. without raising his warning voice
TO annonce her danger. That voice may
be disregarded--he may anticipate the ne
elect twill experience--out ne Will dowhat.
he thinks his duty.
Never, since the all-subdnlng leglons OF
ancientRome carried conquest and chains to
the remotest regions of the earth, has hui
man liberty been so nearly banlshee IfolA
the world, has national sovereignty been so
nearly swallowed up, by one immense inill-
tary despotism, as at the present moment.
In less than ten years, raore has been done
than is now to be achieved. Since her pre-
o...s ornt,eror eeizsd the .reins of govern
,nent in France, a 1auch greater military
force has been subjected TO his power, than
remains to be subdaed. IS
That Europe, if united and directed BY
one great mind, is able to give laws to the
rest of the world, has never been doubted.
What is now wanted 20 complete that union!
Those vast power, which formerly checked
and balanced each other, exist no longer, OF
exist only to employ the remnant Of their
strength IN executing the mandates OF their
conqucror. Even Russia obeys his will,
and at the nod Of Napoleon, weakly and
wickediy directs her dlsgraced arms against
her Nest faithful and most honorable friend.
A submissive continent has received his
woke, and is ready to waste It's treasures,
and to pour out its blood in his services
What arrests the application OF THIS IN
mense force to the residue OF the world
What secures single spot OF caT earth
from those chains, which are prepared Tor.
All, ana which have hAcn impnsesi en- all,
whom the colossal power Of France has
been able to reach What prevents the per-.
feet union OF Europe, and the consequent
subiugation OF the rest of the globe!
No American is too ignorant to give
the true answer to these questions. De
stroy the prsponderance OF the British navy,
place the dominion OF the sea in the hands
Of him who rules the land, enable Bonaparte
to watt his COUNTLESS lcgions 10 Whatever
shores he may direct them, and the most
unintorlned of my fellow citizens, the most
obsequious and infatuated advocate of
that fatal system, which SO steadily pur-
sues this object, must feel that the last bar
rier to the universal empire OF enc man, is
removed.
do not think it necessary to prove this
proposition. Its one OF those sclf-cvident
truths, which, ike All axiom in mathema-
tics, carries conviction with it. No mind
ca't resist It's intrinsic demonstration.
Vilat ti!el Is VIC course WHICH iAiHeIlGa
ought . pursue What does her interest
dictate? What will rescue her liberty from
impending danger: What viii best secure
her independence
These are questions most deeply interest
ing to US all, and on which it bshovcs us all
most seriously to reflect.
To those who guide the councils Of the
nation, 1t belongs, to mark out the nations
course, and shalt not presume to say, what
that course oughtto be. But this VII ven
ture to affrn-the most deadly foe of Anne
rlcan independence, The most malignant e.
neny OF human liberty, can devise nothing
SO certainly fatal to that independence. no,