Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-07-16

1lUAACoL Ailuotiy 90 - ~ ss1AS 'ssASA~s -
magic, thyvillages were converted into CT
ties, thy deserts into plentiful fields, the mud
walled cabin into the commodious farm
house; thy canvass swelled with every
breeze, thy flag was displayed in every sea,
dtwas the signal of American enterprise,
transporting to every quarter Of the globe
the produce Of American labor. But those
brilliant prospects no more delight the eye,
sudden gloom overcasts the land, the
rnournful murmurs of discomfort strike upon
the ear from every quarter what means all
this It's the funeral procession of American
prosperity entombed in the dark vaults OF q
permanent ens5drg0, and he whom you see
withthe only Joyful countenance nthe group,
is the President Of the United States, in the
the Character of Chinese mandarin, pro-
nouncing an eulogium upon national torpor
as the only preservation against national
evil.
How long Go our rulers expect us to be
patientunderth mockery. We have expe-
rienced the blessings of good government
under Washington and Adams, and cannot
so soon forget them, and although we may
for while have been deluded by the fan
ciful chilneras of philosophical expert
ment, our suHerings will again bring us
back to the principles of former times, and
recall to our councils before it is too late,
men who will administer the government
with sound political wisdom, who have capa-
city and hrmness to arrest the progress OF
desolation and to direct the national engines
to the protection of the nations safety, wealth
and glory. The maxims Of Washington
taught us that for a nation to be respected
she must be powerful, and that the best secu-
rityfor the enjoyment of peacewas tobePre-
pared for war. But it was discovery which
has been reserved for our present rulers, that
g ,uss nations are ever respected by their
Aeighbors," and that it is a waste of the peo-
pls>money to prepare for wars which may
not happen. Washington inhis farewell adj
dress has dwet much, as il with prophetic
spirit, upon the dangers of indulging strong
p;,fsialities towards foreign nations, all OF
which he ever viewed as enemies nwar, in
peace fyiends." How far our present rulers
NAV havs Observed this important maxim,
in their Intercourse with foreign nations, it
is painful soEcxamine.
But when we consider the millions of A.
nerican dollars PAID to France by the pre-
sent administration, FOR the purchase Of a
wide extended, underlined western territory,
worse than useless, to the people of these
United States-when we rehset that at a
time when Bonaparte is heaping unon US e.
very insult and injury which the wanSsnness
of tyranny can dictate. The dispatches
from our minister at that court are eau
tiously concealed from the knowledge OF
the people, when we see the zeal with
which the papers IN the service OF the
administrations defend every actof the French
tyrant, whilst they seize with avsdity every
occasion to inilame the public resentment a
gainst England when we are informed that
leading member Of the administration, On
former occasion, declared that France
wanted money and must have it when we
find them unrelentingly pursue to our own
ruin. ths embargo system because tits agree
able torrance and injurious oEngland-we
cannot but believe them actuated by zeal
Q : partially towards the. one, and an i'm
piaeable haired towards the other. 1t iswith
reluctance that condescend to mention, as
an additional proof Of this paraality, the ap-
point.nent which we are told has just been
made of William Duane to the command OF
regiment in tie army of the Z. States
What opinion can thspresident entertain OF
the spirit of his countrymen. when ne pre-
sumes that they will esal-.=r the service under
such an oficer-an unprinciplsd foreigner
who, having been scourged from his own
country for his misdeeds, has IN this $ asy-
| lum foroppressed humanity, been constant
ly engaged in blowing the Goals OF political