Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-07-14

powers alone, that DEBT WCluu sHaVc ~ " ~,
paid with their own cash, and because their
national revenue, taking its source from
| foreign trade, must fail if that source was
| dried I'D the natural consequence OF which
would be total Punishment OF money, and
| the perilous establishment Of a direct tax on
| the people, to meet our engagements and
support our expenses.
I The fate of our vessels alarmed me also,
on. tho worry principle upon which the ptliity
/ of dry docks have been recommended 6y
! the president--immerged in our ports, IN
stap1xrt water, populated with Destructive
animalcules, of all kinds, and saturated With
their hulks and their unattended rigging
must perish rapidly, while the capital they
| represent is sinking 70 ruin.
! As to our seamen my anxiety was great:
those hardy sons of Neptune, used to an
/ active life and to severe discipline, aban-
/ doned in our most relaxed cities 10 Incidence.
and debauehery, having no other support
provided for them but private and rnunlci-
| pal employment, uncongenial with their ha-
society as to themselves, and as the sea is
their element look for it in foreign service
from wiiaoh it viii be difficult to recall than:
| the emigration of many>of these useful men
has already taken place and grows to All a
| farming degree.
| The purposes which the iaublic obiess Of
! the eglbsrgo seemed calculated to answer,
| appeared TO me accordingly predetermined,
| though considered it duty not to publish
| my thoughts until my doubts were convert
ed into realities, and until a sad experience
had clearly demonstrated that the continu-
alton OF such remedy Ike those nostr1ms
which the most tender, the most aHecuonatc
pa. nts frequently administer with the best
intentions to their dearest Children, would
do more hurt than the evil Itself, and gene
rate fatal accidents which naeare lett alone
would have prevented.
On the diplomatic oljrt If the Embargo.
1he stubborn steadinsss Of Great Britain
in support Of her maritime laws, which tic
in1perious P-eteilsions oil France TO force hsr
to repeal, renders inseparable from her dig
nifty, and tae irrevocable DEGREES of Tx
French emperor compared to winch those
OF Jupiter, sworn to by the Sty7s, were hui
Jokes and bagatelles, battle all expecta,iono.
a satisfactory .accomsno dation with either Of
them on the right Of neutrals, until c. Dn !.
tain, from her Aoating wooden walls, sinks
down--Trance and Ter sllies By q more a
stonishins miracle becomes generous and (. !,
auitable--or until Napoleon !, has accom-
plished his grea; views, which now embrace
not only the suEvers.on of the british 20
vemment, bat che conquest of their easter
empire, agreed upon at I>ilsit, and then re-
member the .ncutrals. IA hat, in the lneal
time will become,of us poor American farm
ers and merchants with opr enbargoi Is
probable that by persevering 1t, as lis
said, with virtue, making spees,h@s uror ]
speeches, addresses upon addresses, to The
people On Its utility and onnipotence, CT
couraeing our militia, and the officers Of oal
unrecruited army to brandish their swords
IN the air, and crowdins sun-bo.ts next tc
gun-beats IN our rivers, We shall compe!
those kerce tyraufs OF che world, drunken !
with blood and bent upon one another's dc 4
ssruetioato listen to the calm voice II Tea-
son and to lessen ME danger to With oar
vessels .a:e exposed BY their excuses VAN
and illusory ioaea. The embargo has bcc.a !!
and will be considered as an additional act
of weakness by them, and what does not ez- /
cite fear will never, among lowers ruled |
solely by their passions, excite respect. But
it is alledged that their interest is to trade 1
with us, TO sell us their goods, and to buy
our produce, ard that il: we keep it up We
shall finally succeed. Vain Illusion again.
The French havingal the markets OF Eu- 4
rope at THEN, disposal, can do without us for 4
provisions, and their.colonies will learn, and
have learnt ALREADY, how to get their supplies
from the spontaneous productions of the j
earth, hom the Spanish nam, or from the