Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-08-11

!. nj ) .,a 90 small where q sail can pc w
far,ed. but our vessels have entered i ~.
q mart so obscure, where traiilc couls =
found, but 1t has been improved. . : io''. =
the equatorial heat, to the frozen regions o.
the poles. the ocean has been White Wauis
our canvas and commerce, with steau5
and unceasing Aow, IN ten thousand chan
nels. has emptied her wealth on our SHORES
and in the treasury. With few inconsl-
derable exceptions, the whole expenses %
our government, directed to SO many oD-
iects, in a country SO widely extended, mas
been derived from this source. Yet 1euei-
tv. how transient! Our commerce Is no"
swept from the ocean, IN moment OF SUI
cessful industry, by our own voluntary ACT
The hum Of business and the smile OF con-
tent is changed to the murlnur OF olsap-
pointment and the gloom OF sorrc". IS
this to be the end Of our Boosted lndspsnd--
encc? Could we in our infancy, without
arms and without resources, oppose the
mighty power Of Britain, and SHAH we now
1aeanlv shrink at her frown, or become the
SUBMISSIVE instruments Of any other power:
Have we not forests, have We not asechan-
;cs. have we not wealth, and treeinen, TO
render ourselves powerful by sea OF lane 9.
Yet. like a corrupted body, our vessels are
now the food OF worgs, and Our navy
Yards are as silent as the grave.
AThe United States must expect 70 sup.
| port them ely. 8 by their own srcrS.h afd
resources. five Kan upon any Ioreign
power, whether England or France, 1t will
prove broken reed. Sell interes, that
great spring ofaction, governs nations as
! well as individuals and to remain trends,
we must show the power OF being no incsn-
siderable enemies,
/" From the great extent Of our sea coast,
! and the expense of Notifications, it cannot
| be expected that this mode Of defence will
! guard us ineyery part. There are however,
| points in which it may be necessar;. Our
cities. ON a long coutseof industry, have
| arisen to high degree Of wealth, and UNI
| less defended, are only lures to plunderers
and robbers. In case OF war, they are eS-
poset: to al the calalnities, which ayarice
can invent, or resentment imposa. rs these
cities have contributed most to the support
Of governments, they have righr, nay, they
should demand protection
eve are new living in period Of tine,
| Of which there has been no parallel. Pro-
! Dab!y Postlrlty, es they turn over the pa ges
! OF history, will pause with asaon;shment al
that, which records the eyents Of tthss present
day. When France struggled to free her
self from those expressions, imposed upon
her by a long arbitrary monarchy, the United
States, secured in aer independence, hailed
| the twilight which announced the approach
ing day ofrational freedom. But our time of
rejoicing was short. The rage of reform
was not to De controlled. A malignant and
pestilentiai philosophy spread ovsr the whole
French nation. The sabbaths were by ana
.ional decree annihiiated her temples Of
religion plitndersd and RACED to the ground
her priests, condemned to butchery, or es-
Gaping from slaughter, hcd TO the four COR
ners of the earth, with no protection but the
blast which howied around them. Her ar
mics, holding in one hand the sword and in
the other commission for universal exter-
rnination, trave.sed through Holland, Swift
zelland, Venice, the italian states, through
every country whcre liberty would be hunt
ed. Amid this confused scene of batchelv
and conquest, appeared a geniss nurtured
in the clouds and Graded in the storm"
who commanded her armie: and reduced
misery to a system. With an eve that ne
yer winks and wing that never tires" he
aims at universal dominion. Scarce has
thought been more rapid than his victories.
Nations have. fallen before him in a day
What people has he promised to protect,
which he has not DESTROYED? What treaties