Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-09-24
We recommend the following well written
communication to to The attention Of the read
sr.-Edffor Citizen.
70 The Editor Of the Citizen.

probation. thought it was a prudent Step,
and that ths administration woald justly have
received Censure If such step had not been
taken. The situation OF our foreign affairs
called upon us loudly to look to ourselves, and
the embargo as sauiag measure was deemed
wise and prudent. The federal party, thro,
the United States, recommended 1t; and IN
deed all parties united in believing that 1t was
expedient to resort to it. If the embargo he'd
not been laid, and many captures had follow
ed, the party In opposition to the adminlstra-
ton might have urged with considerable point
that Congress had failed ia their duty, and
that being aware Of our foreign relations, they
should have protected US. Congress, IN the
plenitude of their zeal TO serve :" a master
spirit" add to do more than good sense wouia
justly, made the embargo, without reference
to the ultimate coed of the country, perPe-
tual instead of limited one, From this un-
advised and imprudent procedure much mis-
chief has ensued. II the embargo had been
limited our property and scamen would have
been preserved, and this should nave been the
stopping point. rs measure OF coercion 1t
is feeble and Inadequate. Foreign powers
think so; and America by her recent electl-
ons, believes il to be so. As soon as our pro-
perry and seamea were safe, the embargo
should have been lifted The administration
would then have acquired additional popul.ri-
~, and the rock on which it stood would have
become more massive and impenetrable.-
The inyectiye genius offederalisin would have
been checked. and the proud column OF re-
pubicansm might have been assaied. but it
would have been assaulted but by the feeble
ness of infancy. A strong arm is now raised
against tits bsse already begins to totter-
the wespon oil destruction has been forged by
ourselves and put into the hands OF the enc
my, and nothing but a retrogat!e motion On
our part can save it from crambling into frag
ments. If the embargo had been raised three
months age, congress might have addressed
sach language as this to our citizens We
have done every thing for you that wisdom
ggested--your property.lls now safe III our
sea ports--the embargo has produced these
Effects, If you should be indiscreet enough to
part with it and to take your chance upon the
ocean, do SO, but trouble us not with your
complaints for if you should have any we
vii! not heed them; we have done our duty to
yea, and you must now do your duty To your.
selves w hat rational complaint against go
yesnment could IN such case have existed -
How towering, how elevated We should have
stood as party, az the head OF which Msr.
Jefferson would have shewn with encraaseo.
splendor. No man would have questioned
his wisdom or have arraigned his understand
ing. Jefferson and political ssgaclty would
have been SYNONYMOUS terms But the fiend
theory, with her thousand illusions, made war
upon the sage of Montieel o. The wishing OF
manufactures Shut up al the avenues to his
good sense and understanding. lis owing to
this that America has declared war against
America, lis owing 10 this that ruin is be-
beginning to enter our doors. and ike mill
dew 10 blast our once golden hopes. lis ov-
ins to this thai our citizens in many places
have continued to resist the laws of their
country. lis owing to this that. the heart of
federalism is replenished with fresh blood,
and that Its motions become quicker. IT'S
owing to this that repu5lieanism is getting in
TO discredit. In fine, it's owiag to this that
woes multiply upon woes in such rapid sue
cessien, that tears of blood are now dropping
from the once fair face of America. The
n antle that Mr.. Jefferson is thus to leave be.
hind him is destined by certain individuals to
tall upon the shoulders OF MIR Madison--ano-
ther son of vision and illusion. The practical
George Clinton, the sage, the hero, THE
HOPE OF AMERICA; the friend of conf
nasrce, the protector of the arts, the friend of
the farmer and the meehanic, the enemy of all
forczga infuence--the Centfnei of the Consn-
fntfon, and the rallying point of Republican,
ssm, is to be trodden under foot to make way
Tor James Madison-to make way for manu-
lectures at the expence of the farmer, the
ship owner, and the true interest Of the natl
! on Can such things be Americans, ] re-
peat, can such things be, and can you acqui-
ssesl
g BssLLIsARIUS- +