Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-06-21

breath OF partiZanS,s eNlnCcs tiiC = 80 tSiioS
powerful faction against their national nee
dom. Foreign influence and the subtle i ad-
dress Of ambitious men, may lead too many
astray, but on the nearer approach OF pubiic
danger, the great body of the people Will De
again united.
We cannot forget that while the Y. States
were provinces and colonies, com plants IN
regard to violation of character and stlpuiated
RIGHTS had no inter1nissio n---or that our lnde-
pendence has rolled on the smiling annlyersa-
ries Of more than thirty years, exhibiting
greater quiet, less connections, more secu-
trity to life and property, and less oppression
by taxes, than have been found IN any other
Country.
These observations naturally lead Us to
recollection Of measure OF our general
government, to the expediepcy and proprl.
cry of which, not to its constitntionall'ys
great objections have been made The
power OF an embargo was exercised under
the administration Of president Washing.
ton, without scruple: bur for the secessi'y
Of TIA exercise now, have no author''yto
decide.
AS in my Official capacity, | could have
DO concern 10 the measure, had no other
knowledge in regard 20 it than what had
by The same means, and in common win
my fellow citizens. ! view the arrest OF
cur commerce as great calamity: but
from the confidence / place in the govern.
ment, consider il as Intended tor an ex.
pe6ieDs to save our navigation from the
unprovoked depreda,ions OF two mighty
powers and to preserve our nation, Il Pos.
s,bIe, from the calam:lies OF fofs'gn war,
feel i. my duty, therefore, IS a eitfzen OF
the general governments, to submit TO It,
until the national authority shall! dispense
with it, and to participate quietly in the
evils resulting from II. There were DO
doubt, divisions of opinions respecting ,he
act, when il was passed: and opposi.lons
were made, because the authenticated do
cuments, OF ders aud DEGREES from whence
the expcdlency f.he measure was snppos.
ed 10 arise, we've not before congress; but
the system pursued by France and Eng
land, In their war against each other, and
against ueu,rals was wen understood. 10
allow our merchants, 10 throw their I'M.
mense number Of vessels on the ocean
without preparation for defence, notice OF
their danger Or assurances OF protection,
would have been uopardonsble 'ihe 60.
yernment. Those DEGREES and acts are
DOW before US. have referred 80 them ID
order 10 give my fellow cisizsns an oPpor-
turi.y To reject On their uwD situation as II
now is and 10 decide each one for him.
self, what his own conduct ought 10 be, III
The present threatening asPect OF psblic at
fairs.
/ rely upon it, tina, measures are taken,
which will soon give GU. government oi-
fetal Information Of the dispositions Of
those Ea,ions towards us. As TO their de-
csees all the commesce of the y. S. with
all ,he world, excepting TWO o. three Plac.
es, is ln,etdie,ed by one or the other OF
them. It,hry shall not relax 10 their nea.
snres towards US, our general government
will have the exPsdlepcy of q continuance
of the embargo, fo, longer tms, proper.
iy before them. The idea of perpetual
embargo is inadmlssible~ shere can be no
inducemens 20 ito indisidual can derive
any permanent advantage from ,he nes.
sure /; the rulers can hayr bone whenever
The difficulties from whence the necessity
of she measure is supposed TO arise, arc
removed, or the measure fails of produc.
ing The end proposed, the rellnqulshmens
of il is thing of ccusse.
Should The nations have spoken of con.
uuue their aggressions, very serious ques.
tions must arise from our situation:
Shall the vessels of our merchants ira.
verse the ocean uuproiected; or shall the
flag Of the u S. have the protection of
their artillery?