Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-05-18
saomTHEBosToN aspERTosy.
gANDTD REFIECTIONS

uSpcsa "a change zs her ndtzoaasP oazcy.
AT atirne when the federalistS s~ericusl5
rejoice In an in1portant measure OF the na-
t;onal executive and when the democratic
party, with some exceptions, profess ths
same Sentiment, it may be .seasonable, and
perhaps candidly received, to offer some re.
Prospective remarks ON our public affairs.
There is not an individual IN the United
S;ases nlore2solicitoast to MAINTAIN the honor
Of the American government than ourselves,
But we know that silthe present enlighten-
Scd state Of society, itscannot bedone by lm-
position or hypocrfey, nor maintained or
false grounds. Mr.. Madison has done
well we feel a sincere pleasure IN ascrib-
ing tolim the praise he deserves, but we
can neither forget nor justify the errors
which hare retarded the happy event now
announced &c This time, and subjected our
country to unprecedented distress, with the
total and irrevscable Sacrlflce OF many nall
lions OF propesty-
AS the whole histcry Of our collisions
and our aegoelasions with Great Britain, Is
before The American public, ard before
the world, that contracted aad malignant
shirt which seizes the present OCCASION as
sforeing grounds for triumph and exl'ta-
ton, not only tends to sour the minds OF
those, whose friendship Nj, Madison APP
pears willing to cultivate, bat must actually
re eject disgrace on the American character,
for it is unlounded-G. Britain has ID an
eminenr degree displayed that c1aehiStory
spIrit, which we have uniformly attributed
10 her councils shs hasrelinquistled ground
which she might in justice, held forever,
for the sakesof an accommodates. Our
government has receded from the absurd
ground il had taken, and In SO doing de-
serves the praise O every American citizen
and the respect Of the world.
That this is the true state ofthe case, will
:, inevitable follow from a review of facts.-
AVE- ought not to admit an obvious truth
with reluctance, particularly as q return to
rect;tude reflects glory ION . nation
as much tas on an individual. 10
personay, as American eoyernEnent,
itmay say,
To tell you what | was, since my conversion,
So sweetIy tastes, being the thing lam.
The mere satisfaction Of showing rhe sup
porters OF Mr.. Jefferson and his wretched
policy, that the glory they clann from his
measures, is ridiculous, would not be worth
oar attent,or, Little, fretfuls and malici-
Gus a.inds,must develope-they cannot be
persuaded 80 conceal their weakness nor,
tne:r VICES. I'VE expect thesa to follow
their MANURE, and the present occasion Will
eve tEem amplescope. But while .his is
no motive to animadEersion on the past, we
conceive itnow a duty to.assist the public
mind IN ebtainiing the only goodwe can de-
rive from Mr.. Jefferson poiey, which has
been prolific in ucalcuiable evil. He has
even politicians a lesson whichif proper
3 improved, may be i lasting security, IN
sSe -anagenaen of our national concerns,
srainst ever falling into similar cmbarrass-
,lsnts, or our ever experiencing similar,
calanities.
To prevent all eavils, to silence all the
froshy beastings of a party who wish to
make this county forget It's suaerings bya
deluYive appearance ofscornplete triumph,
lei rs look back To the pretended causes Cd
che. several impolitic and distressing nea-
aurss, which our government adopted let
MS enquire what theEasSed and see what
they have gained
Before the Brush orders Of council, all
friendship was at an end between u go
vernuaenE and thar of Great Britain, at least
on the part of the forrner. Our merchants
were appalled, they knew not what to,ex-
meet. their enterprise was checked and the
circle OF commercial transactions complete
ly brokea-Dur government. set out to re-
sist the principles Of British nnaratime law,
with respect "a the COLONIAL ssade--and they
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