Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-10-07
From the Nerth- american.
ORR AFFAIRS WITH FRANCE.

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With all the abject endeavo rs to wheedle
and fawn upon Bonararte, in order TO OBJ
tain respite of his injustice and insults,
General Armstrong has found it impossible
any longer to keep UP appearances, tho at
the expense OF the dignity and honor of the
nation. The accounts received at Naples,
OF his having obtained his passports to quit
France, founded ON letters from Paris, dat
ed about the 28!h OF July, are strengthened
by the dates brought to New-lo rk by the
Oliver Ellsworth. The reader will find,
that on The 9Th of August, the London pa
pers state, that the French government had
then lately repeated the intimation to our
minister, that we must soon take our choice
to go to war for France or against her,
There is there fore LITTLE doubr that this, ie
the true state of the relations between the
two countries, notwithstanding the election
terlng falsehoods, Which like these Of last
fall, are propagatcd to deceive the people
and influence their votes. The faction which
is striving TO force Maryland back again in
to the tolls of democracy and Buonapar,s,
have proPagated the assertion that Arm-
strong was negotiating treaty and va. pro.
ceeding WIKI favorable prospects of sue
cess, at the very time thar France was re.
peatins her menaces against our independ-
ence by ordering us to 80 to war. The
truth must have been known at Washing.
ton, and hence we can account for the high
tone with which the National Intellgenctr,
the Virginia papers, the Aurora, the Wing
and others pasronized by the admiuinis,,a-
ton and its tools, utter lying invectivcs a.
gainst England, and call for decisive steps
against her. 1t is the desire of Those, who
set them a.going, to comply with Bona
parties commands by joining him in the
war. 1t the Gallican party can only obtain
a faint appreciation of the people, they mean
this winter to pass the Rubicon; they mean
TO plunge the country into all the horrors of
devastating and interminable war, not for
American interest, but to extend the glory
of an European tyrant. 1t is meant to .a-
critce the. independence of this nation, to
the fell qualification Of party success. En-
bargoes have been tried, and laid aside
They will not be recurred to. They excer-
else too long the patience of the people -
they form means of pacifying Bonaparte,
which is not bold enough. When they gall
too much, they may be removed like a bis.
ter plaster. Blu, if war can be produced
the object is irrevocably accomplished at
one stroke. A nation, when it goes to war
cannot when it pleases command a return
OF peace. 1t must continue the conflict as
long as may suit the enemy and it, rulers
will gain such an encrease of power and act
by SO many irregular means, which will be
Palllated by alledging the necessity of the
case, that they may safely pass by even an
advantageous opening for an accommoda-
ton. Mr.. Jefferson found this practicable
even when we were at peace. How much
more mo. will it be the case, whsn we become
the allies of Bonapartc, aided by the engi.
nesrs and protected by the cannon promised
ln'h,s name by one Of the government pa.
Pers At Washington. 70 pursue the true
course marked oat by national lonor and
interest will be nacrc impracsiealle, because