Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-02-07

march into Canada and take possession u
her territories They have it in their power
TO punish your rashness; they will destroy
vour SEAPORT towns. This is the language
of an American representative when this
nation is assailed by5forelgn danger make
war, and punishment awaits you; you nave
no army mo effective militia no resourc-
.es !: YOU mean not to assert the rights OF the
nation: your object is political deception.
These observations are not less extraordi-
nary than the ground on which the gentle
man attempts to convince the people, that
we have no intention to maintain their
rights by any course but the embargo. The
army, he has told you, has been otflcered
exclusively by persons of a particular poll
tical sentiment. This he considers as
proof that the army is not intended to hight
foreign nations ;he has understood from au-
thority which he cannot doubt, that no te-
deralist was to be appointed to the new ar
my that this was a correct principle, !
have no doubt. The old army is exclusively
oficered by federalists the appointment OF
republicans exclusively to the NV one, will
still leave to the federalists more than their
relative share of these appointments. Even
| if this was not the case, should consider
the principle correct. Ihave never on this
| subject disguised my sentiments; ever
| have been, and / ever will be, opposed to
| the appointment of federalists. But, SIR,
| the gentleman has told us, you have not
ever spirit enough to fit out and send to sea
your navy. reduced as it is. Does the gem
| fleman mean to rest the rights of the ma
| ton On the tIigates and public armed yes
| sells? Does ne expect that with our naval
I force our rights can be maintained on the
ocean against Great Britain? | should des-
pair indeed, ii On this clement alone Great
| Britain was to be assailed, and with this
/ force. Her commerce., III the event OF war,
/ must be assailed, By employing Our com
mercial capital in prlvateering. we are
capable Of assaiiing her in this way, IN eve
~ place where her canvass floats. 1t Wild
AFFORD AN !. anorahle and profitable occupa-
| ton TO our seanen.; It will be field to ex-
ercise their. courage, enterprise and Patrl-
/ otisnl. Il is in otr power, Ii war shall be
resorted 70, TO assaI with effect her posses
/ sions near us; to cat off this resource iof
!! the .srpplv Of her islands; to increase the
| distance between US, and destroy the pre-
| text for her armed vessels lowering on oui
! coasts; 10 prevent in future the disgrace o.
( being insulted in our ports; OF having hei
night, and gong out the next morning t.
rob and murder oar citizens. We can take
possession of her territories here, AMI il
! future events shall justify that course, we
can take possession OF the Fioridas also.
and prevent the danger OF future collision
! with foreign nations. Tbs gentleman from
/ Massachusetts, has brought into this dis
cussion what he calls the reason for LAYING
the embargo, and has attempted 10 shsw
that the real grounds Of the measure have
not been avowed by the administration
( He draws this conclusion from the argu-
ments used en- this floor in support OF the
measure. I. That it would preserve our
commercial capital. e. That il would pre-
! vent immediate war. 5. That 1t would CO.
cree Great Britain. 4. 1hat it would have
| a good effect on Mr.. Roses negotiation.
S. That Bonaparte was asserting the mari
time rights Of the world, and that it would
90 in aid OF that assertion. That the en-
barge did preserve from ruin our CONNER
cial capital, and that it did prevent war, are
facts admitted by all unprejudiced men
that it produced great sensibiilty and alarm
on the part Of the British ministry, We
know. The inducement held out to OR CT
tizens to violate the laws of their country
proves it. When did the British ministry
lose this sensibiity When it was disco
vered, that by means Of their agents and
subjects here, the law could be,eyaded.-
As TO the operation Of the embargo on the
negotiation of MIR. Rose, this is entirely