Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-04-28
From The Federal Republican.
A HAPPY CHANGE.

ministe, plenipotentiary and Mr.. Smith, to-
sether with the presidents proclamation,
published in our last, have inspired the
friends oftheir country with sanguine hopes
that the differences which have pressed SO
heavily upon the u. States, will be speedily
removed. We hope, and we are almost
persuaded to believe, that the present adj
m,inistration has abandoned the entire sys-
tenn Of politics, which, from eeyear 1905
TO the present time, has been pursued
They have found by dear bought expert
ence, that nothing bat disgrace and ruin to
the country, could proceed from that sys-
tenn. and that they mast be also sensible,
that the present temper OF the people is
such. that if there even was disposition IN
the cabinet TO persevere, they would not be
supported. Thesentiments Of the northern
states have long been known, and the late
elections in Virginia must have furnishe q
Mr.. Madison with much matter for useful
reflection. Ifhe has abandoned the system
of his predecessor, from conviction OF It's
ruinous consequences 10 the country, ne is
entitled to the praise Of magnanirnity. II
be has abandoned it, from Difference TO the
opinion Of his countrymen, such conduct IS
certainly pruden, and becoming the chief
magistrate Of a free state.
The British ministry are also entitled to
their share Of praise. They have acted
with hfnRess and with moderation. They
have shewn a determination not to sacrifice
the rights and honor Of their country but
they have also Clearly naaniiestedsa dispo-
sition to restore and preserve the relations
OF peace and friendly intercourse between
the two nations: an intercourse SO essential
to the prosperity Of both. The infamous
assertion of Irish convicts, and French
hireiines, that Great Britain is s. our impla-
cable emmy is too ridiculous to merit at
tention. The ministryof England are true
" sensible, that the the prosperity o.
America is essentially TIE prosperity Of G.
Britain. ard that the strength and power oi
Great Britain are not for herself only, but
for the world The more America aou-
rishes, the wider is the range opened tc
British industry, and the only hope of re.
storing liberty to Europe, and preserving
liberty to America, proceeds from the ma
ritime .rcwer of Great Britain. While q
friendly intercourse was maintained between
The United States and Great Britain our
country prosPered,; when that intercourse
was interrupted, our prosperity declined.
our hofizon was larkcried, and gathering
clouds threatened to burst with fatal tio-
lence upon our country. The, sunshine q
peace and prosperity once moredehghts the
patriots eyes, and gladders his discousolate
heart. The Gay OF cur calamity is past,
and now is the season Of our rejoicing. Let
Us hope that the president Will persevere in
the path he has entered, which viii conduct
him to merited prosperity and fame, and
his country to peace, prosperity, security,
and happiness.
To have clear idea Of the arrangement
lately made between the British minister
and our government, il may be necessary
to cast our eyes back and review the mea.
surcs of a few past wears.
The origin and cause of our differences
with England was the refusal of Mr.. Jefer-
son to negotiate commercial treaty unless
she would consent to an abandonment Of her
dearest and most valuable maritime rights.
We have repeatedly had occasion to consl-
der this subject, and we have demonstrated
that MI. Jefferson S principal object was to
amuse the people of America with thes
of negotiation alsG to preserve the sem
blance of maintaining an impartial neutrali-
~ between the respective beiligerent pow
s ers, but that he did not desire TO cultivate
an amicable understanding with Great Bri-
tain and would not conclude commercial
treaty with her. He therefore insisted upon
professions which were known to be mad
INVISIBLE and which even Fox ministry
would not grant.