Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-02-17

first outrage Was not TtststSs -. - : -
becoming a great and powerful nat'o on =
Such, course would in any event navs re- :
moved all occasions or pretence ioi. rs s..
tory measures on the part OF the otheT Del
ligercnt and would have prevcntea our
being embroiIed at the same time with the
two most powerful nations Of the world
II would also have produced another nsost
saIutary efect-it would have ssxed us
from the danger Of an alliance with france,
which experience has shewn is more to be
deprecated than a war with any nation ON
the globe.
The committee cannot dismiss this sub
iect without observing, that from the known
spirit and patriotism Of Inc people OF TINS ms
state, they will undoubtedly be always rca-
dy with their lives and fortunes 10 defend
the country in any just and necessary war
but they will require OF ttelr rulers to
shew item that the war is just and necsssa-.
~, and from the partial disclosure made by
the government Of their negotiations with
these two nations, the public, we apprehend,
are by no means satisfied that liberal aud
impartial policy, and a sincere disposition
to conciliate, on our part, Would not at
once prevent the necessity OF war with
Great Britain, and secure to MS from that
nation the entire respect that Is d;ie to 'ali
our just rights.
As to the third subject mentioned in these
petitions the late act for enforcing the en-
bargo-the committee haze examined 1t
with great attention. The first remark it IS
calculated to excite is, that system OF po-
,icy which requires such violent, arbltrsTy,
and unprecedented measures 20 enforce is
execution, must lie in the highest degree
repugnant to the feelings arc habits OF the
people, If not hostile to tbs IL dearest inter-
ests. And even if this policy were admit
ted to DC founded on tn soundest reason
and the most correct motives, yet no man
could Justify the numerous violations OF na-
tural liberty and Of constitutional rights,
which are authorised BY this act.
The people Of this commonwealth, in
establishing their constitution, have seen fit
to declare and set forth certain natural
rights OF free citizen, and certain tunda-
mental principles of a free government. It
is painful to observe how many OF these
rights and principles are violated, or disrc-
earded, by the act under consideration. 1t
is declared in the 10th article OF the Decla-
ration of Rights, that 6 Each individual; OF
the society has rightto be protected by ii
in the enjoyment Of his lie, liberty and
property, according to standing laws" BY
the second section of the at OF congress
no vessel can be laden without special per
mission of the collector, which that collect
or is authorised to grant or refuse, at lis
discretion. And even when from his know
ledge of character and circumstances he
may think it safe and proper to grant such
permission, he is prohibited from doing SO,
if the president OF the United States shall
have gwen instructions to the contrary. By
the third section of the same act, owners OF
vessels already laden :rc required to c;Te
bonds in SIX times the value OF the vessel
and cargo, or to ;lnlaae The vessels; and
even wlen the owner, in npiiance with
this unjust regulation, nss procured and OF
fered the bond required the collector may
refuse to receive it, and by his own ar>a;-
trary mandate compel the unla;ling OF the
cargo. thus the laws, which reguiate thc
use and enjoyment of our property, instead
CT beng standing and permanent, may be
as n,utable and uncertain IS the whm and
feelings of an executive officer can render
them. What is allowable on one day may
be unlawful! on the next, and what is per
lnitted to one citizen, may under circum-
stances precisely similar, be refused TO ano-
Their. Means and temptations will be pre-
scnted to officers Of government for indulg-
ing the asperity Of political hatred, and the
rancour OF personal resentments; and a
petty ty1,ant may be raised in almost every