Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-08-17
FROM THE NORTH AMERICAN.
ITO be continued.l

the u. States, to you aGdress myself, ana
coniure you in the name and for the sake
of all that is dear to US, to attend to me
The French faction in this country are
once more calling all hell to their aid to
prevent friendly arrangement with Great
Britain and to engage ms in war with that
country. AL youswho read the newspapers
published by printers employed by or UNI
der the influence of that faction, must be
sensible of this fact.
1t is the true interests Of the y. States,
that all her disputes with England, with
France and with every other nation, should
be adjusted in friendly manner. We wait
not war with any nation in the world, if it
can be avoided. To the great body of the
yeomanry OF This country war would be ex-
tremely injurious. To the planter, the far
ner, the agriculturalist, the landholler, ru-
inous.
But the Corsican t,rant, or as the French
call him, the grea, Napoleon, hath declar-
ed, that if we adlusr our differences with
England amicably, and Go not join him a
ganst that nation, he VIII declare war against
] the y. States.
And to secure to himself Interested parti-
sans in this country uho shGN assist IN The
| prosecution Of lis uiezvs, he he's seized upon
and seqnestered an immense property be-
longing to wealthy merchants and intlusn-
tial men, some OF whom have, others Of
whom had, and others are endeavoriDg to
| obtain seats in our national councils.
| All this property, thus seized, Bona
parte has avowed he hold as security for cur
government submitting to his dictates. If
we join him in the war, he win restore !;
! but if we do no not, he viii convert the
whole property thus seized, to his own usg,
at the same time avowing his determina-
ton to make war against this country. This
IS, my fellow citizens, concise and cor
| rect statement Of facts.
Inus you see that every person whose
property hath been seized by Napoleon, has
deep interest iii preventing to the utmost
OF their power, an amicable settlement O;
| our disputes with England, as on tina, event
| all that property would be absolutely LOST 10
them; and this shews you, my fellow citi-
zcns OF America, the reason why all these
| men, whose property hath been thus seized
and sequestered, have been and ere the
warmest advocates for the tyrant, who hath
| grasped that property IN lis hand and the
| most violent opposers OF the British govern
iaent. They know the terms on which on
! ly they Can obtain their property and hav-
ing got their hands into. the mouth Of the
savage lion, they would be glad to get them
| ont, though at the expence of the United
States; though BY the ruin of one half Of its
| most meritorious citizens !
Gen. Samuel Smith Of the city of Balti-
more Is one OF those men whom have de-
scribed. He, by his own statement, has
property IN the hands of Napoleon, to the
value OF tour hundred thousand dollars
and is known to be, notwithstanding being
thus plraucally pluudered, warm advocate
| OF the French emperor, and the bitter enc
| my OF, and noisy brawler against G.. Britain.
ask every honest, candid man, | care not
OF what party he may be denomlnated, to
lay his hand On his heart, and say whether
gen. Smith ought to be entrusted with hav-
| ing voice upon any question relative to
the settlement OF our difficulties with Great
Britain, when, to prevent such settlement,
he is interested to the amount of four hun
dred thousand dolars-a tenth part Of
which many of my friends, who are farmers
or planters, would think an handsome indie
tendency!
But have another object in view-I
wish to cali your watchful attention to the
conduct of our government. The French
faction are accusing the British government
with perhdy, perjury, treachery, in order
to irritate your passions against that nation;
and 10 make you the instruments to enable
gen. Smith and others to obtain their pro-
rertu from Nannfean Rnt on what grounds