Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-08-30

i
which threatens the existence Of those who
grasp the helm of state, perhaps We may ra.
tionally account for the extraordinary pre-
cipitation so discoverable in the arrange
ment with MIR. Erskine. AS one proof,
however, is entitled 70 more weight than a
thousand conjectures, will state a fact,
which even the editor of the National In
telligencer will not have the hardihood to
deny. When Mr.. Oakley arrived at Wash
ington, two important elections were on the
eve of taking place-thr one in the state OF
New York the other in Massachusetts,.
and in both of which the two political par
ties were nearly balanced. The fact then
to which | allude is this that the cores
pondrncc between Mr.. Erskine and Mr..
Smith, was published on " ednesddy eves-
ire the 10Th of April, in an extra sheet by
the editor Of the National Intelligencer, and
was read by colonel Cantine a, democra-
tic meeting held on the Saturday follozuinS
at Kingston on the North River, three hun-
dred and fifty miles from Washington. |
shall not attempt to account tor the incon-
ceivable rapiditv with which the news was
circulated, further than by remarking, that
the election in the state of New York, was
to take place on Tue sday the 25ih OF April,
and that from the peculiar circumstance OF
the case there is too much reason to believe
Il at our ministers urged MIR. Erskine to
make the arrangement absolute, when from
the nature of his Instructions he must have
wished it to have been provisional-an by
that means prevented ali those evils which
S. II. Smith the printer, has conJured up
and affects to deplore.
The experience of each Gay affords fresh
proof of the stupendous folly and abomlna-
bic wicke dness OF the embargo measure;
folly, because it operated chiefly to our own
injury in variety Of shapes, and in none
more than by causing an immense accumu-
lation of produce which with the aid Of sue
ceeding crops will g'u, the European mar.
kets for years to come wickedness, mas
much as by placing the U.Statts in the des-
pioable situation of the Dig inthe nonger, it
was an attempt to starve the miserable IL
habi.ants of ,ne West India Islands and of
certain portions of Europe to whose de.
privations for the last fifteen years we are
indebted Tor incaIcuiable wealth.
If, as our government did not think pro-
Der to resist The Berlin decree, they had also
Welded to the orders in council, and left the
two great beligeren,s to settle the point be-
tween themselves, there is no doubt that
Bonaparte would have Immediately aban-
doned his system but to expect that he
would so do after we had given efficacy to
that system by the embargo, is to suppose
him destitute Of common sense.
As the real origin of the embargo, has
been carefully concealed from he public, !
will, now that Mr.. jefferson is in situation
20 defend himself, give concise history OF
tia, hagicious measure. When the unhap
py affair OF the Chesapeake took place the
,ades of the f-deralists, with their usual
lack # sagacity, were the first to set up the
war whoop, and that TOO without enquiring
whether tie aggression had been authorised
or what was more probable, whether it was
not the explosion q a mine, the cumbustible
materials Of which had been siudiouslv pre-
pared by their political opponents. Be thai
as it may, all parties joined in the ely for
vengeance, and Mr.. Jefferson, folly persuad-
ed that the long wished for opportunity OF
involving the nation in hostiliies with Grear
Britain had arrived, last no time in inyitiug
general 7u,1tau to aconterence at Washins.
ton, the result at zvhich zuus a pRov1s1-
oNAL ARRANGEMENT, HAVING FOR ITS
OBJECT COOPERATION OF THE NAVAL
AND MILITARY FORCES OF THE TWO ga
T1ors IN THE WAR, which congress in o.
bedienee to the wishes of the people would
be obliged to declare. Fortunately for the
peace happiness and inde pendence Of the u.
States, congress was not in session at the
4L..x, tI,e L..