Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-02-18

RED into teHeCt, IeSoASS IT - y 2
which that state of things gave to the a.
gents of the Spanish government, Tor max !.
ing attempts to detach the western states
from the union. How far. they succeeded !
do not undertake to say but the faetls Wen
/ Known. that some men OF considerable dis
t;;nct;on were so far drawn aside from their
attachment to the union, as to give counte-
nance to. the intrigue and the TACT having
come to light, the public authority OF one
Of the states, (Kentucky) have undertaken
the examination and investigation OF the
subject. speak of this not as areproach
but as an Illustration of the temptation which
is offered to any portion of the people, llav-
ing an outlet through river in the posses
sion of foreign power, which is denied
them by their own government. | VIII not
pursue the subject, sir !; for it is unpleasant
to dwell on subjects which may even tend 70
ieopardize the union. But | deem 1t USE
less to rely on the patriotism OF the. people
when the government forgets the cement OF
patriotism. What is country! That por-
ton of the globe where we have trends,
freedom and protection. It's the reclpro-
cation of good Offices, which is the cement
of private friendship. 1t is the reciprocal
tion of protection and support, between the
government and individual, incorporation
of benefits, which is the cement OF ailegi-
ance. But, sir, when the power OF the 60
vernment is exerted merely to check the Or
binary industry of the community, when
the people feel the power of their govern
ment in being blockaded in port by 1t, IN
stead ofbeing protected against blockade by
an enemy, what must be their feeling! Pa
triotism is too precious a feeling to make
many experiments upon It. Really, Slr, l
should not wish to know, in relation to ma
nv of nv fellow citizens, what would be the
extreme point to which their patriotism
could be stretched. There appears to be
reason to apprehend that the rcins OF so.
vernment are already falling IL the hands o.
| government. should therefore wish my
countyment to be no longer exposed to be
ing alienated from their governments, and
that the government should not be placed
in situation to have its acts set at deti-
ance.
Mr.. TRour observed, that he could not
| see the propriety or expedicncy OF liking on
! day beyond the Adjournment OF the pre-
sent Seng, ,es, ,,s.,i.:~,. ,.ie -1-., ,r.-.>-"-
sures should take place. What would be
the effect oft? Ii could be considerediu
no CHER point of view than as declaration
Of war, to be binding on the next Congress.
The mere declaration could not be consider
ed as adding coercion to our MEASURES for
whatever honor foreign nations might pos
sess (and ne believed they possessed little
indeed of that they certainly did possess
courage, and were not to be frightened into
an accommodation with us by such threat.
But the measure was not obligatory ard
binding on the next Congress, even admit
ting that it should be composed of the iden
tical individuals who composed the present
Congress. There was no authority in the
constitution by which we could bind them.
unless indeed this declarations involved a
matter Of contract-And to be sure, he
said, it might be considered in some sort a
matter Of contract, political contract Of . sin
gular quality contract between this great
government, and anunruly faction in New
England, which threatened opposition to
the laws, and was breaking out into rebelli-
on. Yes, sir, said Mr.. Iroup, .ou come
out with a solemn measure, and tell them if
theySSwill forbear to rebel till the first day
of June next, you will agree to issue letters
Of marque. 1t is an invasion even of the
powers of the next congress, supposing it
to be composed of the same men as consti-
tute the present congress, to bud them to
declare wsr, not under the circumstances
then existing, but under those which exist
ed at the time you were pleased to enter In
to this declaration. But not only will this
measure not be obligatory but it is very.