The Delaware gazette. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1809-1810, 1809-07-15

II !l.s bccB 'istiv rernat h, d Ina, ever, sea-
son brings with it an obligation TO the perform
ance of particular duties. The remark holds
equally true OF communities and individuals
he period OF war or revolutions calls for ardor
OF feeling and energy of conduct; while that
OF tranquil and peaceabe times requires Sc
oateness and an industrious pursuit oil the ordi
nary avocations of life. The happy versatility
oi the human Character admits OF an easy tram
sl'oh from on: OF these extremes to the other
and at least for time, the animation and ex.
eruon OF war seem to afford as much delight
as the calm of peace. There is. consequently.
but little difficulty in creating or maintaining
IN nation temper accommodated to either
OF these situations.
The great difficulty is to graduate the natl
onal pulse to an intermediate state of things,
which, neither demanding the noise or exer-
ton OF war, nor satisfied with the security OF
peace, requires state of mind the NEST diff
cult OF acquisition state OF mind, under the
! dominion OF which the arts OF peace shall be
actively cultivated with a scrupulous vigilance
| against the dangers that may beset them a
state OF mind, which though full of hope is not
devoid OF fear, and which shall, at the same
time, dictate pursuit of ordinary ayocation,
without reapsing into a security which may
prove fatal.
Such, j, may be confidently assumed, is our
present situation The sup has pierced the
oark clouds winch lately hung over us; Blu.
| whether 1t wi continue to emily htgn us with a
| steady ray, or whether new clouds will arise
to obscure our future prospects, may be con-
sdered as very uncertain.
The promises of Great }ita;n are fair T icy
are sucn as ouSht to induce us to hope for eve
ry thing. But while We entertain this best
t.,ilI # l.. 4
selves with spirit that is prepared for events,
whatever taey may be. The TACT is, that wniie
the world continues inits present troubled STATE,
every Gay may he expect, to bring with 1t
new vlclss,tnde. Ardcnty as we may strive to
withdraw ourselves from lis collisions, we are
a part OF the great FANNY OF mankind, ami can
not, BY any prudence on our part, ayoid psrti-
clpatins more or less 10 the evils thar bcta it.
Besides, it WILL be almost Il miracle to re-
main Tor any length OF time Oil an equally good
loollng with France and England The mani
iestatlon vi the good will Of Ole almost of il
sell sufficient % produce the ennHty of the
other; and The actual or p obable hostility of
either should teach us the duty OF maintaining
All imposing attitude.
X IS, prn3.lty, to these considerations that
we a'c to a.rf.he the measures of the ate SEES
s!c7 OF Con-, Or rather their abstinence
from the adoption of measures, which, how
ever' desirable in periods OF profound peace,
might, and, it is likely, would have had a per-
nicious effect on our foreign relations. While
that body have honorably passed the necessary
acts to carry tue pacific arrangements Of the
, President into elect, they have refused to make
! any relaxation in their measures nf defence "a
gainst eventual danger. They have wisely
: considered the expenditure OF a few millions as
, all atom compared with the maintenance OF
peace, the security of our rights, and the pre-
servation OF our honor. They have, there
fore, neither reduced the army or the navy, or,
indeed, relaxed single defensive measure a.
dopted the last winter. On the contrary, they
have added to those measures, by the liberal
, appropriation Of seven h, n lred and fifty thou
, sand dollars for terrifying our ports and lar-
bours.
1t is almost work OF supererogaton to say
a word IN justification Of policy, the correct
! ness OF which has been scarcely questioned in
or out OF Congress. But, to test its correct
ness, two enquiries may be addressed to the
6 mind of every intelligent reader, whose sou
= ton must be conclusive.
:. However probable, is i certain that we shall
y obtain lroiii G, Britain an observance of OIL
: maritime rights
5, If the event should be otherwise, and tn
l. strong arm OF ner power should be imposed
upon us, who would not condemn the lniatu
ated crtdulty and wre,ched parsimony, that
o regardless OF every adnonition of experience
IT took promises for acts, and to save little mo
S ney jeopardised the whole wealth OF the nation
Il Such has been the course pursued by the sc
.. vernment, course which every good man wi
~ rejoice to see crowned with the general appro
!, baton of the nation. The government ha
- done its duty. Let the people do theirs. lie
~ them support the attitude it has taken. Ls
them assume and maintain, what may be just
i ly denonina,ed, ali armed neutrality. lie
u them do Justice to the amiable sentiments c
d the British government. Let them convnc
Y, the world, that they sincerely wish to be on
), footing Of good will with all nations. Havin
t. demonstrated this, they will have the inestima
r. bic satisfaction of having discharged every du
ty which can be required of them by God O
II man. They will feel the proud consciousness