Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-08-09
al,ranusia e aiIp 6astits.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9.
HrLrsBoRoueH, Aug'lst 8, 1909.

An. SSowDEN, 80
~ - THE recent disavowal of Mr.. Err
ayranpemcnt with America On the
81 80, oI the BRITISH government is subject
PIE sreat interest to our citizens at present.
I ~ erst ourstion asked in my ntighbor-
81 rnon the. arrival of gentleman from
I ~ &C The seaports is, What news from
49, sa,,nd! The second, How goes on the
I'm sse i Germany? gu, curiosity yields to
- !. homes and fears respecting our own
8 g ,.rss, concerns. Having cast passing
Z 49, ospr .convulsed and bleeding Europe,
'asklv call it back to the contemplation
Of home'
ia, we interchange our ideas and form
\ sash others sentiments, | will ask you to
3 ss 'hn,;, 20 nv frllow-citizens a few plain and
'IssnlIory reflections which the statesof my
sssn,ry has awakened in my mind. They
- q little consequence, yet they are ear
rs,t-Thsy. are conceived IN temperance,
anil uttered in great respect to the better
;,,dcmsnt of more enlightened citizens. |
am : : farmer, who have not made political
SCIENCE my study; / am a native citizen,
and Gel and think on most topics with the
y bulk Of that portion of our people: have
y never sought an Office, or mixed IN the
STRUGGLES of party, and ought therefore to
be heard by the impartial, sober and dispas-
sionate. .
II No sooner was the resolution OF the Eng
lish government announced than we instant
l. exclaimed, Shametul deception! Perhdy
unparalleled Unblushins etfrontery! Punic
faith Every press III the nation teamed
!, with ana,henas. Hardly voice could be
fsard crying patience, my friends, let US
learn the fact do not pass your sentence IN
the dark. even Mr. Canning ought to be
heard before he is condemned. No! No.
No! All was accusation, condemnation and
uproar. New lights have been she'd upon
the subject, however, and it appears that
/. the British ministerin the United States has
most palpably OVERCOME the limits of his
powers. II this be the fact we were pre-
mature. But it's declared to be impossible
!, hat so upright and able a man as Mr.. E.
and one descended from so illustrious fa-
! mily could thus expose himself. There is
noproof. This is surmise, speculation, as
ssrtion. May not an individual err as well
ssthe govern ncnt to which he belongs p
4 Then let the fact come out Time will deve-
lope IL We deceive ourselves by hasty con-
eiusions and incur evils which it is not easy
q torepar. Either Mr.. Erskine has grossly
mistaken his i,lstructions,o or his government
! has duped him, or both collude to embar-
rass us and effect their unwarrantabie views.
None Of US know which. Why assume, at
random, the one or the other? At any rate,
{ why that interpretation most fraught with
tlncharitableness and mischief? On the first
blush the blame rests upon the minister here
1.-The face Of the subject may change. Be
it so. $50
we have an exquisite sensioility to wrong
moving from the English government. 1t
4 = proper. investigate your rights, not up
-: naNed, unqualified theory, bvt somewha,
WIN an eye 10 things as they are; and hav-
'ns settled what your rights are, at least
jour important ones, demand their observ-
1ase at the point of the sword if necessary.
~, why thus gratuitously fall into ragc
,Sa lby anticipation? 1t is neither sensi-
: nor manly. We once fought Britons
MaVoole cause and We beat them from our
..Dfes hey forged for US letters of thral-
SSn' and We shook them indignantly over
s11r own heads. We were victorious, let
= g magnanimous. Lay aside all unplea-
S' ,esrospections and act for the best now.
j .c' A''a not the language of submissions
.ou iosold But let US not be too dithcnlt
" y ga-tsned. Its not for US to disdain
s0ae''laslon. Our orators Aatter us and de-
a ,..ause and vilify England, and the public
f f.' rs-eeho the pleasing but destructive
SSs'uslou. | am no advocate for England.
NM. -, pad enough, proud, selfish, and ami
- ~ with a lust OF domination. In fine,
,|ol~, 49, - - Y