Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-04-03

this country so poYtenrous as TO justify stacn
: .,;alat;or, Of individual rights It IS be.
s;s,,eJ there was not: there was, it must be
rs,nsessed in the national legislature, con-
siderable b,,zz of war, and every endeaVos
was made by certain party IN the govern
me,,t TO excite the angry passions, and bring
,non the nation this worst OF public calami-
ties b,t as the choice of peace or war rest
ed with us, they were left without an apollo
cy for imposing any extraordinary burts,Fn y,
, ~ she nation, to yneet an evil WHICH
,1as entirely within their power to control
If recurrence be had to the debates Ia lnls
legislature, and especially to the speeches. % -
the Virginia delegation, itwauid seem as u
the country Virginia at any rate WAS GU
loving. in full fruition, unparalleled pros
Derity and happiness, under the anf.hehse ..
mild and equitable laws It retrospect DC
had to the speeches in the state leglsiae'sfes
10 the very persons with whom ms m1o OH :,
pinated. al, echo of the same Language wan
Be found if recurrence be had TO the
sources Of the country, they wall De fouha
every where abundant, and in many cases
{. q s,,gb1xs blenty.'' In the banks OF sir-
o;y;a fhe bayo1sefeYs of the wealth OF tae
S;t;zens. the Golfers have, for some time
past, been so overAowing. that the rates o.
ttlividead have been reduced from TO Q per
cent. from the want of employment OF their
.snrnl,s finds. The farner.or planter could
not complain of the want OF means TO DIS
CHARGE his debts, whilst the market afforded
him an average price Tor wheat OF es. per
b,,sbel. of tobacco 24s. per cwt. From tins
state of things it would seem to follow that
no possible political reason could be adGue-
led for this extraordinary measure.
But it may be said, that though we had
not actual war, there was every probability
that we should very soon have it. Admit
this to be the case, and the lmpollcy OF the
measure is no less striking: in case OF war,
on what description CT citizens are The go
yernment to rely for the means OF carrying
!! it on with yigor and success, as well IN the
! field as in the cabinet? Where does the Phy-
steal force of the nation, and the means OF
( caTine that force into action, reside A,
mongst what description OF citizens Not
on those in debt who would shelter thenl-
/ SEXES under tits lago from rhe lust claim OF
/ 2 fair. honest creditor 1t Is believed that
/ persons of this description would make but
1 miserable Instruments todetend their conn-
! RVS ;uSt rights ). and even the trainers OF
{ the law (who have any thing at.ssake) 1Tould
/ not choose to commit them to the protection
/ of suehdefenders the honest man and the,
responsible citizen, who wcutd scora to q
I ya;i himself Of TIE shehey erected by this
law over those of an opposite character, IS
! the description Of citizens or whom, III time
of war or public .coa1motion, the govern
meat must RELY, as the efficient defenders OF
their countries rights, liberties and property:
/ 30 the minds of such men this measure must
present most alarming portent; tor ii IN
| {ite present state of the country, Astounding
/ in resources, anti possesslnga :" sRrphts 5le@!-
ts,.n before we have even entered upon the
| threshold of foreign war or pubic calamity,
such deadly blow is struck by the leglS!a-
1 t,are at morals and property, the Fitals OF a
! free government, what is to be expected
1 by them when these evils actually arrive !!
! Might not an agyar;an ia7o, and a general E.
/ Emancipation from every moral obligation, be
dreaded? for the power which can suspend
Justice may anrlhilate it, If suspension g
! mounts to anr,ihilation, Cas- in many cases,
under this law, 1t will) the effect 10 such
will be tae same as annihilatio,. In times
! of war OF public calamity, will not reflec-
/ tons like these tend to paralize the energies
! of the country? win not the men of virtue,
OF talents, and Of property, to guard against
a state of things SO adverse to their habits
and interests, choose to withdraw from a
scene where al, might be involved in the
com mon ruin? 1t presumed they would
and thereby the sinewsof government would
be greatly weakened. Ina former number