Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-02-24
FROM THE BOSTON GAZETTE.

Mr.. DANA. Of Connecticut, is uadoubt-
edly man OF abilities and virtue but he is
certainly not SO correc. and true a man,
upon all questions, as his predecessor, at
the head Of the delegation from CONNECT.
cut. Mr.. Griswold--or as the late excel.
lent Nh. Tracy, Of that state.
lie sometimes sacrifices little to dis.
position 10 be witty, and too often betrays
the lawyer. lie is also apt to be ironical--
all Ibis is injurious III a country. where
speeches are published, and where every
man has not tas rs&nsment to discern be-
tween irony and plain dealing.
Besides, he is too prone to play. what is
cali, d the back ,sunr, which is always adam.
gerous one. When he is persuaded, his az.
versaries are as avcrse to a measure as he IS,
he affects to drive them up to it, though, il
they should take him at his word, he would
be extremely mortified.
He is very much inclined, also. to spoil .
good speech bv concessions. He selec;s one
particular ground, and often, not the
I, strongest, and in order to gain a more pa
tient hearing upon that, he comedies almost
every Other part Of the argument. | am
sorry to be obliged to make these remarks;
but if the federal party are to be presumed
to approve of every thing said or conceded
by their representatives, our condition
would be an unfortunate cne. The truth
is, that so long As speeches of members are
made public, so long great sacrifices of in
dependence vii! be made by our represent
tatives.
The above remarka were produced by
MIR. Darra's conduct, in relation To Bur
Wells war resUlut'on-his convoy and arm.
ing motion. Mr.. Dana hailed it IS good
omen, and proposed a new resolution, pre-
scribing the licences for arming, asd the
conditions of the bonds. The condition,
proposed by Mr.. Dana, has this clause,
" that the ship shall not violate the rules of
public law, acknowledged by the. u. S."
Now, l beg leave to ask, il our ships
whether a war will not BIZ the in, vrablc
consequence! If a ship is found going d.
rectly from. Guadalupe to Fran. e, she is
within the public ls1v acknowledged by the
United States, and vet she VII be certainly
condemned, il taken by the British. If our
ships attempt to force a trade against the
British orders in council, a war " II Le the
inevitable consequence, and It would be
more manly to declare war at once. There
is not an equal dang, ofirri.ation from cap
lures by france. She can do no act, which
could rouse our citizens against her. We
expect injustice from her, to is utmost
point, and We are nsshsr surprizsd or pro.
voked WHEN it comes.
But every battle-every drop OF blood,
which should flow in such a contest, for a
forced trade, by British hands, would
make a stain, which century could NOT
wash away. Besides, consider such
law as only alluring the desperate and adj
venturous into a conflict, 10 which, nine
out Of ten will perish, or be ruined, and in
which, they will no. be supported by the
government, or pi,ied by Tho people.
BY the same law, it is proposed by Mr.. |
Dana, that it shall be provided, that no |
one shall violate actual hockade. !;
Now VIVA, is an actual blockade Isl, to |
be settled according TO the armed n-utarli-
sy Of 1880, whereithere is an imminen. dan.
ger of entry?
Upon this rule, wha, part of France is
not nou actually bleckaded? When no, one
ship in fifty Can get in, without speaking an
En- glish cruizer! =, &c.. :, -. !
& How difficult will it be to decide this
question:! Il! Ought not Congress, if such a
law must pass, which Heaven avert ought
not Congress, rather to enumsrate the pla.
ces to which ship may lawfully 90, than
10 trust it to the discretion Of every iguo,
rant sr.hos-headcd ship master? !